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In the engine of heavy trucks, the built-in fuel filter assumes the role of "lungs". The core of the filter, namely the fuel filter paper, acts as a filter for small impurities and separates oil and water. In order to be able to separate minute impurities from the fuel, in this study, we prepared a novel fuel oil filter paper with high efficiency and high dust holding capacity based on wet-laid forming by laminating PBT/PP two-component melt-blown nonwoven material and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)-doped cellulose wood fiber pulp with the fiber mesh combination forming technology. The effects of the CNC mixing ratio, surface density of melt-blown nonwoven material layer, surface density of cellulose wood pulp paper layer and calendaring pressure on the pore size and filtration performance of the composite samples were investigated, and the filtration efficiency of the composite samples on the tiny impurities in the fuel were also studied. The results showed that the novel composite fuel filter paper material prepared by the combined forming technology of fibrous web had high filtration efficiency and dust holding capacity, and the filtration efficiency of the composite samples could respectively reach 99.90% and 99.52% for particles larger than 14 μm and 4 μm in diameter in the fuel. At the same time, the dust holding capacity of the composite sample can reach up to 27.63 mgcm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To elucidate whether occupational noise exposure increases the mortality from ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke, and if exposure to paper dust modified the risks. Methods: We studied 6686 workers from soft paper mills, with occupational noise exposure, < 85 dBA, 85–90 dBA and > 90 dBA, and high (> 5 mg/m3) exposure to paper dust. Person-years 1960–2019 were stratified according to gender, age, and calendar-year. Expected numbers of deaths were calculated using the Swedish population as the reference and standardized mortality ratios (SMR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were assessed. Results: SMR for IHD was 1.12 (95% CI 0.88–1.41) for noise < 85 dBA, 1.18 (95% CI 0.90–1.55) for 85–90 dBA, and 1.27 (95% CI 1.10–1.47) among workers exposed > 90 dBA. Joint exposure to high noise exposure and high exposure to paper dust resulted in slightly higher IHD mortality (SMR 1.39, 95% CI 1.15–1.67). SMR for ischemic stroke was 0.90 (95% CI 0.37–2.15) for noise < 85 dBA, 1.08 (95% CI 0.45–2.59) for 85–90 dBA, and 1.48 (95% CI 0.99–2.00) among workers exposed > 90 dBA. High noise exposure and high exposure to paper dust resulted in higher ischemic stroke mortality (SMR 1.83, 95% CI 1.12–2.98). Conclusion: Noise levels > 90 dBA was associated with increased IHD mortality. Combined exposures of noise and paper dust may further increase the risks. Our results do not provide support for a causal relationship for ischemic stroke. Residual confounding from smoking has to be considered. Workers need to be protected from occupational noise levels exceeding 90 dBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Workers in pulp and paper factories are continuously exposed to paper dust. Excessive exposure to paper dust can cause respiratory disease. Information about the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and dust exposure levels among workers in pulp and paper factories is not available in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was, therefore, to assess personal total dust exposure levels, the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and their associated risk factors among workers in Ethiopian pulp and paper factories. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 40 dust measurements were carried out on 20 randomly selected workers. To assess chronic respiratory symptoms and associated factors, 434 workers from two paper factories and controls were interviewed using a standard questionnaire adapted from the American Thoracic Society (ATS). Gravimetric analyses of the filters were undertaken using a standard microbalance. Poisson regression was performed for comparing the prevalence of symptoms and risk factors for the two groups. Multivariable analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with chronic respiratory symptoms. Result: The arithmetic mean (AM) and geometric mean (GM) of dust exposure levels among the paper factories workers were 11.3 (± 7.7) and 10.2 (± 1.4) mg/m3 respectively. This exposure level exceeded the threshold limit value recommended for total dust (10 mg/m3). The prevalence of having at least one chronic respiratory symptom was about 51% among the workers in paper factories. The prevalence ratio of having chronic respiratory symptoms among paper factory workers was 5.6 times higher (PR = 6, 95% CI 3.5–10.3) than in the controls. Chronic respiratory symptoms were significantly associated with factors such as an educational status of less than grade 9, being employed in the work sections of the factories, having work experience of 5 years and above, working more than 8 h per day and having a past history of occupation and respiratory illnesses. Conclusion: The dust concentration in the paper factories exceeded the acceptable recommended limit value of 10 mg/m3. The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms among paper factory workers was higher than among controls. The main determining factors for chronic respiratory symptoms among the workers were the specific work section such as production section, low income, having past history of respiratory illnesses, the number of years of working and low educational status. This finding indicated the need for improving the working conditions in paper factories in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Excessive paper dust during paper production may harm the workers’ respiratory health. We wanted to assess the inhalable paper dust levels and its determinants among paper industry workers.A study was conducted in Ethiopia to assess the level of personal inhalable paper dust exposure among four paper mills. A total of 150 samples were collected using the IOM sampler attached to Side Kick Casella pumps at a flow rate of 2 L/min. The samples were analyzed in Nemko Norlab, Norway. Linear mixed-effect models were applied to identify determinants of inhalable paper dust.The geometric mean of personal inhalable paper dust was 3.3 mg/m3 with 80% of the measurements exceeding the Swedish occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 2 mg/m3. The linear mixed-effects model showed that the level of dust was 28% higher when using high-speed than when using low-speed rewinding machines, while paper mills with an average of more than four machines per job group had 22% higher exposure than paper mills with a lower number of machines. Furthermore, working in packing and preparation was associated with higher dust exposure than in other areas.The dust exposure levels were above the Swedish OEL for 80% of the samples. This indicates that preventive measures should be established in the industry. The exposure model identified high-speed rewinding machines, a high number of machines, and work in preparation and packing as associated with high levels of paper dust exposure.Methods: Excessive paper dust during paper production may harm the workers’ respiratory health. We wanted to assess the inhalable paper dust levels and its determinants among paper industry workers.A study was conducted in Ethiopia to assess the level of personal inhalable paper dust exposure among four paper mills. A total of 150 samples were collected using the IOM sampler attached to Side Kick Casella pumps at a flow rate of 2 L/min. The samples were analyzed in Nemko Norlab, Norway. Linear mixed-effect models were applied to identify determinants of inhalable paper dust.The geometric mean of personal inhalable paper dust was 3.3 mg/m3 with 80% of the measurements exceeding the Swedish occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 2 mg/m3. The linear mixed-effects model showed that the level of dust was 28% higher when using high-speed than when using low-speed rewinding machines, while paper mills with an average of more than four machines per job group had 22% higher exposure than paper mills with a lower number of machines. Furthermore, working in packing and preparation was associated with higher dust exposure than in other areas.The dust exposure levels were above the Swedish OEL for 80% of the samples. This indicates that preventive measures should be established in the industry. The exposure model identified high-speed rewinding machines, a high number of machines, and work in preparation and packing as associated with high levels of paper dust exposure.Results: Excessive paper dust during paper production may harm the workers’ respiratory health. We wanted to assess the inhalable paper dust levels and its determinants among paper industry workers.A study was conducted in Ethiopia to assess the level of personal inhalable paper dust exposure among four paper mills. A total of 150 samples were collected using the IOM sampler attached to Side Kick Casella pumps at a flow rate of 2 L/min. The samples were analyzed in Nemko Norlab, Norway. Linear mixed-effect models were applied to identify determinants of inhalable paper dust.The geometric mean of personal inhalable paper dust was 3.3 mg/m3 with 80% of the measurements exceeding the Swedish occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 2 mg/m3. The linear mixed-effects model showed that the level of dust