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Torrefaction is considered as a method for producing biofuels with improved characteristics compared to those of the “raw” biomass (higher calorific value, moisture resistance, better grindability). The torrefaction process is an endothermic process that is usually carried out in a gaseous atmosphere in the absence of oxygen. To reduce the required heat input, it is proposed to employ the oxidative torrefaction and conduct the process in a fluidized bed agitated with flue gases containing less than 6% oxygen. Preliminary studies of the oxidative torrefaction of sunflower husks, including thermogravimetric analysis of the treated material, have shown that the heat treatment time for the biomass should be at least 5 min. A fluidized bed is a reactor with ideal mixing of the treated material where uniform treatment of raw material particles cannot generally be attained. To overcome this disadvantage of the fluidization technique and achieve the required residence time for biomass in a fluidized bed during a continuous torrefaction process, it was proposed to equip a torrefaction reactor with a series of vertical baffles spaced at 50 mm. These baffles induce a loop-like flow of the processed biomass from the inlet to the outlet of the reactor. To investigate the residence time for husk particles in the reactor, a tracer, which was colored to husk particles' color with a water-soluble dye which did not change the weight and size of the particles, was injected into the bed of uncolored particles. Tracer samples were taken every 30 s at the outlet of the reactor and were analyzed using a special procedure to determine the fraction of colored particles in each sample. This enabled us to gauge the time during which the colored particles injected into the fluidized bed reached the point of their discharge from the bed. Studies performed in a “cold” model of the reactor showed that a series of vertical baffles in the bed can provide the required residence time for biomass in a reactor including commercial reactors. Plates can provide the necessary biomass residence time in the reactor.

AbstractNowadays, researchers are focusing on the methods of using recycled industrial/agricultural wastes as raw materials, which are not only economically but also environmentally useful. In the recent years, many scholars have conducted research on the rational use of rice husks (RHs) and found that RHs are rich in inorganic/organic components and used in combination with the certain building materials to produce new green composite building materials. This paper studies the method of using RH processed products and the sodium silicate solution (liquid glass) made from RH ash to produce cheap wood substitute composite materials, which can be improved the insulation performance of the wall greatly. Obtained results are determined by comparing with the properties of standard polymer composite materials such as particleboards, chipboards, and medium‐density fiberboards (MDF). The significance of the work is pointing out by solving the problem of recycling large‐tonnage agricultural waste and reproduce products with the consumer's value.

Over the last few decades, environmental deterioration has accelerated significantly. Environmental degradation has been a subject of research across the world because of its impact on billions of people. However, there has been no international agreement on lowering the utilization of energy and CO2 emissions (CO2), while demand for fossil fuels grows in emerging economies. On the other hand, the recent COP26 summit brought all parties together to accelerate action toward reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Although previous research shows that international trade promotes positive socioeconomic outcomes, other experts argue that it contributes to natural resource shortages and ecological deterioration. Thus, the current research considers the effect of international trade, renewable energy use and technological innovation on consumption-based carbon emissions (CCO2), coupled with the role of financial development and economic growth in the BRICS economies between 1990 and 2018. Moreover, this research utilizes the common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG), augmented mean group (AMG) and Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012) causality methods to assess these interrelationships. The study findings reveal that renewable energy use, exports and technological innovation mitigate CCO2, whereas economic growth and imports trigger CCO2 in the BRICS economies. The panel causality outcomes also reveal that all the variables except financial development can predict CCO2 emissions. Based on the study findings, we recommend the adoption of policies, regulations and the development of legislative frameworks that promote technological innovation and the shift toward sustainable energy.

In this work, a new strategy has been proposed where the waste paper, and their possible emissions are buried into the bricks to induce porosity and reduce the atmospheric pollution. The resulting porous bricks have been proved experimentally to have good durability, low density, low thermal conductivity and acceptable compressive strength comparing with the commonly used bricks. Different mixing percentages of a waste paper weight to wet clay have been tested, and a percentage of 1:10 seems to meet the usual standard for severe weather requirements. Many advantages have been achieved; enchantment the thermal insulation of the brick, increasing number of brick produced per ton of clay, reducing waste and their determinate effects, small reduction in the energy required to produce fired brick and producing homogeneous properties through the brick by properly initial mixing waste paper with wet clay. All these factors result in obtaining good brick characteristics with advantage of reducing waste. The procedures of measuring density, specific heat and thermal conductivity have been verified by obtaining experimental and theoretical values of thermal conductivity of the samples and good agreement has been observed.

The addition of ZnO, depleted in the Zn-64 isotope, to the water of boiling water nuclear reactors lessens the accumulation of Co-60 on the reactor interior surfaces, reduces radioactive wastes and increases the reactor service-life because of the inhibitory action of zinc on inter-granular stress corrosion cracking. To the same effect depleted zinc in the form of acetate dihydrate is used in pressurized water reactors. Gas centrifuge isotope separation method is applied for production of depleted zinc on the industrial scale. More than 20 years of depleted zinc application history demonstrates its benefits for reduction of NPP personnel radiation exposure and combating construction materials corrosion.

