Energy analysis of algae-to-biofuel production chains integrated with a combined heat and power plant

ABSTRACT

This study examines the energy and mass balances of algae cultivation and different post-processing pathways. Flue gases and excess heat from a combined heat and power (CHP) plant are used in algae cultivation, with nutrients from municipal wastewater. In the studied pathways, algae are cultivated in open ponds and photobioreactors with or without artificial lighting. Algal mass is used for methane, biodiesel or ethanol production, or it is combusted in a boiler. Results show that in most process pathways energy output exceeds the energy consumption in processing, and the energy returns are approximately twice as large as the electricity input. A large fraction of input energy is low-temperature heat, while the products have a higher value. Energy outputs from different pathways are similar, but heat and electricity consumption in processing vary significantly. Supercritical water gasification pathway is identified as a possible future option, whereas lipid extraction pathways are suggested to be the most likely candidates for industrial scale operations.     

Molecular identification and nanoremediation of microbial contaminants in algal systems using untreated wastewater

Wastewater-algal biomass is a promising option to biofuel production. However, microbial contaminants constitute a substantial barrier to algal biofuel yield. A series of algal strains, Nannochloris oculata and Chlorella vulgaris samples (n = 30), were purchased from the University of Texas, and were used for both stock flask cultures and flat-panel vertical bioreactors. A number of media were used for isolation and differentiation of potential contaminants according to laboratory standards (CLSI). Conventional PCR amplification was performed followed by 16S rDNA sequencing to identify isolates at the species level. Nanotherapeutics involving a nanomicellar combination of natural chitosan and zinc oxide (CZNPs) were tested against the microbial lytic groups through Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) tests and Transmission Electronic Microscopy (TEM). Results indicated the presence of Pseudomonas spp., Bacillus pumilus/ safensis, Cellulosimicrobium cellulans, Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains at a substantial level in the wastewater-fed algal reactors. TEM confirmed the effectiveness of CZNPs on the lytic group while the average MICs (mg/mL) detected for the strains, Pseudomonas spp, Micrococcus luteus, and Bacillus pumilus were 0.417, 3.33, and 1.458, respectively. Conclusively, CZNP antimicrobials proved to be effective as inhibitory agents against currently identified lytic microbial group, did not impact algae cells, and shows promise for in situ interventions.     

生物质快速热解液化技术的研究

在介绍了生物质热解机理的基础上。论述了生物质快速热解液化技术的一般工艺流程及国内外的研究进展。并详述了自行研制的转锥式生物质热解液化装置的反应器结构。     

Assessment of biomass and lipid productivity and biodiesel quality of an indigenous microalga Chlorella sorokiniana MIC-G5

Generation of biodiesel from microalgae has been extensively investigated; however, its quality is often not suitable for use as fuel. Our investigation involved the evaluation of biodiesel quality using a native isolate Chlorella sorokiniana MIC-G5, as specified by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), after transesterification of lipids with methanol, in the presence of sodium methoxide. Total quantity of lipids extracted from dry biomass, of approximately 410–450 mg g^?1 was characterized using FTIR and ¹H NMR. After transesterification, the total saturated and unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were 43% and 57%, respectively. The major FAMEs present in the biodiesel were methyl palmitate (C16:0), methyl oleate (C18:1), and methyl linoleate (C18:2), and the ¹H NMR spectra matched with criteria prescribed for high-quality biodiesel. The biodiesel exhibited a density of 0.873 g cm^–3, viscosity of 3.418 mm² s^?1, cetane number (CN) of 57.85, high heating value (HHV) of 40.25, iodine value of 71.823 g I₂ 100 g^?1, degree of unsaturation (DU) of 58%, and a cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of –5.22°C. Critical fuel parameters, including oxidation stability, CN, HHV, iodine value, flash point, cloud point, pour point, density, and viscosity were in accordance with the methyl ester composition and structural configuration. Hence, C. sorokiniana can be a promising feedstock for biodiesel generation.     

发展生物能源引发的土地利用问题

在经济发展不断增加对能源的需求和国际上减少温室气体排放的压力下,生物能源得到了各国政府的大力扶持并取得了快速发展。全球燃料乙醇生产总量1975年为5.68×108L,2000年增加到170×108L,2007年迅速增加到511×108L。生物柴油也自2000年的约9.1×108L迅速增加到2007年的132×108L。生物能源的迅速发展带来了关于其对粮食安全影响的激烈争论。论文从剖析近年来关于生物能源发展对粮食安全的影响入手,系统分析了耕地在生物能源生产及其效应研究中的重要作用、近年来生物能源发展占用耕地面积、对土地利用变化的影响及其对农户耕地利用决策行为的影响机制。研究发现:①土地作为生物能源生产的主要资源投入类型,是其对粮食安全产生影响的最重要媒介;②近年来生物能源占用耕地面积呈不断增加趋势,2004年,全球生物能源占地1 400×104hm2,约为全球耕地总面积(140 583×104hm2)的1%,到2007年,占地4 221.7×104hm2,相当于2004年的3.05倍,据保守估计到2030年,将占地5 300×104hm2;③发展生物能源直接带来林地、草地和农用地等土地利用类型之间,以及不同农作物类型之间的土地利用冲突,并带来土地利用方式的显著变化;④从农户尺度看,相对于粮食作物,能源作物具备较高的经济收益,根据对广西武鸣县的农户调查得出,2009年木薯纯收益为11 123.04元/hm2、甘蔗为12 138.36元/hm2,远远高于稻谷(6 984.04元/hm2)、玉米(5 104.61元/hm2)、花生(2 851.36元/hm2),收益上的比较优势是其播种面积不断增加的根本原因。     

