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Refractoriness of chrome minerals imposes challenges during chrome ore pelletization process. This study is conducted to find suitable additives to improve chrome ore pelletization and pellet properties. Two types of additives (carbonaceous heating additives and binding fluxes) have been explored to improve pellet induration in pre-heating and elevated temperature zone of a shaft furnace. Ten different types of carbonaceous heating additives (rice husk powder, coke fines, anthracite coal, Indian coal, South African coal, Indonesian coal, graphite powder, carbon soot, pet coke, charcoal) were tested and found that rice husk powder and carbon soot are the most effective additives to improve pellet properties in the shaft furnace pre-heating zone. Rice husk dosing improves pellet strength by 31% (31.76 to 41.90 kgf) in the pre-heating zone which helps pellets to maintain their shape and size, this in terms improve the pellet bed permeability and gas flow during sintering. Seven diverse types of binding fluxes (Dolomite, Magnesium-chromite fines, Magnesium-carbon fines, MgCl2, Na3AlF6, MgO powder, and DRI-additive) were studied in the lab. Cryolite dosing between 0.25% to 2% in pellet mix improved pellet compressive strength by 190% (63 to184 kgf) and reduced pellet swelling by 30%. A pellet mix which contained 95% ore fines, 2% bentonite, 2% rice husk powder, 1% cryolite and 14% moisture has been identified as an optimized pellet mix for producing pellets with 197 kgf/pellet compressive strength. The pellets produced using optimized pellet mix also showed superior metallurgical properties during smelting reduction. It can improve the overall plant productivity economically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miofloral and fossil charcoal analyses of the Permian deposits of the Barakar and Motur formations from core PKK-2B, located in the Pench-Valley Coalfield, Satpura Basin (India) were carried out to assess the floral diversity, evidence for palaeo-wildfire and age. Two distinct palynoassemblages are identified: Faunipollenites varius palynoassemblage and Gondisporites raniganjensis palynoassemblage dated as Kungurian (Cisuralian) and Guadalupian (Wordian-Capitanian), respectively. These assemblages show dominance of pollen attributable to Glossopteridales followed by Cordaitales and Coniferales. The occurrence of charcoal at two levels in the sedimentary sequence indicates the occurrence of repeated wildfires in the surrounding area. Macroscopic charcoal fragments exhibit anatomical features such as bordered pitting, rays and helical thickenings on cell walls of tracheids suggesting a gymnospermous wood affinity. Most of the charcoal specimens exhibit rounded edges suggesting an allochthonous origin. Furthermore, fusinite reflectance (1.03–6.61%) of studied charcoal/inertinite fragments suggests that the temperature was in the range of ~305–962°C during charring. This indicates co-occurrence of high-temperature crown fires, together with medium- and low-temperature surface and ground fires, respectively. Our data emphasise the dominance of gymnospermous vegetation during the Permian in India and adds further evidence for the widespread occurrence of wildfires during this period in India and on entire Gondwana as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to determine the combustion quality of biochar briquettes mixed with goat dung charcoal, saboak shell, and corn cob with different adhesive levels. The research method used in this study is a Randomized Complete Design (RAL) consisting of 4 treatments and 4 replicates. The treatments were P1 = 25% goat dung charcoal + 37.5% saboak shell + 37.5% corn cob + 8% adhesive, P2 = 25% goat dung charcoal + 37.5% saboak shell + 37.5% corn cob + 10% adhesive, P3 = 25% goat dung charcoal + 37.5% saboak shell + 37.5% corn cob + 12% adhesive, P4 = 25% goat dung charcoal + 37.5% saboak shell + 37.5% corn cob + 14% adhesive. The variables studied were combustion temperature, combustion rate, combustion resistance, combustion color, smoke, and the ability to boil water. The data obtained were combustion temperature 334.3℃, combustion resistance 215 minutes, combustion rate 1.933 g/minute, color 3.5, smoke 5.53 and the ability to boil water 13.39 minutes. The results of variance showed that the treatment had a very significant effect (P < 0.01) on combustion temperature, ability to boil water and no significant effect (P>0.05) on combustion resistance, combustion rate, color and smoke. It is concluded that bio charcoal briquettes mixed with goat dung charcoal, saboak shell, and corn cob with 12% adhesive l evel can improve the best combustion quality compared to other adhesive levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the variations in Macrophomina phaseolina, the causal agent of charcoal rot, is critical in understanding the ecology of the isolates and the epidemiology of the diseases they cause. This study sought to identify and characterize M. phaseolina isolates using both molecular and morphological approaches and to determine the virulence of the isolates. Macrophomina phaseolina was isolated from cowpea-diseased stem tissues. Eleven M. phaseolina isolates from the major cowpea growing areas (Manga, Nyankpala, Yendi, Damongo, Tumu, Wa, Akomadan and Ejura) were morphologically and molecularly characterized. DNA of the M. phaseolina isolates were amplified using species-specific PCR primers MpKF1 (5'-CCGCCAGAGGACTATCAAAC-3') and MpKR1 (5'-CGTCCGAAGCGAGGTGTATT-3') and sequencing of the M. phaseolina specific amplicons was obtained. This was followed by searching against the NCBI nucleotide sequence database. Isolates were tested for their pathogenicity on a susceptible cowpea cultivar (IT97K-499-35). Virulence of the M. phaseolina isolates was expressed as the percentage of sown seeds that expressed seed rot and damping-off symptoms 14 days after planting. All isolates were confirmed as M. phaseolina based on the amplicon size obtained, and the sequenced amplicons showed an average of 99% homology to the available M. phaseolina sequences. The radial growth of isolates and the percentage of seed rot and damping off they caused on the IT97K-499-35 cultivar varied significantly. The percentage seed rot and damping off were positively correlated (r = 0.74 and 0.75) with the radial growth and colour intensity of the isolates, respectively. Macrophomina phaseolina infection and disease expression may be predicted by the colour and colour intensity of isolates as well as cowpea genotypes. Isolate Mp_3Mc (dense black colour) was the most virulent while isolate Mp_6Ec (grey colour) was the least virulent, resulting in 76.7% and 26.7% seed rot and damping off, respectively. The three clades resolved through the phylogenetic tree matched the distinct colour types of M. phaseolina which correlated with virulence. Isolates of M. phaseolina are diverse and differ in their pathogenicity. Efforts must be geared towards developing cowpea varieties that have resistance to charcoal rot disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seedling establishment is often a critical bottleneck in the revegetation of mine tailings and similar substrates. Biochar and deactivated yeast are potential sustainable materials that could be used in this context as seed coatings to aid in seedling establishment. We conducted a greenhouse study on biochar and deactivated yeast use as seed coatings, assessing germination, establishment, and early growth of white clover (Trifolium repens) and purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea). Coated seeds were applied to a mine tailing, a coarse