Search

Highlights: [•] A model for life cycle energy efficiency analysis of biofuel is developed. [•] DEA is used to identify the wasteful use energy in biofuel production. [•] Recommendations are proposed for improving energy efficiency. [•] Life cycle perspective is incorporated in the analysis process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this work was to develop a model for optimizing the life cycle cost of biofuel supply chain under uncertainties. Multiple agriculture zones, multiple transportation modes for the transport of grain and biofuel, multiple biofuel plants, and multiple market centers were considered in this model, and the price of the resources, the yield of grain and the market demands were regarded as interval numbers instead of constants. An interval linear programming was developed, and a method for solving interval linear programming was presented. An illustrative case was studied by the proposed model, and the results showed that the proposed model is feasible for designing biofuel supply chain under uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel engineered Escherichia coli strain KMG111 was constructed by overexpression of mgtA in E. coli mutant DC1515. By adopting KMG111, nearly a concentration of succinic acid (32.41 g L −1 ) with a yield of 0.81 g g −1 glucose, could be obtained in a batch fermentation by using the low-cost mixture of Mg(OH) 2 and NH 3 ·H 2 O to replace MgCO 3 as the alkaline neutralizer. Moreover, the effect of the inhibitory compounds in lignocellulosic hydrolyzates on cell growth and succinic acid production could be relieved. In a 3-L bioreactor, the overall productivity and yield of succinic acid in the whole anaerobic stage were 2.15 g L −1 h −1 and 0.86 g g −1 total sugar, respectively. This study was the first to report decreased alkaline neutralizer cost via genetic manipulation for succinic acid production, which contributed to the industrialization of this microbial synthesis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A model for designing the most sustainable bioethanol supply chain is developed. [•] Ecological footprint is used as a measure of sustainability in the model. [•] Life cycle perspective is incorporated in the design of bioethanol supply chain. [•] Multiple options in each stage of bioethanol supply chain are considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]