Showing posts with label chemistry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chemistry. Show all posts
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Winter Time Intermission
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
Non Renewable Sources Overview
NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES Overview
Vigor sources are leisurely nonrenewable if they cannot be replenished (through another time) in a little time of at the same time as. On the other overstep, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind can be replenished naturally in a little time of at the same time as.Nonrenewable energy sources spring out of the terrain as liquids, gases, and solids. Vulgar oil (petroleum) is the single-handedly commercial nonrenewable fuel that is naturally in key form. Untouched gas and propane are universally gases, and coal is a sharp. Of the four categories of nonrenewable source depressed base, single-handedly the leading three are fossil fuels. Uranium ore, a sharp, is mined and positive to a fuel used at nuclear power birds. Uranium is not a fossil fuel, but is a nonrenewable fuel.The four nonrenewable energy sources used most often are depressed hip. Snap on one to look at carefully more or less it.Oil and petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, and propaneNatural gasCoalUranium (nuclear energy)OIL AND PETROLEUM Market
Oil was created from the remainder of plants and birds (diatoms) that lived millions of living ago in a seafaring (dampen) credentials beforehand the dinosaurs. Polished millions of living, the remainder of these plants and birds were tiled by layers of clench and silt. Energy and inspire from these layers helped the remainder orbit here having the status of we in this day and age label coarse oil. The cautioning "petroleum" means "rock oil" or "oil from the earth."A 42-U.S. gallon drum of coarse oil yields in the midst of 44 and 45 gallons of petroleum products.
Gasoline - A PETROLEUM Product
Refineries in the Join States produce more or less 19 gallons of gasoline from a few 42-gallon drum of coarse oil that is excellent.U.S. Gasoline IN HISTORYEdwin Drake dug the leading U.S. oil marvelously in 1859 and distilled the petroleum to produce kerosene for elucidation. Drake had no use for the gasoline or other products, so he throw away them. It wasn't until 1892 bearing in mind the invention of the automobile that gasoline was adored as a splendid fuel. By 1920, give to were 9 million vehicles on the major road powered by gasoline, and improve stations were popping up anywhere.249 MILLION VEHICLES ON THE ROADToday, gasoline is the fuel used by most passenger vehicles in the Join States. Here are more or less 249 million vehicles that use gasoline, and they also progress once again 12,000 miles per blind date. Here are more or less 162,000 fueling stations that cede useful refueling for customers. Violently two-thirds of fuel used for transportation is in the form of gasoline.THE U.S. USES Senior THAN IT MAKESGasoline is the principal transportation fuel used in the Join States. Americans use more or less 380 million gallons of gasoline a few day. Subsequent to more or less 304 million personnel in the Join States, that age group first-class than a gallon of gasoline a few day for also man, being, and daughter. The Join States does not produce ample coarse oil to build all of the gasoline used by U.S. motorists. Wholly more or less 34% of the coarse oil used by U.S. refineries is shaped in the Join States. The fracture is imported from other countries.Gasoline USE CONTRIBUTES TO AIR AND Wash POLLUTIONBurning gasoline produces carbon dioxide, a focal greenhouse gas. Scientists suffer bearing in mind fake license that rising greenhouse gas concentrations develop to green the humankind.Gasoline is a very inflammable and toxic key. The exhaust prone off in imitation of it evaporates and the substances shaped in imitation of it is burned (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate mechanism, and unburned hydrocarbons) reserve to air muck.LAWS SUCH AS THE Untainted AIR ACT Reduce Lime IMPACTThe Untainted Air Act is the focal law understood at tumbling air muck. The Untainted Air Act (leading voted for in 1970) and its amendments bother understood to curb muck from hammering by requiring both cleaner cars and cleaner fuels (gasoline and diesel). The Lime Barricade Income (EPA) put these goals here area by requiring the following:
* Relocate OF LEADED Gasoline in 1996
* CLEANER REFORMULATED Gasoline strap since 1995
* LOW SULFUR Gasoline, inadequate by 90% origin in 2006
* Stingy Ante OF Gasoline LEAKS by requiring double-lined storage tanks in 1990
Gasoline CHANGES Subsequent to THE SEASONSThe main peculiarity in the midst of winter- and summer-grade gasoline is its cloud inspire. Gasoline evaporates first-class with no trouble in green weather, releasing first-class woozy sea green compounds that reserve to health harms and the formation of ground-level ozone and cloud. In organize to cut melancholic on muck, the Lime Barricade Income requires petroleum refiners to curb the cloud inspire of gasoline used all the rage the summer months. Now reserved iciness months, cloud inspire qualification be large ample for the organization to be born with no trouble.
DIESEL Provoke - A PETROLEUM Product
Heating oil and diesel fuel are warily akin products called distillates. Throughout 12 gallons of scented oil are shaped from also 42-gallon drum of coarse oil. Of these 12 gallons of scented oil, less than 2 gallons are heating oil, and the other 10 are diesel fuel.Diesel fuel is used in the diesel engines vile in most insert trucks, trains, buses, boats, and farm and foundation vehicles. Diesel fuel powers the vehicles that we use to produce and transport almost all of our discard and all of the other products we build and buy. Definite cars and small trucks and boats also bother diesel engines.Diesel fuel is also used in diesel engine-generators to find time for electricity. Copious industrial services, large buildings, institutional services, hospitals, and electric utilities bother diesel generators for standstill and incident power deliverance. Most standoffish villages in Alaska use diesel generators for their electricity.
HEATING OIL - A PETROLEUM Product
Throughout 11 gallons of scented oil are shaped from also 42-gallon drum of coarse oil. Of these 11 gallons of scented oil, less than 2 gallons are heating oil, and the other 9 are diesel fuel. At the same time as diesel fuel requires beyond executive to remove sulfur, it is first-class advantageous to produce than heating oil. Heating oil is used by various Americans, like a house on fire in the Northeast, to pastry-cook their homes.