was 28% higher when using high-speed than when using low-speed rewinding machines, while paper mills with an average of more than four machines per job group had 22% higher exposure than paper mills with a lower number of machines. Furthermore, working in packing and preparation was associated with higher dust exposure than in other areas.The dust exposure levels were above the Swedish OEL for 80% of the samples. This indicates that preventive measures should be established in the industry. The exposure model identified high-speed rewinding machines, a high number of machines, and work in preparation and packing as associated with high levels of paper dust exposure.Conclusions: Excessive paper dust during paper production may harm the workers’ respiratory health. We wanted to assess the inhalable paper dust levels and its determinants among paper industry workers.A study was conducted in Ethiopia to assess the level of personal inhalable paper dust exposure among four paper mills. A total of 150 samples were collected using the IOM sampler attached to Side Kick Casella pumps at a flow rate of 2 L/min. The samples were analyzed in Nemko Norlab, Norway. Linear mixed-effect models were applied to identify determinants of inhalable paper dust.The geometric mean of personal inhalable paper dust was 3.3 mg/m3 with 80% of the measurements exceeding the Swedish occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 2 mg/m3. The linear mixed-effects model showed that the level of dust was 28% higher when using high-speed than when using low-speed rewinding machines, while paper mills with an average of more than four machines per job group had 22% higher exposure than paper mills with a lower number of machines. Furthermore, working in packing and preparation was associated with higher dust exposure than in other areas.The dust exposure levels were above the Swedish OEL for 80% of the samples. This indicates that preventive measures should be established in the industry. The exposure model identified high-speed rewinding machines, a high number of machines, and work in preparation and packing as associated with high levels of paper dust exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing solid waste recycling, this study aims to develop biodegradable kraft paper from buffing dust (BD) and post‐consumed jute fiber (JF). Employing a simple solution casting method with a polyurethane binder, the kraft paper was fabricated and characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, OTR, biodegradability, and tensile tests. The findings revealed covalent and hydrogen bonding between BD and JF, forming a uniform surface. Notably, the composite exhibited improved thermal stability, enhanced gas barrier properties, and biodegradability compared to individual components. Furthermore, the composite also showed 57% higher tensile strength, 38% greater elongation, 20% increased hardness, and 9% higher density compared to buffing dust. Compared to jute fiber, the increases were 125%, 91%, 30%, and 19% respectively. Moreover, the composite excelled in gas barrier performance, surpassing BD and JF by a remarkable 61% and 73% increase respectively. These significant findings underscore the vast potential of the composite kraft paper as a versatile material suitable for various applications, including packaging, interior furnishing industries, and reinforcing elements in the footwear industry. By addressing waste management and promoting sustainability, this research contributes to the development of eco‐friendly materials that align with contemporary environmental concerns. Highlights: Covalent and hydrogen bonding enhance uniformity.Biodegradable kraft paper with improved properties.Impressive tensile strength, elongation, and hardness.Versatile material for eco‐friendly applications.Promotes sustainability and waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper dusting has recently been recognized as a significant issue in the hygiene tissue industry. This review considers the factors that may contribute to dusting and linting, as well as the challenges of evaluating dusting propensity. Examining both the paper and textile industries, several methods of dusting and linting assessment exist. This review describes the equipment, methodologies, targeted paper grades or materials, advantages, and disadvantages. Standards (if applicable) are also covered for each of the major methods. These existing methods were found to have various drawbacks, suggesting a need for an improved, standardized method and device. In conclusion, and to motivate future research, mechanisms of dust release are reviewed along with existing and possible solutions to combat the tissue-dusting problem. This paper outlines the importance of creating a repeatable, standard, and accurate testing procedure and methodology for dust particle characterization in the hygiene tissue industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: To study respiratory effects of exposure to soft paper dust exposure, a relationship that is rarely studied. Methods: Soft tissue paper mill workers at a Swedish paper mill were investigated using a questionnaire and lung function and atopy screening. Spirometry without bronchodilation was performed with a dry wedge spirometer, and forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were obtained and expressed as percent predicted. Exposure to soft paper dust was assessed from historical stationary and personal measurements of total dust, in addition to historical information about the work, department, and production. The impact of high exposure to soft paper dust (> 5 mg/m3) vs. lower exposure ≤ 5 mg/m3, as well as cumulative exposure, was analyzed using multiple linear regression models. Multivariate models were adjusted for smoking, atopy, gender, and body mass index. Results: One hundred ninety-eight current workers (124 male and 74 female) were included. There were significant associations between both cumulative exposure and years of high exposure to soft paper dust and impaired lung function. Each year of high exposure to soft paper dust was associated with a 0.87% decrease in FEV1 [95% confidence interval (CI) − 1.39 to − 0.35] and decreased FVC (− 0.54%, 95% CI − 1.00 to − 0.08) compared to the lower exposed workers. Conclusions: The present study shows that occupational exposure to soft paper dust (years exceeding 5 mg/m3 total dust) is associated with lung function impairment and increased prevalence of obstructive lung function impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Especially in the field of paper and print post-processing on an industrial scale, continuous cutting operations generate paper dust. Despite preventive measures like dedusting units, a high paper web velocity induces the release of particulate dust. As a result, the particles settle and accumulate on machine components and in the surrounding area. Resuspended particles around a potential ignition source represent a fire hazard. The prevention of such fire incidents requires frequent servicing and maintenance. However, the shutdown time on industrial scale applications remains cost-intensive. In this research, a cutting plotter executes reproducible knife edge cutting sequences to identify significant parameters affecting the paper dust formation on a macro and micro scale. For this purpose, an extraction system collects the exposed particles along the cutting line. The applied methods include gravimetric determination of the dust mass and dynamic image analysis to characterise particle size and shape. Final results indicate a significant influence of the blade wear condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Total paper dust exposure has been associated with respiratory problems among workers in the soft tissue paper industry. However, a comprehensive job exposure matrix (JEM) has not been developed for application to this industry. Our study was intended to address this need and to support further studies of mortality and morbidity in a cohort of Swedish workers from this industry. Methods: We evaluated four participating soft tissue paper mills in Sweden. We combined information on process and equipment status from the mills with knowledge of the mills obtained through research efforts and paper dust measurements made at all four mills to develop a semi‐quantitative JEM with seven dust exposure levels. The JEM was targeted at workers enrolled into a soft tissue paper mill cohort and working any time between 1960 and 2009. Results: The JEM includes a total of 14 421 cells, with each cell corresponding to the exposure for a job title, department, or work location for a one‐year period. Exposure levels in the JEM were estimated to decline at three of the four mills from 1971 to 2009, but overexposures (ie, exceedances of the relevant occupational exposure limits) remained common at the end of the period. Conclusions: The JEM results highlight the need for ongoing exposure control efforts in the soft tissue paper industry, and will inform ongoing epidemiological studies of the health effects of exposure to paper dust in Sweden. It is freely available for use by other researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leather sector is currently under heavy threat to reduce environmental pollution problems associated with the generation of leather waste, especially in terms of public acceptance issues related to environmental welfare requirements. Leather waste must be disposed of in landfills, which has a significant environmental impact. The development of natural polymer/paper mill sludge-based