A concept for simultaneous wasteland reclamation, fuel production, and socio-economic development in degraded areas in India: Need, potential and perspectives of Jatropha plantations

The concept of substituting bio‐diesel produced from plantations on eroded soils for conventional diesel fuel has gained wide‐spread attention in India. In recent months, the Indian central Government as well as some state governments have expressed their support for bringing marginal lands, which cannot be used for food production, under cultivation for this purpose. Jatropha curcas is a well established plant in India. It produces oil‐rich seeds, is known to thrive on eroded lands, and to require only limited amounts of water, nutrients and capital inputs. This plant offers the option both to cultivate wastelands and to produce vegetable oil suitable for conversion to bio‐diesel. More versatile than hydrogen and new propulsion systems such as fuel cell technology, bio‐diesel can be used in today's vehicle fleets worldwide and may also offer a viable path to sustainable transportation, i.e., lower greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced mobility, even in remote areas. Mitigation of global warming and the creation of new regional employment opportunities can be important cornerstones of any forward looking transportation system for emerging economies.     

Application of red mud as a basic catalyst for biodiesel production

Red mud was investigated in triglyceride transesterification with a view to determine its viability as a basic catalyst for use in biodiesel synthesis.The effect of calcination temperature on the structure and activity of red mud catalysts was investigated.It was found that highly active catalyst was obtained by simply drying red mud at 200°C.Utilization of red mud as a catalyst for biodiesel production not only provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way of recycling this solid red mud waste,significantly reducing its environmental effects,but also reduces the price of biodiesel to make biodiesel competitive with petroleum diesel.     

Nanocatalyzed biodiesel synthesis from the oily contents of Marine brown alga Dictyota dichotoma

This research article demonstrates biodiesel synthesis through the methanolysis of the oily contents (4.02 ± 0.27% w/w on dried basis) of Dictyota dichotoma collected from the coast of Hawksbay, Pakistan. The metal oxides (CaO, MgO, ZnO, and TiO₂) used as nanocatalysts were refluxed (5% K₂SO₄), calcinated (850 °C) and characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) which produced 93.2% w/w FAME (biodiesel) at relatively mild condition (5% catalyst, 65 °C, 3 h, 18:1 molar ratio) using CaO. Whereas, MgO, ZnO, and TiO₂ produced 92.4%, 72.5%, and 31.8% w/w FAME, respectively at elevated condition (225 °C). Thus, CaO was considered to be the best catalyst among the others. This tri-phase reaction require continuous fast mixing and the yield depends on the reaction parameters like catalyst amount, temperature, reaction time and molar ratio (methanol: oil). The reusability of these heterogeneous catalysts simplified the purification step, reduced the waste generation and make the final product technically and economically viable.     

Flowering pattern of biodiesel plant Jatropha in frost- and drought-prone regions of Botswana

Jatropha has gained interest as a potential biodiesel feedstock. Nevertheless, its oil production decreases significantly in frost- and drought-prone regions. In this study, we characterized the flowering pattern of Jatropha in Botswana in the 2014/2015 season. Extensive springtime pruning synchronized Jatropha regrowth in summer and effectively stimulated growth after frost damage. Flowering started in February 2015 and peaked in April and May. Wide variations in flowering frequency were observed among different Jatropha accessions. Trees flowering in February and March produced fruit in May, but most trees only flowered in April and May and did not yield fruit because of cold snaps. These observations suggested that harvesting seed before wintertime is the key to improve Jatropha production in the Botswana climate. This study highlighted the importance of inducing early flowering by developing new agricultural managements. These may include frost cover and sun shades to prevent stress-induced damage, canopy control by pruning, optimization of fertilization practice, and/or introduction of superior Jatropha varieties.     

生物柴油促进原油污染砂粒释放油

对4种生物柴油促进原油污染砂粒释放油的效果进行了研究,并探讨了菜籽生物柴油投加量和砂粒粒径对促进效果的影响。结果表明,菜籽生物柴油的促进效果最好,8 h释放量达到73%,废油脂生物柴油的效果最差,仅为52%;生物柴油的促进效果随着投加量的增大而升高,当投加量超过海水体积的5%时促进效果不再明显增加;在生物柴油作用下,小粒径砂粒上原油的释放效果优于大粒径砂粒。     

应用表面活性剂-生物柴油微乳液去除污染土壤中多环芳烃

针对修复焦化厂高浓度多环芳烃污染土壤高成本的现实,采用以非食用性植物油、生物柴油、表面活性剂及其乳化合成的微乳液为淋洗剂,比较不同淋洗剂的淋洗效果。结果表明乳化合成的微乳液对焦化厂土壤中多环芳烃的总去除率高于单独使用表面活性剂为淋洗剂对土壤中多环芳烃的总去除率,说明生物柴油及植物油与表面活性剂乳化形成的微乳液对原污染土壤中的多环芳烃具有显著的增溶作用。1%TW-80和2.5%TW-80对土壤中多环芳烃总去除率分别为11%和14%;以2.5%TW-80为原料乳化合成的微乳液的淋洗去除率较以1%TW-80为原料乳化合成的微乳液高,总去除率分别为15%～30%和11%～18%;以生物柴油为原料乳化合成的微乳液的淋洗去除率较以植物油为原料乳化合成的微乳液高,分别为17%～30%和15%～23%,且对多环芳烃的去除率与其辛醇水分配系数(logKow)呈线性相关关系。     

UASB-SBR-絮凝工艺处理地沟油制生物柴油废水

采用UASB-SBR-絮凝工艺处理地沟油制生物柴油废水,考察了各个阶段的废水处理效果。实验结果表明：UASB稳定运行阶段进水COD约为15000mg/L时,COD去除率约为87%,出水COD在2500mg/L以下,出水挥发性脂肪酸（VFA）浓度为4~6mmol/L,最佳容积负荷为15.0kg/（m3·d）;采用SBR处理UASB出水,当容积负荷为1.5kg/（m3·d）时,出水COD在200mg/L以下,COD去除率在83%以上,ρ（NH₃-N）在5mg/L以下,TP约为25mg/L。向SBR出水中加入质量分数为5%的聚合氯化铝进行化学除磷,加入量为5mL/L,处理后废水TP为4~6mg/L。处理后废水的COD,ρ（NH₃-N）,TP均达到CJ343-2010《污水排入城市下水道水质标准》的A类要求。     

产油微藻培养与回收的关键技术研究进展

寻找廉价而高效的替代原料是实现生物柴油产业化的关键所在.微藻以含油量高、生长周期短、环境适应能力强、生物产量高等优点,有望成为一种极具潜力的生物柴油生产原料.然而,目前尚存在微藻培养低效成本高和微藻回收效率低两大难题.综述了微藻培养与回收过程中的关键技术,并对存在的两大难题及其改进技术进行了详细的探讨.最后,总结并展望了微藻培养、回收技术未来的发展趋势.     

利用餐饮业废油脂制造生物柴油

世界的石油产量将会逐渐减少,石化柴油燃烧后所排放的废气是造成的城市空气污染的主要原因,生物柴油是石化柴油很好的替代能源,文章介绍了国外废油脂处理利用和甸餐饮业废油脂的概况,提出了利用餐饮业废油脂制造生物柴油的方法和工艺流程,并讨论了利用餐饮业废油脂制造生物柴油的几个问题。