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Microcapsules are being used in textile substrates increasingly more frequently, availing a wide spectrum of possibilities that are relevant to future research trends. Biofunctional Textiles is a new field that should be carefully studied, especially when dealing with microencapsulated essential oils. In the final step, when the active principle is delivered, there are some possibilities to quantify and simulate its doses on the skin or in the environment. At that stage, there is a phenomenon that can help to better control the delivery and the reservoir effect of the textile substrate. Depending on the chemical characteristics of the molecule to be delivered, as well as the structure and chemical nature of the fabric where it has been applied, there is physicochemical retention exerted by fibers that strongly controls the final rate of principle active delivery to the external part of the textile substrate. The study of this type of effect in two different substrates (cotton and polyester) will be described here regarding two different essential oils microencapsulated and applied to the substrates using padding technology. The experimental results of the final drug delivery demonstrate this reservoir effect in both essential oils, Postprint (published version)

A hydrophobic and lipophilic cotton fabric based on mussel-inspired chemistry was developed to improve surface durability. The surface morphology and wettability of the modified fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis, and contact angle measurement. The water contact angle and surface wettability analysis showed that the modified cotton fabric had a water contact angle of 154.9°, and the modified cotton fabric could be driven by gravity to separate the mixture of oil and water and had good separation efficiency for different types of oil and water mixtures, which was equal to or greater than 97% on average. In addition, the oil/water separation flux could be controlled by adjusting the pore size of the modified fabric, The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Science and Technology Project of Keqiao District, Shaoxing City (Grant No. 2022JBGS111), and the International Science and Technology Cooperation Project of Shaoxing University (Grant No. 2019LGGH1004), Postprint (author's final draft)

Very recently, the controlled release of dopamine (DA), a neurotransmitter whose deficiency is associated with Parkinson's disease, has been postulated as a good alternative to the oral administration of levodopa (L-Dopa), a dopamine precursor, to combat the effects of said disease. However, this is still a very little explored field and there are very few carriers that are capable of releasing DA, a small and water-soluble molecule, in an efficient and controlled manner. In this work, we report a carrier based on a conductive hydrogel capable of loading DA and releasing it progressively and efficiently (100 % release) in a period of five days by applying small electrical stimuli (–0.4 V) daily for a short time (1 min). The hydrogel (CMC/PEDOT), which is electrically active, has been prepared from sodium carboxymethylcellulose and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) microparticles, using citric acid as a cross-linking agent. Furthermore, the results have shown that when relatively hydrophobic small molecules, such as chloramphenicol, are loaded, the electrostimulated release is significantly less efficient, demonstrating the usefulness of CMC/PEDOT as a carrier for neurotransmitters., Postprint (author's final draft)

Polypropylene (PP), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) and polylactic acid (PLA) 3D printed specimens, which are intrinsically non-electroresponsive materials, have been converted into electroresponsive electrodes applying a low-pressure oxygen plasma treatment. After complete chemical, morphological and electrochemical characterization, plasma treated samples have been applied as integrated electrochemical sensors for detecting dopamine and serotonin by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Results show differences in the sensing behavior, which have been explained on the basis of the chemical structure of the pristine materials. While plasma treated PLA exhibits the highest performance as electrochemical sensor in terms of sensitivity (lowest limits of detection and quantification) and selectivity (against uric acid and ascorbic acid as interfering substances), plasma treated PP displays the poorest behavior due to its low polarity compared to PLA 3D-printed electrodes. Instead, plasma treated TPU and PETG shows a very good response, much closer to PLA, as sensitive electrodes towards neurotransmitter molecules (dopamine and serotonin). Overall, results open a new door for the fabrication of electrochemical conductive sensors using intrinsically insulating materials, without the need of chemical functionalization processes., Postprint (author's final draft)

