Product Composition Research Articles

Evaluating the stability of nursery-established arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal associations in apple rootstocks.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are promoted as commercial bioinoculants for sustainable agriculture. Little is known, however, about the survival of AMF inoculants in soil and their impacts on native or pre-established AMF communities in root tissue. The current study was designed to assess the stability of pre-existing/nursery-derived AMF in apple rootstocks after being planted into soil containing a known community of AMF with a limited number of species. Root-associated endophytic communities (bacteria and fungi) are known to differ depending on apple rootstock genotype. Thus, an additional aim of this study was to explore the effect of apple rootstock genotype on AMF community structure. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in which a variety of apple rootstock genotypes (G.890, G.935, M.26, and M.7) were inoculated with a commercially available, multi-species AMF consortium. Nursery-derived AMF communities were sequenced, and changes to AMF community structure following cultivation in pasteurized soil (inoculated and non-inoculated) were assessed using a Glomeromycota-specific phylogenetic tree, which included 91 different AMF species from 24 genera. Results show that inoculant colonization potential was limited and that apple rootstocks serve as a significant source of inoculum from the nursery where they are produced. Rootstocks established relationships with introduced AMF in a genotype-specific manner. Regardless of colonization success, however, the inoculant caused alterations to the resident AMF communities of both Geneva and Malling rootstocks, particularly low abundance taxa. In addition, phylogeny-based analysis revealed a unique, well-supported clade of unknown taxonomy, highlighting the importance of using phylogenetic-based classification for accurate characterization of AMF communities.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding the impacts of introduced AMF on residential AMF communities is essential to improving plant productivity in nursery and orchard systems. In general, there is a dearth of data on the interactions of commercial AMF inoculants with pre-established AMF communities living in symbiosis with the host plant. The interplay between apple rootstock genotype and the endophytic root microbiome is also an area where more research is needed. This study demonstrates the potential for nursery-established AMF associations to be maintained when transplanted into the field. In addition to providing insight into rootstock/AMF associations, our study calls attention to the current issues attendant with relying on web-based databases for determining AMF identity. The use of phylogenetic tools represents one possible solution and may be of value to industry practitioners in terms of improving product composition and consistency.

Time-Dependent Analysis of Catalytic Biomass Pyrolysis in a Continuous Drop Tube Reactor: Evaluating HZSM-5 Stability and Product Evolution

This study investigates a continuous deoxygenation of bio-oil vapor in a catalytic fixed-bed reactor coupled to a continuous drop tube reactor (DTR) for biomass pyrolysis. Beech wood pyrolysis was initially examined without catalysts at various temperatures (500–600 °C). The products were characterised using GC-MS, Karl Fischer titration, GC-FID/TCD, and thermogravimetric analysis. The highest bio-oil yield (58.8 wt.%) was achieved at 500 °C with a 500 mL/min N2 flow rate. Subsequently, ex situ catalytic pyrolysis was performed using an HZSM-5 catalyst in a fixed-bed reactor at a DTR outlet, operating at 425 °C, 450 °C, and 500 °C. The HZSM-5 catalyst exhibited declining deoxygenation efficiency over time, which was evidenced by decreasing conversion rates of chemical families. Principal component analysis was employed to interpret the complex dataset, facilitating a visualisation of the relationships between the experimental conditions and product compositions. This study highlights the challenges of continuous operation as experimental durations were limited to 120 min due to clogging issues. This research contributes to understanding continuous biomass pyrolysis coupled with catalytic deoxygenation, providing insights into the reactor configuration, process parameters, and catalyst performance crucial for developing efficient and sustainable biofuel production processes.