In progressing its work for the International Arctic Seas Assessment Project (IASAP), under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Source Term Working Group has developed a FORTRAN model to predict a radiation release profile into the Kara Sea from reactor fuel and activated components of the nuclear icebreaker Lenin. The model accounts for the degradation of containment materials through corrosion and other mechanisms, and predicts annual release rates to 4500 years into the future. Version I of the model was developed as a spreadsheet program from the original data gathered by the Working Group and the results were published by Timms et al. (1994); revised information on the method of disposal necessitated a change to the program, which is presented in this paper as Version II. The model is being applied to other marine reactors dumped in the Kara Sea in a programme of work for the IASAP aimed at assessing the collective release profile from all significant dump sites in this region.

AbstractRecently, new solutions have arisen to promote bioenergy expansion, some of which meet the requirements of reliability, sustainability, and governance. In Brazil, the Sao Paulo state (SPS) is characterized by strong agro‐industrial and livestock activities, which generates increasing residues in the last years with the potential to produce bioenergy and offer environmental and economic benefits. The Brazilian National Biofuel Policy (Renovabio) has been enhanced to seek sustainable development, encouraging new agribusiness research. Studies have shown that the sugarcane sector, a conventional ethanol and bioelectricity producer, has the greatest potential to produce biogas/biomethane, which can be maximized with the introduction of co‐substrates regionally generated from corn, soy, orange, coffee, poultry, and swine. This overview, based on the main SPS agro‐industrial and livestock residues, shows innovative alternatives for integrating anaerobic co‐digestion (co‐AD) processes through a regional strategy, by providing long‐term revenues and greenhouse gas mitigation, which would also spread the discussion for National and International prospects. This study discusses logistical, political, and financial aspects, revealing a promising business model supported by public policies. However, its feasibility requires a real economic assessment with the inclusion of decarbonization credits, and political subsidies for biomethane as a biofuel under the Renovabio, which will facilitate its insertion into the agro‐industry in the coming years.This article is categorized under:Policy and Economics > Energy TransitionsSustainable Energy > BioenergyClimate and Environment > Circular EconomyPolicy and Economics > Regional and International Strategies

The article presents results from analyzing the state of the art achieved in the coal gasification technologies developed around the world and the demand for them. It is shown that such technologies have presently arrived at a crossroad in their development. Their future will be determined by the development prospects of coal energy as a whole. Coal still continues to play the most important role in the world energy. In recent years, external factors have become extremely negative for the development of coal energy. Among other fuels, coal produces the largest specific emissions of CO2 during its combustion, in view of which it may become the first victim of the unfolding energy decarbonization policy. Under such conditions, there is a need to diversify the coal utilization fields, primarily through manufacturing a wide range of chemical products with a high added value. This generates the need to develop the appropriate technologies, and, first of all, gasification technologies, the use of which opens the possibility of making almost the entire range of products from coal that are obtained from petroleum and natural gas. It has been determined that gasification technologies have already reached a high level of technical maturity, and a large number of gasifier designs have been proposed. It has been determined that the majority of operating coal gasification plants are presently used for manufacturing various chemical products, first of all, natural gas substitute (which is then forwarded to gas networks) and also methanol and ammonia. It is pointed out that only a few integrated gasification combined cycle plants have been implemented and planned for construction, which means that the private sector shows little interest in this technology. At the same time, such plants have quite a high potential for being used in low-carbon energy, of course, provided that the problem of disposing the captured CO2 is solved. It is shown that a large number of gasifier equipment manufacturers are available around the world. However, gasifiers are produced in single units or in a small series, which unavoidably leads to the high cost of this equipment. For the further innovative development of the gasification technology, combined efforts should be taken by the private sector and the state.

In light of climate change and the desired transition toward a sustainable energy system, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions must be a goal for all economic sectors. The steel industry depends largely on fossil energy carriers and is therefore one of the largest industrial CO2 emitters. The conventional blast furnace/converter route is used to produce roughly two-thirds of the annual steel production. In the present study, the potential to reduce CO2 emissions from blast furnace processes by using hydrogen as an auxiliary reducing agent, which is generated renewably by water electrolysis, is examined. For this purpose, a suitable blast furnace model is constructed using Aspen Plus in combination with FactSage/ChemApp and is validated on the basis of actual operational data. The simulation results show that the CO2 emissions can decrease significantly when the suggested measure is employed. At the optimal operation conditions with a hydrogen injection rate of 27.5 kg/tHM (tHM = ton of produced hot metal), the CO2 emissions of the blast furnace can be reduced by 21.4% relative to typical operations that use pulverized coal at an injection rate of 120 kg/tHM.