Biofuels produced from cellulosic biomass can be used to replace petroleum-based transportation fuels. However, the manufacturing cost of cellulosic biofuels is still high, partly due to the low density of cellulosic ...Biofuels produced from cellulosic biomass can be used to replace petroleum-based transportation fuels. However, the manufacturing cost of cellulosic biofuels is still high, partly due to the low density of cellulosic feed-stocks. Pelleting of cellulosic feedstocks can increase their density, making their transportation and storage as well as biofuel conversion more efficient and, therefore, reducing the overall cost of biofuel manufacturing. It has been shown that ultrasonic-vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting, without using high-temperature steam and binder materials, can produce pellets with density comparable to that produced by conventional pelleting methods. Furthermore, the sugar yield of biomass (wheat straw) processed with UV-A pelleting is 20% higher than that of biomass pelleted without ultrasonic vibration. This paper reports an experimental investigation of UV-A pelleting of switchgrass. The influences of ultrasonic vibration on pellet density, stability, durability, and pelleting force are discussed. It is concluded that pellets processed with ultrasonic vibration had higher density and stability than those processed without ultrasonic vibration, they were more durable than those processed without ultrasonic vibration, and pelleting force with ultrasonic vibration was lower than that without ultrasonic vibration.展开更多
The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region is one of the most heavily polluted regions in China, with both high PM2.5 concentrations and a high population density. A quantitative source-receptor relationship can provide...The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region is one of the most heavily polluted regions in China, with both high PM2.5 concentrations and a high population density. A quantitative source-receptor relationship can provide valuable insights that can inform effective emission control strategies. Both source appor- tionment (SA) and source sensitivity (SS) can provide such information from different perspectives. In this study, both methods are applied in northern China to identify the most significant emission cate- gories and source regions for PMz5 exposure in BTH in 2013. Despite their differences, both models show similar distribution patterns for population and simulated PM2.5 concentrations, resulting in overall high PM2.5 exposure values (approximately 110 Ixg/m3) and particularly high exposure values during the win- ter (approximately 200 ktg/m3). Both methods show that local emissions play a dominant role (70%), with some contribution from surrounding provinces (e.g., Shandong) via regional transport. The two methods also agree on the priority of local emission controls: both identify industrial, residential, and agricultural emissions as the top three categories that should be controlled locally. In addition, the effect of control- ling agricultural ammonia emissions is approximately doubled when the co-benefits of reducing nitrate are considered. The synthesis of SA and SS for addressing specific categories of emissions provides a quantitative basis for the development of emission control strategies and policies for controlling PM2.5 in China.展开更多
基金Supported by National Science Foundation of USA(CMMI-0970112)
文摘Biofuels produced from cellulosic biomass can be used to replace petroleum-based transportation fuels. However, the manufacturing cost of cellulosic biofuels is still high, partly due to the low density of cellulosic feed-stocks. Pelleting of cellulosic feedstocks can increase their density, making their transportation and storage as well as biofuel conversion more efficient and, therefore, reducing the overall cost of biofuel manufacturing. It has been shown that ultrasonic-vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting, without using high-temperature steam and binder materials, can produce pellets with density comparable to that produced by conventional pelleting methods. Furthermore, the sugar yield of biomass (wheat straw) processed with UV-A pelleting is 20% higher than that of biomass pelleted without ultrasonic vibration. This paper reports an experimental investigation of UV-A pelleting of switchgrass. The influences of ultrasonic vibration on pellet density, stability, durability, and pelleting force are discussed. It is concluded that pellets processed with ultrasonic vibration had higher density and stability than those processed without ultrasonic vibration, they were more durable than those processed without ultrasonic vibration, and pelleting force with ultrasonic vibration was lower than that without ultrasonic vibration.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41625020 and 41571130035)the Ford Company, U.S.DOE grant #DE-SC0006695 at NCSU+1 种基金China's Special Scientific Research Funds for Environment Protection Commonweal Section(201409027)a DOE Office of Science User Facility supported by the Office of Science of the U.S.Department of Energy (DE-AC02-05CH11231)
文摘The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region is one of the most heavily polluted regions in China, with both high PM2.5 concentrations and a high population density. A quantitative source-receptor relationship can provide valuable insights that can inform effective emission control strategies. Both source appor- tionment (SA) and source sensitivity (SS) can provide such information from different perspectives. In this study, both methods are applied in northern China to identify the most significant emission cate- gories and source regions for PMz5 exposure in BTH in 2013. Despite their differences, both models show similar distribution patterns for population and simulated PM2.5 concentrations, resulting in overall high PM2.5 exposure values (approximately 110 Ixg/m3) and particularly high exposure values during the win- ter (approximately 200 ktg/m3). Both methods show that local emissions play a dominant role (70%), with some contribution from surrounding provinces (e.g., Shandong) via regional transport. The two methods also agree on the priority of local emission controls: both identify industrial, residential, and agricultural emissions as the top three categories that should be controlled locally. In addition, the effect of control- ling agricultural ammonia emissions is approximately doubled when the co-benefits of reducing nitrate are considered. The synthesis of SA and SS for addressing specific categories of emissions provides a quantitative basis for the development of emission control strategies and policies for controlling PM2.5 in China.