Continuous live cell imaging of cellulose attachment by microbes under anaerobic and thermophilic conditions using confocal microscopy

Live cell imaging methods provide important insights into the dynamics of cellular processes that cannot be derived easily from population-averaged datasets.In the bioenergy field,much research is focused on fermentation of cellulosic biomass by thermophilic microbes to produce biofuels;however,little effort is dedicated to the development of imaging tools to monitor this dynamic biological process.This is,in part,due to the experimental challenges of imaging cells under both anaerobic and thermophilic conditions.Here an imaging system is described that integrates confocal microscopy,a flow cell device,and a lipophilic dye to visualize cells.Solutions to technical obstacles regarding suitable fluorescent markers,photodamage during imaging,and maintenance of environmental conditions during imaging are presented.This system was utilized to observe cellulose colonization by Clostridium thermocellum under anaerobic conditions at 60℃.This method enables live cell imaging of bacterial growth under anaerobic and thermophilic conditions and should be widely applicable to visualizing different cell types or processes in real time.     

Renewable biomass-derived lignin in transportation infrastructure strengthening applications

Lignin is considered as nature's most abundant aromatic polymer co-generated during papermaking and biomass fractionation. There are different types of lignins depending on the source (hardwood, softwood, annual crops, etc.) and recovery process. Recently, an emerging class of lignin products, namely sulphur-free lignins, from biomass conversion processes, solvent pulping and soda pulping, have generated interesting new applications owing to their versatility. As the renewable energy industry is expanding into developing the next generation of biofuels based on cellulosic biomass (e.g. corn stover, forest products waste, switch grass), abundant supply of sulphur-free lignin will become available as co-products for which value-added engineering applications are being sought. This paper discusses the potential for utilising lignin-containing biofuel co-products for stabilisation of geo-foundation beneath road pavements. Laboratory test results indicate that the biofuel co-products were effective in stabilising the Iowa class 10 soil (CL or A-6(8) soil classification). Utilisation of cellulosic biomass-derived lignin in transportation infrastructure strengthening applications appears to be one of the many viable answers to the profitability of the bio-based products and the bioenergy business from the perspectives of sustainable infrastructure systems.     

民用生物质燃烧挥发性有机化合物排放特征

民用生物质燃烧是我国人为源挥发性有机物（VOCs）排放的主要来源.采用罐采样-GC/MS和DNPH衍生-HPLC这2种方法联用采集和分析了5种主要民用生物质燃烧排放烟气中的VOCs组分,并利用碳平衡法确定其排放系数.研究表明,秸秆和木柴等民用生物质燃烧总的VOCs排放系数分别为（4.37±2.23）g·kg-1和（2.12±0.77）g·kg-1,秸秆燃烧排放高于木柴燃烧排放;民用生物质燃烧排放VOCs中,最为丰富的物种为芳香烃和醛类,含量均在25%以上;秸秆和木柴燃烧除卤代烃和腈类含量差异较大外,其余物种分布比较类似;秸秆和木柴燃烧VOCs排放总的臭氧生成潜势分别为（16.9±8.2）g·kg-1和（10.8±4.9）g·kg-1;臭氧生成潜势比较高的物种依次为：醛类、芳香烃和烯烃/炔烃,其中醛类贡献基本在50%以上.     

The Power of Bioenergy‐Related Standards to Protect Biodiversity

Abstract: The sustainable production of bioenergy is vital to avoiding negative impacts on environmental goods such as climate, soil, water, and especially biodiversity. We propose three key issues that should be addressed in any biodiversity risk‐mitigation strategy: conservation of areas of significant biodiversity value; mitigation of negative effects related to indirect land‐use change; and promotion of agricultural practices with few negative impacts on biodiversity. Focusing on biodiversity concerns, we compared principles and criteria set to address biodiversity and other environmental and social issues in seven standards (defined here as commodity‐based standards or roundtables, or relevant European legislation): five voluntary initiatives related to bioenergy feedstocks, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (United Kingdom), and the European Renewable Energy Source Directive. Conservation of areas of significant biodiversity value was fairly well covered by these standards. Nevertheless, mitigation of negative impacts related to indirect land‐use change was underrepresented. Although the EU directive, with its bonus system for the use of degraded land and a subquota system for noncrop biofuels, offered the most robust standards to mitigate potential negative effects, all of the standards fell short in promoting agricultural practices with low negative impacts on biodiversity. We strongly recommend that each standard be benchmarked against related standards, as we have done here, and that efforts should be made to strengthen the elements that are weak or missing. This would be a significant step toward achieving a bioenergy industry that safeguards Earth's living heritage.     

Green jobs,livelihoods and the post-carbon economy in African cities

This article examines the potential contribution of household scale off-grid renewable energy generation to the post-carbon economy. The large-scale focus of the green jobs agenda in high-income countries obscures how small-scale technologies can be a transformative source of employment in developing economies. Debates about what constitutes a green job and their value leaves out the everyday practice of green livelihoods carried out by the urban poor across the African continent in unfavourable institutional contexts where nonrenewable fuel is subsidised and renewable energy inputs are heavily taxed. The article presents experiences from field work in several countries, including Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya to provide practical examples of communities pursuing strategies of income generation, community empowerment and environmental preservation. We argue that scholars and practitioners concerned with both social justice and environmental preservation should embrace a definition of green jobs that is bottom-up or people-centred. The grassroots experiences highlighted illustrate the important role of non-governmental organisations in supporting transformative, locally sustainable green employment and livelihoods by piloting demonstration projects, fostering innovation, conducting research, forming coalitions and engaging in advocacy when local institutions and market conditions make both consumers and providers risk averse to off-grid renewable energy adoption.