Gas Composition Research Articles

"The impact of shielding gas composition and welding speed on weld quality in MAG welding: An experimental study "

"The impact of shielding gas composition and welding speed on weld quality in MAG welding: An experimental study "

VOCs (toluene) removal from iron ore sintering flue gas via LaBO3 (B = Cu, Fe, Cr, Mn, Co) perovskite catalysts: experiment and mechanism

Abstract The challenges posed by volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in iron ore sintering flue gas are significant. La-based perovskite catalysts offer a promising solution for efficiently degrading VOCs. In this study, a series of LaBO3 (B = Cu, Fe, Cr, Mn, Co) perovskite catalysts were synthesized using the sol-gel method. The influence of various B-site elements on the catalyst’s structure and surface chemical properties was thoroughly examined. Simulations were conducted to assess the VOC reduction capabilities of these catalysts under conditions mimicking sintering flue gas composition. It was found that the crystallite size of the perovskite catalyst decreases as the ionic radius of the B-site elements increases, while the specific surface area, total pore volume, and average pore size increase correspondingly. Notably, LaCoO3 and LaMnO3 demonstrated exceptional activity, attributed primarily to their elevated surface oxygen concentration and oxygen migration capability, positioning them as highly promising materials for further development. Furthermore, a proposed mechanism elucidates the La-based perovskite catalytic reduction of toluene, wherein lattice oxygen and adsorbed oxygen undergo mutual conversion during the oxidation process. This mechanism aligns with the L-H and M-v-K models, providing a comprehensive understanding of the catalytic process.

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions when using methane-hydrogen fuel

AIM. To determine optimal modes for methane decarbonization, as well as to assess CO2 emissions during subsequent combustion of the pyrolysis gas, including together with the natural gas in various ratios.METHODS. The processes of thermochemical conversion of methane into hydrogen and condensed carbon in a reactor with external heating of the walls were considered. The thermal energy required for gas pyrolysis is obtained by burning a mixture of air and part of the pyrolysis gas, which is free from solid carbon particles. When performing numerical studies of pyrolysis processes, a kinetic model of one-dimensional flow of the reacting mixture was used with an external supply of thermal energy through the walls of an axisymmetric channel (tubular reactor).RESULTS. The mechanism of chemical interaction during the thermal decomposition of methane was developed, taking into account the formation of condensed carbon in the temperature range from 1000 to 1200 °C. The main energy indicators and the composition of pyrolysis gas were determined at various values of the pyrolysis temperature and the degree of carbon conversion.CONCLUSION. Carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of pyrolysis gas, including together with the natural gas, were assessed. When developing pyrolysis technologies and applying them on an industrial scale, it is advisable to use part of the resulting pyrolysis gas with a high hydrogen content to provide thermal energy for the processes of thermal decomposition of the feedstock. According to the calculations, the share of this part reaches ≈ 35% of the total amount of pyrolysis gas. This approach, as opposed to burning the natural gas for this purpose, significantly reduces CO2 emissions. The combustion of the resulting pyrolysis gas, even without removing residual hydrocarbons, is characterized by currently quite acceptable CO2 emission factors of ≈ 7-25 t CO2/TJ.

Downstream natural gas composition across U.S. and Canada: implications for indoor methane leaks and hazardous air pollutant exposures

Previous research has shown that natural gas (NG) leaks from residential appliances are common, affecting greenhouse gas emission inventories and indoor air quality. To study these implications, we collected and analyzed 587 unburned NG samples from 481 residences over 17 North American cities for hydrocarbons, hazardous air pollutants, and organosulfur odorants. Nearly all (97% of) gas samples contained benzene (between-city mean: 2335 ppbv [95% CI: 2104, 2607]) with substantial variability between cities. Vancouver, Los Angeles, Calgary, and Denver had at least 2x higher mean benzene concentrations than other cities sampled, with Vancouver exhibiting a nearly 50x greater mean benzene level than the lowest-concentration city (Boston). We estimate that current U.S. and Canadian emissions inventories are missing an additional 25 000 [95% CI: 19 000, 34 000] and 4000 [95% CI: 3700, 5200] lbs benzene yr−1 through downstream NG leakage, respectively. Concentrations of odorants added for leak detection varied substantially across cities, indicating a lack of standardization. Houston, for instance, had 5x higher mean tert-butyl mercaptan levels than Toronto. Using these odorant measurements, we found that methane emissions as high as 0.0080–0.28 g h−1 and indoor benzene enhancements 0.0096–0.11 ppbv could go undetected by persons with an average sense of smell, with large uncertainties driven by smelling sensitivity, gas composition, and household conditions. We also observed larger leaks (>10 ppm ambient methane) in ∼4% of surveyed homes, confirming that indoor leakage occurs at varying degrees despite the presence of odorants. Overall, our results illustrate the importance of downstream NG composition to understand potential emissions, exposures, and odor-mediated leak detection levels. Given methane’s global warming potency, benzene’s toxicity, and wide variation in smelling abilities, our findings highlight the deficiencies regarding the sole reliance on odorization to alert and protect all occupants from indoor leaks.

