This article reviews the recent trends, developments, and future applications of bio-based polymers produced from renewable resources. Bio-based polymers are attracting increased attention due to environmental concerns and the realization that global petroleum resources are finite. Bio-based polymers not only replace existing polymers in a number of applications but also provide new combinations of properties for new applications. A range of bio-based polymers are presented in this review, focusing on general methods of production, properties, and commercial applications. The review examines the technological and future challenges discussed in bringing these materials to a wide range of applications, together with potential solutions, as well as discusses the major industry players who are bringing these materials to the market.

/pdf/current-progress-on-bio-based-polymers-and-their-future-1tqmkeshuf.pdf

Current progress on bio-based polymers and their future trends

Extraction of lithium from primary and secondary sources by pre-treatment, leaching and separation: A comprehensive review

Annual report 1995

Access to clean modern energy services is an enormous challenge facing the African continent because energy is fundamental for socioeconomic development and poverty eradication. Today, 60% to 70% of the Nigerian population does not have access to electricity. There is no doubt that the present power crisis afflicting Nigeria will persist unless the government diversifies the energy sources in domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors and adopts new available technologies to reduce energy wastages and to save cost. This review examines a set of energy policy interventions, which can make a major contribution to the sustainable economic, environmental, and social development of Africa's most populated country, Nigeria. Energy efficiency leads to important social benefits, such as reducing the energy bills for poor households. From an economic point of view, implementing the country's renewable energy target will have significant costs, but these can partly be offset by selling carbon credits according to the rules of the ‘Clean Development Mechanism’ agreed some 10 years ago, which will result in indirect health benefits. Nigeria could benefit from the targeted interventions that would reduce the local air pollution and help the country to tackle greenhouse gas emissions. Many factors that need to be considered and appropriately addressed in the shift to its sustainable energy future are examined in this article. These include a full exploitation and promotion of renewable energy resources, energy efficiency practices, as well as the application of energy conservation measures in various sectors such as in the construction of industrial, residential, and office buildings, in transportation, etc.

/pdf/energy-and-sustainable-development-in-nigeria-the-way-5991mnwkin.pdf

Energy and sustainable development in Nigeria: the way forward

Development of alternative energy sources has become a necessity as fossil energy resources are declining. At the same time, energy demand is rapidly increasing, putting the world on the verge of a global energy crisis. Moreover, the extensive use of conventional energy sources is polluting the environment and causing global warming. On the other hand, wind and other renewable energy sources are viable and clean alternatives to fossil fuels. Low operating cost and extensive availability make wind one of the most advantageous and effective renewable energy sources. This paper provides an exposure to the necessity for deployment of renewable energy sources and the worldwide installed capacity of wind power as well as a review of various wind technologies in conjunction with their applications and devices of operation. Furthermore, this paper discusses the cost of electric generation in wind power plants as well as the economic and environmental policies that advocate the installation of wind energy systems.

Wind energy: Trends and enabling technologies

Climate change, environmental impact and the limited natural resources urge scientific research and novel technical solutions. The monograph series Green Energy and Technology serves as a publishing platform for scientific and technological approaches to "green" i.e. environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies. While a focus lies on energy and power supply, it also covers "green" solutions in industrial engineering and engineering design. Green Energy and Technology addresses researchers, advanced students, technical consultants as well as decision makers in industries and politics. Hence, the level of presentation spans from instructional to highly technical. **Indexed in Scopus**.

/pdf/green-energy-and-technology-2xuq1yllhb.pdf

Green Energy and Technology

Experimental Study of Multiple Injections and Coupling Effects of Multi-Injection and EGR in a HD Diesel Engine

An Experimental Investigation on the Spray Characteristics of Dimethyl Ether(DME)

The auto-ignition and combustion mechanisms of n-heptane were investigated by using a zero-dimensional thermodynamic model coupled with a detailed kinetic model. The key elementary reactions, key intermediate species and key radicals were analyzed. The results indicated that n-heptane showed the two-stage auto-ignition, and heat release with low temperature reaction(LTR) and high temperature reaction(HTR), and heat release with HTR is consist of blue-flame reaction and hot flame reaction. At the low temperature, H-atom abstraction from n-heptane occurs primarily by OH and HO_2, then the first O_2 addition and isomerization. The second O_2 addition is the most important elementary reaction for the low temperature branching, and the successive decomposition of its production is the main source of OH radical at LTR. Blue-flame reaction is controlled by H_2O_2 decomposition, which is the main source of OH at HTR. In this stage, OH abstracts H-atom from CH_2O to generate HCO, and then HCO oxidation to CO. Hot-flame reaction is dominated by the oxidization of CO to CO_2. OH radical is the most important radical in the oxidation of CO and H-abstraction from n-heptane.

Yao Mingfa

Papers

Green Energy and Technology

Experimental Study of Multiple Injections and Coupling Effects of Multi-Injection and EGR in a HD Diesel Engine

An Experimental Investigation on the Spray Characteristics of Dimethyl Ether(DME)

Numerical Study on the Chemical Reaction Kinetics of n-Heptane for HCCI Combustion Process

ガソリンとPODEを燃料とする圧縮着火エンジンにおけるRCCI燃焼と負荷拡張の実験的研究【Powered by NICT】