Fossil energy sources and

Although chemistry as an emperical fundamental didpline has a long history, its application in industry gained importance after the introduction of the use of fossil energy sources during the industrial revolution. The chemical industry withdraws non-renewable materials, mainly fossil oil, from the earth s reserves to use as an energy source and as fossil oil a source of raw materials for production processes. The products so produced are rather... 

The scope of this chapter is to present a concise and fundamental overview of the relationship between modem catalysis and chemical reaction engineering through one of the topics that will certainly be present among the future directions in both fields production of hydrogen fuel from fossil and renewable energy sources and its use in the fuel cells-based energy conversion technology. 

Renewable electricity (RES-E) Electricity generated from renewable non-fossil energy sources, i.e., wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas and biogas (this corresponds to the definition in Directive 2001/77/EC on renewables, Article 2). 

Today ethanol and biodiesel (FAME) are the most common biofuels. Alternative fuels from fossil energy sources are mainly LPG and CNG. Synthetic gasoline and diesel from coal (CTL) and natural gas (GTL) are produced mainly in South Africa. Electricity used in battery-electric vehicles plays a minor role today. The fuel consumption for road transport in the world today amounts to about 65 700 PJ per year (IEA, 2006a) in total, the share of alternative fuels for transport at the time of writing was about 2.7% (Table 7.24). 

We recognize the nuclear reactions of the sun as the main source of our energy and the crucial role of photosynthesis as the conversion process of solar light into fossil energy carriers and renewable biomass. We also recognize gravitational sources that result in tidal movement and the earth s thermal resources. 

Biomass, via its photosynthesis, has provided energy for life for the longest period of its existence. Industrial processes that take-in biomass can be integrated with the natural photosynthesis/respiration cycle of vegetation. If used in this manner, biomass is a renewable energy source and, by its utilization, overall much less C02 is added to the atmosphere compared with the fossil fuel counterpart processes. When combined with C02 sequestration, biomass based processes can actually lower the C02 concentration in the atmosphere [11],... 

CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship activities include o Solar assisted steam reforming of natural gas, coal seam methane o Hydrogen generation from fossil fuel sources and renewable sources, including work on electrolysis ... 

More efficient combustion is one possible future for coal. Another and more hopeful future involves treating coal with pressurized steam and oxygen, a process that produces clean-burning fuel gases such as hydrogen, H2. These futures for coal, however, are only short-term. Like all other fossil fuels, coal is a nonrenewable energy source, and it will not be with us for the long haul if we continue to burn it. 

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