Natural gas exploration potential and favorable targets of Permian Fengcheng Formation in the western Central Depression of Junggar Basin, NW China

Based on the organic geochemical data and the molecular and stable carbon isotopic compositions of natural gas of the Lower Permian Fengcheng Formation in the western Central Depression of Junggar Basin, combined with sedimentary environment analysis and hydrocarbon-generating simulation, the gas-generating potential of the Fengcheng source rock is evaluated, the distribution of large-scale effective source kitchen is described, the genetic types of natural gas are clarified, and four types of favorable exploration targets are selected. The results show that: (1) The Fengcheng Formation is a set of oil-prone source rocks, and the retained liquid hydrocarbon is conducive to late cracking into gas, with characteristics of high gas-generating potential and late accumulation; (2) The maximum thickness of Fengcheng source rock reaches 900 m. The source rock has entered the main gas-generating stage in Penyijingxi and Shawan sags, and the area with gas-generating intensity greater than 20×108 m3/km2 is approximately 6 500 km2. (3) Around the western Central Depression, highly mature oil-type gas with light carbon isotope composition was identified to be derived from the Fengcheng source rocks mainly, while the rest was coal-derived gas from the Carboniferous source rock; (4) Four types of favorable exploration targets with exploration potential were developed in the western Central Depression which are structural traps neighboring to the source, stratigraphic traps neighboring to the source, shale-gas type within the source, and structural traps within the source. Great attention should be paid to these targets.

Influence of natural gas component changes on hydrate generation temperature and pressure

Abstract During the transportation of natural gas through pipelines, there is a potential for the formation of gas hydrates. These hydrates can result in pipeline blockages, causing economic losses and significant safety hazards. Therefore, it holds crucial reference value to understand the conditions under which hydrates are formed and to grasp the laws governing their generation for effective prevention and control. This study employs the P-P hydrate thermodynamic model to compute the temperature and pressure at which natural gas generates hydrates. We also explore the impact of changes in the composition of natural gas on the temperature and pressure required for hydrate formation. This helps us discern the sensitivity of hydrate formation conditions to various components. Our findings indicate that propane, isobutane, and H2S substantially influence hydrate formation under the same percentage of alteration. For instance, a 3% increase in these three components results in a temperature increase of 2.36°C, 2.83°C, and 2.14°C, respectively, for hydrate formation at 100 bar.

Diagnostyka stanu technologicznego gazociągów na podstawie składu transportowanych mieszanin gazowych

The efficiency of natural gas transportation hinges largely on the quality of technological processes involved. Imperfect separation process can lead to the liquid particles remaining in the gas and entering the transport systems, causing various technological issues with gas pipelines (clogging, hydrate formation, corrosion wear, etc.). The presence of mechanical particles in gas mixtures accelerates the degradation of metallic components of the transport system due to erosion. Additionally, the multiphase nature of gases contributes to complications during transportation, altering the quality indicators when different gas qualities are mixed. Consequently, the composition of gas mixtures, their mechanical particles, moisture, and other indicators, deviate non-linearly from their initial values. The technological condition of the main gas pipelines significantly impacts their discharge capacity and hydraulic characteristics. Failure to clean natural gas to current standards and requirements at production stations can result in condensation of water and hydrocarbon vapours in pipelines, leading to the accumulation of the liquid phase in the cavities of the pipeline and the formation of blockages due to hydrate compounds formation, the reduction of the cross-section of the gas pipeline or its complete blockage. Sediment accumulation on the inner surfaces of gas pipelines installed in complex geographical conditions adversely affects transportation system, increasing maintenance, energy, and transportation costs. Utilizing gas composition as an auxiliary tool (indicator) for diagnosing various technological processes and predicting transport parameters has been investigated in numerous research works in the oil and gas production industry.

