Search

In this study, new monolithic poly(9-anthracenylmethyl methacrylate-co-trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) columns, referred as ANM monoliths were prepared, for the first time, and were used for the separation media for biomolecules and proteomics analysis by nano-liquid chromatography (nano-LC). Monolithic columns were prepared by in situ polymerization of 9-anthracenylmethyl methacrylate (ANM) and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) in a fused silica capillary column of 100 µm ID. Polymerization solution was optimized in relation to monomer and porogenic solvent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and chromatographic analyses were performed for the characterization studies of ANM monoliths. The ANM monolith produced more than 46.220 plates/m, and the chromatographic evaluation of the optimized ANM monolith was carried out using homologous alkylbenzenes (ABs) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), allowing both strong hydrophobic and π-π interactions. Run-to-run and column-to-column reproducibility values were found as <2.91% and 2.9–3.2%, respectively. The final monolith was used for biomolecule separation, including both three dipeptides, including Alanine-Tyrosine (Ala-Tyr), Glycine-Phenylalanine (Gly-Phe), and L-carnosine and five standard proteins, including ribonuclease A (RNase A), α-chymotrypsinogen (α-chym), lysozyme (Lys), cytochrome C (Cyt C), and myoglobin (Mb) in order to evaluate its potential. Both peptides and proteins were baseline separated using the developed ANM monolith in nano-LC. The ANM monolith was then applied to the protein and peptide profiling of MCF-7 cell line, which allowed a high-resolution analysis of peptides, providing a high peak capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical aspects of the successful preparation of monolithic poly(methylsilsesquioxane) (PMSQ) aerogels with glasslike transparency via ambient pressure drying (APD) are discussed in detail. Two-step acid-base process starting from methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) in the presence of nonionic poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) surfactant and the use of strong base as polycondensation catalyst resulted in fine mesoporous structure, showing low bulk density (0.148 g cm−3) and glasslike transparency (95% at 10 mm thickness). Cracking and irreversible shrinkage during APD have been prevented by optimized aging and drying processes. In particular, aging in an aqueous alcohol solution containing a low concentration of MTMS under controlled temperature has been found to be crucial in obtaining PMSQ aerogels with crack-free, low-density, glasslike transparency, and monolithic nature. A large-area APD aerogel in 93 × 93 × 6 mm3, with thermal conductivity of 15.6 mW m−1 K−1, has successfully been obtained due to optimizations of aging and drying conditions. Similar APD aerogels have also been obtained when alkali metal hydroxides, especially lithium hydroxide, are employed as base catalysts. These findings are expected to play important roles in designing industrial productions of monolithic aerogels for thermal superinsulation and other applications. Highlights: Poly(methylsilsesquioxane) aerogels with glasslike transparency were prepared from methyltrimethoxysilane. Aerogels were obtained also by ambient pressure drying in addition to supercritical drying. A large-area aerogel monolith with low thermal conductivity was successfully obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying shrinkage during ambient pressure drying of silica gels is made reversible by preventing condensation reactions of surface silanol groups via surface modification. This partial recovery of the gel volume and structure is referred to as the spring-back effect (SBE) and enables the production of monolithic silica aerogels by evaporative drying. The SBE is sometimes completed by annealing at mild temperatures. Similarities between drying-related deformations and deformations induced by mechanical stimuli suggest analogous underlying mechanisms. While the causes of drying shrinkage are relatively well-known, it remains unclear how the relaxation of the structure by drying and annealing occurs across the different length scales. Here we show a complete structural recovery of silica aerogels at the macro- and nano-scale enabled by annealing. We propose that residual deformations after drying and mechanical compression are caused by the entanglement of silica clusters that can be unraveled by annealing at 230 °C. The deformation under loading is interpreted as two different re-arrangement mechanisms for dry and annealed gels, by the sliding of the silica clusters along the loading direction and by the compression of large pores beyond the fractal structure, respectively. Our results demonstrate how the shape and structure of silica aerogels can be restored and controlled by thermal activation, broadening the various applications of these materials. We also emphasize how tuning silica gels to promote a two-step SBE by annealing can pave the way toward the production of larger monolithic aerogels by APD. Highlights: Two-step spring-back of silica aerogels upon annealing at 230 °C. Residual solvent and silica cluster entanglement hinder full re-expansion. Annealed aerogels show a near-zero Poisson's ratio during compression. Interpretation of fractal dimension evolution during deformation of mesoporous materials. Annealing allows full recovery of macro- and nano-structure, highlighting programmable nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing has become a popular choice for deploying web applications, but the selection of the appropriate architecture for different application types remains a challenge for businesses. In this study, we conducted performance and cost analyses of three architectures: Monolith, Microservice, and Serverless (specifically Lambda and Fargate) to provide businesses with valuable insights for decision-making. To ensure the relevance of our findings, we conducted tests on an application designed for static, database, and batch job services, deployed on AWS. Using JMeter, we simulated traffic with varying levels of high, medium, and low intensity, distributing 500 requests across six test scenarios. The results and subsequent analysis revealed that Lambda outperformed the other architectures significantly, while Fargate and Microservice architectures exhibited lower performance in comparison. However, cost played a crucial role in architecture selection. Fargate proved to be exceptionally expensive, with costs escalating further when batch jobs were involved. On the other hand, Lambda demonstrated lower overall costs compared to the other architectures, especially when batch jobs were running under low traffic conditions. However, the cost advantage diminished when running batch jobs in higher traffic scenarios, surpassing the expenses of Monolith and Microservice architectures. The findings highlight the superior performance of Lambda, but also emphasize the importance of considering costs and specific workload requirements when selecting an architecture. Lambda outperformed other architectures by reducing average response time by 25% and cost by 15% under low-traffic scenarios compared to Monolithic and Microservice architectures.

