Local Energy Policy and Managing the Low Carbon Transition: The Case of Leicester

This paper seeks to provide insights into the links between the local and national energy policy. Leicester City Council has sought to take a leadership role on implementing innovative energy policies within their city. consequently, this paper investigates the impact of national and local energy policy in Leicester. It examines the consumption of energy within city, the network of players within energy policy and two flagship aspects of the policy - the district heating scheme and the use of smart metering. The paper concludes that energy policy looks very different at local and national levels

A comparison of the pyrolysis of olive kernel biomass in fluidised and fixed bed conditions

The use of thermogravimetric analysis to describe biomass kinetics often uses bench top thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) analysers which are only capable of low heating rates. The aim of this research was to compare experimental fast pyrolysis of Olive kernels in a bespoke laboratory thermogravimetric fluidised bed reactor (TGFBR) characterised by rapid heating rates at high flow rates, compared to a smaller bench scale fixed bed TGA system. The pyrolysis in the TGFBR was analysed by using the isothermal kinetic approach and it was theorised that the pyrolysis decomposition reactions occurred by two mechanisms depending on the temperature, resulting in an activation energy of 67.4 kJ/mol at temperatures below 500 °C. For comparison, a bench scale TGA was used to look at the thermal behaviour in different fixed bed thermal conditions giving a higher activation energy of 74.4 kJ/mol due to the effect of external particle gas diffusion. The effect of biomass particle size (0.3–4.0 mm) on the conversion of biomass at different temperatures, was investigated between 300 and 660 °C in the TGFBR. The results suggested inhibition of internal gas diffusion was more important at lower temperatures, but in comparison had no significant effect when measured in the fixed bed TGA at lower heating rates. Bench top TGA analysis of pyrolysis is a rapid and valuable method, but is limited by smaller sample sizes and lower heating rates. In comparison, the conditions encountered with the laboratory scale TGFBR are more likely to be relevant to larger scale systems where heat distribution, heat transfer and mass diffusion effects play major roles in the reactivity of biomass

Studies on the prebiotic origin of 2-deoxy-D-ribose

This research attempts to provide a possible explanation to the chemical origin of 2-deoxy-D-ribose via an aldol reaction of acetaldehyde and D-glyceraldehyde. The sugar mixture is trapped with N,N-diphenylhydrazine for ease of purification and characterisation. The reaction is promoted by amino acids, amino esters and amino nitriles consistently giving selectivities in favour of 2-deoxy-D-ribose. This is the first example of an amino nitrile-promoted reaction. The research is developed further by exploring the formation of 2-deoxy-D-ribose in a "protocell" environment - a primitive cell. Here we suggest that primitive cells may have been simple hydrogel systems. A discussion of the characterisation and catalytic ability of small peptide-based structures is included

Experimental Observation of Modulational Instability in Crossing Surface Gravity Wavetrains

The coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equation (CNLSE) is a wave envelope evolution equation applicable to two crossing, narrow-banded wave systems. Modulational instability (MI), a feature of the nonlinear Schrödinger wave equation, is characterized (to first order) by an exponential growth of sideband components and the formation of distinct wave pulses, often containing extreme waves. Linear stability analysis of the CNLSE shows the effect of crossing angle, θ, on MI, and reveals instabilities between 0◦ < θ < 35◦, 46◦ < θ < 143◦, and 145◦ < θ < 180◦. Herein, the modulational stability of crossing wavetrains seeded with symmetrical sidebands is determined experimentally from tests in a circular wave basin. Experiments were carried out at 12 crossing angles between 0◦ ≤ θ ≤ 88◦, and strong unidirectional sideband growth was observed. This growth reduced significantly at angles beyond θ ≈ 20◦, reaching complete stability at θ = 30–40◦. We find satisfactory agreement between numerical predictions (using a time-marching CNLSE solver) and experimental measurements for all crossing angles

Research into material recovery techniques and the utilisation of solid fuels in an industrial context

This thesis covers two main areas of investigation, the production and recovery of process dusts formed in the steelmaking industry, and secondly the study of the utilisation of coals for injection in a blast furnace and during co-firing with biomass in a utility boiler. These are linked by an overall aim to research the environmental and economic sustainability of industrial processes through increased process efficiency, decreased environmental impacts, and increased recovery of waste. It comprises a summary of the research contribution from six first-author peer reviewed journal publications and nine supplementary contributions for the submission of a PhD by published works. Process dust research was carried out on a 300t vessel requiring the development of a novel industrial scale isokinetic sampling methodology, capable of sampling frequently enough to measure and analyse mass flow profiles and zinc mass contamination profiles at a higher level of detail than in prior research. A new understanding of the impact of inprocess iron ore additions and waste oxide additions were correlated with additional dust and zinc mass peaks. This methodology was also used to prove that a new process change involving a galvanised scrap holding stage could be applied to successfully reduce the zinc contamination. Research into a modified hydrometallurgical leaching method for blast furnace dust gave high zinc extraction, but with low iron extraction, by the novel utilisation of the substituent group effect of carboxylic acid leaching. Further research also identified that improvements in the zinc extraction selectivity could be achieved using a non-aqueous solvent to utilise the Lewis acid effect. In terms of solid fuel utilisation, factors such as the physical properties, cost, and availability result in end users blending coals to meet their needs. The use of higher volatile matter coals was found to benefit blends with low volatile coal in the context of the blast furnace, but research conducted on a 500MW utility boiler showed that carbon monoxide and dust levels increase. Although grinding coals to a pulverised specification has been proved to benefit utilisation, new findings show that the additional grinding alters the surface chemistry and reactivity of many coals and was related to reduced burnouts compared to some larger particle size specifications. Research on industrial processes is challenging, but these papers aim to address sustainability issues in terms of the efficient use and recovery of materials

