Production and Optimization of Energy Rich Biofuel through Co-Pyrolysis by Utilizing Mixed Agricultural Residues and Mixed Waste Plastics

Two totally waste products, agricultural residues and mixed plastic wastes collected from domestic and industrial sectors, are used in this study for the recovery of energy rich biofuel and value-added chemicals. The copyrolysis experiments using fixed bed reactor are conducted in order to analyse the synergetic effects. The experimental works are carried out with different proportion of mixed plastics blended with agricultural residues. The reaction temperature and biomass-to-waste plastics ratio on product distributions are studied and addressed. The thermogravimetric analysis conducted at different temperatures clearly distinguished the pyrolysis behaviours of biomass and plastics. The positive synergistic effects defined as higher yield of volatiles compared to predicted yield for bio-oil were identified at particular mixing ratio. Both biomass wastes and plastic wastes show optimal performance of 60.42 wt% oil yield at 60% addition of waste plastics. The oil products obtained under favourable conditions have a higher heating value compared to the oil obtained from biomass pyrolysis. The GC-MS study confirmed that the interaction between biomass and plastics during copyrolysis resulted in decreased oxygenated contents in the oil products.

Biomethane from Manure, Agricultural Residues and Biowaste—GHG Mitigation Potential from Residue-Based Biomethane in the European Transport Sector

Biomethane from manure, agricultural residues, and biowaste has been prioritized by many energy strategies as a sustainable way to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector. The technology is regarded as mature; however, its implementation is still at an early stage. At EU level, there are currently two major instruments relevant for promoting the production of biomethane from waste and residues and which are likely to contribute to unlocking unused GHG mitigation potentials: the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001 (RED II) and the European Emission Trading System (EU ETS). Our study analyzes the effects of these two instruments on the competitiveness of biomethane as an advanced transport fuel in relation to different policy scenarios within the RED II framework and under EU ETS conditions. Within the RED II market framework for advanced biofuels, biomethane concepts that use manure as a substrate or as a cosubstrate show significantly lower GHG mitigation costs compared to advanced biofuels. With respect to the current EU ETS conditions for bioenergy, it is helpful to consider the GHG reduction potential from the non-ETS agricultural sector as a way to unlock unused potential for reducing GHG emissions.

Biomass Valorization to Bioenergy: Assessment of Biomass Residues’ Availability and Bioenergy Potential in Nigeria

The bioenergy sector in Nigeria currently lacks a proper assessment of resource availability. In this study, we investigated the bioenergy potential of agricultural residues and municipal solid and liquid waste using data from 2008 to 2018, and we applied a computational and analytical approach with mild assumptions. The technical potential for the production of cellulosic ethanol and biogas was estimated from the available biomass. It was discovered that higher energy was generated from biogas than cellulosic ethanol for the same type of residue. The available crop residue technical potential of 84 Mt yielded cellulosic ethanol and biogas of 14,766 ML/yr (8 Mtoe) and 15,014 Mm3/yr (13 Mtoe), respectively. Biogas has diverse applications ranging from heat to electric power generation and therefore holds great potential in solving the current electricity crisis in Nigeria. It will also position the nation towards achieving the 7th sustainable development goal (SDG 7) on clean and affordable energy.

Determinants of asthma in Ethiopia: age and sex matched case control study with special reference to household fuel exposure and housing characteristics

Background Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by airway obstruction and hyper-responsiveness. Studies suggest that household fuel exposure and housing characteristics are associated with air way related allergy. But there remains to be a considerable uncertainty about whether that reflects an association with asthma. This study endeavored to bridge the gap by identifying factors associated with asthma, with special reference to household fuel exposure and housing characteristics in selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods We conducted a hospital-based matched case-control study. A total of 483 study participants were selected from two Ethiopian referral hospitals using a sequential sampling technique, with 161 cases and 322 controls. Standard questionnaire from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (ECRHS II) and the American Thoracic Society Division of Lung Disease (ATS-DLD-78) were used to collect household related data. Conditional logistic regression model was applied to identify the determinants of asthma. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to identify predictors of asthma. Results The response rate for both cases and controls was 99.17%. The odds of developing asthma was about four times higher among those who used agricultural residues for cooking (AOR: 3.81, 95% CI: 1.05, 13.79)., about five times higher among those who used wood for cooking (AOR: 4.95, 95% CI: 2.1, 11.69), nearly five times higher among those who had family history of asthma (AOR: 4.72, 95% CI: 1.54, 14.45), just over six times higher among those who smoke tobacco (AOR: 6.16, 95% CI: 1.31, 29.09) and over ten times higher among those who do not practice door opening, while cooking (AOR: 10.25, 95% CI: 3.97, 26.49). Conclusion Family history of asthma, tobacco smoking, use of solid fuels including, woods and agricultural residues were associated with development of asthma. To reduce the risk of asthma, people should practice door opening, while cooking, and must avoid using wood and agricultural residues for cooking and should also refrain from tobacco smoking.