Gram Of Carbon Research Articles

Travel-associated carbon emissions of patients receiving cancer treatment from an urban safety net hospital

BackgroundHealthcare transportation, particularly the transportation of patients to access healthcare services, is a significant source of carbon emissions. This study aims to estimate the carbon emissions of patient transportation among patients receiving cancer care at an urban community safety net hospital. Materials and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of patients seen at the oncology clinic of an urban community safety net hospital between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023. Patients with at least one in-person visit in 1 year, documented home addresses, and oncologic diagnoses were included in the study. The distance between each patient's home address and the hospital was calculated using the Google Map API key and a macro to calculate distance in metres. The total estimated carbon emissions were calculated using the EPA equivalencies calculator. The primary outcome was carbon emissions from patients' round-trip travel from home to hospital. ResultsFrom 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023, 13,970 visits were made to the oncology clinic. Of these, 8,235 visits made by 1,080 patients met the criteria for inclusion in the final analysis. Of the 8,235 visits recorded, 5,095 (61.8%) were follow-up/laboratory visits. The 1,080 patients who attended the clinic had a mean age of 63.8 years; 700 (64.8%) were male, and 525 (48.6%) were Black or African-American. Breast cancer was the most common diagnosis, accounting for 423 (39.2%) of cancer diagnoses. Each patient travelled 4.8 (0.3–149.3) miles for a one-way trip and 9.6 (0.7–298.6) miles for a round trip to receive cancer care. Approximately 1,520 (280–119,440) g carbon were emitted per patient visit. A total of 79,582 round-trip miles was calculated for the 8,235 visits made by all patients within 1 year, which corresponds to 31,832 kg CO2 emissions equivalent to 35,658 pounds of coal burned, 1,462 propane cylinders used for a home, or 3,872,250 smartphones charged. ConclusionTravel to receive cancer care is associated with significant carbon emissions and poses a climate and public health risk. Efforts to decrease the overall carbon footprint of cancer treatment are needed to minimise the contributions of cancer treatment to climate change.

Adsorption of NMST from acetic acid on coconut activated carbon: Kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics

ABSTRACT Exploration has been made into 2-nitro-4-methylsulfonyltoluene (NMST) adsorption on coconut activated carbon from acetic acid. The results demonstrate that the adsorption of NMST on activated carbon augments with its concentration in acetic acid. NMST adsorption on activated carbon is also improved with temperature. Though NMST adsorption on per gram of carbon will decrease with carbon dosage, more NMST will be adsorbed. The kinetic study depicts that NMST adsorption on activated carbon is in good agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation. Both of the Langmuir and Freundlich equilibrium isotherm models are well fit for the experimental results, with R2 = 0.9994 and 0.9979, respectively. The adsorption thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔG, ΔS) calculated with Van’t Hoff equations indicate that NMST adsorption on carbon is spontaneous and endothermic.

Partitioning of water vapor and CO2 fluxes and underlying water use efficiency evaluation in a Brazilian seasonally dry tropical forest (Caatinga) using the Fluxpart model

The Fluxpart partitioning model was employed to assess transpiration, photosynthesis and evaporation, respiration based exclusively through high-frequency eddy covariance (EC) data. The model was implemented across three sites with two vegetation cover conditions (dense and sparse) during the drought episode between 2012 and 2015 in the Caatinga biome in Northeast Brazil. Fluxpart, an open-source Python software, partitions data by analyzing the flux variance similarity (FVS) relationship and conducting correlation analyses of EC data. The main contribution to the evapotranspiration (ET) process was transpiration (T), representing about 64 and 67% of the amount ET in areas with dense and sparse vegetation cover, respectively. When the Caatinga biome is in a good state of conservation, it behaves as a carbon sink; the net ecosystem exchange average was −6 g C m−2 day−1 (gram of carbon per square meter daily) for dense vegetation and 3 g C m−2 day−1 for sparse vegetation. Through ET, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and gross primary production (GPP) via Fluxpart, an assessment was made concerning the underlying water use efficiency (uWUE) to understand the nonlinear effects of VPD on the carbon-water coupling at the ecosystem scale. The overvalues of 60 g C hPa0.5 kg−1 H2O−1 (grams of carbon times square root of hectopascals per kilogram of water) prevailing in the rainy season and below 20 g C hPa0.5 kg−1 H2O−1 were mostly in the dry season. uWUE was an important indicator of the ability of the Caatinga biome to optimize water loss and carbon gain according to the water available in the soil-plant-atmosphere system to withstand water stress, especially at dense vegetation covers.

