Additional Carbon Research Articles

Laves phase control and tensile properties optimization of DED-arc repaired 718Plus components through the addition of TiC and Cr2C3

Directed energy deposition-arc (DED-arc) additive manufacturing technology was used to repair the damaged 718Plus components. This work shows that TiC/Cr2C3 addition to 718Plus alloy is an effective way to suppress the formation of the unfavorable Laves phase. TiC additions to 718Plus alloy can alleviate the elemental segregation, refine the dendritic structure and promote the formation of blocky TiC-NbC core-shell carbides and NbC carbides, while Cr2C3 additions enable the precipitation of rod-like NbC carbides. During the deposition process, the TiC/Cr2C3 additions were dissolved into the molten pool and decomposed into Ti, Cr, and C. The introduction of additional carbon in the melt drastically consumed the Nb available for Laves phase. The tensile tests show that TiC addition to 718Plus alloy contributed to an increased tensile strength of about 120 MPa due to the reduced amount of Laves phase and the reinforced effect of carbides. The fracture behaviour of carbides was explained in detail. The critical shear stress for blocky carbides to crack is higher than that required for rod-like ones, suggesting that TiC additions were desirable for better ductility compared with Cr2C3 additions.

Maximizing diclofenac bioremoval efficiency using Chlorella vulgaris strain H1 and Chlorella sorokiniana strain H2: Unveiling the impact of acetic acid on microalgae

BackgroundDiclofenac (DFC) is a commonly detected pharmaceutical pollutant in wastewater, posing environmental risks. Microalgae have emerged as potential candidates for bioremediation due to their ability to degrade pollutants. This study focuses on investigating the biodegradation potential of two newly isolated microalgae strains, Chlorella vulgaris strain H1 and Chlorella sorokiniana strain H2, towards DFC removal. The optimization of pH is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of bioremediation processes. Therefore, in addition to assessing the biodegradation potential of microalgae, this study also investigates the impact of adjusting the pH of the culture medium using acetic acid as an additional carbon source on the biodegradation process. MethodsThrough genetic analysis using 18S rDNA sequencing, the microalgae strains were identified. Various parameters including growth dynamics, chlorophyll content, cell proliferation, photosynthetic activity, and DFC biodegradation efficiency were comprehensively assessed. Additionally, the impact of incorporating acetic acid as an additional carbon source in the culture medium on the biodegradation process was examined. Significant FindingsC. sorokiniana strain H2 demonstrated superior biodegradation rates compared to C. vulgaris strain H1 across varying DFC concentrations. Specifically, C. sorokiniana strain H2 exhibited remarkable biodegradation rates of 84 %, 83.72 %, and 29.57 % for DFC concentrations of 12.5 mg L−1, 25 mg L−1, and 100 mg L−1, respectively. In contrast, C. vulgaris strain H1 showed lower biodegradation rates of 66.64 %, 29.24 %, and 1.83 % for the corresponding DFC concentrations. The study highlights the potential of C. sorokiniana strain H2 as a promising candidate for the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants like DFC from wastewater. Furthermore, the use of acetic acid as a supplementary carbon source enhanced the biodegradation efficiency, suggesting a potential strategy for optimizing bioremediation processes.

Rapid Responses of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Microbial Communities to Carbon and Nitrogen Addition in Sediments.

Massive labile carbon and nitrogen inputs into lakes change greenhouse gas emissions. However, the rapid driving mechanism from eutrophic and swampy lakes is not fully understood and is usually contradictory. Thus, we launched a short-term and anaerobic incubation experiment to explore the response of greenhouse gas emissions and microbial communities to glucose and nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) inputs. Glucose addition significantly increased CH4 and CO2 emissions and decreased N2O emissions, but there were no significant differences. NO3--N addition significantly promoted N2O emissions but reduced CH4 accumulative amounts, similar to the results of the Tax4Fun prediction. Bacterial relative abundance changed after glucose addition and coupled with the abundance of denitrification genes (nirS and nirK) decreased while maintaining a negative impact on N2O emissions, considerably increasing methanogenic bacteria (mcrA1) while maintaining a positive impact on CH4 emissions. Structural equation modeling showed that glucose and NO3--N addition directly affected MBC content and greenhouse gas emissions. Further, MBC content was significantly negative with nirS and nirK, and positive with mcrA1. These results significantly deepen the current understanding of the relationships between labial carbon, nitrogen, and greenhouse emissions, further highlighting that labile carbon input is the primary factor driving greenhouse gas emissions from eutrophic shallow lakes.

