Analysis of Sustainable Cassava Biofuel Production in Nigeria

Nigeria's biofuels policy advocates the adoption of cassava as feedstock for a 10%-biofuel substitution option in Nigerian transport fuel demand. This policy option is expected to address energy security and environmental consequences of using fossil fuels as the sole source of transport energy in the country. This paper appraised the technological and economic factors necessary for achieving Nigeria's cassava-based biofuel initiative at different substitution levels of 5, 10, and 15% by the Year 2020. A multi-stage energy forecasting and project analysis framework adapted from Coate's structure for technology assessment, as well as engineering economy methodology was used for the study. Technological analysis entailed determining petrol consumption projection, R&D capability, input feedstock requirements, environmental considerations and land requirement for feedstock crop production while engineering economy analysis evaluated the economic viability of the project. The results showed that petrol consumption in Nigeria and bioethanol substitution requirements were in the range of 18,285.7 – 19,142.84 thousand tons and 914.28 (5% low demand) – 2871.43 (15% high demand) thousand tons, respectively by 2020. Cassava feedstock and landmass requirements for bioethanol production were in the range of 4.64 – 14.53 million tons and 4.08 – 12.80 thousand sq. km, respectively while carbon dioxide savings were between 1.87 – 5.89 million tons by 2020. The recovery price for cassava bioethanol was estimated to be US$ 0.74/litre . Petrol being subsidised presently is harmful to the environment though it ‘oils’ the economy. Nigeria currently subsidizes petroleum products to the tune of 28% of 2011 budget. The government plans to remove this by 2012. Thus we conclude that weighing both economic and environmental benefits of bioethanol substitution in petrol consumption in Nigeria, the study showed that bioethanol production from cassava feedstock would be both technically and economically viable, provided subsidy, which depends on political will on the side of the government, is introduced for the first ten years of its implementation

Deciphering the structural, textural, and electrochemical properties of activated BN-doped spherical carbons

In this study, the effect of K2CO3 activation on the structural, textural, and electrochemical properties of carbon spheres (CSs) and boron and nitrogen co-doped carbon spheres (BN-CSs) was evaluated. Activation of the CSs and BN-CSs by K2CO3 resulted in increased specific surface areas and ID/IG ratios. From the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results, the BN-CSs comprised of 64% pyridinic-N, 24% pyrrolic-N and 7% graphitic-N whereas the activated BN-CSs had 19% pyridinic-N, 40% pyrrolic-N and 22% graphitic-N displaying the effect of activation on the type of N configurations in BN-CSs. A possible BN-co-doping and activation mechanism for the BN-CSs is proposed. Electrochemical analysis of the electrode materials revealed that BN doping, carbon morphology, structure, and porosity played a crucial role in enhancing the capacitive behavior of the CSs. As a proof of concept, a symmetric device comprising the activated BN-CSs displayed a specific power of 800 W kg 1 at a specific current of 1 A g 1 within an operating cell potential of 1.6 V in a 3 M KNO3 electrolyte. The study illustrated for the first time the role of K2CO3 activation in influencing the physical and surface properties of template-free activated BN-CSs as potential electrode materials for energy storage systems.The South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant No. 61056). B.K.M. and B.J.M. would like to thank the University of the Witwatersrand and the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials (CoESM) for financial support. B.K.M. would also like to acknowledge financial support from the NRF and the University of Pretoria for her postdoctoral fellowship grant.http://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterialsam2019Physic

Ni–Zn hydroxide-based bi-phase multiscale porous nanohybrids : physico-chemical properties

Please read abstract in the article.The Algerian minister programhttps://link.springer.com/journal/132042020-05-25hj2020Physic

Pyrolysed almond shells used as electrodes in microbial electrolysis cell

9 p.The large cost of components used in microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) reactors represents an important limitation that is delaying the commercial implementation of this technology. In this work, we explore the feasibility of using pyrolysed almond shells (PAS) as a material for producing low-cost anodes for use in MEC systems. This was done by comparing the microbial populations that developed on the surface of PAS bioanodes with those present on the carbon felt (CF) bioanodes traditionally used in MECs. Raw almond shells were pyrolysed at three different temperatures, obtaining the best conductive material at the highest temperature (1000 °C). The behaviour of this material was then verified using a single-chamber cell. Subsequently, the main test was carried out using two-chamber cells and the microbial populations extant on each of the bioanodes were analysed. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for eubacterial populations was carried out in order to compare the microbial communities attached to each type of electrode. The microbial populations on each electrode were also quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (realtime PCR) to determine the amount of bacteria capable of growing on the electrodes’surface. The results indicated that the newly developed PAS bioanodes possess a biofilm similar to those found on the surface of traditional CF electrodes. This research was possible thanks to the financial support of the Junta de Castilla y León, and was financed by European Regional Development Funds (LE320P18). C. B. thanks the Spanish Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte for support in the form of an FPI fellowship grant (Ref #: BES-2016-078329)

