Joel Blin

Cirad - La recherche agronomique pour le développement | CIRAD · Unité Propre de Recherche Biomasse, Bois, Énergie, Bioproduits (BioWooEB)

Cashew Nut Shell (CNS), an abundant waste from the cashew nut production, could become a promising material for gasification. Nevertheless, engineering data regarding this technology is still small and fragmented. In this study, the evolution of the char textural properties during gasification, as well as the effect of operating conditions on char...

Although vegetable oils are apparently an advantageous alternative fuel for direct use in traditional diesel engines with no modification necessary, in practice many problems are regularly discussed in the literature including filter clogging, breakage of certain types of injection pumps, and deposits of carbon on the cold parts of engines. Several...

The batch removal of phenol (Ph), 4-chlorophenol (4CPh) and 2-nitrophenol (2NPh) was investigated onto two physico-chemically prepared activated carbons namely ACPKS-KOH and ACPKS-H 3 PO 4 , in order to determine their adsorption efficiency. The mechanisms involved known as the π-π interactions, the acceptor-donor complex formation together with th...

Limited access to energy has led to interest in biofuels in most West African countries where Jatropha curcas (jatropha) has been the most widely studied energy crop. However, due to difficulties in obtaining enough jatropha seed at acceptable costs, Balanites aegyptiaca (B. aegyptiaca) could be an alternative feedstock for biofuel production at lo...

The purpose of this study is to prepare a new activated carbon from olive stones for use in gold recovery by carbon-in-leach (CIL) and carbon-in-pulp (CIP). The preparation method chosen was physical activation using steam. The effect of four process parameters: the residence time for carbonization, the activation temperature, the residence time fo...

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of an aerobic biofilter packed with compost for the removal of gas-phase hydrogen sulfide (H2S). After 52 d of operation, the biofilter was re-packed by replacing a certain portion (25%, v/v) of the existing compost with biochar and its performance was tested. The steady and transient perfo...

A numerical model has been established to get insight the mechanism of phenol removal from water through adsorption/photodegradation dual process over activated carbon titania composite catalysts (AC-TiO2). AC-TiO2 catalysts were obtained through a straightforward coating of a homemade AC with titania nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs), and their textural ch...

In arid and semi-arid climates, Balanites aegyptiaca (B. aegyptiaca) is a potential plant to produce oilseed-based biofuels. In this paper an optimization model for a wild biomass supply chain is presented. The model was developed to identify the optimal organization of the supply network that minimizes the cost of supplying the feedstock. It was a...

African countries are increasingly interested in biofuels to provide access to energy. The development of local technologies using local resources for biodiesel production can be a promising solution. This work is a first step towards the development of a simple process of transesterification of vegetable oil using local resources. The aim of this...

The production of charcoal for metallurgical applications requires careful selection of the wood and control of the pyrolysis conditions to ensure acceptable charcoal quality. The main properties of charcoal to be considered are density, mechanical strength, and reactivity. In this study, charcoal was produced from two types of wood commonly used i...

Pyrolysis is a promising way to upgrade large amounts of residues from olive oil processing into charcoal. Pyrolysis of the stone and pulp fractions needed to be investigated before conclusions could be drawn. We subjected the olive stone fraction, the pulp fraction, and a mixture of the two to dynamic pyrolysis and isothermal pyrolysis at 360°C. W...

Substitution of fossils reducers by charcoal from woody biomass is one of the most suitable option to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of metallurgical industries. The main problem involved in fossils reducers replacement is the lack of mechanical strength of charcoal. Aim of this study is to investigate the impact of pyrolysis parameters, such as t...

This paper investigates on the sustainable ways of associating activated carbon (AC) and titania (TiO2) into a single material capable of both adsorbing and degrading micropollutants in aqueous solution under UV light. Three main preparation routes were carried out, based on the thermochemical conversion of shea nut shell, an abundant and cost free...

Novel titania supported activated carbon catalysts were prepared by a straightforward titania coating route of a microporous activated carbon (AC) derived from shea nut shells, and investigated in phenol photocatalytic degradation. The proposed coating method enables a fixation of the preformed titania anatase nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) in the extern...

Catalytic deoxygenation of pyrolytic vapors represents a great challenge to produce biofuels by flash pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. A wide variety of catalysts, particularly zeolites, have been investigated for this purpose, however, quick deactivation was often reported. Although they are cheap and can have a hierarchical pore structure, a...

