K/Ca催化木屑水蒸气气化制取富氢合成气

研制KOH/白云石复合催化剂,以松木屑为原料,在固定床气化炉中进行水蒸气气化实验,考察催化剂制备条件、反应温度、水蒸气流量、催化剂用量对气化合成气气体组分、产气率、产氢率及碳转化率等气化特性评价指标的影响,并对所研制的K/Ca复合催化剂进行SEM、XRD和孔隙结构分析。研究表明：K元素很好地负载在白云石上。由KOH质量分数6%、K/Ca物质的量比2∶1和煅烧温度900℃制备的K/Ca复合催化剂的催化性能最好。气化温度从600℃增加到750℃,H₂体积分数由40.70%增加至59.09%,产氢率由16.38 g/kg增加至90.64 g/kg,但继续升高温度会造成催化剂活性下降使得H₂体积分数和产氢率均有所下降。水蒸气流量由0.4 mL/min增加至1.0 mL/min时,H₂体积分数由52.75%增加至59.09%,产氢率由68.14 g/kg增加至90.64 g/kg,进一步增加水蒸气流量则会造成系统热量损失,使得H₂体积分数和产氢率均有不同程度的下降。催化剂与松木屑质量比值为0.3 g/g时,H...     

金属元素对生物质一体化制氢的影响

基于生物质一体化制氢工艺,考察了不同金属元素(K、Ca、Mg、Fe、Zn)对玉米芯制氢过程中产氢率、产品气体组成以及碳转化率的影响。结果表明:不同金属元素催化效果依次为KFeMgCaZn,其中K元素的催化效果最为明显,碳转化率达到85.65%,添加K能够促进生物质在热解段和气化段的热化学转化,分别使碳转化率最大提高了5.31和10.30个百分点。当热解温度600℃及气固同步转化温度850℃时,产氢率、潜在产氢率和碳转化率分别为70.02g/kg、86.97g/kg和90.11%。同时,随着温度升高,生物质炭产率降低,K元素损失变大,在850℃时,生物质炭产率和K元素损失分别为13.56%和74.11%     

CaO对木屑水蒸气气化制取富氢燃气的影响

以木屑为生物质原料,水蒸气为气化介质,CaO为催化剂,在固定床气化炉中进行生物质催化气化制取富氢燃气,考察了CaO与木屑中碳元素的物质的量比(n(Ca)/n(C))、气化温度和水蒸气流量对生物质水蒸气气化特性的影响。结果表明,当n(Ca)/n(C)由0增加至1.0时,H_2体积分数由45.58%增至58.62%,产气率由1.04 m~3/kg增至1.38 m~3/kg,当n(Ca)/n(C)继续增至1.5时,两者均有增加,但是变化不明显;气化温度从700℃增至750℃时,产气中H_2体积分数由51.78%增至58.62%,CO_2由19.89%降至12.60%,继续升高温度,H_2体积分数逐渐降低,燃气热值也降低;水蒸气流量由0.1 g/(min·g)增至0.34 g/(min·g)时,H_2的体积分数由58.62%增至62.55%,水蒸气流量继续增大时,H_2的体积分数和产氢率降低,燃气热值也降低。通过实验选择的最佳气化条件为以CaO为催化剂,n(Ca)/n(C)为1,气化温度750℃,水蒸气流量为0.34 g/(min·g),此时,制取的富氢燃气中H_2体积分数达到最大为62.55%,产氢率为85.08 g/kg,燃气热值为11.41 MJ/m~3。     

磺酸树脂对柠檬醛环化的催化作用及其动力学特征研究

以D-72磺酸树脂为催化剂催化柠檬醛环化反应,考查了反应介质、催化剂用量、反应温度和柠檬醛的体积分数对柠檬醛转化率和产物选择性的影响,探讨了环化反应的催化动力学特征。实验结果表明:环化反应产物为α-松油烯、对伞花烃、对异丙烯基甲苯;用四氯化碳为反应介质,对伞花烃的选择性为100%;0.8 g催化剂催化时柠檬醛的转化率为97.31%;用乙酸乙酯为反应介质,在柠檬醛体积分数为10%、催化剂0.4 g、反应时间1 h和343 K条件下反应时,柠檬醛的转化率和对伞花烃的选择性分别为97.76%和67.8%。动力学研究表明,柠檬醛在D-72催化剂上的环化反应服从一级动力学模型,经最小二乘法处理数据得表观活化能为60.7 kJ/mol。     