granitic sand, and potting soil mix substrates; seedling establishment and growth were monitored over 75 days. Biochar coatings enhanced the seedling establishment of Trifolium, with biochar and biochar plus yeast coatings giving the best results. In some cases, these effects persisted throughout the experiment: biochar coatings resulted in a ~fivefold increase in Trifolium biomass at harvest for plants in the potting soil mix but had neutral effects on sand or tailings. Biochar seed coatings also enhanced Dalea germination in some cases, but the benefits did not persist. Our results indicate that biochar-based seed coatings can have lasting effects on plant growth well beyond germination but also emphasize highly species-specific responses that highlight the need for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charcoal shape variations provide insight into past fuel types burned, with charcoal length:width (L:W) being the most popular means of distinguishing fuel types. This paper presents morphometric data (L:W) of charcoal produced from plant taxa (n = 21) native to the southeastern United States of America (USA). These taxa included monocots (n = 3), dicots (n = 12), and gymnosperms (n = 6), which represented a range of growth habits including graminoids, trees, shrubs, and subshrubs. We further divided these taxa into tissues (n = 36 total samples) which included leaves, wood, bark, needles, stems, and a seed pod. Our results show that charcoal produced from plants native to southeastern USA exhibits more variable L:W values than those tested in previous research, but that when aggregated, they broadly agree with published L:W value ranges. Within the dicot group, leaves produced charcoal lower L:W values (median = 1.92, interquartile range (IQR) = 1.33) than wood (median = 2.43, IQR = 3.00), whereas the opposite was true for gymnosperms whose needles produced greater L:W values (median = 2.60, IQR = 3.22) than wood (median = 1.93, IQR = 1.44). The monocot graminoid we tested produced greater L:W values (median = 3.47, IQR = 6.02) than dicot or gymnosperm fuels. Further, our results provide conflicting perspectives on the likelihood of evolutionary relationships as the cause of variations in charcoal L:W values. Last, our results underscore the importance of site-specific experimental charcoal approaches to enable robust paleofire applications of charcoal morphometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxbow lakes are important habitats for many rare and protected wetland organisms and play a role as a storage of pollutants in floodplain. Unfortunately, many oxbows were destroyed due to drainage works and the adaptation of riverbeds to inland transport. Multi-proxy palaeoecological analyses makes it possible to recognise the succession of flora and fauna in the oxbow lakes over centuries and millenia. Insight into the history of the destroyed wetlands ecosystems is especially important for their restoration. We used palaeoecological methods (plant macrofossils, pollen, mollusc, Cladocera, diatoms, macrocharcoal) supported by radiocarbon dating to: (i) reconstruct the succession of the local flora (macrophytes, diatoms) and fauna (molluscs, Cladocera) during the last ca. 3000 years; (ii) provide a background of local to regional vegetation composition and disturbance by fire and human impact in the Drava valleys. (iii) determine natural reference conditions as a basis for the restoration of degraded oxbow ecosystems in the region; Our study revealed that: (i) in the shallow eutrophic oxbow lakes (ca. 2 m deep) occurred numerous submerged (Najas marina, N. minor, Ceratophyllum demersum, Zannichelia palustris) and floating macrophytes (Trapa natans, Nymphaea alba, Nuphar lutea), Cladocera and molluscs species (e.g. Borysthenia naticinata, Bithynia tentaculata, Valvata cristata) and we recommend that these species should be included in the restoration of oxbows in this region; (ii) warm climate phases (Roman Period, Medieval Period) likely enhanced the terrestrialisation process and transformation of water reservoirs into peatlands between 1200 and 800 cal. BP; (iii) human activity has led to changes in overall forest composition, including riparian tree taxa, since the beginning of the record and has intensified since the Medieval Period; (iv) the difference in the time and intensity of fires between the northern and southern part of Drava river valley is most likely due to the different history of human colonisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern agriculture has caused extensive soil pesticide contamination, which is a global concern. This study explored the potential of bamboo charcoal (BC) to alleviate quinclorac-induced stress in tobacco plants. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of BC and vinasse fertilizer (VF) on the growth and physiological parameters of tobacco plants subjected to quinclorac stress. At 30, 60, and 90 d after transplantation, BC and VF exhibited pronounced restorative effects on quinclorac-stressed tobacco plants. The treatments improved plant height, leaf length, and leaf width, and enhanced leaf quality and various biochemical indicators. Treatment with 500 g VF + 4% BC resulted in the lowest residual quinclorac levels in both the soil and leaves. Treatment with 500 g VF + 2% BC resulted in the most significant recovery of agronomic traits, whereas 500 g VF + 0.5% BC was the most effective in enhancing leaf quality. However, the effectiveness of BC decreased with time following application, and furthermore, quinclorac may be released from the BC. In conclusion, BC shows promise in alleviating the adverse effects of quinclorac stress in tobacco plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cenerimod is a sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptor 1 modulator that reduces tissue availability of circulating lymphocytes. The compound is in Phase 3 development for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Its pharmacokinetic properties are characterized by slow absorption and multiphasic elimination with a long terminal half‐life (t½), potentially caused by enterohepatic circulation (EHC). In this trial in healthy participants, oral cenerimod 0.5 and 4 mg once daily was administered for 50 days, followed by oral administration of activated charcoal (ie, 50 mg every 12 h for 11 days, starting 24 h after the last cenerimod dose), to investigate the potential EHC of cenerimod and assess whether elimination of cenerimod can be accelerated. The multiple‐dose pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability of cenerimod were also evaluated. For both doses, peak plasma concentrations were reached 6 and 7 h after dosing. Cenerimod accumulated approximately eightfold and (near) steady‐state conditions were reached after 50 doses, resembling clinically meaningful exposure to cenerimod. The t½ following 0.5 and 4 mg of cenerimod was 767 and 799 h (ie, 32 and 33 days) and 720 and 780 h (ie, 30 and 33 days) with or without administration of charcoal, respectively, indicating no statistically significant difference. Therefore, charcoal did not accelerate cenerimod elimination suggesting that there is no EHC of cenerimod. A reversible, dose‐dependent decrease in total lymphocyte count was observed. No safety concerns were identified; administration of charcoal was well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational exposure to charcoal smoke and dust is a threat to workers' respiratory systems. What is the prevalence of COPD in charcoal workers compared with that of farmers in rural areas of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)? This cross-sectional, comparative, and