Nitrogen Oxides Research Articles

Performance and emission characteristics of biogas fuelled dual fuel engine with waste plastic oil as secondary fuel

This study investigates the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a stationary engine under diverse operating conditions. The research focuses on the impact of waste plastic oil (WPO) blends with and without biogas addition. WPO added in diesel at various proportions such as 20%, 35% and 50% by volume. Biogas is inducted through inlet manifold. Biogas flow rate was varied. This study introduces a pioneering approach by investigating the superior performance of WPO blends coupled with the unique exploration of biogas addition, revealing intricate relationships between fuel blends and combustion characteristics for enhanced stationary engine efficiency and reduced emissions. Notably, WPO with 80% diesel (WPO20) demonstrates superior Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE), showcasing a significant increase compared to WPO35 and WPO50 across varying load conditions. The addition of biogas to WPO20 results in a measurable reduction in BTE due to incomplete combustion, insufficient excess air, and increased emissions. Hydrocarbon (HC) emissions increase with load for WPO blends, with WPO20 exhibiting the lowest HC emissions. Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions are influenced by WPO concentration, with WPO20–B12 and WPO20–B16 dual fuel mode showing varying trends. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions decrease with the addition of biogas, indicating a 10% reduction for WPO20–B16 compared to WPO20–B12. Smoke emissions increase with higher WPO concentrations but decrease with the introduction of biogas, exhibiting a 20% reduction in smoke for WPO20–B16 compared to WPO20–B12.

MILITARY ECOCIDE IN UKRAINE AS A DESTRUCTIVE CONSEQUENCE OF THE USE OF RUSSIAN MISSILES AND PROJECTILES

Effectively, russia’s aggression against Ukraine can be considered the first case of intentional ecocide during wartime in this century. Through its actions, russia has caused massive destruction of the animal and plant world, pollution of the atmosphere, Ukrainian fertile lands, and water resources. According to calculations by the working group at the State Environmental Inspection, as of January 2023, the ecological damage to Ukraine during the 11 months of russian military aggression amounts to over 1 trillion 743 billion hryvnias, or over 47.6 billion dollars. This sum includes hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of ruined soil and devastated lands, forest fires, emissions of poisonous substances into the atmosphere, destruction of animals, alterations to the migratory paths of birds, and more. The top five regions most affected by ecocide in Ukraine are Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
 The study of war ecocide crimes allows to systematise them by the following features: air pollution, soil pollution, destruction of green spaces, destruction of wildlife, water pollution, unauthorized use of subsoil, and disruption of ecosystems Since the beginning of the full-scale armed aggression by russian occupation forces on objects within the 71 territory of Ukraine, almost 6,500 missile strikes and nearly 3,500 aerial strikes have been carried out, resulting in environmental damage.
 Missiles launched onto Ukrainian territory carry hundreds and thousands of kilograms of chemical substances. In case of complete combustion and dispersion of remnants into the surrounding environment, they pose significant pollution and are toxic to all living beings.
 The destruction of the upper fertile layer of soil, which has been forming over centuries, occurs as a result of missile explosions, artillery shells of various types, cluster bombs, drones, mines, and various types of multiple rocket launchers.
 A significant problem is the contamination of soil with chemical substances, leading to a reduction in fertility and causing harm to both humans and animals living in polluted areas. In substantial areas of Ukraine, there is considerable damage to the surface layer of the soil due to the burning of munitions. The detonation of missiles, artillery shells, cluster bombs results in the release of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen, as well as a large amount of toxic organic compounds, which then enter the soil.
 According to assessments from the Kyiv School of Economics and Zoï Environment Network, a total of 186,000 km2 of land, nearly 31% of Ukraine's territory, is at risk of damage and pollution. Among them, over 20,000 km2 are damaged by more than 75% In addition to missiles, the aggressor country employs projectiles of various calibers and cluster bombs, the detonation of which causes environmental destruction, including damage to buildings, structures, industrial facilities, soil, wildlife, and ecosystems. Ukrainian land has transformed into a horrifying testing ground for various types of weaponry, including long-range artillery, salvo fire systems, phosphorus bombs, and guided missiles.
 A threatening issue is the replacement of territories, particularly agricultural lands. A mined area loses its intended purpose and cannot be utilized for a long period. Additionally, the demining of such territory requires substantial expenses.
 Therefore, russian missiles and projectiles pose a deadly threat to humans, animals, plants, harm the environment, devastate soil, water bodies, forests, destroy infrastructure, alter landscapes, and dismantle ecosystems.
 Thus, the investigation of war ecocide crimes involving russian missiles and projectiles allows the conclusion that these are extremely harmful actions resulting from military aggression. Those who perpetrate them are well aware of the serious and irreversible long-term damage inflicted on the environment.

