Updated national emission inventory and comparison with the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR): case of Lebanon

Physically based computational modeling is an effective tool for estimating and predicting the spatial distribution of pollutant concentrations in complex environments. A detailed and up-to-date emission inventory is one of the most important components of atmospheric modeling and a prerequisite for achieving high model performance. Lebanon lacks an accurate inventory of anthropogenic emission fluxes. In the absence of a clear emission standard and standardized activity datasets in Lebanon, this work serves to fill this gap by presenting the first national effort to develop a national emission inventory by exhaustively quantifying detailed multisector, multi-species pollutant emissions in Lebanon for atmospheric pollutants that are internationally monitored and regulated as relevant to air quality. Following the classification of the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), we present the methodology followed for each subsector based on its characteristics and types of fuels consumed. The estimated emissions encompass gaseous species (CO, NOx, SO2), and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). We compare totals per sector obtained from the newly developed national inventory with the international EDGAR inventory and previously published emission inventories for the country for base year 2010 presenting current discrepancies and analyzing their causes. The observed discrepancies highlight the fact that emission inventories, especially for data-scarce settings, are highly sensitive to the activity data and their underlying assumptions, and to the methodology used to estimate the emissions.

Research on the effectiveness of alternative propulsion sources in high-tonnage cargo transport

The progressive degradation of the environment makes implementing pro-ecological solutions in various areas of our lives more meaningful. These measures also apply to transport, responsible for around 30% of total carbon dioxide emissions in the EU. Implementing ecological solutions in road transport encounters various barriers resulting mainly from the specificity of transport tasks. One of the most promising solutions in the high-tonnage road transport sector seems to be LNG-fueled engines, which allow for similar operating conditions to traditional combustion vehicles. The article aims to identify the environmental benefits of the use of high-tonnage LNG-fueled vehicles in freight transport and to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the economic efficiency of this solution. The article assesses the effectiveness of using an LNG-fueled vehicle and a diesel-fueled vehicle that meets the highest exhaust emission standard in high-tonnage transport, both in terms of economy and an impact of these solutions on the environment. The research was carried out on a given route, taking into account variants of vehicle manning and simulations of transport cycle time. In conclusion, a discussion of the obtained results was carried out, emphasizing the factors determining the profitability of using high-tonnage vehicles with LNG drive or its lack. Regardless of the indicated lack of clarity in the economic assessment of the effectiveness of LNG drives in high-tonnage vehicles, the identified environmental benefits from implementing these solutions seem to be quite unequivocal. Thus, it should be expected that in the event of loss of economic competitiveness of these solutions, appropriate fiscal instruments should be used - especially since LNG drives in the policies of individual countries are considered pro-ecological solutions.

Interpretation of Non-Exhaust Brake Emission Standard: Laboratory Testing

Now there are more and more new energy vehicles on the road, compare to the traditional vehicles that use the oil to offer the power, the new energy vehicles use electric or hydrogen to offer the power, which have no exhaust pollution emission, but also have non-exhaust emission. Brake and tyre system are the special components of vehicles due to the frequent replacement, they are the main source of the non-exhaust emission. Brake system is one of the most important safety systems of vehicles. The system can reduce the speed of the vehicle and keep the vehicle stable when going downhill. Friction between brake disc and pads or shoes during driving creates small particles that are released into the atmosphere, soil and rivers. The particles have different dimensions, some element or matter inside maybe harmful to human and environment. So it is very important to know more about the non-exhaust brake emission. Here, we focus on the specification of GRPE-81-12 “Non-Exhaust Brake Emissions – Laboratory testing – Part 1: Inertia Dynamometer Protocol to Measure and Characterise Brake Emissions Using the WLTP-Brake Cycle” and do the detailed interpretation.

Energy-ecological Efficiency of Dual-Fuel Serie Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Considering WTW Emissions

This paper discussed the possibility of replacing the series plug-in hybrid electric vehicle using the single-fuel spark-ignition engine (SFSIE) fuelled with gasoline A and Brazilian gasoline by the series plug-in hybrid electric vehicle fuelled with 50% bioethanol and 50% biogas in dual-fuel mode. The simulation of bioethanol, biogas and gasoline A combustion were carried out through GASEQ software to calculate the energy-ecological efficiency of the SFSIE and the dual-fuel spark ignition engine (DFSIE). The well-to-pump (WTP) emissions of the sugarcane bioethanol and biogas production pathway were evaluated through GREET software. The tank-to-wheel (TTW) emissions were determined to each series PHEV operating modes. Thus, the well-to-wheel emissions were calculated through the sum of the WTP, TTW and electricity mix emissions. The results showed that the energy-ecological efficiency for the DFSIE was 10.7% and 24.1% higher than that found for SFSIE fuelled with gasoline and Brazilian gasoline, respectively. The losses during the biogas production aggravate linearly the WTP emissions, and consequently the WTW emissions of the series PHEV. Besides that, the DFSIE presented 15.5% and 12.8 less TTW emissions than the SFSIE fuelled with gasoline A and Brazilian gasoline, respectively. Comparing to the emission standards, the DFSIE presented TTW emissions 30.5% higher than the EU emission standard by 2021. Although the DFSIE does not meet none of the emission standards, this engine mode can be an alternative to at least reduce the tailpipe emissions.

