Biogas-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Energy System for Rural Energy Supply: A field based study on the role of local materials on operation and capital system cost

Biomass is predominantly the major source of energy in the global south. It is the readily available source of energy in global south and is used in rural energy households in the form of wood, charcoal and agricultural residues. However, biomass energy source is not utilised in the most efficient way and hence there is still a gap in achieving...

Connecting AnMBR and SOFC for Blackwater Treatment and Energy Production: Influence of the AnMBR pH on the SOFC Operational Strategy

Driven by the increasing demand for waste reduction and green energy production, an integrated system which combines an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) was proposed in this research project for blackwater treatment and energy production. The potentials of using an AnMBR for wastewater treatment and biogas...

Catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction of invasive species: A case study of Namibia’s Encroacher Bush

Regulations and investments in new technologies for biofuel production as an alternative to fossil fuels have boosted in the last years due to concerns about climate change and anthropogenic CO2 emissions. A valuable supply chain of biomass for biofuel production is one the most significant factors, in order to support the market’s demand. A...

Hydrochar from Fischer-Topsch biosludge: Is there an application for Fischer-Tropsch biosludge hydrochar produced via hydrothermal carbonization

Improving circularity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved by utilizing secondary streams like Fischer-Tropsch biosludge, which is typically disposed of in landfills. Biochar, which has accumulated increased interest recently, has significant potential for decreasing carbon emissions and can be created from biosludge. This...

Effects of fir-wood biochar on CH4 oxidation rates and methanotrophs in landfill cover soils packed at three different proctor compaction levels

Application of biochar to landfill cover soils can purportedly improve methane (CH4) oxidation rates, but understanding the combined effects of soil texture, compaction, and biochar on the activity and composition of the methanotrophs is limited. The amendment of wood biochar on two differently textured landfill cover soils at three compaction...

Characterization and Economic Evaluation of Biochar for Ammonium Adsorption

The nitrogen crisis is one of the biggest problems in society. Therefore, a tremendous amount of research is going on to solve this problem. This thesis focuses on solving the problem of nitrogenous emissions by capturing ammonium emissions from agricultural farms. Biochars have been gaining much attention due to their desirable properties, such...

Conversion of spent coffee grounds into biochar using a sustainable solar assisted biomass torrefaction technique

Coffee farmers and producers in Kerala (India) face a serious obstacle in their pursuit of a self-sustaining coffee processing technology and fuel deficiency. Research indicates that coffee, as one of the largest industries, generates a huge amount of waste, namely Spent Coffee Grounds (SCGs). This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and...

Negative Emission Power Plants: Techno-economic analysis of a biomass-based integrated gasification solid oxide fuel cell/gas turbine system for power, heat, and biochar co-production - Part 2

In our previous work (Part I), we evaluated the thermodynamic models of the biomass-fed integrated gasification solid oxide fuel cell system with a carbon capture and storage (BIGFC/CCS) unit. In this work (Part II), the techno-economic analysis of the proposed negative emission power plants is carried out. Levelized cost of electricity, net...

Numerical Evaluation of Biochar Production Performance of Downdraft Gasifier by Thermodynamic Model

A theoretical evaluation of the biochar production process using a biomass gasifier has been carried out herein. Being distinguished from the previous research trend examining the use of a biomass gasifier, which has been focused on energy efficiency, the present study tries to figure out the effect of biochar production rate on the overall...

Influence of indirectly heated steam-blown gasification process conditions on biochar physico-chemical properties

Our work provides a thorough characterization of different biochars produced by a novel 50 kW_th Indirectly Heated Bubbling Fluidized Bed Steam Reformer. This study investigates the effect of temperature and gasification agent on the physico-chemical properties of biochars. We combined macro, micro and nano characterization...

Negative Emission Power Plants: Thermodynamic Modeling and Evaluation of a Biomass-Based Integrated Gasification Solid Oxide Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine System for Power, Heat, and Biochar Co-Production—Part 1

This article is the first of a two-part series presenting the thermodynamic evaluation and techno-economics of developing negative-emission power plants. The aim of this research is to evaluate the potential of biochar co-production in negative-emission power plants based on biomass-fed integrated gasification solid oxide fuel cell systems...

Negative emissions at negative cost-an opportunity for a scalable niche

In the face of the rapidly dwindling carbon budgets, negative emission technologies are widely suggested as required to stabilize the Earth’s climate. However, finding cost-effective, socially acceptable, and politically achievable means to enable such technologies remains a challenge. We propose solutions based on negative emission technologies...

Thermodynamic analysis of a novel integrated biomass pyrolysis-solid oxide fuel cells-combined heat and power system for co-generation of biochar and power

Biochar derived from pyrolysis or gasification has been gaining significant attention in the recent years due to its potential wide applications for the development of negative emissions technologies. A new concept was developed for biochar and power co-generation system using a combination of biomass pyrolysis (BP) unit, solid oxide fuel cells ...

Review of Large-Scale Biochar Field-Trials for Soil Amendment and the Observed Influences on Crop Yield Variations

Increasing pressure on farming systems due to rapid urbanization and population growth has severely affected soil health and fertility. The need to meet the growing food demands has also led to unsustainable farming practices with the intensive application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, resulting in significant greenhouse gas...

Upgrading residues from wastewater and drinking water treatment plants as low-cost adsorbents to remove extracellular DNA and microorganisms carrying antibiotic resistance genes from treated effluents

Wastewater treatment is challenged by the continuous emergence of chemical and biological contaminants. Disinfection, advanced oxidation, and activated carbon technologies are accessible in high-income countries to suppress them. Low-cost, easily implementable, and scalable solutions are needed for sanitation across regions. We studied the...

Adsorption of free floating DNA and antimicrobial resistance genes out of wastewater effluents by sewage-based biochar and iron-oxide-coated sands

The presence of extracellular DNA (eDNA) containing antibiotic resistance genes in the treated wastewater effluents can contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among receiving waters. The removal of cell associated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has been widely studied using advance treatments. However, these treatments...

Investigation of poultry litter conversion into useful energy resources using fast pyrolysis

The present study explored a thermochemical treatment method as an alternative approach to process animal feedlot (poultry litter). Fast pyrolysis of poultry litter experiments was conducted using a Pyroprobe 5200 reactor in the temperature range of 400-600 °C. The influence of reactor temperature on the yield of pyrolytic gases, condensate ...

Compost, biogas and biochar in Northern Ghana: Climate impact and economic feasibility in the context of voluntary carbon markets

The Master’s programme Industrial Ecology is jointly organised by Leiden University and Delft University of Technology. In some areas of Sub-Saharan Africa appropriate organic waste management technology could address development issues such as soil degradation, unemployment and energy scarcity, while at the same time providing climate benefits....