Catalytic pyrolysis of agricultural residues for bio-oil production

Agricultural residues from Thailand, namely stalk and rhizome of cassava plants, were employed as raw materials for bio-oil production via fast pyrolysis technology. There were two main objectives of this project. The first one was to determine the optimum pyrolysis temperature for maximising the organics yield and to investigate the properties of the bio-oils produced. To achieve this objective, pyrolysis experiments were conducted using a bench-scale (150 g/h) reactor system, followed by bio-oil analysis. It was found that the reactor bed temperature that could give the highest organics yield for both materials was 490±15ºC. At all temperatures studied, the rhizome gave about 2-4% higher organics yields than the stalk. The bio-oil derived from the rhizome had lower oxygen content, higher calorific value and better stability, thus indicating better quality than that produced from the stalk. The second objective was to improve the bio-oil properties in terms of heating value, viscosity and storage stability by the incorporation of catalyst into the pyrolysis process. Catalytic pyrolysis was initially performed in a micro-scale reactor to screen a large number of catalysts. Subsequently, seven catalysts were selected for experiments with larger-scale (150 g/h) pyrolysis unit. The catalysts were zeolite and related materials (ZSM-5, Al-MCM-41 and Al-MSU-F), commercial catalysts (Criterion-534 and MI-575), copper chromite and ash. Additionally, the combination of two catalysts in series was investigated. These were Criterion-534/ZSM-5 and Al-MSU-F/ZSM-5. The results showed that all catalysts could improve the bio-oils properties as they enhanced cracking and deoxygenation reactions and in some cases such as ZSM-5, Criterion-534 and Criterion-534/ZSM-5, valuable chemicals like hydrocarbons and light phenols were produced. The highest concentration of these compounds was obtained with Criterion-534/ZSM-5

เทคนิคการสกัดน้ำมันและการผลิตไบโอดีเซลจากน้ำมันเมล็ดกระบก

วารสารวิชาการและวิจัย มทร.พระนคร, 13(1) : 149-157This paper presents the experimental results of the oil extraction process from wild almond seeds by mechanical and chemical methods. The optimum conditions for the biodiesel production from the extracted oil via transesterification reaction using methanol and potassium hydroxide (KOH) are reported. Chemical extraction was found to be an effective technique for wild almond oil extraction. Simple distillation was used as oil extraction unit applying 140 ml of n-hexane as solvent at 70ºC for 20 min. The oil yield was 43.11±0.98%. This extracted oil was used as raw material for biodiesel production with the maximum yield of 83.20±1.11%. The optimum conditions for biodiesel production were the catalyst loading of 0.5 wt% and 9:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil in a controlled reaction temperature of 70ºC for 60 min. Finally, the properties of biodiesel were analyzed and most properties met the requirements of the department of energy business standard.Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakho

Catalytic pyrolysis of rice husk for bio-oil production

Catalytic pyrolysis experiments have been carried out on Brunei rice husk (BRH) to obtain bio-oil using a fixed-bed pyrolysis rig. ZSM-5, Al-MCM-41, Al-MSU-F and Brunei rice husk ash (BRHA) were used as the catalysts for the catalytic pyrolysis experiments and comparison was done to analyse the changes in the bio-oil properties and yield. Properties of the liquid catalytic and non-catalytic bio-oil were analysed in terms of water content, pH, acid number, viscosity, density and calorific value. The bio-oil chemical composition shows that ZSM-5 increases the production of aromatic hydrocarbons and light phenols, whilst Al-MCM-41 reduces the acetic acid production. The catalytic runs increased the calorific value and water content in the bio-oil, whilst viscosity, density and acid number is decreased

Energy recovery by fast pyrolysis of pre-treated trommel fines derived from a UK-based MSW material recycling facility