This work focused on the synthesis of charcoal as carbonaceous catalyst support for the ethanol transesterification of vegetable oil to produce biodiesel. Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) nut shells (SNS) were used as raw material to prepare an activated carbon based catalyst by chemical activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH). A central composite desi...

This study presents an optimization model of the upstream supply chain of an oilseed based-biofuels production system. It has been developed considering West Africa rural context where family farming is mainly practiced. The model has been applied to a theoretical case of study on jatropha seeds supply chain. Four scenarios on farms surface area oc...

Balanites aegyptiaca (B. aegyptiaca) is one of the plant species targeted and already studied for the production of oilseed-based biofuels. This paper presents an optimization model of B. aegyptiaca seeds supply chain in West African sahelian context. It has been developed considering the West Africa rural context where family farming is mainly pra...

The aim of this work was to investigate lipase activities in crude extracts from Adansonia suarezensis, Adansonia grandidieri, Moringa drouhardii, Moringa oleifera, Jatropha mahafalensis and Jatropha curcas seeds in ethanolysis and hydrolysis reactions. All crude extracts from germinated seeds showed both ethanolysis and hydrolysis activities. The...

The main problems involved in substituting charcoal for top charged coke in blast furnaces are missing physical-mechanical properties (friability, density, and crushing strength) and the too high reactivity of charcoal, meaning substitution is only possible in mini blast furnaces. Although such furnaces make it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emi...

This work focused on identifying plant biomasses as potential sources of lipases and their use as biocatalysts for ethyl biodiesel production. To that end, plant extracts prepared from dormant and germinated seeds of eight local (Burkina Faso) oil-bearing biomasses were tested as a biocatalyst for the hydrolysis and ethanol transesterification of s...

Procédé de production d'esters éthanoliques par transestérification de triglycérides d'une huile végétale ou d'une graisse animale par l'éthanol, selon la réaction : triglycérides + éthanol (flèche horizontale à insérer) esters éthanoliques + glycérol cette réaction étant catalysée par une enzyme végétale, ce procédé comprenant : - l'introduction p...

Procédé de fabrication d'un composé chimique en phase solide destiné à être utilisé comme catalyseur dans une réaction de transestérification, ce procédé comprenant les opérations suivantes : - pulvérisation de coques de fruits à noyaux; - mélange d'un agent chimique Alcalin en solution à la poudre de coques; - filtration du mélange ainsi obtenu po...

This work examines the effect of both absolute pressure (range 1-6 bar) and peak temperature (range 350-800 °C) during pyrolysis of acacia wood in a macro-TG on the yield and CO2 gasification reactivity of the resulting charcoal. A central composite design was used for the experiments. The results of statistical analyses showed satisfactory agreeme...

In this work, we prepared iron- or nickel-impregnated cellulose to examine the influence of the metal on the yield and composition of fast pyrolysis products. In order to identify the mechanisms promoted during the catalytic conversion, pyrolysis was investigated using an experimental set-up coupling TG (thermogravimetric) analysis and Micro-GC (Ga...

The catalytic synthesis of ethyl ester from the transesterification of Jatrophacurcas oil and ethanol over charcoal supported potassium catalysts had been studied at atmospheric pressure. Catalysts were prepared byShea nut shells impregnation with four selectedpotassium precursors KCl, KOH, K 2 CO 3 , and KNO 3 ,and further pyrolyzed. The XRD analy...

This chapter provides an up-to-date overview on the production of biomass-derived syngas by biomass gasification based technologies. Without being comprehensive, each section focused on relevant examples of processes that have been technically proven at pilot or demonstration scales together with some recent research work that put perspectives for...

Le rendement en charbon et la réactivité en gazéification au CO2 du charbon issu de la pyrolyse d'acacia a été évalué et les effets de la température et la pression de pyrolyse ont été déterminés. Les résultats montrent que l'augmentation de la température de pyrolyse diminue le rendement en charbon et réactivité du charbon. L'augmentation de la pr...

Steel is one of the most important materials used in modern society. The majority of the steel produced today is based on the use of coke and contributes a lot to greenhouse gases emission. Many researchers have been laid on the possibility to replace part of the fossil-based energy source in iron making with renewable, biomass-derived reducing age...

