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In this paper the effects of an experimental bioethanol fumigation application using an experimental ultrasound device on performance and emissions of a single cylinder Diesel engine have been experimentally investigated. Engine performance and pollutant emissions variations were considered for three different types of fuels (biodiesel, biodiesel-bioethanol blend and biodiesel-fumigated bioethanol). Reductions in brake specific fuel consumption and NOx pollutant emissions are correlated with the use of ultrasonic fumigation of bioethanol fuel, comparative to use of biodiesel-bioethanol blend. Considering the fuel consumption as Diesel engine's main performance parameter, the proposed bioethanol's fumigation method, offers the possibility to use more efficient renewable biofuels (bioethanol), with immediate effects on environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses Brazil's experience with biofuels, focusing on the central role of the federal government as the main force driving the implementation of alternative locally produced ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and biodiesel. The pioneering, large scale ethanol programme that started over 30 years ago can be considered the most successful experience with the use of biofuels to date, as the government was able to rapidly implement the use of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) as a substitute for petrol in the 1970s and 1980s. The work contributes to the general discussion of sustainable and renewable energy sources and sets out the key policy mechanisms used. The paper also innovatively looks at the second large governmental intervention in the renewable fuels market – the biodiesel programme. In addition to the contribution to the debate surrounding command-and-control measures and economic incentive instruments, the paper analyses how lessons learned from the ethanol experiment were taken into consideration in the design and implementation of the biodiesel mandate, including social and environmental facets. It emphasizes the uniqueness of producing sugarcane ethanol in the Brazilian context and how attempts to carry out similar fast growing biofuels programmes may not be possible in other parts of the world. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This special volume of the Journal of Cleaner Production was developed primarily based on materials presented at the 2nd International Workshop Advances in Cleaner Production held in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2009. The content reflects the growing awareness of the urgent and unavoidable need for making changes to help transform unsustainable to sustainable societies. The eleven papers provide different viewpoints to help society make progress on the journey towards sustainability. Key elements of this urgent journey are addressed in this collection of papers; some challenge society to address the problems in a systematic manner and some underscore the essentiality of proper planning by using green teams, or a Sustainable Environmental Management System. Other authors explored the role of proactive regulation and economic instruments to promote environmental performance improvements. Innovation through learning and promotion of multidisciplinary thinking as well as transference of information and knowledge between academy and industry are key aspects explored. Their inputs enabled this editorial team to propose alternatives uses for ‘wastes’, for substituting one raw material for another, which is environmentally and economically advantageous, for changing industrial process to decrease Greenhouse Gas emissions, or for optimizing diverse processes. The role of the Clean Development Mechanism as a promoter of implementation of innovative cleaner technologies in host countries is discussed. A systemic assessment tool, emergy synthesis, was employed to evaluate a reverse logistic enterprise from an environmental perspective. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As a by-product from the metallurgical industry, steel slag contains a large amount of metal elements. In many developing countries, the output of steel slag is huge and the comprehensive utilization rate is low, hence the development of a novel application method for steel slag is of great significance to increase its utilization rate to improve the environment. This paper reviewed the dissolution behavior of Fe, P, Ca and silicate of steel slag under seawater and acidic solutions as an application in the cultivation of different microalgae, such as diatoms, spirulina, and chlorella. This review clarifies that proper pre-treatment of steel slag can effectively increase the dissolved elements of steel slag in the solution and provide more nutrients for the growth of microalgae. Microalgae cultivated with steel slag as a nutrient can be used to produce biodiesel which has a very broad application prospects for cleaner production and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concern in relation to creating environmental protection policies is increasing, particularly with regard to the reuse of waste for power generation. In this context, biodiesel production from waste cooking oils could play an important role. Biodiesel is a biofuel that can be produced from saturated fatty raw material discarded by restaurants, such as oils and fats used for cooking processes. This paper describes a biodiesel production plant installed at Pinheira Beach in the State of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil and aims to discuss the environmental, social and economic impacts by analyzing the biodiesel production by life cycle assessment (LCA), relationship with the emission of greenhouse gases. The plant is run by an association and is aimed at promoting the recycling of waste cooking oil from restaurants and residences in the area and, at the same time, enables the continuity of artisanal fisheries in the region. The transesterification production process was used to convert waste cooking oils into biodiesel using basic catalysis in the presence of methanol. A batch system with the capacity to produce 200 L of biodiesel per day was adopted. The data obtained for the biodiesel produced at the plant were 879.2 kg m −3 density, 495.74 mg kg −1 water content, 94.38% ester content, and 1.5 mg.kg −1 sodium plus potassium. Related to the Life Cycle Assessment the results demonstrate that the category that most contributes to the emissions generated in biodiesel production process is the collection stage with 92.10% contribution, presenting a significant difference to the productions stage which contributed 7.9%. The plant provides environmental, social and economic gains for the community, for instance, increased income for the associates and fishermen, environmental education in schools, and cooking oil recycling opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Alongside with biofuel development, social acceptance issues have been underestimated. While social acceptance can emerge as powerful barrier for biofuel development, this article provides discussion on social acceptance in