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The CH4 storage by adsorption on activated carbons for natural gas handling has gained interest due to the appearance of lightweight materials with large surface areas and pore volumes. Consequently, kinetic parameters estimation of the adsorptive process can play a crucial role in understanding and scaling up the system. Concerning its versatility, banana peel (BP) is a biomass with potential for obtaining different products, such as biochar, a solid residue from the biomass' thermal decomposition of difficult disposal, where through an activation process, the material porous features are taken advantage to application as adsorbent of gaseous substances. This research reported data for the CH4 adsorption kinetic modeling by biochar from BP pyrolysis. The activated biochar textural characterization showed particles with fine mesoporous structure (pore diameter ranging between 29.39 and 55.62 Å). Adsorption kinetic analysis indicated that a modified pseudo-first-order model was the most suitable to represent the experimental data, with equilibrium adsorption of 28 mg g−1 for the samples activated with 20.0% vol wt.−1 of H3PO4 and pyrolysis at 500 °C. The equilibrium constant was consistent with the Freundlich isotherm model, suggesting a physisorption mechanism, and led to a non-ideal, reversible, and not limited to monolayer CH4 adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of whitening toothpastes on the color stability and surface roughness of resin composites stained with coffee and cigarette smoke. Methods: Seventy-two disk-shaped specimens (6 × 2 mm) of suprananohybrid resin composite were randomly divided into two groups and exposed to coffee and cigarette smoke (n = 36). After staining, the samples randomly divided into four groups according to whitening toothpastes and were brushed for 4 min: Opalescence Whitening (OW); Colgate Optic White (COW); Curaprox Black is White (CPX) and, distilled water (control) (n = 9). Color was measured with spectrophotometer at the initial, after staining, and after brushing, and surface roughness was measured with profilometer at the initial and after brushing. A surface morphology analysis was examined using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The obtained data were statistically analyzed. (p < 0.05). Results: Cigarette smoke caused a significantly higher color change than coffee in the resin composite (p < 0.05). Brushing with hydrogen peroxide and silica-containing whitening toothpaste showed significant differences in color change (p < 0.05). The lowest whitening effect was found in activated charcoal-containing toothpaste. While all toothpastes increased the degree of surface roughness of resin composites, the highest roughness was caused by whitening toothpastes containing activated charcoal. (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The color stability and surface properties of resin composites can be affected by brushing them with whitening toothpaste. The utilization of whitening toothpaste containing hydrogen peroxide can be considered a safe method for increasing the whiteness of discolored resin composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qicheng city wall is located in Puyang, Henan Province, China, and it is an important archaeological site from the Neolithic period in the North China Plain region. A trench across the northwest corner of the city wall revealed an 11 m thick sediment sequence, closely associated with human activities, which provides valuable records for the dating and environmental evolution of the site. In this study, we have applied field geological investigation, grain size analysis, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, and radiocarbon (14C) dating to reveal the history and changes in the site. The ancient city wall was built on the sedimentary sequence (U1) of the high terrace of the Ancient Yellow River. The upper 11 m thick sedimentary sequence (U2) recorded early moat sedimentation (U2 L) and was followed by three cycles of paleosol-flooding deposits (U2 U). The quartz OSL signals of the U2 silts are extremely bright, indicating high sensitivity. Partial bleaching was observed as well. The quartz OSL single-grain SAR dating results are consistent with that of charcoal 14C dating and are closer to the 'true' burial ages of the sediments than those obtained with multiple grains. By using a Bayesian statistical model, a chronological framework for the U2 sedimentary sequence was established. The earliest construction date of the Qicheng city wall is dating to 2100–1300 BC, during the late Longshan period, which is consistent with archaeological evidence (Li et al., 2015). The Qicheng city was not significantly affected by paleo-flooding prior to 870–960 AD, but experiences frequent flooding thereafter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of this study is the process of roasting iron ore pellets. The study solves the task of replacing fossil fuel with plant-based fuel in order to reduce environmental load and ensure the stable quality of pellets, which is necessary for use in blast furnaces. The influence of biofuel content at a given temperature and air speed on the strength of pellets after roasting was studied. As a result of the research, it was established that the fuel content has a decisive effect on the strength of pellets. Among all types of fuel that were investigated, pellets with the addition of sunflower husks and wood had the highest strength that meets the requirements for blast furnace melting of 200 kilograms. The use of wheat straw and charcoal does not make it possible to completely replace solid fuel in the layer of pellets. The results show that the use of up to 0.36 % of sunflower husk makes it possible to increase the strength of burned pellets compared to samples without biofuel content. Adding all other considered types of fuel reduced the strength of the pellets. These results are explained by the different content of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, which determines the characteristics of the biomass. The high content of cellulose and hemicellulose allows for high hydrophilicity due to the high number of OH groups and positively affects the formation of raw pellets. Volatile substances released during the combustion of biofuel contribute to the formation of spherical pores, as well as their uniform distribution, which prevents the propagation of cracks under load. Research results make it possible to establish the optimal roasting mode, decrease harmful emissions, and bring down costs by reducing fossil fuel consumption [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo, the fastest-growing plant, has several unique characteristics that make it appropriate for diverse applications. It is low-cost, high-tensile, lightweight, flexible, durable, and capable of proliferating even in ineffectual areas (e.g., incline). This review discusses the unique properties of bamboo for making charcoal and biochar for diverse applications. To produce bamboo charcoal and biochar, this study reports on the pyrolysis process for the thermal degradation of organic materials in an oxygen-depleted atmosphere under a specific temperature. This is an alternative method for turning waste biomass into products with additional value, such as biochar. Due to various advantages, bamboo charcoal is preferred over regular charcoal as it has four times the absorption rate and ten times more surface area reported. According to the reports, the charcoal yield ranges from 24.60 to 74.27%. Bamboo chopsticks were the most useful source for producing charcoal, with a high yield of 74.27% at 300 °C in nitrogen, but the thorny bamboo species have a tremendous amount of minimal charcoal, i.e., 24.60%. The reported biochar from bamboo yield ranges from 32 to 80%. The most extensive biochar production is produced by the bamboo D. giganteus, which yields 80% biochar at 300 °C. Dry bamboo stalks at 400 °C produced 32% biochar. One of the sections highlights biochar as a sustainable solution for plastic trash management produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another section is dedicated to the knowledge enhancement about the broad application spectrum of the charcoal and biochar. The last section highlights the conclusions, future perspectives, and recommendations on the charcoal and biochar derived from bamboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate and compare the non-anatomical characteristics of six Korean oak wood species (Quercus variabilis, Q. serrata, Q. mongolica, Q. dentata, Q. aliena and Q. acutissima) to provide identification keys and quality indices for the effective utilization of these species. Non-anatomical characteristics, including heartwood fluorescence, fluorescence and color of water and ethanol extracts, froth test, chrome azurol S test and burning splinter test, were evaluated according to