Biofuel production using thermochemical conversion of heavy metal-contaminated biomass (HMCB) harvested from phytoextraction process

Over the past few decades, bioenergy production from heavy metal-contaminated biomasses (HMCBs) has been drawing increasing attention from scientists in diverse disciplines and countries owing to their potential roles in addressing both energy crisis and environmental challenges. In this review, bioenergy recovery from HMCBs, i.e. contaminated plants and energy crops, using thermochemical processes (pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, and liquefaction) has been scrutinized. Furthermore, the necessity of the implementation of practical strategies towards sustainable phytoextraction and metal-free biofuels production has been critically discussed. To meet this aim, the paper firstly delivers the fundamental concepts regarding the remediation of the brownfields using phytoremediation approach, and then, reviews recent literature on sustainable phytoextraction of heavy metals from polluted soils. Thereafter, to find out the possibility of the cost-efficient production of metal-free biofuels from HMCBs using thermochemical methods, the impacts of various influential factors, such as the type of feedstock and metals contents, the reactor type and operating conditions, and the role of probable pre-/post-treatment on the fate of heavy metals and the quality of products, have also been discussed. Finally, based on relevant empirical results and techno-economic assessment (TEA) studies, the present paper sheds light on pyrolysis as the most promising thermochemical technique for large-scale electricity and heat recovery from HMCBs

Reakcja tytoniu Virginia na niedobor azotu w glebie

Trzyletnie doświadczenie polowe (1996-1998) miało na celu określenie składu chemicznego liści tytoniu odmiany ‘Wiślica’ w warunkach zróżnicowanego nawożenia azotem. Na podstawie badań stwierdzono, że w warunkach niedoboru azotu liście tytoniu charakteryzują się niską zawartością N oraz wysokim poziomem K, Ca i suchej masy. Zastosowanie azotu w nawozach mineralnych, szczególnie w postaci saletry amonowej, powodowało wzrost zawartości N i stopniowe obniżanie poziomu pozostałych badanych składników. Skład chemiczny liści tytoniu ulegał zmianie w trakcie wegetacji roślin: zwiększała się zawartość suchej masy, malała koncentracja potasu, zaś stężenie azotu i wapnia miało charakter zmienny.The aim of the three years lasting (1996-1998) field experiment was focused to define tobacco (cultivar ‘Wiślica’) leave chemical composition under different nitrogen fertilization conditions. The research proved that with nitrogen deficiency in soil, tobacco leaves were characterised by a low nitrogen content and high potassium, calcium and dry matter content. Nitrogen mineral fertilizers, particularly ammonium nitrate, caused an increase of nitrogen content and progressive decrease of other monitored components. Chemical composition of tobacco leaves changed during vegetation period: dry matter content incread, potassium content decreased and nitrogen and calcium concentration had variable characteristics

Zastosowanie zelu Aqua Terra jako dodatku do podloza w uprawie tytoniu papierosowego jasnego

Hydrogels used in gardening increase the water-capacity of soil. The preliminary field and pot experiments carried out in Tobacco Research Station at Zamość in the years of 1995-1997, aimed to study the influence of hydrogel on growth, development and yielding of light cigarette tobbacco. In pot experiment the biggest increase in mass and volume of the roots was observed at 10 g hydrogel added to 8 1 light soil (medium sand). Biometrical features of the plants were largely modified by the type of soil, although it was also observed that the plants growing in pots with addition of hydrogel tended to increase in the area and number of leaves as well as in their height. In field experiment the hydrogel was applied in two doses of 3 and 10 g, mixed with the soil at the depth of down to 15 cm in 15 cm radius around the plant. The percentage of seedlings which took roots amounted 83% on control plots and 96-97% on the plots with hydrogel addition. The plants growing on plots with applied hydrogel were also characterized by considerably increased mass and volume of the root system. Another factor which increased considerably the yield and quality of the material was supplementary watering applied during vegetation season. Watering caused 23.3% rise in the mass of leaves but at simultaneous 12.5% drop in the proportion of high grade leaves (I—III). The effects of watering were found to be better on the plots with no hydrogel addition. Therefore, it may be concluded that the addition of hydrogel guarantees better conditions for the growth of tobacco plants. Although the addition of hydrogel caused a drop in the leaf quality, it brought about a considerable increase of yield. Finally, the commercial value of tobacco leaves, characterized either by the crop’s yield and quality, was higher after hydrogel application.Prowadzone w latach 1995-1997 wstępne doświadczenia polowe i wazonowe miały na celu zbadanie wpływu hydrożelu na wzrost, rozwój i plonowanie tytoniu papierosowego jasnego. Założone zostały w Ośrodku Doświadczalnym Uprawy Tytoniu w Zamościu. Hydrożele są powszechnie stosowane w ogrodnictwie. Mają właściwości zwiększania pojemności wodnej gleby. W doświadczeniu wazonowym dodatek 10 gramów żelu do 8 litrów gleby lekkiej (piasek gliniasty) spowodował największy przyrost masy i objętości korzeni. Cechy biometryczne roślin modyfikowane były w większym stopniu przez typ gleby, jednakże dała się zauważyć tendencja zwiększenia powierzchni i liczby liści, a także wysokości roślin w wazonach z dodatkiem żelu. W doświadczeniu polowym zastosowano dwie dawki żelu: 3 i 10 g, który wymieszano z glebą na głębokości 15 cm w promieniu 15 cm od rośliny. Stopień przyjęć rozsady wyniósł na poletkach kontrolnych 83%, a z dodatkiem żelu wahał się od 96 do 97%. Istotnie większą masą i objętością systemu korzeniowego cechowały się rośliny na poletkach, gdzie zastosowano hydrożel. Na wielkość i jakość plonu wpłynął istotnie drugi badany czynnik, jakim było uzupełniające podlewanie roślin w trakcie wegetacji (w okresach suszy). Podlewanie spowodowało przyrost masy liści o 23,3%, ale jednocześnie wpłynęło na obniżenie udziału klas jasnych (I-III) o 12,5%. Podlewanie przyniosło lepsze efekty na poletkach bez żelu. Fakt ten pozwala wnioskować, że jego dodatek stwarza korzystniejsze warunki wzrostu tytoniu. Żel spowodował wprawdzie pogorszenie jakości surowca, lecz równocześnie znaczny przyrost plonu. W efekcie wartość wykupowa liści, która jest wypadkową plonu i jakości, była wyższa po zastosowaniu żelu

ESTIMATION OF ENERGY DEMAND IN A TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT UNIT – METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

Subject and purpose of work: The aim of the study is to identify methodological problems, which may be encountered during the preparation of the energy balance of a territorial unit, along with indications of ways to solve them. Materials and methods: Problems were identified during the preparation of the energy balance for two selected rural communes and then they were investigated with reference to the literature on this subject. Results: Estimating the energy demand of a local government unit requires proper identification of the groups of energy consumers, divided into facilities owned or co-owned by communes and ones independent from commune authorities. The latter group is divided further, into households, businesses, farms. For each of the users different methods of obtaining data may be needed: a survey and analysis of statistical data, analysis of financial documents, evaluation of the buildings’ age. Generally, however, preparing an energy balance statement requires many simultaneous approaches, and the combination of multi-criterion analysis provides the most reliable picture of the problem. Conclusions: The scope of the data needed to compile an energy balance statement for local government units, depends on the purpose of the developed analysis. Methodological handbooks and training materials on this subject are helpful, but the developed methodologies may need to be modified and adapted to specific conditions