This review presents microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that convert biochemical metabolic energy into electrical energy. Microbes can be fed with waste products rich in organic matter (domestic wastewater, lignocellulosic biomass, brewery wastewater, starch processing wastewater, landfill leachates etc.) to generate electricity. MFCs can also be used for wastewater treatment, as biosensors and produc...

Biomass utilization for bio-energy, bio-fuels or bio-based products requires reduction of the material size within specific ranges depending on feedstock specie, handling and further processing / conversion processes. Biomass size reduction is a mechanical treatment process that refers to either cutting or comminuting processes that significantly change the particles size, shape and bulk densit...

Microbial electrosynthesis of multi-carbon organic compounds is a promising novel technology for converting electricity into renewable organic molecules as well as for storing electrical energy. This project explored the breath of possible platform organisms to be used in this emerging technology and identified the potential as well as the limitations. Of the multiple microorganism and experime...

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are components of complex organic mixtures featuring liquid and solid fossil fuels as well as tars derived from combustion and/or pyrolysis of coal and hydrocarbon fuels. PAH can also be detected at the exhaust of combustion systems, often associated to carbon particulate matter emissions. Due to their high toxicological potential the concentration levels ...

[1] Throughout South Asia biomass is commonly used as a fuel source for cooking and heating homes. The smoke from domestic use of these fuels is expected to be a major source of atmospheric particulate matter in the region and needs to be characterized for input in regional source apportionment models and global climate models. Biomass fuel samples including coconut leaves, rice straw, jackfrui...

The current understanding of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation within biomass burning (BB) plumes is limited by the incomplete identification and quantification of the non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs) emitted from such fires. Gaseous organic compounds were collected on sorbent cartridges during laboratory burns as part of the fourth Fire Lab at Missoula Experiment (FLAME4) and anal...

Powering the future, while maintaining a cleaner environment and a strong socioeconomic growth, is going to be one of the biggest challenges faced by mankind in the 21st century. The first step in overcoming the challenge for a sustainable future is to use energy more efficiently so that the demand for fossil fuels can be reduced drastically. The second step is a transition from the use of foss...

The article presents a plasma chemical technology for processing solid fuels, using examples of bituminous and brown coals. Thermodynamic and experimental investigation of the technology was made. The technology allows producing synthesis gas from the coal organic mass and valuable components (technical silicon, ferrosilicon, aluminum, and carbon silicon, as well as microelements of rare metals...