Evaluating the impact of uncertainty and variability on the value chain optimization of a forest biomass power plant using Monte Carlo Simulation

Mathematical programming models have been used to optimize the design and management of forest bioenergy supply chains. A deterministic mathematical model is beneficial for making optimum decisions; however, its applicability to real-world problems may be limited because it does not capture all the complexities, including uncertainties in the parameters, in the supply chain. In this paper, a combination of Monte Carlo Simulation and optimization model is used to evaluate the impact of uncertainty in biomass quality, availability and cost, and electricity prices on the supply chain of a forest biomass power plant. The optimization model is a deterministic mixed integer non-linear model with monthly time steps over a 1-year planning horizon. Variability in biomass quality, i.e. moisture content (MC) and higher heating value (HHV), based on the historical data of a real case study is studied in detail and fitted probability distributions are used in the model, while for electricity prices different scenarios are considered. The results show that the impact of variability in the MC on profit is higher than that of uncertainty in HHV. It is observed that the annual profit ranges between $13.3 million and $17.9 million in the presence of all possible uncertainties while its average is $15.5 million. Uncertainty in biomass availability and cost and electricity price results in the risks of having annual profit of less than $14 million and low monthly storage levels.     

Producing biogas from agricultural residues generated during phytoremediation process: Possibility,threshold, and challenges

In the past decades, a novel strategy has arisen, as required by time, to get a rational production of biogas from contaminated biomass, which may be, on purpose, harvested from contaminated soil phytoremediation process. The present review focuses on the possibility and potential of utilizing the agricultural residues generated during phytoremediation for production of biogas. As a general result of the studies compiled in this review, the harvested biomass can subsequently be utilized for the winning of biogas, and it provides a solution of waste disposal for phytoremediation technology. According to the analysis of previous results, not more than 1 mg/L of cadmium in fermenters shows promoting or at least no inhibitory effect on cumulative biogas yields. This strategy is promising for dealing with both environmental and energy problems in spite of many challenges in the coming future.     

Efficacy of rapeseed residue and eggshell waste on enzyme activity and soil quality in rice paddy

Addition of plant residue into soils improves soil physiochemical properties and its fertility. Rapeseed residue is an emerging N source to paddy soils via rice-rape double-cropping practice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of rapeseed residue and eggshell waste on chemical changes and enzyme activity in the rice paddy soil. The powdered eggshells at 0, 1, 3, and 5% were applied once to 7.0 kg paddy repacked soils in each pot treated with the rapeseed residue or the conventional N, P, and K fertilisers. Eight rice seedlings (Oriza sativa L. cv. Ilmibyeo) (40 days after sowing) were transplanted to the treated each pot. The contents of total C (TC) and N (TN), and organic matter (OM) were significantly increased in soils treated with the rapeseed residue compared to the N, P, and K fertilisers. With the addition of eggshell containing ～92% CaCO₃, a considerable increase of soil pH was observed in soils treated with the rapeseed residue and the N, P, and K fertilisers, compared to the untreated soil. Activities of β-glucosidase, urease, and arylsulfatase enzymes were higher in soils treated with the rapeseed residue than soils treated with the N, P, and K fertilisers. The eggshell additions at 1, 3, and 5% into soils treated with the rapeseed residue increased enzyme activity mainly resulting from N mineralisation, whereas no change in enzyme activity was observed in the soils treated with the NPK fertiliser. The combined use of the rapeseed residue and the eggshells can be beneficial to improve soil environment.     

