B. K. Behera, Industrial Biotechnology Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Biotechnology, M. D.University Rohtak-124001, Haryana-India, Tel: +91-1262-266852, +91-1262-268584, Email: bkbehera@gmail.com
KK Dubey, Dept. of Engineering and Technology, M.D.University Rohtak-124001, Haryana-India
Rambir, Industrial Biotechnology Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Biotechnology, M.D.University Rohtak-124001, Haryana-India
Bhanu P. Singh, Industrial Biotechnology Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Biotechnology, M.D.University Rohtak-124001, Haryana-India 

Bio-fuel cell has several advantages over existing fuel cell technologies. In conventional fuel cells typically use platinum as a catalyst, and which is not widely accessible for its high cost. An oxy-hydrogen bio-fuel cell, based on a carbon-carbon electrode has been fabricated. The electrode pellets were made by mixing activated carbon powder with suitable binder. Polyvinyl alcohol was proven to be a better binder than other alcohol taken in trials. The anode carbon plate was charged with Co-Al spinel mixed oxide at high temperature. The electrolyte used was 30% KOH. As cynobacteria can split water into hydrogen, various blue green algae like Anabaena spp., Nostoc spp. and Spirulina spp. were taken to split water into hydrogen. Various nutrient enrichment techniques were employed to increase the water splitting capacity of these algae in order to increase the efficiency for hydrogen production. One liter algal bioreactor was attached to the fuel cell, at the anode end for hydrogen gas input. About 350 to 400 mV of voltage and a 150 mA of current were generated. This finding may be helpful as an impressive model for commercializing this technology.  

Biofuels:  Development or a New Threaten to Brazilian Ecosystems?

Student Presenter

Julieta Laudelina de Paiva, Rua Floresta , 685 – cep. 25615090 – Petrópolis – RJ, Tel: 55 24 22420840, Email: paivaj@gmail. com
FAPERJ – Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (scholarship), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro – UERJ – Doutorado em Meio Ambiente

Brazil is the biggest biofuel producer word-wide, mainly ethanol. Since 1976 alcohol is used as fuel in automobiles in substitution to gasoline. To obtain this product large areas in the country, mainly in the southeast, is planted with Saccharum officinarum, sugar cane. But there is an important factor that affects the environment, normally not mentioned when this subject is in focus that is the use of setting fire the crop before harvesting emitting big amouts of pollutants into the atmosphere, that substances can cause, among others, severe damage to laborers health, as well as to the environment. Another question is that this part of Brazil still has remains – small areas - of Atlantic Rainforest ( Mata Atlântica ) that is hot spot to conservation, that is threatened to disappear due the intensive expansion of planted area  in order to enlarge alcohol production.

Other kind of biofuel produced in Brazil is biodiesel obtained through vegetal oils extracted from plants such as soybeans (Glycine max), castorbeans (Ricinus communis) and oil palms. This kind of crop has been extremely stimulated to be expanded, affecting ecosystems like Cerrado (type of savanna) and the most important forest in the word, the Amazon Rainforest, specially in Mato Grosso State which is situated inside Amazonia Legal an administrative Brazilian institution area.

Will this “novelty” bring a sustainable development to Brazilian society or will it be another kind of pressure over its natural resources?

Municipal solid waste used as bioethanol sources and its related environmental impacts

Student Presenter

Aiduan Li and Dr. Majeda Khraisheh, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK, Tel: 0044 (0)20 7679 2691, Email: aiduan.li@ucl.ac.uk

Using municipal solid waste (MSW) as biomass sources to produce bioethanol production has been investigated in the laboratory. The Experimental results showed that highest conversion rate can be reached more than 90%, which is relatively high compared with other conventional biomass. By taking into account the existing waste collection system and the cost for disposing waste, makes this waste-to-ethanol system economically valuable. This paper identifies the possible application of this technology on both energy production and waste management by providing valuable product to meet energy demand and protecting environment from pollution. The potential impacts on related environmental issues, such as biodegradability, sustainable waste management, climate change, waste issues, land use and biodiversity, are discussed. Sustainable waste management solutions are also discussed under different economic, environmental, social scenarios.

Sustainable Geothermal Energy Systems - Lessons Learned and Future Designs

Paul F. Ormond, BS and MS Civil Engineering, Haley & Aldrich, 465 Medford Street, Suite 2200, Boston, MA, 02129-1400, USA, Tel: 617.886.7311, Fax: 617.886.7611, Email: POrmond@HaleyAldrich.com
John R. Kastrinos, PG, LSP, MS Environmental Pollution Control, BS Geology, Haley & Aldrich, 465 Medford Street, Suite 2200, Boston, MA, 02129-1400, USA, Tel: 617.886.7362, Fax: 617.886.7662, Email: JKastrinos@HaleyAldrich.com

Alternative energies are receiving increased attention from developers and the public, in response to concerns of climate change, reduction of carbon footprint, and a renewed interest in reducing our oil dependency.  Consistent with this trend, the number of ground-source heat pump systems (geothermal systems) has increased dramatically in New England in the past few years, and many new systems are in the planning stages. 

Case studies will be described to illustrate recent successes and failures in the development of geothermal energy systems, and to describe lessons learned.  In general, the state-of-the-practice in geothermal design suffers from a lack of understanding of well design, aqueous geochemistry and changes that occur under pumping conditions (such as air entrainment and the resultant precipitation of metal oxides).  The paper describes recurrent problems related to drilling methods that result in a failure to reach design depth due to high inflows from bedrock fracture zones.  When wells fall short of the design depth, groundwater must be pumped to waste in order to maintain thermal efficiency. Also discussed will be thermal testing to verify geothermal performance and optimize configuration, and assessments of water quality with respect to maintenance issues for geothermal systems.

Problems in the design of geothermal energy systems can be avoided through design using a multi-disciplinary approach that employs the skills, knowledge and experience of drillers, scientists and engineers with backgrounds in well design and hydrogeology.

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