Facilitating Intracellular Electron Bifurcation by Mediating Flavin-Based Extracellular and Transmembrane Electron Transfer: A Novel Role of Pyrogenic Carbon in Dark Fermentation for Hydrogen Production.

Pyrogenic carbon is considered an enhancer to H2-yielding dark fermentation (DF), but little is known about how it regulates extracellular electron transfer (EET) and influences transmembrane respiratory chains and intracellular metabolisms. This study addressed these knowledge gaps and demonstrated that wood waste pyrogenic carbon (biochar) could significantly improve the DF performance; e.g., addition of pyrogenic carbon produced by pyrolysis at 800 °C (PC800) increased H2 yield by 369.7%. Biochemical quantification, electrochemical analysis, and electron respiratory chain inhibition tests revealed that PC800 promoted the extracellular flavin-based electron transfer process and further activated the acceleration of the transmembrane electron transfer. Comparative metagenome/metatranscriptome analyses indicated that the flavin-containing Rnf complex was the potential transmembrane respiratory enzyme associated with PC800-mediated EET. Based on NADH/NAD+ circulation, the promoted Rnf complex could stimulate the functions of the electron bifurcating Etf/Bcd complex and startup of glycolysis. The promoted Etf/Bcd could further contribute to balance the NADH/NAD+ level for glycolytic reactions and meanwhile provide reduced ferredoxin for group A1 [FeFe]-hydrogenases. This proton-energy-linked mechanism could achieve coupling production of ATP and H2. This study verified the important roles of pyrogenic carbon in mediating EET and transmembrane/intracellular pathways and revealed the crucial roles of electron bifurcation in DF for hydrogen production.

Synergistically Boosting Li Storage Performance of MnWO4 Nanorods Anode via Carbon Coating and Additives

Polyanionic structures, (MO4)n−, can be beneficial to the transport of lithium ions by virtue of the open three-dimensional frame structure. However, an unstable interface suppresses the life of the (MO4)n−-based anode. In this study, MnWO4@C nanorods with dense nanocavities have been synthesized through a hydrothermal route, followed by a chemical deposition method. As a result, the MnWO4@C anode exhibits better cycle and rate performance than MnWO4 as a Li-ion battery; the capacity is maintained at 718 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1 after 400 cycles because the transport of lithium ions and the contribution of pseudo-capacitance are increased. Generally, benefiting from the carbon shell and electrolyte additive (e.g., FEC), the cycle performance of the MnWO4@C electrode is also effectively improved for lithium storage.

Silica Aerogel in Microfluidic Channels: Synthesis, Chip Integration, Mechanical Reinforcement, and Characterization.

Silica aerogels are highly porous materials with unique properties such as high specific surface area, high thermal insulation, and high open porosity. These characteristics make them attractive for several applications in closed microfluidic channels such as BioMEMS, catalysis, and thermal insulation. However, aerogel-filled microchannels have not been reported in the literature yet because of the complexity of creating a process that controls the integration, shrinkage, and mechanical stability of these materials inside a closed channel. In this work, a process is presented to integrate aerogels in microchannels with reproducibility, mechanical stability, and no shrinkage. This protocol is based on the filling of channels during the gelation, which is crucial to avoid shrinkage, CO2 supercritical drying, and mechanical additives (polyethylene glycol and carbon nanotubes). Furthermore, the influence of polyethylene glycol and carbon nanotubes on the compressive strength, porosity, and specific surface area is investigated. Following the suggested process protocol, the integration of different aerogel compositions (with and without reinforcement) is successfully achieved in the microchannels without shrinkage and cracks. This research opens up new possibilities for the use of different aerogels in microfluidics with structural integrity and enhanced functionality.