the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA) lists. None of the six Korean oak species displayed heartwood fluorescence or fluorescence in the ethanol extract. Only Q. serrata exhibited bright blue fluorescence in the aqueous extract. Each species showed distinct colors in both water and ethanol extracts, and the water extract of all species was darker than that of the ethanol extract. A weak positive reaction in the froth test was observed only for Q. serrata. Furthermore, Q. variabilis and Q. acutissima showed positive reactions to both heartwood and sapwood in the chrome azurol S test. The burning splinter test revealed that only Q. acutissima was transformed into charcoal. Thus, water extract fluorescence and color, ethanol extract color, froth test, chrome azurol S test, and burning splinter test can be used to identify the six Korean oak species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charcoal fragments preserved in soils or sediments are used by scientists to reconstruct fire histories and thereby improve our understanding of past vegetation dynamics and human-plant relationships. Unfortunately, most published methods for charcoal extraction and analysis are incompletely described and are therefore difficult to reproduce. To improve the standardization and replicability of soil charcoal analysis, as well as to facilitate accessibility for non-experts, we developed a detailed, step-by-step protocol to isolate charcoal from soil and to efficiently count and measure charcoal fragments. The extraction phase involves the chemical soaking and wet sieving of soils followed by the collection of macrocharcoal (≥500 μm). The analysis phase is performed semi-automatically using the open-source software ImageJ to count and measure the area, length, and width of fragments from light stereo microscope images by means of threshold segmentation. The protocol yields clean charcoal fragments, a set of charcoal images, and datasets containing total charcoal mass, number of fragments, and morphological measurements (area, length, and width) for each sample. We tested and validated the protocol on 339 soil samples from tropical savannas and forests in eastern lowland Bolivia. We hope that this protocol will be a valuable resource for scientists in a variety of fields who currently study, or wish to study, macroscopic charcoal in soils as a proxy for past fires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effluents from textile industries pose significant environmental and human health problems especially since some textile factories discharge highly colored wastewater into the River, affecting water quality and local activities. This study aims to develop an ecofriendly method to remove Indigo Carmine (IC) dye from the water using Walnut shells-based activated carbon (WSAC). Adsorption was conducted by mixing powdered WSAC with IC dye at 120 rpm. Parameters such as contact time, absorbent quantity, and dye concentration were examined. Samples were analyzed using UV-Vis spectrophotometry at 610 nm. Kinetic and isotherm models were used to describe adsorption properties. The study found that 98 % of IC dye could be removed using 750 mg of powdered activated carbon in 100 ml solution, with an equilibrium time of 40 minutes. The pseudo-second-order model best described the adsorption with a correlation coefficient of R² = 0.9905. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of charcoal is associated with atmospheric pollution and several processes involving oxidative stress in the population. Therefore, the main objective of this project was to evaluate the effects caused by particulate matter on oxidative stress parameters in workers working in charcoal production in Barão do Triunfo. Atmospheric particles were collected using a particle sampler and biological material collected from workers for analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant power (FRAP). The control group was selected from an existing database, from a clinical analysis laboratory in the city, consisting of healthy individuals not exposed to particulate matter. The results for particulate matter concentrations averaged 16.46 µg/m3 for fine particulate matter and 300.12 µg/m3 for coarse particulate matter. The results of the socio-demographic analyzes of the control group show a prevalence of females who have completed secondary education, with an average monthly income of up to two minimum wages. In the exposed group, there is a prevalence of male individuals, with complete primary and secondary education, monthly income above two minimum wages, the majority of workers without the habit of smoking. In the exposed group there was an increase in GPx and a decrease in SOD compared to the control group. There was no significant difference for FRAP between the control group and the exposed group. Thus, we can conclude that workers exposed to particulate matter have higher levels of oxidative enzymes and decreased oxidative defenses when compared to the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some of the large ancillary pits in the mausoleum of the First Emperor of Qin were subjected to varying degrees of burning, resulting in a great number of charred wood remains. In this study, 381 samples of charcoal were collected from Pit 1 of the Terracotta Army, which has the largest excavated area and contains the most charcoal remains so far. Non-anatomical features observation and taxonomic identification were carried out as the basis for discussing the utilization of wood in Pit 1 and its implications. The results indicate that the selection of wood in Pit 1 varies according to different purposes, driven not only by material properties and usage purposes but also by cultural factors and changes in vegetation influenced by human activities. These woods might have come from the same mountainous region with a relatively favorable climate, namely either the low-altitude areas, warm and humid with abundant precipitation, or high-altitude mountainous regions, cool and moist with abundant rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of charcoal briquettes was considered using two distinct bases: palmyra palm and oil palm shells. The critical role of binders - namely tapioca starch, molasses, and termite mound clay (TMC) - were emphasized in influencing the properties of the briquettes. ANOVA results revealed that both the type of binder and charcoal significantly impacted various characteristics, such as proximate components like volatile matter content, and physical properties including combustion time. Briquettes made from palmyra palm shells notably demonstrated superior performance in terms of combustion time and onset time of saturation (OTS). Among the binders, tapioca starch was distinguished for contributing to the lowest ash content and the highest fixed carbon in the briquettes. Conversely, briquettes bound with TMC, despite having the lowest volatile matter percentage, also exhibited the highest ash content and fragility, in addition to the shortest combustion time. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate binders to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of charcoal briquettes, aligning with the increasing demand for environmentally conscious energy solutions in the face of escalating global energy needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the western Great Lakes region of the United States, late prehistoric and early historic Indigenous fields are often difficult to investigate because their archaeological signatures are faint and easily destroyed. They have been identified largely via rare remnants of raised fields and historical records. With the majority of Indigenous fields destroyed, important aspects of cultivation remain ambiguous, especially the ecology of cultivated areas. In addition to archaeological indicators of field location, the choice of specific environmental settings (prairie, wetland, upland forest, etc.) can be encoded in the stable isotope ratios of cultigens. Stable carbon‐ and nitrogen‐isotope ratios of maize kernels and wood charcoal from the Middle Grant Creek site (11WI2739), an early 17th century village in northeastern Illinois, are used to better understand agricultural practices during one of the coldest periods of the Little Ice Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until the late 20th century, the idea of identifying wildfires in deep time was not generally accepted. One of the basic problems was the fact that charcoal-like wood fragments, so often found in sedimentary rocks and in coals, were termed fusain and, in addition, many researchers could not envision wildfires in peat-forming systems. The advent of Scanning Electron Microscopy and studies on modern charcoals and fossil fusains demonstrated beyond doubt that wildfire residues may be recognized in rocks dating back to at least 350 million years. Increasing numbers of studies on modern and fossil charcoal assemblages from the 1970s