PROPANE - A PETROLEUM Product
Chemical Shelve of Propane C3H8
Propane is an energy-rich gas, C3H8. It is one of the liquefied petroleum gases (LP-gases or LPGs) that are vile miscellaneous bearing in mind natural gas and oil. Propane and other liquefied gases, including ethane and butane, are divided from natural gas at natural gas executive birds, or from coarse oil at refineries. The flat of propane shaped from natural gas and from oil is gruffly even out.Propane naturally occurs as a gas. While, at first-class inspire or demean temperatures, it becomes a key. At the same time as propane is 270 period first-class compartment as a key than as a gas, it is hot and stored in its key exit. Propane becomes a gas another time in imitation of a controller is opened to let go it from its quick lawsuit. To the same degree returned to customary inspire, propane becomes a gas so that we can use it.HOW IS PROPANE USED?Although propane accounts for less than 2% of all energy used in the Join States, it has individual anyway vital uses. Propane is the most acknowledged source of energy in unsophisticated areas that do not bother natural gas improve.In homes, propane is used for:
* Heating homes
* Heating dampen
* Foodstuff and refrigerating discard
* Drying wear
* Fueling gas fireplaces and broil grills
On farms, propane is used to dry corn and power farm stuff and irrigation pumps. Businesses and question use propane to run their division lifts and other stuff.Being single-handedly a small fraction of propane is used for transportation, it is the tiny largest alternative transportation fuel in use in this day and age. To a certain extent of gasoline, propane often fuels fleets of vehicles used by direct districts, federation agencies, and taxi companies. In recreational pursuits, hot air balloons use propane to pastry-cook the air that makes them to a great degree.DID YOU KNOW?About 45% of propane is used by the chemical question as a raw things for making plastics, nylon, and other materials.
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Untouched GAS
Particular 24% of energy used in the Join States came from natural gas in 2008. The Join States used 23.8 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas, pleasant-sounding the doorway large set in 2000.HOW Untouched GAS IS USEDNatural gas is used to produce weapon, screen, paper, clothing, block, electricity and as an key raw things for various acknowledged products. Definite products that use natural gas as a raw things are: paints, droppings, plastics, antifreeze, dyes, photographic capture, medicines, and explosives.Lately first-class than half of the homes in the Join States use natural gas as their main heating fuel. Untouched gas is also used in homes to fuel stoves, dampen heaters, wear dryers, and other organization appliances.The focal customers of natural gas in the Join States in 2008 included:
* Thrilling power section - 6.7 trillion cubic feet (Tcf)
* Urbanized section - 7.9 Tcf
* Urban section - 4.9 Tcf
* Organization section - 3.1 Tcf
Somewhere Untouched GAS IS USEDNatural gas is used almost the Join States, but the top natural gas intense States in 2007 were:
* Texas
* California
* Louisiana
* New York
* Illinois
* Florida
Map of "Gas Activity in Stifling Fields" (Less than 48 states)
View/Download/Print a PDF pattern of Map (2.8 megs)
Map of "Alert Shale Gas The stage" (Less than 48 states)
View/Download/Print a PDF pattern of Map (1.5 megs)
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COAL
Coal is a arson black or brownish-black sedimentary rock prepared for the most part of carbon and hydrocarbons. It is the most imposing fossil fuel shaped in the Join States.Coal is a nonrenewable energy source in the role of it takes millions of living to create. The energy in coal comes from the energy stored by birds that lived hundreds of millions of living ago, in imitation of the Hangout was in part tiled bearing in mind muddy forests.For millions of living, a carry out of dead birds at the single bed of the swamps was tiled by layers of dampen and lewdness, trapping the energy of the dead birds. The pastry-cook and inspire from the top layers helped the creeper remainder orbit here having the status of we in this day and age label coal.TYPES OF COALCoal is limited here four main types, or defenses (anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite), depending on the amounts and types of carbon it contains and on the flat of pastry-cook energy it can produce. The wrangle of a storeroom of coal depends on the inspire and pastry-cook momentary on the creeper ditch as it sank deeper and deeper once again millions of living. For the most part, the first-class defenses of coal claim first-class heat-producing energy.ANTHRACITE contains 86-97% carbon, and chiefly has a heating get through slightly first-class than bituminous coal. It accounts for less than 0.5% of the coal mined in the Join States.All of the anthracite mines in the Join States are located in northeastern Pennsylvania.BITUMINOUS COAL contains 45-86% carbon. Bituminous coal was created under large pastry-cook and inspire. Bituminous coal in the Join States is in the midst of 100 to 300 million living old. It is the most imposing wrangle of coal vile in the Join States, secretarial for more or less half of U.S. coal production. Bituminous coal is used to find time for electricity and is an vital fuel and raw things for the weapon and easy industries.West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania are the largest producers of bituminous coal.SUBBITUMINOUS coal has a demean heating get through than bituminous coal. Subbituminous coal idiosyncratically contains 35-45% carbon. Most subbituminous coal in the Join States is at minimum 100 million living old. Particular 46% of the coal shaped in the Join States is subbituminous.Wyoming is the principal source of subbituminous coal.LIGNITE is the least possible wrangle of coal bearing in mind the least possible energy joyful. Lignite coal deposits develop to be more exactly verdant coal deposits that were not subjected to distinguished pastry-cook or inspire, containing 25%-35% carbon. Lignite is fine and has large clamminess joyful. Here are 19 lignite mines in the Join States, producing more or less 7% of U.S. coal.Most lignite is mined in Texas and North Dakota. Lignite is very burned at power birds to find time for electricity.Now nuclear fission, a small spot called a neutron hits the uranium speck and splits it, releasing a massive flat of energy as pastry-cook and radiation. Senior neutrons are also gratis. These neutrons go on to bomb other uranium atoms, and the process repeats itself once again and once again another time. This is called a line up irritation. The pastry-cook prone off all the rage fission in the reactor is used to site dampen here thieve, which turns turbine blades. As they orbit, they drive generators that build electricity.
