Extraction System Research Articles

Validation of a direct multiplex real-time reverse transcription PCR assay for rapid detection of African swine fever virus using swine field samples in Vietnam

ObjectiveThis study validates a direct multiplex real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay which was previously established for enabling rapid and simultaneous detection of African swine fever (ASF) virus (ASFV) and classical swine fever virus. The assay eliminates the need for viral nucleic acid purification using a buffer system for crude extraction and an impurity-tolerant enzyme. However, the assay had not yet been validated using field samples of ASFV-infected pigs. Therefore, to address this gap, we tested 101 samples collected from pigs in Vietnam during 2018 and 2021 for validation.ResultsThe rRT-PCR assay demonstrated a diagnostic sensitivity of 98.8% and a specificity of 100%. Remarkably, crude samples yielded results comparable to those of purified samples, indicating the feasibility of using crude samples without compromising accuracy in ASFV detection. Our findings emphasize the effectiveness of the rRT-PCR assay for the prompt and accurate diagnosis of both swine fever viruses, which is essential for effective disease prevention and control in swine populations.

Study of complexation of Li, Na and K trichloroacetates in extraction systems with benzo-15-crown-5 ether and its lipophilic analog

The extraction of Li, Na and K trichloroacetates by benzo-15-crown-5 ether and its lipophilic analog in chloroform has been studied. Extraction isotherms were obtained and the transition of extractants into the equilibrium aqueous phase was determined. The metal: crown ether ratios in the extracted compounds were determined by the slope analysis method. The thermodynamic extraction parameters of Li, Na and K trichloroacetates in systems with benzo-15-crown-5 ether (B15C5) and 3-tert-pentylbenzo-15-crown-5 ether (tPB15C5) were determined. The complexes [Li3(B15C5)(TCA)3], [Na(B15C5)(TCA)] and [K(B15C5)2](DCA)·H2O were isolated in crystalline form and characterized by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.

Gendered farmer perceptions towards soil nutrition and willingness to pay for a cafetière-style filter system for in-situ soil testing: Evidence from Central Kenya

Soil nutrition is a key pillar in agricultural productivity. However, point-of-need testing for soil nutrition is not readily available in resource-limited settings such as Kenya. We set out to study the perceived need for soil testing among farmers in this country. A group of 547 farmers from Murang'a and Kiambu counties in central Kenya were recruited through multi-stage sampling to help assess the perceptions and willingness to pay (WTP) toward a prototype technology for surveillance of in-situ soil nutrition. The technology is based on a cafetière-style filter system for extraction and a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) for nutrient readout. We employed the double bounded choice contingent valuation method (CVM) to analyze the willingness of farmers to accept and pay for the prototype if the technology was available on the market. It was found that currently, only 1.5 % of farmers carry out soil testing. The high costs of analysis at testing centers, which are often far from the farmers, are among the main reasons contributing to the majority of farmers not testing their soils. The farmers surveyed were generally willing to make their soil data publicly accessible, especially to extension officers. CVM showed that uncontrolled WTP had a 94.24 % premium above KSh1,000 ($6.60) incurred by using the existing rapid testing method. Factoring the control variables and disaggregating the model into gender categories, the findings showed that youth, women, and men had WTP values of KSh1,612.53 ($10.75), KSh1,558.68 ($10.39), and KSh1,504.83 ($10.03), respectively, indicating that farmers can indeed pay for the convenience to test their soils in situ. Through the democratization of soil nutrition data, extension agents can enhance the improvement of agricultural productivity, which implies that farmers can commercialize their agricultural activities.

Thermo‐Assisted Deep Eutectic Solvent Based on Dispersive Liquid‐Liquid Microextraction for Preconcentration of Phthalate Esters in Water Samples and Determination by Gas Chromatography With Flame Ionization Detection

ABSTRACTA thermo‐assisted deep eutectic solvent (DES) based on dispersive liquid‐liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection was developed for the analysis of five phthalate esters in different water samples. In the procedure involved, a DES composed of lidocaine, an amphiphilic amine, and oleic acid, was mixed with the sample assisted by ultrasound, and phase separation was achieved with increasing temperature. The heating of the extraction system induced the change of acid‐base properties of the DES components. Thus, the formation of microdroplets of DES in the sample was provided, and two phases were separated. The structure of the upper hydrophobic layer was characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. Also, the amount of water in the DES phase was analyzed by mass spectrometer and Karl Fischer titration. Some critical variables on the extraction yield were assessed. The proposed method achieved 1.2–1.3 and 4.1–4.3 µg/L for limits of detection and limits of quantification, respectively. The intra‐day and inter‐day percentage relative standard deviations (n = 5) were determined to be in the range of 4.2–6.2% and 5.1–7.2%, respectively. Ultimately, this method analyzed the five phthalate esters in different water samples with high recoveries.

