Engineering Commons^™

Supervisory Control Of Integrated Continuous Downstream Processes, Bernt Nilsson, Anton Löfgren, Joaquin Gomis Fons, Niklas Andersson, Lotta Berghard

Integrated Continuous Biomanufacturing III

Smart downstream processing can be performed with a sequence of integrated purification steps, which minimize the number of storage tanks and reduce hold-up time. The result is an integrated unit operation sequence that performs straight through processing of the target protein, with minimal time from expression to formulation. This downstream processing technique is well suited to be connected to a continuous upstream process based on perfusion. To develop these kinds of processes it is important to do studies in small-scale in a convenient way. This paper presents a methodology for supervisory control of integrated continuous downstream processes in lab-scale. A …

Process Analytical Technology (Pat) In Continuous Bioprocessing, Edita Botonjic-Sehic

Integrated Continuous Biomanufacturing III

In recent years biotech companies have been emphasizing on the implementation and utilization of process analytical technology (PAT) in continuous bioprocessing. An overview of PAT concepts for biotech processes with emphasis on integrated continuous bioprocessing and production of monoclonal antibodies will be presented. Biotech processes consist of several unit operations, with each unit operation serving a defined purpose. For some of the product quality attributes, a certain level of redundancy in the process is expected. The need for appropriate control of each step and continuous evaluation of its performance is of great importance. The objective of commonly used unit operations …

Specifying And Testing Fiber Reinforced Shotcrete: Advances And Challenges, Antoine Gagnon, Marc Jolin

Shotcrete for Underground Support XIII: New Developments in Rock Engineering, Tunneling, Underground Space and Deep Excavation

Although fiber reinforced shotcrete (FRS) has been around for many years in the tunneling and mining industry, there are still difficulties in many areas to bring owners and specifiers to take full advantage of the properties of this material in their ground support programs. These difficulties are often associated with the fact that the technical information or material properties reported (such as energy absorption or cracking load) do not necessarily reflect the actual need of the ground support engineer. The paper first proposes an overview, and comparison, of the various methods used to characterize FRS. It then moves on and …

Concrete Renovation And Enhancing Of Fire Protection Of An Existing Tunnel With Sprayable Polymer Cement Concrete (Spcc), Stefan Peters, U. Versen, Stefan Peters

Shotcrete for Underground Support XIII: New Developments in Rock Engineering, Tunneling, Underground Space and Deep Excavation

The approx. 342 m long tunnel located in the old town is constructed as a two cell rectangular frame section as part of the L530 in Lüdenscheid in 1971. During the stocktaking process it was detected that the demands of technical standards like e.g. RBT, ZTV-ING, RIZ-ING are not met. The construction also lacks of the structural fire protection. A recalculation of the rectangular frame section in case of exposure to fire showed that there is no sufficient load capacity. Due to the location in the city center with construction work above the tunnel line this topic is of major …

Multi Layered Shotcrete Design For Tunnel Construction, Matthias Werner Beisler, Sebastian Höser, Vladimir Bartos

Shotcrete for Underground Support XIII: New Developments in Rock Engineering, Tunneling, Underground Space and Deep Excavation

Shotcrete linings have been applied successfully for a large number of tunnel constructions within the last couple of decades all around the world. While up to the 1980’s the structural design of the shotcrete linings mainly was based on experience gathered throughout the construction and some simplified analyses in the following years the application of the Finite Element Method lead to much more sophisticated design and more accurate estimation of deformations and stress state in the shotcrete lining. This was amongst others achieved by considering the time and construction sequence - dependent development of the deformations as well as by …

Impact Of Polymer Binders On The Pull-Out Force Of Macro-Synthetic Fibers In Sprayed Concrete, Klaus Bonin, Christina Neumaier

Shotcrete for Underground Support XIII: New Developments in Rock Engineering, Tunneling, Underground Space and Deep Excavation

The standard test used to characterize the performance of a fiber-reinforced sprayed concrete is the round or square panel test. Steel and macro synthetic fibers with different physical properties are commonly used as reinforcement. The test panel is usually prepared by spraying shotcrete into a steel mold and, after curing, performing a three-point bending test. The difficulty of this kind of preparation is to know where the fibers are located and how many have remained in the sample. There are plenty of factors affecting the fiber distribution, such as the type of shotcrete, wet or dry mix preparation and application …

In Situ Testing Of Early Age Energy Absorption In Sprayed Fiber Reinforced Concrete - Hyea – Test, Michael Kompatscher, Peter Kuhnhenn

Shotcrete for Underground Support XIII: New Developments in Rock Engineering, Tunneling, Underground Space and Deep Excavation

The properties of fibre-reinforced sprayed concrete concerning energy absorption are mainly assessed according the standard of EFNARC, EN14488-5 and ASTM C 1550. Energy absorption will be measured after 28 days up to a deflection of 25 or 40 mm (depending on the applied standard). Fibre-reinforced concrete is often used for rock support and as a first safety layer. When covering the tunnel face with fibre-reinforced sprayed concrete, the concrete will be removed after approx. 6 to 12 hours. Taking into account the situation in modern tunnel headings, the performance of fibre-reinforced sprayed concrete with-in the first hours is essential to …

Conference Program, Dietmar Mähner, Matthias Beisler, Frank Heimbecher

Shotcrete for Underground Support XIII: New Developments in Rock Engineering, Tunneling, Underground Space and Deep Excavation

No abstract provided.

Thermocatalytic-Reforming (Tcr®) And Tcr®-Biochar Properties, Markus Heberlein, Fabian Stenzel, Andreas Hornung

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

The thermo-catalytic reforming (TCR®) is an endothermic two stage process developed by Fraunhofer UMSICHT, able to process biomass and biomass residues with high ash and moisture contents as well as with low ash melting points. The process is a combination of an intermediate pyrolysis reactor and a reforming stage. The pyrolysis stage is typically running at temperatures between 400 and 500 °C and the reforming stage between 600 and 700 °C. In the first stage pyrolysis vapors and biochar are produced. In the second stage the vapors has to pass a continuous removed biochar bed in the reformer where they …

Autothermal Biochar Production And Characterization At Pilot Scale, Andrea M. Rizzo, Marco Pettorali, Lorenzo Bettuci, Giulia Lotti, Renato Nistri, David Chiaramonti

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

The present work reports on the results from the validation campaign of an autothermal pilot carbonization unit (CarbON) and on the characterization of the produced biochar and pyrolysis vapors. The proposed pilot plant leverages the simplicity and effectiveness of autothermal operations together with open top, downdraft design, to bring to the small scale the performance of larger installations. In autothermal operation, heat for the process is internally provided by combusting part of the feedstock and evolved volatiles inside the reactor, the so called “oxidative pyrolysis”.

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Conference Program, Franco Berruti, Ondrej Masek, Raffaella Ocone

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

No abstract provided.

Biochar: From Ligno-Cellulosic Materials To Engineered Products For Environmental Services, Manuel Garcia-Perez

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Abstract is not available.

Behavioral Factors Affecting The Adoption Of Biochar Of Farmers In Canada, Maren Oelbermann

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar is a promising carbon-based soil amendment with ancient, South American roots. Despite its long history, research surrounding its use in modern agriculture has only just begun in North America. There are several studies examining biochar in soil, ranging from its effects on nutrient and water retention to the way it affects earthworms and other organisms. However, our understanding on the socioeconomic implications of using biochar as a soil amendment in temperate agriculture remains scarce. Our research aims to fill this gap through semi-structured interviews with farmers and the completion of an economic analysis based on market values of biochar …

Life Cycle Assessment Of Biochar Production From Southern Pine, Sudhagar Mani, Yu Qiu

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar, a major co-product from the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass is rich in carbon and is often used as a soil amendment to promote crop production and as a soil carbon sequestration medium to maintain long-term soil health of marginal lands. Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen to primarily produce bio-oil with biochar being a co-product. Biochar is also primarily produced from wood logs using conventional carbonization methods (eg. Missouri kilns). For sustainable production of biochar, the most sustainable production route is important for large-scale production of biochar for soil carbon sequestration applications. The …

Developing A Method Of Accounting For The Material Use Of Biomass/Biochar And Its Positive Side Benefits Within The Company Carbon Footprint: A Case Study At Hochschule Geisenheim University, Georg Ardissone, Claudia Kammann

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

The federal state of Hesse announced the aim to achieve a „CO₂-neutral administration“. In this context, the carbon footprint (CF) of the 16 universities in the federal area has been accounted. The CF by common units (kg CO₂ per student or square meter) of the Hochschule Geisenheim University (HGU) is comparably high, due to the campus’ structure with (monument protected) building stock, a big share of greenhouses integrated into the campus and a comparably small number of students (Müller & Person, 2015, S. 27ff).

