Changes In Chemical Composition Research Articles

Anatomy of a fumarole field: drone remote-sensing and petrological approaches reveal the degassing and alteration structure at La Fossa cone, Vulcano, Italy

Abstract. Hydrothermal alteration and mineralization processes can affect the physical and chemical properties of volcanic rocks. Aggressive acidic degassing and fluid flow often also lead to changes in the appearance of a rock, such as changes in surface coloration or intense bleaching. Although hydrothermal alteration can have far-reaching consequences for rock stability and permeability, limited knowledge exists on the detailed structures, extent, and dynamic changes that take place near the surface of hydrothermal venting systems. By integrating drone-based photogrammetry with mineralogical and chemical analyses of rock samples and surface gas flux, we investigate the structure of the evolving volcanic degassing and alteration system at the La Fossa cone on the island of Vulcano, Italy. Our image analysis combines principal component analysis (PCA) with image classification and thermal analysis through which we identify an area of approximately 70 000 m2 that outlines the maximum extent of hydrothermal alteration effects at the surface, represented by a shift in rock color from reddish to gray. Within this area, we identify distinct gradients of surface coloration and temperature that indicate a local variability in the degassing and alteration intensity and define several structural units within the fumarole field. At least seven such larger units of increased activity could be constrained. Through mineralogical and geochemical analysis of samples from the different alteration units, we define a relationship between surface appearance in drone imagery and the mineralogical and chemical composition. Gradients in surface color from reddish to gray correlate with a reduction in Fe2O3 from up to 3.2 % in the unaltered regime to 0.3 % in the altered regime, and the latter coincides with the area of increased diffuse acid gas flux. As the pixel brightness increases towards higher alteration gradients, we note a loss of the initial (igneous) mineral fraction and a change in the bulk chemical composition with a concomitant increase in sulfur content from close to 0 % in the unaltered samples to up to 60 % in samples from the altered domains. Using this approach of combined remote-sensing and in situ analyses, we define and spatially constrain several alteration units and compare them to the present-day thermally active surface and degassing pattern over the main crater area. The combined results permit us to present a detailed anatomy of the La Fossa fumarole field, including high-temperature fumaroles and seven larger units of increased alteration intensity, surface temperature, and variably intense surface degassing. Importantly, we also identify apparently sealed surface domains that prevent degassing, likely as a consequence of mineral precipitation from degassing and alteration processes. By assessing the thermal energy release of the identified spatial units quantitatively, we show that thermal radiation of high-temperature fumaroles accounts for < 50 % of the total thermal energy release only and that the larger part is emitted by diffuse degassing units. The integrated use of methods presented here has proven to be a useful combination for a detailed characterization of alteration and activity patterns of volcanic degassing sites and has the potential for application in alteration research and for the monitoring of volcanic degassing systems.

Bamboo durability: Understanding the combined effect of weathering and mildew infection

Bamboo has been widely used in outdoor applications and heat treatment is a typical industrial technique for improving its durability. Weathering and mildew are the two main types of deterioration that occur on bamboo. However, there are few studies on the deterioration of bamboo properties and degradation mechanism under such combined effect. Therefore, in this study, the effect of weathering on the mildew infection value (MIV) of natural bamboo (NB) and heat-treated bamboo (HB) were compared. The changes in surface color, morphology, and chemical composition of NB and HB during accelerated UV weathering were characterized. Meanwhile, the MIV of bamboo samples after different weathering durations was evaluated and the influencing mechanism was explored. The results revealed that the decomposition of starch and hemicellulose during heat treatment resulted in the generation of levoglucosan and acids, thereby providing a new nutrient source and a more suitable environment for mildew growth. HB exhibited superior color stability and anti-weathering characteristics compared to NB. Moreover, certain photodegradation products from HB demonstrated anti-fungal and anti-weathering properties, which resulted in a temporary resistance to mildew in weathered samples. However, after long-term exposure, the cracks on the surface of HB caused by weathering facilitated the colonization of mildew hypha by releasing inner nutrients, leading to severer mildew infection.

Eutrophication constrains driving forces of dissolved organic carbon biodegradation in metropolitan lake systems

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) components can be highly variable in aquatic ecosystems, and play a pivotal role in the global carbon cycles. To comprehend potential effects of nutrient enrichment on portion of DOC biodegradability (%BDOC), we conducted an extensive investigation on 26 urban lakes in a major metropolitan area in subtropical China in a small gradient of trophic levels from mesotrophic to light and middle eutrophic. In addition to field measurements on lake ambient conditions and laboratory analysis of DOC characteristics, we conducted a 28-day temperature-controlled incubation experiment, in which %BDOC of lake waters was determined. In the mesotrophic waters, %BDOC ranged from 0.6 to 41.4 % (11.2 ± 8.9 %). The %BDOC levels spanned from 5.2 to 20.2 % (10.7 ± 4.0 %) in the light eutrophic waters, and the %BDOC ranged from 2.7 to 35.0 % (13.7 ± 8.4 %) in the middle eutrophic waters. We found a significant change in DOC chemical composition across the study lakes characterized by shifting of trophic levels. Although the experiment found significant changes in the factors that can influence %BDOC, a significant difference was not observed in %BDOC among the three trophic levels. The %BDOC was primarily influenced by the inherent DOC concentration and aromaticity, with eutrophication leading to the varied driving factors of %BDOC in lake systems. We show that most of the lake water DOC was stable. The findings indicate the intricate interplay between biological metabolism and nutrient availability governing %BDOC dynamics in urban lake ecosystems.

Characterization of CrMnNi Steel Powders Obtained via Gas Atomization

To obtain a successful product during additive manufacturing, the powder as a raw material must have the high quality. The purpose of this work is to investigate CrMnNi steel powders obtained by inert gas atomization with nickel content: 3, 6, and 9 wt% and to identify dependencies between the powder size and morphology, solidification structure, and change in chemical composition and thermophysical properties. Particle size distribution is measured by a laser scattering analyzer: d50 value are 82.02, 69.32, and 75.54 μm for powders with 3, 6, and 9 wt%, respectively. Surface tension (ST) measurements are made by maximum bubble pressure method: for steels with 3, 6, and 9 wt% at temperature 1500 °C, ST is 1.01, 1.07, and 1.15 mN m−1, respectively. It is found that the change in particle size affects the chemical composition, the content of the ferromagnetic phase and secondary dendritic arm‐spacing. Changes in the content of elements such as S, O, N, and Mn are determined, depending on the diameter of the particles. The influence of changes in content of S, O, and N on the thermophysical properties such as ST is investigated.

Impact of Chemical Composition Changes during Ultrasound Atomization and Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Low Alloy Steel

This study investigates the effect of changing the chemical composition during ultrasonic atomization (UA) and laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of low‐alloy steel. UA is used to produce a spherical powder with d50 equal to 49 μm. During UA, the chemical composition of the material changes, which is associated with selective evaporation of Mn from 1.42% to 0.35% and B from 0.0012% to <0.0001%. Thermodynamic calculations confirm that during atomization, mostly Mn and Fe evaporate. To achieve a high density of 3D printed parts, in situ remelting in LPBF is applied. A microstructure consisting of fine grains of tempered martensite and bainite in crystallized meltpools is observed. The selected high‐quality LPBF samples are austenitized in the temperature range of 900–1200 °C for 20 min and quenched in oil. The samples are characterized by light and scanning electron microscopy, as well as Vickers hardness. Changes in chemical composition result in a decrease in the hardenability of the material, and quenching only at 1200 °C produces a martensitic microstructure. LPBF samples show a hardness higher than that of the postheat‐treated sample, but still significantly lower than that of the as‐delivery condition, which is related to the change in chemical composition.

Effect of plasma modification on UV-curable ink-jet coating on medium-density fiberboard (MDF)

ABSTRACT The UV-curable inkjet coating system on the surface of wood-based substrates consists of the substrate, primer, printing layer, and topcoat layer. To enhance the compatibility at the interface between the UV-curable primer and the inkjet coating on the substrate surface, this study employed air plasma to modify the medium-density fiberboard substrate's primer surface under varying treatment power and speeds. By analyzing the changes in contact angle, chemical composition, and elemental composition of the substrate primer surface under different plasma treatment conditions, theoretical support was provided for the improvement of the bonding between the UV-curable primer and the printing layer. The results show that with a plasma treatment speed of 0.4 m/min and power of 700 W, the contact angle with water on the surface was 20°, and the whiteness value was 80.5 Wb. The C = C bonds on the primer surface break and combine with oxygen elements to form oxygen-containing functional groups or peroxides, increasing the surface polarity and activity of the primer. When the plasma treatment power was 750 W and the speed was 0.8 m/min, the relative concentration of oxygen elements on the UV-curable primer surface increased to 49%, while the carbon element content decreases by 29%.

Influence of Long-Term Freezing of Carcasses in Pre- and Post-Rigor Mortis Stages on the Technological and Nutritional Parameters of the Longissimus lumborum Muscle of Botucatu Rabbits.

The aim was to assess the impact of long-term storage on the quality of Botucatu rabbit meat frozen in pre- and post-rigor stages. The stability of the technological and nutritional parameters of Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle was analyzed over 12 months. In the post-rigor phase, the dorsal LL surface showed a higher level (p < 0.05) of redness and saturation, while the ventral surface showed a higher level (p < 0.05) of yellowness compared to the pre-rigor LL muscle. During storage, the redness and saturation in the LL muscle decreased (p < 0.05), while the yellowness increased (p < 0.05) on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. In the first six months, the pre-rigor meat had a higher pH (p < 0.05) compared to the post-rigor meat. The fresh meat showed higher (p < 0.05) shear force values in the post-rigor stage. Over the 12-month study period, the lipid oxidation, myofibrillar fragmentation index, gross energy, and levels of protein, fat, and carbohydrates increased (p < 0.05), while the shear force, mineral content, and moisture decreased (p < 0.05). Thus, rigor mortis affects meat color in Botucatu rabbits. Fresh meat in the pre-rigor stage is softer, moister, and less acidic than post-rigor meat after 24 h of chilling. Long-term freezing enhances tenderness, regardless of the rigor phase at freezing, preserving its physical, chemical, and nutritional quality, with minor changes in color, lipid oxidation, and chemical composition.

Extrusion can ameliorate negative effects of molecular structures of brewer's spent grain on energy contents and amino acid digestibility in growing pigs.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of extrusion on the chemical compositions, surface structure, and molecular structure of brewer's spent grain (BSG), as well as to determine the digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and energy, and amino acid (AA) digestibility of extruded BSG when fed to growing pigs. Firstly, we determined the changes in chemical compositions and molecular structure of both non-extruded and extruded BSG. In Exp. 1, eighteen growing pigs were fed three different diets including one corn-soybean meal basal diet and two experimental diets containing 20% BSG with or without extrusion. Feces and urine were collected to determine the ATTD of nutrients and energy, DE, and ME of extruded or non-extruded BSG. In Exp. 2, eighteen growing pigs were fed three different diets including 30% BSG with or without extrusion, and an N-free diet. Ileal digesta was collected through the slaughter method to determine the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA of extruded or non-extruded BSG. The results showed that extrusion reduced the neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose and cellulose contents in BSG, and increased the Arg, Asp, Glu, Ser, Tyr, total indispensable AA and total AA contents of BSG, altered the surface structure of BSG, increased the peak absorbance in amide I and amide II height, amide II and amide (I+II) area, α-helix height, decreased β-sheet height, and weakened band intensities in cellulosic compounds (CELC) area, structural carbohydrates (SCHO) area, carbohydrates area (CHO) peak 2 and 3 height, the area ratio of CELC: CHO and CELC: SCHO. Moreover, DE and ME values and ATTD of energy, dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, cellulose and hemicellulose increased (P < 0.05) when pigs were fed extruded BSG diets. The AID and SID of Arg, His, Lys, Val and Gly increased, whereas the AID and SID of Ile and Leu decreased when pigs were fed extrusion diets (P < 0.05). Our study found that the ATTD of nutrients and AA digestibility in pigs were positively correlated with the molecular structure of proteins, and negatively correlated with the molecular structure of carbohydrates (P < 0.05). These findings suggested that extrusion had the potential to improve the nutrient digestibility of BSG by altering its chemical compositions, surface structure, and molecular structure.

Effects of heating media on microstructure and chemical composition of heat-treated Pometia pinnata

Changes of microstructure, crystallization, chemical composition, and equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of heat-treated wood (HTW) were investigated to explore the effects of heating media (saturated steam, superheated steam, air) and heat treatment (HT) temperature on HTWs. The results showed that the saturated steam induced more severe cell wall destruction than the other two media. Although the porosity slightly increased with the increasing HT temperature, superheated steam and air HT still decreased the porosity compared to that of control, whereas saturated steam HT increased the porosity. The HT increased both relative crystallinity and crystal size of HTWs. The increasing HT temperature slightly increased the relative crystallinity but decreased the crystal size. The highest crystallinity (55.0%) was observed after saturated steam HT. Leaching led to the increase of crystal size of HTW treated in saturated steam (about 0.15 nm), while those treated in unsaturated steam and air decreased. The increase in relative amount of lignin and cellulose due to the hemicellulose degradation were the main chemical changes of HTWs. Further lignin condensation reaction only occurred after saturated steam HT. Although saturated steam HT induced increased porosity, its lowest EMC (5.91%) indicated the decrease of hydroxyl groups.

Mechano-chemical, high-consistency activation of kraft pulp in deep eutectic solvent of choline chloride and urea

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) offer an appealing green medium for the activation of cellulose fibres to promote their swelling, reactivity, hydrolysis, disintegration, and solubility for further processing. Typically, DES treatments are carried out below 5 wt% consistency even though a higher solids content could enhance the fibre activation and reduce the solvent consumption. In this work, a high-consistency (HC) mechano-chemical activation of bleached softwood kraft pulp was elucidated using a simultaneous fibre treatment with DES of choline chloride-urea and a sigma-type kneader or a twin-screw extruder at a solids content of 15–35 wt% and 30 wt%, respectively. Both HC treatments efficiently triggered fibre swelling, which was indicated by an increase in the fibre width, and loosened the cell wall structure which was indicated by an increase in the mesopore volume. Mechano-chemical HC processing generated fibre fines and external fibrillation, while the molecular-level structural alteration or changes in chemical composition were minor; the intrinsic viscosity and the crystallinity of the pulp remained at their initial level and only a small amount of xylan was dissolved. Overall, HC treatment in a twin-screw extruder caused notably more severe morphological changes in the fibres than batch treatment in a sigma-type kneader. Thus, the mechano-chemical HC treatment with DES provides an industrially relevant technology for cellulose modification and opens possibilities to enhance heterogeneous cellulose modification processes in which the highly available surface area of pulp is a key parameter.

Fire-resistant and mechanically-robust phosphorus-doped MoS2/epoxy composite as barrier of the thermal runaway propagation of lithium-ion batteries

Thermal runaway propagation (TRP) is an utmost safety issue in battery modules owing to its derivative accidents of fire or explosion. This study develops a novel flame-retardant epoxy resin (EP) board to prevent the battery TRP. The phosphorus doped MoS2 nanowires (PR-MoS2) is designed and incorporated into EP matrix to acquire EP/3.0 PR-MoS2 composite. The composite shows 159.4 % increase in char yield, 56.7 % decrease in peak heat release rate, 56.6 % reduction in peak CO production rate. By using EP/PR-MoS2-3 (EP/3.0 PR-MoS2 composite with thickness of 3 mm) between 103450-pouch cells, TRP can be effectively stopped. Meanwhile, the temperature of surviving battery remains below 100 °C. Of note, the minimum changes in internal crystal structure, chemical composition and electrochemical characteristics are discerned for the surviving battery. This research will offer inspirations for the design of TRP suppression materials, guaranteeing the safety the battery.

Nodular Graphite Dissolution and Nucleus Observation: High-Temperature Dynamics of Ductile Iron Recycling

This investigation examines the dynamic behavior of the nodular graphite structure in ductile cast iron at elevated temperatures during the recycling process. It comprises a systematic analysis of the impact of high temperature on the change in chemical composition, followed by a set of examinations of the nodular graphite structure dissolution mechanism at the early phase of the remelting process. The results indicate that prolonged holding at higher temperatures affects the carbon or silicon concentration due to oxidation, which correlates with the operating temperature and the dynamic concentration proportion of those two main alloying elements. It is also substantiated that the dissolution of nodular graphite, the only carbon source during the ductile cast iron remelting process, does not occur primarily in the liquid state but has already started during the solid phase because of austenitization. This dissolution is governed mainly by a surface reaction, as indicated by the residual graphite structure with preserved nonmetallic nuclei. Hence, this approach also provides an alternative method for observing the nodular graphite core by intentionally partially dissolving the graphite structure.

Evolution of Light Absorption Enhancement of Black Carbon Aerosols From Biomass Burning in Atmospheric Photochemical Aging

AbstractThe light absorption enhancement (Eabs) of black carbon (BC) coated with non‐BC materials is crucial in the assessment of radiative forcing, yet its evolution during photochemical aging of plumes from biomass burning, the globe's largest source of BC, remains poorly understood. In this study, plumes from open burning of corn straw were introduced into a smog chamber to explore the evolution of Eabs during photochemical aging. The light absorption of BC was measured with and without coating materials by using a thermodenuder, while the size distributions of aerosols and composition of BC coating materials were also monitored. Eabs was found to increase initially, and then decrease with an overall downward trend. The lensing effect dominated in Eabs at 520 nm, with an estimated contribution percentages of 47.5%–94.5%, which is far greater than light absorption of coated brown carbon (BrC). The effects of thickening and chemical composition changes of the coating materials on Eabs were evaluated through comparing measured Eabs with that calculated by the Mie theory. After OH exposure of 1 × 1010 molecules cm−3 s, the thickening of coating materials led to an Eabs increase by 3.2% ± 1.6%, while the chemical composition changes or photobleaching induced an Eabs decrease by 4.7% ± 0.6%. Simple forcing estimates indicate that coated BC aerosols exhibit warming effects that were reduced after aging. The oxidation of light‐absorbing CxHy compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), to CxHyO and CxHyO&gt;1 compounds in coating materials may be responsible for the photobleaching of coated BrC.

Machinability evaluation of inconel 600 by cryo-processed carbide inserts

ABSTRACT This work investigates the characterization of a cryo-processed AlTiN-coated tool and its turning characteristics for Inconel 600. The microhardness was enhanced by 3.68% under cryo-treatment when compared with the as-received condition of the inserts because of the wear-protective coating formed on the surfaces of the cutting tool. This was confirmed through EDS elemental analysis of carbon element growth and change in chemical composition, as well as XRD phase analysis. Next, this work studied the influence of cryo-treated inserts on roughness and mechanism of wear during turning Inconel 600 using varying cutting velocities (37, 60, and 100 m/min) under dry conditions. The output responses revealed that the use of cryo-treated tools reduced the roughness of the product by 11–27% and the rate of tool wear when compared with the untreated conditions. Due to these enhanced properties with cryo-treated conditions, it remains a suitable cutting tool for a significant contribution to sustainable machining toward dry cutting of aerospace alloys.