Partitioning behavior of short DNA fragments in polymer/salt aqueous two-phase systems.

The development of liquid biopsy as a minimally invasive technique for tumor profiling has created a need for efficient biomarker extraction systems from body fluids. The analysis of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is especially promising, but the low amounts and high fragmentation of cfDNA found in plasma pose challenges to its isolation. While the potential of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) for the extraction and purification of various biomolecules has already been successfully established, there is limited literature on the applicability of these findings to short cfDNA-like fragments. This study presents the partitioning behavior of a 160 bp DNA fragment in polyethylene glycol (PEG)/salt ATPS at pH 7.4. The effect of PEG molecular weight, tie-line length, neutral salt additives, and phase volume ratio is evaluated to maximize DNA recovery. Selected ATPS containing a synthetic plasma solution spiked with human serum albumin and immunoglobulin G are tested to determine the separation of DNA fragments from the main plasma protein fraction. By adding 1.5% (w/w) NaCl to a 17.7% (w/w) PEG 400/17.3% (w/w) phosphate ATPS, 88% DNA recovery was achieved in the salt-rich bottom phase while over 99% of the protein was removed.

Extraction of polyvinylidene fluoride binder materials for used secondary batteries using supercritical CO2 for an effective battery recycling process

In this study, a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder material for secondary batteries was removed using a supercritical CO2 extraction process instead of conventional extraction processes such as leaching and pyrolysis. To determine the optimal process conditions, the phase behavior of the binder in CO2 was studied by measuring the pressure and temperature before the supercritical CO2 extraction. To design an effective extraction process, the extraction time, temperature, and pressure were studied under various experimental conditions using a supercritical extraction system. Various organic cosolvents were used in the experiment to improve the extraction efficiency. According to the experimental result, the optimal extraction conditions were determined to 353.2 K, 10 MPa, and 20 min with dimethylformamide (DMF) cosolvent. Under these process conditions, the removal rate of the binder was 98.8 %. However, there was a significant difference in cell performance such as initial discharge capacity and cycling stability depending on the extraction solvent. Specifically, cycling stability improved in the order of using DMF, NMP, DMSO, and DMAc. The extracted binder material was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to compare the raw and processed materials and evaluate the reusability of the binder material.

Valorization of tomato processing by-products: Predictive modeling and optimization for ultrasound-assisted lycopene extraction

Lycopene is a carotenoid highly valuable to the food, pharmaceutical, dye, and cosmetic industries, present in ripe tomatoes and other fruits with a distinctive red color. The main source of lycopene is tomato crops. This bioactive component can be successfully isolated from tomato processing waste, commonly called tomato pomace, mostly made from tomato skins, seeds, and some residual tomato tissue. The main investigative focus in this work was the application of green engineering principles in each stage of the optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of enzymatically treated tomato skins to obtain functional extracts rich in lycopene. The experimental plan was designed to determine the influence of studied operating parameters: enzymatic reaction time (60, 120, and 180 min), extraction time (0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min), and temperature (25, 35 and 45 ℃) on lycopene yield. Process optimization was performed based on the yield of lycopene [1018, 1067, and 1120 mg/kg] achieved at optimal operating conditions. An artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed and trained for predictive modeling of the closed extraction system, with operating parameters used as input neurons and experimentally obtained values for lycopene content defined as the output neural layer. Applied ANN architecture provided a high correlation of experimental output with ANN-generated data (R=0.99914) with a model deviation error for the entire data set of RMSE=5.3 mg/kg. The k-Nearest Neighbor algorithm was introduced to predict lycopene yield using experimental key features: operating temperature, extraction time, and time of enzymatic treatment, split into training and testing sets with an 85/15 ratio. The model interpretation was conducted through the SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) methodology.

