Commercial Standards Research Articles

Cationite synthesis using anthracene extracted from pyrolysis resin by-products: A sustainable approach for production of efficient metal adsorbent

Keeping sustainable waste management and sustainable economy in view, this study investigated the synthesis of a novel polymethyleneanthracene sulfoacid cationite, derived from anthracene extracted with high efficiency (97 % purity) from pyrolysis resin byproducts (a Ustyurt gas-chemical complex). The successful sulfonation of anthracene yielded a substantial amount of the desired product (22.96 g), with a notable reaction efficiency of 82 %. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the structure of anthracene and its sulfonated derivative, revealing characteristic absorption bands consistent with those of aromatic compounds. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed the thermal stability of the material at temperatures up to 600 °C. The elemental composition, ascertained through EDS, quantified the elements as carbon (65.43 ± 0.05 %), oxygen (22.44 ± 0.05 %), sodium (4.13 ± 0.01 %), and sulfur (8.00 ± 0.01 %). SEM images revealed a highly porous material structure, which is advantageous for ion exchange applications, particularly metal adsorption. Compared to commercial KU-2–8 cationite, the synthesized material had a lower mass density (650–720 g/dm³), a higher humidity content (62.5 %), and a larger comparative size (4.8 cm³/g). The general static exchange capacitance was 475–490 mg-eqv/g, which is slightly lower than the commercial standard of 500–520 mg-eqv/g. These findings indicate that the synthesized cationite has promising potential for ion exchange applications because of its competitive physical and chemical properties.

Comprehensive nontargeted analysis of fluorosurfactant byproducts and reaction products in wastewater from semiconductor manufacturing

Semiconductor manufacturing employs per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as fluoroasurfactants to enhance the quality of photolithography lines. Our research, employing a fragment-based approach to investigate nontarget PFAS, overcomes conventional homologous series limitations. In a mixture of PFAS standards used as a quality control sample, 92% (36 out of 39 compounds spanning 11 compound classes) were detectable through the fragment-based nontarget procedure. This indicates the effectiveness of this approach in identifying the hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics of various fluorosurfactants. Eighty-three PFAS were detected in wastewater and effluent samples from semiconductor industry, including 29 newly discovered compounds, categorized into three groups. First, besides detecting perfluorobutane sulfonamido ethanol (FBSE), various fluoroalkyl chain structures of FBSE derivatives were initially identified in wastewater. These include perfluorobutyl ether sulfonamido ethanol, unsaturated FBSE, and hydrogen-substituted FBSE. These derivatives were also detected in trace amounts in commercial authentic standards of FBSE. To quantify their presence, we analyzed the FBSE derivatives from the authentic standard, and the relative proportions of these derivatives contribute to approximately 0.5%. This suggests that the FBSE derivative series detected in wastewater may arise from byproducts of chemical formulations used in the manufacturing of semiconductors. Second, transformation products from FBSE during oxidation, including the first identified intermediate transformation compounds, perfluorobutane sulfonamido acetaldehyde and its hydrate, were discovered. Third, diverse reaction products are generated from the intricate processes of semiconductor manufacturing, which utilize strong acids, bases, and solvents under UV light or heated conditions. These processes include the formation of PFAS-related compounds through hydration, sulfonation, oxidation, and nitrification. This study revealed 25 isomeric PFAS, encompassing headgroup isomers and functional tail group isomers. These findings underscore the importance of comprehending diverse reactions and the overall emission compositions of PFAS in semiconductor wastewater, highlighting its complexity and presenting challenges for subsequent wastewater treatment.

Analysis of chlordecone and its transformation products in environmental waters by a new SPME-GC-MS method and comparison with LLE-GC-MS/MS and LLE-LC-MS/MS: A case study in the French West Indies

Among the numerous organochlorines (OCs) applied in the French West Indies (FWI), chlordecone (hydrated form C10Cl10O2H2; CLD) still causes major environmental pollution nowadays. A recent report revealed the unexpected presence in FWI environment of transformation products (TPs) of CLD not routinely monitored due to a lack of commercial standards. Here, we present a method for surface waters and groundwaters to analyze CLD, its main TPs (hydroCLDs, chlordecol (CLDOH), 10-monohydroCLDOH and polychloroindenes) and other OCs. We developed an SPME-GC-SIM/MS method with a PDMS-DVB fiber. Since CLDOH-d commonly used as internal standard (IS) proved unsuitable, we synthesized several IS candidates, and finally identified 10-monohydro-5-methyl-chlordecol as a satisfactory IS for CLDOH and 10-monohydroCLDOH avoiding the use of 13C-labelled analogue. LODs for CLD and its TPs varied from 0.3 to 10 ng/L, equal to or below LODs of the two laboratories, BRGM (the French geological survey) and LDA26 (one of the French Departmental Analytical Laboratories), requested in FWI pollution monitoring that used liquid-liquid extractions and advanced facilities (LLE-GC‐MS/MS and LLE-LC-MS/MS methods, respectively). Then, we extended the multi-residue method to 30 OCs (CLD and its TPs, mirex, β-HCH, lindane, dieldrin, aldrin, HCB, hexachlorobutadiene, TCE, PCE) and applied it to 30 surface and ground waters from FWI. While CLD, 8- and 10-monohydroCLD, CLDOH, 10-monohydroCLDOH, dieldrin, and β-HCH were detected and quantified, pentachloroindene, another CLD TP, was sporadically found in trace levels. A comparison with BRGM and LDA26 confirmed the interest of the SPME method. Results suggested an underestimation of CLDOH and an overestimation of high CLD concentrations with one of the currently used routine protocol. In light of these findings, previous temporal monitoring of environmental waters in FWI were re-examined and revealed some atypical values, which may indeed be due to analytical bias. These discrepancies call for intensified efforts to reliably quantify CLD and its TPs.

Elaboration and Characterization of Novel Kombucha Drinks Based on Truffles (Tuber melanosporum and Tuber aestivum) with Interesting Aromatic and Compositional Profiles.

The organoleptic and bioactive properties of truffles place these fungi as interesting materials for use in the of design functional foods based on fruiting bodies outside commercial standards. Moreover, kombucha beverages have become more popular in the Western world, leading to novel drinks using alternative substrates instead of tea leaves. In this work, two truffle species (Tuber melanosporum, TMEL; Tuber aestivum, TAES) and three different symbiotic consortia of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBYs: SC1, SC2, and SC3) were tested. Fermentation (21 days) was monitored in terms of physicochemical (pH, viscosity), biochemical (total carbohydrates, alcohol, soluble proteins, phenolic compounds), and sensory attributes (volatile organic compounds, VOCs). The obtained pH ranges were adequate, alcohol levels were undetectable or very low, and sugar content was lower than in traditional kombuchas or other beverages. In most cases, the usual bottling time could be applied (7-10 days), although longer fermentations are recommended (14 days) to reach higher protein and phenolic compounds contents. Truffle kombuchas produced up to 51 volatile organic compounds (alcohols, acids, esters, ketones, and aldehydes, among others), with TMEL showing a more complex profile than TAES. During the first week, acidic compound production was observed, especially acetic acid. Similar behavior in the VOC profile was reported with different SCOBYs.

Fluorescent labeling of micro/nanoplastics for biological applications with a focus on “true-to-life" tracking

The increased environmental presence of micro-/nanoplastics (MNPLs) and the potential health risks associated with their exposure classify them as environmental pollutants with special environmental and health concerns. Consequently, there is an urgent need to investigate the potential risks associated with secondary MNPLs. In this context, using “true-to-life” MNPLs, resulting from the laboratory degradation of plastic goods, may be a sound approach. These non-commercial secondary MNPLs must be labeled to track their presence/journeys inside cells or organisms. Because the cell internalization of MNPLs is commonly analyzed using fluorescence techniques, the use of fluorescent dyes may be a sound method to label them. Five different compounds comprising two chemical dyes (Nile Red and Rhodamine-B), one optical brightener (Opticol), and two industrial dyes (Amarillo Luminoso and iDye PolyPink) were tested to determine their potential for such applications. Using commercial standards of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPLs) with an average size of 170 nm, different characteristics of the selected dyes such as the absence of impact on cell viability, specificity for plastic staining, no leaching, and lack of interference with other fluorochromes were analyzed. Based on the overall data obtained in the wide battery of assays performed, iDye PolyPink exhibited the most advantages, with respect to the other compounds, and was selected to effectively label “true-to-life” MNPLs. These advantages were confirmed using a proposed protocol, and labeling titanium-doped PETNPLs (obtained from the degradation of milk PET plastic bottles), as an example of “true-to-life” secondary NPLs. These results confirmed the usefulness of iDye PolyPink for labeling MNPLs and detecting cell internalization.

Analysis of Total Microcystins using LC-MS/MS: Assessment of Pretreatment Technique for MMPB(2-methyl-3-methoxy-4-phenylbutyric acid)

Algal toxin analysis, particularly for microcystin (MC) variants, is commonly performed using LC-MS/MS as the standard method. In 2016, the environmental protection agency (EPA) published method 546 for the determination of total MCs by ELISA. However, the limited availability of commercial algal toxin standards limits the efficacy of the LC-MS/MS method. This study proposes a novel approach using the 2-methyl-3-methoxy-4-phenylbutyric acid (MMPB) structure generated by oxidizing MCs with potassium permanganate and sodium periodate. MMPB is formed through the oxidation of the common (all-S,all-E)-3-amino-9-methoxy-2,6,8-trimethyl-10-phenyldeca-4,6-dienoic acid (ADDA) structure, eliminating the need for specific standard materials for each MC variant. This provides a method for measuring the total MCs. This study focused on optimizing sample pretreatment before oxidation, salt removal as a post-oxidation step, and the quantitative method to establish a comprehensive total MC detection approach applicable to surface water samples. The whole process included pretreatment using a freeze-drying method, purification using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) for salt removal, and a comparison of quantitative methods using internal standards. Additionally, an evaluation of internal standards was conducted to assess availability during the oxidation process. In this study, an MMPB recovery rate of up to 50% was achieved, with an analysis precision of 14%. According to the results of QAQC, the satisfactory linearity of the calibration curve was a precision and the performance of the method for spiked samples was verified. The MMPB analysis method developed in this study showed relatively lower quantification limits and recovery rates than individual MC analysis methods. We believe these results stem from the inherent sensitivity differences between MCs and MMPB, as well as the complexity of the pre-treatment process centered around the oxidation process.

Inheritance of Some Traits in Crosses between Hybrid Tea Roses and Old Garden Roses.

The limited knowledge about the inheritance of traits in roses makes the efficient development of rose varieties challenging. In order to achieve breeding goals, the inheritance of traits needs to be explored. Additionally, for the inheritance of a trait like scent, which remains a mystery, it is crucial to know the success of parental traits in transmitting them to the next generation. Understanding this allows for accurate parental selection, ensuring sustainability in meeting market demand and providing convenience to breeders. The aim of this study was to assess the success of cross-combinations between scented old garden roses and hybrid tea roses used in cut roses in transferring their existing traits, with the objective of achieving scented cut roses. The evaluated traits included recurrent blooming, flower stem length, flower diameter, petal number, scent, and bud length of both parents and progenies. The inheritance of these traits was evaluated through theoretical evaluations, including calculating heterosis and heterobeltiosis and determining narrow-sense heritability. The combinations and examined traits were assessed using a hierarchical clustering heat map. The results of this study indicated that flower stem length, flower diameter, petal number, and bud length traits had a moderate degree of narrow-sense heritability, suggesting the influence of non-additive genes on these traits. This study observed a low success rate in obtaining progenies with scent in cross combinations between cut roses and old garden roses, indicating the challenges in obtaining scented genotypes. The discrepancy between the observed phenotypic rates and the expected phenotypic and genotypic rates, according to Punnett squares, suggests that the examined traits could be controlled by polygenic genes. The progenies were observed to exhibit a greater resemblance to old garden roses than hybrid tea roses and did not meet the commercial quality standards for cut flowers. The significant negative heterosis observed in 65.12% (petal number) and 99.61% (flower diameter) of the progenies provides strong evidence of resemblance to old garden roses. Considering these findings, it is recommended to consider old garden roses as parents, taking into account their suitability for other breeding objectives.

The process of sucrose crystallization in the supersaturated solution

Crystallization processes of the solid phase in supersaturated solutions of products of plant origin are used in processing technologies. The theory of diffusion (molecular) mass transfer of the target substance has become widespread when solving problems of technology improvement. The driving force of this process is the difference in the concentration of the solid phase in the solution towards the crystallization center, where the concentration of the solid phase is reduced. During the analytical and quantitative study of the process of solid phase deposition in the crystallization center, Fick's diffusion laws have been used. The influence of solution temperature, concentration of the solid phase, its geometry and dispersed composition on the course of this process have been considered. Based on a diffusion model of the process of crystal formation of sucrose in a vacuum apparatus, a numerical analysis of factors in sugar production technology not covered in the literature has been presented. The problem of quantitative analysis of the process of sucrose crystallization in the working volume of a vacuum apparatus for the production of sugar and other products of plant origin of high commercial standards requires further in-depth study.

Waste to treasure: A sustainable technic to prepare high-performance lithium iron phosphate from laterite nickel tailings

The abundance of laterite nickel tailings after nickel extraction not only generate severe environmental contamination but also result in significant waste of metal resources, particularly iron (Fe). Herein, a promising technic of recycling tailings to high-value Fe-based energy storage materials is developed to address above challenges. The traditional hydrometallurgy is firstly applied to leach Fe source from laterite nickel tailings. By referencing the Eh-pH thermodynamic stability phase diagram of the phosphorus system, Fe could be preferentially precipitated in various metal elements, enabling the effective extraction of Fe as raw iron phosphate (FePO4). Notably, a two-step purification strategy is designed to remove residual impurity and adjust Fe/P ratio, subsequently obtaining the high-purity battery-grade FePO4. Finally, a solid-phase method is conducted to prepare nano lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) with outstanding electrochemical performance (1C > 150 mAh/g), meeting rigorous commercial standards. Economic analysis further confirms the significant value of implementing this scalable recycling technic, and the potential industrial application is highly anticipated. Thus, this research proposes a sustainable tailings recovery methodology, offering valuable insights for the recycling of other Fe-containing resources.

"Nanoscale electric vehicle" for the patterning of nanomaterials: Selective electrophoretic deposition of programmable silica composite nanoparticles

Colloidal nanocrystals stand at the forefront of various applications given their unique optoelectronic properties and abundant active sites. However, the surface dynamics of nanocrystals make it difficult to avoid performance sacrifices that result from certain processing methods. Here we introduce a general nanoscale electric vehicle (NEV) platform for efficient and lossless manipulation and processing of functional nanomaterials by selective electrophoretic deposition. Dual-ligand modified system comprising charging ligands and anchoring ligands enables NEV to be universally compatible with fine patterning of various nanomaterials such as quantum dots, perovskites, rare-earth compositions or Janus materials. Without performance impairment from additional modifications, the luminescence performance of the nanocrystals improved significantly with the help of NEV to a level comparable to the commercial standard. Furthermore, we demonstrate the capabilities of our approach for display and anti-counterfeiting encryption applications. Our strategy offers a versatile way of creating high-performance nanomaterial devices in a cost-effective and non-destructive manner.

Exploring differences in the physicochemical and nutritional properties of mango flours and starches

Mangoes contain several components that are beneficial for health, in addition to being potential sources of starch for the food industry. However, a substantial amount of fruit is lost in the field because it does not meet commercial standards, resulting in food losses and environmental damage. Herein, the physicochemical properties of mango flours and starches obtained from different parts of the fruit of two cultivars were evaluated. Mango peel flours have higher levels of proteins, fibers, minerals, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activity than pulp flours, in addition to a higher yellowing index and water and oil-holding capacity, and can be used as a functional flour. The pulp flours, with the higher starch content, showed characteristics that make them valuable as a potential ingredient in soft baking and gluten-free products. Mango starches have circular and oval shapes, with a bimodal distribution. All starches showed an A-type crystallinity pattern. Pulp starches showed a higher peak viscosity and breakdown, with a lower setback, and can be used as a thickening or gelling agent. The higher thermal stability of kernel starch suggests its application in sauces, baking, dairy products, and canned foods.

Revealing the Roles of Guanidine Hydrochloride Ionic Liquid in Ion Inhibition and Defects Passivation for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

As a result of full-scale ongoing global efforts, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite has skyrocketed. Unfortunately, the long-term operational stability for commercialization standards is still lagging owing to intrinsic defects such as ion migration-induced degradation, undercoordinated Pb2+, and shallow defects initiated by disordered crystal growth. Herein, we employed multifunctional, non-volatile tetra-methyl guanidine hydrochloride [TMGHCL] ionic liquid (IL) as an additive to elucidate defects' passivation effects on organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite. More specifically, the formation of hydrogen bonds between H+ in GA+ and I- and coordinate bonding between Cl- and undercoordinated Pb2+ could significantly passivate these defects. The hypothesis was confirmed by both experimental and DFT simulations displaying that the optimized ratio of IL integration restrains ion migration, improving grains' size, and significantly elongating the carrier lifetime. Remarkably, the modified cell achieved a peak efficiency of 22.00 % with negligible hysteresis, compared to the control device's PCE of 20.12 %. In addition, the TMGHCL-based device retains its 93.29 % efficiency after 16 days of continuous exposure to air with a relative humidity of 35±5% and temperature of 25±5 °C. This efficient approach of adding IL to perovskites absorber can produce high PCE and has strong commercialization potential.

Use of hydroxyapatite as a support in the immobilization of Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase for application in the production of biodiesel using a by-product as lipid raw material.

The use of new materials in the field of biofuel production has been represented as a step in the development of remarkable catalysts. The use of lipases in the production of biodiesel is often seen as a cost-limiting step, as the operating expenses in recovering such catalysts can lead to unfeasible market expectations. In this study, hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles were evaluated as a support to immobilize commercial lipase, following application in ethyl ester synthesis. First, hydroxyapatite was synthesized through the co-precipitation method at constant pH and selected as a support to be used in enzyme immobilization. The characterization of the biocatalyst support materials produced was carried out using DRX, BET, FTIR, TGA, and SEM analysis. The lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus was then immobilized in the matrices, and, subsequently, there was transesterification of the vegetable oil deodorization distillate (VODD). The biodiesel samples generated showed that they were within commercial standards, achieving ester conversion greater than 96.5%. Other properties such as density (0.87 g.cm-3) and viscosity (4.36 mm2.s-1) meet the specifications required by ASTM to be used as a biofuel. In the experiment planning technique, the results revealed an experimental trend and a defined behavior: a higher lipase loading in the immobilization and the use of temperatures in the range of 40-50 °C favor high conversions of ethyl esters. Thus, this confirms that the enzymatic chemical catalyst was able to form the main fatty acid esters even using a residual lipid raw material.

Emissions, carbon abatement and data integration: CCS projects

The impacts of climate change and efforts to achieve net zero emissions underscore the importance of a varied range of technologies designed to decrease emissions and handle carbon effectively. As carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects become increasingly integral to decarbonisation efforts, complexities emerge in the management of operations, verification and monitoring, commercial, joint venture (JV) and regulatory requirements. External tools developed in Excel have been commonly used to carry out CCS related calculations, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, carbon credit units, and their allocation between JV participants, as well as generate reports. This approach can prove to have negative long-term impacts as it is difficult to maintain and can lack transparency and auditability, especially when poorly documented. In this paper, we explore how integrating a CCS application into the existing Data Management System (EnergySys), used for production allocation and GHG emissions reporting, can enhance operational efficiency and ensure adherence to both legislative and commercial standards in a transparent and auditable manner.