Reforming CO2 bio-mitigation utilizing Bacillus cereus from hypersaline realms in pilot-scale bubble column bioreactor.

The bubble column reactor of 10 and 20L capacity was designed to bio-mitigate 10% CO2 (g) with 90% air utilizing thermophilic bacteria (Bacillus cereus SSLMC2). The maximum biomass yield during the growth phase was obtained as 9.14 and 10.78gL-1 for 10 and 20L capacity, respectively. The maximum removal efficiency for CO2 (g) was obtained as 56% and 85% for the 10 and 20L reactors, respectively. The FT-IR and GC-MS examination of the extracellular and intracellular samples identified value-added products such as carboxylic acid, fatty alcohols, and hydrocarbons produced during the process. The total carbon balance for CO2 utilization in different forms confirmed that B. cereus SSLMC2 utilized 1646.54g C in 10L and 1587g of C in 20L reactor out of 1696.13g of total carbon feed. The techno-economic assessment established that the capital investment required was $286.21 and $289.08 per reactor run of 11days and $0.167 and $0.187 per gram of carbon treated for 10 and 20L reactors, respectively. The possible mechanism pathways for bio-mitigating CO2 (g) by B. cereus SSLMC2 were also presented utilizing the energy reactions. Hence, the work presents the novelty of utilizing thermophilic bacteria and a bubble column bioreactor for CO2 (g) bio-mitigation.

Indirect photodegradation of zinc pyrithione: The effect of chromophoric dissolved organic matter components and seawater factors

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is the main photosensitizer in seawater. CDOM can absorb solar radiation extensively and generate reactive intermediates (RIs), including singlet oxygen (1O2), hydroxyl radicals (HO·), and CDOM triplet states (3CDOM*), that are favorable for indirect photodegradation of organic pollutants. In the current study, the effect and mechanism of CDOM components on zinc pyrithione (ZnPT) indirect photodegradation were studied. Among the three CDOM isolates (humic acid (JKHA), Suwannee River humic acid (SRHA), and Suwannee River natural organic matter (SRNOM)), JKHA had the highest fluorescence intensity per gram of carbon and the fastest indirect photodegradation rate for ZnPT. Furthermore, the fluorescent components were divided into four terrestrial humic-like components: C1, C2, C3, and C4, by using excitation–emission matrix spectroscopy combined with parallel factor analysis. A notable relationship was found between the four fluorescent components of CDOM and ZnPT indirect photodegradation. The indirect photodegradation rate of ZnPT varied in different types of CDOM solutions, which may be attributed to the different compositions of CDOM. The relative contents of C1 and C4 were significantly higher in JKHA than in the other two CDOMs, and they were the major contributors to the production of 3CDOM* and 1O2, which promoted ZnPT indirect photodegradation. The impact of seawater factors on ZnPT indirect photodegradation was also investigated. The ZnPT indirect photodegradation rate initially decreased and then increased as the pH increased from 5.00 to 11.00. The lowest rate of indirect photodegradation of ZnPT was observed at pH = 9.00. As the salinity was <25‰, in salinity the ZnPT indirect photodegradation rate increased concomitantly with an increase, and pronounced inhibition of ZnPT indirect photodegradation was observed when the salinity was >25‰. Nitrate had a promoting influence on ZnPT indirect photodegradation, whereas HCO3−, halogen ions, and metal ions all inhibited it.

The use of algae as carbon dioxide absorber in heat production industry

There are approximately 15 million users of system heat in Poland, but unfortunately nearly 70% of the fuel used in heat production is fossil fuel. Therefore, the CO2 emission reduction in the heat production industry is becoming one of the key challenges. City Heat Distribution Enterprise Ltd. in Nowy Sącz (Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Energetyki Cieplnej sp. z o.o.) has been conducting a self-financed research and development project entitled The use of algae as carbon dioxide absorbers at MPEC Nowy Sącz. The project deals with postcombustion CO2 capture using Chlorella vulgaris algae. As a result of tests conducted in a 1000 l hermetic container under optimal temperature and light conditions, the recovery of biomass can be performed in weekly cycles, yielding approximately 25 kilograms of biomass per year. Assuming that half of the dry mass of the algae is carbon, it can be said that 240 grams of carbon is bound in one cycle, which, converted to CO2, gives 880 grams of this gas. Our results showed that around 45.8 kilograms of CO2 per year was absorbed. Additionally, it is possible to use waste materials and by-products of technological processes as a nutrient medium for algae

Altering Coconut Shell Biomass to High-Ordered Graphitic Carbon with Nickel Catalyzation

Graphite is a carbon-based material potentially utilized in numerous applications, such as electrodes for supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and absorbers for water treatment. Biomass graphite is a beneficial candidate for low-cost yet valuable graphite. In this work, coconut shells, the abundant materials with high carbon contents, were successfully transformed into valuable coconut shell graphite (CSG) using metal catalytic graphitization with nickel as a catalyst at low-temperature conditions of ~1200 °C. Nickel concentration varied between 2 mmol, 3 mmol, and 5 mmol per gram of carbon. The samples were further examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The high graphitization degree of ~ 72 % was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. That was further supported by the high-ordered stacking carbon layer that appeared in HR-TEM images. Meanwhile, Raman spectroscopy confirms that nickel impregnation diminished the structural defect of samples and increased the sp2-carbon bond indicated by its rise of IG/ID. The IG/ID values of CGS and CGS-Ni5mmol are 0.86 and 0.92, respectively.

Interfacial photochemistry of marine diatom lipids: Abiotic production of volatile organic compounds and new particle formation

The global importance of abiotic oceanic production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) still presents a source of high uncertainties related to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. A better understanding of the photochemistry occurring at the ocean-atmosphere interface is particularly important in that regard, as it covers >70% of the Earth's surface. In this work, we focused on the photochemical VOCs production at the air-water interface containing organic material from authentic culture of marine diatom Chaetoceros pseudocurvisetus. Abiotic VOCs production upon irradiation of material originating from total phytoplankton culture as well as the fraction containing only dissolved material was monitored by means of PTR-ToF-MS. Furthermore, isolated dissolved lipid fraction was investigated after its deposition at the air-water interface. All samples acted as a source of VOCs, producing saturated oxygenated compounds such as aldehydes and ketones, as well as unsaturated and functionalized compounds. Additionally, a significant increase in surfactant activity following irradiation experiments observed for all samples implied biogenic material photo-transformation at the air-water interface. The highest VOCs flux normalized per gram of carbon originated from lipid material, and the produced VOCs were introduced into an atmospheric simulation chamber, where particle formation was observed after its gas-phase ozonolysis. This work clearly demonstrates abiotic production of VOCs from phytoplankton derived organic material upon irradiation, facilitated by its presence at the air/water interface, with significant potential for affecting the global climate as a precursor of particle formation.

The Effect of Microbial Diversity and Biomass on Microbial Respiration in Two Soils along the Soil Chronosequence.

Microbial diversity plays an important role in the decomposition of soil organic matter. However, the pattern and drivers of the relationship between microbial diversity and decomposition remain unclear. In this study, we followed the decomposition of organic matter in soils where microbial diversity was experimentally manipulated. To produce a gradient of microbial diversity, we used soil samples at two sites of the same chronosequence after brown coal mining in Sokolov, Czech Republic. Soils were X-ray sterilized and inoculated by two densities of inoculum from both soils and planted with seeds of six local plant species. This created two soils each with four levels of microbial diversity characterized by next-generation sequencing. These eight soils were supplied, or not, by litter of the bushgrass Calamagrostis epigejos, and microbial respiration was measured to assess the rate of decomposition. A strong positive correlation was found between microbial diversity and decomposition of organic matter per gram of carbon in soil, which suggests that microbial diversity supports decomposition if the microbial community is limited by available carbon. In contrast, microbial respiration per gram of soil negatively correlated with bacterial diversity and positively with fungal biomass, suggesting that in the absence of a carbon limitation, decomposition rate is controlled by the amount of fungal biomass. Soils with the addition of grass litter showed a priming effect in the initial stage of decomposition compared to the samples without the addition of litter. Thus, the relationship between microbial diversity and the rate of decomposition may be complex and context dependent.