Electrochemical membrane systems for remediating ammonium-containing wastewater via coupling capacitance adsorption and oxygen reduction

As the main nitrogen-containing pollutant of industrial and agricultural wastewater, ammonium (NH4+) is obtainable from the natural nitrogen cycle and industrial emission. Electrochemical recovering nitrogen (N) from nitrate-polluted wastewater to produce ammonia (NH3) is a promising route to mitigate pollution risks and create economic values. Since side reactions at the electrodes are inevitable, and the competition mechanism between electric double layer capacitance (EDLC) behavior and side reactions is still unclear. Herein, electrochemical selective NH4+ recovery from wastewater was achieved by coupling NH4+ adsorption and side oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in a novel electrochemical membrane extraction system using Ti3C2TX-based gas-diffusion cathodes. Batch experiments showcase simultaneous NH4+ removal and recovery, with TiOX/TiC-C exhibiting the highest removal capability of 408 mgN g−1. In situ Raman spectroscopy revealed the critical role of the four-electron transfer ORR reaction in the conversion of NH4+ to NH3. Density functional theory (DFT) showed that excellent electron-donating ability for NH4+ of TiOX/TiC-C electrode (1.97 eV) facilitated NH4+ diffusion onto electrode interface. The study sheds light on the intricate interplay between NH4+ adsorption and ORR, highlighting the significance of tailored support and vacancy engineering in advancing wastewater treatment and resource recovery.

Identification of horse ingredients based on recombinase polymerase amplification, high-throughput DNA isolation and magnetic separation

Adulteration of meat products remains a significant issue worldwide. In this study, we developed a high-throughput, rapid, sensitive, and selective method for qualitative and quantitative detection of horse meat adulteration in meat products. This method, which is not only innovative but also highly practical, involves coupling a 96-well high-throughput DNA isolation process with recombinant enzyme polymerase amplification (RPA), magnetic separation (MS), and high-throughput fluorescence detection (FD). We designed a set of primers targeting the mitochondrial ATP6-8 gene of horses. The upper and lower primers were labeled with 6-FAM fluorescent moiety and biotin, respectively. Following RPA amplification, the amplicons were separated and purified using streptavidin-modified magnetic beads (MB@SA). Subsequently, the amplicons were qualified and quantified using a high-throughput fluorescence detection system. We optimized the conditions for primer addition, incubation time, and the ratio of amplicon to MB@SA. Our results showed that a fluorescence threshold of 834 indicated positive detection. The method exhibited high specificity, with no positive amplification observed in DNA from the other 11 types of meat. It demonstrated high sensitivity and was capable of detecting as little as 0.1% (wt%) of horse meat in adulterated samples. Combined with our developed 96-well high-throughput DNA extraction system, the RPA-MS-FD assay process could analyze 96 samples in 31.5 min, including 11.5 min for rapid DNA extraction, 15 min for RPA amplification, and 5 min for fluorescence detection. Finally, we successfully applied this assay to analyze 21 commercial meat products, proving its practicality and effectiveness.

Automated information extraction for behavioural interventions: evaluation and reflections on interdisciplinary AI development

Background The HBCP knowledge system identifies and extracts entities from randomised controlled trials of behaviour change interventions organised by a behaviour change intervention ontology (BCIO) to populate: 1) an outcome prediction tool; and 2) a research browser tool. This knowledge system requires automated information extraction algorithms to query and interpret evidence from behaviour change intervention (BCI) reports. This paper reports the results of an evaluation of the automated information extraction and reflects on the results in relation to the challenges of interdisciplinary working and collaboration. Methods The evaluation used a dataset of 117 previously unseen BCI reports to assess its performance. The automatically extracted information was compared to the full text PDF by trained annotators on essential BCIO entities required for the outcome prediction tool and research browser tool and whether the extracted information was assigned to the correct arm of the randomised trial. Essential entities were the outcome value, a selection of the most common Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs), the mode of intervention delivery, and key population characteristics. Results The evaluation found an outcome value present in 53.85% (n=63) of the output from the information extraction system but it never extracted both the correct outcome values (interventions and control arms) and assigned them to the correct study arms (intervention and control). Although 84.62% (n=99) of the papers contained information relevant to Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs), the information extraction algorithm correctly extracted only 58.59% (n=58) of BCTs. Conclusions The evaluation found that the information extraction algorithm did not extract the outcome values and key BCIO entities correctly against the correct arms in any of the papers in our sample, making it unsuitable for deployment in the outcome prediction and research browser tools. Several challenges with working in interdisciplinary teams were identified and discussed along with lessons learned for future work.

