Air purification by catalytic oxidation in a reactor with periodic flow reversal

The behaviour of an adiabatic packed bed reactor with periodic flow reversal has been studied by means of model calculations. A heterogeneous model as well as a pseudo-homogeneous model have been developed. It is shown that a high degree of conversion can be obtained in an autothermal process even with very low adiabatic temperature rises of some 10 to 20 K. The reactor is insensitive to fluctuations in inlet concentrations and in through-put. Short-cut methods proposed in the literature for calculating the plateau temperature in the pseudo-steady state are studied. The so called countercurrent-flow reactor approach showed reasonable agreement with the plateau temperature obtained by dynamic calculations with the full reactor model

Ignition and combustion characteristics of hydrotreated pyrolysis oil in a combustion research unit

Biomass-derived fuels are promising in reducing life-cycle CO2 emissions and achieving the goal of sustainable mobility in the future. This work investigates the ignition behavior and combustion process of hydrotreated pyrolysis oil (HPO) derived from various biomass resources. They are tested in a combustion research unit based on constant volume combustion technology, which imitates the ignition behavior in compression ignition engines. Various conditions are tested and HPO are benchmarked with commericially avalable biofuels and fossile fuels: hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), diesel, and marine gas oil. The results showed that the igntiion delay time follows an order of folloing: HPO &gt; diesel-like fuels &gt; HVO. Both the biomass type and after-treatment have a small influence on the ignition delay of HPO. Two combustion regimes are observed at different chamber temperature range. It also revealed that blending HPO into HVO can extend the ignition delay of HVO. And ignition delay of HVO/HPO increases as the HPO blend ratio increases. At 75 vol% HPO blend ratio, the HPO/HVO blend shows identical ignition and combustion behavior as diesel. In addition, the viscosity of HPO/HVO blends and diesel are also quite similar. The results indicated the possibility of using 100% bio-fuel in a modern marine engine to provide power to future mobility.</p

Results of the International Energy Agency Round Robin on fast pyrolysis bio-oil production

An international round robin study of the production of fast pyrolysis bio-oil was undertaken. A total of 15 institutions in six countries contributed. Three biomass samples were distributed to the laboratories for processing in fast pyrolysis reactors. Samples of the bio-oil produced were transported to a central analytical laboratory for analysis. The round robin was focused on validating the pyrolysis community understanding of production of fast pyrolysis bio-oil by providing a common feedstock for bio-oil preparation. The round robin included: distribution of three feedstock samples, hybrid poplar, wheat straw, and a blend of lignocellulosic biomasses, from a common source to each participating laboratory, preparation of fast pyrolysis bio-oil in each laboratory with the three feedstocks provided, and return of the three bio-oil products (minimum of 500 mL) with operational description to a central analytical laboratory for bio-oil property determination. The analyses of interest were CHN, S, trace element analysis, water, ash, solids, pyrolytic lignin, density, viscosity, carboxylic acid number, and accelerated aging of bio-oil. In addition, an effort was made to compare the bio-oil components to the products of analytical pyrolysis through gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. The results showed that clear differences can occur in fast pyrolysis bio-oil properties by applying different process configurations and reactor designs in small scale. The comparison to the analytical pyrolysis method suggested that pyrolysis (Py)-GC/MS could serve as a rapid qualitative screening method for bio-oil composition when produced in small-scale fluid-bed reactors. Gel permeation chromatography was also applied to determine molecular weight information. Furthermore, hot vapor filtration generally resulted in the most favorable bio-oil product, with respect to water, solids, viscosity, and carboxylic acid number. These results can be helpful in understanding the variation in bio-oil production methods and their effects on bio-oil product composition

Research in haematological cancers: What do patients in the Netherlands prioritise?