multisite study was performed in the charcoal-producing provinces of southwestern DRC. We randomly included charcoal workers and compared them with farmers (age range, 18-70 years). Air quality indexes, anthropometric features, physical activity, sociodemographic characteristics, and related medical events data were recorded. A lung function questionnaire was used to assess respiratory symptoms and spirometry was performed. COPD was defined as the presence of respiratory symptoms for > 3 months with an FEV 1 to FVC ratio less than the lower limit of normal. The prevalence of COPD was calculated, and logistic regression was used to identify COPD-associated factors. We included 485 participants between August 2020 and July 2021. Charcoal producers (CPs; n = 229) were compared with farmers (n = 118), and charcoal saleswomen (n = 72) were compared with vegetable saleswomen (n = 66). Respective groups were similar in age, job seniority, height, and weight. The air was more polluted at charcoal workplaces. The prevalence of COPD was higher in CPs than in farmers (39.7% vs 14.4%; P <.0001) and higher in charcoal saleswomens compared with vegetable saleswomen (40.3% vs 13.6%; P <.0001). Being a charcoal worker was associated independently with COPD in the CP and farmers groups (adjusted OR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.94-6.46) and in the saleswomen group (adjusted OR, 7.85; 95% CI, 2.85-21.5), where it was also associated independently with young age (adjusted OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.80-0.93) and monthly income (adjusted OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83-0.96). In rural areas of DRC, producing or selling charcoal is associated with a higher risk of COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Acute paediatric poisoning is a global public health concern. This study aimed to describe the characteristics and clinical outcomes of acute paediatric intoxication in Hong Kong and to compare the features of intentional and unintentional intoxication. Design, setting, patients, and participants: All paediatric intoxications requiring admission to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Measurements and results: During the study period, 206 children were admitted for acute poisoning. The median age was 15.0 years. A bimodal distribution was observed, with an early peak at 1-2 years and a later peak at 14-16 years. Females were predominant. The vast majority of children were poisoned by ingestion. Therapeutic agents were the most frequent class of agents. The majority of cases were intended for deliberate self-harm, which was more prevalent in middle childhood and early adolescence. Analgesics were the most frequent agents. While the majority of patients were stable with close observation, 29 patients (14%) required antidote treatment for the intoxication. Thirty- . seven patients (18%) were admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Four of them (1.9%) required intubation and mechanical ventilation, and one received kidney replacement therapy (continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration). Intentional poisoning was more common in female patients (p<0.001) and older patients (p<0.001). It was associated with therapeutic agents (p=0.009) and the necessity for antidote treatment (p=0.01). They had a higher mean Poisoning Severity Score (PSS) (p<0.001) and required significantly more extended hospital stays (p<0.001). They were also more commonly associated with preexisting psychiatric conditions or newly diagnosed psychiatric conditions (p<0.001). Conclusions: The vast majority of acute paediatric poisoning was intentional for deliberate selfharm. Intentional poisoning was associated with female sex, increasing age, more severe disease, need for an antidote or invasive treatment, and longer length of hospitalisation. The significantly higher proportion of children in this group having preexisting or newly diagnosed psychiatric disorders raised concerns about addressing emotions in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Larhyss Journal is the property of Biskra University, Research Laboratory in Subterranean & Surface Hydraulics 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.)

Dating organic inclusions in mortars such as charcoals is a useful alternative or complementary method to dating mortars themselves, helping to estimate the building age. To assess the limitations of this dating approach, organic inclusions were searched for in surface mortar layers of six early to late medieval buildings in the Czech Republic with relatively well-known age. Altogether, 123 samples were found. About 80% were successfully radiocarbon (14C) dated. However, only 66% originated from wood relatively young when used in lime burning. To judge which samples are relevant to the actual building date, sufficient statistics is crucial. We recommend dating at least 5–10 samples, i.e., collecting 6–12 samples, for a site with uncomplicated building history, or per building phase. Otherwise, unrealistically old or young dates might be obtained. With the recommended statistics, inclusion-based dating provides building ages with uncertainty of 50–100 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco 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.)

This study aimed to obtain the energy recovery potential of the biogas produced from anaerobic digestion (AD) of the sludge from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), including the use of biochar as an additive for substrate co-digestion and catalyst for methane production. We carried out the following steps: chemical–physical laboratory analyses of sludge samples; the building, operation, and monitoring of an experimental prototype of a batch bioreactor of 2.5 L for the AD of the sludge (with and without the addition of charcoal); qualitative measurements of biogas; the study of charcoal morphology; and the projection of useful energy generation from the AD sludge after treatment. A study on the economic viability and avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was performed based on the experimental results. The substrate showed alterations in all the physicochemical parameters evaluated after AD, such as a reduction of 35% in the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) analysis; the experiment carried out using biochar showed positive results regarding the speed of CH4 production and a greater potential for energy recovery. Enterprises from 2000 kW onwards would present an internal rate of return (IRR) equal to or higher than the minimum attractiveness rate (MAR) of 15%. The USD 95.28/MWh tariff presented economic feasibility for the studied scenarios. WWTPs that produce enough sludge to generate power of 2000 kW would need to process the waste of 117,200 inhabitants with charcoal addition and 136,000 without charcoal. It would be possible to avoid the emission of 2307.97 tCO2/year (2000 kW). According to the results obtained, this study revealed that using alternative energies based on anaerobic digestion and biochar can generate positive results regarding methane production, and its application as an energy source in a WWTP proved to be economically viable at a specific level of power production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durian peels are biomass waste and can be used as an alternative fuel for briquettes. Therefore, processing organic waste (biomass), especially waste from durian peels into briquettes is a solution to replace traditional coal energy with renewable energy. This article contains guidelines that provide a basis for understanding how to make durian peel