through the 1990s established the potential importance of wildfires in the fossil record, using Carboniferous examples in particular. Since the 1990s, extensive progress has been made in understanding modern wildfires and their byproducts. New techniques to study ancient charcoals have allowed considerable progress to be made to integrate modern and ancient fire studies, both before and after the evolution of mankind. Four important developments have made a reassessment of Carboniferous wildfires necessary: the recognition of the role of atmospheric oxygen in controlling the occurrence of wildfire; the development of new microscopical techniques allowing more detailed anatomical data to be obtained from charcoal; the integration of molecular studies with the evolution of fire traits; and new developments in or understanding of post-fire erosion/deposition systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for obtaining effervescent tablets, consisting of magnetic carbon, tartaric acid, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, and their use for the adsorption of dichlorophenoxycarboxylic acids (DCPA)—2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic, 2,4-dichlorophenoxypropionic and 2,4-dichlorophenoxybutyric acids and their metabolites—2,4-dichlorophenol and 4-chlorophenol is proposed. The tablets are immersed in an analyzed solution with a neutral reaction medium. To analyze soils, extraction with an alkali solution followed by the neutralization of the extract is carried out. After CO2 separation is completed, the sorbent is removed with a neodymium magnet and the analytes are desorbed with acetone. The acetone extract is evaporated under a stream of nitrogen, and the concentrate is analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The method was tested on model systems—samples of river water and typical chernozem, which were artificially contaminated with DCPA and chlorophenols (CP). In analyzing river waters, the limits of determination for DCPA are 0.7–0.9 μg/L, for CP—40 ng/L. In soils, the limit of detection is 3–4 and 0.1 μg/kg for DCPA and CP, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tolerance gaps in wood connections are unavoidable, for reasons of constructability and the effects of natural shrinkage in timber elements with changing moisture content. During a fire, these gaps may lead to a substantial heat transfer to the metal connectors that are considered heat protected being embedded by the wooden components of the connection. Aluminium connectors are popular due to their ease of production and assembly, but they are particularly vulnerable to elevated temperatures. This study investigates the effects of tolerance gaps on the fire performance of aluminium connectors in beam-to-column/wall shear connections. Reduced-scale experiments were designed to study the temperature evolution of aluminium connectors during standard fire exposure for 1 mm and 6 mm tolerance gaps, as well the mitigation effects of additional intumescent fire protection in a 6 mm tolerance gap connection. For the 6 mm gap, the temperature of the connector increased much faster, reaching 286 ± 36°C after 80 min, at which time the connector with a 1 mm gap had only reached 97 ± 1°C. The addition of intumescent protection in a 6 mm gap case led to lower temperatures in the connection, in comparison to an equivalent tolerance gap without protection. Subsequently, two additional loaded fire tests were performed, for 6 mm and 22 mm tolerance gaps without fire protection, to investigate the critical failure mode of the connectors. In these cases, the failure occurred in the connectors at 87 min and 32 min, respectively, when their average temperatures reached approximately 315°C. This study demonstrates the critical influence of gap size on the fire performance of aluminium-wood joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The illegal harvest of timber and the subsequent production of charcoal have been contributing to the deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon and its degradation. Analysis of wood anatomy is a well-established tool used to detect illegally harvested wood and is commonly employed in the control of illegal forestry activities. This study aimed to contribute to a database used for the anatomical identification of wood and charcoal from tree species commonly harvested and marketed in the Amazon. The macro- and microscopic characteristics of wood and charcoal for 15 forest species were described. Characteristics that could be described in detail, such as vessel grouping, type of axial parenchyma, and in some cases, perforation plates and uniseriate rays, are fundamental to the identification of wood and charcoal that are illegally, or even legally, marketed. The study aids in the monitoring of the illegal marketing of wood and charcoal and will contribute to the construction of a database and reference collections that will be available for research, training, and use by forest managers, anatomists and anthracologists who study both wood and charcoal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the results of an experimental study on the use of three alternative components for creating artificial aggregates (AAs) (granules) and their usage in 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) are examined. This study combines AAs made from organic components like hemp shives (HSs), pyrolyzed coal (charcoal), waste/municipal solid waste incinerator bottom slag (BS), and a mix of a reference 3DPC with the aforementioned AAs. Particularly, to enhance these properties to make low-carbon 3DPC, in this research, the potential of using AAs as lightweight aggregates was increased to 14% in terms of the mass of the concrete. Each mix was tested in terms of its printability via a preliminary test in a 3D printing laboratory. For an additional comparison with the aforementioned cases, 3DPC was mixed with unprocessed hemp shives, charcoal, and BS. Furthermore, their strength was measured at 28 days, and lastly, their durability parameters and shrinkage were experimentally investigated. Cross-sections of the fragments were studied under a scanning electron microscope. In this study, we achieved improvements in the mechanical properties of AAs for their development and implementation as an innovative way to reduce carbon in 3DPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effect of activated charcoal on the single-dose pharmacokinetics of mavacamten when administered 2 h or 6 h after mavacamten dosing. Methods: In this open-label, randomized, parallel-group study, healthy adults were randomized into three groups to receive mavacamten 15 mg alone or mavacamten 15 mg plus activated charcoal 50 g administered either 2 h or 6 h after mavacamten dosing. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived from plasma concentration–time data using noncompartmental methods. Results: Of the 45 participants randomized, 37 completed the study. When activated charcoal was administered 2 h after mavacamten dosing, mavacamten absorption and exposure were reduced compared with when mavacamten was administered alone: the area under the concentration–time curve from 0 to 72 h (AUC0–72) and area under the concentration–time curve from time 0 extrapolated to infinity (AUCINF) were reduced by 14% and 34%, respectively. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was also slightly lower when activated charcoal was administered 2 h after mavacamten dosing than with mavacamten alone. Pharmacokinetic profiles were similar for mavacamten alone and mavacamten plus activated charcoal administered 6 h after mavacamten dosing. Conclusions: Activated charcoal was successful in reducing mavacamten absorption and exposure when administered as soon as possible after identification of a need for adsorption (2 h after mavacamten dosing). No change in exposure was observed when activated charcoal was administered 6 h after mavacamten dosing. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05320094 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are produced by incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuel, yet PAHs have been rarely analyzed in coastal sediment cores as a tracer for human activities before industrialization. The aim of this study was to assess if the historical trend of PAHs can be related to past human activities. To this end, we have determined the concentrations of PAHs in a 9 m-long sediment core from Osaka Bay, which records history of the last 2400 years. The concentration of PAHs before the beginning of the 17th century CE, the beginning of the peaceful Edo period, was consistently low (<100 ng g−1) and mainly comprised of smoke-derived PAHs reflecting the natural background. A relative higher abundance of 4−6 ring PAHs from the early 17th century CE and a higher PAH concentration from the early 18th century CE until approximately 1800 CE agreed with a population increase, Cu smelting activities and increasing combustion of charcoal. The constant PAH concentration until the late 19th century CE overlapped with a decline in the population in the Osaka area. An increasing PAH concentration from the late 19th century CE marked the beginning of industrialization in the Modern age. The peak in PAH concentration in 1945 CE was likely caused by burning of wooden structures due to air raids on Osaka City. A second peak around 1980 CE indicated the introduction of cleaner energies. We conclude that PAHs in coastal sediment cores can be used to reconstruct past human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypropylene has a wide range of applications in scientific research, industry, and production due to its excellent mechanical properties and chemical stability. However, owing to its low melt strength, inferior dimensional stability, and poor thermal stability, thus limiting its further application. Addressing this challenge, a series of polymer composites consisting of rice husk charcoal (RHC), modified using 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH560) as the silane coupling agent, and polypropylene (PP) have been fabricated by virtue of a melt blending process by us. Thermal behaviour, crystallization properties, mechanical properties, dimensional stability and microscopic morphology of PP/RHC composites are studied in detail. The results show that, when 20% modified RHC was added to the composites, it increased the initial decomposition temperature of PP by 130℃, which represents that we manufactured PP composites with better thermal properties by simple processing. The rheological performance tests showed that the addition of RHC increased the stiffness and dimensional stability of the composites, which is more conducive to the processing and moulding of the material. SEM indicated that KH560 can increase the compatibility of RHC with PP substrate, thus improving the performance of conforming materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the symbiotic potential of Jatropha curcas and Reutealis trisperma with two isolates of dark septate endophyte (DSE) fungi (Cladosporium sp. and Rhyzopycnis vagum) grown on gold mine tailings media based on their ability to remediate Pb and their morphological, physiological, and anatomical changes. The targeted plants were grown for 12 weeks on different media contained mixed soil and compost, gold mine tailings, and tailing with additional charcoal. The result showed that DSE inoculation increased the height of J. curcas up to 24.1% in contaminated soil compared to control treatment without DSE. All DSE fungi were able to colonize both root plant even under gold mine tailing treatment. DSE inoculation increased chlorophyll content of both plants ranging from 11% to 33% compared to the plants without DSE. Jatropha curcas inoculated with DSE had the potential to be used as phytoremediation plant with a phytoextraction mechanism indicated by higher translocation factor (TF) value. Meanwhile, the R. trisperma was able to be used for phytoremediation categorized as phytostabilization due to lower TF values. The results of this study highlighted the possible role of the DSE symbiotic with J. curcas and R. trisperma to improve the efficiency of phytoremediation in contaminated lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydrothermal earbon was prepared from waste turmeric residue, and its physicochemical structure was characterized by EPMA, FTIR, XRD and BET. The effects of hydrothermal carbon dosage, pH value, adsorption time and coexisting anions on Br removal from drinking water were studied by static adsorption method. The results showed that after adsorption for 60 min, the adsorption capacity of hydrothermal carbon to 5 mg/L Br was 5.51 mg/g, the removal rate was 55.12%, under the conditions of 25 °C, pH = 7 and 0.5 g/L of the dosage of hydrothermal carbon. The adsorption of Br by hydrothermal carbon fitted to Freundlich isothermal adsorption model, and its adsorption process could be better described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is one of the most important carbon-rich minerals with a porous structure in the carbon sequestration, immobilization of metal and organic contaminants, as well as soil fertility improvement. However, its large-scale use is very limited in the agriculture and environment, due to the high cost of production and transportation from agricultural biowaste to plant. In this study, a new technology was explored to directly convert from agricultural biowaste to biochar in the field. The local applications had significantly reduced the costs of biochar. Inspired by nature, biochar production was also proposed in the field, where only agricultural biowaste, water, and fire were required for biomass carbonization and charcoal formation; Specifically, Litchi branches sourced from subtropical regions were utilized as feedstock to explore an on-site production of biochar. Soil (Ferralsols) slurry was applied as a coating and quenching agent to create an oxygen-limited environment during fire-water coupled carbonization of the feedstock. This self-limiting oxidation approach was used to minimize the expenses of production, transportation, and utilization. Biochar that was produced with soil slurry coating and quenching also displayed the highest carbon content (83.5%) and carbon capture capacity (83.9%), exceeding unconverted biomass and biochar produced without coating by 16.7% and 37.8%, respectively. The burning process of Litchi branches was divided into three stages: 1) Surface was charred immediately but with an unburned core; 2) Surface was grayed out, while the core was in a self-ignition state with high temperature and limited oxygen, and the dark red char fell to the ground; and 3) The dark red char gradually burned out to be ash. Spraying water on the dark red char was used to prevent the occurrence of the 3rd stage, thus favoring the formation of biochar instead of ash. Furthermore, the soil coating likely acted as a barrier, thus reducing carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide release during combustion. Additionally, the soil integration was facilitated to form the mineral-carbon composite for the carbon capture. Scanning electron microscopy and energy spectroscopy analysis show that the regular structure of the carbon skeleton was observed after coating and quenching the iron-aluminum slurry. The iron-aluminum minerals were also loaded on the surface. A novel approach to carbonization accelerated a paradigm shift in biochar production from a sophisticated stationary facility to a simple way for practical use in the field. Low cost greatly contributed to the agricultural and environmental application of biochar. The economically viable combination of fire and soil (Ferralsols) slurry coupled carbonization can be expected to provide valuable insights for biochar adoption and carbon neutrality. In conclusion, the readily available agricultural residues and soil-based coatings can be integrated to mitigate the environmental impact of biochar production, in order to enhance the efficacy as a carbon capture. These findings can offer significant implications for the broader adoption of biochar as a sustainable solution, in order to promote climate and soil health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, which presents pollen, charcoal, and 'soot'-particle records from a lacustrine sediment core, the development of the cultural landscape around Lake Dalkarby träsk on the Åland Islands in Finland is scrutinised and discussed within a broad temporal setting in order to clarify the long-term interplay between the environment and human activities in this part of the archipelago. Special emphasis is given to the transition period from the Late Iron Age to medieval times due to the dominating humanistic discourse on the settlement dynamics in this region, as in the Åland archipelago in general, arguing for an approximately 150-years-long hiatus in habitation between these two periods, from AD 1050 to 1200. Our results do not support the hiatus theories but show a long and continuous history of the utilisation of land and forest resources starting from prehistoric times. The forests were first cleared with fire for slash-and-burn cultivation. Thereafter, structural diversity in the landscape started to increase. By 1240, the pollen data portrays a picture of a developed agrarian community with a subsistence economy based on arable farming and animal husbandry in which hemp seems to play a substantial part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the sustainable development of forest ecosystems in Mkushi district, Zambia, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15, "Life on Land." Sustainable development aims to use natural resources responsibly to meet future needs without compromising environmental, social, and economic balance. The United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, encompassing 