Introduction: The experiential knowledge of patients can provide research communi‐ ties with complementary perspectives on disease. The aim of this study was to iden‐ tify and prioritise everyday problems and research needs of haematological cancer patients and

Evaluation of Analysis Methods for Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, and Furfural from Fast Pyrolysis Bio-oil

Fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO), a second-generation liquid bioenergy carrier, is currently entering the market. FPBO is produced from biomass through the fast pyrolysis process and contains a large number of constituents, of which a significant part is still unknown. Various analytical methods have been systematically developed and validated for FPBO in the past; however, reliable methods for characterization of acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and furfural are still lacking. In this work, different analysis methods with (HS-GC/ECD, HPLC, UV/Vis) and without derivatization (GC/MSD, HPLC) for the characterization of these components were evaluated. Five FPBO samples were used, covering a range of biomass materials (pine wood, miscanthus, and bark), storage conditions (freezer and room temperature), and after treatments (none, filtration, and vacuum evaporation). There was no difference among the methods for the acetaldehyde analysis. A significant difference among the methods for the determination of formaldehyde and furfural was observed. Thus, more data on the accuracy of the methods are required. The precision of all methods was below 10% with the exception of the HPLC analysis of acetaldehyde with an RSD of 14%. The concentration of acetaldehyde in the FPBO produced from the three different biomasses and stored in a freezer after production ranged from 0.24 to 0.60 wt %. Storage at room temperature and vacuum evaporation both decreased significantly the acetaldehyde concentration. Furfural concentrations ranged from 0.11 to 0.36 wt % for the five samples. Storage and after treatment affected the furfural concentration but to a lesser extent than for acetaldehyde. Storage at room temperature decreased formaldehyde similarly to acetaldehyde; however, after vacuum-evaporation the concentration of formaldehyde did not change. Thus, the analysis results indicated that in FPBO the equilibrium of formaldehyde and methylene glycol is almost completely on the methylene glycol side, as in aqueous solutions. All three methods employed here actually measure the sum of free formaldehyde and methylene glycol (FAMG)

Using biomass-based fuels including pyrolysis liquids for power and CHP production

The use of biomass-derived liquids (in short: bioliquids) instead of solid biomass can help overcome some of the barriers hindering a wider use of biomass in smaller-scale CHP systems. Relevant bioliquids included biodiesel, vegetable oils as well straight and upgraded pyrolysis oil. In this joint EU-Russian research project Bioliquids-CHP prime movers (engines and turbines) will be developed and modified so that these can run efficiently on bioliquids. At the same time, bioliquids will be upgraded and blended in order to facilitate their use in prime movers. Preliminary results with regard to bioliquid selection, production, and characterisation; the selection and modification of a micro gas turbine; and the development of engines and components are discussed. The research also covers NOx emission reduction and control and an assessment of the benefits and economics of bioliquids-based CHP systems in EU and Russian markets

SUGAR-DIP trial: Oral medication strategy versus insulin for diabetes in pregnancy, study protocol for a multicentre, open-label, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial

Introduction In women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) requiring pharmacotherapy, insulin was the established first-line treatment. More recently, oral glucose lowering drugs (OGLDs) have gained popularity as a patient-friendly, less expensive and safe alternative. Monotherapy with metformin or glibenclamide (glyburide) is incorporated in several international guidelines. In women who do not reach sufficient glucose control with OGLD monotherapy, usually insulin is added, either with or without continuation of OGLDs. No reliable data from clinical trials, however, are available on the effectiveness of a treatment strategy using all three agents, metformin, glibenclamide and insulin, in a stepwise approach, compared with insulin-only therapy for improving pregnancy outcomes. In this trial, we aim to assess the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and patient experience of a stepwise combined OGLD treatment protocol, compared with conventional insulin-based therapy for GDM. Methods The SUGAR-DIP trial is an open-label, multicentre randomised controlled non-inferiority trial. Participants are women with GDM who do not reach target glycaemic control with modification of diet, between 16 and 34 weeks of gestation. Participants will be randomised to either treatment with OGLDs, starting with metformin and supplemented as needed with glibenclamide, or randomised to treatment with insulin. In women who do not reach target glycaemic control with combined metformin and glibenclamide, glibenclamide will be substituted with insulin, while continuing metformin. The primary outcome will be the incidence of large-for-gestational-age infants (birth weight >90th percentile). Secondary outcome measures are maternal diabetes-related endpoints, obstetric complications, neonatal complications and cost-effectiveness analysis. Outcomes will be analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Ethics and dissemination The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Utrecht University Medical Centre. Approval by the boards of management for all participating hospitals will be obtained. Trial results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals