Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi form mutualistic symbioses with many tree species and are regarded as key organisms in nutrient and carbon cycles in forest ecosystems. Our appreciation of their roles in these processes is hampered by a lack of understanding of their soil-borne mycelial systems. These mycelia represent the vegetative thalli of ECM fungi that link carbon-yielding tree roots with soil nutrients, yet we remain largely ignorant of their distribution, dynamics and activities in forest soils. In this review we consider information derived from investigations of fruiting bodies, ECM root tips and laboratory-based microcosm studies, and conclude that these provide only limited insights into soil-borne ECM mycelial communities. Recent advances in understanding soil-borne mycelia of ECM fungi have arisen from the combined use of molecular technologies and novel field experimentation. These approaches have the potential to provide unprecedented insights into the functioning of ECM mycelia at the ecosystem level, particularly in the context of land-use changes and global climate change.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi : exploring the mycelial frontier

At diesel engines with fuel direct injection, the problems with toxic exhaust compounds concern mainly nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM). For reduction of the NOx’s, the exhaust gases are feedback to the combustion chamber. This results with a lower combustion temperature and decrease the emission of NOx gasses. The mass of the recirculated gases cannot be too high because it might lead to an increase in the PM emission. In nonroad vehicle engine the component responsible for the exhaust gases recirculation is most a two state (open/close) EGR Valve. Another problem in this type of combustion engines is volatility of its ecological parameters during exploitation. The reasons are various operation conditions of the engine, fuel quality ect. So, according to the proposed solutions, the engine controller must track these variations. The mass of recirculated gasses must also be corrected. In the proposed solution the EGR valve is a prototype construction of an electronically controlled EGR. The openness of the valve is freely programmable and is controlled by adaptive algorithm saved in the ECU (Electronic Control Unit). As feedback signal to control the openness of EGR valve is used an NOx sensor placed at engine outlet pipe. The paper describe an control circuit of EGR Valve and include research results of nonroad vehicle diesel emissions (NOx and PM missions). The proposed adaptive control of EGR Valve shows potential to reduce especially NOx emissions in aspect to fulfill further emission regulation TIER/Euro

Adaptive control of exhaust gas recirculation at nonroad vehicle diesel engine

An assessment of the biodiesel low-temperature combustion engine under transient cycles using single-cylinder engine experiment and cycle simulation

This article contains measurements proving the benefits of biobutanol in methyl ester fuels made from animal fats. Generally, methyl esters from animal fats have much worse fuel parameters than rape seed methyl esters, for example. The tested biobutanol in this article has improved properties of produced methyl ester. Butanol is more suitable than bioethanol for diesel engines. Fuel properties of density, kinematic viscosity, behaviour of fuel under low temperatures, and flash point and cetane number for different butanol content in fuel blend were tested. It was shown that butanol improves the quality of methyl ester fuels from animal fats, especially its behaviour under low temperatures. Adding biobutanol to blends creates from animal fat methyl ester a more attractive fuel. Furthermore, using animal fat waste for methyl ester production and waste lignocellulose for biobutanol production are considered to be advantageous by the EU as being more sustainable for isolation of waste transfers between regional, natural, and industrial circles of the circular economy.

http://www.pjoes.com/pdf-59295-23579?filename=Biobutanol Standardizing.pdf

Biobutanol Standardizing Biodiesel from Waste Animal Fat

Możliwości wstępnego ograniczenia emisji NOx i PM silnika wysokoprężnego w aspekcie przyszłościowych norm emisji pojazdów pozadrogowych

The main topic of the paper is to determine different fuel consumption and harmful emissions caused by engine’s changes of technical conditions. The change of technical condition of combustion engine at any working point of engine proves different change of fuel consumption and production of harmful emissions. Therefore it is necessary to compare two technical conditions to determine the same engine load. For this purpose the special simulation programme of engine load in Non-Road Transient Cycle (NRTC) was created.

P. Miler

Papers

Applications of NRTC Cycle to Determine a Different Fuel Consumption and Harmful Emissions Caused by Changes of Engine's Technical Conditions

Life cycle assessment of fossil fuels and bioethanol.

Bioethanol as a future inspiration.

Ethanol utilization in the compression ignition engines.

The ecological potential evaluation of fuel E-85.