Efficiency and safety of varying the frequency of whole blood donation (INTERVAL): a randomised trial of 45 000 donors

Background: Limits on the frequency of whole blood donation exist primarily to safeguard donor health. However, there is substantial variation across blood services in the maximum frequency of donations allowed. We compared standard practice in the UK with shorter inter-donation intervals used in other countries. Methods: In this parallel group, pragmatic, randomised trial, we recruited whole blood donors aged 18 years or older from 25 centres across England, UK. By use of a computer-based algorithm, men were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to 12-week (standard) versus 10-week versus 8-week inter-donation intervals, and women were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to 16-week (standard) versus 14-week versus 12-week intervals. Participants were not masked to their allocated intervention group. The primary outcome was the number of donations over 2 years. Secondary outcomes related to safety were quality of life, symptoms potentially related to donation, physical activity, cognitive function, haemoglobin and ferritin concentrations, and deferrals because of low haemoglobin. This trial is registered with ISRCTN, number ISRCTN24760606, and is ongoing but no longer recruiting participants. Findings: 45 263 whole blood donors (22 466 men, 22 797 women) were recruited between June 11, 2012, and June 15, 2014. Data were analysed for 45 042 (99·5%) participants. Men were randomly assigned to the 12-week (n=7452) versus 10-week (n=7449) versus 8-week (n=7456) groups; and women to the 16-week (n=7550) versus 14-week (n=7567) versus 12-week (n=7568) groups. In men, compared with the 12-week group, the mean amount of blood collected per donor over 2 years increased by 1·69 units (95% CI 1·59–1·80; approximately 795 mL) in the 8-week group and by 0·79 units (0·69–0·88; approximately 370 mL) in the 10-week group (p<0·0001 for both). In women, compared with the 16-week group, it increased by 0·84 units (95% CI 0·76–0·91; approximately 395 mL) in the 12-week group and by 0·46 units (0·39–0·53; approximately 215 mL) in the 14-week group (p<0·0001 for both). No significant differences were observed in quality of life, physical activity, or cognitive function across randomised groups. However, more frequent donation resulted in more donation-related symptoms (eg, tiredness, breathlessness, feeling faint, dizziness, and restless legs, especially among men [for all listed symptoms]), lower mean haemoglobin and ferritin concentrations, and more deferrals for low haemoglobin (p<0·0001 for each) than those observed in the standard frequency groups. Interpretation: Over 2 years, more frequent donation than is standard practice in the UK collected substantially more blood without having a major effect on donors' quality of life, physical activity, or cognitive function, but resulted in more donation-related symptoms, deferrals, and iron deficiency. Funding: NHS Blood and Transplant, National Institute for Health Research, UK Medical Research Council, and British Heart Foundation

An Analysis of the Food System Landscape and Agricultural Value Chains for Nutrition: A Case Study from Sierra Leone

This paper summarizes a qualitative case study conducted in Sierra Leone to explore the programmatic challenges of linking nutrition and agriculture nationally through a food system landscape analysis, and the implementation of nutrition-sensitive value chains of two commodities – rice and vegetables. The research undertaken in this project aimed to understand the role markets and value chains play in improving dietary diversification both directly, through an increase in the production of nutritious foods sourced from smallholders in Sierra Leone, and indirectly, through an increase in income for smallholder farmers. Much of the analyses done in this study examined the supply side of the value chain. The study highlights the importance in engaging women in value chains, and their potential role as “change agents” to ensure that nutrition is better integrated along the value chains as producers and consumers (IFPRI/ILRI, 2010). The study also identified various pathways through which rice and vegetables production, processing and marketing could contribute to improving nutritional status and health. Agriculture and health actors would benefit from jointly developing nutrition indicators to insert into the value chain that address both nutrition and agriculture. While a single intervention targeting only one component of the value chain is likely to have a limited impact, addressing all the identified issues, with several interventions at different levels of the chain can make a real difference

Longer-term efficiency and safety of increasing the frequency of whole blood donation (INTERVAL): extension study of a randomised trial of 20 757 blood donors

