Water Washing Research Articles

Ultrasonic-assisted pre-concentration of iron values in bauxite residue suitable for reduction-roasting purpose

The study aims to explore the feasibility of using low-frequency ultrasonic washing to pre-concentrate iron values in waste bauxite residue (BR) containing 32.60 wt. % iron. This novel approach involves ultrasonication followed by water-washing to pre-concentrate iron before reduction-roasting of BR. Conventional reduction-roasting of BR is more expensive compared to pre-concentrated BR, making this method potentially cost-effective. The process consists of a two-stage ultrasonic treatment procedure. In the first stage, ultrasonication at 30 °C, with 40% solid content (w/v) for 30 min, improves the iron grade to 41.2 wt. % with 82% recovery. However, a second stage of ultrasonication is necessary to further upgrade the iron. The study optimized the ultrasonication time, temperature, solid content (%, w/v), and water washing parameters. Under optimal conditions (ambient temperature, 30% solid content (w/v), 45 min of ultrasonication), the iron grade reached 49.1 wt. % (Fe2O3 70.2) with 66% recovery. Water-washing parameters were found to be less effective compared to ultrasonication parameters. The settling time after water washing significantly affects the grade and recovery of the product. The ultrasonic effect on the BR particle surface leads to the breakage of surface-alkali coating and the disintegration of locked particles to generate free iron and other particles. Particle size analysis supports the disintegration of BR particles into smaller pieces. The physicochemical characterizations of different products were carried out using ICP-OES, XRD, FTIR, and FESEM studies to support the experimental findings. The possible iron separation mechanism is discussed utilizing available literature, as well as experimental and characterization evidence.

Integrating Digital Tools Optimizes Scale Management

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 218700, “Integrating Digital Tools to Optimize Scale Management: Case Studies,” by Hugh M. Bourne, SPE, Shaun Hosein, and Garry Keilty, BP, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ The complete paper describes the suite of cloud-based digital-twin tools developed by the operator that provides online, real-time calculation of scale risk and barrier health on a well-by-well basis. The paper presents field case studies in which the suite of tools, integrated into a dashboard, have been implemented. Introduction Several case histories are shared in the complete paper, highlighting the challenges of updating evolving scale risk and monitoring the health of deployed barriers, which drove the decision to create the digital tools to further optimize scale management. Case Study 1 A mature asset with subsea wells had been operated for many years without any history of scaling. The wells were operated under pressure depletion with no water-injection support, but lift gas injection was initiated approximately 10 years ago to maintain production. When a decision was made to increase production from one of the wells by further opening the choke, the potential effect of this change on scale risk was not immediately assessed. Further opening the choke reduced the wellhead pressure by approximately 30 bar, and the well flowed faster, increasing wellhead temperature by as much as approximately 10°C. After an initial increase in production, a decline was observed. A light intervention vessel encountered a hard restriction below the wellhead. When solids were recovered to surface, the tool became stuck in the well and the intervention was stopped while a rig was mobilized to recover the stuck tool. In the intervening period, the recovered solids were analyzed, confirming that the restriction was calcium carbonate scale. Scale predictions were updated with the new operating conditions, confirming that the higher wellhead temperature, coupled with the lower wellhead pressure in the presence of lift gas, had pushed the fluids into a calcite scaling regime. The scale restriction was remediated using acid washing and a preventative scale squeeze treatment. The intervention, in total, cost the operation more than $50 million. Since the scaling event, wells have been routinely squeezed to protect production at a typical cost of around $5 million per well per treatment. Case Study 2 A subsea field is being developed as a tieback to a mature facility. Production from the new tieback has the potential to deposit halite in the wells and flowline at various stages of field life. A multistage wash-water-injection strategy has been proposed to allow a standard tree design. Additional wash water will be injected at the wellhead to protect the flowline from halite deposition as the fluids cool and to ensure that the produced-water chloride concentration is sufficiently reduced. This will create produced water with an almost 1:1 mix of formation water and wash water. Further wash-water injection is planned at the slug catcher. However, the host facility has produced water-handling limitations that restrict the amount of water it can process. Optimizing the amount of additional wash water while managing the halite-deposition risk, ensuring effective corrosion inhibition, and meeting export specification will be essential to minimize deferrals, thereby maximizing production.