Method of verifying the emission level of the exhaust components of a special vehicle in relation to EURO III standard in road conditions

The following article presents the method of verification of EURO III standard in real life conditions for special vehicles. The test object qualified as a special vehicle of N3G category was tested in road conditions along a defined route, and then the obtained measurement results were compared to the exhaust emission standard (EURO III) applicable for this vehicle in transient testing mode. A method of comparing the emission factors in road conditions with the indicators obtained on the engine dynamometer was proposed. An AVL mobile exhaust gas analyzers (PEMS) dedicated for the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) road tests were used in the research.

Conversion of Two-Stroke Vehicle to an Electric Vehicle

Amid the global pandemic of covid-19, fuel prices have soared a record high, crossing the Rs. 100 landmark for petrol and diesel. This leads to an increase in prices across all products, which cuts in deeper into the already thin bottom lines of ordinary citizens. Public outcry aside, the rise in fuel prices indicates an accelerating trend, which emphasizes the need to find alternative sources of fuel for transport; the ever growing sector. In recent years, reports of possible banning two-stroke engines, coupled with the emergence of a new emission standard in India, have re-ignited questions about how two-stroke vehicles, can be powered from alternative sources of energy. This project intends to address the above question, by assessing the feasibility of a different alternative, by designing an electric drivetrain for a twowheeler, while aiming to be practical and economical for the ordinary man riding it. This project intends to be a cost-feasibility study, whose aim, to realize a full EV conversion of a twowheeler, less than 50% of current market price of base level, original EV’s, thereby proving to be a feasible alternative to people who cannot afford the alternative; and also solving the logistical and environmental problems arising from a large number of abandoned or suboptimal use of such vehicles, when the shift happens.

Fluorine Depth Profiling Based on the 19F(p,p’g)19F Excitation Function

Ion beam analysis of fluorine has applications in research on teeth and bones, materials science, geochemistry and archaeometry. A novel PIGE (Particle Induced Gamma-ray Emission) standard free methodology for fluorine content determination for in-depth heterogeneous samples based on the excitation function of the 19F(p,p’γ)19F nuclear reaction is presented. New precise cross section measurements of this reaction in the proton energy range 2.1 to 4.1 MeV have been performed. In addition, the ERYA-Profiling code, a computer program specially developed for PIGE analysis of in-depth heterogeneous samples, employed this new excitation function in a case study where different fluorine simulated depth profiles probed the capability of insight into fluorine distributions in a given sample, showing the potential of PIGE analysis.

New Insights into Ion Adsorption Type Rare-Earths Mining—Bacterial Adsorption of Yttrium Integrated with Ammonia Nitrogen Removal by a Fungus

Ion adsorption-type heavy rare earths found in southern China are important ore resources, whose yttrium(Y)-group rare-earth elements account for 90% of the total mass of rare earths known on the planet. At present, ammonia-nitrogen wastewater from extraction of rare earths pose threats to the environment. A bacterial strain (Bacillus sp. ZD 1) isolated from the “Foot Cave” mining area was used for adsorption of Y3+. Its adsorption capacity reached 428 μmol/g when the initial concentration of Y3+ was 1.13 mM. Moreover, 50 mg of Bacillus sp. ZD 1 (converted to dry mass) could completely adsorb Y3+ in the mother solution of mixed rare earths from the rare-earth mining area. Ammonia nitrogen in the remaining solution after adsorption was removed through denitrification using a fungus named Galactomyces sp. ZD 27. The final concentration of ammonia nitrogen in wastewater was lower than Indirect Emission Standard of Pollutants for Rare-earth Industry (GB 26451-2011). Furthermore, the resulting fungal cells of Galactomyces sp. ZD 27 could be used to produce single cell proteins, whose content accounted for 70.75% of the dry mass of cells. This study offers a new idea for integrated environmentally-friendly extraction and ecological restoration of the mining area in southern China.

Pilot-Scale Airlift Bioreactor with Function-Enhanced Microbes for the Reduction of Refinery Excess Sludge

A pilot-scale airlift bioreactor (ALBR) system was built and operated continuously for refinery excess sludge (RES) reduction. Combined ALBR and function-enhanced microbes (composed of photosynthetic bacteria and yeast) were integrated into the system. The pilot-scale ALBR was operated for 62 days, and the start-up time was 7 d. Continuous operation showed that the sludge reduction efficiency was more than 56.22%, and the water quality of the effluent was satisfactory. This study focused on investigating the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the stability of the system and the effect of sludge reduction. Under different HRT conditions of 40, 26.7, 20, and 16 h, the sludge reduction rates reached 56.22%, 73.24%, 74.09%, and 69.64%, respectively. The removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen (TN) decreased with decreasing HRT, whereas the removal rate of NH4+-N increased. The removal rate of total phosphorus (TP) was approximately 30%. Results indicate that the ALBR and function-enhanced microbe system can reduce sludge and treat sewage simultaneously, and the effluent is up to the national emission standard. Addition of function-enhanced microbes can promote the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon substances in the sludge, especially alkanes with low carbon numbers. This study suggests that the optimal HRT for the system is 16 h. The total operation cost of the ALBR combined with the function-enhanced microbe system can be reduced by 50% compared with the cost of direct treatment of the RES system.