The levelized cost of carbon mitigation and proportional decarbonisation fraction ranges of hydrogen production technologies relative to steam methane reforming.

Molecular oxygen is without doubt the greenest oxidant for redox reactions, yet aerobic oxidation is one of the most challenging to perform with good chemoselectivity, particularly on an industrial scale. This collaborative review (between teams of chemists and chemical engineers) describes the current scientific and operational hurdles that prevent the utilisation of these reactions for the production of speciality chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The safety aspects of these reactions are discussed, followed by an overview of (continuous flow) reactors suitable for aerobic oxidation reactions that can be applied on scale. Some examples of how these reactions are currently performed in the industrial laboratory (in batch and in flow) are presented, with particular focus on the scale-up strategy. Last but not least, further challenges and future perspectives are presented in the concluding remarks

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Microbial biophotovoltaic cells exploit the ability of cyanobacteria and microalgae to convert light energy into electrical current using water as the source of electrons. Such bioelectrochemical systems have a clear advantage over more conventional microbial fuel cells which require the input of organic carbon for microbial growth. However, innovative approaches are needed to address scale-up issues associated with the fabrication of the inorganic (electrodes) and biological (microbe) parts of the biophotovoltaic device. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of using a simple commercial inkjet printer to fabricate a thin-film paper-based biophotovoltaic cell consisting of a layer of cyanobacterial cells on top of a carbon nanotube conducting surface. We show that these printed cyanobacteria are capable of generating a sustained electrical current both in the dark (as a ‘solar bio-battery’) and in response to light (as a ‘bio-solar-panel’) with potential applications in low-power devices.

h i g h l i g h t sA domestic-scale combined solar heat and power (CSHP) system is simulated in the UK climate. The CSHP system comprises a solar collector array, an ORC engine and a hot-water cylinder. An exergy analysis, parametric study and annual performance assessment are performed. An average electrical power of 89 W plus an 86% hot water coverage are demonstrated. A total system cost as low as £2700 and a levelised cost electricity of 44 p/kW h are reported. a b s t r a c t Performance calculations are presented for a small-scale combined solar heat and power (CSHP) system based on an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), in order to investigate the potential of this technology for the combined provision of heating and power for domestic use in the UK. The system consists of a solar collector array of total area equivalent to that available on the roof of a typical UK home, an ORC engine featuring a generalised positive-displacement expander and a water-cooled condenser, and a hot water storage cylinder. Preheated water from the condenser is sent to the domestic hot water cylinder, which can also receive an indirect heating contribution from the solar collector. Annual simulations of the system are performed. The electrical power output from concentrating parabolic-trough (PTC) and non-concentrating evacuated-tube (ETC) collectors of the same total array area are compared. A parametric analysis and a life-cycle cost analysis are also performed, and the annual performance of the system is evaluated according to the total electrical power output and cost per unit generating capacity. A best-case average electrical power output of 89 W (total of 776 kW h/year) plus a hot water provision capacity equivalent to $80% of the total demand are demonstrated, for a whole system capital cost of £2700-£3900. Tracking PTCs are found to be very similar in performance to non-tracking ETCs with an average power output of 89 W (776 kW h/year) vs. 80 W (701 kW h/year).

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A safe, practical and selective process for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones has been developed using a Ru catalyst in a continuous flow reactor. Benzylic and allylic alcohols were oxidised selectively to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones, including substrates containing N-and S-heteroatoms. Rate of turnover is compatible with that previously 10 reported, using batch or microchannel reactors, under optimised conditions. A preliminary kinetic model was derived, which is supported by experimental observations. Last but not least, tandem oxidation-olefination may be achieved without the need to isolate the alcohol intermediate/solvent switching.