Recycling Of Components Research Articles

Sustainable Recycling of Spent Ionic Liquid Dual‐Ion Batteries

Ionic liquid (IL) dual‐ion batteries (DIBs) are widely studied as advanced electrochemical systems because of their potential nonflammability, environmental friendliness, and high working voltage. Recycling and reusing valuable IL electrolytes and metallic Ni current collectors might boost the application of IL DIBs. Herein, the preliminary results of the recycling of a spent DIB with 1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐propylimidazolium chloroaluminate (DMPI+)(AlCl4−) electrolyte are reported. Recovery rates of most components (graphite flakes, Ni current collector, and so on) of the DIB reach a range of 84–98%, whereas the IL electrolyte is only 24%. Optimistically, the cost of an IL DIB using recycled components can be reduced by around 68%. Thus, developing the recycling processes might pave the way to increase the competitiveness of IL DIBs for grid‐scale energy storage.

Barium isotope composition of depleted MORB mantle constrained by basalts from the South Mid-Atlantic Ridge (5–11°S) with implication for recycled components in the convecting upper mantle

Stable barium (Ba) isotopes are emerging as tracers for the recycling of crustal material into the mantle. Small but significant Ba isotope variations have been found in global MORB (δ138/134Ba values of −0.04‰ to 0.15‰), but the processes causing these Ba isotope variations remain poorly understood. In addition, uncertainties still exist in the estimate of the Ba isotope composition of the depleted upper mantle. Here, we present a systematic study of Ba isotopes for well-characterized MORB glass samples from the South Mid-Atlantic Ridge (SMAR) between 5 and 11°S, which span a wide range of radiogenic isotope ratios and trace element contents. Our results show that the northernmost segment A0 basalts with highly depleted radiogenic isotope compositions have δ138/134Ba values ranging from −0.02 to 0.05‰. In comparison, the δ138/134Ba values of the isotopically enriched basalts from the A1-A4 segments vary from 0.02 to 0.11‰. Thus, while small, the enriched components involved can be observed to modify the Ba isotope composition of the mantle source beneath A1-A4 segments. Combining our new measurements with literature data, this study places new constraints on the Ba isotope composition of the depleted upper mantle, as well as the origin of Ba isotope heterogeneity in MORB. The Ba isotope composition of the depleted upper mantle in the absence of recycled components is estimated to have a δ138/134Ba value of 0.03 to 0.05‰, which can be adopted as the baseline for using Ba isotope ratios as a tracer of mass transfer processes between the crust and mantle. In comparison, global MORB have δ138/134Ba values ranging from −0.04‰ to 0.15‰. No global correlation is observed between Ba isotope ratios and geochemical parameters that record mantle enrichment, indicating that the Ba isotope variations in MORB cannot be simply ascribed to the addition of some single component, such as sediment. Models for melting and mixing between recycled materials and depleted mantle suggest that the variable Ba isotope compositions of the enriched MORB require a contribution from recycled altered oceanic crust and crustal sedimentary materials. Therefore, these recycled components both play important roles in the chemical budget of the convecting upper mantle, especially for incompatible elements such as Ba.

Extraction and separation of petroleum pollutants from oil-based drilling cuttings using methanol/n-hexane solvent

Oil-based drilling cuttings (OBDC) have a high content of petroleum pollutants with strong mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic properties. Solvent extraction can effectively separate petroleum pollutants from OBDC. However, single solvent has preferred solubility for different types of petroleum pollutants in OBDC, resulting in a lower oil removal efficiency. Therefore, based on the polarity difference between methanol (Me) and n-hexane (He), a method was developed to extract petroleum pollutants from OBDC using Me&He. Compared with methanol or n-hexane alone, the oil removal efficiency of compound Me&He was significantly increased to 94.58 %, and 37, 37 and 77 petroleum pollutants were extracted using Single methanol, Single n-hexane and Compound Me&He, respectively. Methanol extraction preferentially solubilised polar molecules such as alcohols and carboxylic acids, while n-hexane extraction preferentially solubilised alkanes and other nonpolar molecules. Compound Me&He compensated for the low solubility of single solvents for petroleum pollutant extraction from OBDC. Additionally, because methanol and n-hexane are not mutually soluble, it was easy to separate the recycled components. Compared with other common solvent extraction technologies, compound Me&He had advantages including simple operation and high oil removal efficiency. This study provided a theoretical basis and technical reference for the efficient processing and resource recycling of OBDC.

