Biofuels are currently in the middle of a heated academic and public policy debate. Biofuel production has increased fivefold in the past decade and is expected to further double by 2020. Most of ...this expansion will happen in developing nations. This volume is the first of its kind, providing a comprehensive overview of the biofuel debate in developing countries. The chapters are written by a multidisciplinary team of experts, exposing the key drivers and impacts of biofuel production and use. The book covers impacts as diverse as air pollution, biodiversity loss, deforestation, energy security, food security, greenhouse gas emissions, land use change, rural development, water consumption and other socioeconomic issues. Its wide focus accommodates examples from countries in Africa, America and Asia. As such, this book will become an indispensable companion to academics, practitioners and policy makers who wish to know more about biofuel issues in the developing world.
Above ground biomass has been listed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as one of the five most prominent, visible, and dynamic terrestrial carbon pools. The increased awareness of the ...impacts of climate change has seen a burgeoning need to consistently assess carbon stocks to combat carbon sequestration. An accurate estimation of carbon stocks and an understanding of the carbon sources and sinks can aid the improvement and accuracy of carbon flux models, an important pre-requisite of climate change impact projections. Based on 15 research topics, this book demonstrates the role of remote sensing in quantifying above ground biomass (forest, grass, woodlands) across varying spatial and temporal scales. The innovative application areas of the book include algorithm development and implementation, accuracy assessment, scaling issues (local–regional–global biomass mapping), and the integration of microwaves (i.e. LiDAR), along with optical sensors, forest biomass mapping, rangeland productivity and abundance (grass biomass, density, cover), bush encroachment biomass, and seasonal and long-term biomass monitoring.
Biomass is a renewable energy source with increasing importance. The larger fraction of cost in biomass energy generation originates from the logistics operations. A major issue concerning biomass ...logistics is its storage, especially when it is characterized by seasonal availability. The biomass energy exploitation literature has rarely investigated the issue of biomass storage. Rather, researchers usually choose arbitrarily the lowest cost storage method available, ignoring the effects this choice may have on the total system efficiency. In this work, the three most frequently used biomass storage methods are analyzed and are applied to a case study to come up with tangible comparative results. Furthermore, the issue of combining multiple biomass supply chains, aiming at reducing the storage space requirements, is introduced. An application of this innovative concept is also performed for the case study examined. The most important results of the case study are that the lowest cost storage method indeed constitutes the system-wide most efficient solution, and that the multi-biomass approach is more advantageous when combined with relatively expensive storage methods. However, low cost biomass storage methods bear increased health, safety and technological risks that should always be taken into account.
Developing uniformly formatted, densified feedstock from lignocellulosic biomass is of interest to achieve consistent physical properties such as size and shape, bulk and unit density, and ...durability, which significantly influence storage, transportation and handling characteristics, and, by extension, feedstock cost and quality. A variety of densification systems are considered for producing a uniform format feedstock commodity for bioenergy applications, including (i) pellet mill, (ii) cuber, (iii) screw extruder, (iv) briquette press, (v) roller press, (vi) tablet press, and (vii) agglomerator. Each of these systems has varying impacts on feedstock chemical and physical properties, and energy consumption. This review discusses the suitability of these densification systems for biomass feedstocks and the impact these systems have on specific energy consumption and end‐product quality. For example, a briquette press is more flexible in terms of feedstock variables where higher moisture content and larger particles are acceptable for making good quality briquettes; or among different densification systems, a screw press consumes the most energy because it not only compresses but also shears and mixes the material. Pre‐treatment options like pre‐heating, grinding, steam explosion, torrefaction, and ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) can also help to reduce specific energy consumption during densification and improve binding characteristics. Binding behavior can also be improved by adding natural binders, such as proteins, or commercial binders, such as lignosulfonates. The quality of the densified biomass for both domestic and international markets is evaluated using PFI (United States standard) or CEN (European standard). Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
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La investigación se inició con un diagnóstico de fincas pertenecientes a la agricultura urbana y suburbana infestadas por Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wigth et Arm. Se determinaron en cuatro sistemas ...de uso (dos sistemas infestados por D. cinerea y dos sistemas agrícolas en explotación por 10 años luego de la deforestación del marabú y puesto en cultivo) en la zona de Becerra, finca Los Téllez del municipio Las Tunas. El objetivo fundamental fue valorar indicadores de calidad de los suelos Fersialíticos pardos rojizos sobre granitoides, que reflejen el grado de estabilidad de los suelos bajo el marabú y los cambios ocurridos por las prácticas de uso y manejo. Para evaluar el efecto de los sistemas de manejo sobre los indicadores de calidad de suelo se midieron indicadores químicos, (pH, P, Materia orgánica), físicos, (densidad aparente, contenido en arena, porosidad total) y biológicos, (densidad y biomasa de lombrices). Los resultados mostraron que los sistemas de D. cinerea resultaron los de mayor índice de calidad de los suelos tomando como indicadores materia orgánica, densidad aparente y biomasa de lombrices. Los sistemas cultivados alcanzaron la menor acumulación de carbono orgánico, densidad y biomasa de oligoquetos y porosidad total.
Biomass is the most widely used non-fossil fuel in the world. Biomass resources show a considerable potential in the long-term given the increasing proliferation of dedicated energy crops for ...biofuels. The second edition of Biomass Gasification and Pyrolysis is enhanced with new topics, such as torrefaction and cofiring, making it a versatile resource that not only explains the basic principles of energy conversion systems, but also provides valuable insight into the design of biomass conversion systems. This book will allow professionals, such as engineers, scientists, and operating personnel of biomass gasification, pyrolysis or torrefaction plants, to gain a better comprehension of the basics of biomass conversion. The author provides many worked out design problems, step-by-step design procedures and real data on commercially operating systems. With a dedicated focus on the design, analysis, and operational aspects of biomass gasification, pyrolysis, and torrefaction, Biomass Gasification, Pyrolysis and Torrefaction, Second Edition offers comprehensive coverage of biomass in its gas, liquid, and solid states in a single easy-to-access source. * Contains new and updated step-by-step process flow diagrams, design data and conversion charts, and numerical examples with solutions * Includes chapters dedicated to evolving torrefaction technologies, practicing option of biomass cofiring, and biomass conversion economics * Expanded coverage of syngas and other Fischer-Tropsch alternatives * Spotlights advanced processes such as supercritical water gasification and torrefaction of biomass. * Provides available research results in an easy-to-use design methodology
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