scholarly journals Potential uses of biomass from fast-growing crop miscanthus×giganteus

2012 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Babovic ◽  
Gordana Drazic ◽  
Ana Djordjevic
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Water Concentration ◽  
High Water ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Cellulose Content ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Miscanthus Giganteus

There is an increasing interest in perennial grasses as a renewable source of bioenergy and feedstock for second-generation cellulosic biofuels. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and miscanthus (Miscanthus?giganteus), belonging to the parennial grasses group, are the major lignocellulosic materials being studied today as sources for direct energy production, biofuels, bioremediation and other. They have the ability to grow at low cost on marginal land where they will not compete with the traditional food crops. Miscanthus?giganteus possesses a number of advantages in comparison with the other potential energy crops such as are: high yields, low moisture content at harvest, high water and nitrogen use efficiencies, low need for annual agronomic inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, high cellulose content, non-invasive character, low susceptibility to pests and diseases and broad adaptation to temperate growing environments. The main problems are low rate of survival during the first winter after the creation of plantation and the relatively high establishment costs. Miscanthus?giganteus is grown primarily for heat and electricity generation but can also be used to produce transport fuels. Miscanthus biomass has a very good combustion quality due to its low water concentration as well as its low Cl, K, N, S and ash concentrations compared to other lignocellulose plants. It is expected that miscanthus will provide cheaper and more sustainable source of cellulose for production of bioethanol than annual crops such as corn. Miscanthus has great promise as a renewable energy source, but it can only be realised when the grass production has been optimised for large-scale commercial cultivation. However, further research is still needed to optimise agronomy of miscanthus, to develop the production chain and pre-treatment as well as to optimise energy conversation route to produce heat, electricity, and/or fuels from biomass, if miscanthus is to compete with fossil fuel use and be widely produced.

Exploring competitive features of stationary sodium ion batteries for electrochemical energy storage

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1512-1533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiefeng Liu ◽  
Yaping Zhang ◽  
Zhanguo Jiang ◽  
Xianqing Zeng ◽  
Jiapeng Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Smart Grids ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Sodium Ion ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Sodium Ion Batteries ◽  
Power Performance ◽  
Climate Adaptability

Owing to the four features summarized in this review, i.e., low-cost resource, high-power performance, all-climate adaptability and full-batty recyclability, sodium ion batteries show great promise for large-scale energy storage systems used for the application of renewable energy sources and smart grids.

scholarly journals Designing a next generation solar crystallizer for real seawater brine treatment with zero liquid discharge

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenlin Zhang ◽  
Yusuf Shi ◽  
Le Shi ◽  
Hongxia Li ◽  
Renyuan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evaporation Rate ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Water ◽  
Water Evaporation ◽  
Salt Crystallization ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Liquid Discharge ◽  
Brine Disposal ◽  
Crystallization Inhibitor ◽  
Brine Treatment

AbstractProper disposal of industrial brine has been a critical environmental challenge. Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) brine treatment holds great promise to the brine disposal, but its application is limited by the intensive energy consumption of its crystallization process. Here we propose a new strategy that employs an advanced solar crystallizer coupled with a salt crystallization inhibitor to eliminate highly concentrated waste brine. The rationally designed solar crystallizer exhibited a high water evaporation rate of 2.42 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun illumination when treating real concentrated seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine (21.6 wt%). The solar crystallizer array showed an even higher water evaporation rate of 48.0 kg m−2 per day in the outdoor field test, suggesting a great potential for practical application. The solar crystallizer design and the salt crystallization inhibition strategy proposed and confirmed in this work provide a low-cost and sustainable solution for industrial brine disposal with ZLD.

scholarly journals Suspected Selective Herbivory of Bioenergy Grasses by Meadow Voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather A. Hager ◽  
Frances E. C. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Bioenergy Grasses ◽  
Selective Herbivory

Highly productive native and non-native perennial grasses are being grown for bioenergy purposes in North America, and ecological risks of their large-scale production are being assessed to inform breeding and management practices. Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) and Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) were introduced into an old-field habitat in Guelph, Ontario, in 2012. Seedlings of these species suffered severe selective herbivory, being severed at the plant base by an unknown herbivore. We therefore performed a live-trapping survey and mark-recapture analysis of the small mammal community in 2012 to identify the probable herbivore and estimate its population density. Meadow Voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) were the most abundant herbivore in the area, with an estimated population of 265 individuals/ha, a relatively high density. This and other evidence indicate that Meadow Voles were likely responsible for herbivory of >80% of the transplants. Such herbivory could have a substantial effect on the establishment and survival of these grasses, suggesting that future crop breeding programs and ecological risk assessments should take this into consideration.