Olivines and Their Melt Inclusions in Potassic Volcanic Rocks Record Mantle Heterogeneity beneath the Southern Tibet

Abstract Constraints on mantle heterogeneity are important for understanding geochemical differentiation and recycling in Earth’s interior. Alkali basalts are of particular interest in this context due to the clear signatures of recycled components that they yield. Previous studies have focused more on oceanic basalts than on continental mafic rocks because the chemical and isotopic characteristics of the latter are often modified by crustal contamination; however, high-forsterite olivine crystals and olivine-hosted melt inclusions may record the compositions of primitive melts before extensive crustal contamination, providing valuable insights into mantle heterogeneity. Here we report the results of high-precision major-, minor-, and trace-element and Pb isotope analyses of olivine phenocrysts and melt inclusions from the Sailipu potassic alkali basalts from southern Tibet, which constrain the mantle source of continental potassic alkali basalts. The minor- and trace-element compositions of the olivine phenocrysts (e.g. Ni and Ca contents and 100 × Mn/Fe, 10 000 × Zn/Fe, and Ni/Co ratios) suggest that the primary magmas were derived from a phlogopite-bearing pyroxenite source in which peridotite residues were also present. The low- and high-Li contents of the olivine phenocrysts suggest the recycling of continental crustal material in their mantle source. Comparing the major-element compositions (e.g. SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, MnO, CaO, and Na2O contents), FCMS and FCKANTMS parameters, and pseudo-ternary projections of the primary Sailipu magmas with experimental data suggests that the primary magmas were partial melts of olivine-poor or carbonated olivine-poor lithologies with a small amount of peridotite residue. The negative Nb and Ta and positive Pb anomalies seen in primitive mantle-normalized trace-element patterns and the extremely low Nb/U ratios of the melt inclusions suggest that recycling of continental crust was the main process involved in enriching the mantle source of the Sailipu magmas. The heterogeneous Pb isotopic compositions of the melt inclusions (208Pb/206Pb = 2.089 – 2.158; 207Pb/206Pb = 0.851 – 0.858) are consistent with the presence of peridotite residue in this source. The subduction of Indian continental crust introduced enriched material (including carbonatites) into the mantle.

Development of an advanced extrusion process for the reduction of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds of recycled HDPE from fuel tanks

Plastic fuel tanks of vehicles are typically made by high density polyethylene (HDPE). The easiness of the dismantling procedure from end-of-life vehicles and the intrinsic recyclability of HDPE allows them to be accounted in principle in the “white list” of recyclable components. However, the strong contamination and odor produced by the volatile (VOCs) and semi-volatile (SVOCs) organic compounds which have been absorbed during the service life, drastically hinders the use of this end-of-life material. This aspect reduces its actual recyclability, especially in higher-value applications. In this paper, we report a study on an innovative extrusion process specifically designed for the stripping out of these organic contaminants. We also report an in-depth analytic approach to identify their nature and fraction, as a way for ranking the effect of the different processing conditions, which have been tested. The developed extrusion process uses a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with degassing points and the injection of water as medium for desorbing the organic contaminants. The analytic approach is based on headspace (HS) sampling associated to gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometric detection (GC–MS). The multivariate approach of the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was applied on the entire dataset collected in the experiments, comprising the HS GC–MS data, the different process parameters, and the mechanical and thermal data. As a result, the effect of the processing conditions and all the organic contaminants present in the material were identified.The developed extrusion process allows one to obtain a material with higher opportunity to be used in applications which require enhanced performance, therefore, to be considered effectively recyclable, further reducing the environmental impact of the end-of-life vehicles.

Sewage Treatment of Self Sustainable E-Toilets Using Bio-Digester Method

Abstract: Public sanitation is a cause of concern due to lack of hygienic sanitation infrastructure in the city. The effective use of information, communication and other engineering technologies has led to solve the major inherent issues of public sanitation such as lack of cleanliness and lack of adequate manpower support to manage the units. Electronic toilets have identified that the above issues are prevailing universally and this has a direct bearing on the health of communities. Hence E-toilet concentrates on the following areas where the outcomes shall be in the favour of providing sustainable solutions for above three critical issues. Design of the research is to develop sustainable solutions for the above cited areas, so that it can be used effectively in households, slums or in urban/semi urban locations and cities benefits the city dwellers and the large floating populations. E-toilet are easily adaptable and customizable to the demand of the respective communities. It focuses on a cost efficiency and sustainability. E-toilets provide sanitation that ensures a clean and hygienic environment while recovering recyclable components in a budget friendly (economic) way. To further consolidate, E-toilets focuses on Cleanliness, conversation, cost efficiency, modularity and Universality in our research output. This also covers the advantages of E-toilets in its effectiveness to reduce open defecation, minimizing the pollution and water borne diseases, and improvements in aesthetic value. The study involves the comparative analysis between E-toilet and Conventional toilet.