Los hidrogeles, reconocidos por su biocompatibilidad y versátiles propiedades, se presentan como materiales prometedores en diversas aplicaciones biomédicas. Este estudio se centra en la síntesis y caracterización de redes interpenetradas de hidrogeles de Alg-g-PAA, explorando su comportamiento al combinarse con polímeros conductores como poli (3,4-etilendioxitiofeno) (PEDOT), polianilina (PANI) y polipirrol (PPy). La investigación se adentra en comprender cómo la incorporación de estos polímeros conductores influye en las propiedades estructurales y funcionales de la matriz de hidrogel. El proceso de síntesis implica el entrecruzamiento de alginato (Alg) y ácido poliacrílico (PAA) para formar los hidrogeles de Alg-g-PAA. Estos hidrogeles, conocidos por su capacidad de absorber y retener agua, sirven como la matriz base. Posteriormente, se combinan con polímeros conductores para crear materiales compuestos que fusionan las propiedades deseables de los hidrogeles con la conductividad proporcionada por los polímeros añadidos. Se emplean técnicas de caracterización, incluyendo análisis espectroscópicos (como FTIR), microscopía electrónica (SEM) para investigar las propiedades estructurales y morfológicas de los hidrogeles interpenetrados resultantes. El estudio busca analizar cómo la adición de polímeros conductores modula la porosidad, el comportamiento de hinchamiento y la conductividad de la red de hidrogel. Comprender estas alteraciones es crucial para adaptar las propiedades de los hidrogeles, especialmente como andamios para ingeniería de tejidos o sistemas de liberación de fármacos, donde la biocompatibilidad y la conductividad eléctrica desempeñan roles fundamentales. Al dilucidar el impacto de la incorporación de polímeros conductores en los hidrogeles de Alg-g-PAA, esta investigación busca crear hidrogeles interpenetrados conductores con propiedades mejoradas y adecuadas para diversas aplicaciones biomédicas. A través de una caracterización integral, este est, Els hidrogels, reconeguts per la seva biocompatibilitat i propietats adaptables, es presenten com a materials prometedors en diverses aplicacions biomèdiques. Aquest estudi es centra en la síntesi i caracterització de xarxes interpenetrades d'hidrogels d'Alg-g-PAA, explorant el seu comportament en combinar-se amb polímers conductors com ara el poli (3,4-etilèndiòxitiofè) (PEDOT), polianilina (PANI) i polipirrol (PPy). La recerca s'endinsa en comprendre com la incorporació d'aquests polímers conductors influeix en les propietats estructurals i funcionals de la matriu d'hidrogel. El procés de síntesi implica la entrecruzament d'algí (Alg) i àcid poliacrílic (PAA) per formar els hidrogels d'Alg-g-PAA. Aquests hidrogels, coneguts per la seva capacitat d'absorbir i retenir aigua, serveixen com a matriu base. Posteriorment, es combinen amb polímers conductors per crear materials compostos que fusionen les propietats desitjables dels hidrogels amb la conductivitat proporcionada pels polímers afegits. S'empren tècniques de caracterització, incloent-hi anàlisi espectroscòpica (com ara FTIR), microscòpia electrònica (SEM) per investigar les propietats estructurals, morfològiques i mecàniques dels hidrogels interpenetrats resultants. L'estudi busca analitzar com l'addició de polímers conductors modula la porositat, el comportament d'inchament, la resistència mecànica i la conductivitat de la xarxa d'hidrogel. Comprendre aquestes alteracions és crucial per adaptar les propietats dels hidrogels, especialment en andamis per a enginyeria de teixits o sistemes de lliberació de fàrmacs, on la biocompatibilitat i la conductivitat elèctrica juguen un paper fonamental. En dilucidar l'impacte de la incorporació de polímers conductors en els hidrogels d'Alg-g-PAA, aquesta recerca busca crear hidrogels interpenetrats conductors amb propietats millorades adients per a diverses aplicacions biomèdiques. Mitjançant una caracterització integral, aquest estudi esforça per obrir camí en el disse, Hydrogels, renowned for their biocompatibility and tuneable properties, serve as promising materials in various biomedical applications. This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of interpenetrating networks of Alg-g-PAA hydrogels, exploring their behaviour when combined with conductive polymers like poly (3,4 – ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT), polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPy). The investigation delves into understanding how the incorporation of these conductive polymers influences the structural and functional properties of the hydrogel matrix. The synthesis process involves crosslinking alginate (Alg) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) to form the Alg-gPAA hydrogels. These hydrogels, known for their capacity to absorb and retain water, serve as the base matrix. Subsequently, they are combined with conductive polymers to create composite materials that merge the desirable properties of hydrogels with the conductivity provided by the added polymers. Characterization techniques, including spectroscopic analysis (e.g., FTIR), electron microscopy (SEM), are employed to investigate the structural, morphological, and mechanical properties of the resulting interpenetrated hydrogels. The study aims to scrutinize how the addition of conductive polymers modulates the porosity, swelling behavior, mechanical strength, and conductivity of the hydrogel network. Understanding these alterations is pivotal for tailoring hydrogel properties, especially as tissue engineering scaffolds or drug delivery systems, where both biocompatibility and electrical conductivity play critical roles. By elucidating the impact of incorporating conductive polymers into Alg-g-PAA hydrogels, this research aims to create conductive interpenetrated hydrogels with enhanced properties suitable for diverse biomedical applications. Through comprehensive characterization, this study endeavours to pave the way for designing tailored hydrogel systems that exhibit improved functionality, broadeni

