Supply risk evolution of raw materials for batteries and fossil fuels for selected OECD countries (2000–2018)

This editorial reports on a thorough analysis of the abundance and scarcity distribution of chemical elements and the minerals they form in the Earth, Sun, and Universe in connection with their number of neutrons and binding energy per nucleon. On one hand, understanding the elements’ formation and their specific properties related to their electronic and nucleonic structure may lead to understanding whether future solutions to replace certain elements or materials for specific technical applications are realistic. On the other hand, finding solutions to the critical availability of some of these elements is an urgent need. Even the analysis of the availability of scarce minerals from European Union sources leads to the suggestion that a wide-ranging approach is essential. These two fundamental assumptions represent also the logical approach that led the European Commission to ask for a multi-disciplinary effort from the scientific community to tackle the challenge of Critical Raw Materials. This editorial is also the story of one of the first fulcrum around which a wide network of material scientists gathered thanks to the support of the funding organization for research and innovation networks, COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).

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Biogas from Anaerobic Digestion as an Energy Vector: Current Upgrading Development

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14102742 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. 2742

Author(s):

Raquel Iglesias ◽

Raúl Muñoz ◽

María Polanco ◽

Israel Díaz ◽

Ana Susmozas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fossil Fuels ◽

Business Models ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Vector Current ◽

Energy System ◽

Transport Sector ◽

Environmentally Sustainable ◽

Legislative Framework ◽

Materials Used

The present work reviews the role of biogas as advanced biofuel in the renewable energy system, summarizing the main raw materials used for biogas production and the most common technologies for biogas upgrading and delving into emerging biological methanation processes. In addition, it provides a description of current European legislative framework and the potential biomethane business models as well as the main biogas production issues to be addressed to fully deploy these upgrading technologies. Biomethane could be competitive due to negative or zero waste feedstock prices, and competitive to fossil fuels in the transport sector and power generation if upgrading technologies become cheaper and environmentally sustainable.

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RAPE SEED OIL TETRAHYDROFURFURYLESTERS

Environment Technology Resources Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference ◽

10.17770/etr2009vol1.1105 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 46

Author(s):

K. Malins ◽

V. Kampars ◽

R. Kampare ◽

T. Rusakova

Keyword(s):

Rapeseed Oil ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Methyl Esters ◽

Cetane Number ◽

Food Prices ◽

Raw Material ◽

Biodiesel Production ◽

Cold Filter Plugging Point ◽

Mineral Oils

The transesterification of vegetable oil using various kinds of alcohols is a simple and efficient renewable fuel synthesis technique. Products obtained by modifying natural triglycerides in transesterification reaction substitute fossil fuels and mineral oils. Currently the most significant is the biodiesel, a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters, which is obtained in a reaction with methanol, which in turn is obtained from fossil raw materials. In biodiesel production it would be more appropriate to use alcohols which can be obtained from renewable local raw materials. Ethanol rouses interest as a possible reagent, however, its production locally is based on the use of grain and therefore competes with food production so it would implicitly cause increase in food prices. Another raw material option is alcohols that can be obtained from furfurole. Furfurole is obtained in dehydration process from pentose sugars which can be extracted from crop straw, husk and other residues of agricultural production. From furfurole the tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA), a raw material for biodiesel, can be produced. By transesterifying rapeseed oil with THFA it would be possible to obtain completely renewable biodiesel with properties very close to diesel [2-4]. With the purpose of developing the synthesis of such fuel, in this work a three-stage synthesis of rapeseed oil tetrahydrofurfurylesters (ROTHFE) in sulphuric acid presence has been performed, achieving product with purity over 98%. The most important qualitative factors of ROTHFE have been determined - cold filter plugging point, cetane number, water content, Iodine value, phosphorus content, density, viscosity and oxidative stability.

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Political Economy of Renewable Energy and Regional Development: Understanding Social and Economic Problems of Biodiesel Development in Indonesia

Sodality Jurnal Sosiologi Pedesaan ◽

10.22500/sodality.v7i2.19727 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 110-118

Author(s):

Nuva Nuva ◽

Akhmad Fauzi ◽

Arya Hadi Dharmawan ◽

Eka Intan Kumala Putri

Keyword(s):

Political Economy ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Fossil Fuel ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Biodiesel Fuel ◽

Political Aspect ◽

Us Government ◽

Competitive Prices

The transition of fossil fuel to non-fossil fuels (biodiesel fuel for diesel blending) has continued to evolve. The largest source of biodiesel’ raw materials in Indonesia derives from oil palm. Biodiesel development is also believed to generate benefit for society as well as for regional and national, including job creation, infrastructure improvement, revenue generation for governments and reduce national dependence on fossil fuels, and minimize adverse environmental fossil fuel impacts. However, despite its targets and strengthened by various comprehensive policies, the development of biodiesel in Indonesia also faces significant barriers. Descriptive analysis used in this study to understand the political economy of biodiesel engagement. The limited domestic market, mainly related to the issue of non-competitive prices with diesel, relatively low of oil prices, and high prices of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) are the constraints in the production of biodiesel for domestic uptake. The national political aspect related to the use of biodiesel by government parties, including non-PSOs, becomes an important issue in ensuring the sustainability of biodiesel. In addition, the issue of sustainability in the upstream (oil palm plantation) and dumping issues expressed by the EU and the US Government are also the main problems in Indonesian biodiesel export.