In this experimental study, a physically pre-treated trommel fines feedstock, containing 44 wt% non-volatiles (ash and fixed carbon) and 56 wt% volatile matter (dry basis), was subjected to fast pyrolysis to recover energy from its organic load, using a 300 g h−1 bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) fast pyrolysis rig. A physical pre-treatment method (including crushing, grinding and sieving) was used to prepare a 0.5–2 mm sized trommel fines feedstock to make it suitable for fast pyrolysis in the BFB reactor. Experimental results from the fast pyrolysis process showed that the highest yield of organic liquid was obtained at around a temperature of 500 °C. However, both char and gas yields increased dramatically at temperatures above 500 °C, as a result of enhanced cracking of organic vapours, which reduced the yield of liquid products. Overall, energy recovery from the pyrolysis products (liquid and gas products as well as char pot residues) ranged from 63 to 70%, generally increasing with temperature. A large proportion of the high ash content (36 wt%) of the feedstock was found in the char pot (>62%), while smaller proportions were found in the reactor bed and some liquid products. The char pot ash residues composed mostly of non-hazardous earth materials and may be applied in bulk construction materials e.g. cement manufacture. Although, there was no problem with the pyrolysis rig during 1 h of operation, longer periods of operation would require periodic removal of accumulated solid residues and/or char pot modification to ensure continuous rig operation and process safety

Application of silver nanofluid containing oleic acid surfactant in a thermosyphon economizer

This article reports a recent study on the application of a two-phase closed thermosyphon (TPCT) in a thermosyphon for economizer (TPEC). The TPEC had three sections of equal size; the evaporator, the adiabatic section, and the condenser, of 250 mm × 250 mm × 250 mm (W × L × H). The TPCT was a steel tube of 12.7-mm ID. The filling ratios chosen to study were 30, 50, and 80% with respect to the evaporator length. The volumetric flow rates for the coolant (in the condenser) were 1, 2.5, and 5 l/min. Five working fluids investigated were: water, water-based silver nanofluid with silver concentration 0.5 w/v%, and the nanofluid (NF) mixed with 0.5, 1, and 1.5 w/v% of oleic acid (OA). The operating temperatures were 60, 70, and 80°C. Experimental data showed that the TPEC gave the highest heat flux of about 25 kW/m2 and the highest effectiveness of about 0.3 at a filling ratio of 50%, with the nanofluid containing 1 w/v% of OA. It was further found that the effectiveness of nanofluid and the OA containing nanofluids were superior in effectiveness over water in all experimental conditions came under this study. Moreover, the presence of OA had clearly contributed to raise the effectiveness of the nanofluid

Western involvement in the Pacific Islands region : security concerns and development aid ; a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University

Security concerns and development aid are closely-linked issues in the Pacific island region. In the broadest sense, security needs – either economic, political or strategic-explain the involvement of external powers in the Pacific island countries and their aid policies in the region. As security is multi-faceted, there is a difference in the security priorities of Western donors and Pacific island recipients. Different perceptions and concerns led to global-oriented rather than regional-oriented policies for most of the donors, especially at the height of the Cold War. Pacific island countries' concerns have been subordinate to those of the Western donors because these island nations are heavily aid-dependent. Aid-giving is therefore an effective mechanism to help guarantee regional stability and thereby protect the security interests of donors; on a per capita basis, the aid given to the region is very high by Third World standards. The trend of high levels of aid flows in the region has not been significantly affected by the end of the Cold War. Economic vulnerability and intra-regional political problems have been brought to the forefront as potential threats to regional stability, however, in place of wider East-West tensions. Continuing economic dependency means that the Western powers still hold a strong influence in the region

Spatial integration of the Philippines rice market in post-liberalization

菲律宾农业贸易的自由化有其积极与负面影响的两面性。菲律宾政府遵守了与世贸组织（WTO）的承诺，实行贸易自由化，这将从不同方面影响到国内物价水平。因此，本文从水稻市场一体化和价格传递方面入手，主要探讨了围绕吕宋岛八个区域在后贸易自由化时期的情况。这些地区是菲律宾物产最富饶的岛屿。本文利用约翰森协整检验法，格兰杰因果关系法和矢量误差修正模型(VECM)来分析水稻的月批发价格。协整分析得出六个协整等式，意即从长远角度来看，水稻市场是紧密结合在一起的。据格兰杰因果关系结果指出，在某些市场关系里，其因果有单向，也有双向互导，这就反映了区域间的水稻贸易流通甚为频繁。从矢量误差修正模型来看，短期市场间的综合...There are both positive and negative arguments against agricultural trade liberalization in Philippines. After Philippines government complied with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, the trade liberalization that ensues may have lead to different consequences regarding domestic market prices. For this reason, the present study examines the rice market integration and price transmission post lib...学位：经济学硕士院系专业：经济学院/经济学院国际硕士_国际经济学学号：1522013115455