biomass briquettes and analyzing the results compared to coconut shell and rice husk materials. The test results showed that the highest density value was obtained for 100% rice husk briquettes with a value of 1324.56 kg/m³, the highest heating value was obtained for 100% coconut shell briquettes at 6479 kcal/kg, the voltage value produced by the voltaic cell Durian peel charcoal is highest when activated with more dilute KOH, in contrast to the durian peel charcoal electrolysis cell, the highest voltage is obtained when activated with more concentrated KOH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the produced water treatment methods is adsorption, however, the use of commercial activated carbon as an adsorbent, in industrial scale, makes the process expensive. An alternative for replacing commercial activated carbon is the use of bioadsorbents, which have been gaining emphasis in recent decades, high performance, and low production costs. The objective of this work is to develop an efficient and low cost bioadsorbent by reusing the charcoal from the cashew nutshell (Anarcadium accidentale L.) for the removal of metal ions (Cu2+, Pb2+ and Cr3+), oil and grease content (OGC). The bioadsorbent was pretreated with NaOH and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), point of zero charge (pHpzc) and Boehm titration. The adsorption tests involved adsorption kinetics and equilibrium experiments in a batch system using metallic solution and in a fixed bed column using multi-element metallic and semi-synthetic OGC solution. The characterization results revealed the presence of hydroxyl, carboxyl and carbonyl groups, as well as an irregular and heterogeneous structure, which are favorable characteristics for the adsorption process. The bioadsorbent was able to remove 98.9; 90.9, 77.1 and 100% for Cu2+, Pb2+, Cr3+ and OGC, respectively, in a fixed bed adsorption column. It is concluded that bioadsorbent developed has high potential for removing metals and OGC, in addition to being an abundant product in nature, renewable, biodegradable and its reuse contributes to reduce environmental pollution, waste production and improves the local circular economy through the recovery of the by-product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the technological properties of wood is important for its use and the quality of its products. The aim was to assess the quality of charcoal produced from wood grown in the Cerrado biome. Wood samples of Handroanthus roseoalba (ipê branco), Handroanthus heptaphyllus (ipê roxo) and Piptocarpha rotundifolia ('blackheart') were selected. Charcoals from these samples were produced at two charring temperatures (500 and 550 °C). Basic density, total extractives, lignin and holocellulose, gravimetric yield, higher calorific value and immediate chemical properties of the charcoals were determined. Near infrared (NIR) spectra were obtained on the transverse and longitudinal faces of the wood using a DLP® NIRscan™ portable spectrometer. Partial least squares regression was used to adjust predictive models of charcoal properties using the NIR spectra measured in the precursor wood. The coefficients of determination in the cross-validation (R2cv) ranged from 0.49 to 0.87 for volatile materials, from 0.48 to 0.88 for fixed carbon and from 0.49 to 0.85 for higher calorific value of charcoal. The spectra generated better models for properties of charcoals produced at 500 °C. The models generated were satisfactory, indicating that the NIR spectrometry can predict the quality of charcoal before it is produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the technical, economic, and environmental assessment of a developed improved cookstove (ICS) for domestic uses focusing on outperforming the traditional charcoal cookstove by improving technical performance, fuel economy, and environmental savings. A set of experiments were conducted to verify the performance of the ICS. The technical performance involved measuring the cooking time (tc), maximum cooking temperature (Tmax), fuel consumption (fcons), thermal efficiency (ηth), and cooling time (tcool). The economic assessment involved daily and annual fuel cost, and daily and annual fuel cost saving while environmental saving involved annual reduction of CO, CO2, NO, and NOx gases. The Tmax of the ICS reached 1273 K, reducing the tc by 18 mins, a drop of 43%. Furthermore, this reduced the fcons by approximately 50 g, around 30%. The ICS had an enhanced tcool of about 24.53 mins and attained ηth of 43.3%. In five tests, the ICS consumed about 596 g, which costs TZS 870 and TZS 317,550 per year. The reduction in consumption significantly reduces fuel costs by 29.83%. The results showed the ICS reduced the emission of CO, CO2, NO, and NOx concentrations by 258, 650, 2, and 2.5 ppm, respectively, compared to a traditional charcoal cookstove. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar derived from the pyrolysis of biomass is recognized for its carbon sequestration capacity. By adding physical or chemical activation steps, its properties can be enhanced, resulting in activated or modified biochar. However, investigating the possible toxic effects for safer application is necessary. In this study, we aimed to assess the ecotoxicological effects of extracts from biochars prepared from sugarcane bagasse activated with zinc chloride and heat treated at temperatures ranging from 300 to 1000 °C. Using Artemia salina as an indicator of toxicity, we observed variation in mortality ranging from 27.5 % to 100 % as the temperature varied between 1000 and 300 °C. The leachate from the sample prepared at 300 °C, which had the highest zinc content, presented an LC50 of 0.53 w/v. Phytotoxicity tests with Lactuca sativa revealed that extracts from biochars prepared at lower temperatures presented greater phytotoxicity, with reductions in relative germination, relative average radicle growth and the germination index. These results highlight the need to assess the ecotoxicological risks of activated biochar with zinc chloride. The sensitivities of Artemia salina and Lactuca sativa are promising for detecting these effects, suggesting that they are effective approaches for assessing environmental safety. These findings not only broaden our understanding of the adverse effects of activated biochar but also guide safe and sustainable practices for its future application.

Abstract The quest towards a low carbon economy and to achieve the SDG 7 of access to a clean, affordable and modern energy for all has led to numerous studies that seek to examine the determinants of clean energy adoption. Despite the numerous studies previously conducted that have sought to explain the clean energy transition, the role that health facilities play in promoting clean energy use at the household level remains to be explored. This study investigates the effect of health care facilities on households’ energy adoption using survey data from Ghana and ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation techniques. The study further examines the different effects of different types of health facilities on clean energy adoption. The results show that the presence of a health facility in a community has positive effects on the likelihood of choosing cleaner energy sources for cooking at the household level. Furthermore, lower-level health facilities tend to have a bigger effect on clean energy adoption compared to higher level facilities such as hospitals and clinics. Robustness analyses confirm these findings. The pathways through which this relationship potentially occurs and the implications for increasing adoption of clean energy fuels are discussed.

