Alpha Creation Enterprise
Biofuel Research Journal
2292-8782
9
2
2022
06
01
On quantifying sources of uncertainty in the carbon footprint of biofuels: crop/feedstock, LCA modelling approach, land-use change, and GHG metrics
1608
1616
EN
Miguel
Brandao
0000-0002-8101-8928
Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE), KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.
miguel.brandao@abe.kth.se
Reinout
Heijungs
Department of Operations Analytics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
heijungs@cml.leidenuniv.nl
Annette
R
Cowie
NSW Department of Primary Industries, University of New England, Armidale, Australia.
annette.cowie@dpi.nsw.gov.au
10.18331/BRJ2022.9.2.2
Biofuel systems may represent a promising strategy to combat climate change by replacing fossil fuels in electricity generation and transportation. First-generation biofuels from sugar and starch crops for ethanol (a gasoline substitute) and from oilseed crops for biodiesel (a petroleum diesel substitute) have come under increasing levels of scrutiny due to the uncertainty associated with the estimation of climate change impacts of biofuels, such as due to indirect effects on land use. This analysis estimates the magnitude of some uncertainty sources: i) crop/feedstock, ii) life cycle assessment (LCA) modelling approach, iii) land-use change (LUC), and iv) greenhouse gas (GHG) metrics. The metrics used for characterising the different GHGs (global warming potential-GWP and global temperature change potential-GTP at different time horizons) appeared not to play a significant role in explaining the variance in the carbon footprint of biofuels, as opposed to the crop/feedstock used, the inclusion/exclusion of LUC considerations, and the LCA modelling approach (p<0.001). The estimated climate footprint of biofuels is dependent on the latter three parameters and, thus, is context-specific. It is recommended that these parameters be dealt with in a manner consistent with the goal and scope of the study. In particular, it is essential to interpret the results of the carbon footprint of biofuel systems in light of the choices made in each of these sources of uncertainty, and sensitivity analysis is recommended to overcome their influence on the result.
indirect Land-Use Change (iLUC),Climate change mitigation,life cycle assessment,Carbon Footprint,Biofuels,Uncertainty
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_148830.html
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_148830_fd356fed5c438f3058633d85781d53b1.pdf
Alpha Creation Enterprise
Biofuel Research Journal
2292-8782
9
2
2022
06
01
Fractionation of fatty acid methyl esters via urea inclusion and its application to improve the low-temperature performance of biodiesel
1617
1629
EN
Junli
Liu
0000-0002-9828-988X
Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
junliliucz@gmail.com
Bernard
Tao
Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
tao@purdue.edu
10.18331/BRJ2022.9.2.3
Biodiesel is viewed as the alternative to petroleum diesel, but its poor low-temperature performance constrains its utilization. Cloud point (CP), the onset temperature of thermal crystallization, appropriately shows the low-temperature performance. The effective way to reduce CP is to remove saturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Compared to current methods, this work describes an extraordinary approach to fractionating FAMEs by forming solid urea inclusion compounds (UICs). Urea inclusion fractionation reduces the CPs by removing high melting-point linear saturated FAME components. Urea inclusion fractionation in this study was performed under various processing conditions: mass ratios of urea to FAMEs to solvents, various solvents, FAMEs from various feedstocks, and processing temperatures. Supersaturation of urea in the solution is the driving force, and it significantly affects yield, composition, CP, separation efficiency, and selectivity. Through a single urea inclusion fractionation process, FAMEs, except palm oil FAMEs, resulted in CP reduction ranging from 20 to 42 <sup>o</sup>C with a yield of 77–80% depending on the compositions. CP of palm oil FAMEs could reach as low as -17 <sup>o</sup>C with a yield of 46% after twice urea inclusion fractionation. According to the model prediction, the cetane number after urea inclusion fractionation decreased about 0.7–2 but was still higher than the minimum biodiesel requirement. Oxidation stability after urea inclusion decreased according to the proposed model, but this can be mitigated by adding antioxidants. Emission evaluation after urea inclusion fractionation indicated decreased hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. However, it resulted in the increasing emission of nitrogen oxides.
