Organic Alkali Research Articles

An Organic Acid-Alkali Coregulated Ionic Liquid Electrolyte Enabling Wide-Temperature-Range Proton Battery.

The broad applications of rechargeable batteries urge people to develop alternative energy storage devices with sustainable resources, high capacity, long cycling life, and wide-temperature operability. Aqueous proton batteries are considered as a state-of-the-art energy storage system due to their intrinsic safety and low cost. However, aqueous electrolytes have a low boiling point and narrow electrochemical stability window, limiting their applications in wide-temperature and high-energy batteries. Herein, a hybrid organic ionic liquid electrolyte with organic alkali 1-methyl-1,2,4-triazole (MTA) protonated by organic acid bis(trifluoromethysulfonyl)imide (HTFSI) as proton carriers and tetramethylene sulfone (TMS) as the solvent, noted as HTFSI-MTA-TMS, exhibited the stable electrochemical windows exceeding 5V at -20°C and 3.5V at 80°C. Benefiting from this electrolyte, the assembled MnO2-S//MoO3 button proton full battery can display an operation voltage up to 1.8V, energy density of 44.8Wh kg-1, and good cycling stability at room temperature when bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide manganese (II) salt (Mn(TFSI)2) is introduced into the electrolyte, and run well in a wide-temperature range (-20°C-60°C). The work reveals the potential of organic acid-alkali coregulated electrolytes to meet the need of energy storage in a wide-temperature range and will advance the development of high-energy proton batteries.

Flow-electrode capacitive separation of organic acid products and recovery of alkali cations after acidic CO2 electrolysis

Acidic CO2 electrolysis, enhanced by the introduction of alkali cations, presents a strategic approach for improving carbon efficiency compared to processes conducted in neutral and alkaline environments. However, a significant challenge arises from the dissolution of both organic acids and alkali cations in a strongly acidic feed stream, resulting in a considerable energy penalty for downstream separation. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of using flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) technology to separate organic acids and recover alkali cations from a strongly acidic feed stream (pH ~ 1). We show that organic acids, such as formic acid and acetic acid, are retained in molecular form in the separation chamber, achieving a rejection rate of over 90% under all conditions. Alkali cations, such as K+ and Cs+, migrate to the cathode chamber in ionic form, with their removal and recovery significantly influenced by their concentration and the pH of the feed stream, but responding differently to the types and concentrations of organic acids. The energy consumption for the removal and recovery of K+ is 4 to 8 times higher than for Cs+, and the charge efficiency is significantly influenced by the types of organic acid products and alkali cations. We conduct a series of electrochemical measurements and analyze the impedance spectroscopy, identifying that hindered mass transfer governed the electrode process. Our findings underscore the potential of FCDI as an advanced downstream separation technology for acidic electrocatalysis processes.

Effective hollow Rh@H-S-1 catalyst for hydroformylation of 1-hexene

A hollow zeolite encapsulated Rh catalyst Rh@H-S-1 with an “eggshell” structure was prepared using the method of organic alkali treatment and recrystallization. Compared with catalysts with directly encapsulated Rh@S-1 and surface impregnated Rh/S-1, this catalyst exhibited both superior activity and a higher TOF value in hydroformylation of 1-hexene due to the high dispersion of Rh and high diffusion. The Rh element did not need to be reduced in the preparation, and it was in situ reduced by the syngas. The content of lower valence Rhδ+ gradually increased with the reaction procedure and played as an active center. The low oxidized state Rh+ or Rhδ+ in the form of Rh(CO)2 are proposed as active sites in hydroformylation, which were generated under the synergistic effect between CO and H2. Importantly, the hollow encapsulated catalyst effectively decreased Rh leaching to 0.1 ppm and showed better stability compared with the impregnated Rh/S-1 catalyst.