微波低温催化热解木屑制取可燃气研究

以可燃性气体为目的产物,在450~600℃低温条件下对木屑进行微波催化热解。考察了热解温度、催化剂种类以及催化剂用量对微波热解可燃气产量和热值的影响,并分析热解过程中各气体组分的变化趋势。结果表明:催化剂的加入可有效提高气体产率,不同催化剂对气体产率的影响顺序为:K2CO3Na OHNa2CO3Mg OCa ONa H2PO4Na2HPO4。在热解温度550℃、K2CO3用量(以木屑质量计)20%的条件下得到高产量的中热值可燃性气体,气体产率为62.65%,低位热值14.05 MJ/m3;且K2CO3作为催化剂时可得到较高的H/C的气体。     

生物质流态化气化技术研究

论述了在锥形流态化气化炉内，对生物质原料进行气化和催化气化的工程化应用试验研究。研究结果表明：麦草原料气化所产生的煤气热值比稻草和稻壳都高，木屑气化所产生煤气热值最高，非催化气化条件下，流化床气化产生的煤气热值比下吸式气化炉产生的煤气热值提高40％左右；催化气化试验发现，CaO能明显提高煤气热值、降低C0组分，Na2CO3催化气化能提高气体H2的含量。但是对气化产生的气体热值，流态化空气气化中，在710℃以下低温时，无明显的影响，当温度达到800℃时，添加催化剂能明显提高气体的热值。     

松木屑超临界水气化制甲烷产气性能试验

以松木屑为试验原料,在自行设计的间歇式高温高压反应釜中进行超临界水气化制甲烷的实验。考查了反应温度、反应压力、松木屑浆料质量分数、粒径以及4种常用碱性催化剂和4种常用金属催化剂对松木屑在超临界水中气化制甲烷效果的影响。结果表明,反应温度对甲烷产量有重要影响,450℃时甲烷产量最高;反应压力的升高能促进松木屑气化,使甲烷产量变高;高质量分数的松木屑浆料不利于气化制甲烷,粒径对于甲烷产量和气化效率没有明显影响。在反应温度450℃、压力34 MPa,松木屑质量分数5%、粒径4.75~8.00 mm条件下碱性催化剂对甲烷产量的影响顺序为KOH>K2CO3>Na2CO3>Ca(OH)2,金属催化剂对甲烷产量的影响顺序为Ni>Co>Fe>Cu。8种催化剂中KOH效果最好,甲烷的摩尔分数、产量以及气化效率分别达到了38.5%,13.7mol/kg和84.7%,所得可燃气体的热值达到14 248.04 k J/kg。这些工作为生物质超临界水气化制甲烷的制备工艺完善和工程放大奠定了一定的实验基础。     

铁次卟啉二甲酯仿生催化α-蒎烯分子氧氧化反应

以铁次卟啉二甲酯(Fe Cl DPDME)为模型催化剂,在无任何外加溶剂及助剂的条件下,催化氧气氧化α-蒎烯,探讨了反应温度、反应时间、催化剂质量分数以及氧气流速等工艺条件对反应的影响,并对Fe卟啉催化烃类分子氧反应机理进行初步探讨。研究结果表明:氧化主要发生在α-蒎烯双键和烯丙位碳氢键,当反应温度为80℃、反应时间为6 h、催化剂质量分数为50 mg/kg、氧气流速为60 m L/min时,α-蒎烯转化率及主要氧化产物的选择性更高,分别达到17.9%和86.7%。     

木屑半焦高温水蒸气气化制备富氢燃气研究

在高温固定床反应器中,对木屑半焦进行高温水蒸气气化制备富氢燃气。在温度700~900℃、水蒸气流量0.11~0.32 g/(min·g)(以焦炭计,下同)条件下,研究了气化温度和水蒸气流量对水蒸气气化制备燃气中的氢气含量、产气率、热值以及燃气中各组分体积分数的影响。研究表明:水蒸气通入过量会造成燃气热值的降低;在气化温度900℃、水蒸气流量0.32 g/(min·g)时,燃气中氢气达到62.53%,燃气热值为8.99 MJ/Nm~3,燃气产率为2.75 L/g。利用容积反应模型和未反应收缩核模型拟合试验数据得到了相应的动力学参数,发现未反应收缩核模型比容积反应模型可以更好的描述木屑半焦的水蒸气气化行为,容积反应模型所得到活化能为88.67 kJ/(mol·K),指前因子为2 976.55 min~(-1),未反应收缩核模型所得活化能为91.78 kJ/(mol·K),指前因子为2 872.82 min~(-1)。     