As a result of the Kakhovka dam explosion, a huge area of soil was contaminated with toxic organic waste of various origins. The sustainability of soil ecosystems affected by floods requires effective approaches to eliminate the consequences as quickly as possible. Therefore, the goal of this work was to study the efficiency of the application of granular microbial preparation (GMP) and silicon dioxide preparation Analcime for the degradation of toxic organic waste to restore the soil after floods as well as man-made and natural disasters using model ecosystems. It is based on the combination of microbial fermentation of organic waste via GMP, improvement in soil quality via silicon dioxide preparation Analcime (Na[AlSi2O6 ]·H2O), followed by the application of phytoremediation methods for affected soil bioremediation. Such parameters as time detention (Td) and degradation coefficient (Dc) served to estimate the efficiency of organic waste degradation. The detoxification efficiency was determined via growth inhibition coefficients of indicator plants. The coefficient of waste degradation (Dc) via GMP was four–eight-fold higher compared to untreated variants and ranged from 35.1 to 41.8. The presence of methane in the variants of the experiment with GMP indicated the complete degradation of solid waste to final non-toxic products. The addition of GMP and Analcime enhanced the viability and antioxidant protection systems of seedlings of test plants (Cucumis sativus «Konkurent» and Amaranthus caudatus L.). The proposed approach is promising to be applied in the polluted sites of Europe or Asia for soil treatment as well as alternative energy obtaining, Postprint (published version)

Els gels termosensibles basats en Poli(N-isopropilacrilamida)(PNIPAAm) són actualment d’interès per les seves aplicacions biomèdiques, per això s’ha realitzat assajos per la millora de les seves propietats com la introducció del seu polímer conductor (PEDOT). El present projecte te com a finalitat obtenir las característiques electroquímiques dels diferents hidrogels sintetitzats, a través d’assajos EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) i assajos de voltimetría cíclica., Los geles termosensibles basados en Poli(N-isopropilacrilamida) (PNIPAAm) son de interés recientemente por sus aplicaciones biomédicas y es por ello que se ha ensayado la mejora de sus propiedades con la introducción del polímero conductor (PEDOT). El presente proyecto tiene como finalidad obtener las características electroquímicas de los diferentes hidrogeles sintetizados, mediante ensayos EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) y de voltimetría cíclica., Thermosensitivity gels based on Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) have recently gained interest due to their biomedical applications. For this reason, we are leading the exploration of their properties through the introduction of conductive polymer (PEDOT). The aim of this project is to obtain the electrochemical characteristics of different synthesized hydrogels through Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammograms.