Utilization of papermaking black liquor as liquid phase for hydrothermal carbonization of corn stalks: The unique role of alkali for production of hydrochar

Papermaking black liquor (BL) contains a large amount of organic matter, alkali, and salt, which has high value in industrial and agricultural production. In the present paper, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) technology has been employed to deal with BL and corn stalk (CS) under various conditions. A variety of analytical technologies, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer, X-Ray Diffraction, element analyzer, comprehensive thermal analyzer, scanning electron microscope, chromatography/mass spectrometry, TOC analyzer, and density functional theory (DFT), were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of hydrochar and aqueous phase product. The effects of experimental parameters (temperature, solid-liquid ratio, and time) on the HTC of BL and CS were systematically investigated. The higher energy yield and densification of hydrochar prepared by our HTC technology were obtained at 260 ℃ in 30 min with a solid-liquid ratio of 1:3. Mechanism study indicates that NaOH, which comes from the original BL, could effectively facilitate the cleavage of β–O–4 bond in lignin and β–1–4 glycosidic bond in cellulose and hemicellulose molecules. Hemicellulose and cellulose are more susceptible to degradation relevant to the lignin in the presence of NaOH. Elementary analysis shows that the dosage of BL is important for improving energy densification of hydrochar. The combustion characteristics show that hydrochar presents a thermochemical behavior, which is close to bituminous coal. Owing to hydroxyl ion in NaOH ion pair was consumed in the series of dehydrogenation reactions, pH of HTC aqueous phase product significantly decreases from 11 to 13 in original BL to 4.8–5. Such results indicate that a completely change for the components of BL could be obtained by our HTC technology, which provide a novel idea for the treatment of Papermaking BL without concentration.

Understanding the Dynamics of Matrix-Fracture Interaction: The First Step Toward Modeling Chemical EOR and Selecting Suitable Fracturing Fluid in Unconventional Oil/Gas Recovery

Summary The effects of chemical additives on mitigating water blocking and improving oil recovery were experimentally examined for gas-water and oil-water systems in spontaneous imbibition cells. In these attempts, two factors are critically important: (1) understanding the physics of the interaction, whether it is co- or countercurrent, and (2) characteristics of the chemical additives to suitably orient the interaction for specific purposes (accelerate/decelerate matrix-fracture interactions). Co- and countercurrent imbibition experiments were conducted on sandstone rock samples using various oil samples (viscosities between 1.37 cp and 54.61 cp) as well as gas (air). The selected new-generation chemical additives included deep eutectic solvents, cationic/anionic/nonionic surfactants, and inorganic and organic alkalis. We observed that the functionality of the chemicals varied depending on the fluid type, interaction type (co- or countercurrent), and application purposes. For instance, chemicals such as the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) significantly reduced water invasion into the gas-saturated sandstone cores during fracturing, while chemicals such as the nonionic surfactant Tween® 80 provided considerable oil recovery improvement in the oil-saturated sandstone cores. The surface tension and wettability of the rock surface are crucial factors in determining the suitability of chemicals for mitigating water blockage. In terms of oil recovery, certain chemical additives, such as O342 and Tween 80, may result in a lower recovery rate in the early stage because of their strong ability in interfacial tension (IFT) reduction but could lead to a higher ultimate recovery factor by altering the wettability. Additionally, the introduction of chemicals resulted in notable spontaneous emulsification, especially in countercurrent imbibition, thereby enhancing oil recovery. The spontaneous emulsification and its stability are influenced by factors such as oil drop size, boundary condition, interaction type, IFT, wettability, as well as rock surface charges. The results have implications for understanding the physics and dynamics of matrix-fracture interactions in co- and countercurrent conditions. In addition, they serve as the first step toward selecting appropriate chemical additives in hydraulic fracturing fluid design and enhancing oil recovery in unconventional reservoirs.

Polyetheramine enhanced biosurfactant/biopolymer flooding for enhanced oil recovery