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The role of maize hybrids in current trends of bioethanol production

Selekcija i semenarstvo ◽

10.5937/selsem2002021n ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 21-29

Author(s):

Valentina Nikolić ◽

Slađana Žilić ◽

Milica Radosavljević ◽

Marijana Simić

Keyword(s):

Fossil Fuels ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Alternative Fuel ◽

Bioethanol Production ◽

Economic Activities ◽

Fuel Production ◽

Gasoline Demand ◽

Current Trends ◽

Production And Consumption

Bioethanol is a biofuel that is mostly used as a replacement for fossil fuels worldwide with yearly production reaching nearly 110 billion liters in 2019. Trends of producing this alternative fuel are rising and maize is considered as one of the best renewable raw materials for the production of fuel ethanol due to the high content of starch in the grain. Taking into account that Serbia is one of the most prominent maize producers in Europe, the surpluses of this crop could be directed towards bioethanol production. Even though there is no organized production and consumption of bioethanol as an automotive fuel in Serbia, the Serbian Government has recently introduced some new regulations regarding biofuels. However, due to the reduction of economic activities since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the global demand for crude oil has fallen sharply, negatively affecting the gasoline demand, and thus for bioethanol, which makes the future of this alternative fuel production notably uncertain.

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Impact of Simulated Biogas Compositions (CH4 and CO2) on Vibration, Sound Pressure and Performance of a Spark Ignition Engine

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14217037 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (21) ◽

pp. 7037

Author(s):

Donatas Kriaučiūnas ◽

Tadas Žvirblis ◽

Kristina Kilikevičienė ◽

Artūras Kilikevičius ◽

Jonas Matijošius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Negative Correlation ◽

Internal Combustion Engines ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Sound Pressure ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Combustion Process ◽

Spark Ignition ◽

Spark Ignition Engine ◽

Positive Correlation

Biogas has increasingly been used as an alternative to fossil fuels in the world due to a number of factors, including the availability of raw materials, extensive resources, relatively cheap production and sufficient energy efficiency in internal combustion engines. Tightening environmental and renewable energy requirements create excellent prospects for biogas (BG) as a fuel. A study was conducted on a 1.6-L spark ignition (SI) engine (HR16DE), testing simulated biogas with different methane and carbon dioxide contents (100CH4, 80CH4_20CO2, 60CH4_40CO2, and 50CH4_50CO2) as fuel. The rate of heat release (ROHR) was calculated for each fuel. Vibration acceleration time, sound pressure and spectrum characteristics were also analyzed. The results of the study revealed which vibration of the engine correlates with combustion intensity, which is directly related to the main measure of engine energy efficiency—break thermal efficiency (BTE). Increasing vibrations have a negative correlation with carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions, but a positive correlation with nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Sound pressure also relates to the combustion process, but, in contrast to vibration, had a negative correlation with BTE and NOx, and a positive correlation with emissions of incomplete combustion products (CO, HC).

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Mediterranean Cropping Systems: The Importance of Their Economic and Environmental Sustainability

Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research ◽

10.21926/aeer.2104036 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

Maria Pergola ◽

◽

Assunta Maria Palese ◽

Alessandro Persiani ◽

Pasquale De Francesco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Olive Tree ◽

