Utilization of a waste glycerol fraction using and reusing immobilized Gluconobacter oxydans ATCC 621 cell extract

BackgroundDepletion of petroleum resources has enforced the search for alternative sources of renewable energy. Introduction of biofuels into the market was expected to become a solution to this disadvantageous situation. Attempts to cover fuel demand have, however, caused another severe problem—the waste glycerol generated during biodiesel production at a concentration of approximately 10% w/w. This, in turn, prompted a global search for effective methods of valorization of the waste fraction of glycerol.ResultsUtilization of the waste fraction at 48 h with an initial glycerol concentration of 30 g·L^-1 and proceeding with 62% efficiency enabled the production of 9 g·L^-1 dihydroxyacetone at 50% substrate consumption. The re-use of the immobilized biocatalyst resulted in a similar concentration of dihydroxyacetone (8.7 g·L^-1) in two-fold shorter time, with an efficiency of 85% and lower substrate consumption (35%).ConclusionsThe method proposed in this work is based on the conversion of waste glycerol to dihydroxyacetone in a reaction catalyzed by immobilized Gluconobacter oxydans cell extract with glycerol dehydrogenase activity, and it could be an effective way to convert waste glycerol into a valuable product.     

The evolution of waste into a resource: Examining innovation in technologies reusing coal combustion by-products using patent data

The reuse of waste begins with the development of new technologies for ways to use waste. Despite the critical role of innovation in waste reuse, innovation for waste reuse technologies has been largely overlooked in innovation studies. This paper presents the first patent study examining the innovation process for a specific waste reuse technology, to elucidate how waste evolves into a resource with a greater possibility of being used. This study specifically analyzes how innovation occurs, what drives it, and the consequences of this innovation. Coal combustion by-products (CCBs), which are solid residues generated from coal-fired utilities, are specifically examined as a test case because they have been promoted as a resource through century-long innovative efforts for use in construction, mining, and agricultural applications. Having examined more than 700 patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office database, the results of this study show that innovation has primarily occurred: (1) to reuse CCBs, particularly fly ash, in various building, construction, and structural products; (2) by businesses, particularly those that need to use CCBs; and (3) since 1967, and the number of CCB-related patents peaked during the early 1980s and 1990s. For the drivers of innovation, this study identifies the impact of some market factors, such as cement and lime price, and institutional activities, such as the establishment of industrial associations that support CCB reuse, on patent filings. The role of regulation in innovation, however, is ambiguous with regard to CCB reuse. Although more CCBs have been used as more innovation occurs, the use of CCBs has increased with a lag, due to variation in the values of individual technologies and barriers to the implementation of technologies in the reuse market.     

浅谈原煤斗蓬煤和给煤机落煤管堵塞原因及防范措施

大唐淮南洛能发电有限公司#6锅炉600MW机组多年以来原煤斗蓬煤、落煤管堵塞现象经常发生,尤其在汛期雨大时问题更为明显,掺烧褐煤及煤泥后由于燃煤水分增多,棚煤现象更为突出。原煤斗蓬煤、落煤管堵塞,严重影响了机组的正常发电,同时由于棚煤时被迫投入大油枪助燃,直接造成发电成本提高。     

EBSCO数据库使用分析

EBSCO数据库是世界上最大的多学科学术期刊数据库和综合性商业资源全文数据库,已经被多个科研机构和高校图书馆订购使用,从用户登录与检索、文献类型偏好、使用成本和文献学科需求等方面对EBSCO数据库进行使用分析,探索电子资源建设的科学性与合理性,对优化图书馆资源结构,提升信息服务质量,提高使用效率具有重要的意义。