The conversion of biomass by thermochemical means is very promising for the substitution of fossil materials in many energy applications. Given the complexity of biomass the main challenge in its use is to obtain products with high yield and purity. For a better understanding of biomass thermochemical conversion, many authors have studied in TG ana...

Steel is one of the most important materials used in modern society. The majority of the steel produced today is based on the use of coke and contributes a lot to greenhouse gases emission. Many researchers have been laid on the possibility to replace part of the fossil-based energy source in iron making with renewable, biomass-derived reducing age...

L’accès à l’énergie des populations rurales est encore très limité en Afrique subsaharienne (moins de 11% de la population rurales est relié à un réseau électrique selon AIE, 2010). La lutte contre la pauvreté des populations rurales passe par le développement d’activités productrices susceptibles de générer des revenus et des emplois qui nécessite...

The performance of oil expression from Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha) seeds using a pilot scale continuous screw press was studied. The influence of seed pre-treatment, i.e. whole, crushed and deshelled seeds, screw-press operational settings (shaft rotational speed and press cake outlet section) was investigated. For each experiment, the material f...

L'exploitation de certaines plantes alimentaires à des fins énergétiques fait polémique. Aussi, la culture du jatropha - une plante non alimentaire - pour la production de biocarburants, suscite beaucoup d'intérêt. Rencontre avec Joël Blin, chercheur en conversion énergétique de la biomasse. http://economie.jeuneafrique.com/regions/afrique-subsahar...

Ministère des Mines eLes biocarburants, notamment l’huile végétale carburant à base de graines de Jatropha représentent une alternative à l’utilisation de carburants d’origine fossile. L’enjeu principal de la substitution des carburants fossiles par les biocarburants demeure le prix de vente du carburant qui est très fortement dépendant du prix de...

In order to promote process intensification in syngas production from biomass gasification, our research team has already considered the integration of transition metal-based nanocatalysts in the biomass feedstock through its impregnation with metal salt aqueous solutions. The purpose of this work is to provide new insights into the complex physico...

In West African countries, the objective of producer insertion in competitive markets is often associated with the need to modernize and mechanize production processes, i.e., replace labour by machines. This excludes traditional producers who can barely comply with the economic criteria but who must remain competitive to generate higher incomes. Th...

Interest in the production of biodiesel—a clean renewable fuel—is increasing worldwide. Industrial-scale processes currently being developed use homogenous and heterogeneous chemical catalysis processes that are highly efficient but require very pure reagents and complex product purification steps, or high temperature and pressure processing condit...

Poor access to energy is now a key challenge to the development of many countries in the South. Energy supply has become a strategic priority for economic development policies, especially through developing renewable energies. In West Africa, more than 80 % of household energy is provided by biomass (firewood and charcoal). The challenge for develo...

Plateforme R&D foyers améliorés Caractérisation et optimisation des performances énergetiques des foyers améliorés et analyses des émissions de gaz lors de la cuisson

Avantages et risques pour le développement de l'Afrique Les biocarburants ont déjà fait couler beaucoup d'encre. À la fois sources d'espoir face à l'insécurité énergétique et d'incertitudes pour la sécurité alimentaire des populations, loués pour leur réduction d'émissions de gaz à effet de serre et l'alternative au pétrole qu'ils représentent ou...

Application of the process intensification concept to biomass gasification is relatively recent, but is arousing growing interest by providing true opportunities for developing cost-effective high quality syngas, particularly for small to medium-scale installations, adapted to the economic context of most regions in the world. In this highly swarmi...

In Burkina Faso, biofuels represent a great opportunity to address important economic development issues such as modern energy access and dependence on energy imports. Jatropha Curcas (Jatropha) has been identified as the most suitable feedstock for biofuel industry development. Considering the socio-economic issues and the commitment of the govern...

In many African countries, the upswing in oil prices is one factor that favours the adoption and implementation of a national biofuel policy. This trend has a major impact on state budgets and domestic trade balances, while also limiting the access of rural inhabitants to modern energy services. Contribution of biofuels in stabilizing the energy se...

In previous work, we showed that two-step biomass pyrolysis, consisting of a first low temperature step (T = 360 �C, so a low actual heating rate) until the mass loss of the solid reached approximately 50%, followed rapidly by a high temperature step (T > 600 �C, so a high actual heating rate) led to optimize charcoal yields with values of up to 40...