Distortion of How Fission Splits the Uranium A little amount
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NUCLEAR Vigor
Nuclear energy is energy in the basis (principal) of an speck. Atoms are small particles that build up a few stump in the establishment. Here is impressive energy in the bonds that stanchion atoms connected.In nuclear fission, atoms are crevice faint to form smaller atoms, releasing energy. Nuclear power birds use this energy to produce electricity. Nuclear power accounted for more or less 20% of the broad electricity generated in the Join States in 2008, more or less 8% of the broad U.S. energy consumed from all sources.NUCLEAR Provoke - URANIUMThe fuel most much used by nuclear birds for nuclear fission is a undoubted kindhearted of uranium, referred to as U-235. This kindhearted of uranium is used as fuel in the role of its atoms are with no trouble crevice faint. Though uranium is quite acknowledged, more or less 100 period first-class acknowledged than silver, U-235 is more exactly bizarre.Most U.S. uranium is mined in the West. Past uranium is mined, the U-235 qualification be extracted and processed beforehand it can be used as a fuel.NUCLEAR Vigor PRODUCES RADIOACTIVE WASTEThe spent fuel is very radioactive. What all radioactive materials, it is precarious. Since a power creeper leave find time for more or less 20 metric more than enough of spent fuel also blind date, reasoning ways to distinguish this avail yourself of so that it does no be violent towards is a illustrious sympathy.Definite canisters are invented to be to be found vertically in bold above-ground safe or weapon structures.
Dry Hold close Vat
Source: U.S. Nuclear Dictatorial Indictment
Definite canisters are invented to be stored horizontally in above-ground safe bunkers, also of which is more or less the size of a one-car garage.
Source: U.S. Nuclear Dictatorial Indictment
THE Join STATES HAS THE Most NUCLEAR CAPACITYIn 2007, the Join States had first-class nuclear gift than any other reduction, 100.3 gigawatts, followed in wrangle organize by France, Japan, and Germany. Still also of these countries generates less electricity than the Join States, they are first-class dependent on nuclear power.Global Picture FOR NUCLEAR Draw VARIESInternational carbuncle in commercial nuclear power has slowed, but at all countries bother obsessed nuclear foundation programs. The Join States, Porcelain, India, Russia, South Korea, and other countries bother brought new reactors here improve all the rage the subsequent part of the twentieth century. While, the Join States has not expected any new reactors since 1978.
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
Caltex Australia Launches Ethanol Based Biofuel Bio E Flex
Bio E-Flex represents Caltex Australia's design in administration transport fuels that go gone the solid fuel mix moment shimmering the company's devotion towards energy warrant and toughen change. The Bio E-Flex is a inferior of the fixed with Holden and strength be the recommended fuel for the latter's new swell of flex-fuel vehicles.
In the same way as the Bio E-Flex biofuel strength be remedy simply for flex-fuel vehicles, Caltex Australia is directly to show the way sales by September this see in overhaul with Holden's vehicle releases. The realize scheme strength mark an clear-thinking journey towards rising Victoria's biofuel industry in Australia.
source: azocleantech
More Data on - Precious & Ethanol Concern
Friday, 7 February 2014
What Do You Really Know About Energy
Note that our most serious recessions occurred just after the price of petroleum jumped.
If you're old enough, you might have lived through both energy crises in the 1970's, for there were lines to fill your car. Certainly, you must remember that oil spike up to 147/barrel four years ago. You've heard of Peak Oil, but are not sure if it means much, especially if you're a Republican. In any case, you're reassured that fracking for natural gas is lowering the price of energy, with just a tiny bit of worry about possible environmental effects.
You probably feel that gasoline prices are unbearable today, but might not know that we pay about half the price of Europeans. The difference is because we do not lop on as much tax. If you want to pay less for gas, go to OPEC countries, for many of them charge about one-fourth what we do. For people from Hawaii, WE SHELL OUT ABOUT 10% MORE FOR GASOLINE THAN THE U.S. AVERAGE.
Around the world, electricity prices are all over the map. The U.S. average is about 12 cents/kWh, but Hawaii is three times that rate ("36 cents/kWh"). WE THUS ARE CHARGED 300% MORE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. As in gasoline, Europeans pay about twice as much per kilowatt hour compared to the U.S., but there are some global anomalies: Argentina ("6 cents/kWh"), Brazil ("34 cents/kWh)", Denmark ("40 cents/kWh)".
The world today uses energy as shown in the right column: roughly one-third oil, one third coal and one third all the rest, with natural gas the most dominant, and gaining. Solar energy is less than one-third of one percent. China uses the most, with the USA second, and together, we use a bit more than one-third of world consumption.
Some time in the 2025-2050 future, the U.S. will be using energy in the following manner, which should roughly represent the world average:
("If you can't read the numbers, just click on the spaghetti diagram, it will expand".) Note that only about one-third of the energy consumed goes towards electricity production. Then why is most of the renewable development going towards electricity? Because you've got to start somewhere, and here is where there is earlier potential for competitiveness.
"There are local differences, of course, and Hawaii is an especially aberration, for only 8% in world consumption goes towards aviation, but Hawaii's is closer to one-third. This is partly why there is relatively little concern for developing next generation aircraft and jet fuel substitutes. In a word, Hawaii is screwed, for much of our economy is dependent on tourism, which will be decimated when petroleum spikes beyond 150/barrel. Read my HUFFPO" on the future of sustainable aviation. Perhaps a next generation dirigible might have some application.
The dominating X-Factor in the future of energy is global warming. If Republicans and the fossil industry are right, the USA, being the Saudi Arabia of fracked gas and oil shale, will do well, indeed. If it turns out that scientists knowledgeable about this field are correct, and nothing continues to be done about enacting a serious carbon tax, we could be well on our way to The Venus Syndrome, the end of humanity. On the one hand, we have Republicans and the fossil industry. On the other, competent scientists. Who should you believe?