Experimental Warming Has Not Affected the Changes in Soil Organic Carbon During the Growing Season in an Alpine Meadow Ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The effects of climate warming and season on soil organic carbon (SOC) have received widespread attention, but how climate warming affects the seasonal changes of SOC remains unclear. Here, we established a gradient warming experiment to investigate plant attributes and soil physicochemical and microbial properties that were potentially associated with changes in SOC at the beginning (May) and end (August) of the growing season in an alpine meadow ecosystem on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The SOC of August was lower than that of May, and the storage of SOC in August decreased by an average of 18.53 million grams of carbon per hectare. Warming not only failed to alter the content of SOC regardless of the season but also did not affect the change in SOC during the growing season. Among all the variables measured, microbial biomass carbon was highly coupled to the change in SOC. These findings indicate that alpine meadow soil is a source of carbon during the growing season, but climate warming has no significant impact on it. This study highlights that in the regulation of carbon source or pool in alpine meadow ecosystem, more attention should be paid to changes in SOC during the growing season, rather than climate warming.

Synthesis of Conductive Carbon Sheet From Coconut Fiber with the Addition of Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) Activator

Research has been carried out on manufacturing conductive carbon sheets using carbon as raw material from coconut fiber with a Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) activator. First, activation was carried out using 1000 ml of 6M KOH solution mixed with 100 grams of carbon at 100℃ for 72 hours. Next, the carbon is pyrolyzed at temperatures of 900℃, 1100℃, and 1300℃ for 2 hours. Next, the pyrolysis carbon was washed with 2M HCl for 24 hours and washed with distilled water until the pH was neutral. Electrical resistance measurements were made with torque variations of 10, 20, and 30 kgf. cm using the four-point probe method, then the conductivity value was calculated. Finally, carbon characterization was carried out using the XRD tool. The increase in pyrolysis temperature causes the carbon conductivity to increase, which is 2.3855- 4.2340 S/cm at 900℃ and 6.8203-11.4577 S/cm at 1300℃. XRD analysis showed a sharp and narrow increase in diffraction peaks with each increase in pyrolysis temperature, indicating that carbon has a crystal structure close to graphite which is more ordered than carbon without an activator.

Carbon Sink Estimation of Mangrove Vegetation Using Remote Sensing in Segara Anakan, Cilacap

Highlight ResearchThe value of Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Normalized Different Vegetation Index (NDVI) have a strong relationship.Estimated mangrove leaf biomass and carbon stock in mangrove can be known through the Leaf Area Index (LAI) value.Each mangrove pixel can absorb the different carbon.Increasing the diameter of the tree trunk shows the more CO2 absorbed by the tree.AbstractWorldwide global warming occurs because of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Segara Anakan, the largest mangrove forest in Java Island, has the highest potential as a carbon sink in the tropics. This study aimed to quantify the area and density of mangrove forests in Segara Anakan and to estimate their potentials as carbon sink based on Sentinel-2A imagery. In this study, data from Sentinel 2A satellite imagery was processed and validated with field survey results. The results showed that Segara Anakan had mangrove forests covering an area of 5,481.64 ha in 2019 with the sparse density covered 706.92 ha, medium density covered of 2,526.80 ha, and high density covered 2,848.60 ha. The results of mangrove density were validated using Table Confusion Matrix and using correlation coefficient value (r) by comparing field measurement and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) algorithm. The accuracy for mangrove density was 86.92% with r-value 0.85. Mangrove in Segara Anakan has the ability to absorb 8.56 Mega gram of carbon per hectare. Segara Anakan mangroves have the potential to absorb high level of carbon, so we should maintain their sustainability.

Analysis of Biomass Content of Bottom Plants and Biomass Litter on Agroforestry Land with Slash and Buring System

In this land use, humans act as ecosystem regulators, namely by getting rid of components that he considers useless or by developing features that are expected to support their land use (Mather, 1986; Gandasasmita, 2018), which is a residue and others that can increase soil fertility levels such as soil organic matter, biomass, and necromass. This study aims to measure the biomass content of lower plants and litter biomass on agroforestry land with a slash and burn system. Before and after the combustion process, the ten soil samples showed more C-organic content before the combustion treatment, with a total C-organic of 8.16% - 7.8% = 0.36% C-organic released. The organic matter available before burning is more when compared to after burning, which is 14.05% - 13.43% = 0.62% of the organic matter released. Biomass litter contained wet weight 2500g – 3910g dry weight = -1410 grams of carbon emitted.