This study aimed to obtain the energy recovery potential of the biogas produced from anaerobic digestion (AD) of the sludge from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), including the use of biochar as an additive for substrate co-digestion and catalyst for methane production. We carried out the following steps: chemical–physical laboratory analyses of sludge samples; the building, operation, and monitoring of an experimental prototype of a batch bioreactor of 2.5 L for the AD of the sludge (with and without the addition of charcoal); qualitative measurements of biogas; the study of charcoal morphology; and the projection of useful energy generation from the AD sludge after treatment. A study on the economic viability and avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was performed based on the experimental results. The substrate showed alterations in all the physicochemical parameters evaluated after AD, such as a reduction of 35% in the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) analysis; the experiment carried out using biochar showed positive results regarding the speed of CH4 production and a greater potential for energy recovery. Enterprises from 2000 kW onwards would present an internal rate of return (IRR) equal to or higher than the minimum attractiveness rate (MAR) of 15%. The USD 95.28/MWh tariff presented economic feasibility for the studied scenarios. WWTPs that produce enough sludge to generate power of 2000 kW would need to process the waste of 117,200 inhabitants with charcoal addition and 136,000 without charcoal. It would be possible to avoid the emission of 2307.97 tCO2/year (2000 kW). According to the results obtained, this study revealed that using alternative energies based on anaerobic digestion and biochar can generate positive results regarding methane production, and its application as an energy source in a WWTP proved to be economically viable at a specific level of power production.

Background: With the growth of industries and advancing civilization, controlling air pollution from both human and natural sources has become a major concern. Styrene, a volatile organic compound (VOC), is recognized as a hazardous and toxic atmospheric contaminant. Methods: In this study, the removal of Styrene vapors using ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles coated on activated carbon (AC) was investigated and the styrene removal capacity of AC-ZnO and AC-TiO2 catalysts was compared. The coated adsorbents were characterized using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. All laboratory-scale experiments were conducted at ambient temperatures. Styrene concentrations of 50, 100, and 300 ppm were tested at an input flow rate of 0.03, and 0.06 m3/h. Results: The AC-TiO2 catalyst had a styrene removal efficiency (RE) of 81%, as compared to 74% efficiency for the AC-ZnO catalyst, this is at a flow rate of 0.06 m3/h and a concentration of 50 ppm. The results indicated that increasing styrene concentrations reduced breakthrough time but increased adsorption capacity. Also, by increasing the inflow rate, the adsorption capacity decreased. At all concentrations and flow rates, the adsorption capacity of the AC-TiO2 catalyst was higher than the AC-ZnO catalyst. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that the AC-TiO2 catalyst is more effective in the removal of Styrene vapor from the air as compared to the AC-ZnO catalyst.

Sediment cores were collected from Wrong (WL) and Lenore (LL) lakes in boreal central Yukon Territory, Canada, spanning circa 6000 years. Analyses of pollen, charcoal, magnetic susceptibility, levoglucosan, and down-scaled paleoclimatic data reveal the vegetation history and character/drivers of Holocene fire disturbance. Boreal forest has persisted in the region for millennia, with a regional mid-Holocene expansion of Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. followed by expansion of Pinus contorta var. latifolia Douglas ex Loudon Engelm. ex S. Watson in the latest Holocene. The shortest reconstructed fire return intervals (FRIs; ca. 110–125 years) occurred in the mid-Holocene, coincident with the development of highly flammable Picea-dominated forest and warm, dry summers that were characterized by elevated June-August 500 hPa geopotential height anomalies (JJA Z500) and associated with an eastward/intense Aleutian Low. In the late-Holocene, FRI increased to ca. 240 years at WL and 280 years LL. Drivers of this change include regional cooling and increased precipitation, with a westward/weaker Aleutian Low position delivering more moisture to interior Yukon. Longer FRIs allowed for greater fuel accumulation between fires, enhancing fire size/severity. While higher fire frequency is noted in the mid-Holocene and increased fire size/severity in the late-Holocene, recent changes in Yukon fire disturbance suggest that the fire regime may soon lie outside the natural range of mid- and late-Holocene variability.

BACKGROUND: In low- and middle-income countries countries, millions of deaths occur annually from household air pollution (HAP), pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and HIV-infection. However, it is unknown whether HAP influences PTB risk among people living with HIV-infection. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study among 1,277 HIV-infected adults in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (February 2018 - March 2019). Cases had current or recent (3h/day and ≥2 times/day and ≥5 days/week were more likely to have PTB (aOR 1·36; 95%CI 1·06-1·75) than those spending less time in the kitchen. Time-weighted average 24h personal CO exposure was related dose-dependently with the likelihood of having PTB, with aOR 4·64 (95%CI 1·1-20·7) for the highest quintile [12·3-76·2 ppm] compared to the lowest quintile [0·1-1·9 ppm]. CONCLUSION: Time spent cooking and personal CO exposure were independently associated with increased risk of PTB among people living with HIV. Considering the high burden of TB-HIV coinfection in the region, effective interventions are required to decrease HAP exposure caused by cooking with biomass among people living with HIV, especially women.

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the in vitro effect of a charcoal-containing dentifrice with different toothbrush stiffness on enamel. Methods Four main groups were applied: distilled water, conventional fluoridated toothpaste (Colgate® Total® 12 Clean Mint Toothpaste), charcoal toothpaste (Colgate® Total® Charcoal Toothpaste) and whitening toothpaste (Colgate Total® Advanced Whitening Toothpaste). Three subgroups for each toothpaste were further included according to the toothbrush bristles’ stiffness (soft, medium, and hard). Enamel specimens were subjected to 1,250 and 2,500 cycles of brushing using toothbrushing simulation machine. The average surface roughness change (ΔRa) in nanometer (nm) was measured to estimate the changes following the brushing simulation model. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests analyzed the data. Results The type of toothpaste and the bristles’ stiffness were determinant factors in increasing the ΔRa value (P =

Abstract Escalations in wildfire activity are of significant global concern, particularly within vulnerable wetland ecosystems integral to natural carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Our understanding and management of future wildfire activity may be better contextualised through the study of historic and ancient fire records, independent of human influence. Methods of study include ‘geothermometry’ - approximating ancient fire intensity from temperature-dependent changes in the chemistry of fossil charcoal. Though well established in their relation to experimental charcoalification, these methods still fail to quantify the true intensity of ancient fires, as a measure of energy release. As a result, their applicability, and contributions to the characterisation of modern fire activity, remain uncertain. Here, we present a novel measure of wildfire energy release, as a proxy for true intensity, through the co-application of cone calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy of charcoal. By applying a range of wildfire heat fluxes to variable peatland fuel mixes, this research demonstrates the complexity in correlating fire behaviour and charcoal microstructure. Further statistical analyses suggest a correlation between spectroscopic results, measures of CO and CO2 release, and fire severity. This offers a principal measure of ancient wildfire intensity, consistent with modern practices in wildfire modelling, monitoring, and management.

