Hydrogen is considered to be the most viable energy carrier for the future. Producing hydrogen from ethanol steam reforming would not only be environmentally friendly but also would open new opportunities for utilization of renewable resources, which are globally available. This paper reviews the current state of the steam reforming process of ethanol, examines different catalysts, and, finally, makes a comparative analysis. Different catalysts have been used for the steam reforming of ethanol. Depending on the type of catalysts, reaction conditions, and the catalyst preparation method, ethanol conversion and hydrogen production vary greatly. It was observed that Co/ZnO, ZnO, Rh/Al 2 O 3 , Rh/CeO 2 , and Ni/La 2 O 3 -Al 2 O 3 performed the best, in regard to the steam reforming of ethanol. Currently, hydrogen production from ethanol steam reforming is still in the research and development stage.

Conventional resources mainly fossil fuels are becoming limited because of the rapid increase in energy demand. This imbalance in energy demand and supply has placed immense pressure not only on consumer prices but also on the environment, prompting mankind to look for sustainable energy resources. Biomass is one such environmentally friendly renewable resource from which various useful chemicals and fuels can be produced. A system similar to a petroleum refinery is required to produce fuels and useful chemicals from biomass and is known as a biorefinery. Biorefineries have been categorized in three phases based on the flexibility of input, processing capabilities, and product generation. Phase I has less or no flexibility in any of the three aforementioned categories. Phase II, while having fixed input and processing capabilities, allows flexibility in product generation. Phase III allows flexibility in all the three processes and is based on the concept of high-value low-volume (HVLV) and low-value high-volume (LVHV) outputs. This paper reviews the concept of biorefinery, its types, future directions, and associated technical challenges. An approach of streamlining biorefineries with conventional refineries in producing conventional fuels is also presented. Furthermore, twelve platform chemicals that could be major outputs from an integrated biorefinery are also discussed.

Miuali, N. S. and Teramura, A. H. 1985. Effects of ultraviolet-R irradiance on soybean. VI. Influence of phosphoius nutrition on growth and flavonoid content. -Physiol. PlarU. 63: 413-416.Soybeans CSlycine ma.x (L.) cv. Essex were hydroponically grown in a greenhouse at 2 levels ot ultraviolet-\i (UV-B) radiation (t) and 2 5t)0 .) ni ' day ' biologically effective UV-B radiation) and 4 levels of P (6.5. 13, 26 and 52 /xA-f). Plants were grown in each treatment combination to the complete expansion of the 4th trifoliolate leaf. UV-H radiation and redueed P supply generally deereased plant height, leaf area and total biomass. but increased specific leaf weight and flavonoid content (measured as absorbanee of methanolic extracts). Although both UV-B radiation and low P supply produced deleterious effects on plant biomass, the effects were non-additive. The eotnbination of UV-B and the lowest P level (6.5 /iM) had no effeet on total biomass or leaf area. This was at least partially due to the aeeumulation of flavonoids and leaf thieketiing. The tesults show that the sensitivity of soybean to UV-B radiation is dependent upon plant P supply. Plants experiencing P deficiency are less sensitive to UV-B than plants at optimum P levels.Additional key words -CSlycine max, ozone depletion, stress interaetions.

Abstract— Soybeans [Glycine max (L) Merr. cv Essex] were grown in field plots during May‐October 1985 under ambient and an enhanced level of ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) radiation (supplemental daily dose: 5.1 effective kJ m‐2). They were either subjected to water stress or supplementally irrigated, resulting in a 2.0 MPa lower soil water potential in stressed plots. Increased levels of UV‐B radiation reduced leaf area, total plant dry weight and net photosynthesis under well‐watered conditions, but no significant UV‐B effects were detected in plants concurrently subjected to water stress. The insensitivity of growth and net photosynthesis to UV‐B radiation in water‐stressed plants may be related to anatomical and biochemical changes induced by water stress. These include an increase in the concentration of UV absorbing compounds in leaf tissues and leaf thickening.

Soybeans (Glycine ma.r [L.] Merr. cvs. Essex and Williams) were grown in an unshaded greenhouse under two levels of biologically effective ultraviolet-B (UV-B,,,) radiation (effective daily dose: 0 and l1.S kJ m->) for 34 days. Ultraviolet-B radiation reduced leaf area and total plant mass in Essex but these parameters were unaffected in Williams. Differences in both anatomical and biochemical characteristics were found between cultivars. Some of these differences were inherently distinct between cultivars while others were variably induced by UV treatment. Specific leaf weight. an estimate of leaf thickness, was unchanged in Essex but increased in Williams with UV-B irradiation. The relative increase in concentration of UV-absorbing compounds in leaf tissues after UV-B irradiation was greater in Williams. The composition of UV-absorbing compounds in leaf tissues differed between the two cultivars but was unaffected by UV-B radiation. Although total soluble proteins and total peroxidase activity were similar between cultivars, several rlectrophoretically distinct peroxidase activities were detected. Therefore, the intraspecific variation in UV-B sensitivity found in soybean appears to be correlated with a suite of anatomical and biochemical differences. including leaf thickness, composition and concentration of UV-absorbing compounds in leaf tissues, and possibly differences in peroxidase activities.