Fungal Solubilisation and Subsequent Microbial Methanation of Coal Processing Wastes.

Large quantities of rejects from coal processing plants are currently disposed of as waste piles or in ponds and rivers, resulting in environmental concerns including pollution of rivers, and ground and surface water contamination. This work investigates for the first time, a two-stage microbial process for converting coal processing wastes (coal rejects) to methane, involving (1) fungal solubilisation of coal rejects and (2) microbial methanation of the solubilised products. Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trichoderma viride and Neurospora discreta were screened for their ability to solubilise coal rejects. N. discreta was found to be the most suitable candidate based on the extent of bio-solubilisation, laccase activity and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis. Bio-methanation of fungal-solubilised coal rejects was carried out in mesophilic anaerobic reactors with no additional carbon source, using inoculum from an anaerobic food digester. Coal rejects solubilised by N. discreta produced 3- to 6-fold higher methane compared to rejects solubilised by the other two fungi. No methane was produced from untreated coal rejects, demonstrating the importance of the fungal solubilisation stage. A total of 3.7mmol of methane was generated per gram of carbon in 15days from N. discreta-solubilised coal rejects. This process offers a timely, environment-friendly, and sustainable solution for the treatment of coal rejects and the generation of value-added products such as methane and volatile fatty acids.

Kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies of the adsorption of paracetamol in activated carbon in batch model and fixed-bed column

This work studied the removal of paracetamol through the adsorption process using the granular activated carbon. The results indicated that it was possible to obtain 95% of removal under the experimental conditions of pH 6, 120 min of process and 5 g L−1 of solid adsorbent. The kinetic model that best fit the experimental data was the pseudo-first order. The isotherm model that best fit the experimental data was the Sips. The thermodynamic tests indicated that the adsorption process was favorable and spontaneous and confirmed the endothermic nature of the process. In fixed bed column adsorption, the best operating condition found was obtained using the flow rate of 3 mL min−1 and bed mass equal to 0.5 g. In this case, the system presented the highest volume of treated PAR effluent, of 810 mL per gram of carbon in the bed, besides a longer rupture time and bed saturation.

PEMANFAATAN AMPAS TEBU SEBAGAI ARANG AKTIF DENGAN AKTIVATOR LARUTAN BELIMBING WULUH (Averrhoa bilimbi L.)

One of the efforts to utilize bagasse is activated carbon which can be used as an adsorbent for the pharmaceutical industry, foodstuffs, and water purification to remove odors, tastes and colors. So far, the raw materials for making activated carbon use coal and coconut shells, while the activator uses chemicals such as KOH, NaOH, H2SO4, HCl, and others. The manufacture of activated carbon is carried out in three stages, namely the process of dehydration, carbonization, and activation. Bagasse that has been dehydrated for 2 days using sunlight, is carbonized for 1 hour at a temperature of 4500C. Carbon is activated using starfruit extract with a ratio of extract: distilled water, 100%: 0%, 75%: 0%, 50%: 505, 25%: 75%, and the time is varied, namely for 4 hours, 8 hours, 16 hours, and 24 hours. From the research results as much as 4.000 grams of bagasse carbonized to produce 170 grams of carbon. The results of the analysis of the proximate content in bagasse activated carbon have met the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 06–3730–1995), namely the best Total Moisture Content of 2.88%, the best Volatile Matter of 6.88%. The best ash was 3.11%. The best-fixed carbon was 86.30%. The iodine number produced from the bagasse activated carbon is 937.9686 mg / g. The Iodine number has met the requirements of the Indonesian Industry Standard (SII 0258-88), which is more than 750 mg / g, indicating that the activation of activated carbon using starfruit is very reactive. Starfruit can be used as an environmentally friendly activator in making activated carbon.