Metal Doping Regulates Electrocatalysts Restructuring During Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

High-efficiency and low-cost catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are critical for electrochemical water splitting to generate hydrogen, which is a clean fuel for sustainable energy conversion and storage. Among the emerging OER catalysts, transition metal dichalcogenides have exhibited superior activity compared to commercial standards such as RuO2, but inferior stability due to uncontrolled restructuring with OER. In this study, we create bimetallic sulfide catalysts by adapting the atomic ratio of Ni and Co in CoxNi1-xSy electrocatalysts to investigate the intricate restructuring processes. Surface-sensitive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and bulk-sensitive X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirmed the favorable restructuring of transition metal sulfide material following OER processes. Our results indicate that a small amount of Ni substitution can reshape the Co local electronic structure, which regulates the restructuring process to optimize the balance between OER activity and stability. This work represents a significant advancement in the development of efficient and noble metal-free OER electrocatalysts through a doping-regulated restructuring approach.

Mussel-like carbon fiber/MnO2 nanosheet heterostructures for mechanically strong carbon fiber/polyamide composites with excellent electromagnetic interference shielding

In order to construct carbon fiber (CF) reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) composites with both excellent mechanical properties and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties, in this paper, a multiscale coating of PDA-MnO2 is constructed on the CF surface based on the in-situ growth process of polydopamine (PDA) and δ-phase manganese dioxide (δ-MnO2) nanosheets. Interestingly, the introduction of PDA not only improves the yield and the crystal regularity of MnO2 nanosheets, but also enables the strength of CF to be maintained. The interlayer shear strength and interfacial shear strength of the modified CF/PA6 composites are increased by 19.45% and 37.45%, respectively, compared with those of the desized CF/PA6 composites. Meanwhile, the introduction of MnO2 nanosheets also improves the EMI shielding performance of the composites to commercial standards. The interfacial enhancement and EMI shielding mechanisms of the composites are elaborated, which enriches the theoretical system of CF composites for multifunctional applications.

Production and quality evaluation of a novel γ-aminobutyric acid-enriched yogurt.

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter inhibitor that has beneficial effects on various health conditions such as hypertension, cognitive dysfunction, and anxiety. In this study, we investigated a novel yogurt naturally enriched with GABA using a Levilactobacillus brevis strain isolated in our laboratory; the specific optimum yogurt production conditions for this strain were determined. We isolated an L. brevis strain and used it to produce yogurt naturally enriched with GABA. We explored the optimal conditions to enhance GABA yield, including fermentation temperature, inoculation amount, L-monosodium glutamate (L-MSG) concentration, fermentation time, and sucrose content. We also performed mixed fermentation with Streptococcus thermophilus and evaluated the quality of the yogurt. Following optimization (43°C, 8% inoculation amount, 1.5 g/L L-MSG, and 8% sucrose for 40 h of fermentation), the GABA yield of the yogurt increased by 2.2 times, reaching 75.3 mg/100 g. Mixed fermentation with S. thermophilus demonstrated favorable results, achieving a GABA yield akin to that found in some commercially available functional foods. Moreover, the viable microbe count in the GABA-enriched yogurt exceeded 1 × 108 cfu/mL, which is higher than that of commercial standards. The yogurt also exhibited a suitable water-holding capacity, viscosity, 3-week storage time, and favorable sensory test results. This study highlights the potential of naturally enriched GABA yogurt as a competitive commercial yogurt with beneficial health effects.

Impact of bull age, sperm processing, and microclimatic conditions on the viability and DNA integrity of cryopreserved bovine sperm.