The Potential of Microalgae in Chitosan and Cellulose as Sustainable Materials for Edible Bioplastic Applications: A Review

The demand for eco-friendly food packaging options with additional features to prolong shelf life has continuously increased since 1940. Bioplastic is gaining popularity as a viable replacement for plastics based on fossil fuels due to fluctuating oil prices. Therefore, technological innovation is required to resolve the issue. This study aimed to review the distinct characteristics of integrating chitosan and cellulose alongside exploring the capabilities of microalgae in bioplastic production. The potential techniques and applications for future development were also suggested. The unique growth yield of microalgae makes them a compelling option for producing bioplastics. Hence, utilizing microalgae for bioplastic production offers a significant opportunity to enhance moisture barrier capacity, alter the structural properties, and adjust the flow behaviour. Moreover, these materials can also serve as the key nanocomposites components in the food packaging industry. The potential for chitosan/cellulose/microalgae-based bioplastic and the key themes and obstacles for future research into these composites for bioplastic production were also reviewed.

Preparation And Evaluation Of A Mixed Vegetable Drink Based On Coconut Milk, Amaranth, Quinoa And Acerola

Allergic substances present in food pose a great risk to an individual's nutrition and health, depriving them of nutrients due to food restrictions. The vegetable drink made with coconut milk, amaranth, quinoa and acerola pulp (BVCAQA) could become a healthy and innovative drink, since the simplicity of the product's composition and the absence of additives allow it to be used as a nutritious, functional and hypoallergenic food. Formulations were made without the addition of acerola pulp (A) and with the addition of acerola pulp (B). The physicalchemical analyses followed the Adolfo Lutz Institute's physical-chemical methods for food analysis and the microbiological analyses followed the Manual of methods for microbiological analysis in food. In order to check whether there were any significant differences, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied using the SISVAR program version 5.6. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was carried out using the PAST software. The vegetable drink based on coconut milk, amaranth, quinoa and acerola pulp was produced naturally, without stabilizers, thickeners or industrial emulsifiers. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between formulations A and B for the physicochemical parameter’s soluble solids, pH and humidity. The acerola pulp is acidic and has a high moisture content. Its addition helps to reduce the pH and increase the moisture and soluble solids content of the vegetable drink. Its production could be a feasible technological possibility for small manufacturers. The hygienic and sanitary procedures used in the production of the vegetable drink contributed to its safety and the absence of microbiological contamination. The coconut, amaranth and quinoa drink flavored with acerola pulp could be a viable alternative for people looking for a balanced, nutritious diet or people who are lactose intolerant or allergic to animal milk and soy proteins

Thermal decomposition behaviors and reaction mechanism of emulsion explosive with the addition of TiH2 powders

To explore compatibility and thermal stability of the emulsion explosive added with TiH2 powders, the actions of TiH2 powders on the thermal decomposition properties, reaction product compositions of the emulsion explosives were researched by TGA-FTIR, TG-DSC, XRD and XPS. The results manifested that the adding of 7.6 μm TiH2 powders in the range of 2–8 mass% could reduce the initial decomposition temperature of the emulsion explosive and promote the thermal decomposition reaction. The apparent activation energies of pure emulsion explosive sample were 110.5 and 107.05 kJ/mol, respectively. When the addition of 7.6 μm TiH2 powders to emulsion explosive was 2 mass%, the apparent activation energy decreased to the minimum value, which were 100.1 and 95.9 kJ/mol, respectively. While the initial decomposition temperatures and the activation energies of explosive samples added with TiH2 powders with particle sizes of 33.7, 50.1 and 120.0 μm both continued to rise. Furthermore, based on the experimental results, the thermolysis mechanism of emulsion explosive added with TiH2 powders was proposed. This study is helpful to further understand the thermolysis properties and reaction mechanism of emulsion explosives containing TiH2 powders, and offer theoretic direction for the formulation optimization as well as industrial production of high-energetic emulsion explosives.