Microstructure and Performance Study of PETMF/WPU Composites Prepared by Water‐Soluble Method

AbstractCurrently, waterborne polyurethane (WPU)/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microfiber composites are typically produced using PET/alkali‐soluble polyethylene terebenzoate (COPET) as the island fiber. This involves dissolving COPET with alkali (NaOH) after WPU impregnation, resulting in significant alkali‐containing wastewater and weakening the composites’ strength due to the strong alkali treatment. To address these issues, this study employs PET/PVA island fiber as the raw material, comprising 36 islands. PET serves as the water‐insoluble component, while PVA is the water‐soluble component, with a fiber ratio of 70 % PET to 30 % PVA. The PET/WPU microfiber composites are prepared via a water‐soluble method following WPU impregnation. The study examines the impact of water deweighting time, WPU impregnation amount, and water washing times on the deweighting rate of the composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterized their microstructure. Findings indicate that with 30 % WPU impregnation, 80 °C water temperature, 40‐minute deweighting time, and three water washes, the deweighting rate of PET/WPU microfiber composites reaches 29.08 %, close to 30 %. SEM analysis confirms that PET/PVA island fiber composites were fully converted into PET/WPU microfiber composites, with most PET/PVA island fibers completely opened. The water‐soluble method presents a novel deweighting technology with significant environmental benefits and considerable research potential.

Effect of tunnel wash water treatment processes on trace elements, organic micropollutants, and biological effects

Tunnel wash water (TWW) contains high levels of trace elements and organic micropollutants, especially in the dissolved fraction. Discharge poses significant environmental risks. This field study aimed at improving conventional sedimentation treatment by addition of novel secondary treatments: bag filtration, ceramic microfiltration, or granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration. Removal of nine trace elements, 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 38 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), seven benzothiazoles (BTHs), seven benzotriazoles (BTRs), five bisphenols (BPs), and five benzophenones was investigated. Primary sedimentation significantly reduced particles and associated contaminants, achieving over 73 % average removal for trace elements, 65 % for PAHs, and 71 % for PFASs. Subsequent GAC removed over 70 % of dissolved Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn and over 92 % of dissolved PFASs, BTHs, BTRs, and BPs, including several persistent, mobile and toxic compounds. Following GAC filtration, Cr, Ni, Pb, anthracene, fluoranthene, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and bisphenol-A were below environmental quality standards (EQS). GAC consistently reduced responses in in vitro bioassays with endpoints activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, oxidative stress response, and neurotoxicity below effect-based trigger values for surface water. GAC filtration is thus recommended for future TWW treatment. Assessing water quality remains a challenging task due to lack of EQSs for many chemicals.

Polyelectrolyte fabricated nanofiltration membrane with heterogeneously charged channels for high efficient cephalexin wastewater treatment

Nanofiltration (NF) for treatments of pharmaceutical wastewater is a promising direction for water protection and resources recovery. Herein, a novel membrane with heterogeneously charged channels was constructed by modified layer-by-layer assembly methods. Within the well-designed pores, the polyanion structure excludes the cephalexin and the cationic structure slows down its diffusion, thereby rejections for cephalexin are improved. The hydrophilic property of polyelectrolytes simultaneously guarantees the water transport. Fabricated heterogeneously charged channels are shown to strengthen the electrostatic barrier and prevent monovalent cephalexin anions penetration. Optimized nanofiltration membrane exhibits rejections of 98.9 % for 3650 ppm cephalexin, maintaining steady rejection during 69 h of continuous operations. The flux recovers to 99.3 % of the original flux after water washing. Benefiting from the separation performance of fabricated membranes, multi-stage NF processes effectively enrich the cephalexin wastewater. This work offers significant prospects for achieving high-efficiency pharmaceutical wastewater treatment and amphoteric drug recovery.

Rice husk ash based complex sodium di silicate – An alternative detergent builder for sodium tripolyphosphate and Zeolite 4A

Detergent builder is an essential part of any detergent powder, as it softens the hard water which hinders the cleaning action of surfactants. Nowadays, sodium tripolyphosphate and Zeolite 4A are used as detergent builders extensively in detergent formulation. Though STPP has higher capacities to remove hardness from the water but has a detrimental impact on the environment like eutrophication and hence it has been banned for detergent application in various countries. Zeolite 4A is currently leading the detergent industry with moderate hardness removal, but it has certain disadvantages like high pH, insolubility, high solid residue in the wash water and needs additives for its activation in the detergent formulation. In this research paper, the better alternative detergent builder known as Complex sodium dislicate (CSDS) is produced using rice husk ash-based sodium silicate. Further CSDS is analyzed using SEM, XRD, and TGA-DSC to explain its physicochemical properties. The calcium exchange capacity evaluation is carried out and is found to be 420 mg eq. CaCO3/gram of CSDS which is higher than STPP and Zeolite 4A. In this study, detergent formulations made with CSDS as a detergent builder were compared with those of STPP and Zeolite 4A to evaluate detergent performances according to the IS 4955:2020 standard.

Improved interfacial compatibility between unsaturated polyester resin and rice straw fibers after non-washing treatment with Ca(OH)2

The agricultural industry produces a substantial volume of rice straw (RS) annually, highlighting the importance of recycling RS for sustainable materials. However, the poor interfacial compatibility between RS and polymers often leads to drawbacks in their composites, such as water-swelling and limited tensile strength. Here, we propose a novel approach using Ca(OH)2 that offers several distinct advantages: enhancement of interfacial compatibility, elimination of the need for water washing, and formation of calcified hybrid particles on fiber surfaces by capturing CO2 from the atmosphere. The non-washing calcified rice straw (NCRS) fibers were used to fabricate composites with unsaturated polyester resin (UPR), resulting in NCRS/UPR composites exhibiting significant enhancements in water resistance and mechanical properties compared to RS/UPR composites. The NCRS/UPR composites achieved a water absorption rate below 25 %, thickness swelling rate below 10 %, and tensile strength of 19.9 MPa. This work comprehensively explored the mechanism underlying these achievements through experimental studies. Findings suggest that CaCO3 particles involving with released lignin act as an interfacial bridge between RS fiber surface and UPR, resulting in significantly improved properties. This approach demonstrates promising prospects as a simple and eco-friendly methodology for manufacturing RS-based composite materials.

Preparation of Single-Crystal Li-Rich Mn-Based Layered Oxides with Excellent Electrochemical Performance via Simple Stepwise High-Temperature Sintering.

Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides have attracted extensive attention in lithium-ion battery cathode materials due to their high specific capacity, wide operating voltage, and low cost. However, the large-scale production of single-crystal Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides remains a significant challenge. Herein, the morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of a series of samples (Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2) prepared by the solid-state method and the molten-salt flux method were assessed. Single-crystal particles exactly could be prepared by potassium chloride (KCl), but its electrochemical performance was inferior and the molten-salt flux method was too complicated for industry. Surprisingly, we found that water washing and annealing processes could enhance the cycling performance. Furthermore, single-crystal Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 with a particle size of 536 nm was successfully prepared by simple stepwise sintering (950 °C for 7 h, 1000 °C for 1 h, and 850 °C for 2 h), which delivered a specific capacity of 274.9 mAh·g-1 between 2.0 and 4.8 V at 0.1 C with 77.4% initial Coulombic efficiency and 82.1% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.1 C. This study may provide theoretical guidance for the industrial production of single-crystal Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides.

Enhancing dehydration/desalting efficiency of crude oil emulsions through experimental and computational insights

The formation of unwanted oil emulsions during producing, transporting, and processing crude oils is a major challenging issue, which causes serious technical problems, and subsequently huge financial losses. The present work delves into an optimization study focused on water separation from crude oil emulsions. The separation performance was initially assessed in static conditions through bottle tests, followed by a thorough investigation in dynamic conditions on an electrostatic desalting pilot plant under various conditions of the main operating parameters: temperature, oil space velocity, wash water ratio, and demulsifier concentration. The design of experiments and optimization of the process were performed by Central-Composite-Design of Response-Surface-Methodology (CCD-RSM). The effectiveness of the separation process has been analyzed by evaluating the Water-Removal-Efficiency (WRE) and Salt-Removal-Efficiency (SRE). The obtained results demonstrated that the used demulsifier was found to be extremely efficient and to have the greatest impact on the dehydration efficiency (F-value = 434.56). In addition, the sensitivity analysis indicated that the dehydration/desalting process is also very sensitive to the oil space velocity and wash water ratio while having less sensitivity to changes in the temperature. Furthermore, the process optimization indicated that the highest efficiency of simultaneous removal of water and salt from crude oil (WRE = 94.54 % and SRE = 97.23 %) was observed at optimal conditions of 19.5 ppm demulsifier concentration, 125 °C temperature, 1 1/h oil space velocity, and 6 vol% wash water ratio.

A green and efficient synthesis of alkyl 2-((5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonothioyl)thio)acetates via a one-pot, solvent-free reaction

A green and efficient synthesis of alkyl 2-((5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonothioyl)thio)acetates is described. The method involves a one-pot, solvent-free reaction of pyrazolone derivatives, carbon disulfide, and alkyl bromoacetates in the presence of triethylamine. The crude products were readily purified by simple water washing followed by recrystallization from diethyl ether. The structures of the synthesized pyrazole-4-carbonothioyl-thio-acetate derivatives were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry.

Study on flotation separation of chlorite and kaolinite by modified fatty acid collector and its mechanism

The modified fatty acid collector α-bromododecanoic acid (α-BDDA) had a significant effect on the separation of chlorite and kaolinite. In this paper, the flotation separation of the independent lithium bearing mineral chlorite (cookeite) from the main gangue mineral kaolinite in clay-type lithium ore was studied. The results showed that when pH was 9, the concentration of CaCl2 was 1.64×10−4 mol/L, and the concentration of α-BDDA was 5.82×10−4 mol/L, the flotation separation effect of chlorite and kaolinite was the best, and the floating difference between them was 91.12 %. The flotation results of artificially mixed ore also proved that α-BDDA could realize the separation of chlorite and kaolinite. Adsorption amount analysis revealed that α-BDDA could adsorb both on chlorite and kaolinite, however, the amount of α-BDDA adsorbed on chlorite was much higher than that on kaolinite. Zeta potential analysis, FT-IR spectra analysis, and XPS analysis confirmed that α-BDDA could produce chemisorption on the surface of chlorite activated by CaCl2. The Al, Mg, Fe and Ca sites on chlorite could reacted with α-BDDA to form new chemical bonds. However, α-BDDA was adsorbed on kaolinite by weak physical adsorption, which was easily de-adsorbed by strong agitating or water washing.

Gambaran Kesehatan Lingkungan dan Perilaku Hidup Bersih dan Sehat (PHBS) dalam Perbaikan Masalah Gizi Balita Stunting di Kecamatan Liang Anggang

Stunting is a disorder of growth and development of children due to chronic malnutrition and repeated infections, which is characterized by their length or height being below the established standard. Stunting is a problem because it is associated with an increased risk of illness and death, a higher risk of being susceptible to non-communicable diseases, suboptimal brain development so that motor development is delayed and mental growth is inhibited. Risk factors for stunting consist of 2 factors, namely direct factors such as food intake and infection, and indirect factors such as environmental health and clean and healthy living behavior (PHBS). This study aims to identify environmental health conditions and PHBS in stunted toddlers in overcoming the problem of stunted toddler nutrition. This type of research is qualitative which is analyzed descriptively and in-depth interviews and observations with research samples being mothers of stunted toddlers from Liang Anggang District (Landasan Ulin Barat, Selatan, Tengah, and Utara Villages). The sampling technique was carried out using the accidental sampling technique. This research was conducted in Liang Anggang District, Banjarbaru City. The results of the study showed that environmental health conditions in Liang Anggang District including water, sanitation, and hygiene wash factors were quite good. The condition of PHBS in households in Liang Anggang District is quite good. There needs to be awareness from the community where the task of forming this awareness is held by health workers who synergize with the community itself so that the community is more aware and pays attention to environmental health and PHBS to avoid stunting.

Oriented 1D Metal-Organic Frameworks for Selective Chemisorption by a Substitution-Insertion Mechanism.

Chemisorption on organometallic-based adsorbents is crucial for the controlled separation and purification of targeted systems. Herein, oriented 1D NH2-CuBDC·H2O metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) featuring accessible CuII sites are successfully fabricated by bottom-up interfacial polymerization. The prepared MOFs, as deliberately self-assembled secondary particles, exhibit a visually detectable coordination-responsive characteristic induced by the nucleophilic substitution and competitive coordination of guest molecules. As a versatile phase-change chemosorbent, the MOFs exhibit unprecedented NH3 capture (18.83 mmol g-1 at 298 K) and bioethanol dehydration performance (enriching ethanol from 99% to 99.99% within 10 min by direct adsorption separation of liquid mixtures of ethanol and water). Furthermore, the raw materials for preparing the 1D MOFs are inexpensive and readily available, and the facile regeneration with water washing at room temperature effectively minimizes the energy consumption and cost of recycling, enabling it to be the most valuable adsorbent for the removal and separation of target substances.

AIEE-Active Green Fluorescence Imaging Technique for Latent Fingerprint Application.

Latent fingerprint imaging is a crucial tool for national security and crime recognition, requiring environmentally sustainable, nontoxic materials. To address this need, we have developed a green fluorescence-emitting material, THCHO, that binds effectively to latent fingerprints, enabling clear, high-resolution visualization. The solution produces strong green fluorescence that highlights fingerprint imprints with exceptional detail and contrast. The material is applicable across various substrates, making it efficient for on-site visualization. The synthesized organic conjugated material THCHO rapidly visualizes precise fingerprint substructures within 5 s using a simple spray method. It maintains high contrast and low interference across different substrates, such as glass, aluminum foil, plastic, and ironware, even in diverse backgrounds. Additionally, the THCHO material demonstrates high stability, retaining its fluorescence imaging capabilities for up to 35 days and after water washing. This is the first report of using a conjugated organic thiophene material for latent fingerprint fluorescence imaging, suggesting potential applications in other fields.

Ammonia recovery from real biogas slurry in the up-scaled Donnan Dialysis-Osmotic Distillation membrane-based system: Performance and potentials

Recovering ammonia from wastewater is crucial for building a circular economy and achieving carbon neutrality. Some innovative ammonia recovery technologies have shown great potential yet lacking theoretical guidance for up-scaling from laboratory to practical applications. Based on our previously-proposed Donnan dialysis-osmotic distillation (DD-OD) hybrid process for selective ammonia recovery at nearly zero energy input, two challenges as modelling/prediction and product application were solved in this study. Under the guide of the tailor-made mass transfer model, a reasonable design of the reactor and operating parameters was fixed, whose performance in recovering ammonia from real biogas slurry and the feasibility of the recovered product as irrigation water was then investigated. The up-scaled DD-OD reactor achieved efficient and stable ammonia removal and recovery (∼75 % and ∼ 65 %, respectively) and excellent impurity retention efficiency (∼95 %) in 360 h continuous run. Impurities deposited on the cation-exchange membrane did not affect ammonium transfer and were effectively removed by water washing, and no fouling was found for the hydrophobic membrane, highlighting its long-term capability for ammonia recovery. Moreover, the cost-effectiveness of the process was analyzed, which could be greatly improved given the future improved membrane materials. A proper dilution of the recovered product for irrigating cabbage and radish promoted plant growth, recycled product containing a moderate ammonia concentration (136 mg/L) was highlighted and well-rounded, multi-element nutrient profile was recommended. The above results provide theoretical guidance for the scaling-up of ammonia recovery module and a reference basis for the application of recycled products in agricultural irrigation.

Enhanced biomass densification pretreatment using binary chemicals for efficient lignocellulosic valorization

Many effective pretreatment methods (such as dilute acid, dilute alkali, ionic liquids, etc.) have been developed for lignocellulose upgrading, but several defaults of low working mass, high sugar loss and extra cost of solid-liquid separation and water washing hinder their large-scale application in industry. Besides, the valorization of lignin-rich residue from pretreated biomass after hydrolysis or fermentation greatly contributes to the economy and sustainability of lignocellulosic biorefinery, which is usually underestimated. This study developed a densification pretreatment with binary chemicals (densifying lignocellulosic biomass with sulfuric acid (SA) and metal salt (MS) followed by autoclave treatment ((DLCA(SA-MS)), which was conducted under mild condition (121 °C) with a biomass working mass as high as 400 kg/m3. The DLCA(SA-MS) biomass achieved over 95% sugar retention, 90% enzymatic sugar conversion and a high concentration of fermentable sugar (212.3 g/L) with superior fermentability. Furthermore, bio-adsorbent derived from DLCA(SA-MS) biomass residue was highly adsorptive and suitable for dyeing wastewater treatment, providing a feasible and eco-friendly method for lignin-rich residue valorization. These findings indicated that DLCA(SA-MS) pretreatment enables the full-component utilization of biomass and boosts the economic viability of lignocellulosic biorefinery.

Study on Water Wash Pretreatment and Al-Si Additives to Relieve the Sintering Behavior of Fungus Bran Combustion Ash

This study focuses on the sintering phenomenon that easily occurs during the direct combustion of molded fuel made from fungus bran (FB). To investigate the key factors influencing sintering, experiments are designed and conducted using a muffle furnace and a high-temperature drop furnace. The experimental results show that the combustion temperature is the primary factor triggering the sintering phenomenon. To effectively mitigate this issue, this study proposes two improvement strategies: water washing pretreatment and the use of additives. The analysis shows that water washing pretreatment effectively removes K and Mg elements, with the removal rates increasing as the washing temperature and time increase. Specifically, the removal rate of K ranges from 37.68% to 55.91%, and that of Mg ranges from 33.16% to 58.52%. Water washing pretreatment also reduces the degree of sintering; at 1400 °C, the TSF (tendency to slag formation) of the fuel increases by 25–40% after pretreatment, with a greater increases observed at higher washing temperatures and longer durations. Kaolin, used as an additive, significantly raises the ash melting point of FB and alleviates sintering, while P2O5 exacerbates it. Increasing the proportion of kaolin does not significantly enhance the TSF of high-temperature ash, but raising the P2O5 content from 5% to 10% lowers the TSF by 10–20% at the corresponding temperature.

Single-step pyrolysis of Stipa Tenacissima fibers to hard carbon: A potential route for sodium-ion battery anodes

Hard Carbon (HC) has emerged as a viable candidate for the negative electrode material in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). This study focuses on the development of a novel HC-negative electrode derived from the pyrolysis of Stipa tenacissima fibers (STF). Prior to pyrolysis, STF underwent a hot water wash pre-treatment, and various pyrolysis temperatures (800 °C, 1000 °C, and 1300 °C) were investigated to elucidate their influence on HC properties and performance. Structural analysis revealed significant differences in the HC structure, highlighting a direct correlation between capacity improvement and the size of accessible micropores for sodium insertion. Composite electrodes were assembled and evaluated in non-aqueous sodium half-cells to assess HC's performance. Notably, increasing the pyrolysis temperature resulted in higher reversible capacity (RC). Specifically, HC prepared at 1300 °C exhibited an RC of 270 mAh g−1, initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of approximately 60 %, and exceptional reversibility with 99 % capacity retention after 90 cycles at a 25 mA g−1 of current density (CD). These results surpassed those obtained with HC prepared at 800 °C and 1000 °C. Moreover, this study explores the biological, biochemical, biophysical, and structural advantages conferred by STF, making it a promising component in SIBs, with the ultimate goal of establishing long-lasting, high-performance battery systems.