A new design strategy for ZK-friendly hash functions has emerged since the proposal of Reinforced Concrete at CCS 2022, which is based on the hybrid use of two types of nonlinear transforms: the composition of some small-scale lookup tables (e.g., 7-bit or 8-bit permutations) and simple power maps over Fp. Following such a design strategy, some new ZK-friendly hash functions have been recently proposed, e.g., Tip5, Tip4, Tip4’, and the Monolith family. All these hash functions have a small number of rounds, i.e., 5 rounds for Tip5, Tip4, and Tip4’, and 6 rounds for Monolith (recently published at ToSC 2024/3). Using the composition of some small-scale lookup tables to build a large-scale permutation over Fp – which we call S-box – is a main feature in such designs, which can somehow enhance the resistance against the Gröbner basis attack because this large-scale permutation will correspond to a complex and high-degree polynomial representation over Fp. As the first technical contribution, we propose a novel and efficient algorithm to study the differential property of this S-box and to find a conforming input pair for a randomly given input and output difference. For comparison, a trivial method based on the use of the differential distribution table (DDT) for solving this problem will require time complexity O(p2). For the second contribution, we also propose new frameworks to devise efficient collision attacks on such hash functions. Based on the differential properties of these S-boxes and the new attack frameworks, we propose the first collision attacks on 3-round Tip5, Tip4, and Tip4’, as well as 2-round Monolith-31 and Monolith-64, where the 2-round attacks on Monolith are practical. In the semi-free-start (SFS) collision attack setting, we achieve practical SFS collision attacks on 3-round Tip5, Tip4, and Tip4’. Moreover, the SFS collision attacks can reach up to 4-round Tip4 and 3-round Monolith-64. As far as we know, this is the first third-party cryptanalysis of these hash functions, which improves the initial analysis given by the designers.

Continuous-flow reactions using immobilized chiral catalysts are attracting much attention in the field of fine chemical productions. Porous materials can mitigate the mass transfer limitation and undesired steric effects from support materials owing to their large surface area and high porosity. Among them, porous monoliths, which are self-standing materials with interconnected pores with narrow diameters offer high permeability during the continuous-flow operation. Supporting the chiral catalyst on the monolith, asymmetric reaction can be achieved under continuous-flow condition. To date, the continuous-flow reactors with porous monoliths have been developed for chiral catalysis. Herein, we first developed porous organogel monoliths as support for chiral catalyst in continuous-flow reaction. The monolith showed higher catalytic durability than those of batch in asymmetric aldol additions. Detailed studies on continuous-flow conditions and physical properties of the monolith revealed the importance of increasing the gel porosity of the monolith.

Cloud computing has become a popular choice for deploying web applications, but the selection of the appropriate architecture for different application types remains a challenge for businesses. In this study, we conducted performance and cost analyses of three architectures: Monolith, Microservice, and Serverless (specifically Lambda and Fargate) to provide businesses with valuable insights for decisionmaking. To ensure the relevance of our findings, we conducted tests on an application designed for static, database, and batch job services, deployed on AWS. Using JMeter, we simulated traffic with varying levels of high, medium, and low intensity, distributing 500 requests across six test scenarios. The results and subsequent analysis revealed that Lambda outperformed the other architectures significantly, while Fargate and Microservice architectures exhibited lower performance in comparison. However, cost played a crucial role in architecture selection. Fargate proved to be exceptionally expensive, with costs escalating further when batch jobs were involved. On the other hand, Lambda demonstrated lower overall costs compared to the other architectures, especially when batch jobs were running under low traffic conditions. However, the cost advantage diminished when running batch jobs in higher traffic scenarios, surpassing the expenses of Monolith and Microservice architectures. The findings highlight the superior performance of Lambda, but also emphasize the importance of considering costs and specific workload requirements when selecting an architecture. Lambda outperformed other architectures by reducing average response time by 25% and cost by 15% under low-traffic scenarios compared to Monolithic and Microservice architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate crisis, driven by increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere, has heightened the need for new, environmentally friendly energy sources. Hydrogen gas, which can meet our energy needs, has become a particularly intriguing topic. This study investigated the partial oxidation reaction of methane with cordierite monolith catalysts. The Ni-coated catalysts were supported with γ-Al2O3, CeO2, ZrO2, and CeO2-ZrO2. The catalysts were tested at temperatures of 750, 800, and 850 °C with different flow rates and methane feed concentrations (2%, 5%, and 10%). It was demonstrated that catalyst activity varies depending on these parameters. It has been found that high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) and CH4 feed rates decrease catalyst activity. The obtained reaction results indicated that the optimal reaction parameters were 800 °C, a GHSV of 1 × 104 h−1, and a CH4 feed concentration of 2%. By optimizing these parameters, catalysts with high CH4 conversion and selectivity for H2 and CO were achieved. The prepared catalysts were characterized using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials with monolithic structures, such as epoxy monoliths, are used for a variety of applications, such as for column fillers in gas chromatography and HPLC, for separators in lithium-ion batteries, and for precursor polymers for monolith adhesion. In this study, we investigated the fabrication of epoxy monoliths using 1,3-bis(N,N-diglycidylaminomethyl)cyclohexane (TETRAD-C) as the tetrafunctional epoxy and 4,4′-methylenebis(cyclohexylamine) (BACM) as the amine curing agent to control pore diameters using polyethylene glycols (PEGs) of differing molecular weights as the porogenic agents. We fabricated an epoxy monolith with micron-order pores and high strength levels, and which is suitable for the precursors of composite materials in cases where smaller PEGs are used. We discussed the effects of the porous structures of monoliths on their physical properties, such as tensile strength, elongation, elastic modulus, and glass transition temperatures. For example, epoxy monoliths prepared in the presence of PEGs exhibited an elastic modulus less than 1 GPa at room temperature and Tg values of 175–187 °C, while the epoxy bulk thermoset produced without any porogenic solvent showed a high elastic modulus as 1.8 GPa, which was maintained at high temperatures, and a high Tg of 223 °C. In addition, the unique adhesion characteristics of epoxy monolith sheets are revealed as a result of the combinations made with commercial epoxy and acrylic adhesives. Epoxy monoliths that are combined with conventional adhesives can function as sheet-type adhesives purposed with avoiding problems when only liquid-type adhesives are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hash functions are a crucial component in incrementally verifiable computation (IVC) protocols and applications. Among those, recursive SNARKs and folding schemes require hash functions to be both fast in native CPU computations and compact in algebraic descriptions (constraints). However, neither SHA-2/3 nor newer algebraic constructions, such as Poseidon, achieve both requirements. In this work we overcome this problem in several steps. First, for certain prime field domains we propose a new design strategy called Kintsugi, which explains how to construct nonlinear layers of high algebraic degree which allow fast native implementations and at the same time also an efficient circuit description for zeroknowledge applications. Then we suggest another layer, based on the Feistel Type-3 scheme, and prove wide trail bounds for its combination with an MDS matrix. We propose a new permutation design named Monolith to be used as a sponge or compression function. It is the first arithmetization-oriented function with a native performance comparable to SHA3-256. At the same time, it outperforms Poseidon in a circuit using the Merkle tree prover in the Plonky2 framework. Contrary to previously proposed designs, Monolith also allows for efficient constant-time native implementations which mitigates the risk of side-channel attacks.

Nano-scale separation techniques (NSTs) offer significant advantages in relation to drug analysis in a wide range of samples. NSTs, including low flow rate LC systems or capillary or chip based electrophoresis/electrochromatography systems, have become the primary tool for advanced drug analysis, and indispensable technology for sensitive and selective drug analysis. In recent decades, significant advances have been achieved using NSTs for drug analysis. In this review, sample preparation strategies, new advances and applications in NSTs and the contribution toward forensic science applications were reported. In addition, some recent and selected applications with or without mass spectrometry (e.g., low resolution/high resolution -MS) are summarized.

Highlights A comprehensive investigation on the research states of 3D-printed metal/covalent organic frameworks (M/COFs) is conducted with the discussion on the M/COF-mixed monolith and M/COF-covered monolith separately. Recent advances in design strategies regarding both the paste/scaffold formation and the 3D-printing/covering process for preserving the better structural features of M/COFs (surface area, porosity, and micromorphology) in their 3D printed monolith are overviewed and discussed.

Recently, the phenomenon of switching back from microservice to monolith has increased in frequency, leading to intense debate in the industry. In this paper, we conduct a multivocal literature review to investigate reasoning and key aspects to pay attention to when switching back and analyze other practitioners' opinions. The results show four cases of switching back from microservice to monolith: Istio control plane, Amazon Prime Video monitoring service, Segment, and InVision. The five main reasons that led to switching back are cost, complexity, scalability, performance, and organization. During the switching back process, six key aspects need to be addressed: (1) stopping the development of more services, (2) consolidating and testing paths, (3) unifying data storage, (4) implementing the message bus principle, (5) giving up diverse techniques, and (6) learning to use modular design principles. As to the practitioners' opinions, they had mixed views about the switching back phenomenon. However, most thought that switching back required consideration of the actual system situation and principles. These results pave the way for further research and guide researchers and companies through the process of switching back from microservice to monolith. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: A comprehensive investigation on the research states of 3D-printed metal/covalent organic frameworks (M/COFs) is conducted with the discussion on the M/COF-mixed monolith and M/COF-covered monolith separately. Recent advances in design strategies regarding both the paste/scaffold formation and the 3D-printing/covering process for preserving the better structural features of M/COFs (surface area, porosity, and micromorphology) in their 3D printed monolith are overviewed and discussed. Metal–organic framework (MOF) and covalent organic framework (COF) are a huge group of advanced porous materials exhibiting attractive and tunable microstructural features, such as large surface area, tunable pore size, and functional surfaces, which have significant values in various application areas. The emerging 3D printing technology further provides MOF and COFs (M/COFs) with higher designability of their macrostructure and demonstrates large achievements in their performance by shaping them into advanced 3D monoliths. However, the currently available 3D printing M/COFs strategy faces a major challenge of severe destruction of M/COFs' microstructural features, both during and after 3D printing. It is envisioned that preserving the microstructure of M/COFs in the 3D-printed monolith will bring a great improvement to the related applications. In this overview, the 3D-printed M/COFs are categorized into M/COF-mixed monoliths and M/COF-covered monoliths. Their differences in the properties, applications, and current research states are discussed. The up-to-date advancements in paste/scaffold composition and printing/covering methods to preserve the superior M/COF microstructure during 3D printing are further discussed for the two types of 3D-printed M/COF. Throughout the analysis of the current states of 3D-printed M/COFs, the expected future research direction to achieve a highly preserved microstructure in the 3D monolith is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel chiral monolithic nano-column was developed for the enantioseparation of chiral drugs by nano-liquid chromatography (nano-LC). The monolithic capillary with 50 µm i.d. was first prepared by an in-situ polymerization using butyl methacrylate (BuMA), ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) and NFMoc-Lysine modified GO nanoparticles. The final monolithic stationary phase was characterized by using FT-IR spectra of synthesized structures, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and chromatographic analyses. After characterization, the prepared chiral monolithic column was investigated for the chiral separation of pharmaceutical racemates, including anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ketoprofen, ibuprofen, naproxen, etodolac and flurbiprofen) and β-blockers (e.g. propranolol, metoprolol and atenolol). It was demonstrated that NFMoc-Lysine modified GO nanoparticles incorporated chiral monolith could be successfully developed while this chiral monolith allowed sensitive chiral separation of chiral drugs. The chiral separation could be mostly achieved via the formation of π-π interactions as well as hydrophilic interactions between chiral stationary phase and enantiomers

3D-printed high-surface carbon monoliths have been fabricated and tested as catalyst supports of CO2 methanation active phases (NiO-CeO2, 12 wt% Ni). The carbon carriers show a developed microporosity and good adherence to the catalytic phases of NiO-CeO2, showing great stability and cyclability. Two monolith designs were used: a conventional parallel-channeled structure (honeycomb) and a complex 3D network of non-linear channels built upon interconnected circular sections (circles), where flow turbulences along the reactant gas path are spurred. The effect of the active phases particle size on the catalyst distribution and the overall performance has been assessed by comparing NiO-CeO2 nanoparticles of 7 nm average (Np), with a reference counterpart of uncontrolled structure (Ref). The improved radial gases diffusion in the circles monolith design is confirmed, and nanoparticles show enhanced CO2 methanation activity than the uncontrolled-size active phase at low temperatures (< 300 ºC). On the contrary, the Ref catalysts achieve higher CH4 production at higher temperatures, where the reaction kinetics is controlled by mass transfer limitations (T > 300 ºC). SEM and Hg porosimetry evidence that nanoparticles are deposited at deeper penetration through the narrow micropores of the carbon matrix of the monolithic supports, which tend to accumulate on the channels surface remaining more accessible to the reactant molecules. Altogether, this study examines the impact of the channel tortuosity and the active phase sizing on the CO2 methanation activity, serving as ground knowledge for the further rational and scalable fabrication of carbon monolith for catalytic applications.