Potential of Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine for the Decarbonised Passenger Vehicle

CO2 regulations are becoming very stringent due to the goal of reducing greenhouse gases and achieving carbon neutrality. It has already become a common situation that electric vehicles are emerging as eco-friendly power systems rather than vehicles equipped with conventional internal combustion engines and their share in the market is increasing. However, even with an internal combustion engine, CO2 can be drastically reduced if a carbon-free fuel such as hydrogen is used. Raw nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions can be overcome to a certain level through ultra-lean burn operation, but in order to balance the amount of hydrogen and air in the limited space of the combustion chamber, a drop in the engine’s maximum output should be accepted. Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) also previously developed an engine using hydrogen fuel (), but was unable to progress to mass production. Since then, hybrid technology has become popular, and with the development of hydrogen injection devices, an era has arrived where mass production becomes a possibility. For this reason, studies on internal combustion engines using hydrogen fuel based on existing spark ignition or compression ignition engines are rapidly increasing. In this study, a hydrogen fuel engine was designed and manufactured based on the mass produced gasoline spark ignition engine. CO2 level was confirmed from initial performance evaluation, and it was found that raw NOx levels and maximum power were in a trade-off relationship with each other under the same air-charging system application. In addition, the method to improve maximum engine torque was verified while maintaining the raw NOx level, and the maximum engine power improvement level was confirmed when raw NOx emissions were allowed to increase. Thereby the potential of the carbon-neutral internal combustion engine has been demonstrated.

Method of neutralization of nitrogen oxides in area of low-temperature plasma

In the production of 1 ton of oxalic acid, 2000 m3 of gases with an average content of 2–2.5% of nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere. The existing methods of air purification from nitrous gases have a number of disadvantages and therefore cannot be widely used in industry. Based on theoretical and experimental studies, a new method for the thermal decomposition of nitrogen oxides has been developed, which provides for the sanitary purification of waste gases in the production of oxalic acid, up to the maximum permissible concentrations. The process of thermal decomposition of nitrogen oxides in the temperature range from 500 to approximately 50000С has been studied. To achieve such temperatures, an arc plasma torch with a tungsten cathode and a copper anode was used. The degree of decomposition was determined by measuring the NO concentration at the inlet and outlet by the evacuated flask method. The effects of gaseous (hydrogen, ammonia, methane, natural gas), liquid (kerosene, gasoline, fuel oil), and solid reducing agents (coke, coal, graphite) on the decomposition reaction of nitrogen oxides were also studied.

A numerical study of catalytic combustion of methane-air in excess oxygen and deficient oxygen environments with increasing initial pressure: A molecular dynamic approach

In the low-temperature range, catalytic combustion results in few emissions of nitrogen oxide and happens without a visible flame. This work investigates the effect of initial pressure (IP) on catalytic methane-air combustion (CMAC) in a microchannel using the molecular dynamics (MD) method. Palladium particles with an atomic ratio of 4 % were used as a catalyst. The study also investigates the CMAC in two environments: excess oxygen (EO) and deficient oxygen (DO). The research investigates the changes in density (Den), velocity (Velo), temperature (Temp) profiles, heat flux (HF), thermal conductivity (TC), and combustion efficiency (CE). The results of the MD simulation indicate that the maximum values of Den and velocity decrease as the IP increases to 10 bar. This reduction was more pronounced in the EO medium than in the DO medium. The maximum values of density and velocity decrease to 0.105 atom/Å and 0.17 Å/ps, respectively, in the EO medium. These values decrease to 0.080 atom/Å and 0.20 Å/ps, respectively, in the DO medium. Additionally, the HF and TC values decrease in both mediums, with the EO medium showing values of 1839 W/m2 and 1.01 W/m.K, and the DO medium showing values of 1869 W/m2 and 1.04 W/m.K. If there was a DO medium, the atoms and particles of the system had a greater ability to heat transfer to different parts. Therefore, TC and HF are more in this case.

Air Quality Index Prediction Using DL

Abstract: Air pollution emerged as greatest environmental threat to human health and the planet. Occurred due to release of harmful substances like PM2.5, PM10, oxides of nitrogen, carbon and sulphur, ozone, volatile organic compounds etc.. into air by various human activities like vehicle exhaust, agricultural practices, cooking, combustion, burning of fossil fuels, use of air conditioners, refrigerators and other sources adversely effecting climate, ecosystems, health and biodiversity. Assessing and monitoring air pollution levels became obligatory. The current study deals with air pollution data collected from various cities in India over a period of six years (2015-2020). Deep learning models LSTM and GRU are employed to predict the air quality index. The dataset underwent meticulous preprocessing, followed by a sophisticated feature selection process utilizing Principal Component Analysis (PCA). This strategic approach allowed us to discern and isolate the principal pollutants exerting a substantial influence on air quality. The application of LSTM and GRU models for AQI prediction holds great potential in improving our understanding of air pollution dynamics.

Performance and Evaluating the Characteristics of Flexible Pavements by Using Shredded Aggregate

Abstract: Now-a-days it is necessary to utilize the wastes effectively with technical development in each field. The old abandoned tyres from cars, trucks, farm and construction equipment and off road vehicles are stockpiled throughout the country. This leads to various environmental problems which include air pollution associated with open burning of tyres and other harmful contaminants like (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, dioxin, furans and oxides of nitrogen) and aesthetic pollution. They are non biodegradable; The waste rubber tyre has become a problem of disposal. Due to increase in demand of automobiles in our daily lives, rubber tyre waste is also increasing simultaneously which results in disposal of rubber waste in landfill. The rubber takes more time to decompose and also leads to land pollution. So in this project the waste rubber can be reused in road construction works by partially replacing with coarse aggregate with bitumen in percentage (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30) and carried out different test result based on it. This is not only to minimize the pollution occurred due to waste tyres but also minimizes the use of conventional aggregate which is available in exhaustible quantity. The addition of rubber tyre in flexible pavements enhances the properties of road surfaces as well as it reduces the rubber tyre waste from the land and decreases the self-weight of the bitumen mix.

Public health improvement by reducing air pollution: A strategy for the transition to renewable energy

An important outcome for improving public health from the transition to renewable energy sources (wind, solar, and hydropower) is a significant reduction in emissions of important air pollutants. They are particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx) in contrast to fossil fuel resources. Experts estimate that the abandonment of fossil fuel combustion in the United States alone would avoid 53,000 deaths per year, which amounts to more than $600 billion in monetised health benefits. In Algeria, there is a significant discrepancy between the declared national goals for the transition to renewable energy sources and their actual implementation. The article purpose is to identify reasons for this discrepancy and to develop effective mechanisms for its gradual reduction. The article argues that the main reasons for these discrepancies are limited determination and lack of a coherent plan, as well as structural obstacles, such as significant financial support for fossil fuels, a strong group of interests of oil and gas companies, problems with financing, and the dominance of monopolies in renewable energy projects. The article proposes a course correction for Algeria to realise its enormous solar, wind, and other clean energy potential through targeted reforms that will attract sustainable investment. Algeria needs a well-planned and long-term approach to development and diversification that meets the goals of the global climate agenda. The article offers and explains the gradual removal of fuel subsidies, liberalisation of energy markets, expansion of training initiatives, and exploration of new financial mechanisms. In order to utilise renewable energy resources, it is crucial for Algeria to have unwavering political will to overcome resistance from traditional fossil fuel industries.

