Plant Scale Research Articles

Spatial pattern of woody plant species richness and composition in primary warm temperate evergreen forest in Kasugayama Hill, Japan

Plant species richness and composition are influenced by complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors that operate on different spatial scales. Since spatial scales vary continuously in nature, it is expected that multiple factors simultaneously affect species richness and composition at an intermediate spatial scale (i.e., the mesoscale landscape level). Previous studies have shown that local topography and elevation are important factors for shaping intermediate spatial scale plant species richness; however, the relative importance of these factors has rarely been examined. Here, we used spatially explicit woody plant data to examine the factors that characterize the spatial pattern of primary evergreen forest biodiversity at the intermediate spatial scale. We found that the spatial pattern of species diversity in a predominantly warm temperate evergreen forest at the landscape level is mainly characterized by shifts in species composition along the elevation gradient. Our study also found that compositional shift along the elevational gradient was mainly caused by habitat specialization among congeneric species, suggesting that niche partitioning among closely-related species is a fundamentally important feature of the intermediate spatial scale species richness pattern. Furthermore, we found that specialization in a habitat of closely-related species can be established even within a limited environmental gradient. This suggests that biotic interactions among closely-related species may be an important factor driving habitat specialization, and biotic interactions may play an important role in shaping landscape-scale biodiversity patterns.

Measurement of the Macro-Efficiency of Hydropower Plants in Nigeria Using Transfer Functions and Data Envelopment Analysis

Persistent power challenges plague Nigeria, with hydropower constituting a vital component of the country's energy mix. This study assessed the macro efficiency of three operational hydropower plants in Nigeria using three distinct methods: Constant Return to Scale Method of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA-CRS), Input-oriented Variable Return to Scale Method of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA-VRS), and System's Coefficient of Performance Methodology (SCOPM) employing transfer functions. Input factors included man-hours, plant capacity, and water flow, while energy generation was the output. DEA-VRS revealed Shiroro and Jebba as the most efficient, while Kainji was the least. DEA-CRS indicated Shiroro as the most efficient and Kainji as the least. SCOPM indicated Jebba as the most efficient and Shiroro as the least. SCOPM's higher standard deviation suggests better discrimination among plants. DEA-VRS result showed that the scale of the biggest power plant, Kainji, has some effects on its efficiency. The study recommends the adoption of SCOPM by electricity utility operators and regulators for performance improvement due to its robust results. The contributions of the research are significant because of the novel application of DEA and SCOPM to measure the efficiency of power plants in Nigeria, and SCOPM for measurement of macro efficiency of power plants.

Mucilage facilitates root water uptake under edaphic stress: first evidence at the plant scale.

Mucilage has been hypothesized to soften the gradients in matric potential at the root-soil interface, hereby facilitating root water uptake in dry soils and maintaining transpiration with a moderate decline in leaf water potential. So far, this hypothesis has been tested only through simplified experiments and numerical simulations. However, the impact of mucilage on the relationship between transpiration rate (E) and leaf water potential (ψleaf) at the plant scale remains speculative. We utilized an automated root pressure chamber to measure the E(ψleaf) relationship in two cowpea genotypes with contrasting mucilage production. We then leveraged a soil-plant hydraulic model to reproduce the experimental observations and inferred the matric potential at the root-soil interface for both genotypes. In wet soil, the relationship between the leaf water potential and transpiration rate (E) was linear for both genotypes. However, as the soil progressively dried, the E(ψleaf) relationship exhibited nonlinearity. Genotype with low mucilage production exhibited nonlinearity earlier during soil drying, i.e. in wetter soil conditions, (soil water content < 0.36cm3 cm-3) compared to Genotype with high mucilage production (soil water content < 0.30cm3 cm-3). The incidence of nonlinearity was concomitant with the decline in matric potential across the rhizosphere. High mucilage production attenuated water potential diminution at the root-soil interface with increased E. This shows, for the first time at the plant scale, that root mucilage softened the gradients in matric potential and maintained transpiration in drying soils. The model simulations indicate that a plausible explanation for this effect is an enhanced hydraulic conductivity of the rhizosphere in genotype with higher mucilage production. Mucilage exudation maintains the hydraulic continuity between soil and roots and decelerates the drop in matric potential near the root surface, hereby postponing the hydraulic limitations to transpiration during soil drying.