A Reduced-Order Model of a Nuclear Power Plant with Thermal Power Dispatch

This paper presents reduced-order modeling of thermal power dispatch (TPD) from a pressurized water reactor (PWR) for providing heat to nearby heat consuming industrial processes that seek to take advantage of nuclear heat to reduce carbon emissions. The reactor model includes the neutronics of the reactor core, thermal–hydraulics of the primary coolant cycle, and a three-lump model of the steam generator (SG). The secondary coolant cycle is represented with quasi-steady state mass and energy balance equations. The secondary cycle consists of a steam extraction system, high-pressure and low-pressure turbines, moisture separator and reheater, high-pressure and low-pressure feedwater heaters, deaerator, feedwater and condensate pumps, and a condenser. The steam produced by the SG is distributed between the turbines and the extraction steam line (XSL) that delivers steam to nearby industrial processes, such as production of clean hydrogen. The reduced-order simulator is verified by comparing predictions with results from separate validated steady-state and transient full-scope PWR simulators for TPD levels between 0% and 70% of the rated reactor power. All simulators indicate that the flow rate of steam in the main steam line and turbine systems decrease with increasing TPD, which causes a reduction in PWR electric power generation. The results are analyzed to assess the impact of TPD on system efficiency and feedwater flow control. Due to the simplicity of the proposed reduced-order model, it can be scaled to represent a PWR of any size with a few parametric changes. In the future, the proposed reduced-order model will be integrated into a power system model in a digital real-time simulator (DRTS) and physical hardware-in-the-loop simulations.

Chemometric assisted green extraction of tyrosinase inhibitor from Durio zibethinus rind for skin whitening agents in cosmetic products

Cosmetics typically contain artificial substances that could be harmful to people's health. Extended usage and exposure to these harmful substances are frequently linked to a number of negative impacts and illnesses. This study processed a Durio zibethinus rind, rich in natural antityrosinase properties, with a chemometric-assisted green extraction system. The TPC value was obtained at the optimum conditions (34.4 MPa, 62°C, and 86 min). GC-MS and FTIR spectroscopy were performed to identify the phenolic compounds and their functional group, respectively. The optimized extract contains 77 % of the mushroom tyrosinase activity. PCA shows that aspidospermidin-17-ol,1-acetyl-19,21-apoxy-15,16-dimethoxy- (AP) resembles the similar cluster with hydroquinone. COSMO-RS was used to investigate the extraction mechanism of CO2 and AP during the SFE process. DFT and molecular docking were used to calculate the chemical reactivity and explain the tyrosinase inhibition mechanism, respectively. ADME-Tox and OSIRIS Property Explorer showed no violation of Lipinski’s rule, and toxicity with AP. In conclusion, a high-value, natural and safe cosmetic ingredient (AP) for cosmetopea was discovered using an innovative green extraction system.

Electrochemical lithium extraction from high Mg/Li brine using LiMn2O4-Zn mixed-Ion battery

In China, 80 % of lithium resources are in the salt lakes of the Tibetan Plateau, although the Mg2+/Li+ ratios in them are too high, limiting the development of China’s lithium extraction industry from the salt lakes. This study investigates the potential of the LiMn2O4-Zn cell system for lithium extraction from brines with high Mg2+/Li+ ratios. The system demonstrates excellent selectivity for Li+ and efficiently extracts Li+ even in brines with Mg2+/Li+ ratios as high as 100:1 (wt%). The system operates stably at various brine concentrations, particularly in high-salinity environments. The study also investigates the kinetic performance of the LMO-Zn system, revealing optimal performance at high Li+ concentrations and moderate current densities. The LiMn2O4-Zn cell system presents a promising approach for lithium extraction from brines, offering high selectivity, reversibility, and adaptability.

Ionic Liquid-Based Extraction Strategy for the Efficient and Selective Recovery of Scandium.

The recovery of scandium (Sc) from highly acidic industrial effluents is currently hindered by the use of large quantities of flammable and toxic organic solvents. This study developed an extraction system using ionic liquids (ILs) and phenylphosphinic acid (PPAH) as diluents and an extractant, respectively, to selectively recover Sc from the aqueous phase. The effect of IL chemical structure, aqueous pH and temperature on the extraction of Sc was systematically investigated and the findings revealed that ILs with longer alkyl side chains had reduced Sc extraction ability due to the presence of continuous nonpolar domains formed by the self-aggregation of the IL alkyl side chain. The IL/PPAH system maintained high extraction ability toward Sc across a wide temperature range (288 K to 318 K) and the extraction efficiency of Sc could be improved significantly by increasing the aqueous pH. The extraction process involved proton exchange, resulting in the formation of a metal-ligand complex (Sc(PPA)3).

