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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Impact of landscape design on the greenhouse gas emissions of shrub willow bioenergy buffers in a US Midwest corn-production landscape

Previous studies have evaluated the economics and ecosystem services of perennial bioenergy crops when replacing grain crops on marginal (environmentally critical and/or underproductive) lands. This study used life-cycle analysis (LCA) to investigate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of perennial crops when grown in targeted landscape positions and their impact in reducing nitrogen leaching. Specifically, LCA was performed to evaluate the GHG emissions of growing shrub willow on marginal lands in the Indian Creek watershed in Illinois to assess the sustainability of strategically planted willow buffer strips. Willow was grown as a short-rotation woody crop with a 21-year rotation under three scenarios including a business-as-usual (BAU) field-scale production with nitrogen fertilizer application and two unfertilized subfield buffer scenarios – landscape single subfield (LSSF) or landscape multiple subfields (LMSF) – grown alongside cornfields to reduce nitrate leaching. Each scenario also considers three field sizes, 2.0, 10.1, and 40.5 ha. The average annual GHG emissions from willow production and depot transportation were 0.32–0.77 Mg-CO 2 e ha-1 with the lowest emissions for the LSSF scenario and highest for the BAU. The GHG emissions for the LSSF and BAU scenarios are independent of field size, whereas LMSF emissions increase with increasing field size, 0.41 Mg-CO 2 e ha-1 at 2.0 ha and 0.76 Mg-CO 2 e ha-1 at 40.5 ha. Emission results were most sensitive to the willow yield, followed by fertilizer application rate (BAU only), harvest fuel consumption, and transportation distance.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Effect of Rice Husk Derived Nanosilica on the Structure, Properties and Biodegradability of Corn-Starch/LDPE Composites

Development of material with enhanced mechanical properties and biodegradability by the incorporation of synthesized inorganic nanostructured mesoporous silica from rice husk has been investigated. The produced nanosilica (≈ 25 nm and 213.045 m{sup 2}/g surface area) and nanosilica blended LDPE/starch composites were extensively characterised by SEM, FTIR, XRD, XRF, TEM, EDAX and TGA analysis. The low cost of production estimated, ensures its feasibility toward large scale application. The addition of nanosilica into the matrix led to the enhancement of Young’s modulus and stiffness by a value of 535.6 MPa and 32172.81 N/m respectively at 3% nanosilica content, thereby enhancing the initial rigidity and resistivity towards deformation making a better biodegradable substitute in terms of initial application range. The MFI and hardness value also increased with increase of silica content upto 1.5% and 2% respectively to 7.23 g/10 min and 42 (Shor D). Increase in nanofiller content improved the value of degradation rate constant (k) of the weight loss data plot in both vegetable waste and garden soil environment. The addition of 1.5% of nanosilica to a blend of 80% LDPE and 20% starch showed almost the same biodegradation rate as that without nanosilica but with superior mechanical properties and applicability range.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