Fulvic acids from Amazonian anthropogenic soils: Insight into the molecular composition and copper binding properties using fluorescence techniques

Fulvic acids (FA) are one of the components of humic substances and play an important role in the interaction with metallic species and, consequently, the bioavailability, distribution and toxicity of metals. However, only a few studies have investigated these FA properties in specific environment, such as anthropogenic soils. Therefore, knowledge about FA molecular composition as well as the FA-metal interaction is essential to predict their behavior in the soil. For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the molecular composition of FA extracted from two sites in an anthropogenic soil (Terra Mulata), from the Amazon region, as well as their interactions with Cu(II) ions as a model. Results from 13C NMR, infrared and elemental analysis showed that these FA are composed mostly by alkyl structures and oxygen-functional groups, e.g., hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl. The interaction with Cu(II) ions was evaluated by fluorescence quenching, in which the FA showed both high quantity of complexing sites per gram of carbon and good affinity to interact with the metal when compared with other soil FA. The results showed that the complexation capacity was highly correlated by the content of functional groups, while the binding affinity was largely influenced by structural factors. In addition, through the lifetime decay given by time-resolved fluorescence, it was concluded that static quenching took place in FA and Cu(II) interaction with the formation of a non-fluorescent ground-state complex. Therefore, this fraction of soil organic matter will fully participate in complexation reactions, thereby influencing the mobility and bioavailability of metal in soils. Hence, the importance of the study, and the role of FA in the environment, can be seen especially in the Amazon, which is one of the most important biomes in the world.

Geological carbon sequestration: Modeling mafic rock carbonation using point-source flue gases

Basaltic rocks are being considered as a key host for carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. This is a function of their global distribution and relative reactivity, resulting in CO2 mineralization. However, the reactivity of mafic minerals allows for reaction and sequestration of other gases associated with point source emissions. Though many mechanisms exist to separate CO2 from flue gas, these can be costly system additions for existing point source emitters. In this study, we model the effect of adding minor amounts of SO2 to CO2 during ex-situ mineral carbonation of basalt samples from Nevada, USA. We compare reaction path geochemical models at temperatures between 0° and 200 °C and at three different SO2 concentrations. Results from these models are compared to published data evaluating the interaction of these samples with CO2 only. The models have carbon trapped in four minerals (magnesite, siderite, dolomite, and dawsonite). Sulfur is sequestered as one sulfide (pyrite) and up to four sulfates (alunite, anhydrite, gypsum, and thenardite). With added SO2, between 43–161 grams of carbon are trapped per kg rock reacted. These models show -25 % to +18 % change in carbon sequestration, though decreases are more prevalent with increasing SO2. One major issue with adding SO2 as a reactant is pyrite precipitation, which may result in acid rock drainage from the reaction product. However, adding NO2 as a reactant inhibits pyrite formation by increasing oxygen fugacity. Ultimately, these methods can be used as an initial, inexpensive screening tool when evaluating between potential mafic rock carbonation projects.

