Advanced Alternative Fuels: Technology Development Report

This Advanced Alternative Fuels Technology Development 2018 presents an assessment of the state of the art, development trends, targets and needs, technological barriers, as well as techno-economic projections until 2050. Particular attention is paid to how EC funded projects contributed to technology advancements. It includes an overview of Member States' activities based on information from the relevant SET Plan Temporary Working Groups as well as the objectives and main outcomes of the most relevant international programmes.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Sustainable Advanced Biofuels: Technology Market Report

This Sustainable Advanced Biofuels Technology Market Report 2018 presents an assessment of the state of the art, development trends, targets and needs, technological barriers, as well as techno-economic projections until 2050. Particular attention is paid to how EC funded projects contributed to technology advancements. It includes an overview of Member States' activities based on information from the relevant SET Plan Temporary Working Groups as well as the objectives and main outcomes of the most relevant international programmes.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Biodegradation of chlorinated alcohols

Aim of this work was the development of an environmentally friendly process for the degradation of the halohydrins 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) and 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-CPD). The ability of 75 bacterial strains to degrade 1,3-DCP and 3-CPD was investigated. Pseudomonas putida DSM 437 was selected as the most effective one. The ability of the selected microorganism to degrade different concentrations of 1,3-DCP or 3-CPD was further studied. The degradation percentages for 3-CPD were low (31,61% for initial 3-CPD concentration 500 mg.L-1). Concerning 1,3-DCP no degradation was observed at concentrations higher than 100 mg.L-1.Cells adapted to chloropropanols were harvested at the late exponential phase, re-suspended in buffer of smaller volume (compared to the initial culture) and used for the study of the kinetic parameters of the degradation of 1,3-DCP, 3-CPD and their mixture. In this case, degradation of 1,3-DCP was observed at every concentration tested (50-500 mg.L-1) whereas the degradation percentages of 3-CPD were increased. The maximum rate of 1,3-DCP degradation was found 2.78.10-6 mmoles.mg DCW-1 .h-1 and the respective rate for 3-CPD was 1.28.10-5 mmoles.mg DCW-1 .h-1. However, the affinity towards both halohydrins (Km) was practically the same. When mixture of the two compounds was used, decrease in the degradation rates of both compounds was observed but the kinetic model that describes the concurrent degradation could not be defined.Moreover, cell-free extracts were used in order the degradation kinetics to be studied and the metabolic pathway to be elucidated. When using cell-free extract, apparent vmax and Km values for 1,3-DCP were estimated at 9.61.10-6 mmoles.mg protein-1.h-1 and 8.00 mM respectively while for 3-CPD were 2.42.10-5 mmoles.mg protein-1.h-1 and 9.07 mM. GC-MS analysis of cell-free extracts samples spiked with 1,3-DCP revealed the presence of 3-CPD and glycerol, intermediates of 1,3-DCP degradation pathway according to the literature. The degradation rate of 1,3-DCP was decreased when ECH (the product of 1,3-DCP dechlorination) was added to the reaction mixture. 3-CPD degradation was also strongly inhibited by the presence of epichlorohydrin and in less extent by glycidol, intermediates of dehalogenation pathway. Additionally, the degradation rate of 3-CPD was decreased when 1,3-DCP was added in the reaction mixture showing a potential competition of both substrates for the same enzyme.Furthermore, 3-CPD biodegradation by Ca-alginate immobilized Pseudomonas putida cells was performed in batch system, continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a packed-bed reactor (PBR). Batch system exhibited higher biodegradation rates and 3-CPD uptakes compared to CSTR and PBR. The two continuous systems (CSTR and PBR) when compared at 200 mg/L, 3-CPD in the inlet exhibited the same removal of 3-CPD at steady state. External mass transfer limitations are found negligible at all systems examined since the observable modulus for external mass transfer Ω1. Intraparticle diffusion resistance has a significant effect on 3-CPD biodegradation in all systems studied but to a different extent. Thiele modulus was in the range of 2.5 in batch system but it was increased at 11 when increasing cell loading in the beads, thus lowering significantly the respective effectiveness factor. Comparing the systems at the same cell loading in the beads PBR is less affected by internal diffusional limitations compared to CSTR and batch system and as a result exhibited the highest overall effectiveness factor.Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η ανάπτυξη μίας φιλικής προς το περιβάλλον διεργασίας για την αποτελεσματική αποικοδόμηση των αλοϋδρινών, 1,3-διχλωρο-2-προπανόλης (1,3-DCP) και 3-χλώρο-1,2-προπανεδιόλης (3-CPD). Οι συγκεκριμένες ενώσεις επιλέχθηκαν λόγω αφενός της επικινδυνότητας τους και αφετέρου λόγω της ευρείας παρουσίας τους σε βιομηχανικά απόβλητα.Μελετήθηκε η ικανότητα 75 βακτηριακών στελεχών να αποικοδομούν τις 1,3-DCP και 3-CPD. Από τα στελέχη αυτά επιλέχθηκε ως πιο αποτελεσματικό το βακτήριο Pseudomonas putida DSM 437. Ελέγχθηκε η ικανότητα καλλιεργειών του συγκεκριμένου μικροοργανισμού να αποικοδομούν διαφορετικές συγκεντρώσεις 1,3-DCP ή 3-CPD. Τα ποσοστά αποικοδόμησης για την 3-CPD ήταν χαμηλά (31,61% για αρχική συγκέντρωση 500 mg.L-1) ενώ για την 1,3-DCP δεν παρατηρήθηκε αποικοδόμηση σε συγκεντρώσεις μεγαλύτερες των 100 mg.L-1.Προσαρμοσμένα σε χλωροπροπανόλες κύτταρα συλλέχθηκαν στην ύστερη εκθετική φάση, επαναδιαλύθηκαν σε μικρότερο όγκο ρυθμιστικού διαλύματος (σε σχέση με την αρχική καλλιέργεια) και χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για την μελέτη των κινητικών παραμέτρων της αποικοδόμησης της 1,3-DCP, της 3-CPD και μίγματος αυτών. Στην περίπτωση αυτή, παρατηρήθηκε αποικοδόμηση της 1,3-DCP σε όλο το εύρος των συγκεντρώσεων που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν (50-500 mg.L-1) ενώ αυξήθηκαν τα ποσοστά αποικοδόμησης και για την 3-CPD. Ο μέγιστος ρυθμός αποικοδόμησης της 1,3-DCP υπολογίστηκε σε 2,78.10-6 mmoles.mg DCW-1 .h-1 ενώ ο αντίστοιχος για την 3-CPD ήταν 1,28.10-5 mmoles.mg DCW-1 .h-1. Στην περίπτωση του μίγματος παρατηρήθηκε μείωση του ρυθμού αποικοδόμησης της κάθε ένωσης χωριστά χωρίς να καταστεί δυνατή η εξαγωγή ενός κινητικού μοντέλου.Στη συνέχεια, χρησιμοποιήθηκε εσωκυτταρικό διάλυμα κυττάρων P. putida DSM 437 προσαρμοσμένων σε χλωροπροπανόλες για τον προσδιορισμό του μεταβολικού μονοπατιού που ακολουθεί η αποικοδόμηση καθώς και των κινητικών παραμέτρων. Σε δείγματα που προστέθηκε 1,3-DCP, μετά από 24h επώασης, ανιχνεύθηκαν 3-CPD και γλυκερόλη επιβεβαιώνοντας το προτεινόμενο από τη βιβλιογραφία μεταβολικό μονοπάτι. Η αποικοδόμηση της 3-CPD αποδείχτηκε ταχύτερη από αυτήν της 1,3-DCP με τις μέγιστες ταχύτητες να είναι 2,42.10-5 και 9,61.10-6 mmoles.mg πρωτεΐνης-1 .h-1, αντίστοιχα. Ο ρυθμός αποικοδόμησης της 1,3-DCP μειώθηκε παρουσία επιχλωρυδρίνης (του προϊόντος της αποχλωρίωσης της 1,3-DCP). Αντίστοιχα, παρατηρήθηκε μείωση του ρυθμού αποικοδόμησης της 3-CPD όταν προστέθηκαν επιχλωρυδρίνη ή γλυσιδόλη (ο προηγούμενος και ο επόμενος μεταβολίτης του μονοπατιού) στο διάλυμα της αντίδρασης. Μείωση του ρυθμού αποικοδόμησης της 3-CPD παρατηρήθηκε και όταν προστέθηκε 1,3-DCP στο μίγμα της αντίδρασης υποδηλώνοντας ενδεχομένως ανταγωνισμό των δύο υποστρώματα για το ίδιο ένζυμο. Τέλος, μελετήθηκε η αποικοδόμηση της 3-CPD από ακινητοποιημένα σε αλγινικό ασβέστιο κύτταρα P. putida DSM 437. Χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τρεις διαφορετικές διεργασίες: σύστημα διαλείποντος έργου με σφαιρίδια σε κωνικές φιάλες, συνεχής βιοαντιδραστήρας πλήρους ανάδευσης (CSTR) και βιοαντιδραστήρας σταθερής κλίνης (PBR). Το σύστημα διαλείποντος έργου παρουσίασε υψηλότερους ρυθμούς αποικοδόμησης από τα δύο συνεχή συστήματα. Στα συστήματα αυτά, παρατηρήθηκε ίδια αποικοδόμηση 3-CPD σε συνθήκες μόνιμης κατάστασης (συγκέντρωση 3-CPD στην είσοδο 200 mg.L-1). Οι περιορισμοί λόγω της εξωτερικής μεταφοράς μάζας ήταν αμελητέοι σε όλα τα συστήματα που εξετάστηκαν (Ω1). Αντίθετα, η ενδοσωματιδιακή διάχυση είχε σημαντική επίδραση σε όλα τα συστήματα. Το μέτρο του Thiele κυμάνθηκε από 2,5 έως 11 στο σύστημα διαλείποντος έργου ανάλογα με το κυτταρικό φορτίο που χρησιμοποιήθηκε για τη δημιουργία των σφαιριδίων. Συγκρίνοντας τα συστήματα στο ίδιο κυτταρικό φορτίο, ο PBR επηρεάζεται λιγότερο από τους περιορισμούς στην εσωτερική διάχυση σε σύγκριση με τον CSTR και το σύστημα διαλείποντος έργου παρουσιάζοντας τον υψηλότερο συνολικό παράγοντα αποτελεσματικότητας

Could Biomass Derived Fuels Bridge the Emissions Gap between High Speed Rail and Aviation?