Biodiesel,Fractionation, Cloud point,Cetane number,Oxidation stability,emissions
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_148829.html
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_148829_01394c8b168043bfb34e510740951adb.pdf
Alpha Creation Enterprise
Biofuel Research Journal
2292-8782
9
2
2022
06
01
Bio-oil hydrodeoxygenation over acid activated-zeolite with different Si/Al ratio
1630
1639
EN
Saharman
Gea
Cellulosic and Functional Materials Research Centre, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Jl. Bioteknologi No. 1, Medan 20155, Indonesia.
s.gea@usu.ac.id
Irvan
Irvan
Cellulosic and Functional Materials Research Centre, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Jl. Bioteknologi No. 1, Medan 20155, Indonesia.Utara. Jalan Almamater Komplek USU Medan, 20155, Indonesia
irvan@usu.ac.id
Karna
Wijaya
0000000181550896
Department of Chemistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia.
karnawijaya@ugm.ac.id
Asma
Nadia
Department of Chemistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia.
asmanadia@mail.ugm.ac.id
Ahmad
Nasir
Pulungan
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jl. Willem Iskandar Pasar V Medan Estate, Medan 20221, Indonesia.
nasirpl@unimed.ac.id
Junifa
Layla
Sihombing
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jl. Willem Iskandar Pasar V Medan Estate, Medan 20221, Indonesia.
junifalaylasihombing@unimed.ac.id
Rahayu
Rahayu
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jl. Willem Iskandar Pasar V Medan Estate, Medan 20221, Indonesia.
ayurah365@gmail.com
10.18331/BRJ2022.9.2.4
Bio-oil includes significant levels of oxygenate molecules, which might induce component instability and reduce its physicochemical qualities. To counteract this, the component must undergo a hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction. Due to the presence of acidic active sites, zeolites have been shown to have high hydrogenation and deoxygenation capabilities. However, natural zeolite has a large number of impurities and low acidity density. Consequently, before being employed as an HDO catalyst, pretreatments such as preparation and activation are required. In this study, the catalyst used was an active natural zeolite whose acidity level varied depending on the Si/Al ratio after dealumination with 3, 5, and 7 M hydrochloric acid, proceeded by calcination with nitrogen gas flow (designated as Z3, Z5, and Z7, respectively). The results showed that dealumination and calcination of zeolite generally caused changes in its physical characteristics and components. The Z5 catalyst showed the best catalytic performance in the HDO process of bio-oil. The higher heating value (HHV) of bio-oil increased from 12 to 18 MJ/kg, the viscosity value doubled, the degree of deoxygenation increased to 77%, and the water content reduced dramatically to about one-third of that of raw bio-oil. Moreover, control compounds, such as carboxylic acids, decreased slightly, but the amount of phenol increased to about twice the content in raw bio-oil.
Natural zeolite,Dealumination,Si/Al Ratio,Bio-oil hydrodeoxygenation,Physicochemical properties
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_150724.html
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_150724_28b68006afc0094003f65a6b12a4f693.pdf
Alpha Creation Enterprise
Biofuel Research Journal
2292-8782
9
2
2022
06
01
The imbalance of food and biofuel markets amid Ukraine-Russia crisis: A systems thinking perspective
1640
1647
EN
Zahra
Shams Esfandabadi
Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI), Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy.
zahra.shamsesfandabadi@polito.it
Meisam
Ranjbari
Department of Economics and Statistics "Cognetti de Martiis", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
meisam.ranjbari@unito.it
Simone
Domenico
Scagnelli
School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
10.18331/BRJ2022.9.2.5
The Ukraine war has immensely affected both food and energy systems due to the significant role of Russia in supplying natural gas and fertilizers globally and the extensive contribution of both Russia and Ukraine in exporting grains and oilseeds to the international markets. Hence, the Ukraine-Russia conflict has resulted in a shortage of crops and grains in the food market, especially in Europe, causing speculations if these resources should still be used for biofuel production (1<sup>st</sup> Generation). However, the International Energy Agency has warned that lowering biofuel mandates could result in rising petroleum demand and supply concerns. In light of these unfolding events, a systems thinking approach is required to monitor and analyze the implications of this crisis for food and biofuel markets as a whole to alleviate the concerns faced and plan sustainably. In this vein, based on the trade-offs between food system elements and the biofuel supply chain, as well as the potential effects of the war on the food and energy systems worldwide, a causal loop diagram is developed in the present work. According to the insights provided, the key to preventing food insecurity and keeping biofuel mandates on an increasing trend simultaneously amid the Ukraine war is to switch from the 1<sup>st</sup> Generation biofuels to higher generations. This transition would reduce not only the pressure on the food market to move toward zero hunger (SDG 2) but also pave the way to move towards a circular economy and clean and affordable energy (SDG 7) during the post-war era.
Biofuel,food crisis,Ukraine-Russia war,food insecurity,Circular Economy,climate change
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_150727.html
https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_150727_296204f602f82e8fd5b098ef029ec3fa.pdf