leather replacements for the production of leather goods and footwear products is an alternative solution supported by the recycled leather industry. In this work, a study is carried out to prepare natural polymer leather sheet (NPLS) from leather waste (chrome shavings and buffing dust), paper mill sludge, and natural polymer [natural rubber latex (NRL)] by vacuum-pressure method, for their potential application in leather products industries. The NPLS was characterized by its physicochemical and mechanical properties. Various types of NPLS were produced by comprising different ratios of the NRL. Results portrayed that 300 mL w/v NRL significantly improved the physicochemical and mechanical properties of NPLS. Hence, the research has revealed a revolutionary idea of NPLS developed which is cost-effective, eco-friendly, and energy efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air filters are placed upstream of internal combustion engines to remove dust particles in the suction air. In this article, we examine the acoustic characterization of an air-filtering unit in the absence of mean flow. For this purpose, a circular air-filtering unit with an axial inlet and side outlet widely used in the automobile industry is considered. The air-filter element is modeled as an equivalent acoustic fluid with finite flow resistivity. The flow resistivity of the region is estimated from the permeability of the filter paper and the geometrical arrangement of the paper folds (pleats) inside the air-filter element using an electrical analogy. A numerical model based on the finite element method (FEM) and an analytical model using classical one-dimensional plane wave analysis (1-D PWA) was developed. Experiments were carried out using an impedance tube to estimate transmission loss. A good correlation is observed between the FEM model and the experiments. The results obtained from the 1-D PWA are in reasonable agreement with those obtained from the other two methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorides are emitted in both gaseous and particle forms in the industrial sector. However, studies usually only report total fluoride content. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the particulate, gaseous fluoride and correlate it with the respirable dust particles in Single Super Phosphate (SSP), Granular Single Super Phosphate (GSSP), and administration divisions of the industry. Respirable dust particles, particulate fluoride, and hydrogen fluoride in the work environment were collected on a filter cassette containing an MCE filter paper (0.8 micron 37-mm) and Na2CO3 impregnated backup pad, respectively, using a personal sampler. The fluoride samples were analyzed using Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) and expressed as milligrams per meter cube (mg.m-3). The respirable dust, particulate, and gaseous fluoride content were found to have statistically significant differences (p<0.001) between the divisions (SSP, GSSP, and administration) in the static monitoring, whereas, in the case of personal monitoring, no significant differences were observed. Average airborne respirable, particulate, and gaseous fluoride levels in static monitoring were 1.37, 1.03, 0.20 mg.m-3, 0.018, 0.008, 0.001 mg.m-3, and 0.808, 0.403, 0.026 ppm in SSP, GSSP and administration respectively, whereas in personal monitoring the average respirable, particulate and gaseous fluoride concentrations were 1.18, 0.85, 0.30 mg.m-3, 0.0013, 0.007, 0.002 mg.m-3 and 0.356, 0.258, 0.011 ppm in SSP, GSSP and administration respectively. The present study observed that the levels of fluoride decreased with an increase in distance from SSP, followed by GSSP and administration. It indicates that the fluoride exposure was inversely proportional to the distance of the source. This study outcome will help to design a policy and intervention to mitigate fluoride exposure among workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• ZIF-67 particles can be evenly distributed and tightly attached to the cellulose paper substrate. • Mild synthesis conditions combined with papermaking processes are suitable for mass production. • The composite filter has a hierarchical porous structure with a large specific surface area. • The optimum sample exhibited removal efficiencies of 98.52% for PM 2.5 and 99.00% for PM 10. • Composite papers possessed excellent mechanical properties and reusability. The combination of functional zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with suitable substrates is promising for the preparation of advanced filtering materials. In this study, the bleached kraft softwood pulp (NBKP) was composited with ZIF-67 particles via an in situ growth method to fabricate functional paper. Enabled by the traditional papermaking process, ZIF-67 crystals were uniformly and tightly anchored on cellulosic fibers in a facile and economic way. The introduction of ZIF-67 boosted the mechanical performances of the composite paper owing to the presence of electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Meanwhile, the resultant paper presents hierarchical porous structure with a large specific surface area of 327.07 m2·g−1. The filters with hierarchical pore structure will provide a complex tortuous channel for passing particulates, which can increase the frequency of effective collision between filters and particulates. Air filtering tests demonstrated that the ZIF-67 entrapped paper has superior particle removal efficiency with a low pressure drop and a large dust holding capacity. The optimal ZP-3 sample displayed removal efficiencies of 98.52 % for PM 2.5 and 99.00 % for PM 10. Meanwhile, filtration quality factors were calculated to be 0.15 (PM 2.5) and 0.17 (PM 10), respectively. The filter also has good antibacterial activity. In addition, ZP-x composite paper is easy to regenerate and possesses good reusability. The high-efficient ZP-x filter will have potential applications in fields of air purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the performance of residual iron dust (RID) from metallurgic industry was assessed as Fenton catalyst for the treatment of real pulp bleaching wastewater. The focus was on the removal of recalcitrant pollutants AOX (adsorbable organic halides), by a novel, cleaner, and cost-effective circular solution based on a waste-derived catalyst. The behaviour of RID as iron source was firstly assessed by performing leaching tests at different RID:wastewater w/v ratios and contact time. Afterwards, RID-catalysed homogeneous and heterogeneous Fenton processes were conducted to maximise AOX removal from the pulp bleaching wastewater. Reusability of RID was assessed by a simple collect-and-reuse methodology, without any modification. Similar AOX removal under less consumption of chemicals was achieved with the novel heterogeneous Fenton process. Reaction in the bulk solution was the main pathway of AOX removal, given that the low surface area and porosity of the material did not allow for a high contribution of surface reaction to the overall performance. Moreover, AOX removal was similar over two consecutive treatment cycles, with Fenton process being responsible for 56.7–62.1% removal of AOX from the wastewater, and the leaching step adding 11.4–13.2%. At the end of treatment, COD either decreased (1st cycle) or remained unchanged (2nd and 3rd cycle). The operating cost of the optimised heterogeneous Fenton was 3–11% lower than under conventional Fenton process. This work presented a novel, circular solution based on a low-cost waste-derived catalyst, advancing the knowledge needed to foster industrial application of such technologies to increase industrial environmental performance and efficiency. [Display omitted] • Residual iron dust successfully catalysed Fenton process, acting mainly as iron supplier. • Catalyst performance in removing AOX was maintained over consecutive treatment cycles. • The catalyst was successfully reused without any modification or regeneration. • Operating cost of the heterogeneous Fenton was 3–11% lower than conventional Fenton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Paper dust has previously been linked to adverse health effects. However, a comprehensive dataset of paper dust exposures does not appear to have been published previously. Our study was intended to address this need by describing a large dataset of measurements made in Swedish soft tissue paper mills. Methods We compiled personal and area total dust exposure measurements collected from a range of operations by our research staff at four soft tissue paper mills in Sweden. We also compiled measurements made by the occupational health staff at each mill and the Swedish Work Environment Authority. We analyzed these measurements to describe patterns and trends in exposures and used mixed-effects regression models to identify measurement characteristics that predicted exposure levels. Results We compiled 1578 measurements from 1971 to 2009, of which 1026 (65%) were personal samples. Statistically significant differences were found between measurements made by research, mill, and Swedish Work Environment Authority staff, as well as between personal and area measurements. The measurement data suggest that, beginning in the 1980s, exposures declined at three of the four mills, but that overexposures were still common at the end of the period. Papermaking and converting operations had the highest observed dust exposures. One mill had significantly lower exposures than the others. Type of measurement (personal versus area) and source of measurement (research