Raman spectroscopic identification of size-selected airborne particles for quantitative exposure assessment

In this paper we present a method for the quantification of chemically distinguished airborne particulate matter, required for health risk assessment. Rather than simply detecting chemical compounds in a sample, we demonstrate an approach for the quantification of exposure to airborne particles and nanomaterials. In line with increasing concerns over the proliferation of engineered particles we consider detection of synthetically produced ZnO crystals. A multi-stage approach is presented whereby the particles are first aerodynamically size segregated from a lab-generated single component aerosol in an impaction sampler. These size fractionated samples are subsequently analysed by Raman spectroscopy. Imaging analysis is applied to Raman spatial maps to provide chemically specific quantification of airborne exposure against background which is critical for health risk evaluation of exposure to airborne particles. Here we present a first proof-of-concept study of the methodology utilising particles in the 2-4 μm aerodynamic diameter range to allow for validation of the approach by comparison to optical microscopy. The results show that the combination of these techniques provides independent size and chemical discrimination of particles. Thereby a method is provided to allow quantitative and chemically distinguished measurements of aerosol concentrations separated into exposure relevant size fractions. © 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd

Prevalence and audiological features in carriers of GJB2 mutations, c.35delG and c.101T>C (p.M34T), in a UK population study

OBJECTIVES: To determine the carrier rate of the GJB2 mutation c.35delG and c.101T>C in a UK population study; to determine whether carriers of the mutation had worse hearing or otoacoustic emissions compared to non-carriers. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: University of Bristol, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. 9202 were successfully genotyped for the c.35delG mutation and c.101>T and classified as either carriers or non-carriers. OUTCOME MEASURES: Hearing thresholds at age 7, 9 and 11 years and otoacoustic emissions at age 9 and 11. RESULTS: The carrier frequency of the c.35delG mutation was 1.36% (95% CI 1.13 to 1.62) and c.101T>C was 2.69% (95% CI 2.37 to 3.05). Carriers of c.35delG and c.101T>C had worse hearing than non-carriers at the extra-high frequency of 16 kHz. The mean difference in hearing at age 7 for the c.35delG mutation was 8.53 dB (95% CI 2.99, 14.07) and 12.57 dB at age 9 (95% CI 8.10, 17.04). The mean difference for c.101T>C at age 7 was 3.25 dB (95% CI -0.25 to 6.75) and 7.61 dB (95% CI 4.26 to 10.96) at age 9. Otoacoustic emissions were smaller in the c.35delG mutation carrier group: at 4 kHz the mean difference was -4.95 dB (95% CI -6.70 to -3.21) at age 9 and -3.94 dB (95% CI -5.78 to -2.10) at age 11. There was weak evidence for differences in otoacoustic emissions amplitude for c.101T>C carriers. CONCLUSION: Carriers of the c.35delG mutation and c.101T>C have worse extra-high-frequency hearing than non-carriers. This may be a predictor for changes in lower-frequency hearing in adulthood. The milder effects observed in carriers of c.101T>C are in keeping with its classification as a mutation causing mild/moderate hearing loss in homozygosity or compound heterozygosity

A comparison of European eel Anguilla anguilla eDNA concentrations to fyke net catches in five Irish lakes

The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN. To protect what remains of the European eel population, accurate monitoring methods for this species are important. Environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques are gaining popularity for ecological monitoring of aquatic organisms because they are sensitive and non-invasive. This study directly compared catch data from a standardised fyke-net fishing survey with a single species A. anguilla eDNA survey in five freshwater lakes in Ireland. The eDNA was recovered by the filtration of water samples and amplified by quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). European eel eDNA was reliably determined in 83 % (70/84) of surface water samples collected from lakes classified as having high, medium and low eel populations. In addition there was a positive association between the eDNA concentrations recovered and the eel population classification with lower eDNA concentrations in lakes classified as low eel population lakes. Similar amounts of A. anguilla eDNA were detected in water samples collected from open water and shore-side, suggesting shore sampling is an adequate method for eel detection. Together, the results demonstrate that eDNA sampling is more sensitive for detecting eel presence in low eel population environments than standard survey methods, and may be a useful non-invasive tool for monitoring A. anguilla species distribution

A comparison of laboratory coal testing with the blast furnace process and coal injection

The injection of coal through tuyeres into a blast furnace is widely adopted throughout the industry to reduce the amount of coke used and to improve the efficiency of the iron making process. Coals are selected depending on their availability, cost, and the physical and chemical properties determined by tests, such as the volatile matter content, fixed carbon, and ash content. This paper describes research comparing the laboratory measured properties of injection coals that were used over a two-month production period compared to the process variables and measurements of the blast furnace during that study period. In addition to the standard tests, a drop tube furnace (DTF) was used to compare the burnout of coals and the char properties against the production data using a range of statistical techniques. Linear regression modelling indicated that the coal type was the most important predictor of the coal rate but that the properties measured using laboratory tests of those coals were a minor feature in the model. However, comparisons of the Spearman’s correlations between different variables indicated that the reverse Boudouard reactivity of the chars, prepared in the DTF from the coals, did appear to be related to some extent to the coal and coke rates on production. It appears that the constant process adjustments made by the process control systems on the furnace make it difficult to identify strong correlations with the laboratory data and that the frequency of coal sampling and the coal blend variability are likely to contribute to this difficulty

Correction: Steer et al. A Comparison of Laboratory Coal Testing with the Blast Furnace Process and Coal Injection. Metals 2021, 11, 1476

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...