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There is wide consensus that Spirulina can serve as a tool for wastewater management and simultaneously provide feedstock for biorefining. However, the economic aspects associated with its use remain a significant challenge. Spirulina cultivated in wastewater decreased the concentrations of both ammonia and nitrate and also served as a biodiesel source. The oil obtained in the feedstock was subjected to transesterification and turned into biodiesel. The biodiesel was subsequently analyzed in a test motor (water-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder compression ignition with injection). The tests were conducted at a constant 1500 rpm, and the output power was 3.7 kW. Mixtures of diesel and biodiesel were also enriched with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The amount of CNTs added to the diesel was 30 mg L−1. The algae and de-oiled biomass were characterized using XRD analysis, and an ultrasonicator was used to mix the CNTs with diesel and spirulina blends. A series of tests were conducted at different load conditions (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) for all fuel blends. Test results were compared with a neat diesel engine with a CR of 17.5:1. Among the fuel blends, the B25 reported improved brake thermal efficiency and reduced emissions. The outcomes are a reduction in thermal efficiency of 0.98% and exhaust gas temperature of 1.7%. The addition of Spirulina biodiesel blends had a positive impact on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including reductions of 16.3%, 3.6%, 6.8%, and 12.35% of CO, NOx, and smoke, respectively. The specific fuel consumption and CO2 emissions were reduced by 5.2% and 2.8%, respectively, for B25 fuel blends compared to plain diesel and B50. Concerning cost competitiveness, vigorous research on microalgae for the production of biodiesel can cut production costs in the future.
Josef Maroušek; Anna Maroušková. Economic Considerations on Nutrient Utilization in Wastewater Management. Energies 2021, 14, 3468 .
AMA StyleJosef Maroušek, Anna Maroušková. Economic Considerations on Nutrient Utilization in Wastewater Management. Energies. 2021; 14 (12):3468.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosef Maroušek; Anna Maroušková. 2021. "Economic Considerations on Nutrient Utilization in Wastewater Management." Energies 14, no. 12: 3468.
The aim of the article is to present and analyze the implementation of intelligent lighting within the concept of smart energies and smart cities. Motivation and research hypothesis: Electricity consumption in the world is based largely on non-renewable energy. Until these full changes, it is necessary to look for opportunities to save and use it efficiently. Today’s cities are increasingly implementing the smart concept, of which smart energy is one area. One of the smart city elements implemented by cities is smart energy. Within this framework, a supported concept is the replacement of traditional lighting with LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes), which contributes to energy and cost savings and reduces the pollution of the sky with artificial light, while increasing the efficiency of urban lighting. Positive effects of modern solutions include reduced lighting expenses and increased safety of residents. Methods and results of the research: The authors chose the case study method for their research. The authors present forecasts for the development, not only from the point of view of the number of lamps but also the cost efficiency pointing out the importance of this element in the context of building smart cities. These are specific benchmarks for cities that have not yet implemented this concept. Conclusions and interdisciplinary implications: solutions are desirable directions for the development of the smart city concept, bringing benefits and reducing external costs. Considerations show a quantitative development forecast and an indication of the possibility of achieving trade-offs and cost reductions. It translates into meeting the requirements of sustainable development providing tangible benefits. The analysis of the case studies is intended to show the effects that can be achieved and the wide range of applications (indicating that modern lamps are not just lighting, but a platform for urban services). The analyses presented are intended to serve as benchmarks showing the possibilities of reducing costs and increasing the quality of life of residents in modern cities. The indicated examples and analyses are of economic importance, they show managers, but also inhabitants, in which direction they should lead the smart city concept, which will allow saving costs, but also to increase the quality of life of inhabitants.
Konrad Bachanek; Blanka Tundys; Tomasz Wiśniewski; Ewa Puzio; Anna Maroušková. Intelligent Street Lighting in a Smart City Concepts—A Direction to Energy Saving in Cities: An Overview and Case Study. Energies 2021, 14, 3018 .
AMA StyleKonrad Bachanek, Blanka Tundys, Tomasz Wiśniewski, Ewa Puzio, Anna Maroušková. Intelligent Street Lighting in a Smart City Concepts—A Direction to Energy Saving in Cities: An Overview and Case Study. Energies. 2021; 14 (11):3018.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKonrad Bachanek; Blanka Tundys; Tomasz Wiśniewski; Ewa Puzio; Anna Maroušková. 2021. "Intelligent Street Lighting in a Smart City Concepts—A Direction to Energy Saving in Cities: An Overview and Case Study." Energies 14, no. 11: 3018.
The objective of this paper is to identify the determinants of decarbonization processes in Poland by urban and rural areas. It also presents directions for knowledge diffusion on decarbonization to develop a sustainable energy strategy for Poland, particularly for local governments and cities. Despite extensive research on the determinants of decarbonization and sustainable energy development, there is a lack of specific solutions in this area. The authors of this paper investigated which determinants, according to the respondents, would lead to better decarbonization solutions in cities and villages in terms of sustainability. The studied sample was purposefully selected and an online questionnaire was used with the use of the “snowball” method. The authors conducted surveys that allowed the concerned parties themselves (respondents) to indicate which factors they believe best influence decarbonization. Such measures are helpful in terms of the understanding public acceptance of decarbonization in terms of the energy transition. This is of particular importance in terms of green governance globally and in Europe. The results of the authors’ research indicate that despite the reduction in the share of coal in residential and domestic heating, coal remains the main source of electricity generation and that the potential for low-carbon policy to have an impact on solving urban challenges is underestimated. From the findings, it can be concluded that more in-depth research is needed on public acceptance of decarbonization in its broadest sense and its implications.