staff, company, or regulatory agency) were not significant predictors of measured total dust exposure after controlling for mill, operation, and time. Conclusions Our analysis of measured paper dust exposures may be useful for historical and contemporary exposure assessment in our own and other epidemiological studies. We have identified specific characteristics (i.e. papermaking operations and mill) and time trends that are important data features to consider, and documented continuing overexposure situations. Our results highlight the ongoing need for application of exposure controls to reduce paper dust exposures in the soft tissue paper industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The material most commonly used to filter and clean the intake air of vehicle internal combustion engines is pleated filter paper, which in most cases is shaped in the form of a cylinder or panel. The production technology has a low cost and is not complicated. In addition to high separation efficiency and filtration performance, pleated filter media are required to have low initial pressure drop, which depends on the geometry of the bed. Much research has been conducted in this area. Dust accumulated in the filter bed causes an increase in pressure drop, which is the cause of deformation and sticking of pleats. The lack of stability of the pleats, the need to strengthen them, and the need to obtain small sizes while achieving high efficiency and accuracy of filtration of engine intake air was the reason for the development of a different design and a new technology for making filter cartridges called PowerCore. The distinctive feature of these filters is axial flow in one direction of the air stream, which avoids turbulence and thus minimizes pressure drop. This paper presents a comparative analysis of a standard PowerCore and PowerCore G2 filter bed and two cylindrical filters with a pleated filter bed made of cellulose and polyester. The conditions and methodology of experimental testing of filters with test dust are presented. During the tests, the characteristics of separation efficiency and filtration performance, as well as pressure drop as a function of the mass of dust retained on the filter of two PowerCore filters and two cylindrical filters were performed. Three specimens of test filters with the same filtration area were made from each sample of filter bed. The results showed that in each test of the filter bed, there is an initial filtration period characterized by low (96–98%) initial separation efficiency and the presence of large (dpmax) dust grains. As the dust loading of the bed increases, the separation efficiency and filtration performance obtain higher and higher values. The initial period of filtration ends when the conventional value (99.9%) of separation efficiency is reached. The duration of this period depends on the type of filter bed and for the PowerCore G2 filter ends for a dust loading of km = 33.1 g/m2, and for the cellulose filter for km = 117.3 g/m2. During the initial period, the air behind the PowerCore G2 filter contains grains with sizes in the range of dpmax = 9–16 µm. Behind the cellulose filter, dust grains are much larger, dpmax = 17–35 µm. The total operating time of the PowerCore G2 filter, limited by the achievement of the permittivity resistance Δpwdop = 3 kPa, is twice that of the other filter compositions tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Asbestos in Australia: From Boom to Dust" is a comprehensive and highly readable edited volume that explores the intersection of environment, industry, and public health in Australian life. The book synthesizes diverse literatures on asbestos in Australia, providing an overview of its business, economic, and social history from its rise as a "miracle mineral" in the late nineteenth century to its decline in the face of mounting medical evidence and public outcry. The collection includes historical, legal, and medical perspectives, as well as oral histories from communities affected by asbestos mining. It serves as a valuable reference work and highlights the ongoing challenges posed by industrial pollutants in Australia. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We report a simple paper filter-based cross flow filtration method for air purification. We have examined a monolith filter array with a cross flow ratio of 1.0 and parallel and staggered filter arrays with a cross flow ratio of about 0.7 in terms of pressure drop and collection efficiency. The monolith filter array shows a monotonic increase in pressure drop from approximately 0.9 to 2.1 kPa. The parallel and staggered filter arrays reduce the increase in pressure drop, which can be maintained as low as 0.8 kPa over the entire range of dust loadings examined. The monolith filter array shows the highest collection efficiency, which is more than 95% over the entire range of dust loadings examined. The collection efficiency of the parallel and staggered filter arrays is initially as high as 70% and decreases to 30% when the dust loading increases to 40 and 100 g m−2, respectively. In particular, collected particles are more uniformly distributed on the staggered filter array than on the parallel filter array, resulting in the initial collection efficiency of 70% being sustained for a longer time. This uniform distribution in the staggered filter array may prevent a rapid increase in local pressure drop. This study provides insight into the development of filtration systems using simple paper filters without increasing the pressure drop and decreasing the collection efficiency. Copyright © 2022 American Association for Aerosol Research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuel cell air filter can absorb harmful impurities and gases to fuel cell and is an important component to ensure the service life of fuel cell. The previous researches mainly focus on the activated carbon and filter paper materials in the laboratory. The object of this paper is the fuel cell air filter product assembly being used by the main engine plant. According to the tests of air filters with different carbon contents, it was found that the adsorption efficiency of current products for NO2 was better than that of C7H8, SO2 and C4H10. Based on the adsorption mechanism of activated carbon for different gases, the adsorption difference was explained. The testes also found that there was no direct relationship between the change of carbon content of products containing activated carbon and the fractional filtration efficiency. The main reason is that the gap between the activated carbon particles is large, which cannot effectively intercept dust particles. The filtering of small size particles still depends on the melt-blown layer material in the air filter element and its electrostatic electret process. It was also found that there was a positive correlation between inlet air resistance and carbon content, and a negative correlation between dust holding capacity and carbon content. This test results can help the main engine factory understand the performance and improvement direction of products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the bacterial aspects of dirty money and the historical concern regarding the transmission of infectious material through currency. While previous worries highlighted the potential danger of dirty paper money, bacteriological investigations failed to find significant microbial distribution on paper currency, suggesting that the composition of printed bills might inhibit bacterial growth.

This paper presents an experimental study of the effect of the mass of dust retained on a fibrous filter bed operating singly and in a "cyclone-filter-bed" system on changes in filtration efficiency and accuracy, as well as the increase in flow resistance. The research was carried out using a novel and unprecedented method, determining the dust absorption coefficient km of the filter baffle under laboratory conditions. A filtration system built of a single cyclone and a cylindrical filter cartridge with an appropriately sized surface set behind it was studied. Conditions corresponding to the actual operating conditions of the air filter were maintained: dust concentration, filtration speed and dust extraction from the cyclone settling tank. The purpose of the research was to evaluate filter materials with different structures in terms of filtration efficiency and accuracy, as well as flow resistance. The study showed that the parameters of the structure of filter materials—permeability, grammage and thickness—affect the process of retaining dust particles. It was shown that the increase in the flow resistance of the filter bed has a higher intensity when dust grains of small sizes are directed at it, which is the case when the bed is operated behind a cyclone, which separates larger dust grains from the air. There is a reduction in the operating time of the filtration system due to the limitation of the permissible resistance ∆pfdop, and the corresponding dust absorption km has a lower value. For a fixed value of the flow resistance, the dust absorption coefficient km2 of three different filtration baffles AC, B2, and B, working with a cyclone, take values 50–100% smaller than when working in a single-stage system. It has been shown that the "cyclone-filter baffle" unit, due to its greater dust separation capability, allows the filter cartridge to operate for a longer time until a certain flow resistance is reached. This allows the unit to operate longer at lower flow resistance without changing the filter cartridge, thus saving energy. The