Advances in the circularity of end-of-life fibre-reinforced polymers by microwave intensification

The growing use of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites and the increasing global generation of FRP waste implies an urgent need to develop a circular economy strategy to promote the recovery of fibres and the valorisation of resins. This review paper analyses the current scenario of FRP recycling technologies and evaluates the potentials of microwave-assisted heating as a technology to provide an intensification in terms of energy-efficiency, selective heating and processing speed, as well as an electrified thermal treatment for FRP recycling. The paper presents an overview of the estimated FRP production and waste generation per sector in the coming decennia and the current and envisioned international legislation related to the management of end-of-life FRP. The paper also discusses the strong and weak points of the existing FRP recycling technologies, their readiness level and overall environmental impact in terms of equivalent CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the emerging microwave-assisted FRP recycling technology is evaluated, showcasing the potentials and obstacles for its implementation and the potential end-use and characteristics of the recycled components. A literature survey on the existing prototypes, MW-assisted waste-to-value processes and reported energy demand is conducted. Finally, the required resources and framework for the consolidation of the MW-assisted FRP recycling as an alternative and economically viable technology are assessed.

A Sustainable Cold-Recycled Solution for the Surface Finishing of Unpaved Rural Roads.

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation which was carried out with the purpose of assessing the performance-related properties of an emulsion-based cold-recycled mixture to be employed as a sustainable solution for the surface finishing of unpaved rural roads. This mixture contained significant quantities of recycled components (reclaimed asphalt and mineral sludge), and its composition was fine-tuned by following an innovative mix design procedure. Properties of these mixtures were studied by means of laboratory tests which considered key parameters, such as flowability, indirect tensile stiffness modulus, indirect tensile strength, moisture susceptibility and resistance to permanent deformation. It was found that, by means of the proposed mix design procedure, optimal dosages of the recycled components can be identified, thereby ensuring the achievement of the desired properties in terms of high workability and adequate stiffness and strength.

Improving Body Skin Quality: Evidence-Based Development of Topical Treatment and Survey of Current Options.

The growing interest in improving the quality of body (as distinct from facial) skin may be in part attributable to the expanding use of noninvasive body contouring procedures. In this review, we describe a new framework characterizing the factors that define skin quality (including visual, textural, and biomechanical attributes) that provides a foundation for improved assessment of skin quality and its response to treatment. We then highlight critical biological pathways responsible for body skin restoration and maintenance that have been identified during the development of restorative topical products. Each of these pathways, including extracellular matrix support, suppression of lipogenesis, and enhancement of cellular/macromolecular recycling and clearance, lymphatic drainage, and lipolysis, is a potential target of 1 or more bioactive substances. A survey of available topical products marketed for skin quality improvement suggests that none target more than 2 of these pathways (including extracellular matrix support, lipolysis, and autophagy, a component of cellular recycling), leaving abundant opportunity for development of new topical formulations that target all or most of the critical pathways. Such formulations may provide improved outcomes when used as standalone products for general skin quality improvement and rejuvenation, in addition to their potential for post-procedure use, and also for pre-procedure skin conditioning. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(6):653-658. doi:10.36849/JDD.6811.

Geochemical evidence for a widespread Paleoproterozoic continental arc-back-arc magmatism in the Lesser Himalaya during the Columbia supercontinent assembly