17 goals, including SDG 15, underscores the critical role forests play in global sustainability. Our results from remote sensing and literature reviews revealed fluctuating vegetation health in Mkushi, with the NDVI indicating periods of stress and recovery. Efforts by the government and stakeholders include beekeeping and conservation agriculture training, forest patrols, and policy implementations, covering over 121,464 hectares. However, survey results indicated persistent challenges undermining these efforts, highlighting charcoal production has been highest (46%), followed by unsustainable land use (28%), inadequate law enforcement (17%), lack of awareness (6%), and other issues (3%). This study can serve as a reference for policy-makers and regulators to make effective policies on the management of forests in a more sustainable way in Mkushi district and other regions of Zambia with similar challenges and the world at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction of hematite present in the oxidized Fe-Ti-V ore to magnetite was carried out to use this ore in existing processes. One of the first steps in obtaining vanadium is the magnetic separation process, and the oxidized ore exhibits no magnetism. The creation of a reducing atmosphere using air and charcoal at four temperatures (400–700°C) was studied, resulting in an economically viable industrial process. Efficient reduction of hematite to magnetite was achieved at 400°C within 3 h. ICP OES determined the percentage of V 0.40%. After reduction, XRD showed that the entire hematite fraction became magnetite. The experimental data for kinetics were the first-order model, obtaining the apparent activation energy value equal to 15.8 kJ mol−1 and the pre-exponential coefficient equal to 0.49 min−1. Magnetic separation in a low-intensity field, 1500 G, of the reduced ore generated two fractions, the magnetic fraction, which concentrated 90.7% of the V present in the oxidized Fe-Ti-V ore, and the non-magnetic fraction with ilmenite (FeTiO3) and rutile (TiO2). It is important that it does not form vanadium carbide (VC) during the reduction of the ore. Vanadium ore can now be used in the process already applied in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising technology for recovering energy in wastewater through bacterial metabolism. However, it always suffers from low power density and electron transfer efficiency, restricting the application. This study fabricated the MnCo2S4–Co4S3/bamboo charcoal (MCS-CS/BC) through an easy one-step hydrothermal method, and the material was applied to carbon felt (CF) to form high-performance MFC anode. MCS-CS/BC-CF anode exhibited lower Rct (10.1 Ω) than BC-CF (17.24 Ω) and CF anode (116.1 Ω), exhibiting higher electrochemical activity. MCS-CS/BC-CF anode promoted the electron transfer rate and resulted in enhanced power density, which was 9.27 times higher (980 mW m−2) than the bare CF (105.7 mW m−2). MCS-CS/BC-CF anode showed the best biocompatibility which attracted distinctly larger biomass (146.27 mg/μL) than CF (20 mg/μL) and BC-CF anode (20.1 mg/μL). The typical exoelectrogens (Geobacter and etc.) took dramatically higher proportion on MCS-CS/BC-CF anode (59.78%) than CF (2.99%) and BC-CF anode (26.67%). In addition, MCS-CS/BC stimulated the synergistic effect between exoelectrogens and fermentative bacteria, greatly favouring the extracellular electron transfer rate between bacteria and the anode and the power output. This study presented an efficient way of high-performance anode electrocatalyst fabrication for stimulating MFC power generation, giving suggestions for high-efficient energy recovery from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arcos: Design, Cultura e Visualidade is the property of Editora da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (EdUERJ) 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.)

Background: Sustainable rangeland management balances production and conservation. While a broad literature describesthe conservation benefits of prescribed fire, benefits for livestock production have emerged more slowly. Mineral nutrition is important for livestock health and performance, but the impact of prescribed fire on mineral concentration of forages, especially in the northern US Great Plains, remains unknown. Aims: We investigated how burning affects the mineral concentration of forage early and late in the growing season. Methods: Data were collected on mixed-grass prairie in south-central North Dakota, USA. Vegetation was clipped from recently burned, 1 year post-fire, 2 years post-fire, and not-yet-burned patches at the same sampling points in spring and late summer. Samples were analysed for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc concentration. Key results: Burning increased forage mineral concentration across most minerals. Phosphorous, potassium, copper and zinc were higher in burned areas in late spring and summer; calcium, magnesium and manganese were only higher during the late summer; Late-season iron levels increased with time since fire. Conclusions: Prescribed fire has a positive effect on forage mineral content. Implications: Prescribed fire has the potential to reduce mineral supplementation costs and improve cow performance. Prescribed fire has a positive effect on forage mineral content and has the potential to reduce mineral supplementation costs and improve cow performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of antibiotic wastewater, which is known for its micro-toxicity, inhibition, and poor biochemistry, poses significant challenges, including complex processes, high energy demands, and secondary pollution. Bio-Fenton, a novel Fenton technology, enables the in situ production of H2O2 at near-neutral pH, having low energy requirements and sustainable properties, and reduces the hazards of H2O2 transportation and storage. We preliminary self-designed a heterogeneous Bio-Fenton reactor. An aerobic SBBR system with pure algae, pure bacteria, and bacteria–algae symbiosis was first constructed to investigate the optimal process conditions through the effects of carbon source concentration, light duration, bamboo charcoal filling rate, and dissolved oxygen (DO) content on the H2O2 production and COD removal. Second, the reactor was constructed by adding iron-carrying catalysts to remove ROX and SDZ wastewater. The results demonstrated that the optimal operating parameters of aerobic SBBR were an influent carbon source concentration of 500 mg/L, a water temperature of 20 ± 2 °C, pH = 7.5, a dissolved oxygen content of 5 mg/L, a light–dark ratio of 12 h:12 h, a light intensity of 2500 Lux, an HRT of 10 h, and a bamboo charcoal filling rate of 33%. Given these conditions, the bacterial–algal system was comprehensively found to be the most suitable biosystem for this experiment. Ultimately, the dynamically coupled Bio-Fenton process succeeded in the preliminary removal of 41.32% and 42.22% of the ROX and SDZ from wastewater, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiocarbon dates from alluvial sections provide maximum deposit ages because of the time lag between formation of the dated material and deposition at the sample site, potentially producing decade‐ to century‐long biases in the dates of historic events, paleoclimatic change, fire histories, and paleoearthquakes. This bias, called the inherited age, combines the inbuilt age distribution, which reflects the age composition of the vegetation of the source area, and the residence time distribution, which includes transport and interim storage prior to final deposition. We tackle inherited age and its components by comparing charcoal dates from two modern fires in southern California, the 2020 Bobcat Fire and the 2013 Grand Fire, with a well‐dated late Holocene terrace deposit in the Pallett Creek watershed. Fifty‐six radiocarbon dates from the modern fires provide an inbuilt age distribution with a median of 25 years pre‐fire (320‐year 95% range). An inherited age distribution calculated from 175 terrace deposit dates is older, with a median age of ~90 years (850‐year 95% range). Comparing inherited ages calculated from organic‐rich versus clastic terrace deposits reveals a slight facies dependence suggesting longer residence times in clastic deposits. We develop a modeled inherited age that incorporates larger calibration uncertainties in pre‐1950s samples by combining the modern fire sample distribution with the pre‐bomb portion of the calibration curve. The modeled inherited age is younger than the terrace deposit inherited age by only 21 years, indicating inbuilt age, not long residence times, dominates inherited age in this setting. The results imply that paleoearthquakes and climatic event age estimates in the Western Transverse Ranges are up to a century too old. More broadly, dating charcoal from modern fires can constrain inherited age and the resulting distributions can improve the accuracy of dates of past