Recycling waste tires into sustainable biofuel for replacing petroleum fuel in diesel engines using nanoparticles and biohydrogen.

In this paper, the production of pyrolyzed oil in lab scale plant and its possible use in variable speed diesel engine with nanoparticle and secondary fuel oxy-hydrogen gas is investigated. The pyrolyzed oil is produced from waste tires in lab scale plant, and after its distillation, it is blended with neat diesel in the proportion of 20:80 (TDF). The different testing fuels are prepared by mixing nanoparticle CeO2 (NP) at the concentrations 50ppm and 100ppm with blended fuel (named as TDF-NP50 and TDF-NP100). While in the testing phase, the HHO gas is supplied through specially designed venturi at fixed flow rate (fuel designated as TDF-NP50-HHO and TDF-NP100-HHO). The focus of current investigation is to investigate the combined impact of inducting HHO with nanoparticle mixed pyrolyzed blends on engine performance and emissions characteristics. The pyrolyzed blended fuel deteriorate the BTE, BSFC, emissions of HC and NOx while improves the CO emission. The improvement in all the characteristics can be achieved by introducing CeO2 nanoparticle at 50ppm and 100ppm which improves BTE by 15-24%, BSFC by 2.2-4.2%, HC by 8-18%, CO by 7-12%, and NOx by 7-16%. The further improvement can be achieved by inducting HHO gas, which are BTE 11%, BSFC 5-8%, HC 15%, and CO 13-16%. However, the NOx emission is increased by 14-17%. Hence, the waste tire-derived pyrolyzed oil along with green hydrogen and nanoparticles CeO2 can be used as a sustainable transportation fuel in existing CI engine.

Enhancement of Corn Flour with Carob Bean for Innovative Gluten-Free Extruded Products.

The aim of this work is to study new, extruded products based on corn flour enriched with carob bean and the evaluation of its functional quality to develop novel gluten-free food products. Five samples based on corn flour with added carob bean flour (5 to 12.5%) were formulated. Extrusion was performed using a single-screw laboratory extruder at pilot plant scale. Extrusion parameters such as color and carbohydrate content (fiber, sucrose, and starch) were evaluated. Carob bean addition led to an increase in starch, soluble fiber, and insoluble fiber. Texture parameters related to hardness (crunchiness) were significantly reduced with the addition of CB (p < 0.05), detectable from a 5% addition of CB and not significant with more CB content. Samples became browner with the addition of CB; however, when the concentrations of CB are high (>5%) no major differences in color were observed. The extrusion process reduced the content of soluble and insoluble fiber, and sucrose in all formulated samples. Extruded samples with 5-7.5% CB seem to be the best formulation in terms of fiber content, color, and texture parameters. These innovative gluten-free foods could be considered as a source of fiber, and a healthier alternative to some commercially available snacks.

Rhizome Propagation Methods of Lowland Bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) in Central Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Bamboo is a plant species that has a range of economic, environmental, and sociocultural importance. Bamboo can be propagated through sexual and asexual propagation methods. Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. This study aims to evaluate different rhizome cutting materials that are relatively suitable for large-scale plantations. The materials for propagating bamboo by vegetative means are whole or portions of the rhizomes, each with a single culm having two to six basal nodes, preferably 1- to 2-year-old culms from the peripheral portion of the clump having 2, 4, 6 basal nodes and 1.5-2 cm, 2-4 cm, and 4-6 cm in diameter. The design of the experiment is a split plot design with three replications and nine plots. This experiment is laid in 1029 m2 (21 m x 49 m). The size of each plot is 45 m2 (15 m by 5 m), and the distance between plots and plants in plots is 2 m. The number of nodes is assigned in the main plot, and the diameter of the planting material is assigned in the subplot. There are a total of 9 treatment combinations and a total of 108 planting materials. Significantly higher (P = 0.01) mean survival rate (59%) was observed in the planting material with two basal nodes and 2-4 cm diameter and the planting material with six nodes and 2-4 cm diameter. Further research is crucial to devise effective vegetative propagation methods for large scale plantations without compromising the survival capability of the planting materials.

