Search

Bottom ash resulting from combustion of low-quality lignite in Romanian coal-fired power plants contains significant amounts of unburned carbon. This large value is caused by many factors, such as the high humidity value of the raw coal delivered to the plant, advanced wear of the coal mills and large variability of the coal quality. As the unburned carbon reduces significantly the economic efficiency of the power generation, solutions to improve the process were investigated. Within the CHARPHITE project we propose a recycling process of coal ash for obtaining a carbon concentrate that can be used as raw material for graphitization procedure. Various secondary waste materials result from separation and concentration phases of the recycling process. We point out the possibilities to use the by-products with very low carbon content as substitutes for natural aggregates in ceramic bonded construction materials. We tested two kind of coal ash: bottom ash collected from a Romanian power plant and fly ash collected from a Portuguese power plant. In the second part of the paper, we present the main characteristics of the building materials manufactured from coal-ash and clay mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bottom ash resulting from combustion of low-quality lignite in Romanian coal-fired power plants contains significant amounts of unburned carbon. This large value is caused by many factors, such as the high humidity value of the raw coal delivered to the plant, advanced wear of the coal mills and large variability of the coal quality. As the unburned carbon reduces significantly the economic efficiency of the power generation, solutions to improve the process were investigated. Within the CHARPHITE project we propose a recycling process of coal ash for obtaining a carbon concentrate that can be used as raw material for graphitization procedure. Various secondary waste materials result from separation and concentration phases of the recycling process. We point out the possibilities to use the by-products with very low carbon content as substitutes for natural aggregates in ceramic bonded construction materials. We tested two kind of coal ash: bottom ash collected from a Romanian power plant and fly ash collected from a Portuguese power plant. In the first part of the paper we present the coal ash characteristics and the methods used to determine them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As we presented in the first part of the paper, twelve pre-concentration procedures for residual carbon from bottom ash were tested. The average results are pointed out. By using the 8th pre-concentration procedure, the fixed carbon content increased from 13.89% to 63.60% and the mineral mass decreased from 57.57% to 17.39%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon content in ash differs depending on the quality of the coal, the efficiency of the combustion plant, the combustion parameters and so on. The separation of unburned coal from ash can be done for various purposes - to reduce the unburned coal content before its use (eg for cement production), to collect uncharged coal to further study its characteristics or to prepare some absorbents, graphite materials, etc. The choice of the separation procedure is therefore given by the purpose of the separation, the properties required for unburned carbon, or by the subsequent intended use. The UCB research team analyzed twelve pre-concentration procedures for residual carbon from bottom ash. The procedures and the methodology used for comparison are pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Schnitzler syndrome is an adult-onset autoinflammatory disease characterized by urticarial exanthema and monoclonal gammopathy accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever, bone, and muscle pain. Up to now, approved treatment options are not available. Objective We assessed effects of the anti–IL-1β mAb canakinumab on the clinical signs and symptoms of Schnitzler syndrome. Methods In this phase II, randomized placebo-controlled multicenter study, 20 patients with active disease enrolled in 4 German study centers. Patients were randomly assigned to receive single subcutaneous canakinumab 150 mg or placebo injections for 7 days, followed by a 16-week open-label phase with canakinumab injections on confirmed relapse of symptoms. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with complete clinical response evaluated by physician global assessment at day 7. Key secondary end points included changes in patient-reported disease activity (Schnitzler activity score), inflammation markers (C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A), and quality-of-life assessments (Dermatology Life Quality Index and 36-item short form health survey). Results The proportion of patients with complete clinical response at day 7 was significantly higher ( P = .001) in the canakinumab-treated group (n = 5 of 7) than in the placebo group (n = 0 of 13). Levels of inflammation markers C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A and quality-of-life scores were significantly reduced in canakinumab-treated but not in placebo-treated individuals. Positive effects continued up to 16 weeks. Adverse events were manageable and included respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal symptoms, and hypertension. Conclusions In this first placebo-controlled study, canakinumab was effective in patients with Schnitzler syndrome, and thus canakinumab may be further evaluated as a therapeutic option for this rare disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change is among the major challenges the world is facing today, and can be attributed to enhanced concentrations of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), in the atmosphere. Therefore, there is an urgent need to mitigate CO 2 emissions, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) is amongst the possible options to reduce CO 2 emission. Against this background, this work investigated the synthesis and performance evaluation of a new material for CO 2 capture. In particular, the effect of the presence of water-soluble amines in the amine-grafted poly-succinimide (PSI) (referred to as Polyaspartamide (PAA) adsorbent), was investigated. Methyl Amine (MA) and Mono-Ethanol Amine (MEA) were employed as water-soluble amines and the effect of changes in their concentration on CO 2 adsorption capacity was investigated as well. Water-soluble amines were incorporated to allow water solubility of the adsorbent paving way for freeze-drying to improve the geometric structure (surface area, pore volume and pore size) of the adsorbent. The water-soluble amines were grafted to an already Ethylenediamine (EDA) grafted PSI (PSI-EDA), with the EDA added to improve the chemical surface of the adsorbent for CO 2 capture. The NMR analysis confirmed the presence of MA and MEA amine groups in the PAA, thereby indicating the presence of the