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Evaluation Of The Long-Term Effects Of Pre-Conditioned Biochar On Soil Organic Carbon In Temperate Soils Using The Century Soil Organic Matter Model, Maren Oelbermann

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar contains a limited quantity of available mineral nutrients, requiring its addition in large quantities, in temperate soils, and in association with nitrogen (N) fertilizer and/or manure. Alternatively, biochar could be pre-conditioned with urea ammonium nitrate (UAN-enriched biochar), requiring lower inputs of biochar. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term (150 years) impact of the addition of UAN-enriched biochar on soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil active, slow and passive carbon (C) fractions compared to other commonly used agroecosystem management practices in a coarse and medium textured soil using the Century Soil Organic Matter Model.

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Overview Of Biochar For Electrochemistry Applications, Capucine Dupont

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Abstract is not available.

Pyrolytic Temperature Evaluation Of Macauba Biochar For Uranium Adsorption From Aqueous Solutions, Sabine Neusatz Guilhen, Nilce Ortiz, Denise Alves Fungaro, Ondrej Masek

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) is a palm tree native to the tropical regions of America. In Brazil, it is prevalent in the savannah, known as “cerrado”. A valuable natural and renewable source of vegetable oil for food and cosmetic industries (nut oil) and for biodiesel (mesocarp oil), macauba has the potential to become the new “green gold” of Brazil, not only for its oil quality, but because it could solely be destined for commercial purposes, since it doesn’t compete with food market industry such as soybean and sugar cane. The dark stiff part that protects the nut, called “endocarp”, is generated …

Thermal Evolution Of Biochar And Its Physicochemical Properties During Hydrothermal Gasification, Sonil Nanda, Ajay K. Dalai, Franco Berruti, Janusz A. Kozinski

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar is a recalcitrant carbonaceous material obtained from pyrolysis and gasification of biomass and other biogenic wastes. Some of the promising biochar applications to be discussed in this presentation includes char gasification and combustion for energy production, soil remediation, carbon sequestration, catalysis, and development of activated carbon and specialty materials with biomedical and industrial uses. Several factors such as pyrolysis/gasification temperature, heating rates and residence time are the limiting factors that determine the biochar properties such as fixed carbon, volatile matter, mineral matter, surface area, porosity and pore size distribution, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, cation-exchange capacity, etc. This paper will comprehensively …

Can Biochar Link Forest Restoration With Commercial Agriculture?, David C. Smith, Kristin Trippe

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

For the potential benefits of biochar to be fully realized, it must be produced economically in high volumes and close to stable markets. The author is part of a research team conducting an examination of the economic feasibility of linking forest restoration with commercial agriculture in a specific region of Oregon, USA through large-scale production of biochar made from forest biomass at a dedicated plant site. The focus of this presentation is the biochar production economics and carbon impacts associated with two different biochar conversion technologies, four different biochar plant configuration scenarios, and 2 potential plant locations.

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The Influence Of Biochar On Soil Characteristics In A Temperate Agroecosystem, Maren Oelbermann

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

While biochar as a soil amendment is not a novel concept, the addition of biochar to temperate agricultural soils represents a relatively new territory. The objectives of this study were to evaluate soil characteristics in a conventional temperate agricultural production system amended with biochar under a maize (Zea mays) crop in southern Ontario, Canada. The treatments include: poultry manure (6 t/ha) and nitrogen fertilizer (135 kg/ha) (MN); manure (3t/ha) and biochar (3t/ha) (MB); and manure (3 t/ha), fertilizer (urea) (135 kg/ha) and biochar (3 t/ha) (MNB).

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Characteristic Studies On The Waste Biomass-Based Biochars Produced By Fast Pyrolysis, Ramin Azargohar, Sonil Nanda, Janusz A. Kozinski, Ajay K. Dalai, Ronny Sutarto

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar, as carbonaceous product obtained from pyrolysis of biomass, has many applications in diverse areas due to its versatile physicochemical properties. Non-food biomass has a great potential to produce biochars. In the present study, pinewood sawdust (forest residue), wheat straw and flax straw (agricultural residues), and poultry litter (livestock manure) were used as precursors for pyrolysis. Focus of this study was on the effects of fast pyrolysis temperature (400, 475, and 550 ^oC) on the characteristics of biochars produced by means of a mobile pyrolysis unit. Different characterization techniques are used to study the physical, chemical, and structural characteristics …

Arsenic Removal From Drinking Water By Means Of Low Cost Biochars Derived From Miscanthus And Coconut Shell, Tommaso Marengo, Silvia Fiore, Cedric Briens, Franco Berruti

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Arsenic is a toxic metalloid highly diffused in groundwater because of natural and anthropogenic factors (mainly deriving from mining activities and pesticides). Inorganic arsenic compounds are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Group I (proven carcinogen). Groundwater concentration of As may vary from 0.5 to 5000 μg/L taking into account more than 70 Countries around the world. The most polluted groundwater of the planet was identified in late 1990s in Bengal delta (Bangladesh and Indian region West Bengal).