Effect of air pollution on plant life in the city of Chittagong, Bangladesh

Bangladesh faces a serious problem with air pollution, which has a negative impact on human health and tree health. Leaf damage, slow development, and decreased photosynthetic activity are just a few of the harmful effects on trees that have been linked to high concentrations of pollutants such as particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. These consequences affect the aesthetic value of green spaces in addition to interfering with the functions of the ecosystem that trees offer, such as air filtration and carbon sequestration. Given the seriousness of the problem, the present study plan was implemented to evaluate the amount of pollutants such as SOx, NOx, O3, hydrocarbons, particulate matter 2.5, particulate matter 10 and suspended particulate matter in the air in several urban areas of Chittagong and to evaluate the amount of chlorophyll from the leaves of affected and without affected leaves so that it may understand how the photosynthesis process of plants is interrupted by air pollution. 2 Number Gate Circle, Akbarsha Lane Circle, Alongkar Mor Bus Stop, Barik Building Circle, BDR Field Circle, Halishahar Access Road, Artillery Center-North Halishahar, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute and CRB Circle were selected as sampling location based on their heavy traffic and crowdedness. For the analysis of chlorophyll, each plant leaves were collected in three sections such as unaffected, slightly affected, and affected for comparison. The data studied showed that the most polluted zone with particulate matter had a lower chlorophyll concentration in the surrounding tree leaves. This can indicate that particulate matter can hinder photosynthesis reactions.

Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds Distribution in Downtown Ansan Near Industrial Complexes

There are four industrial complexes located around Ansan City, which is one of the areas with the highest VOCs emissions in Gyeonggi region based on the emissions provided by the clean policy support system (CAPSS), Korea. In this study, proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS) was used to determine the distribution of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban areas near industrial complexes in Ansan City in 2023 (May to June). The PTR-TOF-MS was operated over the mass range of 10-400amu at a drift tube pressure of 2.3mbar and temperature 80<sup>o</sup>C (E/N ~ 130Td) that enabled the collection of VOC data at 0.1Hz resolution. The mixing ratio calculations for methanol, acetaldehyde, acetonitrile, acetone, acetic acid, dimethyl sulfide, isoprene, methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), benzene, toluene, styrene, xylene, trimethylbenzene and pinene reported in this study were done using the sensitivity factors obtained from the PTR-TOF-MS calibrations. As a result of the intensive measurement in springtime, among the substances constituting VOCs, methanol was the most abundant with 16.27±7.13 ppb, followed by acetone, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), toluene, and xylene. VOCs compositions were dominated by oxidized VOCs, with CxHyO1 at 74%, CxHyO2 at 11%, aromatic CxHy at 10.5%, and CxHyN at 3.1%, respectively. As a result of the diurnal variations and conditional probability function (CPF) analysis, it was found that toluene and MEK were locally greatly influenced by industrial complexes distributed around Ansan City. Related with the ozone creating contribution, the ratio of VOCs to nitrogen oxide (NOx) was 6.5 (1.4 to 18.2), which appeared in the NOx-limited (4:1) and the VOCs-limited (15:1). Therefore it is suggested that the management of emission source NOx and VOCs are very important for the reduction of ozone in Ansan.