The geodynamic evolution of the proto-northern Indian continental margin during Paleoproterozoic is widely debated. The proposed models include (i) a mantle plume triggered rift-related tectonic setting at a passive continental margin and (ii) an Andean type active continental margin. A widespread quasi-continuous belt of Paleoproterozoic (∼1.9–1.8 Ga) granitoids and orthogneisses, as well as mafic volcanic and intrusive rocks intercalated with metasedimentary rocks, occur all along the strike of Lesser Himalaya. A geochemical re-investigation is presented here using the existing geochemical data on mafic volcanic and intrusive rocks from the Lesser Himalayan Sequence of Himachal, Garhwal, and Nepal sectors to address the tectonic affiliation of these rocks and to infer the geodynamic setting of the proto-northern continental margin of the Indian Shield. These mafic magmatic rocks are classified as subalkaline basalt and basaltic andesite with calc-alkaline magmatic affinity to transitional character between calc-alkaline and tholeiites. Broad initial ɛNd range reveals a heterogeneous mantle source developed by mixing between a depleted mantle and a recycled component. Mantle source enrichment of these rocks is attributed to the interaction between the siliceous partial melt from the subducted sediment-laden oceanic crust and the mantle wedge, which is further supported by compositional similarity with experimental hybrid partial melts of eclogite-peridotite reaction. Estimated mantle potential temperature from the composition of these mafic rocks is comparable to that of mid-oceanic ridge basalts and does not invoke a mantle plume in their genesis. Geochemical proxies based on the major oxide abundances reveal the generation of these rocks from olivine-poor lithologies. It is suggested that these rocks were generated in a back-arc setting during the assembly of the Columbia supercontinent at the proto-northern continental margin of the Indian Shield. Distinct Nd isotopic systematics in these rocks compared to the Paleoproterozoic metamafic rocks of Cathaysia Block of South China Craton questions their purported linkage in the Columbia configuration.

A sustainable circular 3D printing model for recycling metal scrap in the automotive industry

Purpose Industries and businesses are pursuing Industry 4.0 technologies as well as adopting a circular approach focused on improving manufacturing processes through the reduction of wastes, CO2 emissions and mineral exploration to mitigate the impact of climate change. In this sense, additive manufacturing (AM), often referred to as 3D printing, can play a key role in the closed-loop of operations. However, academics and practitioners have scarcely discussed the feasibility of implementing AM alongside circular economy (CE) practices, the techniques and methods that this would require, or how AM could benefit sustainability and circularity. To address these gaps, this paper proposes a novel circular sustainable 3D printing model for scrap recycling in the automotive industry.Design/methodology/approach The methodology uses a literature review-based approach followed by empirical research using metal scraps as the raw material for fabricating a powder to input a metal 3D printer for generating sustainable automotive components. A conceptual sustainable circular model for the automotive industry is proposed. Next, is conducted a focus group comprises AM and automotive industry experts for evaluations.Findings The results indicate that the proposed model can be used to reintroduce waste back into the manufacturing chain as raw material for the on-demand manufacture and supply of automotive components and that it may also have social and environmental implications.Originality/value This paper’s contributions are threefold: it explores the combined use of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), CE and sustainability in the automotive industry, develops a new model to support the circularity and sustainability of the scrap chain and proposes the use of AM as a catalyst of CE practices by reproducing recycled components with a 3D printer for prototypes or fully functioning components.

Geochemical constraints on source nature and recycled oceanic crust in the mantle of the Celebes Sea

Indian-type mantle is extensively distributed in the marginal basins of the western Pacific; however, the origin of this mantle remains unclear. The Celebes Sea is located between the Pacific and Indian oceans, and its igneous crustal rocks provide crucial constraints on if and on how this anomalous mantle developed in the region. However, limited knowledge has been obtained on the origin of mantle source of the Celebes Sea because only normal-type mid-ocean ridge basalts (N-MORBs) at ODP Site U770 in this basin have been examined. In this study, both N-MORBs and enriched (E)-MORBs were identified at Site U770, which were analyzed for whole-rock major and trace elements, Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopes, and in situ olivine geochemistry. Site U770 basalt samples are Indian-type (i.e., plot above the Northern Hemisphere reference line [NHRL] on plots of 208Pb/204Pb and 207Pb/204Pb versus 206Pb/204Pb) MORBs, based on their Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic compositions. An enriched mantle end-member exists in the MORB-type depleted mantle source, as evidenced by correlations between ɛNd and SmN/YbN, Sr/Sr*, and Eu/Eu*. Recycled igneous oceanic crust that experienced plagioclase fractionation can account for the geochemically enriched end-member in the mantle source, based on the positive correlation of ɛNd vs. Sr/Sr* and Eu/Eu*. The recycled igneous oceanic crust plus minor amounts of pelagic sediments can also explain the origins of Indian-type mantle in the Celebes Sea. The E-MORBs have higher Zn/Mn and Zn/Fe ratios, and similar olivine Ni, Ca, and Mn contents as compared to global MORBs, which is also consistent with a recycled oceanic crust-derived, eclogite-rich, mantle source. This suggests recycled components contribute to the lithological and geochemical heterogeneity in the mantle beneath the Celebes Sea.