Context Seasonal microclimatic fluctuations can cause changes in sperm quality even in dairy bulls bred under temperate climate. These changes can vary between sires of different age and affect sperm freezability. Aims We aimed to evaluate the modulating effect of bull age and equilibration time before freezing on the seasonal pattern of sperm viability and DNA integrity post-thaw. Methods In the frame of systematic sperm quality control, we assessed the integrity of sperm plasma membrane and acrosome (PMAI) in 15,496 cryopreserved bovine batches, and the percentage of sperm with high DNA fragmentation index (%DFI) after 0h and 3h incubation at 38°C post-thaw (3h) in 3422 batches. Semen was equilibrated for 24h before freezing if collected on Monday or Wednesday and 72h if produced on Friday. We investigated the effect of season, bull age, equilibration, and temperature-humidity index (THI) on the day of semen collection on sperm traits using mixed-effects linear models. Key results PMAI and %DFI (0h and 3h) deteriorated with increasing THI. The effect of THI on %DFI was detected with a 30-day time lag. Seasonal fluctuations of sperm quality were similar between young, mature, and older sires. Prolonged equilibration did not affect PMAI but was linked to elevated %DFI (3h) in summer. Conclusions Extending equilibration from 24 to 72h is compatible with commercial standards of bovine sperm quality post-thaw; however, it could interfere with the seasonal pattern of the latter. Implications Systematic monitoring of bovine sperm quality enables the prompt detection of stress factors related to microclimate and semen processing.

Multi-objective design optimization of polymer spur gears using a hybrid approach

Polymer gears are used in applications requiring small to moderate loads to effectively transmit power and use the limited place available as possible. Various commercial standards have been provided designers with the rating criteria and acquaintance of different polymer material properties for the process of design. However, the result was unsatisfactory in terms of economy, time, and the optimality of the product. Thus, classic and stochastic algorithms have been embraced to reach the best design of polymer gears. Taking advantage of the former and latter algorithm’ methods, optimal design of gears could be attained with an increased gear life span and decreased failure modes. In this study, polyoxymethylene (POM) spur gear set has been optimized combining the mathematical model from plastic standards and hybrid optimization approach of multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) and sequential quadratic programming (SQP). Weight and power loss were the objective functions. Five design variables were optimized with the satisfaction of bending and contact stresses, temperature, wear, and deformation as constraints. Solutions of the problem were formulated as Pareto optimal set. The results of multi-objective were compared with previously published single-objective optimization. The results favored multi-objective optimization (82.67%, 31.39% reduction in weight and power loss respectively) as it gave the best applicable solution fitting in real life situations. The results also went hand in hand with literature confirming the efficiency of the proposed algorithm. With the variation of operating parameters, various optimal designs could be obtained where the designers can choose the design that is suitable for a particular application.

Mild activation of spent fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts for the pilot synthesis of zeolite a with commercial quality and excellent Co2+ removal ability

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) plays a pivotal role in the transformation of crude oil into fuels and bulk chemicals, crucial within petroleum refining. However, it also generates a substantial volume of hazardous spent FCC catalysts. Thus, developing an effective method to convert these hazardous spent catalysts into high-value products is essential for the sustainable advancement of the petrochemical industry. In this study, we introduce a simple, mild, and environmentally friendly activation approach for spent FCC catalysts, followed by a straightforward synthesis of zeolite A meeting commercial standards. The resulting zeolite A (referred to as SFCC-A) exhibited high crystallinity, exceptional selectivity, and efficient Co2+ removal capabilities from wastewater. Even at a solid/liquid ratio of 1/1000 g·mL−1, a removal efficiency of approximately 99 % was achieved. SFCC-A demonstrated a high adsorption capacity (180.5 mg·g−1) for Co2+ and a broad operational pH range (4–8). Furthermore, the pilot synthesis was successfully scaled up to 100 L, maintaining consistent product performance compared to lab-scale production. Additionally, we investigated the evolution of species during the activation of spent FCC catalysts using multiple characterization techniques, elucidated the phase diagram of SFCC-A and the crystallization process under optimal conditions. The combination of a simple, mild, and eco-friendly activation method with a convenient synthesis process, yielding high-value zeolite A products, transforms spent FCC catalysts into valuable resources rather than hazards.