An Integrated Lean and Six Sigma Framework for Improving Productivity Performance: A Case Study in a Spanish Chemicals Manufacturer

In the pursuit of operational excellence and enhanced competitiveness, a wide range of industries have turned to methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma; however, in the chemical sector, their application is very limited. This paper presents a Lean Six Sigma framework to identify and reduce sources of variability occurring in the final product composition of a Spanish SME fertilizer manufacturer. The company faced important challenges related to product variability, adversely affecting overall productivity. A real-life case of the Lean Six Sigma implementation was conducted over two years, and its applicability and ability to improve productivity performance were thoroughly assessed. The proposed framework successfully integrated Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, i.e., process mapping (value stream mapping), root cause analysis (Ishikawa cause–effect diagram), project management (SIPOC and DMAIC), and statistical process control, and demonstrated practical benefits for the case company by identifying the key variables affecting product variability and determining their optimal levels. A substantial 50% reduction in the variability of several products and a 42% reduction in material preparation time were achieved. These reductions resulted in a 40% reduction in costs associated with product losses and a 54% reduction in costs from raw material losses.

Revealing the Dual Role of Ammonia in the Hydroxide Co-precipitation Synthesis of Cobalt-free Nickel-rich LiNi0.9Mn0.05Al0.05O2 (NMA955) Cathode Materials for Lithium-ion Batteries.

Nickel-rich cobalt-free LiNi0.9Mn0.05Al0.05O2 (NMA955) is considered a promising cathode material to address the scarcity and soaring cost of cobalt. Particle size and elemental composition significantly impact the electrochemical performance of NMA955 cathodes. However, differences in precipitation rates among metal ions coveys a challenge in obtaining cathode materials with the desired particle size and composition via hydroxide co-precipitation synthesis. Utilizing complexing agents like ammonia offers an effective strategy to tackle these issues. Here, we investigate the optimal ammonia concentration to achieve moderate particle size and precise material composition. Although ammonia only forms complex coordination with transition metals, its concentration also affects the final product's precipitation and composition, including aluminum. This study shows that ammonia serves a dual function in NMA synthesis via hydroxide co-precipitation, i.e., regulating particle size and adjusting elemental composition. It was found that an ammonia concentration of 1.2 M achieved optimal particle size and composition, resulting in superior electrochemical performance. NMA955 synthesized in 1.2 M ammonia demonstrated a high specific capacity of 188.12 mAh g-1 at 0.1C, retained 71.16% of its capacity after 200 cycles at 0.2C, and delivered 110.30 mAh g-1 at 5C. These results suggest tuning ammonia concentration is crucial for producing high-performance cathode materials.

The Role of Zooplankton Community Composition in Fecal Pellet Carbon Production in the York River Estuary, Chesapeake Bay

Zooplankton play a key role in the cycling of carbon in aquatic ecosystems, yet their production of carbon-rich fecal pellets, which sink to depth and can fuel benthic community metabolism, is rarely quantified in estuaries. We measured fecal pellet carbon (FPC) production by the whole near-surface mesozooplankton community in the York River sub-estuary of Chesapeake Bay. Zooplankton biomass and taxonomic composition were measured with monthly paired day/night net tows. Live animal experiments were used to quantify FPC production rates of the whole community and dominant individual taxa. Zooplankton biomass increased in surface waters at night (2- to 29-fold) due to diel vertical migration, especially by Acartia spp. copepods. Biomass and diversity were seasonally low in the winter and high in the summer and often dominated by Acartia copepods. Whole community FPC production rates were higher (3- to 65-fold) at night than during the day, with the 0.5–1 mm size class contributing 2–26% to FPC production in the day versus 40–70% at night. An increase in the relative contribution of larger size fractions to total FPC production occurred at night due to diel vertical migration of larger animals into surface waters. Community FPC production was highest in fall due to increased diversity and abundance of larger animals producing larger fecal pellets, and lowest in summer likely due to top-down control of abundant crustacean taxa by gelatinous predators. This study indicates that zooplankton FPC production in estuaries can surpass that in oceanic systems and suggests that fecal pellet export is important in benthic-pelagic coupling in estuaries.