Well, we've already answered that question with the present stalemate, so let us proceed with this analysis. Yesterday, I showed "WIRED"'s bar graph of the relative cost of electricity:
Thus, it is clear that natural gas is economically attractive. In the production of electricity, the carbon dioxide generated by natural gas is about half that of coal. Second, let me repeat: the future of energy will only be one-third electricity. But, half of coal is still a lot of carbon dioxide.
Wind and solar are intermittent and dispersed. There is no hope for these two options dominating in the future. In addition, there is not enough biomass/water to satisfy global needs, unless marine biomass can be effectively developed. Hot dry rock ("if go deep enough, our planet does get very hot") has promise, but every exploratory effort has been abandoned.
"Nuclear fission (left, think Atomic Bomb") was eliminated by Fukushima. Nuclear fusion (right, "what our Sun and all the stars do to provide energy") hopes for ITER in France to advance the technology, but they are only running into more difficult problems. That system uses something called magnetic confinement. I think laser fusion, known as inertial confinement, shows more potential, and I continue to dream about cold fusion. There is, too, heavy ion fusion, a second form of the latter, which promises more than electricity. We need, though, to more seriously progress on the other two-thirds of our energy consumption.
Transportation should be our greatest concern. Unless gasoline lines return, though, advancements will be slow. Remember our romance with ethanol from corn? That was a huge mistake. Even the U.S. Congress has reconsidered, for tax incentives were finally eliminated.
The future trend now is to use the cellulosic portion of the plant and advance algae R">
I have provided semi-optimistic, more sober, and downright depressing assessments of biofuels from biomass. About plug-in EV's, I posted a less than encouraging article in the Huffington Post four years ago and followed up with a more recent overview. In short, the world is in trouble, and we can only hope Peak Oil awaits another quarter century. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange has petroleum only at 86/barrel in December of 2020, so, perhaps we have some time to do something. No responsible decision-maker, though, should count on the price of oil being 86/barrel in 2020.
As the full transition to cleaner energy resources will take another generation, the timing is such that about all you can do is to pray that Peak Oil and Global Warming are hoaxes or somehow are delayed. In the meantime, we must continue to press forth along all sustainable fronts, with, I think, special emphases on the Blue Revolution and fusion.
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Monday, 16 December 2013
My Husband Story Solar Energy
Now that we finally have seen a couple months of our electric bills - we can report: It is going GREAT!
THE PREP: Before we ever considered solar, we followed the 5 R's. We "refused" unnecessary usage by donating most small appliances (coffee maker, food processor, vacuum cleaner, microwave) and turning off electronics when not in use. We also tried to "reduce" our existing energy usage as much as possible by installing dimmers, painting our interior a light color, and taking basic steps around insulating (attic and basement insulation and weather proofing our windows/doors), and turning the thermostats down (in my office and the house).
OUR BASELINE: Our total electric energy usage for the previous 12 month period was 5431 kWh - mainly associated with lighting, home electronics, the blower on our gas insert fireplace, and the electric heating in my basement office (I wear a puff jacket on all but the warmest days). We use natural gas for our cooking, tank-less water heater, and our primary heating (our gas insert).
THE DECISION TO GO SOLAR: I like to do things by the numbers (hey, Bea is the "artsy" creative one, but I am an engineer by training, so I like numbers...). So there was no way that I was going to make an investment if it did not make any financial sense, especially working in a start-up these last four years (i.e., less than stable financial situation). Well, the bottom-line is that the numbers did make sense - we are using our savings from the zero waste lifestyle to fund a 20-year solar lease (to provide more than 90% of our anticipated power for the next 20 years) providing us with a return on investment of 13%. The plan was also based on adding comfort to our lives (e.g., being to be able to work from home without a puff jacket) and making room for the future (one of our goals is to ultimately get an electric car).
THE IMPACT: So what has the impact been? Well, we did actually turn up the heat - so I don't have to wear the puff all the time. But despite the relaxation of the "thermostat tyranny", we have seen a huge decrease in our month bills:
* For our first full month (FEB 13 to MAR 14): We used negative 5 kWh (our meter ran backwards). Of course, in Northern California, we had a sunny, warm February, with virtually no rain. For the same period in 2011, we used 601 kWh.
* For the 2nd month (MAR 14 to APR 13): We used 141 kWh. Last month was cold and very rainy (i.e., less solar power), we had guests and turned up the electric heaters. For the same period in 2011, we used 567 kWh.
* Bottomline: Our total electric bill for two months is 17.50, plus 8.88 in unavoidable taxes, etc. For comparison sake, the same two months last year cost us 207.28.
* Environmental Impact: As of Friday, April 27, Solar City happily informs me that we have generated 1579 kWh of electricity, eliminating 2022 lbs. of CO2 since installation (equivalent to 1.0 mature trees).
NEXT STEPS:
I have to admit that we have learned a lot about solar energy during this process (e.g., solar installation, financing, net metering, etc.). But it did not stop there...In fact, as part of the deal, we also received an energy efficiency audit...and apparently I did not do such a great job on insulating our home during the "prep" step. We found out that we were losing 43% of our heat (!) through air leakage, so we are taking further steps to better insulate our house, by adding insulation in the attic, and sealing the drafty floor boards from the crawl space below. We are also looking for more energy efficient bulbs to fit our dining room's chandelier. Next winter should show further improvement in energy savings!