Hydrogel-coated and active clearance chest drains in cardiac surgery: real-world results of a single-center study

PurposeCardiac surgery patients require chest drains for postoperative fluid drainage. Innovations in this field include chemical drain coating and manual clot extraction systems, aiming to provide reduced clotting and improved patient comfort. This study compares outcomes using hydrogel-coated, active clearance and conventional chest drains.MethodsPatients with cardiac surgery at our institution from January 2023 to September 2023 were included. Drain allocation was based on surgeon’s choice, with either a combination of hydrogel-coated and conventional, active clearance and conventional, or conventional drains alone. Drain data and clinical outcomes were recorded prospectively.ResultsOne hundred seventy-eight patients (62.9 ± 11.7 years, 67.4% male) received a total of 512 chest drains intraoperatively. Hydrogel-coated and active clearance drains showed higher drainage volumes than conventional drains (p < 0.001, respectively). Patency was lowest in conventional drains (36.7% vs. 98.8% for hydrogel-coated, p < 0.001, and vs. 96.6% for active clearance drains, p < 0.001). Conventional drains showed 5.9 times the odds (95% CI 2.0–25.2) of large pleural effusions compared to hydrogel-coated and 12.0 times the odds (95% CI 1.9–504.1) compared to active clearance drains. Patients with hydrogel-coated drains had the shortest length of stay (p < 0.001).ConclusionHydrogel-coated and active clearance drains show improved outcomes compared to conventional drains in cardiac surgery.

Organophosphate Detection in Animal-Derived Foods Using a Modified Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe Method with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Organophosphates are widely used in the livestock industry. In this study, we developed a method for detecting 27 organophosphate insecticides in animal-derived foods, including beef, pork, chicken, milk, and eggs, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A modified QuEChERS method was optimized for sample pretreatment. A mixture of acetonitrile and acetone was used as the extraction solvent, and MgSO4 and NaCl were used as salts. Among the five different dispersive solid-phase extraction systems, MgSO4, primary secondary amines, and C18 were selected for purification because they had the highest recovery rates and least matrix effects. The matrix-dependent limit of quantitation was 0.0005-0.005 mg/kg, and the correlation coefficient of the matrix-matched calibration curve was >0.99, which was acceptable for quantifying residues below 0.01 mg/kg-the default maximum residue limit in a positive list system. The recovery efficiencies ranged from 71.9 to 110.5%, with standard deviations ranging from 0.2% to 12.5%, satisfying the SANTE guidelines. The established analytical method was used to monitor organophosphates in animal-derived foods obtained from a local market, and no pesticides were detected. With respect to industry standards, our proposed method is recommended for practical organophosphate detection in animal-derived foods.

Validation of the Chemical and Biological Steps Required Implementing an Advanced Multi-Omics Approach for Assessing the Fate and Impact of Contaminants in Lagoon Sediments.

The increasing use of chemicals requires a better understanding of their presence and dynamics in the environment, as well as their impact on ecosystems. The aim of this study was to validate the first steps of an innovative multi-omics approach based on metabolomics and 16S metabarcoding data for analyses of the fate and impact of contaminants in Mediterranean lagoons. Semi-targeted analytical procedures for water and sediment matrices were implemented to assess chemical contamination of the lagoon: forty-six compounds were detected, 28 of which could be quantified in water (between 0.09 and 47.4 ng/L) and sediment (between 0.008 and 26.3 ng/g) samples using the UHPLC-MS/MS instrument. In addition, a non-targeted approach (UHPLC-HRMS) using four different sample preparation protocols based on solid/liquid extractions or an automated pressurized fluid extraction system (EDGE®) was carried out to determine the protocol with the best metabolome coverage, efficiency and reproducibility. Solid/liquid extraction using the solvent mixture acetonitrile/methanol (50/50) was evaluated as the best protocol. Microbial diversity in lagoon sediment was also measured after DNA extraction using five commercial extraction kits. Our study showed that the DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Qiagen kit (Promega, USA) was the most suitable for assessing microbial diversity in fresh sediment.