Ni/Al2O3-MxOy催化剂催化松香氢化反应研究

研究了自制非贵金属纳米催化剂Ni/Al2O3-MxOy催化松香的氢化反应。结果表明,松香氢化的最适工艺条件为:反应温度210℃、反应压力4.5 MPa、反应时间2 h、催化剂用量2.5%、搅拌转速500 r/min,在此条件下枞酸转化率可达98%以上,催化剂可重复使用4次。     

Decomposition and nutrient loss from prunings of different contour hedgerow species in tea plantations in the sloping highlands of Sri Lanka

Contour hedgerows of multipurpose tree species in the sloping tea lands of Sri Lanka are expected to reduce soil erosion and also add significant amounts of plant nutrients to the soil via periodic prunings. The objective of this experiment was to characterize the biomass decomposition pattern and quantify the amount of nutrients added through prunings of six tree species (Calliandra calothyrsus, Senna spectabilis, Euphatorium innulifolium, Flemingia congesta, Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia) currently being used in hedgerows associated with tea. Withered leaf and stem prunings (50 g) were enclosed in 2-mm litter bags, placed at 5-cm depth and retrieved after one, three, six, nine and 12 weeks. Loss of initial dry weight, N, P and K was measured. Single exponential decay function adequately described both dry weight and nutrient loss. Tree species differed significantly in their rate of breakdown with decomposition constants (k) varying from 0.0299 to 0.2006 week⁻¹ for leaves and from 0.0225 to 0.0633 week⁻¹ for stems. Gliricidia showed the highest k for leaves with the rest in the following descending order: Senna > Tithonia ≥ Euphatorium > Calliandra > Flemingia. A similar pattern was observed for loss of all nutrients with Calliandra and Flemingia always having lower k values than the rest. Although N immobilization was not observed, immobilization of P and K was observed during the first week of incubation in some species, particularly in stem prunings. Annual biomass of prunings differed significantly between tree species in the following descending order: Calliandra > Senna > Flemingia > Tithonia > Gliricidia > Euphatorium. Calliandra added the greatest amount of nutrients annually to the soil with Euphatorium adding the least. Calliandra prunings provided the annual total K requirement and 49% of the N requirement of mature tea. However, none of the species provided more than 5% of the P requirement. It is concluded that among the tree species tested, Calliandra and Flemingia are the most suitable for contour hedgerows in tea plantations of this agroclimatic region because of their higher soil nutrient enrichment capacity and slower decomposition rates which would minimize leaching losses. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Seed Weight and Seed Type on Early Seedling Growth of Pinus sylvestris under Harsh and Optimal Conditions

The effects of seed weight and seed type on seedling growth of Pinus sylvestris (L.) were studied by seeding individually weighed orchard and stand seed in different mixtures under harsh (direct seeding in field) and optimal (seeding in nursery) conditions. In the nursery experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased the seedling height by 10-27% and total weight by 27-113%, and decreased the height/diameter ratio by 5-6% after 2 yrs. With elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 2% taller than stand seedlings in year 2. Without elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller. In the field experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased seedling height by 18-65%, stem volume by 81-274% and the number of top-buds by 23-34% in year 5. After elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller than stand seedlings and without elimination of seed weight effects 20-21% taller after 5 yrs. Even after elimination of both seed weight and genetic effects orchard seedlings were 3-9% larger than stand seedlings in the field experiment. In conclusion, the influence of seed weight and seed type on growth traits and slenderness is highly significant and the influence seems to be greater in harsh conditions.     

Modelling of adequate pretwist for obtaining straight timber

Abstract

Wood in general and wooden studs in particular are often distorted owing to uneven shrinkage during the drying process in the sawmill. Twist is often the most detrimental of all types of distortion, and it is caused by spiral grain in combination with variations in moisture content. For sawmills, the objective is to produce dried, straight boards, and one method of dealing with boards with excessive spiral grain is to sort them out and then dry them in a pretwisted position to obtain straight boards after drying. A model using the finite element (FE) method for the simulation of drying twist distortions was first calibrated against laboratory experiments in which boards were dried with and without restraints and pretwists. After the calibration, the FE results were compared with industrial test results for boards that were dried without restraints or with restraints with zero pretwist, i.e. straight restraints. The FE model used an elastic–ideally plastic material model to obtain permanent deformations. The calibration was to set the yield stresses so that there was a good match between FE results and results from the laboratory experiments. The comparison between the industrial test results and the FE results showed that the FE model is capable of realistic simulations of drying boards with and without restraints and presumably also pretwists.     