EFFECTS OF CONSUMERS’ SENSORY ATTRIBUTES ON THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PAY AND THE OPTIMUM PRICE FOR ICED COFFEE DRINKS

The growing competition among coffee shops demands effective strategies, including the development of optimal pricing. An optimal pricing strategy must account for both changes in coffee ingredients and consumers' willingness to pay (WTP). This study investigated the factors influencing consumers' WTP and determined optimal prices through sensory evaluations of iced coffee. This study explored how demographic factors and sensory characteristics affect consumer WTP. This study involved direct consumer tastings, where participants provided subjective ratings of iced coffee and indicated their WTP. The coffee samples included variations in milk (white and black coffee) and sugar content (granulated sugar, palm sugar, and no sugar). To measure WTP, the Becker-DeGroot-Marschak (BDM) mechanism was employed, while a demand function was used to determine the optimal price. Stepwise backward logistic regression further analyzed the factors affecting WTP. The factors influencing willingness to pay were further analyzed using stepwise backward logistic regression. The findings reveal that optimal pricing varies, with iced coffee that includes both granulated sugar and milk commanding the highest WTP. Consumer WTP is significantly influenced by factors such as gender, frequency of coffee consumption, and individual taste preferences. There was a marked difference in WTP based on the amount of milk and sugar added, with coffee variations containing both granulated sugar and milk achieving the highest WTP. These results can serve as a valuable reference for coffee shops, helping them to determine the ideal product composition and pricing strategies to maximize revenue.

Quantitative pharmacology of dual-targeted bicistronic CAR-T-cell therapy using multiscale mechanistic modeling.

Despite the initial success of single-targeted chimeric-antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in hematological malignancies, its long-term effectiveness is often hindered by antigen heterogeneity and escape. As a result, there is a growing interest in cell therapies targeting multiple antigens (≥2). However, the dose-exposure-response relationship and specific factors influencing the pharmacology of dual-targeted CAR-T-cell therapy remain unclear. In this study, we have developed a multiscale cellular kinetic-pharmacodynamic (CK-PD) model using case studies from CD19/CD22 and GPRC5D/BCMA autologous CAR-Ts. Initially, an invitro tumor-killing model characterized the impact of individual binder affinities and their contribution to overall potency across varying (1) effector: target (ET) ratios and (2) tumor-associated antigen (TAA) expressing cell lines. Subsequently, an integrated CK-PD model was developed in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, which accounted for CAR-T-cell product composition and relative antigen abundance in patients' tumor burden to characterize patient-level multiphasic cellular kinetics using multiple bioanalytical assays (e.g., flow and qPCR-based readouts). Global sensitivity analysis highlighted relative antigen expression, maximum killing rate constant, and CAR-T expansion rate constant as major determinants for observed exposure of dual-targeted CAR-T-cell therapy. This modeling framework could facilitate dose-optimization and construct refinement for dual-targeted bicistronic CAR-T-cell therapies, serving as a valuable tool for both forward and reverse translation in drug development.

CO2-free production of hydrogen via pyrolysis of natural gas: influence of non-methane hydrocarbons on product composition, methane conversion, hydrogen yield, and carbon capture

Methane pyrolysis represents a CO2-free hydrogen production route that enables simultaneous carbon capture. While the majority of previous studies in the field focus on pure CH4 as feed gas stream, commercial processes will typically rely on natural gas as feedstock that contains also non-methane hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, and n-butane. Therefore, the present study evaluates how CH4 conversion, H2 selectivity, product composition, and solid carbon yield evolve when using either pure CH4 or synthetic natural gas (SNG) as feed gas stream for a thermal pyrolysis process in a lab-scale high-temperature reactor. For this, industrially viable conditions are applied, namely temperatures between 1000 °C and 1600 °C, residence times between 1 s and 7 s, and molar H2 dilution ratios between 1:1 and 4:1. Although the use of SNG results in slightly lower hydrocarbon conversions because the additional components in SNG result in a higher effective H2 dilution ratio compared to a CH4-only feed, the non-methane hydrocarbons in the SNG have a positive effect on both H2 selectivity and solid carbon yield. Taking existing mechanistic understanding into account, these positive effects are attributed to radicals formed from the non-methane hydrocarbons, which facilitate dehydrogenation steps from ethane to ethylene and hereby increase the relative amount of H2 originating from CH4. The introduction of a carbonaceous fixed bed further benefits the performance of the pyrolysis process and ultimately enables to capture more than 98% of carbon in its solid form under industrially viable process conditions.