L’objectiu d’aquest treball és conèixer el món dels gasos refrigerants i una de les aplicacions que aquests tenen, els equips d’aerotèrmia. S’ha fet primer marc teòric on s’entrarà en profunditat en conèixer els gasos refrigerants quin tipus hi ha, quins són els més utilitzats i també molt important la normativa que els regula. També dins del marc teòric es tracta el tema dels equips d’aerotèrmia, quins avantatges i inconvenients tenen aquesta classe d’equips i també es presentaran altres tecnologies que potencies molt les virtuts dels equips d’aerotèrmia. En segon lloc, es presenta un cas pràctic, la substitució d’una caldera de gas natural d’un pis, per un equip d’aerotèrmia. Per aquest cas pràctic es plantegen dues hipòtesis que porten a escollir dos equips d’aerotèrmia molt diferents sobretot per les potències de cada equip. Els resultats en l’àmbit energètic són els esperats, molt menys consum amb l’equip d’aerotèrmia que amb la caldera de gas, però els resultats econòmics no corresponen amb l’esperat tot i que un cop analitzats juntament amb la part energètica cobren sentit., El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer el mundo de los gases refrigerantes y una de las aplicaciones que estos tienen, los equipos de aerotermia. Se ha hecho primero un marco teórico donde se entrará en profundidad a conocer los gases refrigerantes, qué tipo hay, cuáles son los más utilizados y también muy importante la normativa que los regula. También dentro del marco teórico se trata el tema de los equipos de aerotermia, qué ventajas e inconvenientes tienen esta clase de equipos y también se presentarán otras tecnologías que potencian mucho las virtudes de los equipos de aerotermia. En segundo lugar, se presenta un caso práctico, la sustitución de una caldera de gas natural de un piso, por un equipo de aerotermia. Para este caso práctico se plantean dos hipótesis que llevan a escoger dos equipos de aerotermia muy diferentes sobre todo por las potencias de cada equipo. Los resultados a nivel energético son los esperados, mucho menos consumo con el equipo de aerotermia que con la caldera de gas, pero los resultados económicos no corresponden con lo esperado, aunque una vez analizados junto con la parte energética cobran sentido., The aim of this work is to know the world of refrigerant gases and one of the applications they have, aerothermal equipment. It has been made first a theoretical framework which will enter in depth to know the refrigerant gases, what type there are, which are the most used and also very important the rules that regulate them. Also within the theoretical framework is the subject of aerothermal equipment, what advantages and disadvantages have this kind of equipment and other technologies that greatly enhance the virtues of aerothermal equipment will also be presented. Secondly, a practical case is presented, the replacement of a natural gas boiler in an apartment by an aerothermal equipment. For this practical case, two hypotheses are presented, which lead to the choice of two very different aerothermal units, especially in terms of the power of each unit. The results at the energy level are as expected, much less consumption with the aerothermal equipment than with the gas boiler, but the economic results do not correspond to the expected, although once analyzed together with the energy part those results make sense.