Background: The INTERVAL trial showed that, over a 2-year period, inter-donation intervals for whole blood donation can be safely reduced to meet blood shortages. We extended the INTERVAL trial for a further 2 years to evaluate the longer-term risks and benefits of varying inter-donation intervals, and to compare routine versus more intensive reminders to help donors keep appointments. Methods: The INTERVAL trial was a parallel group, pragmatic, randomised trial that recruited blood donors aged 18 years or older from 25 static donor centres of NHS Blood and Transplant across England, UK. Here we report on the prespecified analyses after 4 years of follow-up. Participants were whole blood donors who agreed to continue trial participation on their originally allocated inter-donation intervals (men: 12, 10, and 8 weeks; women: 16, 14, and 12 weeks). They were further block-randomised (1:1) to routine versus more intensive reminders using computer-generated random sequences. The prespecified primary outcome was units of blood collected per year analysed in the intention-to-treat population. Secondary outcomes related to safety were quality of life, self-reported symptoms potentially related to donation, haemoglobin and ferritin concentrations, and deferrals because of low haemoglobin and other factors. This trial is registered with ISRCTN, number ISRCTN24760606, and has completed. Findings: Between Oct 19, 2014, and May 3, 2016, 20 757 of the 38 035 invited blood donors (10 843 [58%] men, 9914 [51%] women) participated in the extension study. 10 378 (50%) were randomly assigned to routine reminders and 10 379 (50%) were randomly assigned to more intensive reminders. Median follow-up was 1·1 years (IQR 0·7–1·3). Compared with routine reminders, more intensive reminders increased blood collection by a mean of 0·11 units per year (95% CI 0·04–0·17; p=0·0003) in men and 0·06 units per year (0·01–0·11; p=0·0094) in women. During the extension study, each week shorter inter-donation interval increased blood collection by a mean of 0·23 units per year (0·21–0·25) in men and 0·14 units per year (0·12–0·15) in women (both p<0·0001). More frequent donation resulted in more deferrals for low haemoglobin (odds ratio per week shorter inter-donation interval 1·19 [95% CI 1·15–1·22] in men and 1·10 [1·06–1·14] in women), and lower mean haemoglobin (difference per week shorter inter-donation interval −0·84 g/L [95% CI −0·99 to −0·70] in men and −0·45 g/L [–0·59 to −0·31] in women) and ferritin concentrations (percentage difference per week shorter inter-donation interval −6·5% [95% CI −7·6 to −5·5] in men and −5·3% [–6·5 to −4·2] in women; all p<0·0001). No differences were observed in quality of life, serious adverse events, or self-reported symptoms (p>0.0001 for tests of linear trend by inter-donation intervals) other than a higher reported frequency of doctor-diagnosed low iron concentrations and prescription of iron supplements in men (p<0·0001). Interpretation: During a period of up to 4 years, shorter inter-donation intervals and more intensive reminders resulted in more blood being collected without a detectable effect on donors' mental and physical wellbeing. However, donors had decreased haemoglobin concentrations and more self-reported symptoms compared with the initial 2 years of the trial. Our findings suggest that blood collection services could safely use shorter donation intervals and more intensive reminders to meet shortages, for donors who maintain adequate haemoglobin concentrations and iron stores. Funding: NHS Blood and Transplant, UK National Institute for Health Research, UK Medical Research Council, and British Heart Foundation

Low-carbon development strategy for the West African electricity system: preliminary assessment using System dynamics approach

BACKGROUND: Policy makers seek to understand the trade-offs needed between economic growth and climate change. This provides the context to explore low-carbon development (LCD) pathways for the West African electricity system. METHODS: The study relied on both primary and secondary sources to elicit required information. These data were elicited from relevant authorities in the West African electricity system, namely, West African Power Pool and ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority. The objectives were to evaluate the planning processes in the West African Power Pool electricity system vis-a-vis low-carbon development strategy (LCDS), develop a System dynamics (SD) model, and assess the relevance of the developed model to examine the nonlinear relationship between generation adequacy and greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction. The SD model examined the tension between providing adequate supply capacity against reducing emission from the generation technologies in the West Africa electricity system. This model arranged the complexities in the system and established the basic interconnecting structure to conduct the analysis. High leverage points were identified. RESULTS: Four high leverage points were identified: capacity factor (CF), emission factor (EF), time to adjust capacity, and expectation formation. CF and EF improvement increased efficiency in the system. The expectation formation periods were determined at 7.5 years for the base case scenario and 7 years for the low-carbon development option scenario. Time to adjust capacity was located at 21 and 20 years respectively; deduced from the average time, it will take to construct a combined cycle gas power plant (3 years) and an allowance of 2 years for delays and its decommissioning time. Between 2011 and 2012, in LCD option scenario, emission of GHG to the atmosphere dropped as generation did but began a steady rise for the simulation period to a value of 6.154 billion tCO2 in 2060. CONCLUSIONS: Electricity Planning-Low-Carbon Development (EP-LCD) model—with three modules, was developed for assessing WAPP in low carbon economy. High leverage points identified in the model simulation situate three policy options for overcoming poverty and mitigation targets as regards resource mix, investment cost recovery, and technical factors to reduce system’s environmental footprint