Biochar carbon removal from residues in Germany—assessment from environmental and economic perspectives

Abstract The topic of biochar carbon removal (BCR), which refers to the pyrolysis of biomass, is increasingly being discussed as a potential solution for the long-term removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, BCR technology assessments in Germany, which are used as the basis for strategic decision-making, are often limited to woody biomass as an input material and are based on old data. Consequently, this study focuses on BCR from forest residues, straw and sewage sludge and assesses its contribution to negative emissions under current techno-economic framework conditions. Using life cycle assessment and annuity method, as well as complementary stakeholder engagement formats, the study provides a comprehensive analysis of BCR pathways in Germany based on an empirical, up-to-date data basis. The results highlight the environmental advantages of BCR, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to the conventional treatment of residues. The economic feasibility of BCR is uncertain, with profitability dependent on plant scale, biomass type and the integration of energy co-products. Stakeholder insights underscore the necessity for supportive policies and investment in BCR technology to enhance scalability. This interdisciplinary approach enriches the discourse on BCR’s role in achieving carbon neutrality and offers a robust data foundation for future evaluations.

Global characterization of somatic mutations and DNA methylation changes during vegetative propagation in strawberries.

Somatic mutations arise and accumulate during tissue culture and vegetative propagation, potentially affecting various traits in horticultural crops, but their characteristics are still unclear. Here, somatic mutations in regenerated woodland strawberry derived from tissue culture of shoot tips under different conditions and 12 cultivated strawberry individuals are analyzed by whole genome sequencing. The mutation frequency of single nucleotide variants is significantly increased with increased hormone levels or prolonged culture time in the range of 3.3 × 10-8-3.0 × 10-6 mutations per site. CG methylation shows a stable reduction (0.71%-8.03%) in regenerated plants, and hypoCG-DMRs are more heritable after sexual reproduction. A high-quality haplotype-resolved genome is assembled for the strawberry cultivar "Beni hoppe." The 12 "Beni hoppe" individuals randomly selected from different locations show 4731-6005 mutations relative to the reference genome, and the mutation frequency varies among the subgenomes. Our study has systematically characterized the genetic and epigenetic variants in regenerated woodland strawberry plants and different individuals of the same strawberry cultivar, providing an accurate assessment of somatic mutations at the genomic scale and nucleotide resolution in plants.

Air to liquid heat transfer coefficient experimental comparison between silicon carbide and glass shell and tube heat exchangers in a pilot plant scale

ABSTRACT Instead of the expected 3.8–5.4% increase in the heat transfer coefficient due to the better thermal conductivity of silicon carbide tubes compared to glass tubes, the observed increase was 18–22% for 150–275 kg·h−1 airflow and 6 kg·s−1 propane-1,2-diol coolant in tubes. This additional 15–17% increase is probably due to local flow turbulisation due to the roughness of the sintered carbide of 4–10 µm, which unfortunately also causes a 17–24% higher air pressure drop. The hand calculation model used underestimates the heat transfer coefficient by −2% to 10%, which is better than CHEMCAD 8 modeling results.

Response Mechanism and Evolution Trend of Carbon Effect in the Farmland Ecosystem of the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