Maximizing waste plastic oil yield and enhancing energy and environmental metrics through pyrolysis process optimization and fuel modification

The accumulation of plastic waste poses a major environmental challenge, while the conversion of waste plastics into oil via pyrolysis holds promise as an alternative energy solution. Despite numerous investigations into this area, none have focused on optimizing pyrolysis process parameters for higher oil yield and enhancing the overall performance of plastic oil through suitable fuel modification. The present study aims to optimize the pyrolysis process parameters, including heating rate (HR), process temperature (PT), and reaction time (RT), to achieve a higher yield of waste plastic oil (WPO) and enhance the overall performance by blending optimal quantities of water. Fuel characterization and properties measurement were conducted using Fourier Transform Infrared and ASTM methods. WPO was blended with conventional diesel fuel (CDF) and different volume concentrations of water (5%, 10%, and 15%). The performance metrices were assessed under various engine conditions. The study findings indicate that the optimum condition of process parameters is an HR of 17.3 °C/min, PT of 403 °C, and RT of 96.30 min, and the fuel quality confirms its suitability as an alternative fuel source. The performance metrics revealed that WPO has a 5.4% lower brake-thermal efficiency than CDF, and the inclusion of 10% water in WPO (WPO10W) enhances the efficiency by 11.5%. The in-cylinder pressure and net-heat release rate of WPO are 1.3% and 12.9% lower than CDF, respectively, and WPO10W emulsion promotes efficient combustion. WPO10W emulsion fuel reduces oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon, and carbon monoxide emissions by 21.2%, 9.8%, and 22.2%, respectively, compared to WPO.

Investigating the Effects of Environmentally Friendly Additives on the Exhaust Gas Composition and Fuel Consumption of an Internal Combustion Engine

This article shows the effect of the addition of effective microorganisms and silver on the exhaust gas composition and fuel consumption. Exhaust emission standards are becoming increasingly stringent, which makes it difficult for engine manufacturers to meet them. For this reason, intensive work is underway to use alternative propulsion systems on ships, and for diesel engines, alternative fuels. Among other things, this applies to mixtures of petroleum-based fuels with vegetable oils and their esters. Unfortunately, their use, due to their physicochemical properties, can negatively affect the performance of the engine and the wear of its components. Therefore, the aim of this study was to see how additives of effective microorganisms in the form of ceramic liquid and tubes, and a silver solution and colloidal silver would affect some engine parameters, including the exhaust gas composition and fuel consumption. The authors are not aware of the results of previous research on this issue. The tests were carried out on a diesel engine for four types of green additives at concentrations of 2% and 5%, at different ranges of its load. The additives added to the diesel fuel were characterised, and the test stand was presented, along with the parameters of the tested fuel. The effect of additives on selected engine parameters, including fuel consumption, was presented. The characteristics of hourly fuel consumption and selected components of the exhaust gas, including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide as a function of the concentration of ecological additives are shown and analysed. It was found that the most beneficial additive that had a positive effect on the exhaust gas composition and fuel consumption was a silver solution in a 2% concentration. There was a decrease of up to 4% in the NOx content of the exhaust gas, a decrease in carbon monoxide of more than 28%, a decrease in carbon dioxide of 4.6% and a decrease in fuel consumption of around 3% was achieved under the tested conditions. The use of these additives is an innovative solution that has a positive impact on reducing the emissions of harmful compounds into the atmosphere. In further research, it will be necessary to study the effect of this additive on the combustion process in the engine and the wear of its components, as well as to confirm the results obtained in real operating conditions.