Spatiotemporal Active Phase Evolution for CO2 Electrocatalysis

Transition-metal-based solid-state electrocatalysts undergo dynamic phase transformation governed by the local electrochemical environment during operation, e.g., oxygen evolution/reduction(1,2), hydrogen evolution(3), and carbon dioxide reduction(4). Electrochemical active species, often hidden before operation, can become evolved due to the applied electrochemical potential and/or surrounding chemicals. These species are stabilized under the local environment dynamically generated by the reaction product, e.g., proton (H+) or hydroxyl (OH-) group(5,6).Active species often account for a small fraction (i.e., minor motif) of the entire catalyst volume, and the nanoscale morphology and chemical composition of the electrocatalyst are inhomogeneous and continuously change during the electrochemical reaction. Thus, capturing the active species remains a major challenge. Spatiotemporal observation of the structural/chemical changes of the electrocatalyst and the correlation with the local electrochemical environment may reveal the active species and elucidate the governing step toward their formation. Furthermore, identification of the key intermediate step of catalyst phase transformation allows the redirection of low- to high-active catalysts; however, this remains challenging.During electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR), (hydr)oxide-derived Cu electrocatalysts experience significant phase transformation and show high activity and selectivity for carbon dimerization (C–C coupling)(7,8,9). The location and chemical composition of the active species evolving during electrochemical phase transformation may be strongly heterogeneous; however, these species have not been clearly determined. Recent studies have employed operando characterization techniques, e.g., fluorescence hard/soft X-ray(4,10), X-ray photoelectron(11), and Raman spectroscopy(6), to elucidate the active species responsible for high C–C coupling activity. However, although these techniques could track the changes in chemical composition of the electrocatalysts during operation, they did not reveal the spatiotemporal evolution of the active species or existence of minor motifs, owing to their inefficient chemical sensitivity. Thus, it is imperative to develop an operando analysis technique that can probe the nanoscopic chemical composition with high spatial/temporal resolution and sufficient detection limit.By observing the chemical and morphological evolution of highly efficient ECR catalysts during operation, we identified the key intermediate species toward highly active surfaces and significantly enhanced the C–C coupling activity. Operando transmission soft X-ray microscopy(1,12,13), which visualizes the nanoscale chemical composition distribution of Cu-based catalysts during ECR, revealed that partially evolved Cu+ phases and surface Cu2+ phases are responsible for the dynamic dissolution–redeposition process(4,8) and improvement of C–C coupling activity, respectively. We further demonstrated that the dissolution–redeposition process is electrochemically triggered by inducing Cu+ phases, which are redirected to copper-carbonate-hydroxide species(6,14,15) even under high cathodic potentials. DFT calculations suggest that these cationic Cu species potentially serve as active species and/or assistive sites for enhancing C–C coupling activity.(1) Mefford, J. T., et al. Nature 593(7857), 67-73 (2021)(2) Kreider, M. E., et al. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 11(30), 26863-26871 (2019)(3) Zhai, L., et al. ACS Energy Letters 5(8), 2483-2491 (2020)(4) De Luna, P., et al. Nature Catalysis 1(2), 103-110 (2018)(5) Wang, Y., et al. Nature Catalysis 3(2), 98-106 (2020)(6) Henckel, D. A., et al. ACS Catalysis 11(1), 255-263 (2021)(7) Lee, S. Y., et al. Journal of the American Chemical Society 140(28), 8681-8689 (2018)(8) Zhong, D., et al. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 60(9), 4879-4885 (2021)(9) Lei, Q., et al. Journal of the American Chemical Society 142(9), 4213-4222 (2020)(10) Eilert, A., et al. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 7(8), 1466-1470 (2016)(11) Arán-Ais, R. M., et al. Nature Energy 5(4), 317-325 (2020)(12) Lim, J. et al. Science 353, 566–571 (2016)(13) de Smit, E., et al. Nature 456(7219), 222-225 (2008)(14) Spodaryk, M., et al. Electrochimica Acta 297, 55-60 (2019)(15) Jiang, S., et al. ChemSusChem 15(8), e202102506 (2022) Figure 1

Changes in the Chemical Composition of Polyethylene Terephthalate under UV Radiation in Various Environmental Conditions.