京郊挖沙废弃地能源草生产潜力评价

能源草是一种良好的生物质资源。为分析其在边际土地上的应用前景,在京郊挖沙废弃地上开展了柳枝稷(Panicum virgatum L.)与芦竹(Arundo donax L.)两种能源草的规模化种植,并从生物质产量和生态经济价值角度研究了其生产潜力。在京郊挖沙废弃地上,两种能源草均能获得较高的生物质产量,分别为3.77、 11.45 t·hm^-2;从固定二氧化碳、释放氧气、吸收二氧化硫、滞降粉尘4个方面核算其生态价值,按标准煤折算、纤维素乙醇制备两种方式核算其经济价值,两种能源草的生态经济价值非常可观。柳枝稷和芦竹两种能源草在京郊挖沙废弃地上的发展前景广阔。     

发酵木糖产乙醇酵母菌的选育及其发酵特性

为了提高木质纤维素水解产物中戊糖的利用率,采用划线分离法、TTC(2,3,5-氯代三苯基四氮唑)法从多年生乔木下方土壤及林中朽木中筛选出4株能利用木糖产乙醇的酵母菌。其中1株产乙醇能力较佳,其发酵条件为150 r/m in、30℃、接种量12%、初始pH值6.0时,乙醇产量达4.88g/L,木糖转化率达理论值的24.3%。经初步鉴定,该菌为假单丝酵母属(Cand ida)。研究还表明,该菌株在pH 6.5,温度40℃仍能很好地发酵木糖产乙醇。     

Potential energy production from organic waste and its environmental and economic impacts at a tertiary institution in Palestine

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the most well-known biomass resources that can be utilized to produce renewable energy. Numerous countries are plagued by the proliferation of waste, particularly organic waste that can be utilized for energy recovery. Palestine suffers from inefficient solid waste management, and only recently have a few projects focused on bioenergy production been implemented. Throughout the years, the city of Tulkarm experiences power outages which cause a challenge to the Palestine Technical University-Kadoorie campus in Tulkarm. Thus, the possibility of energy recovery from the organic portion in Palestine Technical University-Kadoorie was evaluated. The analysis of an economic impact included discussions of a number of economic aspects, including Levelized cost of energy, internal rate of return, present worth, annual worth, and payback period. On the other hand, a carbon dioxide savings analysis and gas emission were evaluated. The outcomes of the energy optimization demonstrated that the suggested system could supply the institution with an average of roughly 7 MWh of electrical energy. According to the economic study, this project offers 0.25 million dollars in present value, 0.144 million dollars in annual value, a 13 percent internal rate of return, a payback period of 6 years, and a levelized cost of energy of 0.11 dollars for each kWh generated. Additionally, the environmental assessment revealed that this system might reduce CO₂ emissions by around 8,343,778 tons. For effective waste management, energy recovery, and emission reduction, it is advised to implement anaerobic digestion technology.     

Bioenergy to mitigate for climate change and meet the needs of society,the economy and the environment

Changes towards environmental improvementsare becoming more politically acceptableglobally, especially in developedcountries. Society is slowly moving towardsseeking more sustainable productionmethods, waste minimisation, reduced airpollution from vehicles, distributed energygeneration, conservation of native forests,and reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions. Modern biomass, when used tosupply useful bioenergy services, has arole to play in each one of theseenvironmental drivers at both the large andsmall scales.This paper describes recent developments inbiomass supply and the technologies for itsconversion to bioenergy including biofuelsfor transport. It examines the economic,environmental and social benefits andidentifies barriers to bioenergy projectimplementation. Future opportunities forbiomass as a carbon (C) sink, a C offsetand a potential source of renewablehydrogen are discussed.Whether or not a bioenergy project iseconomically viable, as well as being trulyrenewable, sustainable and environmentallysound, is determined mainly by the sourceof biomass. The social benefits from usingbiomass are also valuable, though they areoften not clearly presented when proposingnew bioenergy projects or conductinganalyses of existing plants. Employmentrates per MWh or per GJ exceed those whenusing fossil fuel supplies to provide thesame energy service. `Ownership' bystakeholders and local communities at anearly stage in the development process isthe key to successful project developmentin order to share the benefits. Bioenergyhas a significant global role to play inthe mitigation of atmospheric GHG concentrations.     