Intermetallics for Anodes in Li-Ion Batteries: Sb-Sn-Ti Alloys

Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are most frequently used in various handheld devices such as notebooks, cell phones or cameras. However, for load leveling and electro-mobility applications, key performance indicator parameters such as specific capacity, volumetric energy and power density, cyclability, lifetime, and safety have to be improved. In this regard, new electrode materials have to be designed for the next generation of LIBs. Among possible candidates for anode materials are intermetallic alloys which show significantly higher theoretical capacities than the currently used graphite. Additionally, such intermetallics are expected to be safer than graphite due to their higher lithiation potentials, which are sufficient to avoid the dendritic growth of lithium during charge.Many metals and alloys are able to form intermetallic phases with Li. For example, when Li17Sn4 is generated via lithiation of Sn, a theoretical charge capacity of 982 mAh per gram of Sn is obtained at the maximum Li-concentration of 81.31 at.% Li [1] (compare to 372 mAh per gram of carbon). A serious drawback of metallic active anode materials, however, is the mechanical degradation of the electrode upon cycling and the resulting short lifetime of the cell. The main reason for this is the embrittlement caused by the large volume changes on lithiation/delithiation (>180 %) starting from pure Sn. There are many attempts to overcome this phenomenon by, for example, adding carbonaceous fillers, using partial liquid intermetallic electrodes which show self-healing effects, or taking advantage of the in-situ precipitation of inactive matrix phases on lithiation. The latter can be achieved using multi-component Sb-Sn-Ti alloys instead of the pure metals Sb, Sn or binary Sb-Sn compounds. In such cases, full lithiation leads to the formation of Li3Sb and Li7Sn2 islands distributed in a fine grained inactive Ti-matrix. On de-lithiation, however, nano-crystalline Sb-Ti and Sn-Ti compounds are expected to form [2,3]. The Ti-based matrix buffers the volume expansion, mechanically stabilizes the electrode material and even improves its electronic conductivity compared to, e.g. carbonaceous filler materials.For the targeted design of such anodes, a fundamental understanding of the phase constitution, chemical thermodynamics and structural features of Li-Sb-Sn-Ti alloys is desirable. These data provide us with valuable information on the compounds which are formed during lithiation including their structures, stabilities and phase equilibria. In order to fully describe the behavior of such complex ternary and quaternary materials systems, self-consistent thermodynamic descriptions developed using the calculation of phase diagrams (CALPHAD) method are necessary. Such assessments allow us to not only calculate and graphically represent the phase equilibria but also enables the prediction of the electrochemical performance via calculation of the temperature-dependent e.m.f values for both stable and metastable states of the electrode. However, the simulative and predictive qualities of the thermodynamic models rely heavily on the generation of comprehensive experimental data, which are required as inputs for the assessment of the modelling parameters.As a first step, we studied the phase relations and crystal structures in the ternary Sb-Sn-Ti and Li-Sb-Sn sub-systems by means of XRD, thermal analysis and SEM/EDX. Isothermal sections at different temperatures are presented as well as the crystal structure of new ternary compounds. Based on this information, selected Ti-Sb-Sn alloys were processed into electrodes and subjected to electrochemical testing vs Li+/Li via galvanostatic cycling, cyclic voltammetry, and titration. Additionally, ex-situ XRD was applied to study the structural changes of the electrode active materials during the lithiation process.[1] Reichmann T., Gebert C., Cupid D., J. Alloys Compd., 2017, 714, 593[2] Sougrati M.T., Fullenwarth J., Debenedetti A., Fraisse B., Jumas J.C., Monconduit L., J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 1069[3] Marino C., Sougrati M.T., Gerke B., Pöttgen R., Huo H., Menetrier M., Grey C.P., Monconduit L., Chem. Mater., 2012, 24, 4735

Effect of Different Carbon and Nitrogen Sources on Sclerotium rolfsii sacc. Mycelial Growth and Sclerotial Development

In vitro studies were conducted on Potato Dextrose Agar using different carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sources to evaluate their effects on the mycelial growth, and the sclerotial development of three Tunisian Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. isolates. Radial growth was optimum on basal medium supplemented with ammonium chloride (0.48 gram of nitrogen per liter (g of N.L-1)) as N source but was restricted on L-Arginine and completely inhibited on ammonium acetate amended media (0.48 g N.L-1). Sclerotial initiation occurred from the 3rd to the 12th day of incubation for all tested isolates. Potassium nitrate was the most suitable N source for sclerotial formation whereas sclerotial development was completely inhibited on ammonium acetate amended medium. Optimal sclerotial germination was recorded using L-Arginine (78-80%) followed by L-Asparagine (46-94%) and ammonium chloride (46-88%) as N sources. Nevertheless, the lowest sclerotial germination rate was noted on sodium nitrate and ammonium acetate amended media. As for C sources (16 gram of carbon per liter (g of C.L-1)), optimal radial growth occurred using D-mannitol for Sr1 and Sr2 isolates and maltose for Sr3, but no mycelial growth was recorded using sodium citrate for all isolates. All C sources tested, except sodium citrate, were suitable for sclerotial formation, production, and germination. Mature sclerotia became brownish after 6 to 12 days of incubation and sclerotial production was highest using D-mannitol, maltose, and D-glucose, depending on isolates used, as C sources. Optimal germination of sclerotia was noted using D-glucose, D-mannitol and maltose for Sr1 isolate, maltose for Sr2 and D-glucose and maltose for Sr3. It was concluded that N and C sources are both important factors for the growth of S. rolfsii and its survival.