Understanding the role of pig manure, rice straw, and calcium carbonate on the cadmium pollution in soil–wheat system

AbstractTo explore the specific effects of pig manure and rice straw on cadmium‐contaminated soils and the effect of different mass fractions of calcium carbonate on cadmium efficacy, a pot experiment was conducted with different rates of pig manure, rice straw, and calcium carbonate. The results showed that pig manure addition increased the soil humic acid/fulvic acid ratio, thereby reducing the available Cd. The addition of calcium carbonate increased the soil pH and reduced the available Cd. The addition of pig manure and calcium carbonate significantly reduced the Cd content of wheat grains by 51.96% and 45.95%, respectively, at 3% and 5% application rates. Rice straw application reduced the soil pH, improved the soil Cd availability, and increased the accumulation of Cd in wheat grains. Compared with that in the control, the grain biomass increased significantly with 3% pig manure and 3% rice straw application, and the grain biomass increased significantly, by 58.86% and 39.11%, and 93.3% and 75.08%, respectively, in 2020 and 2021. With the application of calcium carbonate, the grain biomass of wheat first decreased and then increased. Additionally, the grain biomass significantly increased by 26.36% and 71.22%, respectively, at the 5% calcium carbonate application rate. Therefore, high application rates of pig manure (3% and 5%) have potential application in the safe production of wheat in Cd‐contaminated soils.

Influences of additives on the properties of geopolymer matrix composites (GMCS) for high-temperature applications (1150 °C)

In this study, the influence of different additives on a geopolymer matrix composite (GMC) was explored as an alternative to a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) for thermostructural applications. Different GMCs using an N610 textile (10 × 10 cm2) and various additives (SrCO3, BaCO3, BaSO4, MgO and Al2O3 and mullite-rich powder) were cured under 6 MPa at 120 °C for 2 h. The mechanical, microstructural and structural data of the composites were compared with those of the geopolymer matrix after thermal treatment at 1150 °C. The results showed that the addition of alkali-earth barium carbonate or sulfate to the geopolymer matrix facilitated the formation of alkali-earth aluminosilicate crystalline phases and a higher viscous flow apparition temperature (990 °C), which did not enhance its mechanical properties (50 MPa) due to poor impregnation of the textile. Refractory additives such as MgO and Al2O3 in the geopolymer matrix support fiber impregnation with a low-viscous-flow apparition temperature (865 °C) and the formation of crystalline phases such as forsterite, spinel and sapphirine, which act as reinforcements, allowing a flexural strength up to 80 MPa. The addition of a refractory compound, such as mullite, leads to better embedding of fibers and a flexural strength reaching 100 MPa. To conclude, mixing the geopolymer matrix with refractory compounds results in a successful thermo-structural geopolymer composite.

The effect of carbon addition on the synthesis process and the physical/electrocatalytic properties of FeTiO3 nanopowder produced by solution combustion synthesis method

The FeTiO3 nanopowder is a vital engineering material known for its exceptional performance in energy generation, storage, electrochemical sensors, and catalysis. However, synthesizing FeTiO3 nanopowder with high crystallinity and phase purity typically requires specialized equipment and controlled heat treatment due to the instability of Fe2+ ions. Using the one-step solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method, FeTiO3 nanopowder withe high crystallinity were successfully produced utilizing basic equipment. Additionally, the influence of carbon additives on phase transitions, as well as the physical and physicochemical properties of the synthesized powder, was examined. XRD results indicate that increasing the amount of fuel, particularly glycine, creates a stable environment for the crystallization of FeTiO3 nanoparticles. Moreover, enhancing the carbon content in precursor solutions with urea enhances reduction conditions and boosts the stability of FeTiO3 in the final product. The presence of carbon additives in glycine-fuel samples leads to unfavorable outcomes by increasing the levels of TiO2 and Fe3O4 undesirable phases. Incorporating additive carbon into the urea-synthesized precursor solution resulted in a particle size increase exceeding 50 nm and raised the combustion temperature by a minimum of 230 °C. Furthermore, the presence of 15 wt% additive carbon in the sample synthesized with glycine improved the specific surface area of particles from 2.44 m2/g to 18.41 m2/g. Obtained results have shown that achieving high crystallinity of FeTiO3 nanopowder is feasible through a one-step solution combustion synthesis process. This can be accomplished by carefully choosing the synthesis conditions, such as the type and quantity of fuel, along with the carbon additive.

