Bioethanol: fuel or feedstock?

Increasing amounts of bioethanol are being produced from fermentation of biomass, mainly to counteract the continuing depletion of fossil resources and the consequential escalation of oil prices. Today, bioethanol is mainly utilized as a fuel or fuel additive in motor vehicles, but it could also be used as a versatile feedstock in the chemical industry. Currently the production of carbon‐containing commodity chemicals is dependent on fossil resources, and more than 95% of these chemicals are produced from non‐renewable carbon resources. The question is: what will be the optimal use of bioethanol in a longer perspective? Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

SEM–EDS characterization of inorganic material in refuse-derived fuels

The utilisation of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in energy production is restricted by their inorganic impurities, such as heavy metals and chlorine. In this contribution, three different types of RDF were studied by SEM–EDS. These materials originated from three locations: construction sites, households, and supermarkets. Several fuel samples of every type of RDF were used in this study. The compositional distributions of the inorganic particles were determined directly from each fuel and the results are presented as quasiternary diagrams. The presentation method makes it possible to identify inorganic particles such as sand, alkali metal chlorides, calcium chloride, gypsum, lime, titanium pigment, iron as an element or oxide, and metallic aluminium from fuel. The results can be used to discuss the origin of different inorganic components in these materials and serve as a base for discussion of the suitability to use each waste material as fuel. It also facilitates the design of appropriate purification steps that are needed.     

我国燃料乙醇生产技术现状与发展前景分析

资源和能源是人类社会生存和发展的永恒需求,当前用以支撑全球经济发展的石油资源及能源供应正面临严峻挑战。燃料乙醇作为新的可再生的燃料替代品,可直接用作液体燃料或者同汽油混合使用,减少对不可再生能源——石油的依赖,保障本国的能源安全而日益受到各国的重视。作者介绍了国内外燃料乙醇生产技术概况与研究发展现状,分析了我国发展非粮燃料乙醇的必要性及存在的技术关键和发展前景。指出从长远来看,生产纤维质原料燃料乙醇是燃料乙醇发展的根本出路。     

生物柴油制备方法研究进展

生物柴油是典型"绿色能源",大力发展生物柴油对经济可持续发展,推进能源替代,减轻环境压力,控制城市大气污染具有重要的战略意义。本文论述了生物柴油各种制备方法,重点阐述了化学催化酯交换法、生物法以及超临界法制备生物柴油的研究进展,展望了生物柴油的发展前景。     

二甲醚燃气使用方法

二甲醚是由天然气、煤炭衍生生产的新型清洁燃料,本文阐述了二甲醚的物性和用途、作为民用燃料、工业燃料、汽车燃料及化工应用的方法。     

采用高硫重油为燃料生产抗硫酸盐水泥的 设计对策

伊拉克原油中的全硫平均含量在4.5%以上,对采用重油为燃料的水泥生产影响较大。伊拉克AL-Douh水泥厂303000t/d熟料水泥生产线项目采用了高硫重油为燃料,文章介绍了其针对高硫重油为燃料所采取的设计对策,结合该项目投产后的实际生产数据,对水泥窑采用高硫燃料生产抗硫酸盐水泥(SRC)的技术控制措施作进一步分析和设计计算。该线从投产至今,运行状况良好。     

贵州省应发展煤基液体燃料

本文概要介绍了煤转化制煤基液体燃料国外生产工艺和国内科研中试情况，并根据我国以煤炭为主要能源构成的现状，提出发展贵州省煤基液体燃料的建议。     

Catalysis Research in Thermochemical Water-Splitting Processes

The stark realization in recent times that the earth's fossil fuel resources do not represent an inexhaustible supply of fuel to meet society's energy needs has prompted the investigation of many alternative fuel sources. One of these is water splitting which, when combined with solar or nuclear heat sources, provides a renewable portable fuel from water in the form of hydrogen, which can be stored as a gas, liquid, or hydride depending on the application, The benefits of going to a hydrogen economy appear to be many, and in recent years various researchers around the world have devoted considerable effort to developing a viable process for economic large-scale production of hydrogen fuel from water.     

生物柴油的发展现状

生物柴油是一种来源广泛的可再生燃料资源,目前在世界各国正掀起开发利用生物柴油资源的热潮,它与矿物柴油相比,具有低含硫和低排放污染,可再生,优良的生物可降解性等特点,有广阔的发展前景.文章综述了国内外生物柴油发展及应用现状、生产技术进展以及我国应用和发展前景,并提出了将农作物秸秆作为原料合成生物柴油的思想.     

