Bio-gasoline Production by Coupling of Biomass Catalytic Pyrolysis and Oligomerization Process

Implications of wheat straw logistic systems for bioenergy sustainable development in China: Costs, energy consumption, and GHG emissions

Wheat straw is a priority choice for bioenergy production, bioenergy as the essential low carbon emissions energy can be a good choice for alternating the petroleum-based fuels. In this study, face-to-face surveys were conducted to analyze the costs, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions involved in wheat straw logistic systems in China. The result identified five logistic modes, including two short-distance transportation and three long-distance transportation modes. These five modes exhibited costs ranging from 17.34-31.95 $ t^-1, energy consumption between 108.30 and 1060.45 MJ t^-1, and greenhouse gas emissions ranging from 0.71-11.52 kg CO₂-eq t^-1. A sensitivity analysis showed that the most important parameters in the short-distance transport group were the harvest rate and the bale weight. In the long-distance transport group, the distance from the depot to the end user and the truck capacity. After an overall consideration of the costs, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions, an optimal wheat straw logistic system was found in the short-distance transport group due to maximum harvest rate and bale weight by using better combines and balers. Whereas the distance from the depot to the end user should be reduced and higher capacity trucks should be used to have relatively optimal modes for the long-distance transport group. This study provides a valuable reference for bioenergy industries in feedstock collection.

Emerging Tools for Energy System Design Increasing Economic and Environmental Sustainability

Energy is a fundamental element supporting societal development, particularly with the increasing dependency on the Internet of Things. It is also the main contributor to environmental impacts and subsequently, a potential sector for mitigation. Sustainable energy system design considers energy savings and energy efficiency, waste and consumption reduction, process efficiency enhancement, waste heat recovery, and integration of renewable energy. Emerging tools range from advanced Process Integration, modelling, simulation, and optimisation, to system analysis and assessment. This review covers selected emerging studies promoting sustainable system design, including the recent developments reported in the Special Issue (SI) of the 22nd Conference on Process Integration, Modelling and Optimisation for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction (PRES’19). The primary emphasis was to enhance the economic and environmental performance. However, social factors were also highlighted as essential for future sustainable development. The discussion and analysis in this review focus on the most recent developments of (a) heat integration and heat transfer; (b) integrated and newly developed heat exchangers, (c) integration of renewables, and (d) roles in economic and environmental sustainability. The key results are highlighted, and future research ideas are suggested according to their links to a broader context.

Isomerization of n-C5/C6 Bioparaffins to Gasoline Components with High Octane Number

The thermal and catalytic conversion processes of alternative feedstocks (e.g., waste and biomass) to different engine fuels can result in the formation of a significant amount of light hydrocarbons as by-products in the boiling range of gasoline. The properties of these C5/C6 hydrocarbons need to be improved due to many reasons, e.g., their benzene content, and/or poor oxidation stability (high olefin content) and low octane number (<60). The aim of the research work was to increase the octane number of benzene containing C5/C6 bioparaffin fractions by catalytic isomerization. These by-products were obtained from special hydrocracking of waste cooking oil to hydrocarbons in the boiling range of aviation turbine fuels (JET fuels)/diesel fuels. Experiments were carried out in a reactor system containing down-flow tubular reactors over Pt/Al2O3/Cl and Pt/H-Mordenite/Al2O3 catalysts at 115–145 °C and 230–270 °C, respectively. Based on the results obtained at different process parameter combinations, it was concluded that the hydrogenation of benzene was complete over both catalysts, and the liquid yields were higher (ca. 98% > ca. 93 %) in the case of Pt/Al2O3/Cl. In addition, the octane number was also enhanced (ca. 32 > ca. 27 unit) in the products compared to the feedstock. This was because a higher isoparaffin content can be obtained at a lower operating temperature. Moreover, cracking side reactions take place to a lesser extent. The utilization of these isomerized bio-origin light fractions can contribute to the competitiveness of second-generation biofuels.