Due to the growing adoption of electric vehicles, there is a continuous rise in the global demand for lithium-ion batteries, leading to potential challenges in the supply chain of raw materials, as the battery production struggles to keep pace with the escalating demand. Recognizing the critical status of cobalt as a raw material, recycling is considered as a viable option to establish an alternative supply source by extracting cobalt from secondary resources. In this context, the METALLICO project, financed by the European Union (EU), aims to create a fresh prospect for the EU by exploring novel processes for manufacturing battery-grade materials. As an integral component of the METALLICO initiative, this thesis focuses on the extraction of cobalt from hydrometallurgical waste streams through the application of ion exchange (IX) resins, with the aim of recovering cobalt (II). Batch sorption trials (i.e. screening and pH-dependence extraction) were performed with synthetic solution mimicking the hydrometallurgical waste stream to assess the characteristics of various resins, revealing that Lewatit VP OC 1026 exhibits notable selectivity for Zn (>97% extraction at pH 3.5-4), while Purolite S930 demonstrates high affinity for Co and Cu (90% and >99% extraction, respectively, at pH 3.5). Therefore, following a Mn oxidation and Fe precipitation pre-treatment, column experiments were conducted involving VP OC 1026 for Zn removal and S930 for Ca removal, aiming to obtain an outlet comprising only Co and Cu. By subsequently raising the pH, Cu would be induced to precipitate, resulting in a final stream containing solely Co. A packed-bed column with VP OC 1026 successfully removed 1.65 ± 0.21 mg Zn g -1 resin from a feed solution containing Co, Cu, Zn, and Ca at pH 2. After saturating the resin, Zn was >99% eluted from the resin with 15% H2SO4, which resulted in a concentration factor (CF) of 21 and an outlet concentration of 1.05 ± 0.24 g L-1 . A minor presence of Ca at ap, A causa de la creixent implantació de vehicles elèctrics, hi ha un augment continu de la demanda global de bateries d'ions de liti, que comporta possibles reptes en la cadena de subministrament de matèries primeres, ja que la producció de bateries lluita per seguir el ritme de l'escalada demanda. Reconeixent l'estat crític del cobalt com a matèria primera, el reciclatge es considera una opció viable per establir una font de subministrament alternativa mitjançant l'extracció de cobalt de recursos secundaris. En aquest context, el projecte METALLICO, finançat per la Unió Europea (UE), pretén crear una nova perspectiva per a la UE explorant nous processos per a la fabricació de materials de qualitat de bateries. Com a component integral de la iniciativa METALLICO, aquesta tesi se centra en l'extracció de cobalt d’abocaments de residus hidrometal·lúrgics mitjançant l'aplicació de resines de bescanvi iònic (IX), per a recuperar cobalt (II). Es van realitzar assajos d'adsorció per lots (cribratge i dependència de l’extracció en funció del pH) amb una solució sintètica que imitava els abocaments hidrometal·lúrgics per avaluar les característiques de diverses resines, revelant que Lewatit VP OC 1026 presentà una selectivitat notable per al Zn (extracció de >97% a pH 3,5-4), mentre que Purolite S930 demostrà una gran afinitat pel Co i Cu (extracció del 90% i > 99%, respectivament, a pH 3,5). Després d'un pretractament d'oxidació de Mn i precipitació de Fe, es van realitzar experiments de columna amb VP OC 1026 per a l'eliminació de Zn i S930 per a l'eliminació de Ca, per obtenir un efluent comprés només per Co i Cu. Augmentar llavors el pH induiria el Cu a precipitar, originant un corrent que només contindria Co. Una columna de llit empaquetat amb VP OC 1026 eliminà amb èxit 1,65 ± 0,21 mg de resina Zn g-1 d'una solució d'alimentació que contenia Co, Cu, Zn i Ca a pH 2. Després de saturar la resina, es va eluir >99% de Zn de la resina amb H2SO4 15%, obtenint un factor de con, Debido a la creciente implantación de vehículos eléctricos, hay un aumento continuo en la demanda mundial de baterías de iones de litio, lo que lleva a posibles desafíos en la cadena de suministro de materias primas, ya que la producción de baterías lucha por mantener el ritmo de la creciente demanda. Reconociendo la situación crítica del cobalto como materia prima, el reciclaje se considera una opción viable para establecer una fuente de suministro alternativa extrayendo cobalto de recursos secundarios. En este contexto, el proyecto METALLICO, financiado por la Unión Europea (UE), pretende crear una nueva perspectiva para la UE explorando procesos novedosos para fabricar materiales aptos para baterías. Como componente integral de la iniciativa METALLICO, esta tesis se centra en la extracción de cobalto a partir de vertidos de residuos hidrometalúrgicos mediante la aplicación de resinas de intercambio iónico (IX), con el objetivo de recuperar cobalto (II). Se realizaron ensayos de sorción por lotes (cribado y dependencia de la extracción en función del pH) con una solución sintética que imitaba los vertidos hidrometalúrgicos para evaluar las características de varias resinas, revelando que Lewatit VP OC 1026 mostró una notable selectividad por el Zn (>97% de extracción a pH 3,5-4), mientras que Purolite S930 demostró una alta afinidad por el Co y el Cu (90% y >99% de extracción, respectivamente, a pH 3,5). Por lo tanto, tras un pretratamiento de oxidación de Mn y precipitación de Fe, se realizaron experimentos en columna con VP OC 1026 para la eliminación de Zn y con S930 para la eliminación de Ca, para obtener una salida compuesta únicamente por Co y Cu. Aumentando entonces el pH, se induciría la precipitación del Cu, que daría lugar a una corriente final que contendría únicamente Co. Una columna de lecho empacado con VP OC 1026 eliminó con éxito 1,65 ± 0,21 mg Zn g-1 de resina de una solución de alimentación que contenía Co, Cu, Zn, Ca a pH 2. Después de saturar l, Incoming