A multipronged evidence-based approach to implement mHealth for underserved HIV-infected populations

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Archana Krishnan ◽  
Claire Cravero
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Sex With Men

Mobile technology shows great promise in resource-limited settings due to its low cost and pervasive nature. Early evidence-based studies have shown robust support for mHealth interventions implemented among people living with HIV (PLWH); however, this type of inquiry is lacking amongst the most vulnerable groups of PLWH such as men who have sex with men (MSM), prisoners, and those facing substance use disorders (SUDS) and structural instabilities. These populations face barriers more profound than the general PLWH population including social stigma and discrimination. In response to the lack of rigorous evaluation of mHealth implementation and the tremendous potential for mHealth tools in underserved PLWH, we propose a 3-pronged approach in rooting mHealth tools using evidence-based methodology—(a) assessing mHealth feasibility and accessibility through descriptive studies, (b) conducting pilot projects testing mHealth tools, and (c) integrating mHealth tools into existing large-scale studies. The set of research steps proffered here aims to build a solid body of evidence on mHealth interventions among underserved populations and the health conditions that disproportionately affect them.

scholarly journals The Effect of Selected Cultivation Factors on the Growth of Mycelium of Pleurotus cystidiosus Miller

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiza DAWIDOWICZ ◽  
Agnieszka JASIŃSKA ◽  
Marek SIWULSKI
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Straw ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Incubation Temperature ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Control Sample ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Mycelium Growth ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Miscanthus Giganteus ◽  
Pleurotus Cystidiosus

Pleurotus cystidiosus occurs in natural areas in North America. Its carpophores are characterized by a slightly sweet and mild taste. Fruiting bodies of P. cystidiosus are valued as source of nutrients and biologically active substances. The aim of the study was the selection of the optimal incubation temperature and the best substrate for the fastest mycelium growth. Two cultivars of P. cystidiosus – B1 and B122 was taken. Incubation of mycelium was performed in the temperature range from 15 to 30 °C. The influence of a substrate made of wheat straw, hemp shives and energetic grasses – Panicum virgatum and Miscanthus × giganteus. The experiment compared the growth of mycelium on a substrate with wheat straw (control sample) and with wheat straw and the addition of hemp shives and energetic grass in increasing amounts: 10, 20 and 30%. It has been shown that the growth of mycelium of tested strains on different substrates varied. The best growth of mycelium occurred on the substrate with wheat straw and the addition of hemp shives, P. virgatum and M. × giganteus in the amounts of 20% and 30%. The temperature of incubation also had a significant impact on the growth of the mycelium of P. cystidiosus. The optimal temperature was 25 °C. An investigation of the mutual dependence between morphological and qualitative characteristics of the type of agar medium allows optimization of the production of P. cystidiosus. The development of a low-cost and simple method for the production of P. cystidiosus can contribute to the introduction of this species into intensive cultivation. Use of waste materials in mushroom production will significantly increase the profitability of crops and reduce their costs.

scholarly journals Assembly and seasonality of core phyllosphere microbiota on perennial biofuel crops

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keara L Grady ◽  
Jackson W. Sorensen ◽  
Nejc Stopnisek ◽  
John Guittar ◽  
Ashley Shade
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Gene Diversity ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Miscanthus Giganteus ◽  
Biofuel Crops ◽  
Ecological Filtering

AbstractPerennial grasses are promising feedstocks for biofuel production, and there is potential to leverage their native microbiomes to increase their productivity and resilience to environmental stress. Here, we characterize the 16S rRNA gene diversity and seasonal assembly of bacterial and archaeal microbiomes of two perennial cellulosic feedstocks, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus). We sampled leaves and soil every three weeks from pre-emergence through senescence for two consecutive switchgrass growing seasons and one miscanthus season, and identified core leaf taxa based on abundance and occupancy. Virtually all leaf taxa are also detected in soil; source-sink modeling shows non-random, ecological filtering by the leaf, suggesting that soil is important reservoir of phyllosphere diversity. Core leaf taxa include early, mid, and late season groups that were consistent across years and crops. This consistency in leaf microbiome dynamics and core members is promising for microbiome manipulation or management to support biofuel crop production.

scholarly journals Weaving host matrixes with intermolecular hydrogen bonds for high-efficiency white thermally activated delayed fluorescence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Xu ◽  
Yuee Tian ◽  
Huiqin Wang ◽  
Yi Man ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Light Emitting Diode ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Delayed Fluorescence ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence ◽  
Organic Light Emitting Diode ◽  
Thermally Activated

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) white organic light-emitting diode (WOLED) holds great promise for low-cost, large-scale lighting applications. Nevertheless, manipulating exciton allocation in a white TADF single layer is still...