The application of conventional alkali, surfactant and polymer in alkali/surfactant/polymer (ASP) flooding has exposed the inherent shortcomings of pollution and damage to reservoirs. Hence, finding new environmentally friendly alternatives is essential for the sustainable development of ASP flooding. In this paper, we proposed a novel ternary combination utilizing organic alkali polyetheramine, biosurfactant, and biopolymer as alternative chemical agents for ASP flooding. Specifically, the ASP system composed of polyetheramine D230, biosurfactant sophorolipid (SL) and biopolymer welan gum (WLG) exhibited excellent potential in improving oil recovery. The interfacial tension measurements proved that D230 could react with organic acids in crude oil to generate surface-active soaps, which cooperated with SL to reduce the oil–water interfacial tension to 10−2 mN/m. The rheological measurements demonstrated that the addition of D230 could increase the viscosity of low concentration WLG solution, but this phenomenon gradually disappeared with the rise of WLG concentration. Even at higher WLG concentration, D230 only caused a slight decrease in system viscosity, which facilitated the improvement of sweep efficiency. Emulsification and contact angle measurements indicated that D230/SL blend had outstanding emulsifying ability and successfully altered the quartz surface from oil-wet to water-wet. Core flooding experiments and micromodel experiments showed that the D230/SL/WLG system significantly enhanced oil recovery by 22.66 %, which was attributed to the high viscosity, low interfacial tension, excellent wettability reversal and emulsifying abilities of the system. The economic benefit assessment indicated that this ASP system has the potential to be economic, rendering it profitable even during periods of low oil prices. Furthermore, the EC50 value of 52,600 mg/L for D230/SL/WLG demonstrated its environmental friendliness.

Methane adsorption effect of cyclodextrin-based metal-organic frameworks and ultra-fine water mist composite system in closed container

Natural gas, predominantly composed of methane, is a widely used energy source. Methane is prone to leakage during storage and usage, posing environmental risks. Currently, effective strategies to capture methane leaked in urban environments are lacking. This study investigates the synthesis of a non-toxic Cyclodextrin-based Metal-Organic Framework (CD-MOF) and its adsorption capacity for leaked methane in an ultrafine water mist composite solution system. CD-MOFs, utilizing β-cyclodextrin as the organic ligand and alkali metal potassium as the metal ion, were synthesized via solvothermal and methanol vapor diffusion method. The morphology, functional groups, and thermal properties of CD-MOFs were characterized by multiple techniques. The BET specific surface area, pore structure, and high-pressure methane adsorption capacity of the samples were investigated. Furthermore, CD-MOF, surfactant, and castor oil were combined to create a composite solution absorbent. The methane absorption efficacy of this ultra-fine water mist of absorbent was tested using a closed-container methane spray adsorption apparatus, and the compound solution ratio was optimized. The results indicate that CD-MOFs retain the parent cyclodextrin structure, and the methane adsorption capacity under high-pressure (35 bar) of CD-MOF synthesized by the sodium dodecyl sulfate-assisted solvothermal method reached 216.13 cm3/g. The composite solution with an appropriate proportion of surfactant, castor oil, and CD-MOF reached a methane absorption capacity of 5.7 % vol in enclosed spaces. The successful synthesis of CD-MOFs and the application of composite solutions with ultra-fine water mist offer innovative approaches and theoretical guidance for the emergency absorption and non-toxic disposal of leaked methane.

The influence of the precursor type in the synthesis of Mg/Al-hydrotalcite through a non-traditional method used for Claisen-Shmidt condensation

Traditionally, the synthesis of MgAl-hydrotalcite is performed in the presence of inorganic alkalis-type precipitating agents using the co-precipitation method. As an viable alternative, the use of organic alkalis and the mechanochemical method can remove some of the issues that the traditional route generates, i.e. the possibility of final solid contamination with alkaline cations; a high energy consumption, relative to the amount of water used but also of electric current; the involvement of a large number of utensils necessary for the synthesis; time allocated to the solid preparation; etc. Changing the regular precursor type (i.e. nitrate) of the target cation with chloride or sulfate leads to obtaining hydrotalcites which have different basicities. The chlorides precursors lead to the synthesis of materials that show a better ability for the reconstruction of the layered structure. Moreover, TMAH acts both as a synthesis agent and as a templating agent. The tight pore distribution is characteristic of all materials obtained from chloride precursors, where the co-precipitation method generates pores of 97Å, while the mechanochemical method generates pores of 140Å. The material with the highest catalytic activity for Claisen-Schmidt condensation, conversion of 92%, is the one obtained by calcination of the hydrotalcite prepared from chloride precursors by the mechanochemical method, while the co-precipitation method leads to conversions of 90%. The novelty of this work is that these type of catalysts obtained from chlorides or sulfate precursors in presence of TMAH have not been used in Claisen-Schmidt condensation until now.

Evaluation of the Oil Recovery Potential and Cost Implication Analysis of Alternative ASP Formulations for Sandstone and Carbonate Reservoirs.