Arsenic pollution of water is one of the severest environmental challenges threatening human health. Iron-based nanomaterials have been demonstrated effective in arsenic removal. However, they generally suffer from low removal efficiency towards highly toxic As(III), loss of active sites owing to agglomeration, and poor reusability. Herein, we report a carbonized melamine foam supported Mn(IV)-doped β-FeOOH nanospindles(CF@Mn-FeOOH NSp) for tackling the technical hurdles. The designed CF@Mn-FeOOH NSp appears as a free-standing monolith through a low-cost and straightforward hydrothermal method. The atomic-scale integration of Mn(IV) into β-FeOOH enables an oxidation-adsorption bifunctionality, where Mn(IV) serves as oxidizer for As(III) and Fe(III) acts as adsorber for As(V). The maximal adsorption capacity for As(V) and As(III) can reach 152 and 107 mg g-1, respectively. Meanwhile, As in simulated high arsenic groundwater can be decreased to below 10 μg L-1 within 24 h. By simple "filtrating-washing", 85% and 82% of its initial adsorption capacity for As(V) and As(III) can be easily recovered even after 5-cycles reuse. Kinetics and isotherm adsorption study indicate that the arsenic adsorption behavior is mainly through chemical bonding during single-layer adsorbing process. The as-prepared CF@Mn-FeOOH offers a scalable, efficient, and recyclable solution for arsenic removal in groundwater and wastewater from mines and industry.

The pollution caused by mercury (Hg) is a matter of concern regarding worldwide ecosystems and public health. It is dangerous as it is highly poisonous and has more ways to get exposed than other heavy metal ions. Recently, the application of biomaterials with varying structures and designs for mercury adsorption has grown. In this research, clay monoliths (CM) and clay-manganese monoliths (CMM) were synthesized, investigated, and compared regarding their ability to adsorb mercury ions from water to determine the most effective adsorbents. CM and CMM were extruded through a stainless-steel molder with dimensions of 7 holes, 9 mm in radius, and 20 mm in height. The surface morphologies of both adsorbents were characterized using infrared (IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of contact time (40, 80, 120, 160, 200, and 240 minutes) and initial concentrations (3–5 mg/L) were applied to evaluate both adsorption processes. The experiment was conducted in a batch reactor using a monolithic adsorbent that operated for 240 minutes. The experimental equilibrium data of the adsorption were examined with Langmuir and Freundlich models to find the best-fit isotherm. In the kinetic study, the pseudo-first-order was investigated in both linear and nonlinear models. The adsorption results showed that CMM had the highest adsorption efficiency (42.7%). The equilibrium study concluded that the Langmuir was the most significant isotherm model. The highest monolayer capacity and Langmuir constants (KL and aL) were 0.396, 1.329, and 0.396, respectively. The adsorption of both adsorbents was well displayed in the pseudo-first-order non-linear model. Experiments and processed data compromise the finding that CMM is more effective than CM at adsorbing mercury ions.

Herein, we report the preparation of lipase immobilised on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as an enantioselector for capillary monolithic columns and their application in the chiral separation of racemic pharmaceuticals. The columns were prepared through the encapsulation of functionalised SWCNTs (c-SWCNTs) within an organic monolithic polymer, followed by the immobilisation of lipase over the obtained monolith, over a three-day (L1) and five-day (L2) period. The prepared columns were tested for the enantioselective nano-HPLC separation of 50 racemic drugs. A suitable resolution was achieved for 25 drugs using nano-RP-HPLC conditions for both the L1 and L2 capillaries, while no specific resolution was detected under normal-phase HPLC conditions. The developed c-SWCNT-lipase-based polymeric monolithic capillaries are a promising expansion for separating pharmaceutical enantiomers' using nano-HPLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a green, carbon dioxide-in-water high-internal-phase emulsion (C/W HIPEs) was developed and stabilized with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for the formation of chitosan oligosaccharide/poly(acrylamide-co-sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) [COS/P(AM-co-SSS)] monolithic porous hydrogel. The obtained monolith was characterized via FT-IR and SEM. The SEM patterns depicted that the monoliths were interconnected, the void sizes were 78.5 µm, and the interconnected pore throats were 28 μm approximately. Mechanical measurement results indicated that the maximum compress stress of the monolith could reach 334.4 kPa at 90% strain, and it exhibited good mechanical stability. After 200 cycles of compression, it could still recover its original shape without cracking. The obtained COS-based monolith was selected to remove tetracycline (TC) for evaluating the adsorptive features of the interpenetrating pore-containing monolith. The monolithic COS/P(AM-co-SSS) hydrogel behaved with strong antibiotic adsorption capacity (1600.4 mg/g for TC). The adsorption process agreed well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isothermal models. In addition, the porous monolith had a strong electrostatic force on TC according to the thermodynamic study. This work provides a green route for the development of novel monolithic hydrogels and highlights its potential application in the treatment of antibiotic-containing wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In miniaturized affinity chromatography, the development of hydrophilic organic monoliths with reduced non-specific interactions and high-protein grafting capacity remains a hot topic. In this work, we propose the one-step synthesis of a diol organic monolith to replace the gold-standard epoxy-based organic monoliths (which require post-modification, namely hydrolysis, prior to use). The synthesis of this new monolith builds upon the use of N-N'-Methylenebis(acrylamide) (MBA), as a hydrophilic crosslinker, and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate (DHPMA), a diol monomer that eliminates the time-consuming epoxy ring opening step and its associated side reactions. The optimization of one-step synthesis parameters led to a monolith with a satisfactory permeability ((4.8 ± 0.5) × 10−14 m2), high efficiency (117,600 plates/m at optimum flow velocity (uopt = 0.09 cm s−1)) and reduced non-specific interactions. It is exemplified by its separation ability in the HILIC mode (separation of nucleosides), and by the retention data set of 41 test solutes, which were used to evaluate the non-specific interactions. This new poly(DHPMA-co-MBA) monolith has not only hydrophilic surface properties, but also improved protein grafting capacity compared to the glycidyl-based monolith (13 ± 0.7 pmol cm−1). The potential of this monolith is illustrated in affinity chromatography, where the concanavalin ligands are ranked according to their Kd values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clay and zeolite-clay-based monoliths (ZCBM and CBM) were used as mercury removal adsorbents in aqueous solutions. Clay and zeolite-clay-based monoliths (40 holes in 18 mm diameter) were obtained by extruding the material with water. This research aimed to investigate and compare the capacities and kinetics of two adsorbents, zeolite-clay, and clay-based monoliths, to identify the most effective adsorbent in adsorbing mercury(II) ions. The ZCBM and CBM crystal structures were characterized using a scanning electron microscope, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory, and an X-ray diffractometer. The effect of contact time (40, 80, 120, 160, 200, and 240 minutes), adsorbent doses (1 and 2 mg/L), as well as initial concentrations (1–5 mg/L) were variables evaluated. The most effective adsorbent is identified by selecting the highest adsorption efficiency. These equilibrium experimental data and the adsorption kinetics were investigated in a batch-type reactor. Data of equilibrium were examined with the Freundlich, Langmuir, and BET isotherm models by observing the lowest sum of squares (SSE) value. This Langmuir isotherm model indicated the most significant fit to the adsorption data of both adsorbents. To examine the kinetic data, the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetic models were implemented. This adsorption kinetic characterization using both ZCBM and CBM was well displayed by the pseudo-first-order model. Even though the maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity was 0.167 mg/g for ZCBM, but SSE value showed that CBM was the adsorbent with the highest adsorption efficiency, namely 72.3%. Therefore, CBM becomes the most effective adsorbent for mercury removal from water.