environmental and tectonic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use air pollution exposure measurements and household survey data from four studies conducted across three countries in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) to analyze the association between carbon monoxide (CO) exposure from cooking with biomass and indicators of cognitive impairment. While there is strong evidence on the relationship between ambient air pollution exposure and cognitive impairment from studies in high‐income countries, relatively little research has focused on household air pollution (HAP) in low‐income country settings where risks of HAP exposure are high. This study is the first to our knowledge to focus on the association between HAP exposure (specifically CO exposure) and cognitive impairment across diverse settings in SSA. We use 24‐hour measurements of primary cooks' exposure to CO across four study sites: urban Zambia (n = 493); urban Malawi (n = 130); rural Malawi (n = 102); and urban Rwanda (n = 2,576). We model the estimated percent carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) of cooks and map values to a toxicological profile for risk of cognitive impairment. We find that across all study settings, cooks' average %COHb levels are below levels of daily concern, but that cooks who use charcoal for preparing greater than 40% of meals are more likely to spend additional time at higher levels of risk. For the urban Zambia sample, we compare %COHb and frequency of charcoal use to a series of cognitive test scores and find no consistent relationships between %COHb and cognitive test scores. High levels of daily CO exposure from cooks across SSA highlight the potential for longer‐term negative cognitive (and other) health outcomes motivating additional research and efforts to characterize and mitigate risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction of valuables from waste has gained momentum. Thermal influence alters both the organic and inorganic components of coal. Insufficient knowledge on the association of rare earth elements (REEs) with the parent matrix of thermally altered high-ash coals (63% ash) limits the potential for such coals being utilized for isolation of valuables. In this study, we analyzed the distribution and occurrence modes of REEs within a magmatically altered high-ash coal via nine-step sequential extraction, combining Tessier and BCR methods. The total concentration of REEs in the coal sample, on whole coal basis, was found to be 820 ppm, which is significantly higher than the world average. Major mineral oxides were deduced to be those of Si, Fe, Al, Ca, Mg, and Ti. Sequential extraction confirmed that about 66% of HREE and 25% of LREE were included in the residual fraction. LREEs were concluded to be primarily in ionic form, whereas HREEs were speculated to be associated with the TiO2 phase. XRD analyses showed that thermal alteration affected the dolomite phase specifically, which selectively got removed where carbonate-bound elements were assessed. Petrographic analysis supported the magmatic influence and demonstrated the presence of mosaic structures and pores containing unfused vitrinite, with a reflectance value of 3.6. To summarize, the present study pertaining to delineation of association of valuables in high-ash heat-altered coals from an Eastern coalfield in India can potentially open up new avenues for utilizing such coals, which are otherwise considered waste. Article Highlights: A nine-step sequential chemical leaching process employing eco-friendly lixiviants was implemented to delineate the mineralogical associations in high-ash heat altered coal of Indian origin. Dolomite was completely eradicated at the complexation stage implying alteration of this mineral phase due to magmatic influence. LREEs were concluded to be present primarily in the ionic form while HREEs were strongly associated with anatase phase. Petrographic analysis revealed presence of mosaic structures with porous morphology containing un-fused vitrinite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating archaeobotanical data from over 3.9 million seeds and 124,300 charcoal fragments across 330 archaeological site phases in Southwest Asia, we reconstruct the history of olive and grape cultivation spanning a period of 6,000 years. Combining charcoal and seed data enables investigation into both the production and consumption of olive and grape. The earliest indication for olive and grape cultivation appears in the southern Levant around ca. 5000 BC and 4th millennium BC respectively, although cultivation may have been practiced prior to these dates. Olive and grape cultivation in Southwest Asia was regionally concentrated within the Levant until 600 BC, although there were periodic pushes to the East. Several indications for climate influencing the history of olive and grape cultivation were found, as well as a correlation between periods of high population density and high proportions of olive and grape remains in archaeological sites. While temporal uncertainty prevents a detailed understanding of the causal mechanisms behind these correlations, we suggest that long distance trade in olives, grapes and their associated products was integral to the economic, social, and demographic trajectories of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Holocene calcareous tufa deposits are located in the north-central sector of the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. These deposits outcrop on the Upper Jurassic Chipoco Formation in the Molango Manganese District. Calcareous tufa deposits correspond to carbonate formations of inactive tufas disconnected from the current hydrological network. To better understand the textural, geochemical, and biological characteristics and environmental conditions during their formation, a detailed study involving field analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, and morphometric analysis with light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy was carried out. Similarly, 14C analysis was undertaken to determine the age of the deposit. On this basis, two biofacies were defined, one with stem structures and the other with Phyto clasts, bryophytes (Plagiomnium cuspidatum), and copepods, limited both at the base and the top by lenticular-shaped erosive surfaces and sigmoidal clinoforms. These bio facies formed in lacustrine and paludal environments, and barrier waterfalls. From a geomorphological point of view, the accumulations of these calcareous tufas originated on slopes and/or at the foot of karstic springs, where the accumulation of material originated from the height of the spring with respect to the bottom of the valley, giving rise to a set of stepped tuffaceous plains with a wedge-shaped profile, colonized by important masses of bryophyte mounds, copepods, and vascular plants. This suggests a swampy environment where sedimentation took place in shallow water accumulations, where there is clear evidence of exposure and pedogenetic modification, indicating wet and dry episodes that translate into seasonal fluctuations in the water table. Six mineral phases were observed including silicates, carbonates and arsenates. The 14C analysis indicates that the plant found in the charcoal sample within the calcareous tufa deposit is of Holocene age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis is one of the most promising pathways to relieve the environmental contamination caused by the rapid development of modern technology. In this work, we demonstrate a green manufacturing process for the 3D/3D rod-shaped bamboo charcoal/Bi2WO6 photocatalyst (210BC-BWO) by controlled carbonization temperature. A series of morphology characterization and properties investigations (XRD, SEM, UV–vis DRS, transient photocurrent response, N2 absorption-desorption isotherms) indicate a 210BC-BWO photocatalyst with higher charge separation efficiency, larger surface area, and better adsorption capacity. The excellent photocatalytic performance was evaluated by degrading rhodamine B (RhB) (98.5%), tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) (77.1%), and H2 evolution (2833 μmol·g−1·h−1) coupled with furfuryl alcohol oxidation (3097 μmol·g−1·h−1) under visible light irradiation. In addition, the possible mechanisms for degradation of organic pollutants, H2 evolution, and furfuryl alcohol oxidation were schematically investigated, which make it possible to exert photocatalysis by increasing the active radical. This study shows that the combination of bamboo charcoal and bismuth tungstate can be a powerful photocatalyst that rationally combines H2 evolution coupled with furfuryl alcohol oxidation and degradation of pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are few reports on drug use in patients while hospitalised and none regarding management or clinical outcomes. Aims: To describe cases of drug use by inpatients requiring an urgent clinical response. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed cases at a teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, from February 2019 to March 2021. Results: Thirty cases were identified, with no deaths. Two patient groups were identified: (i) substance use disorders, using illicit drugs and (ii) self‐harm history, using prescribed or over‐the‐counter drugs. Management involved cardiac monitoring (40%), intensive care (30%), charcoal (20%), antidotes (20%) and intubation (13%). Discharge was planned in 22 of 30 patients, against medical advice in four and directed by medical staff in four. Conclusions: Inpatient drug use requiring an urgent clinical response was infrequently recognised but presents a risk of harm to patients and staff and increases service utilisation and costs. Both harm reduction and systematic approaches guided by institutional policy are recommended. Using these events as reachable moments to address driving factors may modify patients' risk from future events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Landsat-8 nighttime OLI data can map nighttime high-temperature anomalies (N-HTAs). • N-HTAs were detected/classified using object-oriented and deep-learning methods. • Different types of N-HTAs were analyzed over the contiguous United States (CONUS). • Gas flaring dominates the 30-m CONUS industrial N-HTA inventory derived from OLI data. • Fires from living sources dominate all N-HTAs in CONUS and have a holiday effect. Identifying and characterizing the distribution, abundance, and structural composition of national high-temperature anomalies (HTAs) are essential for mitigating natural disasters, regulating industrial emissions, and assessing societal impacts. The Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) provides a unique capability for monitoring nighttime HTAs (N-HTAs) at high spatial resolutions without contamination from reflected solar radiation. However, the extraction of N-HTAs from nighttime OLI imagery poses significant challenges due to the interference of bright up-light, especially for smaller and cooler hotspots, and the absence of spectral information on backgrounds complicates the classification of N-HTAs at night. Here, we explored the background noise characteristics of Bands 2–7 in nighttime OLI imagery and developed an object-oriented approach for the enhanced detection of small and cool N-HTAs. Furthermore, we introduced a deep learning model that leverages high-resolution aerial imagery and land cover data to categorize N-HTAs into industrial sources, living sources, vegetation fires, and others. Applying these methodologies to nighttime OLI imagery from 2013 to 2020 allowed us to map and classify N-HTAs across the contiguous United States (CONUS), facilitating the creation of a detailed spatiotemporal inventory of industrial N-HTAs. Our analysis revealed that N-HTAs from living sources dominate the total N-HTAs, with a pronounced holiday effect, and gas flaring activities in oil and gas development areas account for >85 % of industrial N-HTAs. The outcomes of this national-scale investigation underscore the significant potential and practical utility of nighttime OLI imagery for N-HTA monitoring and advocate for expanding the spatial and temporal coverage of nighttime OLI observations globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planted forests are in the utilisation phase in Japan, contributing to the increased use of timber and the realisation of carbon neutrality. We simulated and compared the carbon emission reduction effects of three forest management scenarios, including a no final cutting scenario at two geographical scales, in the context of a privately owned Cryptomeria japonica planted forest in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. We adopted two substitution approaches: the status quo approach and the dynamic approach in line with Japan's nationally determined contribution. We used hypothetical stands over three rotation periods of 150 years at the stand level, and a harvest schedule of 120 years at the regional level. The harvesting scenarios based on the status quo substitution approach reduced carbon emissions more than the no final cutting scenario for current wood usage at the study site, although those based on the dynamic substitution approach reduced carbon emissions as much as the no final cutting scenario during the first 30 years. Sustainable timber production from forests may reduce carbon emissions as much as unharvested forests until 2050, indicating that the substitution effects of harvested wood products could have a significant impact on the climate change mitigation effect arising from timber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this research were to determine the influence of crude palm oil liquid waste as an adhesive in the making of biobriquettes from coconut shell and husk charcoal and to determine the best treatment in the making of biobriquettes. This study used a completely randomized design. The treatments were the ratio of the liquid waste of crude palm oil, coconut shell, and husk charcoal, with a ratio of 10%: 90%; 20%: 80%; 30%: 70%; and 40%: 60%. The analyses carried out on the biobriquettes were moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, calorific value, and burning rate. The ratio of the liquid waste of crude palm oil, coconut shell, and husk charcoal had a significant effect on the biobriquettes. The analysis refers to the National Standard of Indonesia (SNI), and the best result was the ratio of 10%: 90% with moisture content 3.16%, ash content 15.66%, volatile matter 23.97%, calorific value 5,950 cal/gr, and burning rate 0.1744 gr/minute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combustion of biomass, including charcoal releases harmful pollutants that not merely contribute to household and outdoor air pollution, particularly in rural regions, but also imposes significant risks on human health. Due to the rising concerns on the increasing severity of environmental pollution, some countries have established benchmarks on pollutant emissions based on governmental health guidelines. In this paper, a numerical study of thermal performance and emissions was performed in a digital charcoal stove model using the commercial software ANSYS Fluent 2024 R1. The main objective of this study is to comprehend the effect of the variation of air inlet velocity on determining the optimum operating conditions. A 2D digital charcoal stove was constructed and non-premixed combustion model was employed for simulating the data. Variation of the amount of emissions was performed by changing the velocity of air inlet, (0.02-0.045m/s) while maintaining a constant fuel inlet velocity of 0.04m/s, under air and fuel temperatures (300 and 400K). The results showed a decreasing trend in maximum mass fraction of CO2 with increasing air inlet velocity up to 0.045m/s, then remained stable. Additionally, at an air inlet velocity of 0.02m/s, the stove achieved a maximum temperature of 1820K and the lowest CO/CO2 ratio, showing that this condition is optimal as it provided the highest combustion efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world. However, it has natural resources, and if they are managed under sustainable development principles, it can overcome its current problems. In the present socio-economic status, soil is one of its most important resources and must be protected from pollution and degradation. This review identifies and discusses the main soil quality stressors, namely soil fertility; deforestation and its sources: agriculture, timber harvesting, charcoal production, and uncontrolled fires; mining activities, manly gold artisanal explorations, and industrial open-pit coal mining; and solid wastes management. The sustainable use of natural resources is mandatory for future generations to continue to profit from this nature-based wealth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kastro peninsula constitutes the extension towards the West of Myrina, the Lemnos capital, on the western coast of the island, in the North Aegean Sea. The ongoing research project on rock-cut features and rock-art of this complex site included a five-year (2002–2007) subsurface investigation, during which, among other mobile finds, charcoal and seashell samples were also collected, associated in situ to rock-cut features. Subsequently, in an attempt to bring about information on the dating of the rock-cut site, an investigation based on 14C has also been undertaken. Therefore, the purpose of the present paper is the AMS dating of the unearthed anthropogenic deposits and the calculation of the regional marine reservoir effect during the end of the Late Bronze Age. Our results show that the age of the deposits is spanning from the 13th century BC till the 6th century AD. Moreover, the 14C ages of two pairs of charcoal-seashell samples showed that the mean marine reservoir age R(t) in this region from the 13th to