Wojciech Drożdż; Grzegorz Kinelski; Marzena Czarnecka; Magdalena Wójcik-Jurkiewicz; Anna Maroušková; Grzegorz Zych. Determinants of Decarbonization—How to Realize Sustainable and Low Carbon Cities? Energies 2021, 14, 2640 .
AMA StyleWojciech Drożdż, Grzegorz Kinelski, Marzena Czarnecka, Magdalena Wójcik-Jurkiewicz, Anna Maroušková, Grzegorz Zych. Determinants of Decarbonization—How to Realize Sustainable and Low Carbon Cities? Energies. 2021; 14 (9):2640.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWojciech Drożdż; Grzegorz Kinelski; Marzena Czarnecka; Magdalena Wójcik-Jurkiewicz; Anna Maroušková; Grzegorz Zych. 2021. "Determinants of Decarbonization—How to Realize Sustainable and Low Carbon Cities?" Energies 14, no. 9: 2640.
From the moment it was first indicated that use of aluminum chloride during purification of drinking water might be one of the triggers of Alzheimer’s disease, it took only a few years to almost abandon this practice worldwide. Now, two years after the initial evidence was presented that the cheapest possible replacement for aluminum chloride (ferric hydroxide, better known as ferrous sludge) significantly threatens soil fertility, there is almost no action. A robust case study was conducted among European drinking water treatment plants. First, it is reported that some samples of ferrous sludge can reduce phosphorus availability by more than 70%. This creates a precondition for a significant reduction in fertility over a decade. Because the legislation usually responds to similar findings with great delay, the extent to which managers of drinking water treatment plants are willing to change process settings by themselves has also been assessed. The findings obtained allow us to expect that a long continuation of this hazardous practice can be expected, since managers of drinking water treatment plants show little willingness to switch from the ongoing questionable technology (harmful to nutrient cycles in soil) to environmentally favorable (though slightly more costly) solutions.
Tomáš Brabenec; Anna Maroušková; Tomáš Zoubek; Martin Filip. Residues from Water Precipitation via Ferric Hydroxide Threaten Soil Fertility. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4327 .
AMA StyleTomáš Brabenec, Anna Maroušková, Tomáš Zoubek, Martin Filip. Residues from Water Precipitation via Ferric Hydroxide Threaten Soil Fertility. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (8):4327.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTomáš Brabenec; Anna Maroušková; Tomáš Zoubek; Martin Filip. 2021. "Residues from Water Precipitation via Ferric Hydroxide Threaten Soil Fertility." Sustainability 13, no. 8: 4327.
Production of food-grade emulsions is continuously rising globally, especially in developing countries. The steepest demand growth is in the segment of inexpensive meat products where edible emulsions serve as lubricants to mitigate economic loses linked with mechanical damage during automated processing of artificial casings. Provided that production goal is to minimize emulsion transfer into the product, its vast majority becomes voluminous greasy and sticky waste. Public sewage treatment plants cannot process such waste, its cleaning processes tends to collapse under loads of emulsions. To make matters worse, composition of emulsions often changes (according to actual pricing of main components) and emulsion manufacturers carefully guard their recipes. Therefore, running of in-house sewage plants would require continuous experimentation linked with need for skilled personnel, frequent changes in technology setup and high operating costs in general. Consequently, it was repeatedly and independently reported that emulsion waste is poured onto wildlife, resulting in environmental damage and an intense rotting odor. Three new methods of emulsion breakdown are proposed and techno-economically assessed. High versatility of methods was confirmed and multiple austerity measures were incorporated. Emulsions are also assessed in terms of an energy source for aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. It is reported that the addition of edible emulsion to compost does not result in increased product quality or cost reduction. It is firstly revealed that edible emulsions can instantly create an anaerobic environment and accelerate biogas production through the formation of surface films on feedstock surface. Adding waste food-grade emulsions to the biogas plant makes it possible to 100% reduce process water consumption in biogas stations as the process speed can be shortened by approximately 12%.
George Lazaroiu; Katarina Valaskova; Elvira Nica; Pavol Durana; Pavol Kral; Petr Bartoš; Anna Maroušková. Techno-Economic Assessment: Food Emulsion Waste Management. Energies 2020, 13, 4922 .
AMA StyleGeorge Lazaroiu, Katarina Valaskova, Elvira Nica, Pavol Durana, Pavol Kral, Petr Bartoš, Anna Maroušková. Techno-Economic Assessment: Food Emulsion Waste Management. Energies. 2020; 13 (18):4922.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGeorge Lazaroiu; Katarina Valaskova; Elvira Nica; Pavol Durana; Pavol Kral; Petr Bartoš; Anna Maroušková. 2020. "Techno-Economic Assessment: Food Emulsion Waste Management." Energies 13, no. 18: 4922.