km values obtained during the tests, using the proposed original method, allow the selection of the filter bed for specific vehicle operating conditions by modelling its course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to production technologies such as blasting, transportation, and loading, large quantities of dust are produced in surface mines. This dust not only pollutes the environment but also restricts the development of coal mining enterprises. This work aims to use waste paper as raw material for the efficient extraction of cellulose, in which waste materials can be converted to useable materials. This work can broaden the sources of raw materials and provide new methods for the efficient preparation of dust suppressants. As a matrix, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is a novel crust-dust suppressant that is synthesized by graft copolymerization with polyvinylalcohol and N-vinylpyrrolidone in this study. The results of experiments revealed the high purity of sodium carboxymethylcellulose prepared in flotation for 20 min, the degree of substitution DS > 0.8, and the viscosity of 2% aqueous solution>300 mPa s, which can satisfy the requirements of the experiments. The microscopic reaction and structure of the product are analyzed by infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetry, and the microscopic mechanism of a crust-dust suppressant is investigated. The reaction process and structural characteristics of the product were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and the product reaction process and final structure were deduced. Thermogravimetric experiments showed that the product had strong thermal stability and ensured the performance of the product during use. This paper reveals the combination of dust suppressants and coal via molecular dynamics simulation. The product performance experiments show that the product has a high shell strength of 98 HA, satisfactory freeze-thaw resistance and high temperature resistance, permeability higher than 15 mm/min, and dust suppression rate of approximately 88% when the wind speed reaches 15 m*s−1 and it can degrade without pollution. In general, the product can effectively suppress coal dust and other forms of dust. Image 1011236 • A new kind of dust suppressing material with excellent properties was prepared. • Conduct comprehensive tests on the characterization and properties of materials. • Raw materials for preparation are cheap. • Final product can be degraded after being extracted from waste paper. • MS technique was used to analyze the action mechanism of the dust inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a flexible nano-composite material which is not only impermeable to low-polar oil, but also has the ability of daytime radiation cooling, remains a huge challenge for both academia and industry. By modifying the fiber network of the dust-free paper using nano-ZnO particles (ZnO-DF), we strategically designed and demonstrated dual capabilities of superhydrophilicity/superoleophobicity and daytime radiant cooling for the flexible cellulose nano-composite simultaneously. A superior surface with superhydrophilic/superoleophobic (oil contact angle up to 159° and water contact angle down to 0°) was attained by regulation of surface energy components and roughness. Furthermore, the materials revealed outstanding corrosion and mechanical damage resistance, 152,788 L m−2 h−1 high permeation flux and >99.2% continuous and efficient oil-water separation performance. In addition, a cooling effect of about 5.6 °C of ZnO-DF paper could be achieved by cooperative function of both radiative cooling and sweat evaporation. It is expected that the ZnO-DF paper is promising for the thermal management of wearable products integrated with passive radiant cooling, phase change cooling (e.g., sweat evaporation) and large-scale industrial oil-water separation. [Display omitted] • A novel and stable flexible cellulose "ZnO-DF paper" nanocomposites were fabricated. • Nanocomposites have multi-functions covering superhydrophilic/superoleophobic and passive radiant cooling. • ◆Cetane-water mixture separation efficiency is up to 99.2%, and the extremely high water permeation flux up to 152,788 L m−2 h−1. • 5.6 °C of moist ZnO-DF paper could be achieved by cooperative function of both radiative cooling and sweat evaporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste (MSW) severely threatens human health and the ecological environment owing to its toxicity, mutagenic activity and carcinogenicity. The continuous increase in MSW together with stringent regulations makes sanitary disposal imperative. Waste sorting and recycling has been recognized as an efficient and economical treatment strategy. By analysing research data from 31 provinces between 2000 and 2017, the overarching goal of this work was to determine the characterizations and the compositions of MSW in China and then provide advices for sorting, transporting, storing and disposing of MSW. The results showed that the amount of MSW that was generated ranged from 0.08 to 2.34 kg d−1 ca−1 and averaged 0.73 kg d−1 ca−1 in China. The average bulk density, moisture content and the wet basis of the low calorific value of the MSW were 325 kg m−3, 50.3% and 4649 kcal kg−1. The MSW in China could be classified into four main categories, food waste, recycling waste, landfill waste and hazardous substances, and could be further classified into ten sub-categories. Overall, food waste was the most common and could be best managed via compost production. Bulk density was highly positively correlated with the ratio of the dust and bricks in all MSW and highly negatively correlated with the ratio of the food waste, metal, glass, plastic and rubber. The wet basis of the low calorific value was highly positively correlated with the ratio of the plastic and rubber, and the water content was highly positively correlated with the ratio of the food waste. Temporally, most of the components, especially waste paper and plastics, increased, while wood, dust and bricks decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste generation is a part of every technological process, including galvanizing. The presented paper deals with the characterization of flue dust generated in the process of hot-dip galvanizing, and proposes possible methods for zinc recycling. The flue dust is released into the atmosphere as a white fume above the zinc bath, which is caused by the decomposition of ammonium chloride and zinc chloride present in the flux. This dust is classified as hazardous waste and is a material with a particle size below 90 µm. In addition to zinc and iron compounds, it contains water vapor and oils. The presented elemental, phase, and other characteristic methods of flue dust are important for the subsequent selection of a suitable method for processing the material. At present, this waste is not processed separately due to its low production, which is approximately 0.3 kg per 1 tonne of galvanized steel. The proposed hydrometallurgical recycling method enables the processing of flue dust on a small scale and enables the recovery of high-purity zinc in the form of metallic zinc or zinc oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins and is used in a variety of commercial and consumer products. The leaching of BPA can result in human exposure via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal routes. As a result, humans have been exposed in their home and work environment to BPA. Conventional methods for BPA exposure assessment rely on cumbersome laboratory instrumentation with high capital and operational expenditures which limit the number of samples that can be analyzed. We report here the design of a compact portable colorimetric paper-based biosensing device with integrated sampling/analysis units for field-based measurements of BPA in indoor dust. The system employs interchangeable low-cost paper-based enzyme sensors as a test zone for BPA detection interfaced with an air-sampling cassette as a sample collection area. The sensor response was concentration-dependent with a detection limit of 0.28 μg/g. The sensor was validated with the conventional gas chromatography method and used to detect BPA exposure in household dust. BPA concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 3.87 μg/g in 57 household dust samples when both methods were used. The potential of this method for field measurements of dust samples is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial contamination poses a threat to both the preservation of library and archival collections and the health of staff and users. This study investigated the microbial communities and potential health risks associated with the UNESCO-classified Norwegian Sea Trade Archive (NST Archive) collection exhibiting visible microbial colonization and staff health concerns. Dust samples from book surfaces and the storage environment were analysed using culturing methods, qPCR, Next Generation Sequencing, and mycotoxin, cytotoxicity, and azole resistance assays. Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp., and Cladosporium sp. were the most common fungi identified, with some potentially toxic species like Stachybotrys sp., Toxicladosporium sp., and Aspergillus section Fumigati. Fungal resistance to azoles was not detected. Only one mycotoxin, sterigmatocystin, was found in a heavily contaminated book. Dust extracts from books exhibited moderate to high cytotoxicity on human lung cells, suggesting a potential respiratory risk. The collection had higher contamination levels compared to the storage environment, likely due to improved storage conditions. Even though overall low contamination levels were obtained, these might be underestimated due to the presence of salt (from cod preservation) that could have interfered with the analyses. This study underlines the importance of monitoring microbial communities and implementing proper storage measures to safeguard cultural heritage and staff well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic systems (PV) have been extensively used worldwide as a reliable and effective renewable energy resource due to their environmental and economic merits. However, PV systems are prone to several environmental and weather conditions that impact their performance. Amongst these conditions is dust accumulation, which has a significant adversative impact on the solar cells' performance, especially in hot and arid regions. This study provides a comprehensive review of 278 articles focused on the impact of dust on PV panels' performance along with other associated environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed. The review highlights the importance of modelling dust accumulation along with other ecological factors due to their interactive nature, and the differences between cleaning techniques and schedules effectiveness. Moreover, the study provides a review of statistical and artificial intelligence models used to predict PV performance and its prediction accuracies in terms of data size and complexity. Finally, the study draws attention to several research gaps that warrant further investigation. Among these gaps is the need for proper dynamic optimisation models for cleaning schedules and a more advanced machine and deep learning models to predict dust accumulation while considering environmental and ageing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workers in a print shop are exposed to photocopier toner dust and paper dust over a prolonged period of time. However, there are only rare case reports of toner and paper dust induced lung damage in humans. We reviewed our consultation files for a period of 30 years from 1987 to 2018 to look for cases with a diagnosis of giant cell interstitial pneumonia (GIP), printer toner exposure and paper dust exposure resulting in lung disease. There were two cases which met our inclusion criteria. Slides, clinical histories and imaging were reviewed. Both the patients had worked in print shops, and had no history of exposure to hard metals. Patient 1 presented with shortness of breath and cough over several months, while patient 2 was asymptomatic at presentation. Both the patients underwent surgical lung biopsies. Histopathologic examination from both the cases showed a spectrum of pathology, including features of GIP, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, chronic bronchiolitis with lymphoid hyperplasia, and particulate matter consistent with toner. Energy dispersive spectroscopy was performed on one case, and it revealed no cobalt or tungsten particles. The unusual combination of findings is very suggestive that toner particles with or without paper dust exposure were responsible for the pathologic changes in the lungs of these patients. This possibility should be explored further with additional patients who work in print shops where they are exposed to paper dust and paper toner and have signs or symptoms of diffuse lung disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An edge-cloud computing collaborative dust concentration detection architecture is proposed for real-time operation of intelligent algorithms to reduce the warning delay. And, an end-to-end three-channel convolutional neural network (E2E-SCNN) method is proposed in the paper to facilitate intelligent monitoring and management of dust concentration in tobacco production workshops. This model, which includes three sub-networks-a local feature branch, a global feature branch, and a spatial feature branch, learns the detail texture, overall layout, and spatial distribution information of the input image respectively. A fusion of the three complementary features is performed at the end of the network for the final dust concentration regression prediction. The design, when compared with the single network structure that directly regresses the entire image, is shown to more fully represent the overall information of the image and enhance monitoring performance. A richly annotated image dataset of tobacco production workshops is constructed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The prediction error of E2E-SCNN is compared with existing image estimation algorithms, dual-channel networks, and other methods on this dataset using indicators such as Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and R 2 . It is shown by the results that excellent performance is achieved by the E2E-SCNN algorithm, significantly surpassing other comparison methods. The paper demonstrates that the accuracy and robustness of dust concentration prediction can be greatly improved by using a three-channel convolutional neural network spatial information monitoring framework. This achievement provides an effective means for dust supervision and governance during the tobacco production process and offers a technical route that can be referred to for image analysis tasks in other similar fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to empirically evaluate the performance of fibrous materials that meet the criteria for inlet air filtration in internal combustion engines. The characteristics of filtration efficiency and accuracy, as well as the characteristics of flow resistance, were determined based on the mass of dust accumulated in the filter bed during the filtration process. Single-layer filter materials tested included cellulose, polyester, and glass microfiber. Multilayer filter media such as cellulose–polyester–nanofibers and cellulose–polyester were also examined. A new composite filter bed—consisting of polyester, glass microfiber, and cellulose—and its filtration characteristics were evaluated. Utilizing specific air filtration quality factors, it was demonstrated that the composite is characterized by high pre-filtration efficiency (99.98%), a short pre-filtration period (qs = 4.21%), high accuracy (dpmax = 1.5–3 µm) for the entire lifespan of the filter, and a 60–250% higher dust absorption coefficient compared to the other tested materials. A filtration composite bed constructed from a group of materials with different filtration parameters can be, due to its high filtration efficiency, accuracy, and dust absorption, an excellent filter material for engine intake air. The composite's filtration parameters will depend on the type of filter layers and their order relative to the aerosol flow. This paper presents a methodology for the selection and testing of various filter materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition technology of coal and gangue is one of the key technologies of intelligent mine construction. Aiming at the problems of the low accuracy of coal and gangue recognition models and the difficult recognition of small-target coal and gangue caused by low-illumination and high-dust environments in the coal mine working face, a coal and gangue recognition model based on the improved YOLOv7-tiny target detection algorithm is proposed. This paper proposes three model improvement methods. The coordinate attention mechanism is introduced to improve the feature expression ability of the model. The contextual transformer module is added after the spatial pyramid pooling structure to improve the feature extraction ability of the model. Based on the idea of the weighted bidirectional feature pyramid, the four branch modules in the high-efficiency layer aggregation network are weighted and cascaded to improve the recognition ability of the model for useful features. The experimental results show that the average precision mean of the improved YOLOv7-tiny model is 97.54%, and the FPS is 24.73 f·s−1. Compared with the Faster-RCNN, YOLOv3, YOLOv4, YOLOv4-VGG, YOLOv5s, YOLOv7, and YOLOv7-tiny models, the improved YOLOv7-tiny model has the highest recognition rate and the fastest recognition speed. Finally, the improved YOLOv7-tiny model is verified by field tests in coal mines, which provides an effective technical means for the accurate identification of coal and gangue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the results of carbon nanoparticle deposition on metal surface by impulse plasma deposition method (IPD) are presented. Graphite plates were used as sources of dust particles and copper substrates for their deposition. During the experimental work spherical nanocarbon particles with dimensions of 20-180 nm were obtained on the copper substrate and copper particles forming dendritic nanostructures on the substrate surface where their average size was 400 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asphalt mixes comprise aggregates, additives and bitumen. The aggregates are of varying sizes, and the finest category, referred to as sands, encompasses the so-called filler particles present in the mixture, which are smaller than 0.063 mm. As part of the H2020 CAPRI project, the authors present a prototype for measuring filler flow, through vibration analysis. The vibrations are generated by the filler particles crashing to a slim steel bar capable of withstanding the challenging conditions of temperature and pressure within the aspiration pipe of an industrial baghouse. This paper presents a prototype developed to address the need for quantifying the amount of