This research project explores the properties resulting from the combination of nylon 5,6 with natural rubber. The results underline the challenges involved in obtaining a homogeneous blend, highlighting the complexities of interactions between the components. A satisfactory blend was achieved by obtaining a Brabender. To briefly describe the main methods employed, analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) confirmed the semi-crystalline nature of nylon 5,6 and the amorphous nature of rubber. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) identified degradation residues, suggesting the possible commercial origin of the polymer. Mechanical tests revealed that, although nylon alone resisted higher stress, the blend offered greater deformability. Polarized light microscopy revealed morphological changes, while the addition of natural rubber decreased the crystallization rate of nylon 5,6. Overall, this study makes a significant contribution to our understanding of polymer blends, offering innovative perspectives for a variety of industrial applications., Incoming

Uma solução potencial para lidar com a urgente questão do aquecimento global reside na eficiência energ´ etica e no consumo de energia de edifícios residenciais. O monitoramento não intrusivo de cargas (NILM) surge como uma abordagem promissora para otimizar o consumo de energia, fornecendo informações detalhadas sobre o uso individual de eletrodomésticos. Esta dissertação de mestrado tem como foco explorar e avaliar diversas abordagens para detecção e classificação de eventos no contexto do NILM. A pesquisa começa testando a biblioteca NILMTK, que oferece um conjunto abrangente de algoritmos e ferramentas para desagregação de energia. A partir dessa investigação inicial, é examinada uma abordagem mais recente baseada em redes neurais profundas. Al ém disso, é desenvolvida e apresentada uma nova metodologia centrada na utilização das capacidades do scikit-learn. A dissertação destaca as principais descobertas de cada abordagem, discutindo suas promessas e limitações. São fornecidas contas detalhadas dos obstáculos encontrados ao longo do desenvolvimento, permitindo uma compreensão abrangente dos desafios enfrentados no campo do NILM. Al ém disso, melhorias e aprimoramentos potenciais são propostos para realizar com sucesso a desagregação de energia. Nesta pesquisa, uma infinidade de algoritmos de aprendizado de máquina, tanto nas categorias de classificação quanto de regressão , são explorados como soluções potenciais para o NILM. Uma coleção de soluções propostas nesta dissertação - como a Regressão Random Forest, Regressão por Gradient Boosting e SVR - demonstra um potencial significativo para avançar no campo do NILM e na desagregação de energia. Al ém disso, essas descobertas oferecem insights promissores sobre a viabilidade da implementação de abordagens diferentes, bem como a eficácia dos métodos estudados ao longo desta dissertação, One potential solution for addressing the pressing issue of global warming lies in the energy effi- ciency and power consumption of residential buildings. Non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) emerges as a promising approach to optimize energy consumption by providing detailed insights into individual appliance usage. This master’s thesis focuses on exploring and evaluating various approaches for event detection and classification within NILM. The research begins by testing the NILMTK toolkit, which offers a compre- hensive set of algorithms and tools for energy disaggregation. Building upon this initial investigation, a more recent approach based on deep neural networks is examined. Additionally, a novel methodology centered on leveraging the capabilities of scikit-learn is designed, developed, and presented. The thesis highlights key findings from each approach, discussing their promises and limitations. Detailed accounts of the encountered obstacles throughout the development pathway are provided, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced in the field of NILM. Furthermore, potential improvements and enhancements are proposed in order to successfully perform the energy disaggregation. In this research, a plethora of machine learning algorithms, both in the categories of classification and regression, are explored as potential solutions for NILM. A collection of solutions proposed in this dissertation - i.e. Random Forest Regression, Gradient Boosting Regression, and SVR - demonstrates a significant potential for advancing the NILM field and energy disaggregation. Moreover, these findings offer promising insights on feasibility of implementation of different approaches as well as the effective- ness of the methods that have been studied in the extent of this dissertation

