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In the light of microalgae rich in proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, development of multi-product biorefinery from microalgae has become a promising approach towards commercialization of microalgae-based products. This review discusses an integrated algal biorefinery (IABR) based on a combination of four microalgae-to-products chains for the production of biofuels, biopower, and byproducts. Two systematic analytical approaches by life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic assessment (TEA) are used to quantify the economic and environmental benefits. From process systems engineering (PSE) aspects, the approach procedures include that (i) the engineering process model serves as the foundation for assessment, (ii) an IABR is generated via process design, simulation, and integration, and (iii) the multi-objective optimization of an IABR with respect to economic and environmental issues is addressed.

Abstract In many European countries the production of combined heat and power based on renewable energies is well established though the efficient and economical operation of such plants remains a challenging task. This also applies to the existing district heating network at Baden-Dattwil (Switzerland) where a conventional gas boiler is substituted by a wood-fired boiler comprising an Organic Rankine Cycle. An overall control strategy that allows fully exploring governmental incentives is therefore of paramount importance. In addition, the highly fluctuating heat demands combined with the thermal inertia of the different plant components impose demanding requirements to the control system to guarantee a stable as well as highly efficient operation. The overall control concept is successfully tested and verified by means of dynamic simulations of the overall plant with a simplified model for the district heating network. The models are implemented using the object oriented modeling language Modelica. The overall model is based on open source Modelica libraries such as ThermoCycle, Modelica Standard Library and StateGraph2 as well as on own Modelica models. The overall model is prepared to be coupled to the real plant control system which will allow virtual commissioning in the next step. This allows pre-tuning of control parameters as well as a weakness analysis which again helps to speed up the commissioning process. In General, the dynamic simulations proved to be a useful tool that deepened the insight and understanding of the plant operation at an early project phase and therefore greatly supported the making of design decisions. After commissioning, the calibrated simulation models will be used for monitoring purposes.

Background: Phenolic compounds are food-derived bioactive compounds well-known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They are in the spotlight for the management of diabetes due to their positive effects on glucose homeostasis. Materials and methods: We have performed a literature review on the main topics related to the application of phenolic compounds as functional food ingredients. This includes extraction and purification from vegetable sources and agro-industrial by-products, encapsulation to improve their solubility and bioavailability, and preclinical and clinical evidence linking these compounds with anti-diabetic activity. Objectives: (1) provide an understanding of the role of phenolic compounds on diabetes; (2) identify green technologies for phenolic compounds extraction from agri-food by-products following a biorefinery scheme; (3) underline the relevance of encapsulation techniques using nanotechnology to improve their bioavailability; (4) discuss the therapeutic efficacy of polyphenols. Results: This review compiles recent relevant research on phenolic compounds extraction from renewable resources, their purification from agri-food by-products, and encapsulation strategies using eco-friendly processes. It also highlights the preclinical and clinical evidence on phenolic compounds’ antidiabetic activity, giving insight into their mechanisms of action. Conclusions: This review explores the latest advances in polyphenols and how their benefits in glucose homeostasis can be applied toward improving the health of patients with diabetes and related conditions.

Abstract Coal gasification, the major approach to coal-based chemicals synthesis, suffers from substantial carbon dioxide emission. Reducing CO2 emission is the emphasis and hotspot in coal chemical industry. On the other hand, the traditional coking process is inefficiency of carbon and hydrogen resources utilization. For higher coal resource utilization and lower carbon emission, this paper proposes a novel methanol production process from coal gasification integrated with coal coking. This process consists of the units of coal gasification, coking, coke gasification, dry methane reforming, and methanol synthesis. Coke gasification transforms the low-valued coke to high-valued chemicals and makes the process suitable for market variation. DMR converts methane and CO2 into syngas, increasing the overall resource utilization efficiency. This integrated process has the advantages of higher valued products and larger methanol productivity. According to the simulation and detailed techno-economic analysis, the new process has a much higher carbon utilization efficiency of 51.6%, compared to 37.3% of the single coal to methanol (CTM) process, and the corresponding CO2 emission is reduced by 34.6%. The energy efficiency of the CGCTM process is 62%, which is about 21.6% higher than that of CTM process. As for economic benefits, the internal rate of return for the new process is 22.5%, much higher than 15.3% of the current CTM process.