Well Being ◽

C Sequestration ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

The World ◽

The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the lives of people, as well as the production and economic systems throughout the world. The flow of raw materials and products, the supply of labor and manpower, and the purchasing power have all been changed to the detriment of individual health and well-being. Such a situation requires placing even more emphasis on the search for virtuous agricultural systems compatible with the goals of economic and environmental development so clearly defined at the world level in the last decades. The present study aimed to assess the environmental and economic performance of some typical Mediterranean crops grown under different agronomical management regimes, such as strawberry, hazelnut, apricot tree, kiwifruit, peach, olive tree, and grapevine, to emphasize the importance of the mentioned issues even in the current pandemic situation. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to investigate the environmental profile of the studied crops, while lifecycle costing (LCC) was performed to assess and compare the economic aspects. From the environmental perspective, the hobby-organic olive systems were the most eco-friendly cropping systems, emitting 0.031 to 0.105 kg CO2eq per kg olives, while the organic hazelnut system had the greatest impact (1.001 kg of CO2eq per kg). Apricot, kiwifruit, and peach systems used N and P inputs most effectively, while strawberry systems efficiently used fossil fuels. Olive HO-2, kiwifruit, and peach cropping systems had the lowest budgets, with the costs amounted to 0.12 € kg-1 per fruit for Olive HO-2 and 0.28 € kg-1 per fruit for both kiwifruit and peach. On the contrary, organic strawberry cultivation was the most expensive (4.77 € kg-1). The variability in results due to the large differences between contexts, such as landscape, technical knowledge, and crop management, characterized the studied agricultural systems. To easily identify sustainability classes and to diminish the impact of farming practices, a considerable effort should be expended to combine LCA with LCC, C sequestration estimates, and some other useful indicators for the environmental quality evaluation.

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A Feasibility Study of Cellulosic Isobutanol Production—Process Simulation and Economic Analysis

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr7100667 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. 667 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Avraam Roussos ◽

Nikiforos Misailidis ◽

Alexandros Koulouris ◽

Francesco Zimbardi ◽

Demetri Petrides

Keyword(s):

Energy Demand ◽

Production Cost ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Downstream Processing ◽

Economic Feasibility ◽

Unit Production Cost ◽

Product Titer ◽

Product Removal ◽

The Cost

Renewable liquid biofuels for transportation have recently attracted enormous global attention due to their potential to provide a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. In recent years, the attention has shifted from first-generation bioethanol to the production of higher molecular weight alcohols, such as biobutanol, from cellulosic feedstocks. The economic feasibility of such processes depends on several parameters such as the cost of raw materials, the fermentation performance and the energy demand for the pretreatment of biomass and downstream processing. In this work, two conceptual process scenarios for isobutanol production, one with and one without integrated product removal from the fermentor by vacuum stripping, were developed and evaluated using SuperPro Designer®. In agreement with previous publications, it was concluded that the fermentation titer is a crucial parameter for the economic competitiveness of the process as it is closely related to the energy requirements for product purification. In the first scenario where the product titer was 22 g/L, the energy demand for downstream processing was 15.8 MJ/L isobutanol and the unit production cost of isobutanol was $2.24/L. The integrated product removal by vacuum stripping implemented in the second scenario was assumed to improve the isobutanol titer to 50 g/L. In this case, the energy demand for the product removal (electricity) and downstream processing were 1.8 MJ/L isobutanol and 10 MJ/L isobutanol, respectively, and the unit production cost was reduced to $1.42/L. The uncertainty associated with the choice of modeling and economic parameters was investigated by Monte Carlo simulation sensitivity analysis.

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Oxalic Acid as a Hydrogen Donor for the Hydrodesulfurization of Gas Oil and Deoxygenation of Rapeseed Oil Using Phonolite-Based Catalysts

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25163732 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (16) ◽

pp. 3732

Author(s):

José Miguel Hidalgo Herrador ◽

Jakub Fratczak ◽

Zdeněk Tišler ◽

Hector de Paz Carmona ◽

Romana Velvarská

Keyword(s):

Oxalic Acid ◽

Rapeseed Oil ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Hydrogen Donor ◽

Gas Oil ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

X Ray ◽

Hydrogen Donors ◽

Temperature Programmed

The use of renewable local raw materials to produce fuels is an important step toward optimal environmentally friendly energy consumption. In addition, the use of these sources together with fossil fuels paves the way to an easier transition from fossil to renewable fuels. The use of simple organic acids as hydrogen donors is another alternative way to produce fuel. The present work reports the use of oxalic acid as a hydrogen donor for the catalytic hydrodesulfurization of atmospheric gas oil and the deoxygenation of rapeseed oil at 350 °C. For this process, one commercial NiW/SiO2–Al2O3 solid and two NiW/modified phonolite catalysts were used, namely Ni (5%) W (10%)/phonolite treated with HCl, and Ni (5%) W (10%)/phonolite treated with oxalic acid. The fresh phonolite catalysts were characterized by Hg porosimetry and N2 physisorption, ammonia temperature programmed desorption (NH3-TPD), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The sulfided metal phonolite catalysts were characterized by XRD and XRF. Hydrodesulfurization led to a decrease in sulfur content from 1 to 0.5 wt% for the phonolite catalysts and to 0.8 wt% when the commercial catalyst was used. Deoxygenation led to the production of 15 and 65 wt% paraffin for phonolite and commercial solids, respectively. The results demonstrate the potential of using oxalic acid as a hydrogen donor in hydrotreating reactions.

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