Aviation is a steadily growing sector, which largely contributes to transport greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. When High Speed Rail (HSR) and aviation are considered as alternative options, HSR proves to be a more environmentally friendly mode of transport. Public available data have been used in order to calculate the emission profiles on two selected intra-European routes (London–Paris and Frankfurt–Amsterdam) by HSR and air. As expected, the air mode results in higher GHG emissions and solutions for mitigating its impact have been analyzed and suggested. Biomass Derived Fuels (BDF) has a limited, up to now, potential, to fill the existing gap in terms of emissions with rail. Moreover, BDF reduction in GHG emissions is accompanied with by an increase in fuel cost. Finally, the cost per tonne of avoided CO2e by using BDF—which values 186 €/t—has been compared with the prices of the European Union (EU) Emission Trading System (ETS) allowances and, from a purely economic perspective, this market based measure still seems a preferable option to curb the GHG emissions of the air mode.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Life Cycle Analysis of the bioethanol production from food waste: A review

Food Waste because of its composition is considered as a promising feedstock for the production of biofuels and in particular bioethanol. From a technical point of view, the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic materials is a well-studied process consisting of the stages of pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation and product recovery. However, the legal framework regarding biofuels has established specific environmental criteria for their production which are regularly updated. The most common tool for the assessment of the environmental performance of a process or product is the Life Cycle Analysis. In the present review, the results of LCA studies on the production of bioethanol from food waste are presented. Significant differences are observed among the studies in terms of the methodological choices made. Despite the high heterogeneity observed which does not allow a direct comparison among them, there is strong evidence that the production of bioethanol from food waste is an eco-friendly process which can substantially contribute to Green House Gas emissions savings.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

The Determinants of the Growth of the European Bioplastics Sector—A Fuzzy Cognitive Maps Approach

The extensive use of plastics and the environmental burden associated with their disposal have attracted the attention of scientists, politicians and citizens in Europe. In this frame, the EU has adopted a European Strategy for Plastics aiming, on the one hand, at reducing the use of plastic and, on the other hand, promoting their reuse in the context of a circular economy directly linked with the recently adopted Bioeconomy Strategy. Bioplastics could be an alternative to the conventional plastics, but they still have a limited share in the market. In this paper, Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs), a soft computing technique for analysing complex decision-making problems, is applied to identify the factors acting as drivers or barriers towards a bio-based plastics industry, their relative importance and the interactions between them. Experts with diverse backgrounds (technical experts, policy makers, industry executives) were interviewed in order to capture their perceptions and create a collective FCM capturing the strong and the weak points of the system. The collective FCM has a total number of 38 factors, which reflect the different approaches and knowledge of the experts. Overall, the “bio-based plastics” system is influenced mainly by the following factors: “EU Legislation”, “Monomers purity”, “Properties of the product”, “Recycling potential”, “Research & Development”, “National Legislation” and “Production cost”. The effect of the most significant political, social and techno-economic factors on the potential growth of the bioplastics sector has also been examined via simulations. The analysis demonstrated that the model is affected more (is more sensitive) to shifts in technoeconomic factors

Bioethanol Production from Food Waste Applying the Multienzyme System Produced On-Site by Fusarium oxysporum F3 and Mixed Microbial Cultures

Waste management and production of clean and affordable energy are two main challenges that our societies face. Food waste (FW), in particular, can be used as a feedstock for the production of ethanol because of its composition which is rich in cellulose, hemicellulose and starch. However, the cost of the necessary enzymes used to convert FW to ethanol remains an obstacle. The on-site production of the necessary enzymes could be a possible solution. In the present study, the multienzyme production by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum F3 under solid state cultivation using different agroindustrial residues was explored. Maximum amylase, glucoamylase, endoglucanase, b-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, xylanase, b-xylosidase and total cellulase titers on wheat bran (WB) were 17.8, 0.1, 65.2, 27.4, 3.5, 221.5, 0.7, 0.052 and 1.5 U/g WB respectively. F. oxysporum was used for the hydrolysis of FW and the subsequent ethanol production. To boost ethanol production, mixed F. oxysporum and S. cerevisiae cultures were also used. Bioethanol production by F. oxysporum monoculture reached 16.3 g/L (productivity 0.17 g/L/h), while that of the mixed culture was 20.6 g/L (productivity 1.0 g/L/h). Supplementation of the mixed culture with glucoamylase resulted in 30.3 g/L ethanol with a volumetric productivity of 1.4 g/L/h