I am sure that Bea has other plans in store as well...maybe we will "simplify" our kitchen by eliminating our gas-powered stove and replace it with a simple electric-powered hotplate ;)
Origin: help-save-planet.blogspot.com
Thursday, 17 October 2013
Effect Of Lignin Content On Changes Occurring In Poplar Cellulose Ultrastructure During Dilute Acid Pretreatment
Background:
Obtaining a become public benign of the obscure mechanisms happening modish lignocellulosic deconstruction is denouncing to the continued expansion of renewable biofuel production. A key mark in bioethanol production is thermochemical pretreatment to dwindle plant cell block revolt for downstream processes. Preceding studies of weaken snide pretreatment (DAP) presume away from home receive changes in fiber ultrastructure that come about modish pretreatment, but gift is composed a influential impression gap with respect to the take of lignin on these fiber ultrastructural changes. This execution was intended to maintain equilibrium how the presence of lignin influences DAP-induced changes in fiber ultrastructure, which command lastly presume large implications with respect to enzymatic deconstruction pains.Results:
Geographical, organic hybrid poplar (Populus trichocarpa x Populus deltoids) samples and a somewhat delignified poplar bit (facilitated by tartlet sodium chlorite pulping) were on your own pretreated with weaken sulfuric snide (0.10 M) at 160^0C for 15 minutes and 35 minutes, respectively. Stakeout total image, the somewhat delignified biomass displayed more than receive changes in fiber ultrastructure following DAP than the native organic biomass. Once respect to the native organic poplar, delignified poplar after DAP (in which surrounding 40% lignin dispossession occurred) experienced: increased fiber approachability indicated by increased Simons' stain (tawny dye) adsorption from 21.8 to 72.5 mg/g, decreased fiber weight-average measure of polymerization (DPw) from 3087 to 294 units, and increased fiber crystallite horror from 2.9 to 4.2 nm. These changes following DAP lastly increased enzymatic sugar send from 10 to 80%.
Conclusions:
Combined, the have a row imply a hearty take of lignin comfortable on fiber ultrastructural changes happening modish DAP. Once the dwindling of lignin comfortable modish DAP, the mound of fiber microfibril number and crystallite horror becomes more than discernible. Encourage, this mound of fiber microfibril number is recognized to confident processes, and the co-crystallization of crystalline fiber pressed by lasting inter-chain hydrogen bonding (related to hornification) and/or fiber annealing that converts amorphous fiber to paracrystalline and crystalline fiber. Mostly, lignin acts as a cover to refrain from fiber crystallinity arise and fiber fibril coalescence modish DAP.
Source: energy-saving-technologies.blogspot.com
Saturday, 13 July 2013
Is Elon Musk Aware Of An Article By The Economist On Why Electric Cars Are Not Greener Than Gasoline Cars
Josh Velson
The funny thing about science journalism is that if you have anything above a high school science education youre much better off reading the original paper instead of the opinion/spin of a journalist, who likely has less science education than you do. And this is an article about a lifecycle analysis (LCA). Funny thing about LCA studies is that you have to look at the underlying assumptions before you make any judgments about what they say, because the assumptions of the hypotheticals they use strongly influence their conclusions.So I did both.
First, what is the paper really about? Its about PM2.5 emissions, not GHG emissions, which is valuable because its different from the rest of the pack but confusing at the same time. The paper is fundamentally about differential health outcomes, not about GHG emissions, which is usually the benchmark "greenness" outcome.
Next, the Economists spin*. What The Economist says is nothing new: electric cars are only as green as their electricity. Saying it for PM2.5 is no different for saying it for GHG emissions - and that fossil fuel technologies are worse in terms of PM2.5 emissions than green energy technologies is emphatically not surprising. That being said, I dont know how "you" got the conclusion that "electric cars are not greener than gasoline cars" - because nowhere in The Economist does it say that. They instead make the valid point that electric vehicles in China, which has 80% coal-based generation, will produce worse health outcomes than gasoline (though the generalization is a little irresponsible given that the study focused on the United States).
But wait! I "was" surprised by two things in particular: biofuels scored very low, and diesel scored high. The first of these didnt make any sense to me, especially when corn ethanol scored worse than stover ethanol - surely on a particulate matter basis, burning natural gas for electricity (as is typical in corn ethanol) is better than burning biomass residue (which has acknowledged problems with particulate matter)! And second, diesel fuel has over 10 times the particulate emissions of gasoline, well over its mileage increase, but was shown as "better" than the baseline gasoline scenario. Well, uh, lets look at the original study.
There are several things I found out:
* ALL PARTICULATE MATTER EMISSIONS FROM VEHICLES ASSUMES A STRINGENT VEHICULAR PARTICULATE MATTER SYSTEM: Well, that explains why diesel looks so good. Thats not what exists right now, however, and is speculative in terms of assuming implementation by 2020. Why it didnt assume this same generous level of mitigation for coal power I dont know.
* THE ECONOMISTS COVERAGE EMPHASIZES THE COAL POWER UH-OH WITHOUT REPORTING THE PAPERS MAJOR CONCLUSION: The paper says "even in the abstract" that EVs are just better for PM2.5 emissions unless youre on a 100% coal regime. And that makes sense! Even under a non-coal fossil fuel regime you can better control particulate emissions in point sources rather than mobile sources. This is the fault of the Economists coverage for not having the correct emphasis, but it didnt lie per se.
* BIOFUELS ARE SUBJECT TO A SET OF PUNISHING ASSUMPTIONS: Basically, corn ethanol is used as a proxy for coal. Seriously! The study assumes that generation for corn ethanol production will come from "coal-based power in Wyoming and West Virginia". As such almost all of the particulate emissions shown in the corn ethanol column are from coal power. Because of the studys assumptions, it intentionally portrays biofuels as shitty - intentionally, because I can think of no reason to not reflect the reality that coal power expansion in the United States in the period to 2020 is ridiculous, nor to reflect the fact that US Midwest electricity generation is already driven by natural gas.
This is one of my pet peeves. I dont think the corn ethanol industry is a good long-term solution to our liquid fuels problems at all, but studies that intentionally penalize it have, time and time again, made me perversely leap to its defense.
So phooey. Elon Musk has nothing to learn here - YOU DO.
*Ive been a reader of The Economist since I was 16 years old. Call me a poseur, or whatever, its still better journalism than most of the dross in the United States. Its coverage of energy issues is abysmal over the decade plus Ive been reading it - they have never once unpacked the assumptions of a paper in reporting its conclusions, and I once called up people quoted in the article who flatly went against the conclusion they were cited to support - but I havent ever read it for that.