Insights into the effect of various supports on hydrothermal liquefaction of food waste over iron-oxide nano-catalysts

This work investigates the effect of supported iron-oxide nano-catalysts for hydrothermal conversion of food waste. The studied supports were Vulcan carbon (VC), CeO2, ZSM-5 and amorphous SiO2-Al2O3. Catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction experiments were carried out in a batch reactor at 16 MPa and 300 °C maintained for 1 h. Different fractions of Fe(0), Fe2+ and Fe3+ alter its tendency toward deoxygenation, hydrogenations and condensation reactions, which influence the bio-crude yield, elemental compositions, and energy recoveries. The fresh and spent catalysts were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, physisorption analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the change in catalyst support influences HTL pathways and product compositions. The results reveal that the inclusion of FeOx catalyst on Vulcan carbon, SiO2-Al2O3 and ZSM-5 supports can increase the bio-crude yield by ~7–9 wt% compared to their FeOx-free yields. The increase in bio-crude yield was associated with the decrease in the surface ratios of Fe3+/Fe2+ at the range of 0.8–1.6. In overall, catalysts that had higher tendencies in converting amines into oil-soluble compounds increased the bio-crude yield, while catalysts that promoted dehydration and decarboxylation route decreased the bio-crude yield. The maximum energy recovery in bio-crude was obtained using FeOx/SiO2-Al2O3 catalyst with values ~95 %. The deactivation of catalysts was associated with the increase in Ca and P poisonous elements on catalytic sites, which decreased the energy recovery of recycled FeOx/SiO2-Al2O3 to ~85 % after three cycles.

Effect of sodium zeolite mixed metal oxide catalysts on catalytic conversion of mixed-density plastic into carbon nanotubes and hydrogen fuel

A combination of experimental and statistical analysis presents a comprehensive understanding of the microwave pyrolysis technique for catalytic deconstruction of mixed-density plastics. By optimizing the process parameters and catalyst selection, it is possible to maximize the production of valuable solid and energy products, contributing to sustainable waste management. In this work, different mixed-density plastics were pyrolyzed with different catalysts and residence times to yield liquid fuel, syngas, and structured carbon residue. The effect of inputs on the product type, yield and composition was statistically evaluated using ANOVA, which showed an F value of 4.108 and a p-value of 0.098 (>1.00). FTIR and GC-MS revealed that the oil product consisted of C13+ fractions in the form of alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics. The microscopic analysis of the residue confirmed the formation of carbon nanotubes along with other amorphous products. The presence of impurities in the solid product was further analyzed through XRD analysis. The pyrolytic liquid fuel revealed the presence of conjugated aromatic structure and carbonyl group in their concentration. This research demonstrated that converting mixed-density plastics using sodium zeolite, aluminum oxide, and nickel oxide catalysts yields 84% valuable products, confirming wasted plastics as a lucrative energy feedstock for producing hydrogen and high-value carbon compounds.

