Char is a low-value byproduct of biomass gasification and pyrolysis with many potential applications, such as soil amendment and the synthesis of activated carbon and carbon-based catalysts. Considering these high-value applications, char could provide economic benefits to a biorefinery...

This work reports the use of mid- and near-infrared spectroscopy (MIR and NIR) to predict the kinematic and dynamic viscosities of biodiesel–diesel blends. A partial least square regression (PLSR) modeling method was employed to develop the calibration models based on information from four...

The effect of reaction temperature, retention time, biomass content, and catalyst loading on bio-oil yield, carbon content, and carbon recovery of corncob hydrothermal conversion was investigated and optimized via response surface methodology (RSM). The four variables ranged from 280 to 340°C...

Tars in biomass gasification systems need to be removed to avoid damaging and clogging downstream pipes or equipment. In this study, Ni-based catalysts were made by mechanically mixing NiO and char particles at various ratios. Catalytic performance of the Ni/char catalysts was studied and...

The objective of this research was to study the effect of ecotype and planting location on thermal properties of big bluestem. Three big bluestem ecotypes (CKS, EKS, ILL) and a cultivar (KAW) were harvested in 2010 from four locations (Colby, Hays, and Manhattan, KS; and Carbondale, IL) and were...

Multiple entry selections of big bluestems and three native C4 grass species, including switchgrass, miscanthus, and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) mixture grass, were evaluated for their chemical composition and ethanol yields via diluted sulfuric acid pretreatment following simultaneous...

Samples of lead zirconate titanate Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 with europium (Eu) doping concentration of 0, 0.5, 1.5, 3 mol% (PEZT) were fabricated by sol–gel method. XRD spectra showed that the introduction of Eu into PZT favored the growth of (100) orientation. With 3% Eu content, the preferential...

As fourth party logistics (4PL) has the power to integrate the supply chain, from the beginning of the 21st century, it has attracted more and more attention in many fields. As one of the most important aspects in 4PL, the fourth party logistics routing problem (4PLRP) is very difficult to solve...