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Effect Of Biochar Addition On Carbon Dioxide And Nitrous Oxide Emissions From A Temperate Agricultural Soil, Maren Oelbermann

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Amending intensively managed temperate soils with biochar is a more recent approach to agriculture, with research is still in its infancy. A knowledge gap remains on the effect of biochar on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as most studies conducted to date were short-term (<4 months) in the field or used laboratory incubations; neither of which capture temporal variations in emissions. Therefore the objective of this study was to evaluate soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions in a conventional agricultural production system amended with biochar and under a maize (Zea mays) crop in southern Ontario, Canada.

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Adsorption Of Ammonium (Nh4+) Ions Onto Various Vietnamese Biomass Residue-Derived Biochars (Wood, Rice Husk And Bamboo), Nguyen Van Hien, Eugenia Valsami-Jones, Nguyen Cong Vinh, Tong Thi Phu, Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, Iseult Lynch

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

This study evaluates adsorption of ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) ions onto various biochars produced from biomass residues in Vietnam as a function of their physicochemical characteristics. Three biochars, including wood biochar (WBC), rice husk biochar (RBC), and bamboo biochar (BBC), were produced under limited oxygen conditions using Top-Lid Updraft Drum technology at temperatures of 450-550oC. Physicochemical characterization (BET surface area, Cation exchange capacity (CEC), Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) of the biochars was performed in order to link their porosity and surface functional groups with their NH4+-N capture capacities.

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The Effects Of Biochar As A Soil Amendment On Soil Quality And Plant Growth, Ok-Youn Yu

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar is a stable form of recalcitrant carbon created by heating biomass in a low or no oxygen environment. When used as a soil amendment, biochar forms a dynamic substrate which provides numerous benefits, including increasing nutrient availability, increasing soil water retention, improving crop yield, and sequestering carbon for hundreds to thousands of years. However, biochar's effectiveness largely depends on the biomass feedstock and the soil to which it is applied. Individual biochars made from different feedstocks perform differently against each other, and the magnitudes of their effects can be dependent on many factors within the soil. Testing different feedstocks …

Microwave Characterization And Shielding Properties Of Biochar Based Polymers And Cements, Patrizia Savi

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Abstract is not available.

Biochar-Ammonium Phosphate As An Uncoated-Slow Release Fertilizer In Sandy Soil, Haytham Elsharkawi

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

The invention relates to an ecofertilizer including a granular Biochar-Ammonium Phosphate (BAP) fertilizer utilizing by biochar as a renewable support grid. In this study we assessed the impact of two types of uncoated-slow release fertilizer in two types of Biochar-Ammonium Phosphate (BAP1&BAP2) on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and N losses in leachate water compared with chemical N fertilizer (ammonium phosphate, AP). Additionally the Surface Morphology of biochar, BAP1 and BAP2 fertilizer were investigated by SEM and FT-IR. SEM and FT-IR confirm the phenomena of impregnation of ammonium phosphate inside the biochar's pores.

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A Novel Solution For Utilizing Liquid Fractions From Slow Pyrolysis And Hydrothermal Carbonization - Acidification Of Animal Slurry, Kimmo Rasa, Jari Hyväluoma, Hanne Wikberg, Anssi Källi, Tapio Salo, Riikka Keskinen

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) have recently gained much interest in the field of biomass processing. This is due to the process flexibility with respect to raw materials and the range of potential applications proposed for the end products. In addition to the main product, biochar, the processes yield a liquid fraction that has turned out to be challenging to productize. Considering the feasibility of the thermochemical conversion technologies, it is crucial that all the produced fractions can be utilized reasonably and no waste fractions expensive to dispose remain. In spite of active research and development work, unambiguous uses for …

Developing Biosensors As Monitoring Tools To Assess The Performance Of Biochar Amended Contaminated Soil, Bastian Saputra, Stephen Rolfe, Steve Thornton

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

The application of biochar as a soil amendment is an emerging technique for low-cost remediation of contaminated soil. The high porosity and large surface area of biochar make it suitable for adsorption of contaminants such as heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Adsorption reduces the bio-availability of contaminants to soil microorganisms thus potentially increasing soil function and productivity. Many different biochars are available which differ in key properties such as contaminant adsorption and stability. To assess biochar performance as a soil amendment we will develop bacterial biosensors to measure contaminant bioavailability and toxicity at a cellular level. Biosensors …