This study explores alternative chemical agents to enhance oil recovery in sandstone and carbonate reservoirs, aiming to address limitations in alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding. Existing ASP methods face technical and environmental challenges, prompting research into alternative chemical agents. However, there are limited field deployments of these alternative chemical agents due to high costs, and ternary combinations of these agents remain unexplored. The study investigates a combination of organic alkali, amino acid-based surfactant/surface-active ionic liquid, and biopolymer. Comparative analysis with conventional ASP formulations reveals promising results. Organic alkali and biopolymer combination mitigates the adverse effects of inorganic alkalis on partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, enhancing the oil recovery potential. A unit technical cost (UTC) calculation showed that despite higher chemical costs per incremental barrel of oil, the alternative ASP formulations demonstrate comparable costs due to reduced facility cost. Cost-effectiveness will improve with incorporation of factors such as environmental friendliness and reduced preflush requirements. Mass production of these agents could further enhance the economic feasibility. Therefore, this study reveals that careful cost-benefit analysis, the development of low-concentration formulations, and mass production of these chemical agents could facilitate the implementation of these alternatives, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and enabling ASP flooding in challenging reservoir conditions.

Comprehensive cell culture monitoring: Leveraging in-line Raman spectroscopy for enhanced biopharmaceutical manufacturing insights

Many biopharmaceutical manufacturers and researchers seek a comprehensive understanding and real-time monitoring of cell growth and metabolism to enhance the cell culture process. However, the biological complexity of cells and the intricacies of cell culture process have impeded the development of analytical and monitoring techniques. This study aims to present a complete picture of cell culture processes using in-line Raman spectroscopy. Initially, we proposed an efficient method for discriminating and removing anomalous spectra. Subsequently, Raman-based models for 27 components including amino acid, organic acid, lipid, organic alkali, alkaloid, alcohol, saccharide, biomass, physicochemical parameter, ion, and protein titer were established. The Q2 obtained by these models was greater than 0.8, and the relative percent difference (RPD) from external validation was greater than 2.0 except for glucose. Additionally, the proposed control charts effectively monitored normal batches and abnormal conditions such as bacterial contamination and insufficient feeding. In cases of unexplained culture abnormalities, the proposed workflow offered explanations.

Construction of MOF@COF-derived composites for ratiometric fluorescence detection of water with ultralow background

A ratiometric sensor with ultralow background is highly desired due to its low environmental influence and high sensitivity. Herein, inspired by the solubility difference of carboxylate in aqueous and organic solvents, we prepared a core–shell structure porous zirconia–covalent organic framework (COF) composite through thermal hydrolysis of UiO-66-COF precursors in organic alkali solution. The ligand 2-aminoterephthalic acids (H2BDC-NH2) of UiO-66 were transformed into 2-aminoterephthalate salts (ATA salts) that existed in zirconium-oxo clusters building units. The composites emitted only yellow emission (597 nm) from the COF in organic solvent due to the insolubility of ATA salts that induce aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) and the protection of the COF shell. Contrarily, when water was added into mixture, the ATA salts were released into solution and its fluorescence recovered at 446 nm, while the fluorescence of COF was quenched due to the blockage of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process by water. Thus, a high-sensitivity ratiometric fluorescence method is obtained with ultralow background signal and fast response (less than 1 min) for sensing water in organic solvent. We believe that the proposed ratiometric fluorescence sensor based on the zirconia–COF composite will provide the guidance for detection with wide applications.

Durable superhydrophobic cotton fabrics based on fluorinated alternating copolymer and silica nanoparticle: Preparation and oil-water separation

The development of superhydrophobic materials has attracted great attention due to their promising potential in a variety of areas including oil–water separation. In this work, durable and robust superhydrophobic cotton fabrics based on fluorinated alternating copolymer and silica nanoparticle are prepared. Silica nanoparticles are in-situ produced and immobilized onto the surface of poly dopamine (PDA) wrapped cotton fabrics, then modified by fluorinated block copolymer (AB2)nA-b-PIPMSAm, followed by removing the iodine on the polymers, to prepare superhydrophobic cotton fabrics with water contact angle up to 160.8°. The prepared cotton fabrics are durable, displaying excellent resistance to varying organic solvents, acids, alkalis, hot water, sonication and mechanical abrasion. High separation efficiency (maximum 99.6 %) and satisfying reusability for continuous separation of oil/water mixtures are achieved. The separation efficiency for trichloromethane/water mixtures is still as high as 94 % even after 50 times of repetitive separation. In addition, water-in-oil emulsion can be also efficiently handled, displaying high practical application potential.

