Methanol from Biomass — An Option for Switzerland?
The Paul Scherrer Institute has started a project with the goal to demonstrate the production of methanol from a variety of biomass feedstocks such as wood, scrap wood and waste paper. The objective of the project is the full scale demonstration of all aspects of the process - i.e. from the feedstock availability and pretreatment to the utilization of the product methanol in transportation, within this decade. The combination of biomass gasification with water electrolysis using off-peak power will also be studied.
Production costs of liquid fuels from biomass
Abstract There has been considerable interest in producing fuels from biomass and wastes since the oil crises of the last two decades which has been reinforced by subsequent environmental concerns and recent political events in the Middle East. This project was undertaken to provide a consistent and thorough review of the full range of processes for producing liquid fuels from biomass to compare both alternative technologies and processes within those technologies in order to identify the most promising opportunities that deserve closer attention. Thermochemical conversion of wood, straw and refuse includes both indirect liquefaction through gasification, and direct liquefaction through pyrolysis and liquefaction in pressurized solvents. Biochemical conversion is based on a different set of feedstocks that includes wood as well as wheat and sugar beet. Both acid and enzyme hydrolysis are included as options, followed by fermentation. The liquid products considered include gasoline and diesel hydrocarbons that in some cases would require minor refining to convert them into marketable products, and conventional alcohol fuels of methanol and ethanol which have established opportunities for utilization, and fuel alcohol which is as yet unproven in the market place. Results are given both as absolute fuel costs and as a comparison of estimated cost to market price. The results from these two interpretations are quite different. In terms of absolute fuel costs, thermochemical conversion offers the lowest cost products, with the least complex processes generally having an advantage. Exceptions are the unproven direct liquefaction route through zeolites which may be very optimistic, and the Shell middle distillate synthesis process. Biochemical routes are the least attractive. The most attractive processes from comparing production costs to product values are generally the alcohol fuels which enjoy a higher market value. This final analysis should be viewed cautiously since product values are very uncertain and can change significantly over short periods of time, and feedstock prices are also subject to substantial variation with time and location, and this is often the major cost item in the production costs. There is still considerable analysis to be carried out on results from the model, including production cost analyses and sensitivity studies, as well as continued development to improve accuracy and extend the range of technologies considered.
The infection process, sporulation and survival of Alternaria helianthi on sunflower
SUMMARY 
 
Electron microscopy was used to study the infection of sunflower leaves by Alternaria helianthi. Conidia germinated by producing one to many germ tubes which grew across the leaf surface before forming appressoria. The fungus directly penetrated its host through the cuticle and epidermis. Entry into the host through wounds and stomates was also observed. Extracellular sheaths were found to be associated with germ tubes and intercellular hyphae of A. helianthi. Conidiophores developed through collapsed stomates, from leaf veins, trichomes and also from mycelium growing across the host leaf surface. Microcylic conidia were produced directly from parent conidia under certain conditions. Studies using a volumetric spore trap showed that the airborne spore concentration followed a distinct periodicity with peaks occurring between 0900 and 1100 h each day. Laboratory studies showed that safflower, noogoora burr and bathurst burr could serve as alternative hosts for A. helianthi. The pathogen was readily isolated from sunflower crop debris from a diseased crop that had been harvested 1 yr earlier.