The farmland system in the global terrestrial ecosystem has dual attributes as both a carbon source and a carbon sink, playing a crucial role in controlling carbon emissions and mitigating global warming. Using carbon source and sink accounting of farmland ecosystems, we applied methods such as standard deviation ellipse, Tapio decoupling theory, and Markov chain to analyze the spatiotemporal changes, response mechanisms, and evolutionary trends of regional carbon effects. The results indicated that from 2011 to 2021, the farmland ecosystem in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River consistently acted as a carbon sink. However, the net carbon sink showed slight fluctuations and significant spatial differences. The migration range of the net carbon sink center in the farmland ecosystem of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River was relatively small, ranging from 115.52 to 115.77° E and 30.14 to 30.27° N. The decomposition of the Tapio decoupling index between the net carbon sink of the farmland ecosystem and agricultural output value showed the order of effects on their coupling relationship as follows: agricultural mechanization level &gt; agricultural mechanization efficiency &gt; agricultural output value &gt; planting scale. The probability of maintaining the original state of net carbon sink in various cities in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (over 77%) was much higher than the probability of transfer, making it difficult to achieve a leapfrog growth in net carbon sink. The net carbon sink at the city scale exhibits the Matthew effect and spatial spillover effect. The above research results clarify the spatiotemporal changes in carbon effects in agricultural production at multiple levels, including city, province, and region. They also provide a theoretical basis for formulating differentiated regional emission reduction and sink enhancement strategies in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, promoting the rapid development of low-carbon agriculture in China.

Effect of ecoliteracy on farmers’ participation in pesticide packaging waste governance behavior in rural North China

Farmers’ participation in pesticide packaging waste (PPW) governance is important for improving agricultural pollution and achieving sustainable agricultural development. By incorporating the theory of planned behavior, value-belief-norm theory, cognition and behavior theory etc., we construct a theoretical model comprising “ecoliteracy–farmers’ WTP in PPW governance–participation in PPW governance behavior.” This study investigates how ecoliteracy affects farmers’ participation in PPW governance and explores the mediating effect of farmers’ willingness to participate (WTP) in PPW governance. We use structural equation modeling to analyze data collected from a questionnaire survey including 1118 samples of Chinese farmers. The results show that (1) Ecoliteracy significantly affects farmers’ WTP in PPW governance. Ecological cognition, emotion, values, and knowledge and skills positively affect WTP in PPW governance, while ecological cognition and ecological knowledge and skills significantly affect participation in PPW governance behavior. (2) Farmers’ WTP in PPW governance mediates ecoliteracy and governance participation behavior. (3) Heterogeneity analysis reveals that different planting scales, different planting categories, and receiving/not receiving government project support have different effects on farmers’ participation in governance behavior. Farmers in the large-scale group are more likely to participate in governance than those in the medium- and small-scale groups, and farmers in the mixed grain and economic category are more likely to participate in governance than those in the economic and grain categories. Furthermore, farmers who receive government support are more likely to participate in governance than those who do not. Our results can serve as a policy making reference for promoting PPW governance in various regions.

Hydrogen underground storage for grid electricity storage: An optimization study on techno-economic analysis

This study performs a techno-economic analysis of hydrogen underground storage systems for grid electricity storage, evaluating their economic viability at the plant scale using dynamic optimization. It explores the feasibility of various system configurations and revenue models in the context of volatile electricity prices and the necessity for multiple revenue streams. The hypothesis tested is that large-scale hydrogen storage, despite its low round-trip efficiency, can be economically viable with the right mix of revenue streams. This study uses scenario-based analysis to assess the impacts of different system configurations, including engaging in time-shifting arbitrage, ancillary service markets and blending hydrogen with natural gas. Results indicate potential annual net cash flows of up to $1.5 million from ancillary services integration and $5.2 million from natural gas blending, contingent on specific system sizes. The study concludes that hydrogen underground storage for grid electricity storage can be profitable, and emphasizes that proper system design and precise electricity price forecasting are crucial for optimizing system performance and economic returns. This research sets the stage for further investigations into the scalability of hydrogen storage systems and their broader implications for grid electricity storage and energy market dynamics.