Is our understanding of aquatic ecosystems sufficient to quantify ecologically driven climate feedbacks?

The Earth functions as an integrated system-its current habitability to complex life is an emergent property dependent on interactions among biological, chemical, and physical components. As global warming affects ecosystem structure and function, so too will the biosphere affect climate by altering atmospheric gas composition and planetary albedo. Constraining these ecosystem-climate feedbacks is essential to accurately predict future change and develop mitigation strategies; however, the interplay among ecosystem processes complicates the assessment of their impact. Here, we explore the state-of-knowledge on how ecological and biological processes (e.g., competition, trophic interactions, metabolism, and adaptation) affect the directionality and magnitude of feedbacks between ecosystems and climate, using illustrative examples from the aquatic sphere. We argue that, despite ample evidence for the likely significance of many, our present understanding of the combinatorial effects of ecosystem dynamics precludes the robust quantification of most ecologically driven climate feedbacks. Constraining these effects must be prioritized within the ecological sciences for only by studying the biosphere as both subject and arbiter of global climate can we develop a sufficiently holistic view of the Earth system to accurately predict Earth's future and unravel its past.

Evaluation of the Temperature Sensitivity of the Lachrymatory Irritant 2-Chlorobenzalmalononitrile by Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Pyrotechnic compositions are mixtures of several components which, when ignited, undergo energetic chemical reactions at a controlled rate to produce on-demand delay times, amounts of heat, noise, smoke, light or IR radiation. In general, pyrotechnic compositions are easily ignited, burn quickly and produce residues that are very hot. 2-Chlorbenzalmalononitrile (CS) belongs to the category of riot control agents and is used in various pyrotechnic tear gas compositions. The thermal characterization of tear pyrotechnic compositions is important for setting operating limits in the safety of the production process, storage, handling and even safe demilitarization. In this sense, an experimental study was carried out to evaluate the behavior of CS at high temperatures, at different heating rates, by differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal changes were evaluated at a heating rate of 10, 20, 100 and 200οC/minute. The remaining residue was extracted in a suitable organic solvent and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for the detection, identification and confirmation of the products formed during the controlled heating processes.

Introduction of Plug-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (PASB) reactor for wastewater treatment

Plug-Flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor (PASB) was used as the experimental reactor for the treatment as a replacement for Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor (UASB). The novelty of this study is to analyse the applicability of a novel post-treatment for anaerobically treated water by modifying UASB reactor which might be cost-effective, sustainable, and time-saving in the field of anaerobic treatment. Low-strength and high-strength (Leachate) wastewater (WW) were anaerobically treated under ambient temperature (28ºC-32ºC) with different Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) values using a PASB and UASB setup. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal efficiency, biogas production rate, and gas composition were recorded and analysed. The average influent COD concentration of the low-strength wastewater was about 2070 ± 70 mg/L during the operation period of the reactor, and the COD removal efficiency of PASB was 90 ± 0.2 % which was 16 % enhancement at 10 h (hrs) HRT compared to UASB. The maximum biogas production recorded at this HRT was 13.72 ± 0.16 mL/h/L, which was 30.7 % higher than UASB. For leachate, COD concentration was about 6270 ± 220 mg/L, and COD removal efficiency was 97.2 ± 0.2 %. It is about a 23 % increase compared to UASB, at 8 hrs HRT and the maximum biogas production rate obtained for leachate treatment was 71.57 ± 1.53 mL/h/L and it was 30 % escalation than UASB. Hence, the PASB Reactor seems to be a desirable technique in compared with UASB to reach a comprehensive treatment efficiency, with efficient biogas exploitation to meet goals of renewable energy especially in tropical nations where less reactor heating is needed.

Trends of Key Greenhouse Gases as Measured in 2009–2022 at the FTIR Station of St. Petersburg State University

Key long-lived greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, and N2O) are perhaps among the best-studied components of the Earth’s atmosphere today; however, attempts to predict or explain trends or even shorter-term variations of these trace gases are not always successful. Infrared spectroscopy is a recognized technique for the ground-based long-term monitoring of the gaseous composition of the atmosphere. The current paper is focused on the analysis of new data on CO2, CH4, and N2O total columns (TCs) retrieved from high resolution IR solar spectra acquired during 2009–2022 at the NDACC atmospheric monitoring station of St. Petersburg State University (STP station, 59.88°N, 29.83°E, 20 m asl.). The paper provides information on the FTIR system (Fourier-transform infrared) installed at the STP station, and an overview of techniques used for the CO2, CH4, and N2O retrievals. Trends of key greenhouse gases and their confidence levels were evaluated using an original approach which combines the Lomb–Scargle method with the cross-validation and bootstrapping techniques. As a result, the following fourteen-year (2009–2022) trends of TCs have been revealed: (0.56 ± 0.01) % yr−1 for CO2; (0.46 ± 0.02) % yr−1 for CH4; (0.28 ± 0.01) % yr−1 for N2O. A comparison with trends based on the EMAC numerical modeling data was carried out. The trends of greenhouse gases observed at the STP site are consistent with the results of the in situ monitoring performed at the same geographical location, and with the independent estimates of the global volume mixing ratio growth rates obtained by the GAW network and the NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory. There is reasonable agreement between the CH4 and N2O TC trends for 2009–2019, which have been derived from FTIR measurements at three locations: the STP site, Izaña Observatory and the University of Toronto Atmospheric Observatory.

NiO–Ca9Co12O28 bifunctional phase change catalysts for biomass pyrolysis to hydrogen-rich syngas

In this study, the preparation of hydrogen-rich gases from improved pyrolysis-catalytic reforming system by industrial solid waste calcium carbide slag was investigated in a fixed-bed reaction system. The differences in biomass pyrolysis gas compositions and yields over the bifunctional phase change catalyst NiO–Ca9Co12O28 with different Ni doping ratios, pyrolysis temperatures, and calcium carbide slag doping ratios have been investigated, and a model for the mechanism of the redox reaction over the NiO–Ca9Co12O28 catalyst is proposed at the same time. The results of the study indicated that the maximum hydrogen production is 447.23 mL/gbiomass at 600 °C when the mass ratio of bamboo to calcium carbide slag is 5:9, which is 549.29% higher than that of pyrolysis of bamboo alone. The hydrogen volume concentration increased from 17.93% to 63.78%. This study provides a green and efficient route for high-value conversion of biomass and adsorption-enhanced reforming of solid waste for hydrogen production.

Syngas Purpose Pyrolysis-Gasification of Organic Fractions of MSW over Metal-Loaded Y-Zeolite Catalysts

The increasing environmental consideration and the growth of instability of the energy market call for methods that can process the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) into fuel instead of disposal. Due to the pyrolysis and gasification that are efficient procedures to achieve valuable products, gasification of OFMSW with different particle sizes and compositions was carried out in the presence of Ni and Ni-Ce-loaded Y-zeolite in a multizone tubular kiln reactor. During the experiments, 500°C was applied in the first reactor zone, while the 2nd zone was at an elevated temperature of 600°C or 900°C in the presence of steam. The combined pyrolysis and gasification experiments were also carried out without a catalyst with the same operating conditions. The feedstock was collected from the organic fraction of a Hungarian mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) plant and was separated into four different fractions based on particle size: <1 cm dry biomass and fine particles, 1-2 cm paper-rich, 2-6 cm paper and plastic-rich feedstocks, and <6 cm mixture of these fractions. During the experimental work, product yields; gaseous product composition; the ratio of H2/CO, CO2/CO, and CH4/CO; and lower heating value were determined in the function of feedstock composition, the applied temperature, and catalysts. It was found that the hydrogen content and H2/CO ratio of gaseous products were increased due to catalyst application and temperature elevation in the 2nd reactor zone. The addition of Ce to the Ni/Y-zeolite catalyst was advantageous in the case of hydrogen formation at a lower temperature (600°C). The hydrogen and methane content of products obtained from the catalytic pyrolysis-gasification of paper and plastic-rich OFMSWs on elevated temperatures were higher, which increased the lower heating value of those products. Based on the elemental analysis of the obtained solid residues, it was found that paper/plastic-rich feedstock released hydrogen and carbon with a higher extent. 1-2 cm feedstock-related solid residues had the highest H/C ratio which caused a 12.5-12.8 MJ/kg gross heating value. As a result, combined pyrolysis and gasification appear to be an efficient method to attain valuable outputs from OFMSW not only in gas but also in solid products.