filler in cold aggregates, considering the unavailability of commercially viable sensors suitable for the conditions encountered during asphalt mix production. In laboratory settings, the prototype simulates the aspiration process of a baghouse in an asphalt plant, accurately reproducing particle concentration and mass flow conditions. The experiments performed demonstrate that an accelerometer positioned outside the pipe can replicate the filler flow within the pipe, even when the filler aspiration conditions differ. The obtained results enable extrapolation from the laboratory model to a real-world baghouse model, making it applicable to various aspiration processes, particularly those involving baghouses. Moreover, this paper provides open access to all the data and results used, as part of our commitment to the CAPRI project, with the principles of open science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is of great concern in the modern-day atmosphere owing to its association with a variety of health impacts, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Of the various size fractions of PM, it is the finer fractions that are most harmful to health, in particular ultrafine particles (PM0.1; UFPs), with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 100 nm. The smaller size fractions, of ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5; fine particles) and ≤0.1 µm (PM0.1; ultrafine particles), have been shown to have numerous linkages to negative health effects; however, their collection/sampling remains challenging. This review paper employed a comprehensive literature review methodology; 200 studies were evaluated based on the rigor of their methodologies, including the validity of experimental designs, data collection methods, and statistical analyses. Studies with robust methodologies were prioritised for inclusion. This review paper critically assesses the health risks associated with fine and ultrafine particles, highlighting vehicular emissions as the most significant source of particulate-related health effects. While coal combustion, diesel exhaust, household wood combustors' emissions, and Earth's crust dust also pose health risks, evidence suggests that exposure to particulates from vehicular emissions has the greatest impact on human health due to their widespread distribution and contribution to air pollution-related diseases. This article comprehensively examines current sampling technologies, specifically focusing on the collection and sampling of ultrafine particles (UFP) from ambient air to facilitate toxicological and physiochemical characterisation efforts. This article discusses diverse approaches to collect fine and ultrafine particulates, along with experimental endeavours to assess ultrafine particle concentrations across various microenvironments. Following meticulous evaluation of sampling techniques, high-volume air samplers such as the Chem Vol Model 2400 High Volume Cascade Impactor and low-volume samplers like the Personal Cascade Impactor Sampler (PCIS) emerge as effective methods. These techniques offer advantages in particle size fractionation, collection efficiency, and adaptability to different sampling environments, positioning them as valuable tools for precise characterisation of particulate matter in air quality research and environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-source ferrous metallurgical dust and sludge are significant components of iron-containing solid waste in the iron and steel industry. It is crucial for the sustainable operation of steel enterprises to recycle iron from ferrous metallurgical dust and sludge (FMDS) for use in steel smelting. However, besides Fe, FMDS also contains valuable elements such as Zn, Pb, K, and Na, among others. While these valuable elements hold high recovery value, they impede the direct reuse of FMDS by iron and steel enterprises. This paper introduces the compositional characteristics of multi-source ferrous metallurgical dust and sludge, analyzes the main recycling technologies associated with FMDS at the present stage of development, and discusses the characteristics of different technologies. In view of this, a new idea of the "cooperative treatment of multi-source ferrous metallurgical dust and sludge—full quantitative recovery of valuable elements" is put forward. This new idea integrates a variety of treatment processes to directly recycle FMDS within the steel plant, enhancing the adequacy of dust and sludge recovery and reducing the risk of environmental pollution. This paper provides a reference for achieving the full quantification and utilization of high-value-added FMDS in steel plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capacitive sensors show promising applications for human–computer interface due to their potential capabilities of both pressure and proximity sensing. However, the sensitivity loss at large strain and the complicated process of fabrication technology limit related applications. Herein, inspired by gradient and hierarchical structures in biological systems and using porous materials with different stiffness, a capacitive flexible sensor with both proximity and pressure sensing abilities is proposed. Such hierarchical structures effectively reduce the attenuation of sensitivity as the pressure increases, realizing an ultrawide detection range with high sensitivity. A theoretical mathematical model is developed and the corresponding capacitive sensor is fabricated by using the high‐performance porous impregnated dust‐free paper as the electrode and expandable polyethylene (EPE)/loofah‐like polyurethane sponge (LPS) as double‐layer porous dielectric. This sensor has an ultrawide detection range up to 3000 kPa with a significantly low sensitivity loss of 0.0195% kPa−1 and the noncontact sensing mode reaches a sensing range up to 28 cm (0.122 cm−1). Notably, a strategy is provided to design the high sensitivity sensor over an ultrawide detection range from approaching to pressuring, and eventually its promising application is presented as human–computer interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of the Dust Observations for Models (DO4Models) project, the performance of three commonly used dust emissions schemes is investigated in this paper using a box model environment. We constrain the model with field data (surface and dust particle properties as well as meteorological parameters) obtained from a dry lake bed with a crusted surface in Botswana during a three month period in 2011. Our box model results suggest that all schemes fail to reproduce the observed horizontal dust flux. They overestimate the magnitude of the flux by several orders of magnitude. The discrepancy is much smaller for the vertical dust emission flux, albeit still overestimated by up to an order of magnitude. The key parameter for this mismatch is the surface crusting which limits the availability of erosive material even at higher wind speeds. In contrast, direct dust entrainment was inferred to be important for several dust events, which explains the smaller gap between modelled and measured vertical dust fluxes. We conclude that both features, crusted surfaces and direct entrainment, need to be incorporated in dust emission schemes in order to represent the entire spectra of source processes. We also conclude that soil moisture exerts a key control on the shear velocity and hence the emission threshold of dust in the model. In the field, the state of the crust is the controlling mechanism for dust emission. Although the crust is related to the soil moisture content to some extent, we are not able to deduce a robust correlation between state of crust and soil moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An earlier study evaluating dust life cycle in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) Atmosphere Model version 1 (EAMv1) has revealed that the simulated global mean dust lifetime is substantially shorter when higher vertical resolution is used, primarily due to significant strengthening of dust dry removal in source regions. This paper demonstrates that the sequential splitting of aerosol emissions, dry removal, and turbulent mixing in the model's time integration loop, especially the calculation of dry removal after surface emissions and before turbulent mixing, is the primary reason for the vertical resolution sensitivity reported in that earlier study. Based on this reasoning, we propose a revised numerical process coupling scheme that requires the least amount of code changes, in which the surface emissions are applied before turbulent mixing instead of before dry removal. The revised scheme allows newly emitted particles to be transported aloft by turbulence before being removed from the atmosphere, and hence better resembles the dust life cycle in the real world. Sensitivity experiments show that the revised process coupling substantially weakens dry removal and strengthens vertical mixing in dust source regions. It also strengthens the large-scale transport from source to non-source regions, strengthens dry removal outside the source regions, and strengthens wet removal and activation globally. In transient simulations of the years 2000–2009 conducted using 1 ∘ horizontal grid spacing, 72 vertical layers, and unchanged tuning parameters of emission strength, the revised process coupling leads to a 40 % increase in the global total dust burden and an increase of dust lifetime from 1.8 to 2.5 d in terms of 10-year averages. Weakened dry removal and increased mixing ratios are also seen for other aerosol species that have substantial