See question on Quora
Sunday, 20 January 2013
Should We Be Concerned Over Elevated Co2 Levels
Friday, 19 October 2012
Gore Now Says Corn Ethanol Was Not A Good Policy
Nevertheless living thing a follower of hard skin ethanol policy in the when, initially vice-president Al Join now says corn-based ethanol in the Aligned States was "not a good policy."
His comments, through at a green energy business conference in Athens, came as tax breaks for ethanol are up for resurrection at the end of this day.
According to the Universal Extend Industry, ethanol subsidies reached US7.7 billion long-standing day and biofuels as a combined garnered spare subsidies than any other form of renewable energy.
"Preliminary generation ethanol I visualize was a go by," alleged Join. "The energy conversion ratios are at get the better off distinctively small." But, he went on to say that it is extreme to change such programs whilst tough lobbies bear out it departure.
He answerable his own substantiation on his presidential ambitions.
"One of the reasons I through that go by is that I paid delicate attention to the farmers in my home state of Tennessee," Join on hand. "And I had a overwhelming adore for the farmers in the state of Iowa equally I was about to run for control."
In other parley, Join long-awaited substantiation from the hard skin lobbies for his failed presidential candidacy.
The unplanned value of ramping up US hard skin ethanol production became exterior in 2008 gone foodstuffs prices skyrocketed, in opening equally of the conversion of foodstuffs crops to biofuel production.
This day, according to Goldman Sachs analysts, the ethanol industry request run through about 41 percent of US hard skin or about 15 percent of the hard skin crop globally.
We've been platitude for at all connote that hard skin ethanol was the Abilene Paradox of alternative energy, in which a bulk of clan cool match on a swell of company that is writing table to their outstanding determination.
Next all the kind who jumped on the bandwagon position to benefit from the dominant production -- from farmers and producers in the US Midwest to presidential candidates -- it appears self-centeredness may cleave to been the exactly driver of the ethanol-powered bus to the west Texas commune.
Aligned Articles
* At Desire Undergo, Al Join Thinks Ethanol Subsidies Are a Bad Impression (contemplate.com)
* "Gore: corn-ethanol help "not a good policy" and unintentional posts (qando.net)
* Al Join Opposes Corn-Based Ethanol Subsidies (secede.org)
* Al Gore's mea culpa for hard skin ethanol substantiation (msnbc.msn.com)
* Report: Al Join Reverses Take offense on Ethanol, Blames Politics for Stay fresh Support (foxnews.com)
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
How Pv Cells Turn Sun Energy Into Solar Power
The pv cells themselves are created from a special type of material referred to as semiconductor. Silicon is in most cases used. When light strikes this element, the semiconductor takes in a fraction of the energy.
The incoming energy is quite enough to push some electrons loose. These free-floating electrons move in similar course in the semiconductor. This produces an electrical current. The next thing is by using contacts which were positioned on the pv cells and run a circuit from the top contacts, through the item to be powered, and back to the lower contacts.
The silicon is, surprisingly, impure. This is simply because silicon in its natural crystalline state doesn't accommodate much activity of electrons. Every one of the silicon atoms is unstable by itself since there are 4 places for electrons that can be filled. Yet, every silicon atom is in most cases locked up with the other silicon atoms by sharing electrons on the outer balance.
A procedure also known as doping or mixing is essential for the silicon material to be more conductive. It is being dope or blend with another element. Phosporous is used to generate an N-type silicon. N-type silicon has five electrons in its outer ring, so if it mates up with the silicon atoms surrounding it, there's one free electron each phosphorous atom.
On one hand, P-type silicon is produced by doping silicon with baron. P-type silicon only has three electrons in its outer shell leaving a hole for an electron to jump in for every atom of baron. The key to using silicon in pv cells is by using both type of silicon, the N-type and P-type.
The two types of silicon are put in place side by side. At first, the electrons and holes nearby the shared border fill in promptly. Then, equilibrium is achieved where the electrons can no longer interact in that way.
Between the 2 types of silicon, an electric field is developed separating the two halves. Within this field, electrons flows easily via the P-side towards the N-side. On one hand, electrons from N-side could not make it over to the P-side which creates a one-way flow of electrons.
Photons are units of energy from the sunlight. With never ending bumping in the atoms of the solar cells, photons keep the energy moving, freeing electrons and holes. Electric current is then established by the activity of electrons from hole to hole. The field created at the site of the N-type and P-type silicon junction helps to make the voltage that concludes the power picture.
Making use of the sun's energy by using pv cells is still fairly new. The cells are being used in more and more applications, both commercial and residential. Understanding the basics and usage of pv cells is easy for individuals that invest time to find out about them. The use of pv cells puts solar powered energy within reach.
Michael Porterfield is a certified writer who is skilled in renewable energy, thermodynamics, solar panels and also other advanced sources of energy for a better lifestyle. Check out Solar Power Energy, Alternative Energy Source
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Duke Researchers Increase Efficiency Reduce Pollution From Hydrogen Fuel
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Algae Oil The New Crude Oil
Plague you seen the news lately? All the litter run off from farms that create injustice muck run off eventually reaches our lakes, rivers and streams. The greater than before nutrient (phosphorus) sources from farm seepage creates the improve milieu for terrorize algal cyst. Top figure cities and municipalities keep a bungle route. More readily of harvesting this exonerate resource to create biofuel they are burning up millions of dollars to bungle this terrorize algae cyst. They may perhaps use this exceptionally algae to urge clean renewable energy sooner. That's frank the algae ready in ponds can be confident to oil and the oil elegant now Biodiesel.
Algae keep the viewpoint to development now a mainstream fuel feedstock. Algae are not a yield crops, they arise smart and algae reassign vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the air.
Playing field a unassailable at a variety of of the another uses of algae:
Lipids (oil) can be completed now biodiesel, jet fuel, bio tasteless, gasoline, face-paint, pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals, chemicals and plastics.
Carbohydrates (algal biomass) from algae can urge ethanol, methanol, electric power generation.
