Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of more than hundred compounds that are ubiquitous in our environment. Some of these PAHs are known to be carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic. PAHs have been detected in dried herbs that were cultured in The Netherlands as well as in other European countries above the maximum levels in dried herbs set by the EU (EU, 2015) for benzo(a)pyrene and the sum of the following four PAHs benzo(a)pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranteen and chrysene. The origin of these PAHs in herbs is unknown. VNK cultivates, harvests and dries herbs including valerian and would like to identify the source of PAHs to comply to the EU limits for PAHs in herbs. The goal of the present study was to identify the source of PAHs found in valerian root, and to identify possible measures to reduce the concentration of PAHs in valerian root.
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Catalytic pyrolysis of crude glycerol over a shaped H-ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst with (partial) recycling of the product oil was studied with the incentive to improve benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) yields. Recycling of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fraction, after separation from BTX by distillation and co-feeding with the crude glycerol feed, was shown to have a positive effect on the BTX yield. Further improvements were achieved by hydrogenation of the PAH fraction using a Ru/C catalyst and hydrogen gas prior to co-pyrolysis, and BTX yields up to 16 wt% on feed were obtained. The concept was also shown to be beneficial to other biomass feeds such as e.g., Kraft lignin, cellulose, and Jatropha oil.
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Problems of energy security, diversification of energy sources, and improvement of technologies (including alternatives) for obtaining motor fuels have become a priority of science and practice today. Many scientists devote their scientific research to the problems of obtaining effective brands of alternative (reformulated) motor fuels. Our scientific school also deals with the problems of the rational use of traditional and alternative motor fuels.This article focused on advances in motor fuel synthesis using natural, associated, or biogas. Different raw materials are used for GTL technology: biomass, natural and associated petroleum gases. Modern approaches to feed gas purification, development of Gas-to-Liquid-technology based on Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, and liquid hydrocarbon mixture reforming are considered.Biological gas is produced in the process of decomposition of waste (manure, straw, grain, sawdust waste), sludge, and organic household waste by cellulosic anaerobic organisms with the participation of methane fermentation bacteria. When 1 tonne of organic matter decomposes, 250 to 500–600 cubic meters of biogas is produced. Experts of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine estimate the volume of its production at 7.8 billion cubic meters per year. This is 25% of the total consumption of natural gas in Ukraine. This is a significant raw material potential for obtaining liquid hydrocarbons for components of motor fuels.We believe that the potential for gas-to-liquid synthetic motor fuels is associated with shale and coalfield gases (e.g. mine methane), methane hydrate, and biogas from biomass and household waste gases.
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Introduction The research group Biobased Resources & Energy (BRE) of Avans focusses on recovery of valuable building blocks from low-value solid and liquid residual streams from agriculture, households and industries. For the valorisation of these residual streams, BRE looks into different biological, chemical and mechanical processes. One of the main issues in the utilisation of residual streams is economic feasibility and the recovery of multiple resources from one residual stream. Using membrane technologies in combination with biological, chemical and/or mechanical processes could offer great opportunities. Central Research Question What is the applicability of membrane technologies for valorisation of different residual streams and is it possible to integrate membrane technology in current and new biorefining projects of research group BRE: Set-up In order to reach the goal of this postdoc, 4 research questions will be answered using literature search, experimentation and modelling: 1) What membrane methods are currently (commercially) available to enhance the results of current projects in research group BRE? 2) What are the essential technical parameters for membrane separation and how can these be optimized? 3) What is the economic impact of using membrane technology in recovery of valuable building blocks from residual streams? 4) What are the effects of using membranes instead of or complementary to currently used methods on the sustainability of valorisation of residual streams? Cooperation The postdoc and the research group BRE want to extend the contact and research cooperation with (regional) businesses and (applied) universities and support and facilitate the introduction and further development of membrane technologies in the curriculum of different Avans study programmes. This will be done via internships, minor projects (together with businesses) and development of study material for courses and trainings.
