Scientific Program

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Scientific Program Day 1

Day :

  • Biomass Applications| Bioenergy Applications | Production of Biofuels | Biodiesel | RenewableEnergy
Location: Wien 1

Chair

Gideon Baklit

University of Jos, Nigeria

Session Introduction

Gideon Baklit

University of Jos, Nigeria

Title: Biomass energy and the development of Rural Nigeria

Time : 11:40-12:10

Biography:

Gideon Baklit is a Professor of Rural Development in the Department of Geography and Planning, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria. He has been a Consultant on several rural development projects spanning over agriculture and farm service centers in Plateau State, Nigeria. He was been a Team Leader on a three year Biomass Higher Education Research Programme with Kings College London during 2000-2002. As a follow up to the Research Linkage, he was invited to Loughborough University in the United Kingdom to present a paper on the stage of Biomass development in Nigeria, April 2012. At the moment, he is working with other colleagues in the Department and National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Plateau State, Nigeria on research partnership for the promotion and development of alternative energy especially biomass based electricity generation using an appropriate renewable energy policy.

Abstract:

Biomass is all plant and animal matter on the earth’s surface. Nigeria is blessed with abundant biomass resources that are either currently untapped or inefficiently harnessed. It has been estimated that about one billion metric tons of household waste is generated annually (comprising agro-residues such as rice husks, ground nut shells, corn curbs, sugar cane trash, coconut shells and sorghum stalks). Given those virtually free available huge quantities of biomass resources in Nigeria, the potentials for the development of alternative sustainable biomass based electricity for the development of rural Nigeria is very promising. Globally 1.4 billion people live without any form of commercial energy electricity. The implication of this is due to lack of access to energy and rural economies which cannot grow and develop as expected because of the absence or inadequacies (erratic supply/distribution of conventional energyelectricity) produced by Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) which still remains an illusion. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a radically different approach to electricity generation, particularly one that appreciates the condition and environment of the poor and their indigenous technology inclusive. Access to electricity is very important because it is the prime mover of all human socio-economic activities. More importantly, the adoption and development of biomass based electricity in Nigeria will enhance the drive towards rural development, electrification and industrialization. It will also promote the development of small scale economic activities which have immense potentials for strengthening poverty alleviation programs of the government, while simultaneously serving as  strategy for promoting a safe and healthy environment and sustainable development in rural Nigeria. Besides, it will assist the states and local governments to counter power outages being experienced and create an atmosphere of competition as well as job opportunities.

Ferruccio Pittaluga

University of Genoa, Italy

Title: Highly clean biochar for novel applications in the fields of agronomy, energy, residential housing

Time : 12:10-12:40

Biography:

Ferruccio Pittaluga recently retired, has been full professor of Thermal Machines at the University of Genoa. Now continues his teaching activity as contract professor. His fields of interests have been thermo-fluid dynamics, combustion and gasification, atmospheric emissions. In 1998 he established DIME/SCL, the Combustion Laboratory of the University of Genoa, of which has been in charge up to his retirement in 2015. The participation to numerous national and ECfunded R&D programs, mostly dealing with environmental sustainability of combustion processes, has granted, in the years, rich support for research activities and technological developments. In 2011, with a few of his former doctoral students, he was co-founder (and since then, president) of Tecnoforest, an academic spin-off (now an innovative SME) addressed at rapid growth forestation, wood gasification and biomass-based renewable energy cogeneration. Tecnoforest has been for some year’s Italian representative of APL gasifiers (USA).

 

Abstract:

Starting from 2011, the innovative SME Tecnoforest Ltd. (formerly an academic spin-off of the University of Genoa) has addressed its activity towards the testing of existing and the development of new, small-scale biomass gasification technologies aimed at assuring electric and thermal self-sufficiency to rural enterprises of the forestry and farming sectors. On the other hand, the high pollutants content of their products (syngas and biochar), common to both downdraft and updraft gasifiers, has become apparent as the main obstacle preventing, in absence of hardly affordable abatement provisions, a widespread penetration in both agricultural and renewable-energy sectors. Thanks to the novel, and very simple, gasification process recently developed at Tecnoforest Ltd., a clean, tar-free syngas is released from gasifier’s top nozzle, ready to fuel burners as well as internal combustion engines, whilst a highly clean biochar is produced, at all suitable, as attested by official certification, for several, quite diversified, applications. The paper, after a brief presentation of the latest developments achieved at Tecnoforest in relation to its gasification technologies, discusses the physicochemical characterization (officially certified) of the biochar produced by its wood-chips gasifier ‘Bio-SynChar’ (ref.[6]), correlating it to syngas quality. The analysis shows, in addition to a very low content of pollutants, an extremely small presence of active oxygen functional groups: this feature, which is brought about by the high temperature, time- prolonged, pyrolysis process taking place within ‘SynChar’ reactor, guarantees an excellent chemical stability to biochar not only in itself but, most importantly, when mixed with other substances, this latter point being discussed in the ‘applications’, as below synthesized.On above bases, the presentation will review the latest applications of biochar carried out at Tecnoforest, which encompass a really impressive and diversified range of fields, from atmospheric carbon sequestration to soil fertilization, from greenhouse heating to photosynthetic process enhancement, from biochar-based wall-plasters featuring excellent acoustic/thermal insulation and ambient humidity control to novel biochar- cement mixtures for paving bricks, floor tiles and roof shingles. Each one of the said applications will be discussed in the paper by presenting original outcome and ongoing experimentation directly performed at Tecnoforest. With reference to soil fertilization, results will be discussed of remarkable nutraceutical properties achieved by vegetables grown in activated-biochar soils. A typical greenhouse provision will also be presented aimed at enhancing the level of photo-synthetic activity by mixing its ambient air with the clean exhaust gases issuing from a syngas-fueled burner. From a completely different perspective, several examples will be presented of different biochar-based plasters (with biochar addition up to 60% vol) utilizing as binder either clay or lime. Their extremely interesting properties in wall thermal/acoustic insulation as well as in indoor-air humidity control will be documented. Finally, some prototypical samples will be shown an their peculiar characteristics discussed of floor-paving tiles obtained by pressing biochar cement wet mixtures in properly (maybe artistically) shaped moulds and then allowing adequate curing times.

 

Sangeeta Kohli

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India

Title: Biomass based rural energy systems in the third world: An engineering challenge

Time : 12:40-13:10

Biography:

Sangeeta Kohli is trained as a Mechanical Engineer with specialization in Thermal Science and Engineering and is currently a faculty member at IIT Delhi. She focusses on using her technical training for design, development and analysis of biomass based rural energy systems. She, along with her colleagues and students has developed the smallest downdraft gasifier cook stove using solid biomass at the lab scale, which is being developed as a product. She is particularly interested in working with rural communities for developing technical solutions for the rural energy needs and also encouraging students to take up such projects as part of their engineering education.

Abstract:

In the developing world, rural population still depends largely on biomass for cooking. Besides, traditional rural artisans making pottery, bell-metal craft, bangles, hand-tools etc. use biomass based furnaces. Decades back, the problem of improving the traditional systems using biomass particularly cook stoves was taken up by selected researchers across the globe with the last decade seeing a sharp increase in the concern over emissions from biomass as health hazards and agents of climate change. Efforts to develop and disseminate clean cooking devices have met with limited success due to several challenges on the ground. Ironically, the impact of large scale exploitation of the forest resources and that of traditional use of biomass have been put in the same basket leading to an undue rejection of this fuel by policy makers while it qualifies to be a fuel for a sustainable future due to its renewable nature, carbon
neutrality and decentralized availability. The need of the hour instead is to provide more technical inputs in close engagement with the users along with social awareness and mobilization to result in better technologies acceptable to the user. This has been the focus of work group of researchers at IIT Delhi which has been trying to use scientific methodologies for design and development of a downdraft gasifier cook stove, producer gas burner, pottery kilns, furnaces for bangle making and bell metal craft etc., and (ii) design of testing protocols for cook stoves, hood for emission measurement. Scientific rigor and interaction with the users wherever possible have been at the core of the approach followed. Despite that, there are many challenges in the adoption of the technologies which will be highlighted in this talk. Specific recommendations will be made emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to
make biomass an energy resource for sustainable development.

Petr Straka

University of Chemistry and Technology, Czech Republic

Title: Comparison of sulfidic and non-sulfidic catalysts for hydrotreating of rapeseed oil

Time : 14:00-14:30

Biography:

Petr Straka is an Assistant Professor at the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague in Czech Republic. He has his expertise in the development and testing of catalysts for the hydrotreating of triglycerides with the aim of the production of diesel fuel renewable bio-component. His work is also focused on the hydrotreating of straw bio-oil from ablative fast pyrolysis and consequent processing of the product in oil refinery. Now-a-days he is researching on possibilities of hydrocracking of Fischer-Tropsch wax in the neat form or in the mixture with petroleum vacuum gas oil.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem & Aim: According to the OPEC World Oil Outlook in 2040 the increase of diesel and jet fuel worldwide demand about 20% and 40%, respectively in comparison with today is expected. The increasing worldwide consumption of fossil fuels evokes efforts and usage of renewable raw materials for the production of biofuels which decreases the accumulation of greenhouse gases and allows restricted consumption of non-renewable crude oil reserves. The hydrotreating of triglycerides now-a-days seems to be a perspective way for the production of renewable component into diesel fuel. The purpose of this study is to compare the activities of sulfidic Ni Mo/γ-Al2O3 and Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3 and reduced Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalysts for the hydrotreating of rapeseed oil Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Continuous flow reactor with an inner diameter of 21 mm and fixed bed ofcatalyst was used. The reaction temperatures in the range of 260 360°C, the pressure of 4 MPa and WHSV of 2 h-1 were tested Findings: The complete deoxygenation of triglycerides was achieved at temperatures of 320ºC; 340ºC and 360°C with Ni Mo; Ni and Co-Mo catalysts, respectively. The intensive hydrogenolysis of alkanes and methanization of CO and CO2 at higher reaction temperatures were observed on Ni catalyst. Gaseous products from Ni catalyst thus containe only a minor amount of CO, CO2 and propane in contrast to both types of sulfidic catalysts. Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reactions were almost in balance with hydrodecarbonylation (HDCn) and hydrodecarboxylation (HDCx) reactions in case of both sulfidic catalysts. Higher isomerization activity of Co-Mo catalyst was observed incomparison with other tested catalysts Conclusion & Significance: Reduced Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalyst is a perspective type of catalyst for hydrotreating of neat triglycerides. The activity of this type of catalyst is sufficient and additionally, the doping of the feedstock by sulphur compound for the preservation of catalytic activity like in case of sulfidic catalysts is not necessary.

Reem Swidah

University of Manchester, UK

Title: Biobutanol production from a Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Time : 14:30-15:00

Biography:

Reem Swidah is a Post-doc in the MIB at the University of Manchester. She did her PhD in Prof. Chris Grant and Prof. Mark Ashe labs at the University of
Manchester and she Has worked on engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain toward biofuel production. Currently, she is working in Prof. Patrick Cai
lab and she is constructing and characterizing the new essential chromosome 3 and Synthetic Genomic Evolution (SCRaMBLE) in yeast. She has extensive experience in metabolic engineering, synthetic Biology and synthetic genome. She has more than 6 years of experience in biofuel production. She has published two articles in the high impact factor journals. She also has proven success in getting funding from the BBSRC and R2I grant, and she has experience leading teams to achieve the objectives of projects. She is also interested in business growth and in making business-to-business partnerships work.

Abstract:

Biobutanol represents a second generation biofuel, which can be produced naturally by a number of microorganisms. This alcohol has a number of significant advantages over bioethanol in terms of its physical properties as a fuel, but production systems suffer from various drawbacks. Therefore, we sought to transplant an entire butanol production pathway (the ABE pathway) into a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. However, this pathway was incapable of generating reasonable yields of butanol without further metabolic alteration to channel carbon towards the substrate of butanol production, acetyl CoA. For instance, the major alcohol dehydrogenase, ADH1, was deleted and two enzymes involved in acetyl-CoA biosynthesis were overexpressed to give strains capable of producing 300 mg/L butanol. Surprisingly, deletion of the ADH1 gene alone is sufficient to produce 40 mg/L butanol from an endogenous pathway. Previously, this endogenous butanol production pathway was characterized and proposed to derive from the mitochondrial catabolism of threonine via multiple leucine biosynthetic genes and the conversion of 2-ketovalerate to butanol. Therefore, the endogenous butanol production pathway is characterized further and we suggest that the endogenous route for butanol synthesis does not use the pathway previously proposed via Leucine metabolic enzymes. This work therefore makes use of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering to effectively set the scene for an initiative towards higher yields of butanol in yeast via concerted interventions in both the endogenous and exogenous pathways.

Magali Camila Vivas Cuellar

Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Title: Sustainable biodiesel production from non-combustible oils in Peru

Time : 15:00-15:30

Biography:

Magali Camila Vivas Cuellar will complete her PhD from Doctorate in Energy of Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, 2020. In 1999 she graduated as Chemical Engineer at Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru. She has published Journal of Fenomenos de Transferencia (ISSN 1995-6029, vol 7, 2012) and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute. Since 2008 she researches in non-edible oil biofuels (Bioethanol and Biodiesel). In 2018, she was a speaker in
6th GPE, Toulouse France and 20th TechConnect California, EUA.