Corneal neovascularization is a serious corneal pathological change caused by various factors. The drug delivery system is of great significance for the effective treatment of corneal neovascularization. Herein, we developed and characterized a monolith/hydrogel composite as the triamcinolone acetonide (TA) carrier for curing corneal neovascularization. The composite was prepared by photo-initiated free radical polymerization of multi-methacrylate substituted dodecamine organic molecular cage and post-modified by the sequential photo-initiated free radical polymerization of acrylated gelatin. The globular morphology and structural property of as-prepared composites were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and solid-state cross polarization magic angle spinning carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance. Then swelling ratio and the TA loading capacity were investigated then. Compared with gelatin hydrogel, the composites exhibited a decreased swelling ratio and an improved loading capacity. With good biocompatibility, the composite can sustainedly release TA for up to 28 days, and effectively inhibit corneal neovascularization with an alkali burn-induced corneal neovascularization model. Additionally, tandem mass tags-labeled quantitative proteomics were performed to identify differentially expressed proteins between vascularized and devascularized corneas. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed that the inhibition process could be primarily linked to the fibrinolytic system. These results demonstrated the potential of monolith/hydrogel composites as delivery systems in the therapy for biomedical diseases.

Giant stone structures all over the world, with their millennia-old age, size, durability, construction method that surpasses the technical capabilities of ancient cultures, but also with a mysterious purpose, have aroused the interest of experts and the general public for years. Megalithic architecture, which is part of the eponymous culture, the longest-lasting and most widespread building culture in human history, is characterized by the placement of monumental stone blocks of various shapes - megaliths, single or grouped into different structures/buildings. This overly broad definition includes Neolithic (and later) megalithic monuments (dolmens, menhirs, cromlechs and others), but also later structures of the so-called "more advanced architecture", which had architectural features, built from megaliths of regular geometric shape, weighing tens and hundreds of tons. These structures are often popularly called "cyclopean", which some authors contest by using that name only for the so-called "Mycenaean civilizations/ cultures". Therefore, the authors decided to use the universal name "giant stone buildings" and divide this broad topic into separate papers, trying to encourage readers to further study the extensive available literature in search of answers to the many doubts that we all still have...

Mercury is harmful to humans and the ecological environment. The adsorption process is known as an effective method for removing heavy metals. This research is devoted to developing new adsorbents based on carbon materials to remove metal ions Hg(II) with carbon-based monolith adsorbents without and with manganese oxide fillers (KM and KMM). The results of adsorption efficiency, adsorption kinetics, and isotherm models were made in a batch system with varying concentrations of mercury solution from 2 mg/L to 6 mg/L with adsorbents without and with manganese oxide fillers (KM and KMM). The highest removal efficiency reached 96% on KMM and 47% on KM. The adsorption isotherm of Hg(II) ions corresponds to the Freundlich model, with intensity and volume constants obtained respectively 0.042 and 1.347 L/mg on KM adsorbents, while on KMM adsorbents the intensity and volume constants obtained are 0.291 and 2.079, respectively. L/mg. These results indicate that physical adsorption occurs more dominantly than chemical adsorption. The adsorption of Hg(II) ions was in accordance with the pseudo-first-order adsorption kinetics, with the adsorption capacity and rate constant on the KM adsorbent obtained were 0.0505 mg/g and 0.0072 g/mg, while the adsorption capacity and rate constant for the KMM adsorbent were on KM adsorbents obtained were 0.0848 mg/g and 0.0239 g/mg.