Optimizing oil recovery with CO2 microbubbles: A study of gas composition

Microbubbles represent a feasible method for enhancing oil recovery (EOR). To further investigate microbubble displacement and interaction mechanisms between gas and oil, in this study, EOR experiments were conducted on normal (NB) and microbubble (MB) CO2 and CO2–N2 mixtures using NMR. The CO2 flooding process and the mechanism of microbubble CO2-oil interaction were examined, the contributions of small and large pores to oil recovery and CO2 storage were quantified. Importantly, economic benefits were analyzed under different injection conditions for the first time. The results show CO2 injection formed a stable displacement front and the maximum oil recovery was obtained from MB CO2. The oil swelling and “jamin effect” increased MB CO2 sweep area and the efficiency of small pore utilization was 20.9 % higher than NB CO2. Compared to CO2 injection, the oil recovery gradually decreased with increasing N2 concentration due to the reduced sweep area. The maximum CO2 storage efficiency achieved under MB CO2 injection was 35.92 %. Economic analysis revealed that MB CO2-EOR could provide significant economic benefits of approximately US $492.5 per ton of CO2 injected. This study provides data for the commercial application of microbubble technology.

Partial upgrading of bitumen with supercritical water— liquid products characteristics, gas composition and coke morphology

The study aimed to investigate the partial upgrading of bitumen in the absence of water (non-water) and the presence of supercritical water (SCW). Partial upgrading experiments were conducted at the target temperature of 420 °C, with the reaction time varying from zero to 60 min in a batch reactor. The liquid products were analyzed for density, viscosity, composition, total acid number (TAN), olefin content, and elemental analysis. The gas composition and morphology of solid products were also studied. The experimental results revealed that while partial upgrading of bitumen with SCW could accelerate improvement in oil quality, particularly in terms of API and viscosity, it concurrently led to elevated gas and coke formation levels. Moreover, the difference in the distribution of oil fractions between the two environments (absence and presence of SCW) tends to diminish with an extended residence time. Additionally, as the residence time increases, the efficiency of TAN reduction under SCW conditions is less pronounced compared to the non-water conditions. Liquid products obtained in an SCW environment exhibited higher olefin content (between 3 and 4 wt %) compared to non-water conditions (between 1.8 and 2.7 wt %). In both environments, the olefin content was initially increased up to a residence time of 20 min and then decreased. Regarding heteroatoms, the sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) contents decreased up to 36 % and 72 %, respectively, while a greater reduction was observed in the presence of SCW. More non-hydrocarbon gases (H2S, CO2 and CO) were produced in the presence of SCW. SEM images showed that an extended residence time led to a shift in coke morphology towards a more uniform and compact structure, regardless of the upgrading environment. However, the porous structures of coke samples obtained under SCW are distinguished from those formed without water, which is attributed to the phase inversion of precursors. The findings of this study confirm that SCW plays a beneficial role as a solvent in the partial upgrading of bitumen, expediting the process. However, the increased level of coke formation and olefin contents suggest that it may not function effectively as a hydrogen donor in the process.

Investigation of the Flue Gas and Condensate Compositions during the Combustion of Natural Gas and Methane-hydrogen Mixtures in a Condensing Boiler

Investigation of the Flue Gas and Condensate Compositions during the Combustion of Natural Gas and Methane-hydrogen Mixtures in a Condensing Boiler

Thermal decomposition mechanism of lithium methyl carbonate in solid electrolyte interphase layer of lithium-ion battery

To predict the early stages of thermal runaway and improve the safety of lithium-ion batteries, it is necessary to examine the elementary reaction steps for the thermal decomposition of individual solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) components. This study elucidates a detailed decomposition mechanism of lithium methyl carbonate (LMC) which is one of SEI components and accounts for the majority of SEI components formed in commercial electrolytes. The detailed reaction mechanism for the thermal decomposition of LMC is proposed based on the in-situ/ex-situ experiments and density functional theory calculations. LMC underwent six reactions before finally converting to Li2CO3 at 300 °C. To supplement the reliability of the proposed reaction mechanism, the actual gas composition measured using mass spectrometry (MS) are compared with the chain reactions of radicals generated through the thermal decomposition reactions, which is calculated using GRI-MECH 3.0, a gas-phase reaction mechanism. The methodology proposed in this study can be used both for analyzing the reaction mechanisms of different SEI components and their coupling effects with the electrolyte in the future. Understanding these reaction mechanism sets will help us to understand the degradation reactions of real complex SEI and the initial self-heating stage during thermal runaway.