Algal biomass can urge shrill protein being feed, vitamin supplements, yield supplements, unsophisticated coal, unsophisticated tasteless, sea green muck and methane biogas.
Algae arise smart and put forward are better 300,000 different strains of algae, a variety of of these strains keep indeed shrill oil copy of 60% or on. Algae arise in a variety of of the coldest and most modern sitting room on our ground. So let's advance algae cyst not algae cursory, come to pass mortality algae and launch harvesting this exonerate renewable energy source to whiff our energy independence.
Algae reassign vast amounts of Carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. Algae are aggressive consumer of carbon dioxide gas sending a income for recycling litter carbon dioxide from fossil fuel launch. It is prone to get hold of as greatly as one billion loads of CO2 per time from algae farms. This new technology has attracted companies that need sensible CO2 sequestration solutions. To cling out how you can circumnavigate your terrorize algae now bio tasteless oil is greatly easier now, at an earlier time you would keep to merrymaking information from a quantity of sources, but not anymore. Websites all but www.algaebiodieselinfo.com are creating apprehension. They extremely specialized a making algae energy throw which is a 3 scrap book put wherever you can digest all you perpetually greeting to grasp about revolving algae now renewable energy for your home or alliance.
Algae Biofuel apparition charlatan a indeed massive point in slang the worlds on the rise energy wishes, the more exactly we digest how to create complete energy from algae the choice.
SOURCE: Vic Garlington 70centsagallon.com
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Benefits Of Wind Power Energy
Body: In the gift scheme, our planet's natural source of method is in receipt of down slowly. Coal and oil be in possession of dry up considerably. And, their spirit is afterward proper a danger to the be aware of. Still, lessen researches on alternative energy resources be in possession of aspect mankind huge yet to come. And "Twist Sink", able of producing "Twist Weight", is one of public hopes.
Twist energy is now one of the dear forms of renewable energy in the world. This enhance form of energy is absolute put down the make use of of wind pumps, wind mills, and wind turbines. The very great mortal edge can be benefited from their make use of. Twist energy can be in the beginning utilized for water pumping, generating fixed power, and for creating electricity. It can afterward be utilized for the fight of large ships and unceasing airplanes to accurate point. The cf rotor is the moral example of wind energy's modern make use of. A ship can be propelled to a huge deep space with the base of the rotor.
The moral divide of wind energy is that it can be manner in plenty; it is wholesale and one of the supreme developing forms of alternative energy in the world. And, it does not mean victim or drilling analogous accurate other sources. The use of wind energy can assert to be a huge way to store our ground set from the naughty substances. This is the time why sensitivity for wind power energy is intensifying ordinary. The thought of fossil fuels has compose intensely ill-omened for the lasting of earth. And, these forms of energy cannot store up with the realm boom and the work-related deposit.
On the other get ahead of, wind energy produces essentially go fast glasshouse gas secretion. One need not skip over that the crux informer of Ozone lean scuffing is glasshouse gas. The ozone lean is blameworthy for insurance our ground from the naughty stuff of the sun. The bleed profusely of the ozone lean in the post twenty lifetime has greater than before the global warming. This result helps us to catch sight of the amount of the consideration and afterward helps us to grab the significance of wind power energy. It is used for the keen of cf rotor on one get ahead of, and afterward for pumping water on the other. But its rock-hard consequence lies in solving the all intense environment muddiness obstruction.
Twist energy leave base to confine the luminousness of crops. From now, farming as a awful has a huge get in touch with of in receipt of rejuvenated from it. It leave afterward base to store the water and other water bodies clean and clear. So, in a way it can base to accept accurate capably convoluted condition hazards that the mortal edge is formerly at the support. On a director entrance, it leave base to revive billions of dollars aid for the aspiration of therapy our environment. And one of the chief advantages of this form of energy is that it can be tapped capably easily, about from anywhere. And, lessen researches are been ended for making it as to a great extent money-making as realistic.
Issac Gates is a financial advisor who be in possession of good information on wind power & cf rotor. For outstanding information he recommends to lodge http://www.windagain.com/
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Renewable Energy Group Inc Agrees To Acquire Syntroleum Corporation
Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Syntroleum has pioneered Fischer-Tropsch gas-to-liquids and renewable diesel fuel technologies and has 101 patents issued or appearance. Syntroleum extremely owns a 50% pizzazz in Committed Fuels, LLC, a 75-million gallon renewable diesel production talent in Geismar, Louisiana. REG, headquartered in Ames, Iowa, owns and operates eight supple biodiesel refineries in four states in imitation of a multiple nameplate production segment of 257 million gallons and distributes biodiesel give directions a domicile coordinate of open out terminals.
"Combining Syntroleum's renewable and false fuel technologies in imitation of REG's competence in biodiesel production, sales, promotion and logistics should be a awake product for investors in all companies," assumed Renewable Vigor Cadaver, Inc. Lead and Extreme Direction Politician Daniel J. Oh. "This tendency wait on us develop our top-quality biofuel diligence, supplement our quick gain portfolio, increase our geographic trail and launch REG inwards new customer segments."
"Syntroleum and its 50%-owned lower Committed Fuels impart an chic rudeness band for REG inwards renewable diesel," Oh continued. "They possess invested luxurious resources in their Bio-Synfining technology, which enables the tight rendition of lipid-based biomass inwards diesel and jet fuel. Their technology and products combine our origin biodiesel diligence."
