A continuous process involving gasification, syngas cleaning, and Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis was developed to efficiently produce synthetic aviation turbine fuels (SATFs). Oak-tree wood chips were first gasified to syngas over a commercial pilot plant downdraft gasifier. The raw wood syngas contains about 47% N(2), 21% CO, 18% H(2), 12% CO(2,) 2% CH(4) and trace amounts of impurities. A pur...

The world is presently confronted with the twin crises of fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation. The search for alternative fuels, which promise a harmonious correlation with sustainable development, energy conservation, efficiency and environmental preservation, has become highly pronounced in the present context. The fuels of bio-origin can provide a feasible solution to this wo...

T Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta is a complex mosaic of waterways that forms the transition zone between San Francisco Bay and its watershed (fig. 1). Over the last century, the original dominant marsh habitat has been lost through filling and diking. Water flows have changed radically. Exotic plants and animals have invaded or been introduced intentionally, and toxic contaminants have beco...

An enormous new greenhouse project in southern Britain aims to heighten awareness of the human relationship with plants and the growing potential of plant-derived compounds to find new uses, reports Nigel Williams

Lead is currently banned from most gasoline because it is harmful to humans. While aviation gasoline still contains lead, this may change in the near future due to increased regulation in the interest of public safety. This has created a research opportunity to verify that new unleaded aviation fuels are compatible with equipment currently in use. The Cooperative Fuels Research (CFR) engine is ...

Energy is one of the building blocks of modern society. The growth of the modern society has been fueled by cheap, abundant energy resources. Since the Industrial Revolution, the world concentrated on fossil fuels to provide energy needed for running factories, transportation, electricity generation, homes and buildings. In parallel to the increase in the consumption of energy, living standards...

Among the technologies being examined to produce renewable fuels, microalgae are viewed by many in the scientific community as having the greatest potential to become economically viable. Algae are capable of producing greater than 50,000 kg/acre/year of biomass [1]. Additionally, most algae naturally accumulate energy-dense oils that can easily be converted into transportation fuels. To reach ...

Burning sulphur-laden transportation fuels results in misty and fuggy air of large cities. The combustion products of sulphur-laden fuels poison the exhaust conversion catalyst and invalidate the catalyst box. As results, the vehicle emission gets worse and worse no matter how advanced the auto technology is. Some sulphur compounds converted to sulphates after combustion and emitted into the at...

This article calls for engaging the public and private sectors of developing and industrialized countries in a global clean cooking fuel initiative (GCCFI) to bring about a worldwide shift to clean fluid fuels for cooking and heating in 10-15 years’ time -with an emphasis on providing clean fuel to the poorest households. This initiative is crucial to implementation of the Millennium Developmen...