grafted amines on the backbone polymer. An increase in adsorption capacity with an increase in MA and MEA concentrations in MA-PAA and MEA-PAA samples was observed. At low amine concentrations (20% amine and 80% EDA grafted), MEA-PAA was observed to exhibit higher adsorption capacity compared to the MA-PAA samples. At high amine (100% amine grafted) concentrations, MA-PAA samples displayed higher adsorption capacity. Three runs were performed on each sample and the results obtained were reproducible. The best adsorption capacity obtained was 44.2 g CO 2 /kg Ads. However, the operating conditions during the CO 2 adsorption should be optimized for enhanced CO 2 adsorption capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed at evaluating the CO2 adsorption capacity of various South African coal types to determine the effects of pressure, coal rank and coal composition with regard to their maceral and mineral content. Pure CO2 adsorption isotherms were measured at 35°C and up to a maximum pressure of ~85bar using the volumetric method. Higher ranking coals had shown greater sorption rates compared to lower ranked coals with greater mineral matter content. Increased maceral content, to some degree, shows greater affinity for CO2 uptake, however, there is no clear correlation between the competing nature of vitrinite and inertinite components from these results, further investigation into the inert and reactive components of the maceral components needs closer evaluation as can be seen from the SM coal type result, although the general trend leans toward higher adsorption capacity with regard to higher vitrinite content as a whole for most of the coals tested in this study. Langmuir model was found to generally accurately estimate the sorption capacity of the coals, exhibiting a classic Type 1 adsorption occurring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Unlike other storage options, CO2 storage in coal seams is still in its infancy and requires advanced research to address the number of unknowns. One of the many questions that still need to be answered concerns the long term effects of storing CO2 in coal, specifically on the structure and properties of the coal. Most studies on coal structural changes have been conducted over a short period of adsorption (hours or 2-3 days) and at low pressures (1-20bar). Available literature has shown that the volumetric strains are a function of the local petrographic composition, and, in general, a coal''s response to CO2 sorption is based on the coal petrographic composition. The aim of this study was to determine any molecular structural and physical changes that may occur in coal following long term exposure (up to 6 months) to CO2 under subcritical conditions (up to 42bar). Inertinite-rich coal particles have a higher microporous surface area than vitrinite-rich particles of the same rank, as demonstrated by BET analysis. XRD results on the pre- and post-sorption coal samples demonstrated that CO2 sorption in coal causes some structural changes. The structural changes were found to be different for coals of different maceral composition, confirming the initial hypothesis. The coal samples that were exposed to CO2 over longer periods of time (6 months) displayed a more pronounced change in coal structure than those that were exposed for a shorter period of time (14 days). Volumetric sorption studies demonstrated that CO2 treated vitrinite-rich particles have a greater change in sorption properties than inertinite-rich particles. The study provides an insight into the chemical and physical changes caused by sorption of CO2 into coal, and could be used for modelling CO2-coal interactions, and for assisting in CO2-coal uptake calculations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Previous studies demonstrated that melting, initiated by supercritical fluids in the 375–400 °C range, occurred as part of anthracite metamorphism in the Appalachian Basin. Based on the known behavior of vitrinite at high temperatures and, to a lesser extent, at high pressures, it was determined that the duration of the heating, melting, and resolidification event was about 1 h. In the current study, featureless vitrinite within banded maceral assemblages demonstratesthe intimate association of melted and resolidified vitrinite with anthracite-rank macerals. By analogy with metamorphosed inorganic rocks, such associations represent diadysites and embrechites, i.e., cross-cutting and layered migmatites, respectively. Even though the temperature of formation of the anthracite structures is several hundred °C lower than that seen in metamorphosed inorganic rocks, anthracites are metamorphic rocks and the nomenclature for metamorphic rocks may be appropriate for coal. [Display omitted] • Anthracite textures from several sources were evaluated. • Several showed signs of melting. • For Pennsylvania anthracite, the structure is described as a migmatite. • Use of a hard rock term is deemed appropriate for highly metamorphosed coals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venom-induced anaphylaxis (VIA) is a common, potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction associated with (1) a specific symptom profile, 2) specific cofactors, and 3) specific management. Identifying the differences in phenotypes of anaphylaxis is crucial for future management guidelines and development of a personalized medicine approach. This study aimed to evaluate the phenotype and risk factors of VIA. Using data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry (12,874 cases), we identified 3,612 patients with VIA and analyzed their cases in comparison with sex- and age-matched anaphylaxis cases triggered by other elicitors (non-VIA cases [n = 3,605]). VIA more frequently involved more than 3 organ systems and was associated with cardiovascular symptoms. The absence of skin symptoms during anaphylaxis was correlated with baseline serum tryptase level and was associated with an increased risk of a severe reaction. Intramuscular or intravenous epinephrine was administered significantly less often in VIA, in particular, in patients without a history of anaphylaxis. A baseline serum tryptase level within the upper normal range (8-11.5 ng/mL) was more frequently associated with severe anaphylaxis. Using a large cohort of VIA cases, we have validated that patients with intermediate baseline serum tryptase levels (8-11 ng/mL) and without skin involvement have a higher risk of severe VIA. Patients receiving β-blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors had a higher risk of developing severe cardiovascular symptoms (including cardiac arrest) in VIA and non-VIA cases. Patients experiencing VIA received epinephrine less frequently than did cases with non-VIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of a 25-year-old man with sinus pericranii is presented, with topics mentioned such as pericranial sinus, endovascular embolization, and thrombosis.