Updraft gasification of juniper wood biomass using CO2–O2 and Air (N2–O2)

Biomass gasification is being considered as one of the most promising technologies for converting low-quality solid biomass fuel into gaseous fuel. Redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii), one of the woody species that dominate uncultivated lands in the southern great plains, USA, may have a great potential for bioenergy utilization. In this study, the results of gasification of juniper are presented. Juniper wood chips were gasified in an adiabatic fixed bed updraft gasifier using air and the mixture gas of carbon dioxide and oxygen (CO₂:O₂) as gasification medium. The effect of gasification parameters such as moisture contents, gasification mediums, and gasification temperature on produced gas properties and the tar yield were investigated. It was observed that oxy fuel gasification (the reaction of woody fuels with carbon dioxide) of juniper resulted in the increase of production of carbon monoxide, especially at higher peak gasification temperatures. As a result, the CO₂ gasification resulted in producing higher heating value gas (6264 kJ/nm³ with dilution of CO₂ and 19,750 kJ/nm³ inert free) compared to air gasification. For air gasification, it was observed that the updraft gasification produced large amount of the tar in the product gas (more than 100 g/nm³) for the fuels with moisture content between 6% and 11%. Generally, the tar yield increased with the increase of equivalence ratio (er) and moisture content. However, when the fuel moisture content reached 23.5%, the tar yield reduced significantly due low gasification temperature which reduced the less tar cracking.     

高温厌氧细菌混合培养对纤维素酒精生产的提高作用

以高温厌氧细菌热纤维梭菌(Clostridium thermocellum LQRI)和嗜热厌氧乙醇菌(Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus X514和Thermoanaerobacter pseudoethanolicus39E)为对象,以纤维素为微生物利用的底物,分析了LQRI纯培养和LQRI+Thermoanaerobacter混合培养对纤维素降解、酒精生产及终产物分布的影响.结果表明,LQRI+Thermoanaerobacter混合培养的酒精生产能力和纤维素降解率明显高于LQRI纯培养.在混合培养体系中,LQRI+X514的酒精生产能力明显高于LQRI+39E.培养基中无外源酵母粉条件下,LQRI纯培养酒精最高浓度约为11.5mmol/L,LQRI+X514和LQRI+39E混合培养最高酒精浓度分别约为71mmol/L和36.5mmol/L,相同的底物纤维素浓度条件LQRI+X514和LQRI+39E混合培养酒精浓度分别约为LQRI纯培养的5～11倍和3～5倍,纤维素降解率分别都约为LQRI纯培养的1.5～5.0倍;培养基中0.6%外源酵母粉存在条件下,LQRI纯培养酒精最高浓度约为12.9mmol/L,LQRI+X514和LQRI+39E混合培养最高酒精浓度分别约为263.5mmol/L和143.5mmol/L,相同的底物纤维素浓度条件LQRI+X514和LQRI+39E混合培养酒精浓度分别约为LQRI纯培养的8～22倍和8～12倍,纤维素降解率均约为LQRI纯培养的1.1倍.在5%Solka Floc为底物和0.6%外源酵母粉的条件下,LQRI+X514混合培养酒精浓度最高可达到263.5mmol/L,相当于1.2%(质量浓度)的酒精,LQRI+39E约为143mmol/L.     

Biodegradation of Waste Cellulose

Environmental issues such as the depletion of nonrenewable energy resources and pollution are very topical and would need more scientific attention in order to be addressed in a way beneficial to life. The extent of solid waste production is a global concern and development of its bioenergy potential can simultaneously address issues such as pollution control and renewable energy development. Various wastepaper materials, a major component of solid waste, have been treated with cellulase from Trichoderma viride to bioconvert its cellulose component into fermentable sugars that could be utilized as feedstock for bioproduct development. These paper materials exhibited different susceptibilities toward the cellulase and showed different sugarreleasing patterns when increasing amounts of each paper were treated with the enzyme. Bioconversion of paper with different enzyme concentrations and during various time intervals also resulted in nonsimilar sugar-releasing patterns. With all the paper materials, a general decline in efficiency was observed with increasing amounts of sugar produced during the different bioconversion variables investigated.