The role of forest and bioenergy strategies in the global carbon cycle

Forest and bioenergy strategies offer the prospect of reduced CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere. Such strategies can affect the net flux of carbon to the atmosphere through 4 mechanisms: storage of C in the biosphere; storage of C in forest products; use of biofuels to displace fossil-fuel use; use of wood products which often displaces other products that require more fossil fuel for their production. We use the mathematical model GORCAM (Graz/Oak Ridge Carbon Accounting Model) to examine these mechanisms for 16 land-use scenarios. Over long time intervals the amount of C stored in the biosphere and in forest products reaches a steady state and continuing mitigation of C emissions depends on the extent to which fossil fuel use is displaced by the use of bioenergy and wood products. The relative effectiveness of alternative forest and bioenergy strategies and their impact on net C emissions strongly depend, for example, on the productivity of the site, its current usage, and the efficiency with which the harvest is used. When growth rates are high and harvest is used efficiently, the dominant opportunity for net reduction in C emissions is seen to be fossil-fuel displacement. At the growth rates and efficiencies of harvest utilization adopted in many of our base scenarios, the net C balance at the end of 100 years is very similar whether trees are harvested and used for energy and traditional forest products, or reforestation and forest protection strategies are implemented. The C balance on a plantation system that provides a constant output of biomass products can look different than the balance of a single parcel of land.     

生物质能源与能源林业若干问题研究

概述了生物质能对未来能源发展的重要作用,对我国能源林业和灌木能源林的情况作了简要介绍,并重点提出了小球藻油的利用对生物质能开发的影响.     

Climate mitigation comparison of woody biomass systems with the inclusion of land-use in the reference fossil system

While issues of land-use have been considered in many direct analyses of biomass systems, little attention has heretofore been paid to land-use in reference fossil systems. Here we address this limitation by comparing forest biomass systems to reference fossil systems with explicit consideration of land-use in both systems. We estimate and compare the time profiles of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and cumulative radiative forcing (CRF) of woody biomass systems and reference fossil systems. A life cycle perspective is used that includes all significant elements of both systems, including GHG emissions along the full material and energy chains. We consider the growth dynamics of forests under different management regimes, as well as energy and material substitution effects of harvested biomass. We determine the annual net emissions of CO₂, N₂O and CH₄ for each system over a 240-year period, and then calculate time profiles of CRF as a proxy measurement of climate change impact. The results show greatest potential for climate change mitigation when intensive forest management is applied in the woody biomass system. This methodological framework provides a tool to help determine optimal strategies for managing forests so as to minimize climate change impacts. The inclusion of land-use in the reference system improves the accuracy of quantitative projections of climate benefits of biomass-based systems.     

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification with electricity generation in dual‐cathode microbial fuel cells

BACKGROUND: Nitrogen removal using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is of great interest owing to the potential benefits of bioenergy production. In this study, simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in dual‐cathode MFCs was investigated. RESULTS: The dual‐cathode MFCs investigated were capable of generating electricity and removing nitrogen, influenced by operating methods, nitrogen loading rates and external resistance. Depending on the ammonium concentration in the anode chamber, 84–97% of the ammonium nitrogen was removed via nitrification in the aerobic cathode. The removals of nitrate and total nitrogen were relatively low (～50%) at the influent ammonium concentration of 80 mg NH₄⁺‐N L^?1, but were significantly improved to more than 90% at a lower ammonium input (40 and 20 mg NH₄⁺‐N L^?1). When the electrode couples were electrically connected for different purposes, with high power output from the anode/aerobic cathode and high current generation from the anode/anoxic cathode, nitrogen removal was also improved. An investigation of aeration suggested that factors other than carbon supply, possibly inefficient reactor configuration, also limited the performance of the developed MFC. CONCLUSION: The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed pathway was feasible with effective nitrogen and organic removal. This study provided valuable information for the further development of a continuously operated dual‐cathode MFC system. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Price dynamics in Wisconsin woody biomass markets

This study quantifies the potential impact of biofuel/bioenergy development on the pulpwood market in Wisconsin. Important demand and supply factors to take into account when quantifying the potential spillover effects include: (i) availability of regional forest residues, (ii) forest biomass demand of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) mandated by the state, and (iii) the slack pulpwood supply due to the recent economic recession. The results indicate that given the limited amount of regional forest residues, demand for primary forest resources over 2.29 million dry Mg will likely spill over into local pulpwood market and have a pronounced impact on pulpwood prices. The price effect could be more substantial if the pulp and paper industry expands production capacity significantly over the same period.     