Experimental study on the pressure drop of helium purge gas in particle crushing pebble beds

The solid breeder blanket is a critical component in fusion reactor, where helium purge gas flows through the solid breeder pebble bed to carry out the tritium generated during the fusion process. The flow pressure drop of helium purge gas within the breeder pebble bed is a significant parameter affecting the design of the tritium extraction system. Previous studies have indicated that the helium flow in the breeder pebble bed conforms to the theory of porous media flow. However, due to potential pebble breakage during the plasma operation, the pressure drop characteristics of the helium flow in breeder pebble bed may change as the void structure changes. The objective of this study is to measure the variation in flow pressure drop of the breeder pebble bed under different pebble crushing conditions. The flow pressure drops of intact beds (Alumina, diameter 1-1.2 mm) and four groups with different pebble breakage rates (3%, 5%, 7%, 9%) are measured using the pebble bed pressure drop test facility. The following results are obtained through experimental research: (1) The Ergun equation, Foumeny equation, and Reichelt equation can all reasonably match the experimental results of intact pebble beds; (2) The pressure drop across the pebble bed increases with the increase in pebble breakage rate, reaching approximately 1.6 times that of the intact bed at a 9% breakage rate; (3) A correlation for predicting the pressure drop of the broken pebble bed is established by introducing the pebble breakage rate (η) into the Ergun equation, which can be used to determine the pressure drop variation within a conservative range of breakage rates.

Legacy and novel contaminants in surface sediments of Admiralty Bay, Antarctica Peninsula

Despite being one of the most remote areas on the planet, the Antarctic continent is subject to anthropogenic influences. The presence of various groups of contaminants, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), has been documented in the region over the past decades. However, a significant knowledge gap remains regarding the detection of new pollutants, such as emerging contaminants (ECs), in Antarctic coastal environments. This study analyzed the occurrence and levels of selected POPs, PAHs, ECs in surface sediments from Admiralty Bay, Antarctica Peninsula. Non-target screening was employed to identify potential novel contaminants in the region. Samples (n = 17) were extracted using an accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) system and instrumental analyses were performed using gas chromatography coupled to a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer (GC/MS-MS). Regarding regulated contaminants, concentrations of Σ5PCBs ranged from <LOD to 0.5 ng g−1, while Σ16PAHs ranged from 2.6 to 617.4 ng g−1. These compounds were predominant in the Martel inlet, suggesting influences of local input sources, especially for PAHs. ECs were detected in some sites of the Ezcurra and Martel inlets, especially nearby the Brazilian and Polish research stations. The UV filters homosalate (0.3 to 251.3 ng g−1) and octocrylene (0.7 to 93.8 ng g−1) were the most abundant EC, followed by TPP (0.1 to 87.4 ng g−1) and galaxolide (0.2 to 55.0 ng g−1). Applying non-target analysis, phthalates, and the fragrance OTNE (octahydro-tetramethyl-naphthalenyl-ethanone) were identified for the first time in Antarctic sediments. The data highlights the contribution of human activities in the region, possibly through wastewater effluents. This study provides data on the current levels of PAHs and POPs in the region, which are steadily decreasing over the years.

Non-aqueous solvent extraction of cobalt and nickel using undiluted ionic liquids in milliflow contacting devices

Non-aqueous solvent extraction at elevated temperatures using undiluted ionic liquids in milliflow contacting devices has been identified as a feasible and alternative approach to accelerate and intensify such critical metal purification and recovery. In the present research, aforementioned principles were applied on the separation of a mixture of cobalt and nickel using two quarternary phosphonium-based extraction systems. For both investigated systems, selectivity towards extraction of cobalt to the extractant was observed. Extraction performance of the system involving EG and Cyphos IL 101 was found to be superior during batch trials. As a result, this system was selected for additional experiments involving the continuous milliflow setup, making it the first application of non-aqueous solvent extraction using ionic liquids in a milliflow reactor. Depending on the processing conditions such as tube diameter (0.08” or 0.04” ID) and flow rate (0.10 mL/min to 6.00 mL/min), different flow regimes and percentages extraction were attained. Best performance in flow was obtained for more elevated temperatures (80 °C and 140 °C) and low flow rates (<0.25 mL/min), as a result of the improved kinetics and advantageous hydrodynamics. Variations of the reactor length to compare residence times under identical flow rates suggest kinetic limitations exist at lower temperatures.