Potential to harness superior nutritional qualities of exotic baobabs if local adaptation can be conferred through grafting

Baobab leaves form an important part of the local diet in Sahel countries and elsewhere in Africa. Existing leaf nutritional data and agroforestry performance information are based solely on Adansonia digitata L., the baobab of continental Africa. The introduction potential of Adansonia species from the center of diversity in Madagascar and from Australia remains untapped. To assess this potential, the mineral contents and B₁ and B₂ vitamin levels of dried baobab leaves were determined for five-year old trees of A. digitata, A. gibbosa (A. Cunn.) Guymer ex D. Baum, A. rubrostipa Jum. & H. Perrier (syn. A. fony Baill.), A. perrieri Capuron and A. za Baill. grown in an introduction trial in Mali. Nutritional data were evaluated against survival and vigor to identify promising germplasm. Leaf vitamin and crude protein contents were highest in the Madagascar species, especially A. rubrostipa (B₁ 88 mg 100 g⁻¹, B₂ 187 mg 100 g⁻¹, protein 20.7% dry weight). However, the local species far outperformed the introductions in survival, tree height, basal diameter and resistance to termites. We suggest grafting as a way of harnessing the vigor of well-adapted local baobab varieties to the superior nutritional profiles of A. rubrostipa and others. Cross-species grafting tests in Adansonia were successful, thus creating new agroforestry possibilities with different scion/rootstock combinations.     

Biogeochemical impacts of clearfelling and reforestation on blanket-peatland streams: II. major ions and dissolved organic carbon

Streams and drains in blanket-peatland forest in western Ireland were sampled weekly over 5 years, 1996–2000, using continuous, depth-proportional passive sampling. Analysis was for pH, alkalinity by Gran titration, anions by IC, metals by ICP, aluminium speciation by loaded-resin exchange, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by absorbance at 320 nm.

Effects of felling are identified graphically from two forest drains whose catchments (both about 1 ha) were clearfelled, and partial clearfelling of one larger catchment (somewhat over 1 km²), in summer 1999. Calcium concentrations and alkalinity were increased in the drain- and streamwater from the felled areas. The pH was increased in drains, while in the larger stream, pH range decreased while the mean increased. Phosphorus increased markedly with clearfell, in the absence of recent fertilising, and also increased with fertilising; these results are reported in an accompanying paper. Ammonium-nitrogen concentrations were increased in the two drains with felling, and temporarily decreased in the larger stream. Nitrate increased in some cases. Potassium and manganese concentrations also increased. Concentrations of DOC and organic monomeric aluminium increased gradually, subject to a continuing strong annual cycle. There were no clearfelling effects on concentrations of solphate, suspended solids or inorganic monomeric aluminium. In the two drains (fully clearfelled), concentrations of sodium, chloride and magnesium, and conductivity, were all reduced after felling. Fertilising effects other than for phosphorus were indistinct.

Effects of the combined clearfell–reforestation treatment were testable statistically, using randomised intervention analysis, between two larger streams (1 km²) as a treatment–control comparison. There were statistically significant positive responses in streamwater concentrations of nitrate, potassium, calcium, DOC and aluminium fractions. The implications for management practice depend on whether the loss of nutrients is sustainable for future crop productivity, and whether critical limits and loads of receiving ecosystems are exceeded.     

Effect of Drought on Growth and Mortality of Actively Growing Norway Spruce Container Seedlings Planted in Summer

Survival, root egress and height growth of 13-month-old actively growing Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) container seedlings exposed to preplanting drying treatments (0, 4, and 8 days) and postplanting drought periods (1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks) were studied in the field between 5 July and 18 August 1999. The mortality of seedlings increased and the height growth and root egress decreased throughout the postplanting drought period. Postplanting performance was also affected by preplanting drying treatments. The results indicate that no risk of excessive mortality and growth restrictions occurs when actively growing seedlings are planted in summer, provided that seedlings are well watered before planting and the drought period does not exceed 3 weeks.     

