Generic value chain

A thorough analysis of value chains and the development of alternative value chains starting from biomass derived feedstocks, including assessment of the economic viability of the transformation of the chains, is required. This should be followed by the identification of easy entry points for the implementation of novel value chains. Technical key issues are generic methods to cope with the variability of raw materials derived from biomass and higher susceptibility to contamination by microorganisms and suitable catalysts for biorefineries. 

Although the linearity of the chain-rule differential expressions (10.5) confers primitive affine-type spatial structure on thermodynamic variables, it does not yet provide a sense of distance or metric on the space (other than what might be displayed in an arbitrarily chosen axis system). In order to bring intrinsic geometrical structure to the thermodynamic space, we need to define the scalar product (R RJ) [(9.29)] that dictates the spatial metric on Ms- The metric on Ms should reflect intrinsic physical properties of the thermodynamic responses, not merely generic chain rule-type mathematical properties of their differential representation. At the same time, we must exhibit how the space Ms is explicitly connected to the physical measurements of thermodynamic responses. Because such measurements assign scalar values to physical properties, it is natural to associate each scalar product of Ms with the scalar value of an experimental measurement. How can this be done ... 

The above represent the most widely available generic approach to hydrocarbon assessment. Risks from carcinogenic components (BTEX PAH) are assessed first as they usually drive die risks. The remaining petroleum hydrocarbons are assessed as a series of 13 fractions defined on the basis of Equivalent carbon (EC) numbers rather than carbon numbers . The EC number is related to the boiling point of individual compounds and retention time on a GC column. For example, the EC number of benzene is 6.5 because its boiling point and GC retention time are approximately halfway between those of 77-hexane (6-carbon chain) and 77-heptane (7-carbon chain). The TPHCWG chose the concept of EC numbers because these values are more logically related to compound mobility in the environment than carbon numbers. 

D — and D oo the smooth and generic dimension-dependence of the integrals enables one to interpolate reasonably accurate D = 3 values (rms error 1%) from the dimensional limit results. The interpolated integrals can be used either on their ovm, or in conjunction with an integral equation approximation which sums some subset of the required integrals exactly (such as the hypemetted-chain or Percus-Yevick methods) the combination methods are invariably better than either dimensional interpolation or integral equations alone. Interpolation-corrected Percus-Yevick values can be computed quite easily at arbitrary order however, errors in higher-order values are... 

---