RÉSUMÉ La Fondation Dreyer, ONG allemande basée à Dano au Sud-ouest du Burkina Faso, a sollicité dans le cadre de ses activités la société Burkinabè A.R.RE.T et les chercheurs du LBEB de 2IE, pour concevoir un foyer à huile végétale destiné à la préparation de «dolo» (bière traditionnelle à base de mil). Cette dernière est à l'origine de 70% de la...

RÉSUMÉ Le karité (arbre fruitier Vitellaria paradoxa) est un produit forestier non ligneux donc le beurre extrait est utilisé dans l'alimentation, l'industrie et la pharmacie. La filière karité est promue au Burkina Faso pour diversifier les sources de revenus dans l'ensemble du pays. Le processus de production du beurre est essentiellement artisan...

When impregnated in biomass, metal precursors display catalytic activity that results in a significant decrease in tar production and increases hydrogen formation during pyrolysis. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of nickel and iron salts on the pyrolysis mechanisms of the main constituents of biomass. Samples of metal-impregnated cell...

Bearing in mind the strong link between energy and development, and given the country's heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels, this chapter discusses the opportunity for substituting fossil fuels with biofuels in a Sahelian country, Burkina Faso. Biofuel opportunities are discussed taking into account technical, agronomic, and land potentials in...

Bearing in mind the strong link between energy and development, and given the country’s heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels, this chapter discusses the opportunity for substituting fossil fuels with biofuels in a Sahelian country, Burkina Faso. Biofuel opportunities are discussed taking into account technical, agronomic, and land potentials in...

Faced with the energy crisis and environmental degradation, due to the massive use of fossil energy sources, biodiesel is an attractive alternative to diesel fuel. With a view to developing local biodiesel production, using bioethanol as a sustainable reactant for biodiesel production, rather than methanol, is leading to increasing interest, notabl...

This paper discusses the opportunity for substituting fossil fuels with biofuels in a Sahelian country, Burkina Faso. Bearing in mind the strong link between energy and development, and given the country's heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels, our study showed that the overall economy (private and public companies and basic social services) and...

N°8 - Les pays du Sud ont-ils intérêt à produire des agrocarburants ? A partir du cas du Burkina Faso, Marie-Hélène Dabat et Joël Blin montrent comment cette question peut être instruite à l'échelle d'un pays.

Le Burkina Faso, l’un des pays les plus pauvres du monde1, est enclavé dans la région du Sahel et possède peu de ressources naturelles. Environ 80 % de la population active travaille dans l’agriculture, qui représente 37 % du produit intérieur brut (PIB) 2. La production de coton est le pilier de l’économie nationale, fortement dépendante du niveau...

Présentation de l'éditeur : Convaincu de l'intérêt de l'huile végétale comme carburant et du potentiel que représentent les oléagineux d'Afrique, la Fondation 2iE a souhaité mettre à la disposition d'un large public ses connaissances sur différentes plantes oléagineuses africaines disponibles pour la production de carburant. L'objectif du guide est...

The strategy of impregnating lignocellulosic biomass with aqueous metal salts solutions was efficiently applied in our group for producing H2-rich gas by pyrolysis of wood at 700°C. The present work is a thorough study on the formation of nickel metal nanoparticles (NPs) during the pyrolysis of nickel(II) impregnated wood in the temperature range o...

Facing the challenge of energy and food in Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world according to the classification by Human Development Index of UNDP. It has few energy resources and its agriculture is not enough efficient and diversified to lead definitively the country out of food insecurity. However the current gl...

Low temperature isothermal pyrolysis of Thuja (Tetraclinis articulata) wood samples was carried out at atmospheric pressure. Changes in the fixed-carbon yield over time revealed the existence of two distinct phases. The first phase concerned hemicelluloses and cellulose decomposition. During that phase, char formation was promoted by low temperatur...

Les filières de valorisation énergétique de la biomasse par voies thermochimiques présentent l’intérêt de pouvoir convertir toute matière ligno-cellulosique soit directement en énergie utile, soit en des vecteurs énergétiques solides, liquides ou gazeux. La gazéificationen particulier permet de générer un mélange de gaz combustibles qui peut être uti...