This paper investigates the flow behaviour of monolith microchannels. Specifically, the study characterizes the flow regime within in-series monolith channels where highly turbulent flow approaches them but inside of the channels, the Reynolds number is subcritical. Results from LES and a transitional RANS model are compared to those obtained when directly assuming laminar flow inside of the channels. A space-resolved model of channels placed in series and channel Reynolds numbers ranging from 50 to 300 are considered. The results show that the flow pattern in is almost identical in the two channels and that the frequency of fluctuations tends to increase with the Reynolds number. The flow regime in both channels is unsteady laminar, containing a wide spectrum of frequencies. The tested transitional RANS model (k- k L - ω) is unable to capture the velocity fluctuations predicted by LES. Despite the differences in the velocity field prediction, the pressure drop estimation from all models is practically the same. This study provides insights into the flow behaviour of monolith reactors and is useful for reactor design and optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present five new sorbents for the evaluation of the pre-concentration of L-carnitine. The sorbents were obtained from copolymerization between butylmethacrylate (BuMA) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA), which were physically modified on their surface by each one of the five synthetized resorcinarenes of variable chain length studied, with long-chain resorcinarenes exhibiting better fixation on the copolymer. The characterization of the synthesized resorcinarenes was done using FTIR-ATR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry, while characterization of the sorbents was done using FTIR-ATR and scanning electron micrography (SEM). The molecular interaction between L-carnitine and the synthesized resorcinarenes was studied in DMSO via 1H-NMR spectroscopy and, in the gas phase, via electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The results showed that the short-chain resorcinarenes underwent a stable interaction with the neurotransmitter. Once the sorption of resorcinarenes on the copolymer was accomplished, the best parameters for the evaluation of the L-carnitine preconcentration were established. The solution tests were carried out through LC/MS analysis, obtaining better results for L-carnitine absorption with the short-chain resorcinarenes such as tetra(ethyl)calix[4]resorcinarene and tetra(propyl)calix[4]resorcinarene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an adsorption study of granular and composite adsorbents together with an analysis of the obtained images of the adsorbent surfaces. Based on the desiccator method of studying adsorbents, adsorption isotherms were plotted. According to these isotherms, active aluminum oxide was established as optimum for the manufacture of composite adsorption materials. However, the adsorption capacity of composite materials is less than that of granular adsorbents by 10–15%, which is compensated by higher density values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the issues faced by microparticulate catalysts in fixed bed reactors for high temperature sulfuric acid decomposition viz. channeling and mass transfer, we report the preparation, characterization of Fe2O3/SiO2 hierarchical porous monoliths and testing of its catalytic properties. Monoliths with varying Fe2O3 amounts (5–30 wt%) are synthesized by a modified sol-gel approach and characterized by powder XRD, Mössbauer spectroscopy, SAXS, SEM-EDS and XPS. The Fe2O3(15 wt%)/SiO2 monolith exhibited a SO2 yield of ∼62% at 800 °C. The spent catalyst investigation established the dynamic nature of catalyst surface to accomplish the reaction mechanistic demands.

Monoliths are promising as catalytic structured supports due to their many operational advantages. Compared to pellets, monoliths offer low backpressure and good heat distribution, even at high flow rates. There is interest in the industry for improving temperature control in highly exothermic systems, such as the catalytic hydrogenation of C O 2 for e-fuels synthesis. In this context, novel substrate shapes, such as non-homogeneous cell density monoliths, show good potential; however, to date, they have only been sparsely described. This work focuses on a dual cell density substrate and uses a computational model of a straight-channel monolith with two concentric regions to analyze its flow distribution. The central (core) and peripheral (ring) regions of the substrate differ in cell density in order to obtain a non-homogeneous cross-section. The model is validated against classical data in the literature and theoretical equations. Then, the flow fraction passing through each region of the substrate is registered. Several flow rates, core sizes and combinations of apparent permeabilities are tested. According to the results, the flow distribution depends only on the monolith geometrical features and not on the flow rate. A model for this phenomenon is proposed. The model accurately predicted the flow fraction passing through each region of the monolith for all the cases analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vital substance found throughout body. It helps convert food into energy and is eaten small amounts in foods. CoQ10 has gained great interest in recent years as a potential candidate for the treatment of various diseases. The content of CoQ10 in food samples is a crucial quality index for foods. Therefore, the development of sensitive separation and quantification method for determining the amount of CoQ10 in various samples, especially in foods, is an important issue, especially for food nutrition. In this study, a new, miniaturized monolithic column was developed and applied for the determination of CoQ10 in pistachio samples by nano-liquid chromatography (nano-LC). The monolithic column with a 50 µm i.d. was prepared by in situ polymerization using laurylmethacrylate (LMA) as the main monomer and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) as the crosslinker. Methanol (MeOH) and polyethyleneglycol (PEG) were used as porogenic solvents. The final monolithic column was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and chromatographic analyses. The monolithic column with a 50 µm i.d. was applied to the analysis of CoQ10 in pistachio samples in nano-LC. This analytical method was validated by means of sensitivity, linearity, precision, recovery, and repeatability. The LOD and LOQ values were 0.05 and 0.48 µg/kg, respectively. The developed method using the monolithic column was optimized to achieve very sensitive analyses of CoQ10 content in the food samples. The applicability of the method was successfully demonstrated by the analysis of CoQ10 in pistachio samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work discusses the fabrication and applicability of a cost-effective and ultra-sensitive solid-state optical sensor for quantifying Cu2+. The sensor is fabricated through the direct immobilization of the ligating probe, namely, (E)-2-(2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethylidene)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide (HDHC) onto the tailor-made porous organic polymer monolithic architect namely, poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-pentaerythritol trimethacrylate) (poly(GMA-co-PETMA)) for accurate recognition of Cu2+ in various water samples. The structural dimensions and surface morphologies of the fabricated sensor have been studied using p-XRD, HR-TEM, FE-SEM, SAED, EDAX, XPS, and N2 isotherm analysis. The receptor molecules form a stable ligand to metal charge-transfer (LMCT) complexes inducing a naked-eye colour transition from light yellow to brownish green. The greater surface area with a highly porous 3D network matrix of the polymer template enables the uniform impregnation of the probe HDHC molecules and increased accessibility of Cu2+ to the chelating functionalities of the receptor molecules and enhances the kinetics features. Moreover, the rigid spatial geometry of the impregnated receptor molecules onto the porous polymer template (PP template) restricts the binding sites for other competing cations in the sample matrix. Thus the sensor offers a superior selectivity and outstanding sensitivity for Cu2+, proving it the most promising sensing tool for real-time analysis. The sensor provides a linear response range of 2–100 ppb and offers an ultra-low detection limit of 0.68 ppb for Cu2+. The practical applicability of the sensor is verified with environmental water samples, which provided an excellent reproducibility with a recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the nano-photocatalysts are difficult to recycle in application, TiO2/melamine sponge monolith (TM) photocatalysts composite were successfully prepared by hydrothermal method using melamine sponge (MS) as the carrier and framework. The TMs were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, UV-Vis DRS and other analytical methods. The effect of hydrothermal time on the photocatalytic performance of TM was studied. The results show that the TM has integrated structure and TiO2 is firmly attached when the hydrothermal time is 16 h. The degradation rate of methylene blue (MB) after 120 min irriadiation reaches 99.3%. TM has a high stability of repeated use. The effective combination of TiO2 and MS enhances the dispersion and light utilization rate of TiO2, thereby improving the photocatalytic performance of TM and facilitating recycling.