New U[sbnd]Pb zircon and geochemical constraints on Late Devonian Back-arc basin origin of eclogite protoliths from northeastern Hainan Island, South China

Geochronological, geochemical, and SrNd isotopic data are used to constrain the age, origin, and tectonic setting of the protoliths of newly discovered eclogites from Chaotanbi, northeastern Hainan Island, South China. New sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) UPb zircon dating reveals that the protoliths of the Chaotanbi eclogites formed at 364 ± 2 Ma and were metamorphosed at 297 ± 1 Ma. All samples collected from a coherent area of ~1.8 km2 in the intertidal and subtidal zones on the island exhibit tholeiitic compositions, with initial 87Sr/86Sr and εNd values of 0.705–0.707 and − 1.1 to +7.4, respectively. The samples can be further categorized into three groups based on incompatible trace elements. Group #1 samples have a normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) affinity and were originated from relatively high-degree partial melting of a depleted spinel lherzolite mantle source slightly modified by slab-derived fluids. Group #2 samples have an enriched mid-ocean ridge basalt (E-MORB) affinity and were derived from an enriched spinel and spinel–garnet lherzolite transition mantle source at depths greater than that of Group #1. Group #3 samples have an island arc basalt (IAB) affinity and were generated by partial melting of an enriched spinel–garnet lherzolite mantle source modified by fluid- and sediment-related recycled components. The association of these diverse basalt types, with MORB-type samples accounting for ~90% of all samples, suggest a Late Devonian mature back-arc basin existed on northeastern Hainan Island, as a part of the Jinshajiang–Ailaoshan–Song Ma–Hainan back-arc basin system. Therefore, the Chaotanbi eclogites are a fingerprint of the opening and closure of the eastern Paleo-Tethyan Ocean.

A Comprehensive Review on Metal Matrix Composites for Railway Applications

The railways produce the backbone of all passengers, transporting goods and economies. Railway compartments play a critical role in safety and track performance in rail transportation. Composite-based sleeper is developed into an adequate substitute for recovering the existing steel, concrete, and specifically timber sleeper in heavyhaul rail and mainline networks. Composite sleeper methodologies are earlier abundant, but they have captured restricted acceptance from the railway industry. Presently, the composite sleeper methodologies are significant, ranging from sleepers created with recycled components initiating from construction waste, rubber, and plastic. While these recycled components based sleepers are lower price, the primary issues of utilizing this these kinds of sleepers are their limited dynamics, stiffness, strength characteristics that, in most conditions, are incompatible with those of conventional timber, steel, or concrete sleepers. The essential for novel material with standard features have paved the path to developing and emerging components from metal matrix composites. Parts that acquire prescribed characteristics, like including strength, good toughness, higher resistance from corrosion, and wear in their fibrous medium are favorably reinforced with fundamental metal to fabricate metal matric composites. In this review paper, the components of railway systems, different types of fabricating metal matrix composites, issues while conducting experiments, sustainability, life cycle assessment, and waste management are explored together with the present complexities opposing their whole market avenue.

Petrogenesis of Lava from Christmas Island, Northeast Indian Ocean: Implications for the Nature of Recycled Components in Non-Plume Intraplate Settings

Lava samples from the Christmas Island Seamount Province (CHRISP) record an extreme range in enriched mantle (EM) type Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope signatures. Here we report osmium isotope data obtained on four samples from the youngest, Pliocene petit-spot phase (Upper Volcanic Series, UVS; ~4.4 Ma), and four samples from the earlier, Eocene (Lower Volcanic Series, LVS; ~40 Ma) shield building phase of Christmas Island. Osmium concentrations are low (5–82 ppt) with initial Os isotopic values (187Os/188Osi) ranging from (0.1230–0.1679). Along with additional new geochemical data (major and trace elements, Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes, olivine δ18O values), we demonstrate the following: (1) The UVS is consistent with melting of shallow Indian mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) mantle enriched with both lower continental crust (LCC) and subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) components; and (2) The LVS is consistent with recycling of SCLM components related to Gondwana break-up. The SCLM component has FOZO or HIMU like characteristics. One of the LVS samples has less radiogenic Os (γOs –3.4) and provides evidence for the presence of ancient SCLM in the source. The geochemistry of the Christmas Island lava series supports the idea that continental breakup causes shallow recycling of lithospheric and lower crustal components into the ambient MORB mantle.