Evaluating variation of respiration:photosynthesis ratio in sagebrush species: Implications for carbon flux modeling

AbstractPlant respiration and photosynthesis are the two main processes influencing carbon (C) flux balance at leaf‐to‐ecosystem scales. The ratio of respiration to photosynthesis (R:A) or carbon use efficiency (CUE) is considered an important trait for determining global carbon storage in the near future. One school of thought assumes that R:A is constant in terrestrial productivity models, irrespective of biomass, climate, and species. Others believe it is variable, although within a limited range. Semiarid systems dominated by woody vegetation, such as sagebrush steppe, have been recognized as potentially important C sinks on regional to global scales in the context of future climate scenarios. Therefore, there is a critical need to study R:A over different organizational scales (i.e., at the leaf, whole plant, and ecosystem scales) to use this approach for future C flux predictions under climate change scenarios. The objective of this study was to compare leaf‐, shrub‐, and ecosystem‐scale R:A among three sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities, and to determine how R:A varies throughout the growing season (i.e., early, mid‐, and late summer) among these communities. We measured photosynthesis and respiration monthly in three sagebrush communities spanning a 685‐m elevation gradient at the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed and Critical Zone Observatory in southwestern Idaho. Consistent with our expectations, we found large seasonal variations in R and A at all scales, but with differences in A among the three sagebrush communities significant only at the leaf scale. The R:A ratio was not significantly different among the three species at all organizational scales. However, the R:A ratio did vary among months at the leaf level and there was a statistical interaction between species and month at both leaf and shrub levels. Our study indicates that the R:A ratio is generally conservative, although not tightly constrained (range: 0.12–0.77) among three sagebrush species. Therefore, approaches that assume conservative R:A ratios in terrestrial productivity models need to be considered carefully to evaluate the impact of projected climatic changes on future C cycling in shrub‐dominated rangeland ecosystems.

Assessing the aerobic/anoxic enrichment efficiency at different C/N ratios: pilot scale polyhydroxyalkanoates production from waste activated sludge

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) can be produced using fermentation products of an excess sewage sludge fermentation process. An efficient method to enrich a PHA-producing community is an aerobic-feast/anoxic-famine enrichment strategy. The effect of different carbon to nitrogen (C/N) feed ratios of 1, 2 and 3.5 g COD/g N on the process performance was studied. The study was executed on a pilot plant scale using fermented waste activated sludge as the organic carbon source. The system's performance was monitored in terms of removing contaminants, producing PHA, and reducing N2O emissions. The results indicated that a lower C/N ratio results in lower PHA production, with PHA content in the sludge of 20, 24 and 36 % w/w for C/N ratios of 1, 2 and 3.5 g COD/g N, respectively. At the lowest C/N ratio, the highest nitrite accumulation rate (77%), nitrification efficiency (89%) and denitrification efficiency (89%) were observed, but the N2O production was also the highest (0.77 mg N2O-N/L). The long-term comprehensive monitoring carried out in this study revealed high carbon and ammonia removal efficiencies (never below 80%) despite the C/N shifts and high COD and ammonia concentrations. At the same time, the system showed relatively low PHA production and high environmental impact in terms of high gaseous N2O emission. These findings question the sustainability of the aerobic-feast/anoxic-famine enrichment strategy for PHA production in full-scale plants.

Hydrogen production from treated wastewater powered by solar–wind energy: Feasibility analysis and optimal planning

Wastewater treatment plants can provide a sustainable solution for hydrogen production by harnessing renewable energy and using treated water as feedstock as hydrogen demands in the future are expected to increase significantly. This study provides a decision-making model that enables the determination of optimal capacities of solar power, wind power, reverse osmosis, electrolyser, storage tank, and optimal hourly grid import. Such a project simultaneously provides electricity for hydrogen production and wastewater treatment, and sells hydrogen and renewable energy certificates. The planning aims to maximise the annual profits and renewable energy ratio. The case study shows that coupling a 120,000 m3/day plant scale with a 5 ton/day hydrogen facility shows a gross profit margin of 35.2%, a payback period of 7.2 years. This outperforms scenarios that exclude land and energy constraints in wastewater treatment plants. The influence of renewable energy ratios, hydrogen demand, and the prospective water usage for future regional scenario are further discussed.

