Paliva (Fuels) is a scientific journal issued quarterly by the Faculty of Environmental Technology, ICT Prague. Fuels publishes papers on a broad range of topics covering exploitation, processing, upgrading, and utilization of various types of fuels, and power engineering.
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Current issue

1/2025

Properties and Analysis of Solid Alternative Fuels

Martin Staš, Zdeněk Beňo
As environmental challenges grow and efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels intensify, alternative fuels, including biofuels, are gaining attention. This article provides an overview of the technical requirements and testing methods for solid alternative fuels, focusing on two key types: solid biofuels and solid recovered fuel (SRF). It summarizes their essential properties, available testing methods, and the significance of individual analyses for evaluation and practical use.
Solid biofuels, such as wood pellets, briquettes, and wood chips, play a vital role in the transition to renewable energy. They offer an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels, enhancing energy selfsufficiency and reducing CO₂ emissions. SRF, derived from processed waste, enables the efficient use of materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. However, strict quality control is necessary to ensure safe and environmentally responsible combustion, particularly regarding harmful substances.
Both fuel types are crucial for sustainable energy management, supporting the circular economy and environmental protection.
Keywords: solid alternative fuels, solid biofuels
1/2025 - pages 1 - 7DOI: 10.35933/paliva.2025.01.01

Selenite removal from water using a polymer/hydrated iron oxide composites

Lenka Matouskova, Adela Placha, Helena Parschova, Bruno F. Urbano

The removal of selenite (SeO32-) was investigated using a new polymer/ hydrated iron oxide composites. These composites may have potential applications in reducing or entirely eliminating selenite from contaminated drinking water or industrial wastewaters, especially those from flue gas desulphurization. Commercially available ion exchange resins were irreversibly impregnated by hydrated iron oxide to increase selenite removal from model water solutions simulated contaminated drinking water containing various accompanying anions such as nitrates and sulfates, that may affect the sorption of selenite. By batch experiments the effect of the accompanying ions and pH of the input model water solutions on the selenite removal was investigated. The results of the measurements show that the most suitable sorbents for the removal of selenite from aqueous solutions are macroporous sorbents, which contained more hydrated iron oxide in their structure and thus showed higher selenite removal efficiency than gelular composites. It was found that the prepared composites achieved the highest efficiency of removed selenite at low pH, whereas the optimum pH for commercially available sorbents was in the neutral range. Reduced selenite removal efficiencies from the solution were primarily observed for macroporous composites in the presence of sulfates, either alone or when mixed with nitrates.

Keywords: removal, selenite, ion exchange, composite, adsorption
1/2025 - pages 8 - 12DOI: 10.35933/paliva.2025.01.02

Peat processing into composite fuel

Zhanna Petrova, Yuliia Novikova, Anton Petrov, Kateryna Samoilenko, Maksym Golodryga

The paper presents a study of processing peat into fuel. The drying kinetics of composite raw materials based on peat, aged silt deposits, solid peat residues after extraction and corn crop residues were determined. The dependence of the drying optimization criterion on the moisture content of the material is investigated, which substantiates the effectiveness of the selected drying modes for composite raw materials. The heat of combustion of the composite raw material was determined, which is about 1.4 times higher than that of peat. Composite biofuel, as well as its components, were investigated using the methods of differential thermal analysis, which showed the temperature intervals and rate of dehydration, thermal decomposition of organic and mineral substances.

Keywords: peat, obsolete sludge deposits, corn crop residues, drying, combustion heat
1/2025 - pages 13 - 19DOI: 10.35933/paliva.2025.01.03


technical support editor-in-chief