Ultra‐Long Lifespan Ni Based Porphyrin Complex Cathode for Organic Alkali Metal Batteries

AbstractThe high solubility and low intrinsic electronic conductivity are the key challenges for application of organic materials in electrochemical energy storage. Herein, a functionalized porphyrin complex of [5,15‐Bis(ethynyl)‐10,20‐diphenylporphinato]nickel(II) (NiDEPP) is proposed as new cathode material for alkali metal ion batteries. Owing to the in‐situ electropolymerization, NiDEPP became extremely stable after initial cycling. Therefore, the NiDEPP electrode delivers remarkable reversible capacity of 153 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1, a high specific energy density of 459 Wh kg−1 and extremely stable cyclability for 4000 cycles with negligible capacity decay in organic lithium batteries. It can further be cycled upto 10000 cycles. Due to the bipolar capability of porphyrin ring, this cathode can also be extended in both sodium and potassium based organic cells. Similar charge storage mechanism enables highly reversible capacity and long‐term cycling stability. This study would open a pathway toward new organic electrodes with long cycling life and high energy densities for renewable charge storage devices.

Effects of acidification by traditional Jiaozi starter and neutralization with alkali (Na2CO3) on whole wheat dough properties.

Whole wheat steamed bread has been recommended for its potential nutritional benefits to human health. Given the positive role of both organic acid and alkali in improving dough development and product quality, the present study investigated the effects of neutralization by addition of alkali (Na2CO3) after dough acidification with traditional Jiaozi starter on the properties of whole wheat dough. The population of yeast and lactic acid bacteria and the acidification level of the dough increased significantly after fermentation with Jiaozi. Incorporation of alkali greatly improved the leavening capacity of the remixed dough and the quality of steamed bread. Jiaozi fermentation and alkali addition changed the water distribution patterns (T2) and affected the secondary structures of gluten protein, starch crystallinity and pasting properties. The storage modulus (G') of the dough increased significantly with the alkali addition, which could be attributed to the promoted cross-linking of the gluten structure and the altered hydration state of the macromolecules. The results of the present study indicate that a combination of Jiaozi fermentation and alkali addition could improve the technological properties of whole wheat dough and the quality of steamed bread. The results will help us to further explore the potential application of moderate acidification and alkali addition in the production of leavened whole wheat products. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Electrodeposition of Magnesium in Deep Eutectic Solvents Based on Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate and Choline Chloride with Urea Added

Magnesium (Mg) alloy has small density, large elastic modulus, good heat dissipation and corrosion resistance to organic matter and alkali. At present, magnesium alloy is more and more used in automotive industry, medical devices and aerospace industry. However, the traditional preparation method of Mg has the disadvantages of high investment, high labor intensity and great environmental pollution. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop simple, environment-friendly methods of the magnesium. In this study, urea was added to adjust the electrochemical property of the deep eutectic solvent (DES) mixed by choline chloride (ChCl) and magnesium chloride hexahydrate (MgCl2·6H2O). Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) curves reveals that the addition of urea made the reduction potential of Mg shifted from -0.9 V to -1.3 V. Among the CV curves, one was proposed as the “dividing line”, which shows that the electroactive species in the two DESs, ChCl-MgCl2·6H2O and urea-MgCl2·6H2O, are different due to the changes of the component of the DESs. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data shows the type of hydrogen bond had been changed with the increase of urea content. Furthermore, the Raman spectra indicates that Mg2+ was coordinated with urea chains, which did not exist in ChCl-MgCl2·6H2O. Moreover, it was found that urea changed the electrochemical performance of the ChCl-Urea-MgCl2·6H2O by changing the hydrogen bond in the system and coordination form of the electroactive species, rather than adsorbing onto the electrode surface. Combined with geometry calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G (d, p), the most probable mechanism of electrodeposition process was deduced.

