Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is the method of choice to convert wet waste biomass to hydrochars. Their porous structure can serve as a microenvironment to plantgrowth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), supporting their growth, survival, and activities. As published work lacks the systematic compilation of pore characteristics of hydrochars related to bacterial colonization, we collect available data and elaborate on their dependence on the carbonization process conditions, feedstocks, and methodology of pore system characterization. Our analysis indicates a high abundance of pores sized between 1 and 20 lm relevant for the protection of PGPR from predators, and of nutrients and labile C in hydrochars supporting bacterial growth. In addition to the selection of optimized process parameters and feedstocks (240-260 C, low feedstock pH, nonlignocellulosic biomass), adding mineral amendments prior to HTC offers opportunities for engineering hydrochars with an even larger share of pore space suited for bacterial colonization. Using the comprehensive literature on biochars, we demonstrate that the interior pore space in chars determines the potential to serve as an inoculum carrier to PGPR, thereby enhancing nutrient acquisition and protecting plants from diseases and abiotic stresses. The pore characteristics of hydrochars are comparable to biochars, and hydrochars are generally superior in providing a labile C reservoir that PGPR can readily access. We argue that HTC provides a cost-effective conversion route to produce PGPR vectors/carriers from wet (waste) biomass serving various environmental management objectives (waste recycling, soil fertility, soil remediation technologies) and circular bioeconomy (sustainable agriculture, substituting non-renewable carrier materials and fertilizers).
HIGHLIGHTSWe review the role of pore characteristics of hydrochars for bacterial colonization We identify opportunities for engineering hydrochars to provide favorable habitat conditions to PGPR 240-260 C, low pH, non-lignocellulosic feedstocks, and adding mineral amendments increase the habitable pore space Hydrochars offer suitable pore characteristics and high labile C amounts and are promising PGPR carriers/vectors CONTACT Walter W. Wenzel
Electricity infrastructures are crucial for economic prosperity and underpin fundamental energy services. This article provides global datasets on installed power plant capacities, transmission and distribution grid lengths as well as transformer capacities. A country-level dataset on installed electricity generation capacities during 1980 to 2017, comprising 14 types of power plants and technologies, is obtained by combining data from three different online databases. Transmission grid lengths are derived from georeferenced data available from OpenStreetMap, augmented with data from national and international statistics. Data gaps are filled and historical developments estimated by applying a linear regression model. Statistical data on distribution grids lengths are collected for 31 countries that make up almost 50% of the global electricity consumption. Estimates for distribution grid lengths in the remaining countries are again obtained through linear regression. Data on installed transformer capacities are sparsely available from market intelligence reports and specialist journals. For most countries, they are estimated from typical transformer-to-generator ratios,
i.e
. based on power plant capacities. Global generation capacity expansion since 1980 was dominated by coal-fired (mainly China and India) and gas-fired plants (mainly industrialized countries and Middle East). Solar and wind power accounted for the second and third largest capacity additions since 2010 (after coal-fired plants). The total length of transmission circuits worldwide is estimated at 4.7 million kilometres, and the length of distribution grids between 88 and 104 million km. China accounts for 41% of the expansion of global transmission grids, and 32% of the expansion of distribution grids since 1980. In 2017, China's electricity grids were approximately as large as the grids of all western industrialized countries combined. The globally installed capacity of transformers is estimated between 36 and 45 Teravolt-Ampere, with transmission and distribution transformers accounting for above 40% each, and generator step-up transformers for the rest. The data provided in this article are used for estimating global material stocks in electricity infrastructures in the related research paper
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and can be used in energy system models, for econometric analyses or development indices on country level and many more purposes.
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