An Assessment of a Low-Cost Wastewater Disposal System after Twenty-Five Years of Operation

1987 ◽  
Vol 19 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 701-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L. Reidy ◽  
G. W. Samson
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Wastewater Disposal ◽  
Industrial Base ◽  
Industrial Wastewaters ◽  
The Past ◽  
Gasification Process ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Environmentally Safe ◽  
Coal Resource

A low-cost wastewater disposal system was commissioned in 1959 to treat domestic and industrial wastewaters generated in the Latrobe River valley in the province of Gippsland, within the State of Victoria, Australia (Figure 1). The Latrobe Valley is the centre for large-scale generation of electricity and for the production of pulp and paper. In addition other industries have utilized the brown coal resource of the region e.g. gasification process and char production. Consequently, industrial wastewaters have been dominant in the disposal system for the past twenty-five years. The mixed industrial-domestic wastewaters were to be transported some eighty kilometres to be treated and disposed of by irrigation to land. Several important lessons have been learnt during twenty-five years of operating this system. Firstly the composition of the mixed waste stream has varied significantly with the passage of time and the development of the industrial base in the Valley, so that what was appropriate treatment in 1959 is not necessarily acceptable in 1985. Secondly the magnitude of adverse environmental impacts engendered by this low-cost disposal procedure was not imagined when the proposal was implemented. As a consequence, clean-up procedures which could remedy the adverse effects of twenty-five years of impact are likely to be costly. The question then may be asked - when the total costs including rehabilitation are considered, is there really a low-cost solution for environmentally safe disposal of complex wastewater streams?

Treadle pump: A low cost irrigation option for marginal farmers

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
ATIQUR RAHMAN ◽  
ASHUTOSH UPADHYAYA ◽  
BP BHATT
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
High Water ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Human Power ◽  
Dry Spells ◽  
Supplementary Irrigation ◽  
Land Holdings

The population of marginal farmers in India is bound to increase due to continued division of farm holdings. Characteristically, marginal farmers are having more family labours but the production and productivity of their land holdings is low. The foremost reason behind this is the erratic rainfall and lack of assure supplementary irrigation during long dry spells. This paper presents the scope and applicability of a diaphragm based treadle pump in Bihar where groundwater is abundant and available at shallow depths round the year. Therefore, this pump could be very useful for marginal farmers in improving production and productivity of their tiny piece of land, as it uses human power and can be operated by male and female of age group 32- 45 years and lifts water from a depth ranging from 0- 30 feet. The water saving technologies such as bucket kit drum kit etc. could be used with this pump to irrigate the crops with high water productivity.

scholarly journals Rapid, large-scale species discovery in hyperdiverse taxa using 1D MinION sequencing

BMC Biology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amrita Srivathsan ◽  
Emily Hartop ◽  
Jayanthi Puniamoorthy ◽  
Wan Ting Lee ◽  
Sujatha Narayanan Kutty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Large Species ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Species Discovery ◽  
Short Period

Abstract Background More than 80% of all animal species remain unknown to science. Most of these species live in the tropics and belong to animal taxa that combine small body size with high specimen abundance and large species richness. For such clades, using morphology for species discovery is slow because large numbers of specimens must be sorted based on detailed microscopic investigations. Fortunately, species discovery could be greatly accelerated if DNA sequences could be used for sorting specimens to species. Morphological verification of such “molecular operational taxonomic units” (mOTUs) could then be based on dissection of a small subset of specimens. However, this approach requires cost-effective and low-tech DNA barcoding techniques because well-equipped, well-funded molecular laboratories are not readily available in many biodiverse countries. Results We here document how MinION sequencing can be used for large-scale species discovery in a specimen- and species-rich taxon like the hyperdiverse fly family Phoridae (Diptera). We sequenced 7059 specimens collected in a single Malaise trap in Kibale National Park, Uganda, over the short period of 8 weeks. We discovered > 650 species which exceeds the number of phorid species currently described for the entire Afrotropical region. The barcodes were obtained using an improved low-cost MinION pipeline that increased the barcoding capacity sevenfold from 500 to 3500 barcodes per flowcell. This was achieved by adopting 1D sequencing, resequencing weak amplicons on a used flowcell, and improving demultiplexing. Comparison with Illumina data revealed that the MinION barcodes were very accurate (99.99% accuracy, 0.46% Ns) and thus yielded very similar species units (match ratio 0.991). Morphological examination of 100 mOTUs also confirmed good congruence with morphology (93% of mOTUs; > 99% of specimens) and revealed that 90% of the putative species belong to the neglected, megadiverse genus Megaselia. We demonstrate for one Megaselia species how the molecular data can guide the description of a new species (Megaselia sepsioides sp. nov.). Conclusions We document that one field site in Africa can be home to an estimated 1000 species of phorids and speculate that the Afrotropical diversity could exceed 200,000 species. We furthermore conclude that low-cost MinION sequencers are very suitable for reliable, rapid, and large-scale species discovery in hyperdiverse taxa. MinION sequencing could quickly reveal the extent of the unknown diversity and is especially suitable for biodiverse countries with limited access to capital-intensive sequencing facilities.

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