biofuel context. An acceptance framework based on life cycle biofuel production had been referred for a better understanding on social acceptance issues. Malaysia has been referred for the discussion as the country has faced with acceptance issue in their biofuel program. The discussion point out different societal groups will demand specific consideration for either support or oppose biofuel. This paper concludes that biofuel development will be constraint if social acceptance issues remain neglect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pongamia pinnata is one of the promising tree species suitable for providing oil for biodiesel production. This paper addresses the life cycle energy balance, global warming potential and acidification potential, of a small scale biodiesel system, in rural Karnataka. In addition, the system has also been expanded to generation and use of biogas from seed cake for electricity production and evaluated for its environmental impacts. The environmental impacts have been benchmarked with the life cycle impacts of fossil diesel. The results show that non-renewable energy requirement of Pongamia biodiesel system is twenty-eight times lower than that of fossil diesel. A significant increase in global warming potential (GWP) is indicated in Pongamia biodiesel system compared to fossil diesel if wood is used as fuel. GWP would be seven times less if wood is not used as fuel. Acidification and eutrophication potential of Pongamia system was found to be nil. Further, expanding the Pongamia biodiesel system to include biogas production exploits the energy available in the system. It is also observed that one hectare of Pongamia plantation is capable of completely sequestering the CO2 released during the life cycle with additional sequestration potential up to 1 t CO2 ha-1. Moreover, the above aspects were significantly superior in Pongamia system when compared to Jatropha biodiesel system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic feasibility is one of the major factors that has to be considered in the decision to continue with alternative fuel development. Economic feasibility of these alternatives can be assessed through life cycle costing, which is dependent on volatile parameters such as feedstock price, operating rate, capacity, interest rate and conversion efficiency. Uncertainty analysis is necessary to determine the robustness of the life cycle cost estimates. In this study, design of experiments was demonstrated to be an effective approach to analyze the sensitivity of life cycle cost to these parameters. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis can be done based not only on the individual effects, but also on the interactions of parameters. Data from the biodiesel program of Vietnam were used as a case study. The results show that operating cost and feedstock price have the most significant effects on biodiesel cost followed by capacity, interest rate and conversion efficiency. Interactions were observed between conversion efficiency and feedstock price; interest rate and operating rate; and feedstock price and interest rate. The regression equation obtained from sensitivity analysis shows that the cost of jatropha biodiesel is 0.72-1.02 US$/L, the cost of fish oil biodiesel is 0.45-0.87 US$/L, and the cost of waste cooking oil biodiesel is 0.42-0.61 US$/L. Although the framework developed in this study was used specifically in the life cycle costing of biodiesel, it can be readily applied to other low-carbon energy systems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel, an alternative fuel of petroleum diesel, is mainly used to reduce the environmental impact of emissions without modifying engines. This study compares the performance and emissions characteristics of different biodiesel blends with petroleum diesel using an internal combustion engine (Kubota V3300) and following ISO 8178 standards. Two types of biodiesel, type A (80% tallow and 20% canola oil methyl ester) and type B (70% chicken tallow and 30% waste cooking oil methyl ester), were tested in this study. It was found that the performance (mainly torque and brake power) of both biodiesel fuels reduces with increasing blend ratio which can be attributed to lower energy content of biodiesel. Specific fuel consumption increases for both biodiesels compared with diesel fuel, as expected. Some of the greenhouse gas emissions were found to be higher than petroleum diesel, whereas some were lower. Overall, Biodiesel A was found to produce lower emissions across the board compared with diesel and Biodiesel B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional biomass remains the dominant contributor to the energy supply of a large number of developing countries, where it serves the household energy needs of over a third of humanity in traditional cookstoves or open fires. Efforts to reduce the enormous human health, socioeconomic, and environmental impacts by shifting to cleaner cookstoves and cleaner biomass-derived fuels have had some success, but much more needs to be done, possibly including the expanded use of fossil-derived fuels. Concurrently, biomass is rapidly expanding as a commercial energy source, especially for transport fuels. Bioenergy can positively contribute to climate goals and rural livelihoods; however, if not implemented carefully, it could exacerbate degradation of land, water bodies, and ecosystems; reduce food security; and increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For large-scale commercial biofuels to contribute to sustainable development will require agriculturally sustainable methods and markets that provide enhanced livelihood opportunities and equitable terms of trade. The challenge lies in translating the opportunity into reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymatic production of biodiesel had attracted much attention due to its high efficiency, mild conditions and environmental protection. However, the high cost of enzyme, poor solubility of methanol in oil and adsorption of glycerol onto the enzyme limited the popularization of the process. To address these problems, we developed a silica nanoflowers-stabilized Pickering emulsion as a biocatalysis platform with Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) as model lipase for biodiesel production. Silica nanoflowers (SNFs) were synthesized in microemulsion and served as a carrier for CALB immobilization and then used as an emulsifier for constructing Pickering emulsion. The structure of SNFs and the biocatalytic Pickering emulsion (CALB@SNFs-PE) were characterized in detail. Experimental data about the methanolysis of waste oil to biodiesel was evaluated by response surface methodology. The highest experimental yield of 98.5 ± 0.5% was obtained under the optimized conditions: methanol/oil ratio of 2.63:1, a temperature of 45.97 °C, CALB@SNFs dosage of 33.24 mg and time of 8.11 h, which was closed to the predicted value (100.00%). Reusability test showed that CALB@SNFs-PE could retain 76.68% of its initial biodiesel yield after 15 cycles, which was better than that of free CALB and N435. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]