Populations of metabolically active bacteria were associated at an electrode surface via vapor-deposition of silica to facilitate in situ characterization of bacterial physiology and bio-electrocatalytic activity in microbial fuel cells.

Bio-aviation fuel was firstly synthesized by hydroprocessing castor oil in a continuous-flow fixed-bed microreactor with the main objective to obtain the high yield of aviation fuel and determine the elemental compositions of the product phases as well as the reaction mechanism. Highest aviation range alkane yields (91.6 wt%) were achieved with high isomer/n-alkane ratio (i/n) 4.4-7.2 over Ni s...

Introduction Hydrogen as a fuel has recently been an important issue due to developments in fuel cell technology. Hydrogen production from sustainable sources, e.g. biomass, is gaining attention for a CO2 neutral energy supply. Recent developments in flash pyrolysis technologies make it possible to convert lignocellulosic biomass efficiently to a bio-oil, which is easier for handling and transp...

The biofuel mix in transport in the UK must be increased from currently exploited 3.33% to the EU target mix of 10% by 2020. Under the face of this huge challenge, the most viable way forward is to process infrastructure-compatible intermediate, such as bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, into biofuels. New facilities may integrate multiple distributed pyrolysis units produc...

This paper reports a soil-based bioassay of rice husk bio-ash impacts on redox properties and rice production. Bio-ash was produced during the pyrolytic process of rice husk as a boiler fuel, after which it was applied as an amendment to a flooded soil. Bio-ash was amended before rice transplanting at different mass rates including 0%, 0.1%, 1% and 5%, which was defined as T1, T2, T3, and T4 re...

Public service fleets offer an attractive option for introducing new renewable fuels on a large scale, which allow for the reduction of both greenhouse gas emissions and exhaust air pollutants. This study examines the use of biomethane (bio-CNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) for part of the bus fleet in Dublin, Ireland. The emissions produced from the 2008 fleet based at one of the city’s se...

The use of contour strips of perennial vegetation with bio-fuel potential can improve surface water quality by reducing NO3-N and sediment outflow from cropland to surface water-bodies. It also has economic benefits of producing ethanol. In this study, The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was applied to a watershed in Iowa, USA to examine the effectiveness of contour strips of switch...

Coal based power plant emitted pollution is responsible for environmental burden of disease (EBD) from solid fuel use (SFU) like combustion of coal or biomass. Environmental pollution due to operation of thermal power plants is also one of the factors for acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer (from exposure to coal smoke), asthma, tu...

The conversion of biomass to energy (also called bio energy) encompasses a wide range of different types and sources of biomass, conversion options, end user applicationsand infrastructure requirements. Mustard oil biodiesel performed very well in vehicles. Fuel consumption increased compared to fossil diesel because biodiesel has slightly less energy per gallon than diesel fuel. The fuel filte...

This paper evaluates the economic feasibility of an integrated production pathway combining fast pyrolysis and bio-oil gasification. The conversion process is simulated with Aspen Plus® for a 2000 metric ton per day facility. Techno-economic analysis of this integrated pathway has been conducted. A total capital investment of $510 million has been estimated and the minimum fuel selling price (M...