Abstract The production of açaí seed waste from the commercial and extractive exploitation of the Euterpe oleraceae palm tree is a serious problem that contributes to environmental contamination and production of greenhouse gases, a fact that suggests the need for an environmentally correct destination for this waste produced on a large scale. To this end, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential of acaí seed biochar (BCA) in mitigating the toxic effects of copper in Brazilian mahogany plants, analyzing biometrics and gas exchange. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five blocks, in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme, corresponding to the control (without Cu) and three concentration of Cu (200, 400, and 600 mg Cu kg−1) and three levels of BCA (0%, 5% and 10%) proportional to the amount of soil in the pots, totaling sixty experimental units. The use of 5% BCA in soils contaminated with up to 200 mg kg−1 Cu promoted biometric increase (height, diameter, number of leaves), maintaining gas exchange (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, internal carbon and internal/external carbon), and consequently, maintaining water use efficiency in plants under abiotic stress, resulting in plant growth. The findings of this study allow us to indicate the use of biochar in remediating and improving the growth of plants grown in copper-contaminated soils. The production of biochar from açaí seeds is an ecologically sustainable alternative, because it reduces its accumulation on public roads and contributes to reducing soil pollution. In the context of public policies, biochar production could be a source of income in the context of the bioeconomy and circular economy practiced in the Amazon, because it is produced in large quantities.

The aim of this study is to provide the drivers of long-term fire dynamics in various regions of Sub-Saharan Africa using a synthesis of updated sedimentary charcoal records, from 25,000 years ago to the present. We used the charcoal data currently available in the Global Paleofire Database, updated with the most recent published charcoal data, to reconstruct past biomass burning across the continent. We analyzed standardized charcoal data grouped by region (central Africa, eastern Africa, southern Africa, and Indian Ocean) and by vegetation type (forest, savanna, and shrubland). Within this framework, we found that quality data were lacking to reconstruct a robust trend in biomass burning before 5000 years at the continental scale. This large spatial scale was indeed masking regional peculiarities. Our results suggest that past changes in biomass burning were nuanced and cannot be simply attributed to either climate- or humans, and that they varied from each sub-regions and vegetation type history. In central Africa, biomass burning increased after the end of the African Humid Period and the first wave of Bantu-speaking people migration, whereas in East Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, it seems that human population growth was the main driver of fire activity. In South Africa, reduced rainfall seemed to offset fire activity due to population growth by reducing potentially flammable biomass. While the diversity of methodological techniques used to produce charcoal quantification made comparisons difficult, regional patterns still emerged from these data. This synthesis thus highlights the need to increase the number of sites with charcoal data and to harmonize charcoal extraction and quantification methods across Africa to improve regional to continental assessments of fire histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly half of the global population rely on solid polluting fuels such as firewood, charcoal, animal and plant wastes for cooking. Continued reliance on such fuels and technologies has severe negative health, environmental, and development impacts. Using a systematic literature review methodology, this study sought to unveil factors influencing choice of clean cooking solutions among households. This study adopted a systematically literature review approach to systematically identify, evaluate and synthesize articles in the field of clean cooking solutions. Systematic literature review is a rigorous and replicable methodology that is designed to identify, appraise and synthesize already existing literature on specific question or sub questions. In this study, the procedures suggested by Liberati et al. and Moher et al. based on preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) approach. Seventy-four articles were synthesized and many factors influencing the choice of cooking solutions were identified alongside the existing gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the in vitro effect of a charcoal-containing dentifrice with different toothbrush stiffness on enamel. Methods: Four main groups were applied: distilled water, conventional fluoridated toothpaste (Colgate® Total® 12 Clean Mint Toothpaste), charcoal toothpaste (Colgate® Total® Charcoal Toothpaste) and whitening toothpaste (Colgate Total® Advanced Whitening Toothpaste). Three subgroups for each toothpaste were further included according to the toothbrush bristles' stiffness (soft, medium, and hard). Enamel specimens were subjected to 1,250 and 2,500 cycles of brushing using toothbrushing simulation machine. The average surface roughness change (ΔRa) in nanometer (nm) was measured to estimate the changes following the brushing simulation model. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests analyzed the data. Results: The type of toothpaste and the bristles' stiffness were determinant factors in increasing the ΔRa value (P = < 0.05). Generally, charcoal and whitening toothpastes with medium and hard bristles yielded higher ΔRa than fluoridated toothpaste and smooth bristles. Following 1,250 cycles of brushing simulation, charcoal toothpaste did not increase the enamel roughness compared to the controls. However, in prolonged brushing via 2,500 cycles of brushing simulation, using bristles with soft stiffness revealed that charcoal toothpaste was associated with increased surface roughness (55.86 ± 41.18 nm), which was statistically significant (P = 0.024) compared to the negative control. Using bristles with medium stiffness showed that the whitening (68.23 ± 48.58 nm) and charcoal (73.62 ± 34.66 nm) toothpastes significantly (P = < 0.05) increased the enamel roughness compared to the conventional toothpaste (36.53 ± 22.56 nm). There was no significant difference among the groups when brushes with hard bristles were used, as all the groups revealed increased enamel roughness. Conclusion: The use of charcoal and whitening toothpastes increased enamel roughness, particularly with long-term use. The effect of bristle stiffness on enamel roughness was found to vary depending on the type of toothpaste used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the roles of charcoal and ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) on tree growth, which relates to the rehabilitation of forest ecosystems after forest fires, two experiments were set up in this study, the first was to determine the correct amount of charcoal for Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Sarg.) seedling growth by applying oak charcoal to basic soil medium at ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and 1:8 by volume. The second experiment investigated the combined effects of four types of charcoal: derived from oak wood, husks of buckwheat, rice and activated charcoal of larch wood, and two types of ECMF: Pt (Pisolithus tinctorius Pers.) and Ec (Pt + Rhizopogon spp. + Laccaria spp. + Scleroderma spp.) on the growth of Japanese larch seedlings. Our results show that growth was significantly stressed by large amounts charcoal applications. There were significant variations among the four types of charcoal on growth. We concluded that the addition of charcoal was the critical factor that influenced larch growth and ECMF formation. Rice charcoal and Ec stimulates the growth and nitrogen uptake of Japanese larch seedlings, thus the most suitable fungus and charcoal for practices is Ec-rice charcoal (1: 8 charcoal to basic soil). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is indisputable that large parts of the Cretaceous can be considered as a particular 'high-fire' interval, supported by numerous published records of palaeo-wildfires during this period. The presence of charcoal is widely accepted as direct evidence of palaeo-wildfires. In this study, macroscopic charcoal from the Early Cretaceous Chijinpu Formation in the Zhongkouzi Basin, Beishan area, northwestern China, is reported and described. These charcoal fragments serve as reliable evidence of palaeo-wildfires that occurred in northwestern China during the Early Cretaceous. Based on anatomical characteristics, the charcoal remains were identified to gymnosperms, most probably conifers, which is in accordance with previous palaeobotanical records from the Chijinpu Formation. It is reasonable to infer that wildfire played a significant role in the ecosystems of this region. We consider that the forests with rich conifers and the dry climatic conditions, were probably conducive to the ignition and spread of wildfires. Conifers, in particular, could have played a significant role in this process by providing abundance and flammable fuel sources for the fire. The present study contributes new evidence to our knowledge of the Early Cretaceous wildfires and enriches our knowledge of the vegetation and environmental conditions in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little evidence of macrofossil charcoal, a wildfire proxy, is recorded from upper Lower to lowermost Upper Devonian rocks. Coals of this age are few, and petrographic data indicate low volumes (<10% mineral-matter free) of charcoal. This paucity of data forms the basis of the “charcoal gap,” which is used to suggest an extended interval of abnormally low atmospheric oxygen (pO2). We reassess the current evidence for this hiatus using Emsian– Eifelian charcoal from the Trout Valley and St. Froid Lake Formations, Maine (northeastern United States), and integrate the microscopic charcoal record of dispersed organic matter. We conclude there is ample evidence of fire in the Middle Devonian. This interval is not innately of low pO2. Rather, it is one in which under-interpretation of available data has led to a perceived paucity of charcoal. This reconciliation indicates the Phanerozoic record of wildfire was substantially uninterrupted. Hence, we propose that pO2 achieved levels >16% and remained at such levels from the Silurian through the floral and faunal colonization of land and, from our current estimates, stayed as such until the present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article traces the fragments and afterlife of the colonial rail as a material object in Tanzania. The rail was a tool for exploitation and proper control of the colony. The rails changed the land. The land was shaped and reshaped to accommodate the rail and aid the colonial project. As the colonial project ended, it marked the start of the demise of the railways and its ultimate abandonment. However, as ruins, the rail has continued affecting people and the Tanzania landscapes in various ways. This article collects fragments and the effects of the rail, both visible and beyond the ruination of the rail itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stable isotope analysis of black powder (BP) is of great significance for its comparison and source inference. Previous studies have verified the feasibility of distinguishing different BP samples through stable isotopes. However, the impact of raw materials and synthesis processes on the stable isotopes of BP remains unclear. On the one hand, the raw materials of BP are widely sourced, and whether stable isotopes can distinguish different source materials remains to be studied. On the other hand, the synthesis of BP involves the physical mixing of raw materials, and whether this process leads to isotope fractionation also needs further investigation. To address these problems, stable isotope ratios of 27 charcoals, 15 potassium nitrates, 6 self‐made and 10 commercial BP samples were analyzed. The results showed that the stable isotope ratios can be utilized to distinguish charcoals and potassium nitrates from different manufacturers and batches. No significant differences in the nitrogen and oxygen stable isotope ratios between the self‐made BP and its raw materials were observed, indicating that the physical mixing process does not induce significant fractionation of stable isotopes. However, the carbon stable isotope ratios of charcoal increased (within 2SD) after being synthesized into BP. Due to the utilization of additives and variations in the synthesis process, the correlation between the stable isotope ratios of commercial BP and its raw materials was complex. The findings of this study provide a scientific reference for tracing the source of BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted from November, 2022 to February, 2023 (rabi season) and July, 2023 to October, 2023 (kharif season) respectively at the Agricultural Research Station, Karimnagar, Telangana State, India to identify resistant hybrids for charcoal rot disease in maize. 469 entries with check were screened in randomized block design by tooth pick method of inoculation. During rabi, 2022-23, out of screened 275 (274+1) lines, one hybrid KMH-42283 was found resistant, 24 lines viz., KML-79, KML-52, KML-54, KML-10, KML-75, KML-34, KML-72, KML-80, KML-29, KML-61, KML-1, KML-5, KMH-422730, KMH-422758, KMH-422752, KMH-422753, KMH-42229, KMH-422788, KMH-422777, KMH-42284, KMH-42247, KMH-422972, KMH-422838 and KMH-421353 were found moderately resistant, Kaveri-50 (Check) entry has recorded 8.10 disease scale and remaining lines were found moderately susceptible and susceptible to charcoal rot disease. During kharif, 2023, out of screened 193 lines, 33 lines viz., KML-95, KML-109, KML-5, KML-102, KML-107, KML-25, KML-65, KML-114, KML-118, KML-49, KMH-422302, KMH-422307, KMH-422475, KMH-422325, KMH-422333, KMH-422381, KMH-422382, KMH-422383, KMH-422384, KMH-422391, KMH-422397, KMH-422590, KMH-422480, KMH-422518, NK-7702, DHM-121, DKC-9178, DKC-9233, P-3401, P-3302, KNMH-131, PAC-751 elite and GK-3237 were identified as moderately resistant to charcoal rot disease, one line Kaveri-50 (check) was severely affected by charcoal rot with 8.20 disease rating and rated as susceptible during kharif, 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In semi-arid northeastern Brazil, where water is scarce, rainforest refugia can be seen along the coastal relief, where the trade winds bring in humidity from the Atlantic Ocean, or further inland, at the Araripe plateau where water comes from aquifer resurgence. In order to reconstruct past changes in water resurgence and in their associated vegetation types, we analyzed pollen, charcoal, and trace elements from sediment cores collected in the permanent swamps created by the resurgences. Our high temporal resolution analyses show that the vegetation was more sparse and drier than today until 2700 cal yr BP. Between 2700 and 2000 cal yr BP, palm swamp and evergreen forest tree taxa started to expand, suggesting an increase in water resurgence. At 2000 cal yr BP, the moist forest with Mauritia expanded and fire activity changed from mixed to woody fuel particles. During the last 200 cal yr BP, a decrease in the palm tree Mauritia flexuosa, an expansion of Poaceae and an increase in macrocharcoal particles are attributed to an increase in anthropogenic activities in the Araripe Basin. The Late-Holocene climatic trend seen at Araripe mirrors that of eastern Brazil and has controlled the aquifer activity, including during the major droughts that affected the region. This is highly relevant for the application of public policies