This paper discusses recent advances in gasification and pyrolysis research utilizing various biomass wastes including cotton gin trash. Texas A&M University (TAMU) has recently filed a provisional patent for a modular fluidized bed gasification and pyrolysis system (Serial No. 61/302,001, February 2010). Discussions on the capabilities of both systems are explained. In addition, recent researc...

We have examined various scenarios involving the growth of algae and the sequestering of carbon during its growth. End-uses for algae are found in the production of food supplements for humans; animal feed; oil extraction and its transesterification to produce biodiesel; electricity production upon combustion directly or by transforming the algae to methane anaerobically; or fuel production via...

The possibility and feasibility of using pyrolysis oil from printed circuit board (PCB) waste as a precursor for advanced carbonaceous materials is presented. The PCB waste was first pyrolyzed in a laboratory scale fixed bed reactor at 600 degrees C to prepare pyrolysis oil. The analysis of pyrolysis oil by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy indicated that it contained a very high proportion ...

The objective of this paper was to provide a preliminary analysis of energy utilization from biological wastewater treatment sludge (biosludge) in Taiwan, a densely populated country (estimate 640 persons/km) with a high dependence (over 99%) on imported energy. The discussion focused on the status of biosludge generation and its management in the years 2004–2010. Findings showed that the main ...

In order to clamp down on the illegal use of fishing boat fuel A (FBFA) and to reduce exhaust emissions in Taiwan, the residue from a desulfurization unit (RDS) and pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO) were added into FBFA with the ratio of 0.5% to form two new blended fuels (RDS0.5 and PFO0.5). The appearances of fuels from dark to light are RDS0.5, PFO0.5, and FBFA. The two new fuels have higher viscosit...

A novel approach to the recycling of polystyrene is reported here; polystyrene is converted to a biodegradable plastic, namely polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). This unique combinatorial approach involves the pyrolysis of polystyrene to styrene oil, followed by the bacterial conversion of the styrene oil to PHA by Pseudomonas putida CA-3 (NCIMB 41162). The pyrolysis (520 degrees C) of polystyrene in ...

Pyrolysis of palm kernel shell in a fixed-bed reactor was studied in this paper. The objectives were to investigate the effect of pyrolysis temperature and particle size on the products yield and to characterize the bio-oil product. In order to get the optimum pyrolysis parameters on bio-oil yield, temperatures of 350, 400, 450, 500 and 550 °C and particle sizes of 212–300 μm, 300–600 μm, 600μm...

A techno-economic analysis was performed for a 100 dry-ton/day (90,719 kg/day) fast pyrolysis transportable plant. Renewable Oil International® LLC provided the life cycle cost of operating a 100 dryton/day fast pyrolysis system using southern pine wood chips as feedstock. Since data was not available from an actual large-scale plant, the study examined data obtained from an actual 15 dry-ton/d...

It is well known that fossil fuel combustion has tremendous negative impact on ecology and global climate. It is non renewable as well. The present rate of technological and economic growth of a country may be unsustainable due to rapid consumption of fossil fuel like crude oil, natural gas or coal. Thus people search for viable renewable energy sources like biomass, hydropower, geothermal ener...

waste low density polyethylenes (ldpe) represent a source of energy and valuablechemicals, were pyrolysed catalytically in a batch reactor under atmospheric pressure. calciumcarbide was used as a catalyst to explore its effect on pyrolysis product distribution. the effect oftemperature, amount of catalyst and time on the yields of the pyrolysed products wasinvestigated. the effect of catalyst o...