Effect of powder activated carbon (PAC) addition on the performance of anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor (AnDMBR): Stratification analysis of dynamic membrane characteristics

Powdered activated carbon (PAC), proved to be an effective performance enhancer in membrane bioreactor studies, has yet been applied in anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactors (AnDMBRs). A better understanding of dynamic membrane (DM) characteristics is important for optimizing AnDMBR performance. In this study, three AnDMBRs were operated for synthetic municipal wastewater treatment with PAC dosages of 0, 1, and 3 g/L. Particular efforts were devoted to understanding the DM characteristics in layers. It was found that PAC addition increased COD removal efficiency (10 %) and decreased DM filtration resistance (60 %). The extent of performance enhancement, particularly the decrease of DM filtration resistance, appears to be much more substantial in AnDMBR than aerobic DMBR. PAC addition significantly reduced the fouling potential of suspended sludge and consequently the filtration resistance of DM. Compared with inner DM layer, the outer DM layer exhibited relatively higher fouling characteristics, such as less porous structure, higher EPS content (mainly proteins), hydrophobicity, and relative abundance of biofouling-related bacteria. The positive effect of PAC addition on reducing DM fouling characteristics turned out to be more significant for outer DM layer, mainly because of its higher PAC content associated with the higher amount of small particles.

Novel insights into photoaging mechanisms and environmental persistence risks of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics: Direct and indirect photolysis

Polylactic acid (PLA), as a biodegradable plastic, exhibits high sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, yet the mechanisms and environmental risks of its photoaging remain unclear. This study uses quantum chemical calculations (DFT and TD-DFT) and kinetic simulations to explore the direct and indirect photoaging of PLA. Direct photoaging indicates that the highest oscillator intensity absorption peaks occurred at 172 and 246 nm, corresponding to the 13th singlet (S13) and 48th triplet (T48) states, thereby initiating the Norrish I and Norrish II mechanisms. The innovative “electron-hole” technology effectively clarifies the variations in photoaging mechanisms under different wavelengths. Indirect photoaging involves multiple reactive oxygen species (ROS) like •OH, 1O2, •O2−, and •HO2. The study confirms the anhydride production hypothesis and proposes two novel •OH-induced mechanisms: carbonyl carbon addition and branched methyl hydrogen dehydrogenation. Both mechanisms are thermodynamically advantageous, but their products pose potential environmental risks. ROS species and concentrations impact both PLA's photoaging mechanisms and environmental persistence. Low •OH concentration in northeast China, especially in winter, suggests a significant photoaging risk. This study offers pioneering insights into photoaging mechanisms and emphasizes the pivotal role of ROS, offering recommendations for managing PLA environmental impacts and fates in China.

Effective Removal of Arsenic from Copper Matte by Sodium Carbonate

Residual arsenic in copper matte is a source of arsenic contamination in subsequent processes in the smelting section of copper pyrometallurgy. In order to solve the impact of arsenic in copper matte on the subsequent process of smelting, this study removes arsenic from copper matte by adding an arsenic removal agent to the molten copper matte. The results show that the most difficult arsenic phase in copper matte is the residual arsenic in copper-arsenic alloys, based on which sodium carbonate was selected as the arsenic removal agent. The arsenic content in the copper matte was reduced by 98% under the optimal experimental conditions of a reaction temperature of 1250 °C, 4% sodium carbonate addition, and a reaction time of 60 min. The experimental results of the reaction mechanism show that sodium carbonate plays two main roles in the process of removing the intractable residual arsenic in copper matte. One is that sodium carbonate has a low melting point, which enhances the fluidity of the reactants. The other is that it can provide oxygen to the reaction system and convert arsenic in the copper-arsenic alloy into gaseous arsenic and arsenate. This study can provide new ideas for controlling arsenic pollution in copper pyrometallurgy.

