Carbon Dioxide Balance of Wood Substitution: Comparing Concrete- and Wood-Framed Buildings

In this study a method is suggested to compare the net carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission from the construction of concrete- and wood-framed buildings. The method is then applied to two buildings in Sweden and Finland constructed with wood frames, compared with functionally equivalent buildings constructed with concrete frames. Carbon accounting includes: emissions due to fossil fuel use in the production of building materials; the replacement of fossil fuels by biomass residues from logging, wood processing, construction and demolition; carbon stock changes in forests and buildings; and cement process reactions. The results show that wood-framed construction requires less energy, and emits less CO₂ to the atmosphere, than concrete-framed construction. The lifecycle emission difference between the wood- and concrete-framed buildings ranges from 30 to 130 kg C per m² of floor area. Hence, a net reduction of CO₂ emission can be obtained by increasing the proportion of wood-based building materials, relative to concrete materials. The benefits would be greatest if the biomass residues resulting from the production of the wood building materials were fully used in energy supply systems. The carbon mitigation efficiency, expressed in terms of biomass used per unit of reduced carbon emission, is considerably better if the wood is used to replace concrete building material than if the wood is used directly as biofuel.     

含纤维素废水生物水解的应用研究

提取植物或动物纤维所产生的高浓有机废水，含短小纤维、木质素、纤维素、半纤维素、蜡质、果胶及其分解产物(糖、脂肪酸、醇等)，较难生物处理，属含纤维素废水。试验研究和生产应用表明，生物水解对含纤维素废水中高分子有机物，可予分解并提高度水可生化性：在常温、PH约9．5时，水解池污泥浓度达6．5～16．0g/L，容积负荷达2．9kgCOD／m^3．d，COD去除率为24—36％，VFA提高3．9—5．1倍，BOD／COD提高12～16％。分析认为：中温、酸性，纤维素、木素含量低时，水解效果应更好。     

Normative Framing and Public Attitudes toward Biofuels Policies

Although the power of elite issue frames to shape public attitudes toward different policies is well established, the relative influence of different types of frames in competitive framing environments remains uncertain. For example, we do not fully understand the relative influence of economic versus normative frames on the public's policy attitudes, despite the common use of both types of frames to promote the same policy in many settings. Using data from a 2010 national Internet survey, this paper investigates the relative influence of economic versus normative frames on public attitudes toward the contentious policy issue of biofuels. The results indicate the importance of normative frames in shaping public attitudes on this issue, suggesting the relevance of normative frames more generally in shaping public opinion beyond the narrow confines of typical “morality” policies such as abortion or gambling.     

培养藻类制取生物能源的研究

能源紧张和环境污染是全世界所面临的共同问题,用藻类替代传统作物生产生物能源是生物质能的重要发展方向之一。文章介绍了国内外对藻类培养条件、光生物反应器型式、藻类基因工程、藻细胞收集方法以及能源藻类生产系统的研究成果。研究认为,以藻类为原料生产生物燃料具有良好的发展前景,并指出了今后能源藻类生长的重点研究方向。     

The potential of algae blooms to produce renewable gaseous fuel

Ulva lactuca (commonly known as sea letuce) is a green sea weed which dominates Green Tides or algae blooms. Green Tides are caused by excess nitrogen from agriculture and sewage outfalls resulting in eutrophication in shallow estuaries. Samples of U. lactuca were taken from the Argideen estuary in West Cork on two consecutive years. In year 1 a combination of three different processes/pretreatments were carried out on the Ulva. These include washing, wilting and drying. Biomethane potential (BMP) assays were carried out on the samples. Fresh Ulva has a biomethane yield of 183 L CH₄/kg VS. For dried, washed and macerated Ulva a BMP of 250 L CH₄/kg VS was achieved. The resource from the estuary in West Cork was shown to be sufficient to provide fuel to 264 cars on a year round basis. Mono-digestion of Ulva may be problematic; the C:N ratio is low and the sulphur content is high. In year 2 co-digestion trials with dairy slurry were carried out. These indicate a potential increase in biomethane output by 17% as compared to mono-digestion of Ulva and slurry.     

Climatic and genetic controls of yields of switchgrass, a model bioenergy species

The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard calls for 136 billion liters of renewable fuels production by 2022. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has emerged as a leading candidate to be developed as a bioenergy feedstock. To reach biofuel production goals in a sustainable manner, more information is needed to characterize potential production rates of switchgrass. We used switchgrass yield data and general additive models (GAMs) to model lowland and upland switchgrass yield as nonlinear functions of climate and environmental variables. We used the GAMs and a 39-year climate dataset to assess the spatio-temporal variability in switchgrass yield due to climate variables alone. Variables associated with fertilizer application, genetics, precipitation, and management practices were the most important for explaining variability in switchgrass yield. The relationship of switchgrass yield with climate variables was different for upland than lowland cultivars. The spatio-temporal analysis showed that considerable variability in switchgrass yields can occur due to climate variables alone. The highest switchgrass yields with the lowest variability occurred primarily in the Corn Belt region, suggesting that prime cropland regions are the best suited for a constant and high switchgrass biomass yield. Given that much lignocellulosic feedstock production will likely occur in regions with less suitable climates for agriculture, interannual variability in yields should be expected and incorporated into operational planning.     

温度对好氧颗粒污泥处理纤维素乙醇废水脱氮效能的影响

采用SBR反应器,考察了温度对好氧颗粒污泥处理纤维素乙醇废水脱氮性能的影响.研究结果表明,当进水为纤维素乙醇废水原水时,稳定阶段不同温度(10、20、30℃)条件下体系对COD的去除率分别为10.2%、12.7%、13.7%;总无机氮的去除率分别为42.8%、53.6%、70.5%,温度的升高明显地提高了硝化菌的活性和生长速率,进而促进了脱氮效果.当进水为纤维素乙醇废水经IC工艺处理后的厌氧出水时,3个温度条件下系统对废水中有机物的去除效果无较大差异,去除率均低于15%,主要因为纤维素乙醇废水的厌氧处理出水中的有机物很难被微生物利用;而温度对脱氮效果影响较大,30℃下NH_4~+-N去除率达到60.9%,分别是10℃和20℃时的2.0和1.3倍,并且,随着温度的升高总无机氮的去除率增强,NO_3~--N的去除量增加.由于体系COD去除率低说明反硝化可利用的碳源不足,因此,系统内可能存在内碳源反硝化作用,而且内碳源反硝化作用也随着温度的升高而增强.通过氮平衡计算可知,3个温度条件下氮损失分别为37.6%、45.0%、53.6%,说明温度的升高不仅提高了硝化菌活性,还促进了内碳源反硝化,进而提高了对氮素的去除.     

转化纤维素资源生成酒精的研究

研究了高温厌气的热纤梭菌(Clostridium thermocellum)转化纤维素物质直接生成酒精的过程,发酵产物除酒精外,还有乙酸、少量乳酸、H_2、CO_2和还原糖,还原糖的主要成份为木糖,纤维二糖和葡萄糖、诱变菌转化纤维素的能力与野生菌相比有明显提高,能发酵细小纤维、稻草和凤眼莲,酒精最大浓度可分别达4.0,3.2和9.3g/L。     

纤维素废弃物水热处理制H2的研究进展

水热处理为纤维素废弃物资源化应用开辟了一条新的途径，文中就水热处理技术的特点、水热条件下纤维素的降解过程进行了介绍，并着重综述了纤维素废弃物水热制H2方面的研究进展，同时对纤维素及其废弃物的水热处理和资源化研究前景进行了展望。