Polyethylene terephthalate has been widely used in the packaging industry. Degraded PET micro(nano)plastics could pose public health concerns following release into various environments. This study focuses on PET degradation under ultraviolet radiation using the NIST SPHERE facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in saturated humidity (i.e., ≥95% relative humidity) and dry conditions (i.e., ≤5% relative humidity) with varying temperatures (30 °C, 40 °C, and 50 °C) for up 20 days. ATR-FTIR was used to characterize the chemical composition change of degraded PET as a function of UV exposure time. The results showed that the cleavage of the ester bond at peak 1713 cm-1 and the formation of the carboxylic acid at peak 1685 cm-1 were significantly influenced by UV radiation. Furthermore, the formation of carboxylic acid was considerably higher at saturated humidity and 50 °C conditions compared with dry conditions. The ester bond cleavage was also more pronounced in saturated humidity conditions. The novelty of this study is to provide insights into the chemical degradation of PET under environmental conditions, including UV radiation, humidity, and temperature. The results can be used to develop strategies to reduce the environmental impact of plastic pollution.

Spray coating of 2D materials in the production of antifouling membranes for membrane distillation

Membrane surface coatings with 2D materials have been shown to exhibit antifouling properties for water-treatment applications; however, synthesis methods currently based on vacuum filtration are not easily scalable. This study describes a scalable method for coating membranes with a range of 2D materials including graphene oxide (GO), hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) and tungsten disulphide (WS2). Isopropyl alcohol solutions containing each class of the 2D flakes were spray-coated onto commercial polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) using a pyrolyser. The nanomaterials were secured with polydopamine (PDA) as a crosslinker in a method that could easily be integrated into a scalable roll-to-roll process. Changes in morphology, surface roughness, hydrophobicity, mechanical durability and chemical composition were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, contact angle, tensile strength measurements and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The 2D nanomaterials-coated membranes were tested in membrane distillation (MD) experiments over 72 h and compared to pristine PVDF and PDA/PVDF membranes. Salt rejection and MD performance stability were evaluated using feedwaters with high concentrations of humic acid (150 ppm) and paraffin oil (200 ppm) simulating simple organic wastewater from oil and gas extraction. The flux decline ratio was measured in terms of percentage permeate loss per hour (%/h), to allow for future comparisons with studies with different experimental times. The pristine PVDF membrane failed after 10 h by pore-wetting due to fouling while the PDA/PVDF membrane had the largest flux decline ratio (0.3 %/h). The membranes coated with GO and hBN had flux decline ratios orders of magnitude lower (0.0021 ± 0.005 and 0.028 ± 0.01 %/h, respectively). All membranes had a high salt rejection (>99.9 %). The GO-coated membrane was the only membrane type that was able to treat both surfactant-containing and foulant-containing feedwaters. The improved performance is attributed to the decrease in both surface roughness and hydrophobicity, which reduces the adsorption of foulants onto the membrane surface. This work shows a facile, scalable method to overcome fouling limitations in MD.

