Lignocellulosic biomass conversion to produce biofuels has received significant attention because of the quest for a replacement for fossil fuels. Among the various thermochemical and biochemical routes, fast pyrolysis followed by catalytic hydrotreating is considered to be a promising near-term opportunity. This paper reports on experimental methods used 1) at the National Renewable Energy Lab...

The worldwide concern regarding global warming has increased the interest of using biomass as a renewable and CO2 neutral source of energy. Pyrolysis oil (PO), as one of the most important product of biomass conversion, has the potential to be used as a fuel oil substitute in many applications for heat and electricity generation. However, pyrolysis oil properties and its behavior during combust...

With an environment comparable to that of primordial Earth, a surface strewn with liquid hydrocarbon lakes, and an atmosphere denser than that of any other moon in the solar system, Saturn’s largest moon Titan is a treasure trove of potential scientific discovery and is the target of a proposed NASA mission scheduled for launch in roughly one decade. A chief consideration associated with the de...

This article analyzes the influence of the ignition retardation on the fuel consumption, the cumulative tailpipe hydrocarbon emissions, and the temperature inside the three-way catalytic converter in a gasoline direct injection engine operated under idling conditions. A dedicated cylinder-individual, model-based, multivariable controller was used in experiments in order to isolate the effect of...

Host molecules with U-shaped receptor cavities have been derivatized at their convex side with two n-hydrocarbon tails (1), two first-generation (2), and two second-generation (3) monodendritic hydrocarbon tails. Although hosts 1 and 2 display plastic-crystalline behavior, evidence suggests that host 3 forms a cubic liquid-crystalline phase. In this phase, molecules of 3 are arranged in spheric...

Accidental fuel spills on world heritage subantarctic Macquarie Island have caused considerable contamination. Due to the island's high latitude position, its climate, and its fragile ecosystem, traditional methods of remediation are unsuitable for on-site clean up. We investigated the tolerance of a subantarctic native tussock grass, Poa foliosa (Hook. f.), to Special Antarctic Blend (SAB) die...

It is generally considered that the addition of biodiesel has a positive effect on biodegradation of diesel fuel hydrocarbons. Although the stimulating effect has been widely recognized, the exact mechanisms behind this phenomenon are still not entirely elucidated. While the presence of biodiesel may induce dispersion of diesel fuel hydrocarbons, thereby increasing their overall bioavailability...