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Pitt engineers using membrane distillation to recycle water used in fracking and drilling

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Engineers at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering are using membrane distillation technology to enable drillers to filter and reuse the produced water in the oil and gas industry, in agriculture, and other beneficial uses. The method is already being tested in Texas, North Dakota, and most recently in New Stanton, Pa.

Water 303
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Researchers produce hydrogen from water and charcoal mix at room temperature using laser pulses

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Researchers at Wakayama University in Japan have produced a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas by irradiating a mixture of carbon powder and distilled water with intense nanosecond laser pulses at room temperature. Photographs of a bottled mixture of Bincho-tan powder and water (a) before, (b) during, and (c) after irradiation.

Water 230
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New liquid hydrogen carrier would transport green H2 from Scotland to Germany

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As a comparison, LNG tankers use ballast water to compensate the loss of weight following delivery to ensure enough draft. The limited remaining boil off will be captured and directly utilized in hydrogen fuel cells, providing power to the vessel's propulsion systems, resulting in emissions of water only. Vessel specifications.

Hydrogen 527
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Researcher urges more effort on assessment of land and water impacts of oil sands production; reference point for other unconventional fuels

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Bitumen production from the Canadian oil sands provides a point of reference that could be used to observe and better manage the land and water impacts of a rapid transition to unconventional fuels, suggests Dr. Sarah Jordaan of the Energy Technology Innovation Policy Research Group, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University.

Oil-Sands 231
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SRI developing process for co-gasification of methane and coal to produce liquid transportation fuels; negligible water consumption, no CO2

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Researchers from SRI International (SRI) are developing a methane-and-coal-to-liquids process that consumes negligible amounts of water and does not generate carbon dioxide. Lifecycle GHG comparison. Water consumption less than 235 kg/barrel. Top: Conventional F-T process. Bottom: SRI process. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge.

Coal 257
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Study finds that environmental impact of corn-ethanol E85 is 23% to 33% higher than that of gasoline; environmental problem-shifting

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eutrophication; ET = ecological toxicity; FEC = fossil energy consumption; WU = water use; LO = land occupation; “The rest” includes acidification; smog formation; ozone layer depletion; and human health effects. Environmental impacts of gasoline and E85. Error bar shows regional variations for E85. GW = global warming; Eut. Click to enlarge.

Gasoline 357
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Review of co-processing of biocrudes in oil refineries

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The major compound groups in FPBO are water (20–25 wt %), carboxylic acids (∼ 5 wt %), aldehydes, ketones, and furfurals (25 wt %), sugar-like material (30–35 wt %), and lignin-derived compounds (20 wt %). In HTL, wet feedstock is liquefied in a hot (250–374 °C) and pressurized (4–22 MPa) water environment into biocrude oil.

Oil 448