2019–2020年西安城市PM2.5、气体污染物及气象数据集

Air pollution in China has improved in recent years, but Central Shaanxi region continues to face great pressure and challenges in pollution control due to its unique geographical location and climatic conditions. The regional and complex air pollution, characterized by ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), is becoming increasingly serious. More meticulous observation data are needed to clarify the causes of air pollution and provide scientific support for control policies. This dataset comprises the data on the concentrations of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere obtained by gas analyzer in Gaoxinzi Observation Site of the National Observation and Research Station of Regional Ecological Environment Change and Comprehensive Management in Guanzhong Plain. Weather stations collected data on temperature, humidity, air pressure, solar radiation, wind speed, wind direction and other meteorological parameters around the station. Offline PM2.5 filter membranes were measured and the mass concentrations were analyzed. The observation site is located in the urban area of Xi 'an, Shaanxi Province. The data covers the period from January 2019 to December 2020 with a resolution of 5 minutes for pollution gas data, one minute for meteorological data, and PM2.5 collected every 24 hours. Online instruments are calibrated monthly to ensure data quality, while the offline PM2.5 sampler is calibrated and maintained weekly to ensure its data quality. This dataset can provide fundamental data records for the atmospheric environment in Central Shaanxi Province and offer data support for further pollution evaluation, control, and treatment. Moreover, it can give researchers scientific insights into the processes, casual mechanisms, as well as prevention and control of atmospheric pollution in Central Shaanxi Province.

Исследование новой микрофакельной горелки с помощью программы Ansys Fluent

A study of a new micro-flame burner device (MFBD) for the combustion chamber of a gas turbine unit (GTU) using the Ansys Fluent program is presented. Research objective: determination of the optimal operating modes of the investigated burner, initial air parameters for maximum combustion efficiency, examination of the uniformity of the temperature field, and the concentration of nitrogen oxides in the combustion chamber of the gas turbine unit with the MFBD. The features of the design and operation of the micro-flame burner device are described, as well as the stages of modeling combustion processes in the Ansys Fluent software. The calculations conducted using various simulation parameters in this program allowed the evaluation of the efficiency of the new MFBD, determination of the temperature field distribution, and the nitrogen oxide content in the combustion products. The nitrogen oxide emissions in the combustion products during different modes of operation did not exceed 9 ppm. This data will be useful for further optimization and development of GTUs taking into account the requirements of efficiency and environmental safety. The presented study demonstrates the application of Ansys Fluent in the development of new technologies in the field of combustion and energy

Predictive modelling of nitrogen dioxide using soft computing techniques in the Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the air pollutants which aggravates the human health as well as causes environmental issues. It is more causes respiratory problems due to acid rains. Agra is a major tourist destination spot in India also similarly air pollution also increased growing urbanization and traffic reflux. The current study aims to predicted the NO2 episodes in the Agra city using soft computing models namely, M5P, Random Forest (RF), Group method of data handling (GMDH), Multivariate adaptive regression (MARS), Reduced error pruning tree (REP Tree) and Random tree (RT). The models were generated using 1116 observations, from 2015 to 2020 with input parameters such as Particulate matter (PM2.5), Nitrogen monoxide (NO), Oxides of nitrogen (NOX), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Carbon monoxide (CO), Ozone (O), Benzene (Be), Toluene, Relative humidity (RH), Wind speed (WS), Wind direction (WD), Solar radiation (SR), Barometric pressure (BP) and Xylene. The performance of each model was evaluated based on the six statistical indices, namely correlation coefficient (CC), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), normalized root of mean squared relative error (NRMSE), Willmott's Index (WI), and Legates and McCabe's Index (LMI). The performance evaluation models results of study area, Box plot and Taylor's diagram indicated that M5P is the outperforming model among others with testing CC = 0.9543, RMSE = 5.8006, MAE = 3,9204, NRMSE = 0.1512, WI = 0.9744, and LMI = 0.7549. Based on the sensitivity analysis indicated that NOx is the most influential parameter followed by WD and CO. These results of study area can be helpful to understanding the air pollution causes, health issues, and future NO2 levels around the study area with useful results for air pollution monitoring policy and development.