The origin of nitrogen in Earth's mantle: Constraints from basalts 15N/14N and N2/3He ratios

Plate tectonics is thought to be a major driver of volatile redistribution on Earth. The budget of nitrogen in Earth's mantle has been suggested to be almost entirely surface-derived. Recycling would contribute nitrogen with relatively heavy 15N/14N isotope ratios to Earth's mantle. This could explain why the Earth's mantle 15N/14N isotope ratio is substantially higher than both solar gases and chondritic parent bodies akin to enstatite chondrites. Here, published nitrogen isotope data of mid-ocean ridge and ocean island basalts are compiled and used to evaluate the nitrogen subduction hypothesis. Nitrogen isotope ratios are used in conjunction with published N2/3He and K2O/TiO2 ratios on the same basalts. Assuming that 3He is not recycled, N2/3He ratios are argued to trace nitrogen addition to mantle sources via subduction. Various mantle source enrichments for basalts are tracked with K2O/TiO2 ratios: elevated K2O/TiO2 ratios are assumed to primarily reflect the contributions of recycled components in the basalts mantle sources. The main result of our data compilation is that for most basalts, δ15N and N2/3He remain constant across a vast range of K2O/TiO2 ratios. Mid-ocean ridge basalts have δ15N signatures that are lower than air by ~4‰ and an average N2/3He ratio of 3.7 (±1.2) x106 (95% confidence, n = 30). Published δ15N and N2/3He are invariant across K2O/TiO2 ratios that vary over a factor of ~20. Using estimates of slab K2O/TiO2 and [TiO2], the observed invariant δ15N and N2/3He may be fit with slabs containing ~0.1 ppm N. A mass balance shows that adding ~10% recycled slabs to the convective mantle only raises the N2/3He by <5%. Lavas from Iceland, Galapagos and Hawaii have high 3He/4He and 15N/14N ratios relative to the convective mantle. Only seven samples show nitrogen isotopic signatures that are unaffected by air contamination, although those samples are poorly characterized for N2/3He. The seven basalts show δ15N between −2 and 0‰ that do not vary systematically with K2O/TiO2 ratios that vary over a factor of ~5. The N2/3He ratios of these seven basalts is unknown, but the high 3He/4He mantle may be estimated by combining published N2/36Ar to 3He/36Ar ratios. This yields a N2/3He of 2.3 (±1.2) x 106 (1σ uncertainty). This is indistinguishable from the MORB estimate of 3.7 (±1.2) x 106. Invariant δ15N across variable degrees of mantle enrichments and MORB-like N2/3He for the high 3He/4He mantle are not consistent with nitrogen addition to plume sources with elevated 3He/4He ratios. A δ15N between −2 and 0‰ for plume sources, only marginally higher than MORB, could be a primordial feature of undegassed mantle reservoirs. Nonetheless, nitrogen subduction may have contributed to a specific array of mantle sources, as revealed by the few published data on basalts with low 3He/4He ratios. Lavas from the Society plume with low 3He/4He ratios show an enriched mantle source, and they have elevated δ15N ≥ +0.5‰ and N2/3He > 107. For those, the addition of slabs with concentrations of ~0.1 ppm N to a mantle source can account for the integrated dataset. To summarize, the published data suggest that nitrogen subduction may explain a sub-set of published N isotope data on basalts, but that N recycling has an overall more limited impact on mantle nitrogen than previously thought.

Micro-electricity generation using solar thermal design and modelling thermosiphon applications from waste recycled materials

In this study, the abundant heat energy available from daily insolation in tropical climates is converted into DC current via a reversible thermoelectric effect. Recyclable components were employed in the construction of a simple solar-thermoelectric generator. The design used is based on the power tower method (without heliostats) of generating electricity from a steam-powered turbine. Recyclable waste materials such as soda can, insulation, support stand, (bottle tops) and plane mirrors were used. Integration of this TEG into a cogeneration system produced average steam temperature of 60 °C in 330 s, from concentrated Solar Power (CSP) from 720 plane mirrors over a land area of 4 m2. Steam emanating from the boiler was used to turn eight light weight bottle tops affixed to a rotor, under standard conditions of air mass of 1 atm. The thermo-electrical performance was determined from Z, figure of merit. Given that the electrical conductivity (σ), thermal conductivity (λ) and Seebeck coefficient of the thermo-power (S) of all materials used were assumed to be constant. The output energy directed through wires to a step-up transformer, generated an electromotive force which adequately lighted a 1.2 V light emitting diode.