Semi-quantitative analysis of the structural evolution of mesophase pitch-based carbon foams by Raman and FTIR spectroscopy

Graphitized carbon foams (GFms) were prepared using mesophase pitch (MP) as a raw material by foaming (450 °C), pre-oxidation (320 °C), carbonization (1 000 °C) and graphitization (2 800 °C). The differences in structure and properties of GFms prepared from different MP precursors pretreated by ball milling or liquid phase extraction were investigated and compared, and semi-quantitative calculations were conducted on the Raman and FTIR spectra of samples at each preparation stage. Semi-quantitative spectroscopic analysis provided detailed information on the structure and chemical composition changes of the MP and GFm derived from it. Combined with microscopic observations, the change from precursor to GFm was analyzed. The results showed that ball milling concentrated the distribution of aromatic molecules in the pitch, which contributed to uniform foaming to give a GFm with a uniform pore distribution and good properties. Liquid phase extraction helped remove light components while retaining large aromatics to form graphitic planes with the largest average size during post-treatment to produce a GFm with the highest degree of graphitization and the fewest open pores, giving the best compression resistance (2.47 MPa), the highest thermal conductivity (64.47 W/(m·K)) and the lowest electrical resistance (13.02 μΩ·m). Characterization combining semi-quantitative spectroscopic analysis with microscopic observations allowed us to control the preparation of the MP-derived GFms.

Preparation of β-Cyclodextrin(CD)/Flavour CD Powder and Its Application on Flavour Improvement of Regular Coffee.

To improve the overall sensory evaluation of regular coffee, a mixture of β-CD/flavour CD powder was prepared by a freeze-drying method. Cyclodextrin inclusion complexes consist of eight compounds that are naturally present in coffee, specifically: 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, benzaldehyde, citral, linalool, limonene, phenethyl acetate, furfural, and ethyl acetate. These eight compounds naturally occur in coffee, making them safer than using other compounds. Moreover, these eight compounds are the primary active ingredients in coffee, significantly influencing its flavour profile. Therefore, choosing to complex these eight compounds with cyclodextrins can effectively enhance the taste of the coffee. XRD, FT-IR, and SDE-GC-FID were presented to study the formation of inclusion CD powder, the storage stability, chemical composition changes, and safety. Results show that by the cyclodextrin method of freeze-drying, the CD powder showed a stable encapsulated structure and increased stability of flavour compounds. Based on the coffee aroma analysis results, prepared CD powder can enhance the coffee's aroma score by 3.0-4.0 points and increase the flavour score by 2.1-3.5 points, and it can achieve preservation for a minimum of 181 days at 25 °C. Furthermore, under the requirements of the China national standard for additives, the mixture of β-CD/flavour CD powder was used for the cup testing with four regular coffees to obtain improved coffees. With the full score is 10, improved coffees could score extra 3.0-4.0 points on aroma and 2.1-3.5 on flavour compared to regular coffee. In addition, the CD powder also improves the quality of the coffee in terms of aftertaste, body, and sweetness. Overall, β-CD/flavour CD powders provide several advantages over the currently popular coffee bean processing methods, including improved reproducibility, enhanced controllability, and increased flexibility, while prioritizing safety. And it should be explored further with appropriate compounds given its potential for coffee aroma modulation.

Effect of Temperature on Nestmate Recognition in the Ant Odontomachus chelifer

Cuticular hydrocarbons play multiple roles in social insects. Their primary function is to waterproof the external surface of the body of individuals in order to prevent desiccation, however, they also act as a chemical signature in social insects, unique to each colony, through which individuals recognize themselves as nestmates. These compounds may undergo changes due to exogenous factors, aiming to maintain the integrity of the cuticle. However, changes in cuticular chemical composition may impair recognition among nestmates. Thus, this study tested the hypothesis that nestmates of the ant Odontomachus chelifer, when submitted to different temperature conditions, may undergo changes in their normal pattern of recognition. To do this, groups of workers were kept under two different temperatures, 15 and 30 °C, during a period of 24 hours, and then submitted to induced encounters with workers who remained for this same period at a temperature of 25 °C. As a form of control, the same type of encounter was performed between ants that remained isolated, but at the same temperature and also between ants from different colonies. The results show that ants that remain for 24 hours under different temperature conditions, present some level of difficulty in recognizing themselves as nestmates, performing more aggressive behaviors and taking longer touching themselves (antennation) than in the control condition.