Association between combined exposure to ambient air pollutants, genetic risk, and incident gout risk: A prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank

BackgroundLimited research has been conducted on the association between long-term exposure to air pollutants and the incidence of gout. ObjectivesThis study aims to assess the individual and combined effects of prolonged exposure to five air pollutants (NO2, NOx, PM10, PMcoarse and PM2.522NO2, nitrogen dioxide; NOx, nitrogen oxides; PM10, particulate matter with diameters ≤ 10 µm; PMcoarse, particulate matter with diameters between 2.5 and 10 µm;PM2.5, particulate matter with diameters ≤ 2.5 µm.) on the incidence of gout among 458,884 initially gout-free participants enrolled in the UK Biobank. MethodsEmploying a land use regression model, we utilized an estimation method to ascertain the annual concentrations of the five air pollutants. Subsequently, we devised a weighted air pollution score to facilitate a comprehensive evaluation of exposure. The Cox proportional hazards model was utilized to investigate the association between ambient air pollution and gout risk. Interaction and stratification analyses were conducted to evaluate age, sex, BMI, and genetic predisposition as potential effect modifiers in the air pollution-gout relationship. Furthermore, mediation analyses were conducted to explore the potential involvement of biomarkers in mediating the association between air pollution and gout. ResultsOver a median follow-up time of 12.0 years, 7,927 cases of gout were diagnosed. Significant associations were observed between the risk of gout and a per IQR increase in NO2 (HR33HR, hazard ratio.: 1.05, 95 % CI44CI, confidence interval.: 1.02–1.08, p = 0.003), NOx (HR: 1.04, 95 % CI: 1.01–1.06, p = 0.003), and PM2.5 (HR: 1.03, 95 % CI: 1.00–1.06, p = 0.030). Per IQR increase in the air pollution score was associated with an elevated risk of gout (p = 0.005). Stratified analysis revealed a significant correlation between the air pollution score and gout risk in participants ≥60 years (HR: 1.05, 95 % CI: 1.02–1.09, p = 0.005), but not in those <60 years (p = 0.793), indicating a significant interaction effect with age (p-interaction=0.009). Mediation analyses identified five serum biomarkers (SUA:15.87 %, VITD: 5.04 %, LDLD: 3.34 %, GGT: 1.90 %, AST: 1.56 %55UA, urate; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; VITD, vitamin D; LDLD, low density lipoprotein direct; GGT, gamma glutamyltransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase.) with potential mediation effects on this association. ConclusionsLong-term exposure to air pollutants, particularly among the elderly population, is associated with an increased risk of gout. The underlying mechanisms of these associations may involve the participation of five serum biomarkers.

In English

Atmospheric air pollution is determined by the functioning of both technogenic and natural sources of pollution. The main anthropogenic sources of pollution are: transport, industrial enterprises, energy facilities and agriculture. In order to select a rational and effective method of atmospheric emissions purification from harmful components, systematic study was carried out to identify the potential of natural zeolites of Georgia. In particular, four samples of zeolite-containing rocks were investigated: analcime, clinoptilolite, phillipsite, mordenite and their modified forms. By means of the chromatographic method of researching the adsorption properties of natural zeolites, the best adsorption capability of mordenite and its modified hydrogen form obtained by two methods towards nitrogen oxides has been revealed. The perspective and profitability of using the hydrogen form of mordenite treated with ammonium in the processes of purification of nitrous gases from exhaust gases is shown, as well as the possibility of using the recovered products (aqueous solutions of ammonium salts) obtained from its regeneration as a nitrogen fertilizer in agriculture. The experimental adsorption purification of the sample (H-mordenite) was carried out in the process of research. The sample was taken from the outlet pipe of the contact apparatus in the ammonia oxidation shop of the nitric acid production enterprise of LLC “Rustavi Azoti”. It has been found that the modified mordenites can be proposed as an environmentally friendly, highly efficient sorbent in the processes of air purification from toxic impurities. Of the two forms of H-mordenite investigated, the adsorption data obtained for NH4+-ion-modified mordenite is approximately 20 % better than the acid-modified form. It should be noted that the use of granulated zeolites (mordenite) in adsorbers with dense packing is very effective. It is also important from the economic point of view that it is possible to reuse spent high-silica sorbents after their regeneration by oxidation method, since such zeolites are resistant to oxidants, such as hydroxyl radicals, ozone, etc., and it is possible to regenerate them without removing them from adsorber.

Bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst based on Fe, Co, and nitrogen co-doped graphene-coated alumina nanofibers for Zn-air battery air electrode

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-air battery (RZAB) is an emerging environmentally friendly energy storage device for a wide variety of industrial applications such as electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and stationary power plants. For successful commercialization of RZABs, a cost-effective bifunctional catalyst is highly required to catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the air electrode. Dual transition-metal and nitrogen-doped nanocarbon materials have shown good potential as an affordable and scalable bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts alternative to Pt-group metal-based catalysts for RZAB. To achieve this goal, we have developed electrocatalysts based on Fe, Co, and nitrogen co-doped graphene-augmented inorganic alumina nanofibers (Fe/Co-NGr). The Fe/Co-NGr catalysts demonstrate high oxygen reduction and evolution reaction reversibility (ΔE) of 0.85–0.88 V due to the graphene-covered nanofibrous structure doped with FeCo alloy nanoparticles and containing nitrogen, transition metal (TM) coordinated to nitrogen and TM oxide active sites. The primary zinc-air battery with Fe/Co-NGr air electrode exhibits a high maximum power density of 149 mW cm−2 and a specific capacity of 807 mAh gZn-1. The RZAB assessment has shown a low charge–discharge voltage gap of 0.86 V and high energy utilization efficiency of 58 % up to 90 h of charge–discharge cycling at 5 mA cm−2.

Optimization of Boiler Low Nitrogen Conversion Strategy and Intelligent Phase Change Control and Thermal Management: From the Perspective of Compound Neural Network Prediction and Optical Image Analysis

ABSTRACT The optimization of boiler low nitrogen conversion technology, intelligent phase change control and thermal management are studied from the perspective of compound neural network prediction and optical image analysis. Firstly, the application concept of optical imaging technology based on compound neural network prediction technology is described in detail. Then, a prediction model of boiler NOx emission based on compound neural network is established, and the key characteristic parameters extracted are trained by using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) technology and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network as input data. Finally, based on the prediction model, a practical transformation strategy of low nitrogen boiler is created, and the model is comprehensively evaluated. This strategy aims to control nitrogen oxides under the minimum emission concentration limit. The results show that the average failure rate of other traditional models is 40% and the lowest failure rate is 20%, while the highest and lowest failure rates of the model developed in this paper are about 11% and 6% respectively. Compared with the established technical methods, the research presented has a significant improvement in performance. In addition to promoting the development of environmental governance, this paper also provides support for the optimization of energy management technology.

Criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions from cargo handling equipment operating at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach

This study reports in-use emissions from eight pieces of diesel or natural gas cargo handling equipment (CHE) moving containerized freight at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Equipment had engines certified to the legacy on-road model year (MY) 2010 or the off-road Tier 3, Tier 4 Interim, or Tier 4 Final emission standards. Overall, load factors were about half of the values in the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) current CHE emissions inventory, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions were 2.7 times higher than certification standards, and tailpipe-emitted fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions were 2.2 times higher than certification standards. This is yet another study, the first dedicated to in-use operations by CHE at a large commercial seaport, showing elevated in-use emissions from combustion-powered mobile sources compared to certification levels. These results underscore the need to perform routine surveillance emissions testing of any off-road mobile source fleet when developing emission inventories and air quality programs for any jurisdiction worldwide. The Energy Economy Ratio (EER) – or ratio of increased efficiency from converting combustion to zero-emission battery-electric equipment – ranged from 2.8 to 3.7, which highlights potential energy savings and therefore greenhouse gas benefits of transitioning CHE and other freight sectors to zero-emission technologies.