预处理过程产生的抑制剂对纤维素酶酶解效率的影响

在木质纤维产乙醇研究中,原料在稀磷酸浸渍+蒸汽爆破预处理过程中容易产生糠醛、5-羟甲基糠醛、对苯二酚和间苯二酚等抑制剂,这些抑制剂会影响纤维素酶酶解效率,导致还原糖浓度下降从而影响乙醇生产。通过单因素实验和正交实验,确定了纤维素酶酶解的最优条件为:酶解温度50℃、酶液载入量30 U/mL、酶解固液比1∶11、酶解pH值4. 8;选取预处理过程中产生的上述4种抑制剂,测定其浓度分别为:糠醛0. 031 g/L、5-羟甲基糠醛0. 029 g/L、对苯二酚1. 51 g/L、间苯二酚1. 242 g/L,探讨上述抑制剂单独或复配后对纤维素酶酶解效率的影响。结果表明,预处理过程中产生的酚类抑制剂高于醛类,在酶解过程中酚类抑制剂对酶解产生的影响高于醛类抑制剂;多种抑制剂的协同作用对酶解的影响高于单一种类抑制剂对酶解的影响;酶解液中抑制剂对酶解的影响强度按对苯二酚、间苯二酚、5-羟甲基糠醛、糠醛依次减弱。     

石墨烯/聚苯胺修饰阳极对微生物燃料电池性能的影响

纳米材料修饰阳极可显著提高微生物燃料电池（MFC）性能,本研究主要探索了石墨烯、聚苯胺和石墨烯/聚苯胺复合修饰电极对MFC产电性能的影响。使用电化学方法电镀石墨烯于碳布表面,进一步通过原位聚合法制备聚苯胺来修饰碳布电极。将修饰电极装载入双室型MFC中,测量其产电性能,并对电极进行表征,测量电化学性能。通过扫描电镜观察到, 碳布能够被修饰上石墨烯和聚苯胺,并且聚苯胺附着于碳纤维或石墨烯薄层表面,形成棒状的纳米结构。产电性能方面,装载石墨烯/聚苯胺修饰电极的MFC最大输出电压最高,达到了（291±22）mV,比装载空白碳布电极的对照组MFC提高了175%以上。石墨烯/聚苯胺电极组MFC的最大输出功率密度同样最高,达到了（653 ± 25）mW·m^-2,为空白碳布对照组的10.5倍。实验结果表明：石墨烯/聚苯胺复合修饰电极可有效利用石墨烯导电性好和聚苯胺生物相容性高的优点,显著提高MFC的产电性能。     

中国农村生物能源利用的CO2排放量估算与空间分析

中国作为世界能源消费大国,同时也是农业大国,其生物质能源利用在农村能源消费构成中占据很大比重。文章采用排放因子法对2010年中国各省(市\区)农村生物质能源利用的CO2排放量进行了估算,利用ArcGIS对估算结果进行空间分析,运用空间统计方法,在Geoda平台上分析各地区碳排放量的空间自相关性。结果表明:秸秆和薪柴的利用对农村生物能源利用的CO2排放量有重要贡献,沼气所占比例较小。在空间分布特征上,生物质能源利用的CO2排放量呈现出中西高、东南偏低的分布特征。     

典型户用农村生物质能源工程能量流动研究

以甘肃中部一农户的庭院型生物质能源生态工程为研究对象,基于将其确定为一个完整的生态系统,从生态系统生态学的角度对该系统的能量流动状况进行了初步研究.     

Assessment of coal and biomass to liquid fuels in central Appalachia,USA

Liquid fuels from coal and biomass have the potential to reduce petroleum fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. A multi‐equation model was developed to assess the economics of a potential coal/biomass‐to‐liquids (CBTL) fuel plant in the central Appalachian hardwood region, USA. The model minimizes the total annual production cost subject to a series of regional supply, demand, and other constraints. Model inputs include coal and biomass availability, biomass handling system, plant investment, production capacity, transportation logistics, and project financing. The outputs include the required selling price (RSP) and the optimal logistical decision‐making associated with feedstock requirement, collection, delivery, and liquid fuel production. Results showed that the RSP of Fischer–Tropsch (FT) diesel for a 40 000 barrel‐per‐day CBTL plant with coal/biomass ratio (by weight) of 85/15 was $86.45–87.25 bbl^?1 using different biomass handling systems. The RSP would vary between $86.45 and $89.81 per barrel according to different coal/biomass mix ratios. In consideration of the carbon offset credits due to the addition of biomass, the RSP was adjusted to $84.19–86.74 with respect to four levels of carbon prices. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the RSP of FT diesel was mostly affected by plant capacity, capital cost, coal price, and liquid fuel yield. The crude‐oil‐equivalent price of FT fuels must be above $66 bbl^?1 for a CBTL plant to be profitable in central Appalachia for the long run. These results can help investors/decision‐makers evaluate future CBTL developments in the region. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.