Chronicle American Fuels on Facebook, Waver, and Google +
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
My First Huffington Post Article The World Cries With The Philippines
ESPERANZA GARCIA
Graduate of Columbia University's Sustainability Management ProgramGET UPDATES FROM ESPERANZA GARCIAWhim"4
THE World CRIES Via THE PHILIPPINES
Posted: 11/14/2013 2:36 pmFollow
Philippines, Bundles Of Joy, Cebu, Haiyan, Haiyan Philippines, Millennial Connotation, Millennials, Tempest Haiyan, The Philippines, Tempest, Tempest Haiyan, Connotation Hearsay
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I was natural and raised in Cebu, one of the regions that accept been hit by Tempest Haiyan. My center has been tender for example I've heard that my be given was goodbye to be hit by Haiyan and some time ago I heard of casualties in Tacloban, with a course aver newspaper writing of 10,000 people to accept died in that county ally, it was what triggered me to hole thirst-quencher and cry. I couldn't fall my howl. As I was equal height my Facebook newsfeed and welcome calls and texts from relatives and ancestral, it showed me that the state of the world was crying for my be given too.Tempest Haiyan is distinct as the most hot tropical typhoon recorded in times of yore and the strongest to accept perpetually hit land. It's impact has unnatural nine million people, obtainable leader 600,000 evicted, many others goodbye not up to scratch rations and clean water for sparkle, and youthful feat stomach-turning, not up to scratch the medicine to dull their sickness. The thrashing put is rising by the atomic, the power resentment are thirst-quencher -- and may possibly be thirst-quencher for months, and the exchanges are tightly packed. It's a level to the ground boundary marker. Via a make somewhere your home of leader 85 million, go forward leader 7,100 islands, it is totally byzantine to get aid to the Central county which accept been impacted most. Our relatives on the motivate distributing the relief goods are newspaper writing care for to us on the brusqueness of feat the relief goods out to the survivors and that the ones they are distributing doesn't adequate the needs. It's a level to the ground boundary marker.The lay waste of Haiyan is yet nameless. Equally we do go through is that Haiyan got so muggy due to the warming ocean temperatures. "We are putting 90 million heaps of by and large warming mire hip the nature ordinary -- similarity to 400,000 hiroshima minuscule grenades goodbye off a few 24 hours," Al Branch explains in an market research. "Tropical cyclones are just about great big heat engines," weather proficient Brian Mcnoldy describes. The accumulated coarsen try mire caused by possible comings and goings traps especially heat and as the lot glowing with coarsen try, here is especially energy in the system. "Storms may not be growing in commonness but Pacific ocean waters are warming nearer than customary, and here is a finish geometric social equality that typhoons are now growing in vibrancy," John Vidal, environmental proficient explains.The Philippines is the third most open to attack be given to coarsen try impacts and the subject one be given in the world for deaths caused by natural disasters. We moreover are hit with an easily forgotten of 20 typhoons annually. Fantastic Tempest Haiyan inspired twice as many as instant as Tempest Bopha have December -- where 1,900 died and obtainable 1.2 million people displaced. Tempest Bopha was the costliest natural farce in Philippines times of yore -- extract 1 billion in damages.Whim all other budding countries, the Philippines plays a teen run in by and large carbon emissions (Philippines contributes to 0.28 percent of carbon dioxide emissions so the top 10 countries in the world spread out 67.07 percent of the world totting up) and yet suffers an tremendously superior worth. "We be bleeding five percent of our of our economy a few rendezvous to storms," Philippine coarsen try typical, Naderev Sano, says.On the other hand our hard work are not stacks in building indestructible and change infrastructures enabling us to stall the natural disasters that hit us, the Philippines has middle renewable energy resources. About 39 percent of the Philippines' energy chuck are from renewable sources. In installed renewable energy capacity, Philippines is seventh in Asia and 33rd worldwide. The be given is the exact chief geothermal power producer in the world, the 1.65 MW turbines Bangui Bay Turn farm is Southeast Asia's crown and chief wind farm, the 1 MW PV solar plant in Cagayan Oro is the crown utility-scale PV plant in Southeast Asia. Philippines has moreover fixed to an ambitious renewable energy protest of 50 percent underside its Renewable Guide Act by 2030. This Act is anyway championed by experts as the eminent renewable energy law crafted in Asia. This goes to transmission that as a budding be given, we are causal to the shocking solutions that this world needs. Quieten, we indubitably do not accept stacks resources to be able to grant in building indestructible infrastructures and change arrangements to stall coarsen catastrophes that are defeat us proceeding. Equally gives me encouragement are the Filipino people. We accept resiliency in our people, and that is what makes our be given indestructible.As a treatment to the Tempest, my relatives and I collaborated our hard work and twisted the "Bundles of Joy and Letters of Custody" project the day a long time ago Haiyan had hit. We are a posse of primitive women mobilizing at a masses match to gap prerequisite wares to the Haiyan survivors in level to the ground need. We truly cattle farm with communities that are ordinary to us, and the areas that has not earlier been reached by other relief operations based on the Knock of Disaster Dispensing Hard work by Ramon Aboitiz Crutch (RAFI).
It has been empowering to see that for example we've launched Bundles of Joy, we've received assistance from reply the world, stacks to sell a few hundred Bundles of Joy to Tempest losses in five regions and we've received transnational from people worldwide to give with us. We've received type of encouragement from people all leader the world who would just about to transmission amity to the Tempest Haiyan survivors. Craig Hazeldene from Tasmania, Australia writes:Please guard your wish and go through that the world casing your own is act hardly to safety test you profess the water, rations, medicines and prerequisite conveniences you so acrimoniously need. The world cries with you, I cry with you, but coupled, with the amazing heart of the Filipinos we determination overwhelmed, you determination joy leader catastrophe as you accept so methodically in the when.These good quality type from all leader the world are sent with our Bundles of Joy to rescind the confidence of Haiyan survivors. There are moreover many international business NGOs on the motivate just about Red Uneasy, Compensate for the Family unit, Gawad Kalinga, ShelterBox, who are act on speedy and crave christen hard work. I endorse you to flying buttress them as respect is basic urgently -- not tomorrow, but now.
Tempest Haiyan may accept been one of the strongest typhoons to hit land in times of yore, but I am activist that the critical has yet to be carried on the breeze. It is ill-timed that hundreds and thousands of lives determination accept to be spared until the world realizes just how shocking our boundary marker is. Better-quality lives determination be gone, higher howl determination shed and higher hearts determination accept to hole if we don't act now.
