Life cycle assessment of biochar production from southern pine

Biochar, a major co-product from the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass is rich in carbon and is often used as a soil amendment to promote crop production and as a soil carbon sequestration medium to maintain long-term soil health of marginal lands. Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen to primarily produce bio-oil with biochar being a co-product. Biochar is also primarily produced from wood logs using conventional carbonization methods (eg. Missouri kilns). For sustainable production of biochar, the most sustainable production route is important for large-scale production of biochar for soil carbon sequestration applications. The main objectives of this study were to conduct the life cycle analysis of producing biochar using three major production routes (fast pyrolysis, slow pyrolysis and Missouri kiln) and to evaluate the life cycle energy and environmental impacts of biochar production from southern pinewood. Please click on the file below for full content of the abstract

Microplastic emerging pollutants – impact on microbiological diversity, diarrhea, antibiotic resistance, and bioremediation

Advanced economic development and technologies cause worldwide plastic waste to increase many folds, leaving policymakers with the dilemma of managing it. Synthetic solid particles or polymeric matrices of plastics with diverse shapes and sizes are the primary concern of environmental pollution of the marine ecosystem, freshwater, agriculture fields, atmosphere, food, drinking water, and other remote locations. Researchers demonstrated microplastics (MPs) as multifaceted stressors in the ecosystem, carrying toxic chemicals and vectors of transport, and described the implications of these hazardous chemicals on human health. MPs in the environment can adsorb organic, nitrogenous substances and other minerals. This complex system may promote microbial growth and aggregation. Continuous contact of microbes with MPs changes the internal arrangement of ions and atoms, alternating physio-chemical properties and becoming hydrophobic. These properties allow specific bacterial growth on MPs and promote bacterial resistance and transfer of resistance genes. MPs aged by ultra-violet light, temperature, and chemicals increase bacterial adsorption and antibiotic-resistance gene transfer synergistically. MPs are mitigated in the environment by aggregation of microbes, which leads to aging and loss of the crystalline structure of microplastic due to the release of enzymes that cause oxidation, demethylation and desertification, and hydrolysis of MPs. Aerobic conditions are preferred to degrade MPs in different environmental conditions for large-scale degradation of MPs. However, anaerobic degradation requires controlled conditions and specialized equipment. The use of a consortium of bacteria increases biodegradation efficiency. Among the microorganisms, fungi were the most effective at detoxicating xenobiotics in the environment due to their adaptability and ability to tolerate diverse conditions. This critical review analyses microplastic-induced microbial diversity and microbial adaptations to it. Furthermore, it describes MP's role in the cause of diarrhea, antimicrobial resistance, and spread. The potential use of bioremediation methods and pathways for eliminating MPs like phthalates and bisphenol from ecosystems is discussed in detail. Finally, suggestions are put forward for controlling and removing MPs from the environment

Free Vibrational Behavior of Bi-Directional Functionally Graded Composite Panel with and Without Porosities Using 3D Finite Element Approximations

Abstract: In the present study, the frequency characteristics of bi-directional functionally graded panels in rectangular planform with and without porosities are examined using 3D finite element approximations. In this work, the graded panel is consisted of metal and ceramic material, in which material properties vary smoothly in two directions. The material properties of this highly heterogeneous material are obtained using the Voigt model via extended power-law distribution of volume fractions. The present model is developed using a customized computer code and discretized using three dimensional solid 20-noded quadrilateral elements. The mesh refinement is carried out to conduct the convergence test and the validation test by comparing the obtained results with the previous reported results. At a later stage, a comprehensive parametric study is conducted through numerical illustrations which reveal that the geometrical and material parameters of bi-directional functionally graded panel affect its frequency characteristics, significantly

Physical properties of charred pellets after two months of storage

Six types of charred pellets: canola straw, willow, bagasse, wheat straw, switchgrass and miscanthus, were stored for a period of two months at room temperature 25±2 °C in sealed containers. The tests were part of off gassing experiment on charred and uncharred pellets. The following physical properties of the pellets were measured: bulk density, individual pellet density, Individual pellet dimensions were similar between samples but the pellet mass ranged from 0.79 g for switchgrass to 1.13 g for bagasse pellet. Please click on the file below for full content of the abstract

GROWTH RETARDANTS effects ON FLOWERING AND YIELD PARAMETERS OF SPANISH JASMINE (Jasminum grandiflorum L.)

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of growth retardants on flowering and yield parameters and shelf life of spanish jasmine. The experiment comprised of eleven treatments each replicated thrice was executed following the principles of randomized block design. The treatments included foliar spray of CCC @ 1000, 1500 and 2000 ppm, alar @ 1000, 2000 and 3000 ppm, ethrel @ 1000, 1500 and 2000 ppm, pruning and untreated control. In this study, the application of CCC 1500 ppm exerted favourable influence and enhanced the flower bud characters viz., flower bud length (2.98 cm), flower stalk length (2.36 cm) and total length of the flower (5.34 cm). The yield and yield attributes viz., hundred flower buds weight (9.90 g), flower buds yield plant-1 (4.23 kg), flower buds yield plot-1 (33.84 kg) and flower buds yield hectare-1 (14.1 t ha-1) were also found to be the maximum in the plants treated with CCC 1500 ppm. The plant growth retardants did not show any significant effect on shelf life of flowers

Free Vibrational Behavior of Bi-Directional Functionally Graded Composite Panel with and Without Porosities Using 3D Finite Element Approximations

Abstract: In the present study, the frequency characteristics of bi-directional functionally graded panels in rectangular planform with and without porosities are examined using 3D finite element approximations. In this work, the graded panel is consisted of metal and ceramic material, in which material properties vary smoothly in two directions. The material properties of this highly heterogeneous material are obtained using the Voigt model via extended power-law distribution of volume fractions. The present model is developed using a customized computer code and discretized using three dimensional solid 20-noded quadrilateral elements. The mesh refinement is carried out to conduct the convergence test and the validation test by comparing the obtained results with the previous reported results. At a later stage, a comprehensive parametric study is conducted through numerical illustrations which reveal that the geometrical and material parameters of bi-directional functionally graded panel affect its frequency characteristics, significantly