Forest carbon payments: A multidisciplinary review of policy options for promoting carbon storage in EU member states

Forest carbon sinks can play an important role in mitigating climate change, but currently only a few policies exist globally where economic incentives are created for forest owners to maintain and strengthen sinks. This article aims to facilitate the design and implementation of governmental payment schemes for forest carbon uptake services by presenting a multidisciplinary analysis of the many challenges involved in such schemes and by proposing potential solutions. We assess the consequences, opportunities, and risks of carbon payment schemes from economic, ecological, social, and legal points of view based on existing literature. Our analysis is set in the context of the European Union (EU), but many of the central findings have relevance for a broader geographical area. The main economic challenges of implementing carbon payment schemes relate to potential leakage, the question of additionality, and uncertain forest-owner behavior. The most important ecological considerations include effects on soil carbon dynamics and biodiversity as well as issues of non-permanence and forest resilience. Our exploration of the social acceptance of carbon payments among the general public, key market actors such as forest owners and forest industry, and other stakeholders suggest that both the process of developing the scheme and its details are significant. Further, our legal analysis indicates that central challenges for carbon payment schemes within the EU rise from the requirement to comply with competition and state aid regulations. Finally, we synthesize our findings and suggest a two-step approach for introducing public carbon payments in an EU member state. Initially, the scheme could be launched via De minimis aid or the new aid scheme (GAFSRA). A low carbon price could be applied to moderate market effects, and the payments could be limited to additional carbon storage only. Peatlands, where tradeoffs exist between tree biomass carbon and soil carbon, should initially be excluded from the standard payment scheme, and regulated with command-and-control instruments and measure-based payments instead. In the future, an improved knowledge base and institutional changes may enable schemes that encompass all ecosystem carbon pools on all relevant soil types and create optimal incentives for both forest management and land-use choices by pricing all land-based sinks and emissions. Such schemes could utilize, e.g., cap-and-trade instruments and be complemented by import tariffs to control carbon leakage.

Source partitioning of dissolved inorganic carbon addition to Pacific Winter Water in the western Arctic Ocean

AbstractPacific Winter Water (PWW) with high dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is the key water mass in which subsurface acidification occurs in the western Arctic Ocean. To investigate and partition carbon sources added to PWW across the Chukchi shelf to the adjacent Canada Basin, we investigated the distributions of DIC and its stable isotope (δ13C‐DIC) with other hydrographic and biogeochemical parameters during the Mirai cruise in the late summer of 2021. Using a four‐end‐member mixing model, we deciphered the water masses and separated DIC changes induced by biological processes from those induced by conservative mixing. We demonstrated that DIC dynamics in PWW were mainly controlled by the biological decomposition of organic carbon (OC). A mass balance model analysis of DIC and δ13C‐DIC suggested that the apparent δ13C signature of the respired organic carbon (δ13COCx) within PWW was −22.2‰ ± 1.1‰ on the shelf and −25.6‰ ± 1.6‰ in the basin. Therefore, we concluded that marine‐origin OC was the dominant carbon source that was decomposed in the Chukchi shelf bottom water, while respired terrestrial‐origin carbon made a major contribution to DIC pool in the basin PWW. We proposed that terrestrial OC from the Chukchi and Beaufort coastal seas could be an important carbon source, which was associated with winter water formation on the shelves and influenced by Beaufort Gyre state shift and circulation changes. This unconventional finding has important ramifications for the prediction of the future state of ocean acidification in the western Arctic Ocean.