Anaerobic co-digestion of a mixture of industrial animal by-products (ABP) from meat-processing in conjunction with dairy cattle slurry (mixed in a ratio of 1:3; w.w.) was evaluated at 35 °C focusing on methane production and stabilization. Three pre-treatments were applied (1) digestion with no pre-treatment (control), (2) ultrasound, and (3) thermal hygienization (70 °C, 60 min). Methane production potentials (MPP) of the untreated, ultrasound pre-treated and hygienized feed mixtures were 300, 340, and 360 m(3) CH(4)/t volatile solids (VS) added, as determined in the batch experiments. However, the specific methane productions (SMP) achieved in reactor experiments (hydraulic retention time HRT 21 d, organic loading rate OLR 3.0±0.1 kg VS/m(3) d) were 11±2% (untreated and ultrasound pre-treated) and 22±3% (hygienized) lower than the potentials. Ultrasound with the energy input of 1000 kJ/kg total solids (TS) and hygienization of the ready-made feed were the most suitable pre-treatment modes studied.

Biomass gasification at temperatures below 1300 °C yields producer gas with a range of heavy hydrocarbons. These compounds, collectively known as tar, cause fouling and emission problems in equipment using the producer gas. This paper gives an overview of the work performed at the Energy research Centre of The Netherlands (ECN) on tar measurement, tar prevention, tar cracking, and tar removal. Much of the work has been performed in cooperation with partner institutes and industry. Measurement techniques discussed are the tar guideline, solid-phase adsorption (SPA) method, and tar dew point analyzer. On the subject of tar prevention, the effects of operating conditions, fuel composition, and bed materials in fluidized-bed gasifiers are covered. Tar cracking results are presented for catalytic materials, high-temperature treatment, and the use of plasma. ECN research on tar removal involves among others the development of the water-based GASREIP system and the oil-based OLGA technique.

AbstractExtreme weather events have become a dominant feature of the narrative surrounding changes in global climate with large impacts on ecosystem stability, functioning and resilience; however, understanding of their risk of co‐occurrence at the regional scale is lacking. Based on the UK Met Office’s long‐term temperature and rainfall records, we present the first evidence demonstrating significant increases in the magnitude, direction of change and spatial co‐localisation of extreme weather events since 1961. Combining this new understanding with land‐use data sets allowed us to assess the likely consequences on future agricultural production and conservation priority areas. All land‐uses are impacted by the increasing risk of at least one extreme event and conservation areas were identified as the hotspots of risk for the co‐occurrence of multiple event types. Our findings provide a basis to regionally guide land‐use optimisation, land management practices and regulatory actions preserving ecosystem services against multiple climate threats.

Large amounts of agricultural residues are produced annually in the UK alone, which presents a significant biomass energy resource. It has limited availability in briquetted form in the UK but is widely used, particularly in Asia. The aim of this work is to assess the emission from briquetted agricultural residues to wood fuel, including commercial wood briquettes, when utilised in a 5 kW domestic heating stove. Other straw-type materials, sugarcane bagasse, Miscanthus, were also investigated. The combustion behaviour depended on the chemical and physical nature of the briquettes. Results indicate that fuel choice is an important consideration for emission reduction. Fuel-N directly correlates to emitted NOx and all the fuels studied had NOx emissions below the EU regulation limit. While agricultural residues can be relatively high in Cl and S, there is evidence of in-situ capture of HCl and SO2 by calcium salts in the fuel ash. Particulate emissions correlate with the volatile matter in the fuel, but also are influenced by the quality/durability of the briquette. The briquettes performed well compared to wood logs, and while there is a fuel-type influence on emissions, it is also clear that briquettes from optimised manufacture can be lower emitting than wood logs.