The lipid transporter Mfsd2a maintains pulmonary surfactant homeostasis

Pulmonary surfactant is a lipoprotein complex essential for lung function, and insufficiency or altered surfactant composition is associated with major lung diseases, such as acute respiratory distress syndromes, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Pulmonary surfactant is primarily composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in complex with specialized surfactant proteins and secreted by alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells. Surfactant homeostasis on the alveolar surface is balanced by the rates of synthesis and secretion with reuptake and recycling by AT2 cells, with some degradation by pulmonary macrophages and loss up the bronchial tree. However, whether phospholipid (PL) transporters exist in AT2 cells to mediate reuptake of surfactant PL remains to be identified. Here, we demonstrate that major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2a (Mfsd2a), a sodium-dependent lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) transporter, is expressed at the apical surface of AT2 cells. A mouse model with inducible AT2 cell–specific deficiency of Mfsd2a exhibited AT2 cell hypertrophy with reduced total surfactant PL levels because of reductions in the most abundant surfactants, PC containing dipalmitic acid, and PC species containing the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid. These changes in surfactant levels and composition were mirrored by similar changes in the AT2 cell lipidome. Mechanistically, direct tracheal instillation of fluorescent LPC and PC probes indicated that Mfsd2a mediates the uptake of LPC generated by pulmonary phospholipase activity in the alveolar space. These studies reveal that Mfsd2a-mediated LPC uptake is quantitatively important in maintaining surfactant homeostasis and identify this lipid transporter as a physiological component of surfactant recycling.

Application of circular economy framework for reducing the impacts of climate change: A case study from India on the evaluation of carbon and materials footprint nexus

In light of the Paris Agreement 2015 and the emerging government-wide policies towards instigating a transition from linear to Circular Economy (CE), it has become critical to investigate the potential impact of CE strategies on climate change. The recent upsurge in economic activities and growing consumerism has driven the demand for raw materials contributing to a considerable level of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emissions in the atmosphere, conducive to severe climate breakdowns, jeopardizing the environment and biodiversity. The current study aims at establishing a detailed understanding on CE strategies vis-à-vis Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and resource-energy conflict impacting climate change to underpin the priority sectors such as agriculture and allied activities, industry, construction, electricity, and transportation; exercising the CE Regenerate Share Optimize Loop Virtualize Exchange (ReSOLVE) framework for the National Capital Region (NCR) of India. The CE strategies quantified through input-output analysis and Leontief inverse matrix, identify the construction and transportation sector as the highest contributor towards Carbon Footprint (CF) and Material Footprint (MF) ranging from 4.0–8.8 t/capita and 5.6–7.3 t/capita respectively. Integrating the ReSOLVE strategies of CE and the priority sectors linked to the nation's economy through stratified components of design, consumption and recycling can reduce CF and MF by 0.18–15.7% and 5.3–25% respectively. In low and middle-income countries, the study is envisaged to leverage decision-makers in adopting sustainable management practices as an integral part of policy interventions, facilitating solutions to both natural capital depletion and environmental degradation challenges to produce better Gross Domestic Product (GDP) outcomes.

Basic Principles of Creating and Using the Waste-free Technologies in the System of Recycled Water Supply and Water Purification

The need to protect the environment makes it necessary to significantly change the general approaches to environmental efficiency of production, to minimize the impact on nature at the present level of productivity and quality. Today instead of the temporary measures aimed at overcoming the effects of pollution, the long-term measures are being taken more and more often at the design and construction stages to nullify the causes of pollution in advance rather than to have its effects in the future. The processes and devices that have been previously used to collect and dispose the industrial waste are now considered a passive approach to environmental protection. The matter is that the amount of waste generated during the production process remains almost unchanged, and this does not meet the new environmental requirements. The active approach involves creating the modern low-waste and non-waste technologies that can efficiently use raw materials in production processes, as well as converting the waste into easily recyclable components that are least harmful to the environment. The article considers the conceptual principles that show the essence of the active approach to improving the industrial technologies in order to protect the environment. It is mainly focused on studying the features of recycled water supply and water purification.