Detonation product analysis and the paradoxical performance mechanism of TKX-50: High detonation velocity with low metal acceleration

This study investigates the paradoxical detonation behavior of TKX-50, a nitrogen-rich energetic material, exhibiting higher detonation velocities but lower metal acceleration ability compared to HMX. Through experimental measurements and theoretical calculations, we propose a novel three-factor competition mechanism to explain this phenomenon. TKX-50-based PBX formulations achieved detonation velocities up to 9100 m/s, surpassing HMX-based counterparts. However, cylinder expansion tests revealed a 15% reduction in metal acceleration ability. Thermochemical measurements showed lower detonation heat for TKX-50 (4900 J/g) versus HMX (5645 J/g). Our mechanism involves: (1) compositional effects prevailing at high pressures; (2) Energy release becoming essential as pressure drops; (3) Pressure-dependent product composition evolution functioning at low pressure. VLW code calculations unveiled a "crossover" in Hugoniot curves, lending support to this mechanism. This study furnishes a new framework for comprehending the performance of nitrogen-rich energetic materials, with significant implications for the design and optimization of future high-energy density materials.

Solid-liquid phase microextractive adsorption of bio-lactic acid by a novel microextractor immobilizing ionic liquid A336

The separation of biochemicals poses significant challenges, such as complex product composition, strong hydrophilicity, and high boiling point, which leads to laborious procedures, low yield, and high energy consumption. These obstacles have become bottlenecks for the industrialization of biochemicals. To enhance the efficient separation of bio-lactic acid, a novel microextractor, PS-A336, was synthesized through the copolymerization of ionic liquid (IL) A336 onto a polystyrene (PS) skeleton and further employed to investigate the solid–liquid phase microextractive adsorption (SLPMA). Extensive analysis of PS-A336 microstructure and chemical composition demonstrated its exceptional performance with a rapid (< 20 min) adsorption capacity (1150 mg/g) for LA in the batch system, which is the highest value reported and 11.0 times higher than that of the pristine supports. PS-A336 maintained its stability even after 15 cycles of column chromatography. Its adsorption behavior also fits the common thermodynamic and kinetic models, and it is better for the SLPMA kinetic model established on Fick diffusion law. Additionally, PS-A336 exhibited high adsorption capacity and selectivity for LA from the fermentation broth, achieving above 98 % removal ratios to proteins, inorganic salts, and pigments. The double hydrogen bonds between PS-A336 and LA were identified as the primary driving forces for SLPMA following theoretical and structural investigations. Notably, the immobilized IL in PS-A336 exhibited a remarkable microextraction effect, i.e., an increase in extractive capacity at least 16.6 times due to 59.8-fold improvement in the interface area compared with the bulk IL, which is 28.6 times higher than the adsorption capacity of PS skeleton. Our findings provided new insights into the combination of extraction and adsorption, as well as valuable guidance for the efficient separation of bio-based chemicals.

Utilizing diatomaceous earth (DE) as a sustainable substitute in alkali-activated cementitious materials: Performance and life cycle assessment

As the demand for alkali-activated cementitious materials (AACM) increases, reliance on blast furnace slag (BFS) raises concerns about potential shortages. This study evaluates the substitution of BFS with diatomaceous earth (DE) in AACM, using three DE types—raw (RDE), calcined (CDE), and spent (SDE)—at substitution rates of 0–30 %. The impact of these substitutions on fluidity, setting time, and compressive/flexural strength of the prepared mortar was assessed, along with an analysis of the mechanisms through hydration heat, product composition, and pore structure. Results indicate that DE, characterized by the porous structure and high content of amorphous silica, enhances early hydration, reduces fluidity, accelerates setting times, and refines pore structure, thereby improving strength. CDE, with its low organic content and large surface area, exhibited the best performance, while SDE was effective despite impurities, and RDE performed the poorest. Increasing DE substitution raised water absorption, impacting fluidity and setting times, with 20 % identified as the optimal substitution rate, balancing strength and workability. The entropy method-analytic hierarchy process (EM-AHP) confirmed this rate, with CDE as the optimal variant. Life cycle assessment (LCA) showed that while SDE reduces environmental impacts significantly, CDE achieves a greater reduction when considering both environmental and mechanical performance. In conclusion, CDE and SDE are viable BFS substitutes in AACM, offering enhanced performance and reduced environmental impacts.