Study on detonation characteristics of pulverized coal and evolution law of detonation residue

This study explores the detonation characteristics and compositional changes of pulverized coal, focusing on its use in Rotary Detonation Wave (RDW) technologies. While pulverized coal has shown high fuel efficiency in RDW settings, transitioning from theory to practical detonation engineering presents substantial scientific and technical hurdles. A key issue is the reprocessing of detonation byproducts for in-situ coal mine gob filling, a topic that has received little attention. Utilizing advanced methods like X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), this paper investigates the micro-morphology, composition, and aromatic structures of gas–solid products pre and post-detonation at the Tashan Coal Mine's 2305 working face. Results indicate that coal dust from the underground mining face has enhanced detonation characteristics, with the addition of coal powder fuel extending the gas detonation limits. This benefits economic aspects by reducing reliance on gas fuel and lowering detonation fuel costs. The highest recorded detonation wave velocity was 2450 m/s, 14.8% greater than that of coal dust from external sources, suggesting more effective energy release and pressure gain. Furthermore, the study links detonation combustion intensity to coal's aromatic properties, noting a post-detonation aromaticity index (I) of 0.4941. This indicates an improvement in the aromatic structure under high-temperature conditions, vital for coal's reactivity and energy efficiency in RDW applications. This research not only deepens the understanding of coal dust combustion mechanisms but also advances clean coal utilization and deep coal fluidization mining, addressing significant RDW technological challenges.

Effects of the nozzle structure and fluidized gas composition on the gas-particle two-phase jet characteristic in a powder fuel scramjet

The interaction between nozzle design and fluidization gas composition significantly influences the dynamics within a powder fuel scramjet's combustion chamber. To investigate this relationship, an experimental study utilized high-speed shadow imaging technology to explore the macroscopic aspects of powder fuel injection. The investigation examined various convergence angles, nozzle throat lengths, and fluidized gas compositions. Key findings include: During jet development, powder fuel initially concentrates near the axis, with non-convergence angle nozzles exhibiting longer concentrated distribution periods than convergence angle conditions. Decreasing nozzle convergence angles lead to increased penetration distance, frontal velocity, and radial diffusion distance during the initial stages of jet development. Additionally, stable jet shapes show larger divergence angles as nozzle convergence angle decreases, with the largest divergence angle observed at α=60°. In the initial 0–7 ms of jet development, the powder fuel jet demonstrates greater penetration distance and frontal velocity under certain conditions. Moreover, penetration distance and frontal velocity increase with throat length from 7 to 20 ms, accompanied by changes in divergence angles. Specifically, at a throat length (l) of 2 mm, the near-field divergence angle measures 46.50°, and the far-field divergence angle is 22.25°. Conversely, at l=8mm, the near-field divergence angle is 33.49°, and the far-field divergence angle is 23.21°. The fluidization gas composition minimally affects jet penetration distance and frontal velocity during the initial 0–3 ms. However, due to hydrogen's low density, hydrogen/powder fuel jets exhibit shorter distances and velocities compared to nitrogen/powder fuel jets. Hydrogen fluidization also results in larger divergence angles, particularly in the near field. These findings underscore the importance of nozzle design and fluidization gas composition in optimizing scramjet performance and efficiency.

Pathological alterations and COHb evaluations as tools for investigating fire-related deaths in veterinary forensic pathology.

Fire-related deaths are usually a consequence of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning or shock from thermal injuries. In humans, high levels of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) concentrations in the blood can support a diagnosis of CO poisoning. In veterinary medicine, few studies investigated the pathological changes and blood COHb% in fire victims, and no data are available on post-mortem changes in blood gas composition due to fire. This study aims to investigate the pathological changes and COHb levels in both animal victims of fire and cadavers experimentally exposed to fire. For this purpose, dogs were selected and subdivided into three groups. Group A comprised 9 adult dogs, and Group B comprised 7 puppies that died under fire-related conditions. Group C was represented by 4 dog cadavers experimentally exposed to heat and smoke. A complete macroscopic, histological, and COHb evaluation were performed on each animal. Animals in Groups A and B showed cherry-red discoloration, thermal-injuries and soot deposits along the respiratory tract. Animals in Group C showed thermal injuries and soot deposits limited to the upper respiratory tract. The mean COHb% values in cadavers in Group C were lower than those observed in the other groups but higher compared to the values detected before the heat and smoke treatment. These findings suggest that both pathological changes and COHb analysis are valid tools for investigating fire-related deaths in dogs. However, the increase of COHb levels in cadavers exposed post-mortem to heat and smoke highlights how the COHb analysis should always be evaluated together with macroscopical and microscopical findings to avoid significant misjudgments in investigating fire-related fatalities in veterinary forensic practice.