Organic Molecules Mimic Alkali Metals Enabling Spontaneous Harpoon Reactions with Halogens.

The harpoon mechanism has been a milestone in molecular reaction dynamics. Until now, the entity from which electron harpooning occurs has been either alkali metal atoms or non-metallic analogs in their excited states. In this work, we demonstrate that a common organic molecule, octamethylcalix[4] pyrrole (omC4P), behaves just like alkali metal atoms, enabling the formation of charge-separated ionic bonding complexes with halogens omC4P+ ⋅ X- (X=F-I, SCN) via the harpoon mechanism. Their electronic structures and chemical bonding were determined by cryogenic photoelectron spectroscopy of the corresponding anions and confirmed by theoretical analyses. The omC4P+ ⋅ X- could be visualized to form from the reactants omC4P+X via electron harpooning from omC4P to X at a distance defined by the energy difference between the ionization potential of omC4P and electron affinity of X.

Analysis of soil fertility and toxic metal characteristics in open-pit mining areas in northern Shaanxi

The study specifically focused on the Hongliulin mining area, where a total of 40 soil samples were meticulously collected and analyzed from within a 1000 m radius extending from the tailings dam. The findings revealed that soil pH within the 0–1000 m range generally leaned towards the alkaline side. In terms of soil nutrient content, encompassing factors such as soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), alkali nitrogen (AK), available phosphorus (AP), and quick-acting potassium (AK), the variations fell within the following ranges: 2.23–13.58 g/kg, 0.12–0.73 g/kg, 0.18–1.15 g/kg, 9.54–35.82 g/kg, 2.89–6.76 mg/kg, 3.45–11.25 mg/kg, and 5.86–130.9 mg/kg. Collectively, these values indicate relatively low levels of soil nutrients. Within the 0–500 m range of soil samples, the average concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb, and As were 0.778, 0.198, 24.87, and 17.92 mg/kg, respectively. These concentrations exceeded the established soil background values of Shaanxi Province and emerged as the primary pollutants in the study area. Within this same range, the mean values of eight toxic metals (Pi) were ranked in the following descending order: 1.726 (Hg), 1.400 (As), 1.129 (Cr), 1.109 (Pb), 0.623 (Zn), 0.536 (Cd), 0.309 (Cu), and 0.289 (Ni). With the exception of Hg, As, Cr, and Pb, which exhibited slight pollution, the other toxic metals were found to be within acceptable pollution limits for this sampling range, in line with the results obtained using the geo-accumulation index method. The average potential ecological risk index for the eight toxic metals in the study area stood at 185.0, indicating a moderate overall pollution level. When assessing individual elements, the proportions of ecological risk attributed to Hg, As, Pb, and Cd were 34.57%, 27.44%, 25.11%, and 23.11%, respectively. This suggests that the primary potential ecological risk elements in the study area are Hg and As, followed by Cd and Pb. Notably, toxic metals Hg and Pb, as well as As and Pb, exhibited significant positive correlations within the sampling area, suggesting a common source. An analysis of the relationship between soil physicochemical properties and toxic metals indicated that soil pH, SOM, TN, and TP were closely linked to toxic metal concentrations. The toxic metal elements in the research area's soil exhibit moderate variability (0.16 < CV < 0.36) to high variability (CV > 0.36). Within the range of 0–200 m, the CV values for Cd and Hg exceed 1, indicating a high level of variability. The coefficient of variation for SOM, TP, AP, AK and TK is relatively high with the of 2.93, 2.36, 2.36, 21.01, 7.54. The soil in the sampling area has undergone significant disturbances due to human activities, resulting in toxic metal pollution and nutrient deficiencies.

