Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
c.
Laminar Burning Velocity
Laminar burning velocity is another essential fuel engine characteristic respon-
sible for good simulation work. A variety of methods were employed, prominent
one being Schlieren techniques for cost effectiveness, accuracy and ease. Etha-
nol exhibited higher potential in laminar burning velocity. About 30 % difference
was measured between the burning velocities of ethanol and DMF. The laminar
burning velocity of ethanol, according to the results, came out to be 62 cm/s,
whereas the burning velocity of gasoline is 36 cm/s which is homologous for
DMF. In summary, the results clearly promoted the adoption of DMF in spark
ignition engines due to its yet again similar behavior to gasoline in laminar burn-
ing velocity.
d.
Unregulated Emissions
The particulate matter emission of DMF (presently an unregulated requirement
in USA and Europe) proved to be comparable to that of gasoline. This research is
ongoing and further results are likely to appear in publications. Such results will
provide explicit details of the toxic compounds, thus helping to better understand
the possible effect to the environment.
ii.
DMF Future Prospect: Positive or detrimental?
High energy density of DMF has earned bio-DMF a golden ticket under the
lime light of researchers in the major commercial industries in developed coun-
tries. With an energy density 40 % greater than the previously reigning bio-fuel:
ethanol, DMF has proved itself spectacularly suitable as automotive fuel. With
august chemical properties like high boiling point that allow DMF to blend suf-
ficiently with gasoline (as fuel additive), DMF has out raced ethanol in behav-
ing like a more preferable fuel. Moreover DMF consumes only one third of its
energy during the second stage of its production as opposed to the fermentation
of ethanol. The catalyzed production of DMF from carbohydrates and cellulose
has augmented the efficiency in amount of yield and lessened the production
cost. So far no adverse effects on the engine have been observed from DMF.
Unregulated emission of DMF and gasoline do not vary much; scientists are still
working on eliciting the precarious emission of gases to the environment.
Aside from a potential promising biofuel, DMF is under clinical trials for any de-
bilitating effects. Not much is known yet of the toxicity of DMF to human health
because of scanty environmental testing. Recently however,
in vitro
studies on
erythropoietic micronucleus assay exposed to 0.1 mM DF for an hour, showed
an increase in micronuclei, suggesting a genotoxic effect on the bone marrow
(Fromowitz et al.
2012
). There is still vast room for toxicological studies on DMF
to ensure environment safety.
4.3
Wood Diesel
One of the leading sustainable “Second Generation” biofuels of the twentieth centu-
ry is biomass derived from trees. The cellulose, lignin and hemicelluloses extracted