surface emissions, although the changes in mixing ratio are considerably smaller for the submicron species than for dust and sea salt. Numerical experiments confirm that the revised coupling scheme significantly reduces the strong and non-physical sensitivities of model results to vertical resolution in the original EAMv1. This provides a motivation for adopting the revised scheme in EAM as well as for further improvements on the simple revision presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental context: Dust is a heterogeneous material deposited on the ground surface and is a source and sink for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) originating from the air and soil. Tracking the distribution and effects of PTEs in an abandoned mining area is critical as few studies have quantified the speciation and bioavailability of PTEs contained in dust and PM2.5. In this paper, we track the distribution of PTEs in an abandoned mining area, quantifying the mobility of PTEs using the speciation of PTEs in dust and PM2.5 and quantitatively assess the environmental and ecological risks of PTE in a mining area. Rationale: This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the distribution, speciation, mobility and ecological risks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in an abandoned mining area by measuring the PTEs in dust (indoor or atmospheric) and particulate matter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) simultaneously. Methodology: The particle size of dust, PTEs and the speciation of PTEs in dust and PM2.5 were determined. The risk assessment code (RAC) was used to analyse the mobility of PTEs, and the geo-accumulation index (I geo), pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (RI) were used to assess the ecological risks of PTEs. Results: The results showed that the particle size of dust was mainly distributed in the range of 0–2.5 µm (61–81%). Cd, Mn, Cu and Zn in dust were mainly distributed in the acid extractable fraction, whereas other PTEs were distributed in the residual fraction. Most PTEs in PM2.5 were distributed in the acid extractable fraction, but V and As were distributed in the reducible fraction. The risk of Cd, Zn and Mn in dust and PM2.5 was very high (RAC > 50%). I geo values showed that the dust were practically uncontaminated by most of the PTEs, whereas the PM2.5 was moderately to highly contaminated by most of the PTEs. The PTE in dust and PM2.5 with the highest ecological risk was Cd (E i  >  320). The PLI showed a potential deterioration in environmental quality (1.30 < PLI < 3.17) and the further away from the mining centre, the less environmental degradation. Discussion: There is a potential for PTEs contamination and a high ecological risk in abandoned mining areas, which deserves serious attention. Environmental context. Dust is a heterogeneous material deposited on the ground surface and is a source and sink for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) originating from the air and soil. Tracking the distribution and effects of PTEs in an abandoned mining area is critical as few studies have quantified the speciation and bioavailability of PTEs contained in dust and PM2.5. In this paper, we track the distribution of PTEs in an abandoned mining area, quantifying the mobility of PTEs using the speciation of PTEs in dust and PM2.5 and quantitatively assess the environmental and ecological risks of PTE in a mining area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of solar energy is now a common and modern alternative that many countries throughout the world have adopted. Different studies on PV systems have been documented in the literature; however, several reviews focus excessively on particular facets of solar modules. In this paper, the literature on PV systems published between 2000 and 2023 was reviewed thoroughly. This review is structured in three main parts. Primarily, the main factors impacting dust deposition on solar modules are discussed. These include temperature, wind speed, inclination angle, location, climatic conditions, photovoltaic module surface characteristics, and dust characteristics. Many methods for mitigating and reducing dust as well as approaches to cleaning PV modules are also reviewed in this study. The many types of solar modules, together with their most important characteristics and operational effectiveness, are presented. As more solar photovoltaic panels expand their end of life (EOL), solutions are required to recycle and dispose of solar photovoltaic panels at the lowest economic cost and with the least environmental damage through reduced carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. Subsequently, this paper further reviews solar PV energy for a green environment and PV waste recycling and its costs. Moreover, integrating solar energy with other clean energy constituting an energy source for hard-to-reach areas and an alternative to fuel are discussed. Therefore, this comprehensive review of the use of photovoltaic systems for green energy production is helpful in an increased share of clean energy for various energy sectors in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Studies have recently shown a correlation between the elemental components of coal dusts, including potassium aluminosilicates, and the lung response as a potential driver for lung diseases associated with inhalation of coal dust. Here we aimed to systematically review the evidence for the association between exposure to potassium bearing dusts and lung outcomes in human studies as well as adverse cellular response in animal/cell culture studies. Methods: A systematic search of the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Embase and Web of Science was conducted in May 2024. Studies regarding exposure to potassium bearing dusts and aluminosilicates and respiratory consequence were included in the search. Articles were screened, with a secondary assessment for relevance and extraction of key information using a systematic review process. Results: We identified 64 studies, of which 35 were human studies, 22 involved animal experiments and 12 were in vitro studies with 5 papers having both in vivo and in vitro studies. Our review found some evidence that a range of potassium rich dusts increased incidence of respiratory symptoms and lung diseases, although the effect on radiological changes in the lung and pulmonary function loss was not consistent. The in vivo animal and in vitro studies consistently demonstrated an inflammatory response and cytotoxic effect after exposure to these dusts. Conclusion: Given complexity in the dust compositions and lack of direct evidence attributing these specific responses to potassium, we are not able to conclude the effect of potassium minerals in coal on development of respiratory diseases, warranting further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust is one of the environmental problems that directly affects the performance of solar energy systems. The goal of the present paper was to study and model the performance loss of a photovoltaic panel under the effect of dust deposition. The experiments were performed using two similar panels with and without dust deposition during 8 days in spring 2020, Ilam Township, Ilam, Iran. The voltage, current, and power loss were calculated under the effects of different dust deposition values. Different regression models were developed to predict performance loss of the panel with dust deposition. The results indicated that voltage, current, and power values decreased by 2.35–3.33%, 24.81–78.46%, and 26.57–79.18%, respectively, with increase of the deposited dust from 42.86 to 236.94 g.m−2. Based on the results, there was found that the quadratic models were better to predict the performance loss of the photovoltaic panel with accuracy of 64.16, 95.89, and 91.55% for voltage, current, and power loss, respectively. The developed models in the presented research can be used to predict the starting time of the cleaning process or fault diagnoses of photovoltaic panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers extreme dusty conditions at workplaces in underground coal mine. These extreme conditions stem from various physical factors that affect employees' performance. The extreme effect of the dust can significantly contribute to permanent health damage or even the death of employees. In this study, we present and discuss the results of measurements of airborne dust and respiratory dust taken during wall cutting in a coal mine and propose effective measures to reduce the burden on the life and health of employees and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the dust acoustic wave is studied in conditions where the dust temperature is not constant. This model includes negatively charged dust particles and thermal ions. The reductive perturbation technique is used and the new point in this study is the nonuniformity of the plasma temperature. The nonconstancy of the temperature is entered as a first-order perturbation in the calculations, and finally the modified Korteweg–de Vries (mKdV) equation is derived. The solution of the modified KdV equation clarifies the change in soliton shape of the wave when it moves in the perturbation plasma. We show how the soliton wave undergoes deformation and amplitude reduction during propagation when it encounters a region with a different temperature. The output of this research can be effective to better understand the wave behavior in a real plasma with nonuniform temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]