Socioecology Research Today

A comprehensive general circulation model (GCM) is used to estimate the climate impact of aviation emissions of black carbon (BC) and sulfate (SO4) aerosols. Aviation BC is found not to exert significant radiative forcing impacts, when BC nucleating efficiencies in line with observations are used. Sulfate emissions from aircraft are found to alter liquid clouds [...]

The potential effect on surface water pH of emissions of SOX and NOX from global ship routes is assessed. The results indicate that regional pH reductions of the same order of magnitude as the CO2-driven acidification can occur in heavily trafficked waters. These findings have important consequences for ocean chemistry, since the sulfuric and nitric [...]

In Mercurius’s new process, biomass can be converted into a liquid intermediate chemical at small plants located close to sources. That liquid takes up much less volume than the original biomass, making it more economical to ship to a large centralized facility to be converted to fuel.Mercurius uses acids to break down cellulose and make [...]

In California, Propel Fuels has opened another in its chain of transformative Clean Mobility Centers — and the first station in Fresno to offer E85 Flex Fuel and biodiesel, sourced from Central Valley producers including Community Fuels in Stockton and Calgren Renewable Fuels in Pixley. Propel Fuels: Renewable Fuels | E85 Ethanol | Biodiesel – [...]

In this study, n-butanol (port fuel injection) PFI was investigated in a direct injection compression ignition engine while at idling speeds, and loads, 1–3 bar IMEP (indicated mean effective pressure) in order to determine the effects on combustion, efficiency, emissions, and specifically, a modified tradeoff of soot and nitrogen oxides. As a result, the engine [...]

This article describes the effects of hydroxylated biodiesel (castor oil methyl ester – COME) on the properties, combustion, and emissions of butanol–diesel blends used within compression ignition engines. The study was conducted to investigate the influence of COME as a means of increasing the butanol concentration in a stable butanol–diesel blend. Tests were compared with [...]

The major obstacles to promoting biodiesel blends in marine transportation are examined in this study. The strategies proposed to overcome these obstacles include the comprehensive field testing of the biodiesel blends in marine vessels of various representative types, establishing a marine-grade biodiesel specification, increasing the price competitiveness of marine-grade biodiesel by reducing its manufacturing costs, [...]

Liquids and gases produced through biomass pyrolysis have potential as renewable fuels to replace fossil fuels in conventional internal combustion engines. This review compares the properties of pyrolysis fuels, produced from a variety of feedstocks and using different pyrolysis techniques, against those of fossil fuels. High acidity, the presence of solid particles, high water content, [...]

The self-healing coating was evaluated as protective coating for mortar, and it was demonstrated by water permeability and chloride ion penetration tests that our system has sunlight-induced self-healing capability. Our self-healing coating is the first example of capsule-type photoinduced self-healing system, and offers the advantages of catalyst-free, environmentally friendly, inexpensive, practical healing. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/am302728m  

Here’s one compliance scenario for the 36 billion ethanol equivalent gallons and commentary on the likelihood of each sub-sector target being reached. Can the US still meet its 2022 biofuels targets? : Biofuels Digest