that rely on the aquifers of Araripe for the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding past fire regimes requires reliable proxy data that record fire conditions and preserve them over time. The objective of this study was to determine if the oxygen isotope composition of charred bark samples (pyrogenic organic matter) could be used as proxy data to differentiate wildfires based on burn intensity. We collected charred and uncharred bark samples from three fire sites in northern Ontario, Canada that represented a gradient of fire intensity as depicted by Fire Weather Index (FWI) data. We hypothesized that the mean Δ18Obark-char (the difference between δ18O of uncharred bark and a charred sample) would be greater for fires with higher intensities. Analysis of variance of Δ18Obark-char indicated a significant effect of fire event (F = 73.6, p < 0.001), which explained 57.0% of the variance. A prescribed surface fire treatment (mean FWI = 9.5) had significantly lower Δ18Obark-char than two natural crown fires (FWI = 21 and 27). These results demonstrate that Δ18Obark-char differentiated moderate from high intensity fires in a similar manner to the FWI data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based electrodes have recently been most widely used in P-MFC due to their desirable properties such as biocompatibility, chemical stability, affordable price, corrosion resistance, and ease of regeneration. In general, carbon-based electrodes, particularly graphite, are produced using a complex process based on petroleum derivatives at very high temperatures. This study aims to produce electrodes from bio-pitch and charcoal powder as an alternative to graphite electrodes. The carbons used to manufacture the electrodes were obtained by the carbonisation of Robinia pseudoacacia and Azadirachta indica wood. These carbons were pulverised, sieved to 50 µm, and used as the raw materials for electrode manufacturing. The binder used was bio-pitch derived from coconut shells as the raw materials. The density and coking value of the bio-pitch revealed its potential as a good alternative to coal-tar pitch for electrode manufacturing. The electrodes were made by mixing 66.50% of each carbon powder and 33.50% of bio-pitch. The resulting mixture was moulded into a cylindrical tube 8 mm in diameter and 80 mm in length. The raw electrodes obtained were subjected to heat treatment at 800 °C or 1000 °C in an inert medium. The electrical resistivity obtained by the four-point method showed that N1000 has an electrical resistivity at least five times lower than all the electrodes developed and two times higher than that of G. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to determine the compositional features of the samples and their surface roughness was characterised by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Charge transfer was determined by electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The FTIR of the electrodes showed that N1000 has a spectrum that is more similar to that of G compared to the others. The EIS showed the high ionic mobility of the ions and therefore that N1000 has a higher charge transfer compared to G and the others. AFM analysis revealed that N1000 had the highest surface roughness in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a part of discussion about geographic distribution of the Levallois-leptolithic (Bohunician) technological entities and its paleoanthropological meaning, this paper presents two potential sites from Bohemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene, an allotrope of carbon, consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice and holds significant potential for diverse applications. This study focuses on the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) from nipah shell charcoal (Nypa fruticans Wurmb) using a modified Hummer's method combined with microwave irradiation, employing L-ascorbic acid as the reducing agent. The synthesized rGO was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX). The FTIR spectra revealed an aromatic C=C ring stretching vibration at 1591.47 cm-1. The XRD analysis showed characteristic rGO peaks at 2θ ~ 27.58° and 48.45°. SEM images indicated that the rGO exhibited sheet-like structures with slight wrinkling. Elemental analysis identified carbon and oxygen as the primary elements in both GO and rGO, alongside trace impurities, including N, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Zn, and S. An increase in the C/O ratio from 1.90 in GO to 2.38 in rGO confirmed the successful synthesis of reduced graphene oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil fuel subsidy removal may hinder access to clean fuels like LPG. Our analysis of urban Senegal shows that LPG use fell sharply after subsidies ended in 2009, despite later price drops. Households switched to charcoal, and the new availability of energy-efficient charcoal stoves made a return to LPG less appealing. This highlights how energy transitions among the poor are price sensitive, with implications for subsidy and carbon-tax policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escalations in wildfire activity are of significant global concern, particularly within vulnerable wetland ecosystems integral to natural carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Our understanding and management of future wildfire activity may be better contextualised through the study of historic and ancient fire records, independent of human influence. Methods of study include 'geothermometry' - approximating ancient fire intensity from temperature-dependent changes in the chemistry of fossil charcoal. Though well established in their relation to experimental charcoalification, these methods still fail to quantify the true intensity of ancient fires, as a measure of energy release. As a result, their applicability, and contributions to the characterisation of modern fire activity, remain uncertain. Here, we present a novel measure of wildfire energy release, as a proxy for true intensity, through the co-application of cone calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy of charcoal. By applying a range of wildfire heat fluxes to variable peatland fuel mixes, this research demonstrates the complexity in correlating fire behaviour and charcoal microstructure. Further statistical analyses suggest a correlation between spectroscopic results, measures of CO and CO2 release, and fire severity. This offers a principal measure of ancient wildfire intensity, consistent with modern practices in wildfire modelling, monitoring, and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive analysis and radiocarbon dating of historical mortar and plaster samples from the San Salvatore—Massino Visconti complex in Piedmont, Northern Italy. Mortar samples and one charcoal sample were collected from various areas within the complex's lower chapels. Samples were selected and characterized by means of a multi-analytical approach in order to draw inferences about their compositional, mineralogical, and microstructural features. The identification of hydromagnesite and magnesite in the mortar samples suggests the usage of magnesian binder mortar, potentially affecting radiocarbon dating due to its slower carbonation kinetics when compared to calcitic mortars. To mitigate this effect, a purification method was developed involving thermal treatment at 550 °C to isolate datable binding fractions. The results yielded reliable radiocarbon ages consistent with historical context, shedding light on construction materials dating from the 12th to 16th centuries. The study also challenges previous notions by demonstrating the feasibility of radiocarbon dating for magnesian mortars, opening new perspectives for dating such materials. These findings offer valuable insights into the construction history and material composition of the complex, corroborating historical information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]