Abstract:

In the country and the world, it has become aware about the characteristics of non-renewable fossil fuels and the high use of transport vehicles that use these fuels in addition to industries and other sectors. These have boosted global research on alternative fuels, especially those derived from biomass. In the global context, it is Europe that has led the market in 2009 with a production of 49.8% followed by the American continent with a share close to 33%. In the Asia-Pacific region, Australia is the largest producer followed by China and India. However, the countries with the highest production worldwide in 2009 were Germany, USA, France, Argentina and Brazil which in together they produced 64.8% of the total biodiesel in the world. The debate about considering biofuels as competitors persists with reference to the areas of cultivation and natural resources from the food sources of the world population. However, this is true if it is that the problem is seen as competition of the cultivation surfaces. An alternative is biodiesel, which has the potential to partially replace the diesel obtained from the Petroleum. The most important aspect in the production of biodiesel is the economy, which focuses on the used raw materials, Peru has housed the Higuerilla and Jatropha curcas successfully on their land, being able to produce a good amount of this raw material. One proposal is the production cleaner biodiesel with a competitive wreck and of adequate quality.

Touria Barradi

Casablanca Central School, Morocco

Title: The Moroccan energy model, towards the predominance of Renewables and valorization of the potential of biomass

Time : 15:30-16:00

Biography:

Touria obtained her PhD (1990) from the “Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine” and SUPELEC (France). She is also graduated engineer from SUPELEC (1980). Her career in training and research was accomplished at some engineering schools and universities in France and Morocco, where she led an engineering school. Touria contributes to some national and international programs linked to green energy and energy efficiency. She organizes and animates scientific events, related to green energy, energy efficiency and sustainable development. She is also Vice President of the “Association des ingénieurs Centraliens et Supélec du Maroc ”.

Abstract:

Energy dependency of imported fossil fuels, the commitment to the climate and the valorization of its energy resources are the driving forces to the emergence of the clean energy sector in Morocco. The valorization of its great potential of solar and wind resources [1] has led to a proactive policy to ensure a transition towards green energy. The country has one of the most ambitious clean energy targets in the world. The implementation of 10 GW leads th RE integration rate in the energy mix to reach 52% by 2030, making this achievement a historic turning point where the share of renewable electricity will exceed the share of fossil electricity. Large wind and solar projects have been developed under the framework of the called National Energy Strategy [2], spread over the Wind Integrated Program and Solar Plan, respectively [3]. Some world records have been achieved, such as the most competitive production cost using wind resources and the size of a multi-technological solar plant. However, as is well known, solar and wind sources for generating electrical energy, are both intermittent, which compels the power network to acquire new performances for better integration of Renewables (smart grids). Biomass, also a part of renewables, has the specificity of not suffering from this underperformance. In addition, it allows the valorization of sources whose management is a real problem for the local communities and converts the previously called “waste” into real energy deposits. The presentation aims to share the experience of the Moroccan energy transition model, with a focus on biomass. Giving an overview of the potential identified [4] and the dynamic around biomass, in order to endow the country with a national biomass strategy [5], some specific obstacles are discussed, and pertinent levers which are deployed, are explained.
1. Solar and wind Moroccan Atlas
2. National Energy Strategy, MEMEE (2009)
3. MEMEE, MEMDD, MASEN reports
4. A. Zkiou (Avril 2018), "Energies renouvelables et état d’avancement de l’étude relative à la biomasse",
MEMDD – Rabat
5. Workshop on “the state of progress of a study for the development of the national strategy for biomass
energy recovery”, MEMDD – (Feb. 2019)

Ronak A Hassan

University of Duhok, Iraq

Title: The determination of lignin content in some tree species for an effective biomass utilization

Time : 16:15-16:40

Biography:

Ronak A Hassan has her expertise in education in the fields of Biology and Science. Her interest in this research has established after her gain a high diplomain spatial planning in the subject of: air pollution caused by vehicle emissions, so she thought that an alternative and a renewable form of energy will be suitable for the region especially during this dispute era over fossil fuels. Woody biomass is one of these forms of energy that can be processed if sustainably utilized for generating energy and biofuels. But first, this requires several researches and investigations to estimate the regions capacity of biomass and their affordability. 