[Display omitted] • The Janus architecture integrates dense membrane with porous monolith. • The monolith with multi-scale porous structure is fabricated by FIPS technique. • The monolith shows excellent removal effect of small and medium molecular toxins. • The Janus architecture can block blood cells while allow over 85% BSA to permeate. • The Janus architecture achieves simultaneous plasma separation and adsorption. Chronic liver failure (CLF) and chronic renal failure (CRF) lead to toxins accumulation, severely impairing organ functions. To address this challenge, a Janus polyethersulfone (PES)-based architecture integrated dense membrane with porous monolith is developed, pioneering an approach for simultaneous plasma separation and toxins adsorption. The porous monolith, featuring high porosity about 83.3 % and substantial specific surface area about 102.06 m2/g, is prepared using the freezing-induced phase separation (FIPS) technique. The porous monolith is composed of polymer networks of PES and amphiphilic copolymer of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone-co-methyl methacrylate) (VM), as well as activated carbon. Among the various monolith, the PES 18 VM 5 C 2 exhibits the optimal balance of adsorption and anti-protein adhesion. The PES-VM-incorporated dense membrane with a controlled submicron pore size is constructed atop the PES 18 VM 5 C 2. The dense membrane effectively blocks hemocytes and the porous monolith efficiently adsorbs toxins. Together, the Janus architecture PES 18 VM 5 C 2 @M 16 allows over 85 % of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to permeate, showcasing its selective permeability. After being integrated into a custom 3D-printed supporting device, the PES 18 VM 5 C 2 @M 16 achieves significant clearance in creatinine (67.6 %), uric acid (87.4 %), and bilirubin (89.1 %) during 2-hour plasma adsorption test, with minimal impact on essential plasma components such as total protein, albumin, and cholesterol. This work presents a "Janus Interface Architecture" as next-generation platform for plasma separation and toxins adsorption, offering a promising strategy for wearable artificial liver systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microservice architecture (MSA) is a widely used and researched approach in industry and academia. However, designing the migration to MSA is a complex and challenging task, and there is a lack of clear guidelines on how to address both business and technical issues during the process. This paper presents a step-by-step method for determining the boundaries of microservices, which is a critical activity in MSA migration for both practitioners and academics.We conducted a case study of SHAMIM, a nationwide project serving over 120,000 students, to demonstrate the proposed method. The microservice boundaries were determined by utilizing both business and technical input types, including domain-driven design (DDD), business processes, service call numbers, and data access patterns in databases.Our findings suggest that MSA migration can be conducted more reliably by using change documents maintained by the DevOps team. The proposed method leads to clear improvements in the determination of each microservice boundary, and it can be useful for practitioners and academics involved in MSA migration.

In recent decades, the sol-gel process accompanied with phase separation has been employed to fabricate porous monolithic ceramic materials. However, it is challenging to obtain crack-free samples by using this method, due to the fragile nature of porous ceramic materials and the large internal stress generated from drying and calcination process. In this work, tough monolithic titania (TiO2) materials were fabricated by the sol-gel process accompanied with phase separation in solutions of silicon carbide (SiC) nanofibers and preceramic polymers. It was found that polyethylene oxide (PEO) and ethylenediamine (EDA) can promote phase separation and sol-gel process respectively, and the micro-morphology of porous monolithic TiO2 materials can be flexibly tuned by adjusting the contents of PEO and EDA. The addition of SiC nanofibers effectively enhanced the mechanical performance and photocatalytic activity of porous TiO2 materials without altering their bicontinuous micro-morphology. Taking TiO2 materials as an example, this work demonstrates a novel methodology to fabricate ceramic nanofibers reinforced porous monolithic ceramic materials.

This work is associated with the preparation of capillary chromatographic columns containing inorganic-organic composites comprised of naturally occurring montmorillonite (MMT) clay mineral and polymethacrylate monolithic material. The prepared composites combine the best qualities of both constituents, offering desirable properties for use under the disparate conditions of both GC and HPLC at the same time. The stationary phases were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the specific surface area, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and examined in terms of various conditions utilized for GC and HPLC methods. The prepared columns demonstrated an excellent permeability and stability against common chromatographic conditions, such as the eluent type, flow rate, pressure, and temperature. The results confirmed that the addition of small amounts of MMT into the monolith induced significant improvement in the specific surface area, which contributed to the formation of more active sites and enhanced the retention of analytes. The registered column backpressures did not exceed 980 kPa and 16,500 kPa for the prepared GC and HPLC columns, respectively. The prepared columns were subjected to the separation of various interesting compounds possessing different chemistries and polarities, including alkanes, alkylbenzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alcohols, ketones, phenols, some common organic solvents, and isomeric mixtures. Under the optimal conditions, the efficiency of the columns fell between 4900–38,500 plates m−1 for GC and 3400–58,800 plates m−1 for capillary HPLC applications. In all cases, the measured chromatographic resolution was more than 1.38, with excellent an peak symmetry and low tailing factors. In comparison with the most commonly used commercial columns, the polysiloxane open tubular column for GC and silica-based C18 packed column for HPLC, the prepared GC columns demonstrated a faster separation with a higher efficiency, comparable resolution and tailing factors, and lower consumption of carrier gas. Regarding the capillary columns prepared for HPLC, the chromatographic experiments exposed a much lower run time with a comparable efficiency and resolution and drastically lower consumption of mobile phase solvents and samples. The results demonstrate that the MMT-based polymethacrylate monolith composites are applicable as novel and promising separation media for analyzing various mixtures of interest in different fields, such as petrochemical and environmental samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of e-Zbornik: Electronic Collection of Papers of the Faculty of Civil Engineering is the property of University of Mostar, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture & Geodesy 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.)