the 10th centuries BC is 175 ± 59 14C yrs and the mean local sea surface reservoir deviation ΔR is found to be –288 ± 108 14C yrs (within 1σ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the approach used to identify the most relevant chronological information on the historic development of the abandoned site of AlUla Old Town, in the northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Western Asia). The approach is based on the use of the radiocarbon method to date earth mortars samples and soil layers used to create the constructive sequence of some buildings and, in turn, the chronological evolution of the site. Eleven samples of organic material (i.e., charcoal and vegetable fibers) were carefully removed from mortar samples and soil levels from six buildings and structures in the northern and southern areas of the town. Buildings and soil layers were chosen for their stratigraphic relevance and conservation conditions, based on an initial archaeological analysis of both, buildings and underground structures. Laboratory-based mortar analysis led to the characterization of the mortar's inorganic fraction, and to the isolation of the organic material for the radiocarbon dating. Results from the accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) laboratory provides evidence of a Late Mamluk/Early Ottoman constructive phase (i.e., 15th–17th c. AD) of the Old Town that was only partially known until very recently. Furthermore, the results allowed the identification of an Ottoman phase (i.e., 17th–19th c. AD) during which most of the buildings and structures were rebuilt, and of a Late Ottoman phase (i.e., 19th–20th c. AD) representing the most recent interventions before the end of the Ottoman occupation of the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging pollutant octocrylene is not efficiently removed from effluents by conventional treatment and is recurrently found in rivers. This study evaluated the adsorption of octocrylene using commercial carbon and biochar from spent coffee grounds activated with ZnCl2. The two adsorbents had an efficiency of approximately 100% in pollutant removal throughout the experimental design. The kinetics and equilibrium isotherms showed a good correlation with the experimental data. The kinetics showed adsorption of the contaminant in 40 min for both adsorbents. The model equilibrium isotherms with the best fit and adsorption capacity was Langmuir for biochar, with a capacity of 37.822 ± 0.005 µg∙mg−1 compared to 33.602 ± 0.202 µg∙mg−1 for commercial carbon. Furthermore, a toxicity analysis of a 600 µg∙L−1 octocrylene solution was carried out before and after adsorption with the two charcoals separately, using Allium cepa roots. Before adsorption, the solution was phytotoxic and cytogenotoxic. After adsorption, the solution obtained for each charcoal no longer caused toxicity to the roots. The charcoals tested had high removal efficiency and adsorption capacity, a condition reiterated by the toxicity results. However, biochar better represented the Langmuir model in the adsorption process when removing octocrylene from the aqueous medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change and international conflicts, poses significant challenges to maize production. Research has shown that interventions like plant charcoal, superabsorbent polymers, and anti-transpiration agents can mitigate water stress effects, enhancing maize growth indicators. Therefore, the experiment was conducted in the fields of the Department of Field Crops, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, in the spring season of 2022. The aim of the experiment was to increase the growth indicators of maize leaves exposed to water reduction levels using polymer, charcoal, and antiperspirant. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a split-plot arrangement with three replicates. The main plots were occupied by water reduction levels (0, 25 and 50%), while the subplots were occupied by the additives: sodium acrylate, biochar, antiperspirant, charcoal + antiperspirant, acrylate + antiperspirant, acrylate + charcoal + antiperspirant, and control. The charcoal treatment was able to join the binary and ternary treatments to give a significant increase over the other treatments in the number of leaves. In the weight of leaves, the acrylate + antiperspirant treatment was behind them, and they remained significantly superior. There was no significant difference observed among treatments in leaf area. However, the antiperspirant treatment exhibited the lowest percentage of leaf water loss, significantly differing from all other treatments. Additionally, the antiperspirant treatment consistently demonstrated the highest relative water content across all treatments in which it was applied, a trend similar to charcoal treatments. As for the interaction between the two factors of the study, it appeared that there was no significant difference in the charcoal + antiperspirant treatment at the levels of 0 and 25%, but the decrease became significant at the level of 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a scalable ultra-rich carbonization process in counter-current packed bed (CCPB) for synthesizing biochar/charcoal with a yield of more than 33% and fuel consumption rate of more than 200 g/m2s (which is at least 2 times more than the maximum achievable with conventional gasification) from coconut shells (CS). The novelty of the process lies in the use of reactant pre-heating to slightly below the devolatilization temperature of CS as a strategy to achieve steady and controlled conversion of CS to biochar/charcoal. The basis for this idea is that the ignition time (tig) of biomass particles decreases significantly with pre-heating while the time for devolatilization (tv) remains more or less the same. Single particle experiments with CS as fuel and atmospheric air as oxidizer show that tv/tig increases from 1.3 to 7.7 with a corresponding increase in pre-heating temperature Ti from 30 to 170 ∘C. The bed operation, in terms of flame propagation, equivalence ratio, and charcoal yield, with pre-heating to slightly below devolatilization temperature in CCPB systems, shows several interesting behaviors not observed in traditional gasifier systems. Two prominent examples of such behaviors are steady flame propagation under extremely rich conditions (volatile equivalence ratio, ϕv > 10) and reduction in peak bed temperature (Tpb) well below 600 ∘C. The biochar yield of the developed process is at least ∼ 25% more than traditional CCPB gasification system. The feedstock flexibility, self-sustainability, and scalability of the developed process are also brought out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its perceived historical rarity, fire is an important disturbance in tropical rainforests. Very large rainforest fires have been observed multiple times in recent decades, often during years of strong El Niño‐Southern Oscillation droughts. Fire in rainforest has major short‐term consequences for humans and wildlife by converting forest to fire‐prone fern, shrub, and grass, but the long‐term effects remain to be seen. Borneo's indigenous groups have been using fire to clear land for centuries, yet the prevalence and spatial patterns of premodern fire across forest types in Borneo are not well understood. This research set out to reconstruct fire in a 1500‐ha primary rainforest spanning 800 m of elevation in Indonesian Borneo with the goal of elucidating the role humans have played in rainforest fire. We found that humans played an important role in the occurrence of fire in recent centuries. Evidence of fire—charcoal >2 mm—is more abundant in forest types where humans would be more likely to live and/or practice swidden agriculture. However, pyrogenic material is ubiquitous across the study area, showing that all forest types have experienced fire. A set of 50 radiocarbon dates showed that in lowland areas—where human‐caused fire is most likely—fire occurred throughout the last 3200 years, peaking 1300–1600 ce. The upland areas lacked evidence of fire before 1250 ce but otherwise had a similar pattern to the lowlands. The period of high fire coincides with regional demographic changes as well as regional droughts documented elsewhere in Southeast Asia. In upland areas, fires likely burned only under regional drought when fires could more easily spread upslope. Although forest plot studies at this site show little structural evidence of past fires, tree diversity is lower than expected in the most burned areas (alluvial benches). Thus, our results suggest that land clearance was a major source of fire, but the current intact state of these rainforests indicates that they were largely resilient to fires and land use hundreds of years ago. Recent fires mirror patterns of fire spread that occurred hundreds of years ago, though their severity and extent are likely much greater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]