Comparative Biochemical and Pharmacodynamic Analyses of Asarum heterotropoides Fr. Schmidt var. Mandshuricum (Maxim) Kitag and Asarum sieboldii Miq var. Seoulense Nakai Roots

Background:Asarum heterotropoides and Asarum sieboldii are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, little is known about how they differ in terms of essential oil (EO) and ethanol extract (EE) content and composition. Moreover, the effect of various geographical locations on the essential oil (EO), ethanol extract (EE), and asarinin content of different Asarum samples remains unknown. We tested four root-drying methods, i.e., soil removal and shade drying (P1), water washing and shade drying (P2), and water washing and drying at 30 °C (P3) and 40 °C (P4). We used LC-MS and GC-MS to investigate these differences. We also investigated the pharmacodynamic effects of EO and EE. Results: Overall, the EO, EE and asarinin contents of the analysed samples were 19.21–51.53 μL.g−1, 20.00–45.00 μL.g−1, and 1.268–2.591 mg.g−1, respectively. P1 treatment yielded the lowest volatile oil content compared to the other three treatments. GC-MS analysis revealed 78 EO components. Among the six major EO components, eucarvone, 3,5-dimethoxytoluene, and methyl eugenol were higher in A. heterotropoides than in A. sieboldii. However, the latter had a higher myristicin content. LC-MS analysis identified 888 EE components in roots and leaves of A. heterotropoides and A. sieboldii; 317 differentially accumulated metabolites were identified. EO and EE showed a dose-dependent reduction in the degree of swelling and an increase in the inhibition rate of drug concentration on acetic acid writhing in mice. Asarum EO proved to be more effective than EE in the pharmacodynamic study. Conclusions: We conclude that Asarum species show inter- and intra-specific differences in EO and EE content and composition, which may influence the pharmacodynamics of Asarum root extracts.

Evaluation of MgO-rich materials obtained from Ferronickel slag for CO2 sequestration

Because it has a high magnesium content, ferronickel (FeNi) slag is a potential alternative material for CO2 sequestration. The slag can be pretreated by alkali fusion with NaOH to obtain MgO-rich materials. In this study, the potential of this MgO-rich material for CO2 sequestration was investigated using MgO from FeNi slag (MgO-FS) and MgNa2SiO4 from FeNi slag (MNA). A MgO reagent (MgO-R) and FeNi slag were used as reference materials. The carbonation process was carried out using a batch autoclave with various liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratios, initial pressures, times, and CO2 concentrations. The MgO-FS effectively captured CO2 and had a carbonation performance comparable to that of MgO-R. The degrees of carbonation for MgO-R, MgO-FS, and MNA were 68.43 %, 65.53 %, and 39.40 %, respectively, when carbonation was carried out at 423 K and 8 bar with an L/S ratio of 10 mL/g and pure CO2 for 9 h. Combination of the FeNi slag alkali fusion process (1:2 FeNi slag/NaOH mass ratio, 773 K, and 4 h) with water washing and carbonation (4 bar, 423 K, 10 mL/g L/S ratio, 3 h, and pure CO2) gave a CO2 uptake efficiency of 0.119 ± 0.004 g CO2/g FeNi slag. The results of the degree of carbonation (i.e. 65.53 %), X-Ray diffraction spectra (magnesite mineral peak), and scanning electron microscope observations (magnesite crystal appearance) provide evidence that MgO-FS is an effective alternative material for indirect CO2 sequestration.