Robust nitrogen removal via nitrification-partial denitrification / anammox to co-treat acrylic fiber wastewater and sewage without external carbon

Acrylic fiber (AF) wastewater is characterized by high levels of ammonia nitrogen, refractory organic compounds, and toxic substances, making biological nutrient removal challenging. Conventional biological treatment technologies are often ineffective due to the complex composition, high toxicity, and low C/N ratios of AF wastewater. In this study, a two-stage nitrification-partial denitrification/anammox (N-PDA) process was firstly developed for the combined treatment of AF wastewater and domestic sewage, which integrated nitrification-SBR(N-SBR) and partial denitrification/anammox-UASB (PDA-UASB). The N-SBR achieved stable nitrification (ARE=100 %, HRT=4.2 h) with increasing ratios of AF wastewater, while the PDA-UASB utilized organic carbon from domestic sewage to simultaneously remove nitrate (91.7 mg/L) and ammonium (66.3 mg/L) through the PDA pathway (HRT=11.3 h). After 200 days, the relative abundance of Candidatus Brocadia increased from 0.6 to 5.4 %, ensuring robust nitrogen removal performance. The system achieved effluent ammonium and total nitrogen concentrations below 1.0 mg/L and 15.0 mg/L, respectively, with a total nitrogen removal rate of 87 %. This study demonstrates the N-PDA process as an efficient, energy-saving, and cost-effective solution for treating AF wastewater without the additional organic carbon sources, enhancing nitrogen removal efficiency and operational stability.

Interfacial deterioration in highly fluorinated cation-disordered rock-salt cathode: Carbonate-based electrolyte vs. ether-based electrolyte

Cation-disordered rock-salts (DRX) emerge as an intriguing class of high-capacity cathode materials, garnering significant attention in the development of advanced energy-storage systems. Fluorination strategies have been raised to regulate redox and structure for better DRX electrochemical performance. However, research on the interfacial processes during fluorinated DRX cycling remains limited. Here, we evaluate a highly fluorinated DRX, Li2Mn2/3Nb1/3O2F (LMNOF), in different electrolytes to correlate its cycling performance with distinct interfacial evolutions. During cycling in the carbonate-based electrolyte, a thick Mn-containing CEI forms on the LMNOF surface, leading to gradual capacity decay. Intriguingly, the addition of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) would bring about surface oxygen loss, Mn-ion dissolution and formation of a fluorinated surface layer by reacting with the LMNOF surface, which critically deteriorate the cycling performance. In comparison, the ether-based electrolyte is compatible with the LMNOF surface, resulting in a more favorable cycling stability. This work sheds light on the interfacial deterioration mechanism of LMNOF cathode in traditional carbonate-based electrolyte, emphasizing the importance of using advanced non-reactive electrolytes to enhance DRX performance.

The importance of an informed choice of CO2-equivalence metrics for contrail avoidance

Abstract. One of the proposed ways to reduce the climate impact of civil aviation is rerouting aircraft to minimise the formation of warming contrails. As this strategy may increase fuel consumption, it would only be beneficial if the climate impact reduction from the avoided contrails exceeds the negative impact of any additional carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by the rerouted flight. In this study, we calculate the surface temperature response of almost half a million flights that crossed the North Atlantic sector in 2019 and compare it to the temperature response of hypothetical rerouted flights. The climate impacts of contrails and CO2 are assessed through the perspective of CO2-equivalence metrics, represented here as nine combinations of different definitions and time horizons. We estimate that the total emitted CO2 and the persistent contrails formed will have warmed the climate by 17.2 µK in 2039, 13.7 µK in 2069, and 14.1 µK in 2119. Under an idealised scenario where 1 % additional carbon dioxide is enough to reroute all contrail-forming flights and avoid contrail formation completely, total warming would decrease by 4.9 (−28 %), 2.6 (−19 %), and 1.9 (−13 %) µK in 2039, 2069, and 2119, respectively. In most rerouting cases, the results based on the nine different CO2-equivalence metrics agree that rerouting leads to a climate benefit, assuming that contrails are avoided as predicted. But the size of that benefit is very dependent on the choice of CO2-equivalence metrics, contrail efficacy and CO2 penalty. Sources of uncertainty not considered here could also heavily influence the perceived benefit. In about 10 % of rerouting cases, the climate damage resulting from contrail avoidance indicated by CO2-equivalence metrics integrated over a 100-year time horizon is not predicted by metrics integrated over a 20-year time horizon. This study highlights, using North Atlantic flights as a case study, the implications of the choice of CO2-equivalence metrics for contrail avoidance, but the choice of metric implies a focus on a specific climate objective, which is ultimately a political decision.