Evaporation, spreading, and possible uptake of droplets on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) leaves using an imaging-based technology.

Sprayed agrochemical droplets have a dynamic evolution on the leaf surface, undergoing changes in shape and volume due to spreading, evaporation, and adsorption. To better understand these processes, an accessible imaging-based experimental methodology is presented to precisely measure droplet spreading, evaporation, and potential uptake by a leaf within a controlled relative humidity environment. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of hydrocarbon surfactants, accelerators (light mineral oil), and humectants (high fructose corn syrup) on droplet spread, evaporation, and potential uptake when applied to sorghum (Sorghum bicolor 'Tricker') and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) leaves. Experiments on cowpea leaves showed uniform spreading and no change in evaporation compared to the predicted rate. In contrast, on sorghum leaves, results suggest that the volume loss rate exceeds the predicted evaporation rate (up to 23%), indicating a potential uptake by the leaves. Some accelerated dynamics on sorghum can be attributed to the lateral spreading observed on hairy leaves along the veins, increasing the contact area by an average of 65%. However, samples containing light mineral oil, typically considered an accelerant to aid in uptake, demonstrated the highest rate but exhibited minimal spreading. The study demonstrates how droplet composition affects droplet dynamics on waxy and hairy leaves by using an imaging-based methodology to measure evaporation rates, volume loss, contact angle, wetted area, and spreading behavior. The findings highlight some of the complex coupling between the crop protection product composition and droplet life cycle on a leaf. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Environmental impact analysis of ajmaline challenge protocols: a comparative assessment of carbon footprint reduction in Brugada Syndrome diagnosis

Abstract Background Climate change is an urgent public health crisis that significantly impacts disease development and health outcomes. The 2022 Lancet Countdown Report revealed that healthcare contributes with 5.2% of global emissions, prompting a call for environmentally conscious approaches. In this context, we explored the environmental impact of different ajmaline challenge protocols, aiming to contribute to a more sustainable medical landscape. Purpose This study aims to compare the carbon footprint of two ajmaline challenge protocols commonly used in diagnosing Brugada syndrome, an inherited cardiac disorder associated with sudden cardiac death. Methods We performed a retrospective and observational analysis of adult patients (pts) who underwent ajmaline testing between March 2020 and June 2023 in two hospitals. In Group A (infusion protocol), 1mg/kg of ajmaline diluted in 50 mL of 5% glucose solution was infused in 10 minutes, up to the target dose, until a positive result or termination criteria ensued. In Group B (bolus protocol), 10 mg of ajmaline were administered every 2 minutes, again up to the target dose of 1mg/kg (maximum of 100 mg) or test interruption was indicated. Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from material processing were estimated based on life cycle analyses of each product's composition. Material consumption, waste production, and direct measurement of weights were considered. Results A total of 101 pts were included, 49 pts in group A with a mean age of 47.3±14.3 years old and 52 patients in group B with a mean age of 43.9±16.6 years-old. No complications were observed in either group. Test performance was not evaluated, since both protocols have been previously validated. Group A, utilizing the infusion method, exhibited a higher environmental impact, producing 18.19 kg CO2eq, compared to 6.23 kg CO2eq (p&amp;lt;0.001) in Group B (bolus protocol). Group B not only demonstrated a 66% reduction in CO2eq emissions but also used significantly less plastic (16g vs 102g per test) and glass (1.58 kg vs 1,79Kg), emphasizing its environmental superiority. Conclusions Shifting from infusion to bolus in ajmaline challenge protocols results in a substantial reduction in carbon footprint. Our findings emphasize the potential impact of adopting more dematerialized approaches in cardiac testing, urging healthcare professionals to embrace sustainable practices. Despite the study's limited sample size, the global adoption of such environmentally friendly strategies promises significant positive effects on healthcare's environmental footprint.