Bench scale and pilot plant flotation tests with phosphate rock from the Alto Paranaíba Region/MG, Brazil

This paper highlights the significant advances in phosphate recovery in the Alto Paranaíba region, Minas Gerais, as a result of collaboration between RJMG and the local mining industry. The applied methodology focused on the development and use of the innovative AGEM B plant collector, going from laboratory tests to pilot plant tests. The results demonstrated the superiority of AGEM B compared to standard collectors, where a 14.1% increase in P2O5 recovery and a 40% reduction in collector dosage were observed. On a pilot scale, the average P2O5 content in the rougher tailings was 1.66 ± 0.29%, 38.40% lower than that obtained with the collector used by the mining company (a fatty acid) which presented an average content of 2.69 %. The average P2O5 content in the recleaner concentrate was 32.15 ± 2.59%, 8.27% higher than that obtained with fatty acid (average of 35.05%). Increases of 43.59% in mass recovery (average of 11.20 ± 1.31%) and 36.28% in metallurgical recovery (average of 71.00 ± 4.82%) were observed. This work highlights the importance of innovation and strategic collaboration to overcome challenges in mineral processing, recommending the use of AGEM B on an industrial scale for better efficiency and sustainability in the phosphate recovery process.

Techno-Economic Analysis of the Solid Oxide Semi-Closed CO2 Cycle for Different Plant Sizes

Abstract This work presents a detailed techno-economic evaluation of the SOS-CO2 cycle, a hybrid semi-closed cycle with solid oxide fuel cells developed by Politecnico di Milano. for different plant sizes, ranging from large utility plants (400 MWel) to industrial applications (50 MWel). The analysis includes the design and sizing of all the cycle components, including specific design optimization models for the most critical cycle components such as the regenerative heat exchanger and the turbine. Results are compared with the performance of the Allam cycle, an oxy-combustion cycle with higher technology readiness level. The results show that the SOS-CO2 cycle maintains high efficiency over the whole size range thanks to the modularity of the fuel cell and the regenerator which counterbalances the decrease in turbomachine efficiency at small sizes. For the utility scale plant, despite its higher specific investment cost (3761 €/kW vs. 2490€/kW), the SOS-CO2 cycle appears to be competitive with the Allam cycle in terms of cost of electricity (128.4 €/MWh and 127.8 €/MWh of the Allam cycle) thanks to its higher efficiency (68.9% vs. 53.1%). At smaller sizes, the higher efficiency and the lower dependance on the economies of scale make the SOS-CO2 more economically advantageous: for the 50 MWel plant, the cost of electricity of the SOS-CO2 is 175.8 €/MWh vs. 205.8 €/MWh of the Allam cycle.

Toward Methanol Production by CO2 Hydrogenation beyond Formic Acid Formation.

ConspectusThe Paradigm shift in considering CO2 as an alternative carbon feedstock as opposed to a waste product has recently prompted intense research activities. The implementation of CO2 utilization may be achieved by designing highly efficient catalysts, exploring processes that minimize energy consumption and simplifying product purification and separation. Among possible target products derived from CO2, methanol is highly valuable because it can be used in various chemical feedstocks and as a fuel. Although it is currently produced on a plant scale by heterogeneous catalysis using a Cu/ZnO-based catalyst, a limited theoretical conversion ratio at high reaction temperatures remains an issue. In addition, a catalytic system that can be adjusted to accommodate a variable renewable energy source for the synthesis of methanol is more desirable than current continuous-operation systems, which require a reliable energy supply. Recently, significant progress has been made in the field of homogeneous catalysis, which primarily relies on an indirect route to synthesize methanol via the hydrogenation of carbonate or formate derivatives in the presence of additives and solvents. However, homogeneous catalysis is inappropriate for industrial-scale methanol production because of the inefficient separation and purification processes involved.In this Account, we demonstrate a novel approach for methanol production under mild reaction conditions by CO2 hydrogenation catalyzed by multinuclear iridium complexes under heterogeneous gas-solid phase conditions without any additives and solvents. One of the aims of this Account provides insights for overcoming the barriers for efficient CO2 hydrogenation by focusing on catalyst design, specifically by incorporating varying functionalities into the ligand. The fundamental strategy entails activating hydrogen molecule and enhancing the hydricity of the resulting metal-hydride species, which is based on the following two concepts of catalyst design: (i) Activating a metal-hydride by electronic effects; and (ii) accelerating H2 heterolysis. We have elucidated the mechanism for accelerating H2 heterolysis using a state-of-the-art catalyst that contains an actor-ligand that responds to or participates in catalysis as opposed to a classical spectator-ligand.We have also demonstrated a novel heterogeneous catalysis using a molecular catalyst as a key step for the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol beyond formic acid formation. The dehydrogenation of formic acid as a reverse reaction of formic acid hydrogenation is strongly favored in acidic aqueous solution. To circumvent the equilibrium limitation, we have envisioned an alternative route that both prevents the liberation of formic acid into the reaction medium, and develops a multinuclear complex to facilitate the transfer of multiple reactive hydrides. The unconventional gas-solid phase catalysis is capable of preventing the liberation of formate species and promoting further hydrogenation of formic acid through multihydride transfer.This novel catalytic system, which is the fusion of a molecular catalyst in heterogeneous catalysis, provides high performance for methanol synthesis through a sophisticated catalyst design and straightforward separation processes. A detailed mechanistic analysis of molecular catalysts in the gas phase would lead to significant progress in the field of Surface Organometallic Chemistry (SOMC).