277 Estimating the potential effect of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection on swine sustainability

Abstract Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the primary causative agent of enzootic pneumonia, one of the most common bacterial pathogens affecting pigs and the main contributor to respiratory comorbidities. Infection with M. hyopneumoniae, commonly observed in growing pigs, results in decreased feed intake and an increase in the number of days to reach market weight. Based on extended days to market, pigs infected with M. hyopneumoniae will have a greater life cycle carbon emissions and water usage than that of non-infected pigs. However, the magnitude of additional carbon footprint and water use in pigs infected with M. hyopneumoniae has never been calculated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the potential variation in carbon emissions and water footprint generated by M. hyopneumoniae infected pigs. This study was conducted using data from previous publications on M. hyopneumoniae infected pigs in experimental and commercial conditions. The carbon footprint and water usage of pork production was obtained from the literature and was used as a baseline (3,470 kg of CO2 eq and 1,678 m3 water eq; both per 1,000 kg of pork carcass weight). The change in average daily gain was estimated and additional days on feed to reach market weight were used to calculate potential carbon and water impact for pigs infected with M. hyopneumoniae. The estimated carbon emissions and water usage of M. hyopneumoniae infected pigs increased in a range of 84.69 to 142.93 kg of CO2 eq/1,000 kg of pork carcass weight and 40.95 to 69.12 m3 eq/1,000 kg of pork carcass weight respectively, compared with the carbon emissions of non-infected pigs (Table 1). Results of this study showed an increased carbon footprint for M. hyopneumoniae infected pigs by 2 to 4% and water usage increased by 2.5 to 4.1% suggesting that the sustainability of pork production was negatively affected by this bacterial infection. Previous literature on the impact of controlling vaccine-preventable diseases has shown similar results for other swine respiratory pathogens. In addition, these data only included M. hyopneumoniae infected pigs, thus the effect of respiratory co-infections was not estimated and the impact on sustainability metrics may be greater than currently calculated. The application of sustainable practices in animal production, including disease prevention, is key to ensuring a secure food supply for future generations. The carbon and water footprints of swine production are measurements of sustainability, with average daily gain being an important factor.

Bioactivity of Amphidinol-Containing Extracts of Amphidinium carterae Grown Under Varying Cultivation Conditions.

Microalgae are of great interest due to their ability to produce valuable compounds, such as pigments, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and antimicrobials. The dinoflagellate genus Amphidinium is particularly notable for its amphidinol-like compounds, which exhibit antibacterial and antifungal properties. This study utilized a two-stage cultivation method to grow Amphidinium carterae CCAP 1102/8 under varying conditions, such as blue LED light, increased salinity, and the addition of sodium carbonate or hydrogen peroxide. After cultivation, the biomass was extracted and fractionated using solid-phase extraction, yielding six fractions per treatment. These fractions were analyzed using Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) to identify their chemical components. Key amphidinol compounds (AM-B, AM-C, AM-22, and AM-A) were identified, with AM-B being the most abundant in Fraction 4, followed by AM-C. Fraction 5 also contained a significant amount of AM-C along with an unknown compound. Fraction 4 returned the highest antimicrobial activity against the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans, with Minimal Biocidal Concentrations (MBCs) ranging from 1 to 512µg/mL. Results indicate that the modulation of both amphidinol profile and fraction bioactivity can be induced by adjusting the cultivation parameters used to grow two-stage batch cultures of A. carterae.

Phase Equilibria Study of the MgO–CaO–SiO2 Slag System with Ferronickel Alloy, Solid Carbon, and Al2O3 Additions

Phase Equilibria Study of the MgO–CaO–SiO2 Slag System with Ferronickel Alloy, Solid Carbon, and Al2O3 Additions