Profitability studies are needed to establish the potential pathways required for viable biomethane production in the Brandenburg region of Germany. This work study the profitability of a potential ...biomethane production plant in the eastern German region of Brandenburg, through a specific practical scenario with data collected from a regional biogas plant located in Alteno (Schradenbiogas GmbH & Co. KG). Several parameters with potential economic influence such as distance of the production point to the grid, waste utilization percentage, and investment, were analyzed. The results illustrate a negative overall net present value with the scenario of no governmental investment, even when considering trading the CO2 obtained throughout the process. Subsidies needed to reach profitability varied with distance from 13.5 €/MWh to 19.3 €/MWh. For a fixed distance of 15 kms, the importance of percentage of waste utilization was examined. Only 100% of waste utilization and 75% of waste utilization would reach profitability under a reasonable subsidies scheme (16.3 and 18.8 €/MWh respectively). Concerning the importance of investment, a subsidized investment of at least 70% is demanded for positive net present values. Besides, the sensitivity analysis remarks the energy consumption of the biogas upgrading stage, the electricity price, and the energy consumption of biogas production as major parameters to be tackled for the successful implementation of biogas upgrading plants. The results here obtained invite to ponder about potential strategies to further improve the economic viability of this kind of renewable projects. In this line, using the CO2 separated to produce added-value chemicals can be an interesting alternative.
•The viability of biomethane production for real data in Brandenburg is evaluated.•Feed-in tariffs from 13.5 €/MWh to 19.3 €/MWh are needed to reach profitability.•Subsidizing 70% of the investment is needed for reaching profitability.•Selling CO2 at ca. 70 € per ton would render profitable biogas upgrading.
The major cause of global warming is greenhouse gases (GHGs). Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the key GHG contributing to environmental pollution and global warming. Overall climatic conditions are changing ...with global temperatures rising and the level of greenhouse gases increase in the atmosphere. This is of serious concern as this climatic change will have dire consequences for crops, human health, ecological balance and biodiversity. Climatic changes and imbalance in ecology can be ascribed to an increase in carbon-dioxide emissions in the environment. South Africa being a developing economy is at the thirteenth position in carbon-dioxide emissions. It is also one of the developing countries that top in consumption of fossil fuels. It is important to forecast future carbon-dioxide emissions for South Africa so that suitable sustainability policies can be framed and measures can be taken at the right time. Annual time series data of South Africa from the time period 1980 to 2016, has been used in this study to develop autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to predict CO2 emissions for the period of 2015–2027. It is forecasted by the use of the ARIMA model that carbon-dioxide emissions will rise at a constant rate in the next ten years in South Africa. This study will add a new dimension to existing literature and will provide a base for framing feasible environmental policies.
Lubricant base stocks of epoxidized oil and its alkyl esters namely epoxidized karanja fatty acid methyl, butyl, 2-methyl-1-propyl, and 2-ethylhexyl esters were synthesized from renewable nonedible ...source karanja oil (Pongamia glabra). The reaction was carried out using peroxy formic acid (HCOOH) generated in situ, 30 wt % aqueous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by monitoring oxirane oxygen value. The optimized conditions to obtain epoxidized products were oil/ester: HCOOH: H2O2 (1:2:8/1:1.5:3 mol/mol/mol). The epoxidized products were obtained in 90–97% conversion by GC analysis. All the products were characterized by GC, GC-MS, IR, 1H NMR spectral studies. The synthesized products were evaluated for physicochemical and lubricant properties. Based on viscosity index all the products belong to group III, category of base fluids as per API classification. Expecting pour point values that are on higher side, other lubrication properties such as viscosity, VI, flash point, Cu corrosion value, and air release value were found to be good.
Lubricant base stocks of acylated oil and its derivatives, namely, propionylated, butanoylated, and hexanoylated karanja oil and fatty acid methyl esters, were synthesized from renewable nonedible ...source karanja oil (Pongamia glabra). The reaction was carried out by Prilezhaev dihydroxylation, an in situ peroxyformic acid generated using hydrogen peroxide and formic acid. The hydroxylated derivatives were acylated with three acid anhydrides (C3, C4, and C6). All of the synthesized products were examined for their purity by GC and GC-MS and characterized by IR and 1H NMR spectral studies. The acylated derivatives were evaluated for physicochemical and lubricant properties. Propionylated and butanoylated esters of KFAME were found suitable as IS: 3098 hydraulic fluids in ISO VG 46 and ISO VG 68 categories, respectively. In addition, propionylated esters of KFAME are also suitable as IS: 8406 gear oils (R&O type). Other lubrication properties such as viscosity, viscosity index of all products belonging to group III, category of base fluids as per API classification, Cu corrosion value, weld point, and air release value were found to be good. These base stocks may find applications in hydraulic fluids and metal-working fluids.
The present research was conducted to study the relationship between parental perception and young children's usage of computers. The sample for the study comprised of 100 preschool children in the ...age group 3-6 years and their parents. The tools used for collecting information were self devised Questionnaire and Interview Schedule. Results of the study revealed that on an average, the sample children spent less than 5 hours per week on the computers and most of that time was utilized for recreational activities. Majority of the parents responded that computer helped their children in exploring new technology. Childrens' knowledge about colours, shapes, letters also developed by using computers. However, large number of parents also expressed concern that eyesight of their children got affected by using computers. Parental perception about computers was found to be independent of parental occupation and education. However, duration of computer used by children varied according to parental perception since parents having more positive perception about computers allowed their children to use computer more frequently. The study points to a need for strengthening positive parental perception about used of computers for children's learning.
Myotonic dystrophy (MD) has an autosomal dominant inheritance with a
high penetrance. The disease is characterized by a unique topography of
muscle atrophy, myotonia and dystrophic changes in ...non-muscular tissues
like lens of eye, testes, cerebrum, esophagus and other endocrine
glands. A patient of myotonic dystrophy, who had polyglandular failure
in the form of hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism, primary hypothyroidism
and Addison's disease is described.
PDF