Context. Since its proclamation in 2012, microservices-based architecture has gained widespread popularity due to its advantages, such as improved availability, fault tolerance, and horizontal scalability, as well as greater software development agility. Motivation. Yet, refactoring a monolith to microservices by smaller businesses and expecting that the migration will bring benefits similar to those reported by top global companies, such as Netflix, Amazon, eBay, and Uber, might be an illusion. Indeed, for systems that do not have thousands of concurrent users and can be scaled vertically, the benefits of such migration have not been sufficiently investigated, while the existing evidence is inconsistent. Objective. The purpose of this paper is to compare the performance and scalability of monolithic and microservice architectures on a reference web application. Method. The application was implemented in four different versions, covering not only two different architectural styles (monolith vs. microservices) but also two different implementation technologies (Java vs. C#.NET). Next, we conducted a series of controlled experiments in three different deployment environments (local, Azure Spring Cloud, and Azure App Service). Findings. The key lessons learned are as follows: (1) on a single machine, a monolith performs better than its microservice-based counterpart; (2) The Java platform makes better use of powerful machines in case of computation-intensive services when compared to.NET; the technology platform effect is reversed when non-computationally intensive services are run on machines with low computational capacity; (3) vertical scaling is more cost-effective than horizontal scaling in the Azure cloud; (4) scaling out beyond a certain number of instances degrades the application performance; (5) implementation technology (either Java or C#.NET) does not have a noticeable impact on the scalability performance.

The main drawback for the development of biomass gasification technology is tar conversion. Among the various methods for tar abatement, the use of catalysts has been proposed in the literature. Most of the works reported in the literature on catalytic systems for biomass tar conversion refers to catalysts in the form of powder; however, deactivation occurs by fast clogging with particulates deriving from biomass gasification. The integration of catalytic filter element for particle and tar removal directly integrated into the freeboard of the reactor is a new concept recently proposed and patented. In this context, this paper evaluates the possibility to integrate a structured iron-based catalytic monolith in the freeboard of a fluidized bed gasifier to enhance biomass gasification. The effectiveness of using a monolith for gas conditioning has been preliminarily verified. The limited effect on the gas production and composition seems to be related to the limited range of operating conditions explored in this work rather than to the low activity of the iron-based catalyst. Further studies to optimize the performance and to assess the possible deactivation of the catalyst due to coke deposition must be carried out.

Nanoscale separation techniques (Capillary/nano-LC, CE, CEC and Chip based LC/CE/CEC) present a prospective trend in modern analytical chemistry due to allowing high speed analysis, low reagent consumption, high separation efficiency and green chemistry. These techniques are miniaturized techniques offering unique advantages over conventional ones in bioanalytical science and technology, and are gaining ground in a wide research area (e.g. omics, foods, cell structures). These systems are also promising tools for the analysis of very limited samples, especially in omics, and forensic sciences. Focusing on nanoscale separation-based techniques, this review presents recent research on the use of nano-columns. Special attention is given to recent achievements based on nanoscale separation techniques while their potentiality is discussed. Some recent and selected applications with or without mass spectrometry (e.g., low resolution/high resolution -MS) in the period of 2019-to present are also reported.

Herein, a green, carbon dioxide-in-water high-internal-phase emulsion (C/W HIPEs) was developed and stabilized with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for the formation of chitosan oligosaccharide/poly(acrylamide-co-sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) [COS/P(AM-co-SSS)] monolithic porous hydrogel. The obtained monolith was characterized via FT-IR and SEM. The SEM patterns depicted that the monoliths were interconnected, the void sizes were 78.5 µm, and the interconnected pore throats were 28 μm approximately. Mechanical measurement results indicated that the maximum compress stress of the monolith could reach 334.4 kPa at 90% strain, and it exhibited good mechanical stability. After 200 cycles of compression, it could still recover its original shape without cracking. The obtained COS-based monolith was selected to remove tetracycline (TC) for evaluating the adsorptive features of the interpenetrating pore-containing monolith. The monolithic COS/P(AM-co-SSS) hydrogel behaved with strong antibiotic adsorption capacity (1600.4 mg/g for TC). The adsorption process agreed well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isothermal models. In addition, the porous monolith had a strong electrostatic force on TC according to the thermodynamic study. This work provides a green route for the development of novel monolithic hydrogels and highlights its potential application in the treatment of antibiotic-containing wastewater.

Adsorbent monoliths are gaining increasing interest in gas phase separation processes, but have rarely been studied for liquid phase separations. In this work, we investigate an activated carbon monolith for the recovery of biobutanol from model liquid mixtures as well as compare the obtained column dynamics with the adsorption of biobutanol from gas mixtures. Single solute adsorption isotherms of acetone, n-butanol and ethanol revealed the carbon's larger affinity for n-butanol (0.11 g/g adsorbed at 2 wt%), while dynamic separations on a fixed-bed of crushed monolith granules proved its capability to effectively separate an aqueous mixture of these three fermentation products. In contrast, liquid phase breakthrough experiments of n-butanol on the monolith column were marked by almost instantaneous detection of adsorbate at the outlet (< 5 min.) and broad tailing of the concentration curve. Measures to improve inlet flow distribution or increasing temperature to enhance mass transfer were unsuccessful. In contrast, using the same inlet flow distributors, a sharp breakthrough profile could be obtained in vapor phase, while the gas contact time (17 s) was much lower than in liquid phase (1300 s). A comparison of characteristic mass transfer times of the adsorption process highlighted the important role of the external film resistance in liquid compared to vapor phase adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]