Rehabilitation of diseased cacao fields in Peru through shade regulation and timing of biocontrol measures

The objective of this case study was to test the effectiveness of biocontrol for the rehabilitation of abandoned, diseased (moniliasis, witches' broom and black pod) cocoa and to develop testable hypotheses regarding the effect of shade and biocontrol timing. Three trial fields differed in their shade regimes. Biocontrol was administered starting either at flowering or pod filling. Disease incidence and yield were compared with cultural control alone. Biocontrol reduced moniliasis from 49% to 25%, independent of the shading regime and application time. Witches' broom was most severe without shade and unaffected by biocontrol. No significant effects on black pod were observed. Although biocontrol increased percentage healthy fruit independent of shading and timing, only the shaded plot with biocontrol from flowering onwards responded with increased yield. Our hypothesis is: 'In the rehabilitation of abandoned cacao, only fields under sustainable shade management and early onset of biocontrol can realise their production potential.' This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

qPCR quantification of Ophiognomonia clavigignenti‐juglandacearum from infected butternut trees under different release treatments

The use of a molecular assay for quantifying conidia of Ophiognomonia clavigignenti‐juglandacearum, the fungal pathogen responsible of butternut canker, was investigated. Purified DNA from conidia collected on glass fibre filters of a passive rain collectors was quantified using a TaqMan real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. The qPCR assay could specifically discriminate the target species from all other North American known species of Ophiognomonia, and it was sensitive enough to repeatedly detect one conidium. A linear relationship between numbers of conidia and qPCR C_t values was determined, and used to assess the sporulation of the pathogen under trees that were released to promote their vigour. In total, 977 samples of field‐captured conidia from 49 trees, at two locations, and from two successive growing seasons were analysed. No significant difference of sporulation was observed under control and release treatments. However, our results demonstrated that qPCR assay was reliable for detecting and quantifying O. clavigignenti‐juglandacearum from environmental samples, which will be useful to assess further control methods for this disease.     

The potential of alley cropping in improvement of cultivation systems in the high rainfall areas of Zambia I. Chitemene and Fundikila

Three trials investigating the potential of alley cropping to improve the traditional systems of cultivation, chitemene and fundikila, in the Northern Province of Zambia are described. Flemingia congesta, Tephrosia vogelii, and Sesbania sesban, were grown in association with finger millet, groundnut, cowpea, and maize in various traditional cropping sequences. The indigenous species Tephrosia vogelii and Sesbania sesban were not able to withstand repeated pruning and the long following dry season, and were replaced with Calliandra calothyrsus, and Cassia spectabilis.Over a four year period, there was no benefit by alley cropping with any of the tree species on crop yields, and yields in alley crop treatments even dropped significantly below the control treatments in the fourth year, casting doubt on the potential of alley cropping for sustainable production. There was also no consistent effect on soil chemical characteristics in any of the trials. It was suggested that this lack of beneficial response to alley cropping was due to low tree biomass production low quality of prunings, and an inappropriate cropping sequence. There was no evidence that alley cropping contributed to enhanced nutrient recycling, despite substantial localised pools of soil nutrients, particularly in the chitemene, with which recycling could potentially occur.     

Toxicity of biocide GCSC-BtA on arthropod pests under different temperature conditions

The present research dealt with the toxicity of GCSC-BtA (Germany–China Scientific Cooperation-Bacillus thuringiensis-Abamectin), a new type biocide developed by conjugating a toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) with Abamectin from Streptomyces avermitilis, on arthropod pests under different temperature conditions. The results showed that GCSC-BtA possessed higher toxicity than B.t. crystal, Abamectin or Cypermethrin, with pest mortalities of 97.9, 93.7, 96.4, 82.3 and 96.7% for Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisd.) (Acari, Tetranychidae), Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thys., Thripidae), Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hom., Aphididae), Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep., Plutellidae) and Cameraria ohridella Deschka et Dimić (Lep., Gracillariidae), respectively. Toxicities of GCSC-BtA to T. cinnabarinus and P. xylostella decreased significantly at the older developmental stage with an exception that egg stage had the highest tolerance, in which LC₅₀s of GCSC-BtA were 0.0001, 0.0019 and 0.0708 mg/ml for nymph, adult and egg of T. cinnabarinus, and that 0.0399, 0.2035 and 0.9033 mg/ml for the 2nd instar larvae, 4th instar larvae and egg of P. xylostella, respectively. Also, the biocide was more effective to the lower stage of A. fabae than the higher one with LC₅₀s of 0.0023, 0.0086 and 0.0171 mg/ml against 1st instar nymph, 3rd instar nymph and adult, respectively. In general, toxicity of the new type of biocide was positively related to temperature against all the tested pests, except against T. cinnabarinus, where it was almost similar at the three temperature conditions. GCSC-BtA displayed significantly lower toxicities at 15/20°C than 20/25°C or 25/30°C against F. occidentalis, A. fabae, P. xylostella and C. ohridella. However, no significant difference was found in the toxicities against F. occidentalis, A. fabae and C. ohridella above 20°C, whereas toxicity against P. xylostella increased as temperature raised. Therefore, to achieve higher efficacy in the field, application rate and time should be devised according to these factors.