Novel 3D Printed Biomaterials Based on Fish Scale Collagen and Plant Extracts and Its Hemostatic Efficacy

AbstractThis study focused on 3D printing‐preparation of novel biomaterials based on fish scale collagen and the following plant extracts: Eclipta alba L. Hassk leaf (EA), Piper betle L. leaf (PB), Perilla frutescens L. Britt leaf (PF), and Styphnolobium japonicum L. Schott flower bud (SJ). The characterizations of the obtained biomaterials were analyzed using infrared spectroscopy and stereo microscopy. Additionally, assessments of the biomaterials were conducted on the water contact angle, simulated body fluid contact angle, scratch resistance, color changes, and swelling degree in simulated body fluid. Furthermore, in‐vitro blood clotting time and the anti‐inflammatory ability of these biomaterials were also performed. The results indicated that the plant extracts contributed to modifying collagen, significantly improving the scratch resistance and water contact angle of the collagen/plant extract biomaterials. The plant extracts were dispersed consistently with the collagen matrix, impacting the vibrations of specific functional groups of collagen. Collagen/plant extract dressings exhibited great biocompatibility and anti‐inflammatory. The in‐vitro tests demonstrated that the ethanol EA extract notably enhanced the hemostatic effectiveness of collagen, suggesting the potential of collagen/plant extract biomaterials in hemostatic applications.

Pyrolysis of End-Of-Life Tires: Moving from a Pilot Prototype to a Semi-Industrial Plant Using Auger Technology.

This work, carried out within the framework of the BlackCycle project, demonstrates the robustness of an auger reactor for the pyrolysis of end-of-life tires (ELTs) to be considered within the seventh level of technology readiness (TRL-7). For this purpose, the resulting pyrolysis products are compared with those obtained from a pilot scale facility ranging within the fifth technology readiness level (TRL-5). Using the same type of ELTs, tire trucks (TTs), operating conditions used at the TRL-5 plant are attempted to mimic those expected at a semi-industrial plant: tailored temperature profile (450, 550, and 775 °C) and residence time for vapors (30 s) and solids (15 min). The feed mass rate is 4 and 400 kg/h for the pilot and semi-industrial plants, respectively. The yields of tire pyrolysis oil (TPO), tire pyrolysis gas (TPG), and raw recovered carbon black (RRCB) from both plants, as well as their key properties and characteristics, are in good agreement with each other. The TPO produced by both plants contains comparable concentrations of value-added chemicals such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, and limonene. There is also a very similar pattern between the simulated distillation curves. The TPG obtained from both plants is also very rich in H2 and CH4 and has a lower calorific value of 52-54 MJ/Nm3 (N2 free basis). Although the RRCBs produced by the two plants are more demanding and require more labor, they do have a number of comparable characteristics. All this information demonstrates not only the reliability of the experimental campaigns to scale up the pyrolysis process but also the robustness of the semi-industrial scale plant based on the auger technology to be classified at TRL-7.