Evaluation of partially hydrogenated methyl esters of soybean oil as biodiesel

Biodiesel, an alternative fuel derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, continues to undergo rapid worldwide growth. Specifications mandating biodiesel quality, most notably in Europe (EN 14214) and the USA (ASTM D6751), have emerged that limit feedstock choice in the production of biodiesel fuel. For instance, EN 14214 contains a specification for iodine value (IV; 120 g I₂/100 g maximum) that eliminates soybean oil as a potential feedstock, as it generally has an IV >120. Therefore, partially hydrogenated soybean oil methyl esters (PHSME; IV = 116) were evaluated as biodiesel by measuring a number of fuel properties, such as oxidative stability, low‐temperature performance, lubricity, kinematic viscosity, and specific gravity. Compared to soybean oil methyl esters (SME), PHSME were found to have superior oxidative stability, similar specific gravity, but inferior low‐temperature performance, kinematic viscosity, and lubricity. The kinematic viscosity and lubricity of PHSME, however, were within the prescribed US and European limits. There is no universal value for low‐temperature performance in biodiesel specifications, but PHSME have superior cold flow behavior when compared to other alternative feedstock fuels, such as palm oil, tallow and grease methyl esters. The production of PHSME from refined soybean oil would increase biodiesel production costs by US$ 0.04/L (US$ 0.15/gal) in comparison to SME. In summary, PHSME are within both the European and American standards for all properties measured in this study and deserve consideration as a potential biodiesel fuel.     

Hydrogen for the Mobility of the Future Results of GM/Opel's Well‐to‐Wheel Studies in North America and Europe

General Motors conducted two well‐to‐wheel studies for fundamental clarification on the question of which is the cleanest and most environmentally sustainable source of energy for the mobility of the future. In both studies the complete energy chains were analyzed from fuel production using primary energy to the actual consumption of the fuel in the car, i.e. from the well up to the wheels of the vehicle (well to wheel). The aim of the studies was to evaluate total energy consumption on the one hand and, on the other, the total greenhouse gas emissions arising between the production of a fuel and its final use to power an automobile. The results of the studies clearly show that fuel cell vehicles can greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars or, if they run on hydrogen from renewable energy sources, they can eliminate them entirely. Regenerative fuels, however, will be more expensive than current products. With the fuel cell, because of its superior efficiency (35 – 45% less energy consumption well to wheel), it will be possible to keep individual mobility affordable in the future.     

喷气燃料电导率衰变影响因素研究现状

航空燃料为绝缘介质,在生产、储存、运输、使用等过程中,极易产生并聚集静电荷,当积聚了足够的静电荷之后,就会形成相当高的静电位,发生静电放电,酿成火灾或爆炸事故,给安全生产带来很大的威胁。电导率是评价喷气燃料放电危害程度的一个重要指标。本文重点介绍了影响喷气燃料电导率的主要外界因素和目前研究现状,并探讨了喷气燃料电导率影响因素研究的下一步方向。     

Cultivation of microalgae for biodiesel production: A review on upstream and downstream processing

Fluctuating market price of fossil fuel and overwhelming emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere have resulted in climate change and have been a global concern in this decade.Hence,biodiesel has become an alternative option to fossil diesel as it is renewable and environmentally friendly.Nevertheless,this alternative fuel that is usually derived from terrestrial oil crops will cause shortage in food supply and deforestation if mass production is realized.In recent years,cultivation of aquatic microorganism (particularly microalgae) to produce biodiesel is considered as a practical solution due to their high growth rate and ability to synthesize large quantity of lipid within their cell.However,the development of energy and cost-efficiency of microalgae cultivation system are the main issues in producing renewable microalgae biodiesel.Of late,wastewater or organic compost has been used as the cultivation medium as it can provide sufficient nutrients to sustain microalgae growth.Microalgae cultivation method and system are vitally important as these factors undoubtedly affect the final microalgae biomass and lipid yield.In this review,the cultivation system of microalgae,nutrients demanded for microalgae production,cell harvesting and drying,microalgae oil extraction,and utilization of microalgae biomass for biodiesel production are introduced and discussed.It is anticipated to convey clearer perspectives in upstream and downstream processes in microalgae-derived biodiesel production.     