Low chemical-expansion and self-catalytic nickel-substituted strontium cobaltite perovskite four-channel hollow fibre membrane for partial oxidation of methane

In membrane reactors, the thermo-mechanical stability of the membrane determines the operability of the reaction, while the permeability and catalytic performance dictate the reaction process. A high chemical expansion coefficient can exacerbate the mismatch in the thermal expansion behaviour between the two sides of the membrane, potentially resulting in fracture. The low permeability and slow catalytic activity can slow the reaction process and result in an unsatisfactory product composition. Here, a Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.7Fe0.2Ni0.1O3-δ (BSCFN) four-channel hollow fibre membrane with a low chemical-expansion and high oxygen permeation flux has been successfully fabricated by phase inversion and a one-step thermal process (OSTP). Reaction sintering during the OSTP forms an NiO in-situ exsolution phase on the membrane surface, and A-site stoichiometry excess occurs, improves the oxygen permeation flux, and provides the membrane with self-catalytic ability during the partial oxidation of methane (POM) reactions. Consequently, the BSCFN membrane shows excellent performance; exhibiting an oxygen flux of 11.75 mL cm−2·min−1 at 900 °C. Furthermore, the self-catalytic BSCFN membrane has a good hydrogen production of 10.1 mL cm−2·min−1 during the POM process, which is 7.5 times higher than that of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ membranes (1.87 mL cm−2·min−1). This offers a viable strategy for the development of membrane reactor applications.

Stochastic error propagation with independent probability distributions in LCA does not preserve mass balances and leads to unusable product compositions—a first quantification

Abstract Purpose To mitigate the effects of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, a system-based approach to estimating environmental impacts—such as life cycle assessment (LCA)—is critical. International standards recommend using uncertainty analysis to improve the reliability of LCA, but there has been debate about how to do this for many years. In particular, in order to characterise uncertainty in the inputs and outputs of each unit process in an LCA, a prevalent approach is to represent each one by an independent probability distribution. Thus, any physical relationships between inputs and outputs are ignored, which causes two potential errors during Monte Carlo simulation (a popular method for propagating uncertainty through an LCA model). First, the sum of the inputs to a unit process may not equal the sum of the outputs (i.e. there may be a mass imbalance), and second, the proportions of each input and output may be unrealistic (e.g. too much cement in a concrete production unit process). However, while some literature has discussed the problem, it has not yet been quantified. Methods Therefore, this paper investigates the extent to which existing uncertainty characterisation approaches, where there is a lack of parameterisation or correlations in databases, lead to mass imbalances and unrealistic variations in unit process compositions when performing uncertainty analysis. The matrix-based structure of LCA and the standard uncertainty analysis procedure using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to propagate uncertainty are described. We apply the procedure to a concrete production process. Two uncertainty characterisation approaches are also explored to assess the effect of data quality scoring on mass imbalances and the mass contribution of each exchange (i.e. production compositions). Results and discussion For median data quality scores and using a typical (basic + additional uncertainty) uncertainty characterisation approach, the 1000-iteration MC simulation leads to mass imbalances ranging from − 49 to + 30% of the original mass and found that the mass imbalance exceeded existing prescribed plausibility limits on 62.7% of MC runs. On average across all exchanges, the exchange mass exceeded the 5% plausible variation limit on 77.7% of MC runs. This means that the final concrete product compositions are unlikely to be realistic or functionally equivalent to one another. We discuss the appropriateness of using universal variances for the underlying normal distribution for data quality scores (“additional uncertainty”) when input exchange quantities are of different scales. Additionally, we discuss potential solutions to the mass imbalance problem and their suitability for implementation at a database scale. Conclusions We have quantified, for the first time, the significant impact that uncertainty characterisation via independent probability distributions has on maintaining mass balances and plausible product compositions in unit processes. To overcome these challenges, databases would need to be parameterised and have the ability to sum quantities to perform mass balance checks during uncertainty analysis.