Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 9 of 9
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Biomass Catalytic Upconversion With A Metallic Catalyst Bed Under Radio Frequency Induction Heating, Mohammad Abu-Laban
Biomass Catalytic Upconversion With A Metallic Catalyst Bed Under Radio Frequency Induction Heating, Mohammad Abu-Laban
LSU Master's Theses
This study investigated the thermal performances of platinum particles when coupled on a steel support, under the application of a radio frequency (RF) field. Platinum nanoparticles were reduced on the surfaces of type-316 stainless steel balls, based on published methods of Pt reduction from chloroplatinic acid. Alternatively, 1wt. % Pt/Al2O3 commercial catalyst pellets were mixed with stainless steel balls and investigated for hydro-deoxygenation of pyrolysis oil from pine sawdust biomass. The catalysts were placed inside an electric insulator tube suspended within a looping copper coil connected to the induction heater, and heated at different power levels. An infrared camera was …
Engineering Behavior And Characterization Of Biomass Ashes Using Geotechnical Measurement Techniques, Francisco Javier Grau Sacoto
Engineering Behavior And Characterization Of Biomass Ashes Using Geotechnical Measurement Techniques, Francisco Javier Grau Sacoto
LSU Master's Theses
Biomass, the organic material derived from plants or animals in a biological process, has rapidly become a topic of worldwide interest. The need to find new types of renewable energy sources has led to the use of natural materials as an economic, sustainable and environmental alternative. Biomass can be used to produce biofuel after a conversion process. The combustion of biomass matter –which is mainly produced in industrial plants- becomes biomass ash, which contains macronutrients and micronutrients. Currently, the recycling potential is wasted and most of the biomass ash is dumped without control or just disposed in landfills. The main …
Optimizing Light Requirements And Dilution Rates For Maximizing Algal Cell Growth And Lipid Content For Biofuel Feedstock Production, Beatrice Gabriela Terigar
Optimizing Light Requirements And Dilution Rates For Maximizing Algal Cell Growth And Lipid Content For Biofuel Feedstock Production, Beatrice Gabriela Terigar
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
There is a rapidly growing interest in the potential of microalgae as feedstock for the next generation of biofuels. The current study was designed to meet the following objectives: (1) Investigate the interdependence among cell density, biomass and lipid productivity to maximize feedstock production from outdoor cultures; (2) Investigate the effect of cycling high-intensity lights to identify optimum Dark:Light (D/L) ratios, which can be effectively used by researchers to maximize aerial biomass productivities; (3) Develop a deterministic model to simulate the biomass productivity in an continuous-flow bioreactor at various hydraulic retention times. Results indicated that variation in HRTs has a …
Engineering Of Hydroponic Systems To Enhance Biomass Of Sea Oats (Uniola Paniculata), Stefanie Renee Gilliam
Engineering Of Hydroponic Systems To Enhance Biomass Of Sea Oats (Uniola Paniculata), Stefanie Renee Gilliam
LSU Master's Theses
Restoration projects use native plants such as sea oats (Uniola paniculata) to help stabilize the coast. Sea oats are a native grass that can collect blowing sand to build dunes. Sea oats used in the restoration projects can be produced using sexual or asexual techniques. An ideal seedling would be genetically distinct, have increased seed production and germination, and have superior vegetative biomass. Finding ways to produce, propagate, and grow coastal plants such as sea oats effectively is critical to efforts to reduce erosion. In this study, production of sea oats via greenhouse based hydroponic systems was studied. This was …
Development Of Cost-Effective And Benign Lipid Extraction System For Microalgae, Javed Iqbal
Development Of Cost-Effective And Benign Lipid Extraction System For Microalgae, Javed Iqbal
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
A laboratory-made continuous flow lipid extraction system (CFLES) was devised to extract lipids from microalgae Nannochloropsis sp., a potential feedstock for biodiesel fuel, with a focus to assess the workable temperatures and pressures for possible scale-up applications. Using conventional solvents, the CFLES recovered 100% of the lipids recovered with conventional Soxhlet extraction (USEPA method 3540) at moderate 50 psi pressure and 100°C temperature; conditions significantly lower than those normally used in pressurized liquid extractions requiring specialized equipment. Approximately 87% of the extracted oil was successfully transesterified into biodiesel fuel. For exploring the solvent potential of biodiesel, CFLES was also tested …
Screening Of Tar Cracking Catalysts For Syngas Produced By Biomass Gasification, Bijeet Mukherjee
Screening Of Tar Cracking Catalysts For Syngas Produced By Biomass Gasification, Bijeet Mukherjee
LSU Master's Theses
The gasification of biomass produces tars and particulates. These tars and particulates create problems in the gasification systems. Tars condense on surfaces at lower temperatures, such as exit pipes and on particulate filters, leading to blockages and clogged filters. Tars also have varied impacts on other downstream processes. Due to these reasons, syngas containing significant concentrations of tars cannot be used in internal combustion engines. Thus the processes through which tars can be removed have been subject to considerable research. The objective of this research was to identify the best catalyst for for down-draft gasifiers, including the LSU AgCenter down-draft …
Assessing The Suitability Of Various Feedstocks For Biomass Gasification, Akshya Sharma
Assessing The Suitability Of Various Feedstocks For Biomass Gasification, Akshya Sharma
LSU Master's Theses
Ten different types of feedstocks available in Louisiana were assessed for their suitability to produce SYNGAS in a down-draft biomass gasifier. The feedstocks tested for this research include: pine pellets, hardwood pellets, cypress mulch, pine bark nuggets, corn stover pellets, switchgrass pellets, sugarcane bagasse pellets, dairy manure pellets, and poultry litter pellets. The feedstocks were first analyzed for volatile & ash content, high heating value, moisture, and mass density. Feedstocks that met the analytical criteria and available in a form that is suitable for the down-draft gasifier at LSU were tested for gasification. The temperature profile within the gasifier and …
Desulfurization And Tar Removal From Gasifier Effluents Using Mixed Rare Earth Oxides, Sumana Adusumilli
Desulfurization And Tar Removal From Gasifier Effluents Using Mixed Rare Earth Oxides, Sumana Adusumilli
LSU Master's Theses
Biomass gasification is a promising source of fuels. However, hydrogen sulphide, tars and other by-products must be removed from the raw gas because they deactivate downstream reforming and water gas shift catalysts. The goal of this project is to find the best REO combination for simultaneous tar cracking and desulfurization of gasifier effluents and to find the sorbents that are stable at high operating temperatures of gasifiers. Simultaneous tar cracking and H2S removal from a simulated gasifier effluent was tested using different rare earth mixed oxide (REO) catalysts/sorbents based on Ce/LaOx, Ce/La/MOx and Ce/La/M2Ox/Al2O3 where M is a transition metal …
The Effects Of Inorganic Solids And Certain Gases On The Thermal Decomposition Of Catechol, Jerome Apilan Robles
The Effects Of Inorganic Solids And Certain Gases On The Thermal Decomposition Of Catechol, Jerome Apilan Robles
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
In order to investigate the effects of calcium carbonate and iron oxide on the thermal decomposition of solid fuels, we have constructed an isothermal flow reactor to perform experiments on the model compound catechol (ortho-dihydroxybenzene), a phenol-type compound representative of coal, wood and biomass. Calcium carbonate and iron oxide are inorganic components of coal and wood, which have demonstrated catalytic properties in thermal reactions and are commercially used to enhance the conversion of solid fuels. In this study, the effects of the inorganic solids on pyrolysis and combustion are conducted through identification and quantification of the products formed after subjecting …