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Cropping pattern choice with proximity to ethanol production and animal feeding operations
Growing demand for corn due to the expansion of corn ethanol production has increased concerns that corn demand will be met by growing corn more intensively and shifting cropland from cropping systems with lower environmental impact into continuous corn (CC). Cropping system choice may also be influenced by the advantage of the high nutrient uptake of CC, which allows higher manure application rates and lowers manure management costs. A binary logistic regression model is used to estimate the probability of crop rotation choice as a function of proximity to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and ethanol plants during 2004/2005 and 2006/2007 in the Des Moines Lobe region of Iowa. The probability of CC is found to be elevated in the vicinity of large hog operations as well as in a larger area around ethanol plants. The probability of CC around hog-feeding operations decreases rapidly with distance away from the facility, but the large number of hog facilities in the region results in a large cumulative influence. Understanding the multiple motivations for cropping system choices is vital to forming effective agricultural policy. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
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The transition to a bio-economy: national perspectives
Manfred Kircher, Chairman of Cluster Industrielle Biotechnologie e.VCLIB2021 considers the transition from a fossil-fuel-based economy to a global bio-economy. In this, the first of a two-part feature, he puts forward the case for facilitating connections between regions for a fully integrated global bio-economy linked by ‘clusters of clusters’.
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Technology news
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Business highlights
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Bioenergy's contribution to climate change mitigation – a matter of perspectives
There are many options for expanding bioenergy that contribute positively to environmental protection
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Conversion of biomass to sugars via ionic liquid hydrolysis: process synthesis and economic evaluation
Replacement of fossil fuels with new sustainable resources is becoming crucial due to depleting petroleum reserves, increasing global energy demand, and arising environmental concerns. Lignocellulosic biomass can be an alternative to fossil resources as a sustainable and environmentally friendly feedstock for producing chemicals and fuels. One of the major challenges of biomass-based technologies is to extract sugars that are covalently trapped inside the lignocellulosic biomass efficiently. Recently, ionic liquids (ILs) have been recognized as promising solvents for mild and rapid hydrolysis of biomass feedstocks with higher sugar yields. In this study, we first develop and then evaluate an IL-based biomass hydrolysis strategy for large-scale production of fermentable sugars from corn stover. Toward this aim, we develop a process simulation model based on the experimental studies reported by Binder and Raines (P Natl Acad Sci USA 107: 4516–4521(2010)) and a simulated-moving-bed (SMB) system. We identify that the major cost driver is the IL cost. Our analysis suggests that process alternatives with lower IL consumption and/or separation strategies that would allow higher recycle of ILs should be studied. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
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Spatiotemporal cost-supply curves for bioenergy production in Mozambique
The objective of this study is to assess how bioenergy costs and supply potential in Mozambique develop over time in a spatially explicit way. The land availability for energy crops was explored making use of a business-as-usual and progressive scenario on the development of other land-use functions. The assessment of the costs and supply potential is based on developments in land availability, the suitability of the land that is and becomes available, the disaggregated cost breakdown of energy crop production, the transportation distance of feedstock to conversion plant, the cost of conversion, the transportation distance from plant to harbor, and the cost of international shipping. The supply chains of eucalyptus (torrefied) pellets and sugarcane ethanol are used as a case study. The results show a large spatial variation in supply chain costs, which is the result of spatial variation in feedstock production costs, primary transport costs, and secondary transport costs. Most promising areas for eucalyptus and sugarcane production are scattered in the central south, the central, and the north-eastern part of Mozambique where agro-ecological conditions are relatively favorable, where sufficient feedstock can grow to meet plant input requirements, and where infrastructure is available. In 2030, in the progressive scenario, the total potential for eucalyptus pellet production amounts 3200 PJ of which 2500 PJ could be exported to Europe below a market price level of 8 €/GJ; for sugarcane ethanol, the total potential amount is 850 PJ of which 500 PJ could be exported below a price level of 30 €/GJ. The location of production is the key factor for cost-effective production. This study demonstrates an approach which enables the assessment of the development of bioenergy potential and costs over time in a spatially explicit way. As environmental and socio-economic impacts of bioenergy supply chains are highly related to the biophysical and socio-economic context of the production location, a spatially explicit assessment of bioenergy production potential is a suitable approach for the assessment of the sustainability of bioenergy chains. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
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Industry expectations regarding the transition toward a biobased economy
The transition from a fossil-input-based economy toward a bio-based economy is not an easy process. Although policy-makers in the European Union (EU) advocate this transition, still most companies and economies in the EU rely on fossil fuels for the production of materials and goods. However, the transition will not only depend on policy but will also involve all stakeholders: consumers, firms, and supporting policy with industry playing a major role. This paper focuses on the perceptions and expectations of industry regarding a possible transition toward a bio-based economy. Based on the multilevel perspective emphasized in transition theory, the opinions of Flemish captains of industry active in the bio-based sector are analyzed. The case of Flanders is taken because it is a good example of a small European economy relying heavily on imported fossil inputs. Based on the views of the captains of industry combined with the multilevel transition perspective, we argue that the transition toward a bio-based economy follows a typical sequence of pathways starting with a transformation pathway and evolving toward a technological substitution or de- and re--alignment pathway. This theoretical transition perspective helps to define which issues related to market development, technology, research, science, and policy, can influence the transition toward a bio-based economy which helps to describe some future directions for Flanders as well as other European regions. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
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Biomass recalcitrance. Part I: the chemical compositions and physical structures affecting the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose
Lignocellulosic biomass is recalcitrant to biodegradation due to the rigid and compact structure of plant cell wall. The recalcitrance of biomass is mainly constructed by its chemical compositions that build a spatial network as a protective bulwark. Generally, the factors affecting the accessibility of biomass cellulose can be divided into direct and indirect factors. The direct factors refer to the accessible surface area, and the indirect factors include biomass structure-relevant factors (pore size and volume, particle size, and specific surface area), chemical compositions (lignin, hemicelluloses, and acetyl group), and cellulose structure-relevant factors (cellulose crystallinity and degree of polymerization). Pre-treatment is actually the process to alter indirect factors and improve direct factors thus enhancing the accessibility of cellulose. In this review, we summarize the effects of chemical compositions and physical structures on the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass. We suggest that future work should be focused on but not limited to the molecular mechanisms of biomass recalcitrance by investigating the microscale and nanoscale features as well as hydrogen bonds network of lignocellulosic biomass. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
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Life cycle assessment of biomethane from offshore-cultivated seaweed
Algae are a promising source of industrial biomass for the future. In order to assess if aquacultured seaweed (macroalgae) could be considered an environmentally friendly source of biomass for bioenergy, life cycle assessments were performed for European countries, comparing methane as a biofuel from the anaerobic digestion (A) of whole seaweeds, (B) of alginate extraction residues, and (C) natural gas as a fossil fuel reference.These results clarify that the sources of electricity and energy used to heat the anaerobic digesters have an important impact. Recycling of materials and use of greenhouses at the nursery stage also allow environmental improvements for system (A). Ecodesign can make algal biomethane competitive in several categories compared to natural gas: a decrease of 21.9% and 54.2% in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 58.6% and 68.7% in fossil depletion for systems (A) and (B), respectively, decrease in ozone depletion, and last but not least, improvement in the marine eutrophication index for system (A). For system (B), benefits are more arguable and dependent on the allocation. To conclude, seaweed could become competitive with terrestrial feedstock for biofuel production in the near future. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
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