低浓度乙醇催化制备下游化学品研究进展

随着石化资源的不断枯竭和石油价格的飞涨,以化石资源为原料的化学品生产受到了严峻的挑战。可再生的生物质作为化石资源的替代原料进行化学品的生产可以减少对石化资源的依赖,对于人类可持续发展战略具有重要意义。生物质发酵得到生物乙醇,然后以乙醇为平台通过催化转化的方法得到下游化学品,是从生物质得到化学品的重要方法。本文综述了以乙醇转化成其它下游化学品的催化过程,着重介绍和评价了乙醇催化制氢、催化脱水制乙烯以及其它化学品开发的发展状况。最后讨论了当前亟待解决的问题和对策。     

Arachidonic acid maldistribution in obesity

Arachidonic acid is an important regulator of cellular function via its effects on the physical properties of membranes, in its free form, or as a substrate for eicosanoids. Dietary studies indicate that its production is regulated, but the mechanisms of this regulation and factors influencing arachidonate distribution from the site of production remain to be determined. In particular, whether there is a nonoxidative fate for arachidonate once it has been released from phospholipid has yet to be determined. Variations in the arachidonate content of serum, liver, and muscle lipid fractions have been correlated with alterations in lipogenesis and insulin action, implying a role for arachidonate in fuel partitioning. Evidence for this mechanism acting systemically has been found in genetic models of obesity in rodents and also in humans. This review proposes that variation in the distribution of arachidonate between phospholipid and cholesteryl ester fractions participates in the abnormal fuel partitioning associated with some forms of genetic obesity.     

甲醇燃料的研究进展与展望

随着化石资源的不断枯竭,能源消费将逐步向可再生能源时期发展.甲醇燃料不仅可以替代汽柴油作为内燃机燃料,而且也可以作为燃料电池等燃料或新型C1化工原料;不仅可以由化石能源生产,而且也可以由可再生能源生产:不仅具有高效、清洁燃料的特征,而且具有生产技术成熟、原料来源丰富的特点,能够实现可持续发展.甲醇燃料是理想的能源载体,在化石能源和可再生能源时期均可发展应用,特别是对于以煤为主要能源的中国,在由化石能源向可再生能源时期过渡的阶段,选择甲醇燃料为发展方向,意义将十分重大.     

燃料乙醇系统模拟平台开发及应用

对典型燃料乙醇系统进行了分析,阐述了目前该系统相关全流程模拟模型的不足以及由非线性和复杂性等特征导致的系统建模难点。在此基础上,运用VC#编程工具和SQLSERVE开发了全新的燃料乙醇系统模拟平台,该平台可模拟燃料乙醇实际生产过程,能够从物质流、能量流、水流、价值流等方面对系统开展工业生态学分析。最后利用实际生产过程中出现的两个问题案例对平台进行了检验。     

水泥厂自备发电站设计介绍

中东地区重油丰富,价格便宜,这些国家远离国家或区域电网建设的水泥厂以重油作燃料建自备电厂优势明显。以中东某3000t/d熟料生产线建设的自备电站为例,重点介绍了其柴油发电机选型及燃油品种的选择,以及主机性能和辅机设备(包括燃油、润滑及压缩空气,进气、排气等系统要求)的配套问题及经验总结。     

煤炭气化联产4万t／a低压法甲醇的经济性

从煤炭纯氧气化制成ＣＯ－Ｈ＿２煤气，用作制氨或作洁净气体燃料，如果进行联产甲醇可提高碳的利用率、是煤炭综合利用的有效途径。在我国中型氮肥厂开发，可以解决产品单一问题。     

Bagasse from the mezcal industry as an alternative renewable energy produced in arid lands

In the mezcal industry, the xerophyte Agave salmiana is used to produce mezcal, and neither the plant nor its residues have been studied before as an alternative source of fuel. Bagasse and wasted fibers samples from alcoholic beverage production were collected in order to find out their properties as fuel. Another sample consists in pyrolyzed bagasse at 450 °C to produce carbon. DSC results revealed differences in the heat of combustion values, where pyrolyzed bagasse (19.36 MJ/kg) had a higher value than bagasse (9.55 MJ/kg) or the fiber (8.4 MJ/kg). SEM images showed the morphological changes in the fibers after their processing. TGA analysis showed the presence of different alcohols impregnated on the bagasse, which allows for an increase in heat of combustion. With these preliminary results it can be seen that it is possible to use the byproducts generated by the alcoholic beverage production as an alternative source of fuel.