Study on the interaction between inherent minerals of coal with refuse derived fuel (RDF) during co-firing

In this paper, refuse derived fuel (RDF) and bituminous coal were co-fired to investigate the particulate matter (PM) yields and the interaction between the inherit minerals in a lab-scale drop tube furnace (DTF). The PM1-10 yields during the co-firing of coal and RDF dramatically decreased by 16.29 %∼28.5 % of the combustion of coal alone. In addition, methane auxiliary combustion inhibited the PM1 yields by 7.95 % at air atmosphere. The Si-rich minerals in coal interreacted with the organic alkali (earth) metals in RDF, massively generating sticky particles with high liquid amount of K-Al-Si and Ca-Al-Si, promoting the transformation of fine grains into coarser mode. Moreover, it was proved that both methane auxiliary combustion and co-firing can reduce the emission of fine particles. The additional heat accelerated the burn of the char at the early stage of combustion, providing adequate time for the interaction between the inorganic species. Through thermodynamic equilibrium calculations of 1500 ∼ 3000 fly ash grains, it was found that co-firing increased the formation of sticky particles by 64.8 %∼70.3 %, resulting in a significant enhancement in capturing fine particles and Na, K vapor. Therefore, the co-firing of coal with RDF offers a promising approach to realize the harmless and resourceful treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW), and inhibit land resource losses caused by landfill

Various green manure-fertilizer combinations affect the soil microbial community and function in immature red soil.

Green manure application is a common practice to improve soil fertility in China. However, the impact of different green manure-fertilizer combinations on the soil microbial communities in the low-fertility immature red soil in southern China remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a pot experiment using two common green manure crops, ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.), along with a fallow treatment. We also considered three combined fertilizer management strategies, including mineral, humic acid, and organic manure fertilizers. We evaluated the soil microbial biomass, activity, communities, functional prediction and their correlation with soil properties during green manure growth and incorporation periods, to assess the potential alterations caused by different green manure and fertilizer combinations. Our findings indicate that green manure application, particularly in combination with organic fertilizers, increased the alpha diversity of the soil bacterial community, while the opposite trend was observed in the fungal community. The application of green manure altered the soil microbial communities during both growth and incorporation periods, especially the taxa that participate in carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles. Notably, ryegrass significantly increased the relative abundance of bacterial phylum Firmicutes and fungal phylum Ascomycota, whereas Chinese milk vetch significantly stimulated the bacterial phylum Acidobacteria and fungal phylum Glomeromycota. Compared with fallow treatments, green manure application significantly increased the soil pH by 4.1%-12.4%, and microbial biomass carbon by 29.8%-72.9%, regardless of the types of combined fertilizer. Additionally, the application of green manure resulted in a 35.6%-142.6% increase in urease activity and a 65.9%-172.9% increase in β-glucosidase activity compared to fallow treatments, while led to a 22.5%-55.6% decrease in catalase activity. Further analysis revealed that the changes in both bacterial and fungal communities positively correlated with soil pH, soil organic matter, total nitrogen and alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen contents. Moreover, the relationship between the soil microbial community and soil enzyme activities was regulated by the specific green manure species. In conclusion, our results provide insight into the effects of different green manure-fertilizer combinations on soil microorganisms and their underlying mechanisms in improving soil fertility in the low-fertility immature red soil.

Synergistic emulsification of polyetheramine/nanofluid system as a novel viscosity reducer of acidic crude oil

Abstract Oil is a critical raw material for energy and industry, the depletion of conventional oil reserves necessitates efficient extraction and production of unconventional resources like acidic crude oil. However, its high viscosity poses significant challenges for transportation and processing. To address these challenges, this study developed a novel emulsion viscosity reducer. We designed a nanofluid based on a synergistic polyetheramine/nanofluid system consisting of alkyl ethoxy polyglycosides (AEG) as a green surfactant, SiO2 nanoparticles, and an organic alkali polyetheramine. The mixture was evaluated for its viscosity reduction and emulsification performance with acidic crude oi obtained from Qinghe oil production plant in Shengli Oilfield. The results showed that the optimized viscosity reducer achieved a remarkable reduction rate of 98.1% at 50◦C in crude oil viscosity from 6862 mPa·s to 129 mPa·s. This demonstrated the reducer effectively transformed acidic crude oil into a low viscosity oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion with high stability. Furthermore, the core imbibition simulation tests demonstrated that the viscosity reducer could improve the recovery of acidic crude oil from 29.6% to 49.4%, indicating the potential application of the optimized viscosity reducer in the exploitation of acidic crude oil. In conclusion, this study developed a novel emulsion viscosity reducer, which can reduce the viscosity and improve recovery of acidic crude oil by emulsifying into O/W emulsion. The optimized formula has potential for practical application in the exploitation of acidic crude oil.