Abstract:

Statement of the problem: The utilization of woody biomass in Duhok Governorate for supplying energy is an important subject. Especially, now-a-days there are a lot of disputes around the fossil fuels and their insufficient supply according to the increase of the inhabitance in addition to the unstable economic situations that limit it’s acquiring. As well as their negative impact on the environment and the purpose of this study is to determine the amount of lignin in the tested samples to find out the best source for biomass energy since it is correlated with the heating value that is provided from their burning and hence prevent the over cutting of inefficient trees. Eventually, the results of this study will investigate the region’s capacity and the amount of biomass and fill some of the forest information gaps that face foresters in Duhok Governorate. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Depending on the DBH trees were divided into three classes. From each tree, three types of samples were taken, wood, bark and branch. Their wet weight were recorded, oven dried, grinded, and soxhlet was extracted. 72% H2SO4 were used to obtain Klason lignin then FTIR used to characterize the lignin. Findings: The highest value of lignin is based on the size of trees from large to small trees. Whilst the bark as the type of sample was from large tree of Pine gave a highest level of lignin. Conclusion & Significance: The results implied that the bark from both studied species are the best source for woody biomass and are highly significance (p< 0.01) in lignin percentage for both: classes and the types of samples. Recommendations: Increasing the plantations of Pinus brutia and set a harvesting plan that will provide the sustainability in the utilization. Raising the awareness about the need to preserve forests and prevent over-logging of trees.

Migle Santaraite

Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, Lithuania

Title: The use of different alcohols in lipase catalyzed in-situ transesterification processes to produce biodiesel

Time : 16:40-17:05

Biography:

Migle Santaraite graduated from Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering field at Kaunas University of Technology in 2015. Her field of study was renewable (solar, wind and geothermal) energy. Currently, she is a PhD student at the field of technology science, environmental engineering in Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy. Her field of study relates to the biodiesel fuel production and evaluation of physical and environmental properties of product obtained.

Abstract:

Rapeseed with high oil acidity is called low quality rapeseed and it is cheap raw material used for biodiesel production. The use of low quality rapeseed oil and biocatalyst is a green approach. The production of biodiesel were done by the lipase catalysed in situ by transesterification process with using a mineral diesel (as an extraction solvent), methanol or ethanol and biocatalyst- lipase. The conversion of rapeseed oil to biodiesel fuel was evaluated in the presence of a lipase from lipozyme TL IM (Thermomyces lanuginosus). The reaction conditions were optimized and conversions of rapeseed oil to fatty acid methyl ester or fatty acid ethyl ester was evaluated. The optimization temperature of the reaction, the duration of reaction and concentration of lipase were performed. The optimal reaction conditions when methanol to oil molar ratio was 5:1 were found to be a duration reaction of 5 h, a temperature reaction of 25°C and a lipase concentration of 7% (based on oil weight). Results showed 99.90% yield of rapeseed oil and rapeseed methyl esters in reaction product. The degree of transesterification acquired was 98.99%. The optimal reaction conditions when ethanol to oil molar ratio was 5:1 were found to be a duration reaction of 7 h, a temperature reaction of 30°C and a lipase concentration of 5% (based on oil weight). Results showed 99.92% yield of rapeseed oil and rapeseed ethyl esters in reaction product. The degree of transesterification acquired was 99.89%.

Salman Jalalifar

University of Tasmania, Australia

Title: A CFD study of biomass fast pyrolysis in a pilot-scale auger reactor

Time : 17:05-17:30

Biography:

Salman Jalalifar has completed his Master Degree from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Tabriz University, Iran. In the year 2016, he started his PhD at University of Tasmania, Australia. He spent three months at Memorial University, St. John’s, Canada as a visiting researcher, and currently he is a visiting research student at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. He has published seven papers in recognized journals and conference proceedings in the area of heat transfer and combustion.

Abstract:

This paper presents a CFD study of a fast pyrolysis process in a pilot-scale auger reactor. By providing a detailed CFD simulation of this reactor, we are capable to obtain a clearer insight into the complex physical phenomena associated with multi-phase flow dynamics, heat transfer and chemical kinetics. The three main products of the process are solid bio-char, condensable vapours and non-condensable gases. Therefore, a multi-fluid model coupled with a chemical solver is a suitable approach for the simulations. The feedstock is a lignocellulosic biomass which composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The biomass decomposition is simplified to ten reaction mechanisms. Three different phases that are taken into account are condensable/non-condensable phase or the gas phase as the primary phase, solid reacting phase or biomass phase as a secondary phase and non-reacting solid phase (steel shots) or heat carrier as the other secondary phase. Each phase composed of different species. The results for the product yield shows a good agreement between the CFD results and the experimental data previously received for the simulated reactor. The outcome of this study provides a validated CFD model for industry and researchers that may apply to optimize the operating conditions of the auger reactors in future.