In this work, the impedance spectroscopy (IS) technique was used to aid in understanding the reaction mechanism of the CO oxidation reaction using the Pr2Zr2-xFexO7±d (x = 0 and 0.10) mixed oxide as a heterogeneous catalyst. The catalytic reaction occurred in the same temperature range where there was a decrease in the overall resistivity of the materials. Moreover, it has been observed that within the temperature range where the catalytic process takes place, there is a variation in the A and n parameters of the power law dispersion. Combining IS with catalytic reactions offers a robust approach to enhance the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the CO oxidation reaction. It enables precise analysis of the changes that take place at the solid–gas interface, particularly the generation of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, it allows examining the relationship between the presence of oxygen vacancies and defects, which directly impact the catalytic process., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Pharmaceutical contaminants are frequently encountered at trace concentrations in various environmental ecosystems. This study introduces a significant approach to water treatment and environmental remediation by combining liquid membrane and ozonation. Initially, diclofenac is transported across the supported liquid membrane using a neutral organic extractant Cyanex 923. The highest removal efficiency was achieved with a 40 % concentration of Cyanex923 dissolved in kerosene, resulting in a permeability of 10.2 cm/h. Additionally, diclofenac is extracted from different environmental matrices such as tap water and real effluent of wastewater, and the effect of ions species was studied. The post-ozonation in the stripping phase resulted in removal of pharmaceuticals and 72 % reduction of total organic carbon at pH = 10 and 45.3 g/Nm3 initial ozone concentration. The study also investigates the identification and tracking of the most prevalent by-product of diclofenac over time., This project has been supported by the grant PID2021-126895OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. The authors research group is recognized by the Comissionat per a Universitats i Recerca, DIUE de la Generalitat de Catalunya (2017 SGR 396), and supported by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (2021PFR-URV-87) and Marti Franques grant 2019PMF-PIPF-81., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Different kinds of fire accidents can occur during industrial activities that involve hazardous materials, such as jet fires, which are often involved in a process known as a domino effect that generates a sequence of other accidents of greater magnitude. Jet fires present specific features that can significantly increase the probability of this domino effect, so they become relevant from a risk analysis perspective, making their proper characterization a crucial task. Data acquisition of jet fires involves expensive experiments, especially when infrared imagery is necessary. Therefore, this paper proposes a method that uses Generative Adversarial Networks to produce plausible infrared images from visible ones, making experiments less expensive and allowing for other potential applications. As validation, the infrared images are used in a fire characterization approach that employs Deep Learning to segment radiation zones and extracts the jet fire’s geometrical information. A comparison is done between the measurements obtained from real and generated infrared images. The results suggest that, with the proposed approach, it is possible to realistically replicate the analysis obtained from experiments carried out using both visible and infrared cameras., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (author's final draft)

A new generation of fully bioresorbable metallic Zn-based alloys could be used for stenting applications; however, the initial surface degradation delays stent re-endothelialization. Thus, this work proposes a dual strategy to control the corrosion and accelerate the endothelialization of ZnMg and ZnAg biodegradable alloys. First, a stable polycaprolactone (PCL) coating is obtained and followed by its functionalization with either linear RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) or REDV (Arg-Glu-Asp-Val) peptides or a dual peptide-based platform combining both sequences (RGD-REDV). Scratching tests showed neither delamination nor detachment of the polymeric coating. Potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements confirmed the corrosion resistance after PCL coating by revealing lower current density and higher absolute impedance values. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and fluorescent microscopy confirmed the correct peptide immobilization onto PCL coated Zn alloys. The functionalized samples exhibited enhanced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) adhesion. The higher number of adhered cells to the functionalized surfaces with the RGD-REDV platform demonstrates the synergistic effect of combining both RGD and REDV sequences. Higher corrosion resistance together with enhanced endothelialization indicates that the dual functionalization of Zn alloys with PCL and peptide-based RGD-REDV platform holds great potential to overcome the clinical limitations of current biodegradable metal stents., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Incoming

Aliphatic polyamides (nylons) show a remarkable variability in terms of crystallographic structures, polymorphic transitions and crystal morphology despite all polymers of this family have a simple constitution that is based on amide groups and polymethylene segments. Nylons derived from diamines and dicarboxylic acids having different parity (e.g., even or odd) have peculiar characteristics due to the difficulty of establishing an optimal hydrogen-bonding geometry when molecular chains adopt a typical all trans conformation. In this work, two isomeric odd-even (nylon 7,10) and even-odd (nylon 10,7) polyamides with the same methylene/amide ratio have been studied. Specifically, crystallization kinetics have been evaluated from calorimetric data, while thermal degradation mechanisms from thermogravimetric analysis. Classical methods (e.g., Avrami) together with isoconversional analyses have been considered for crystallization studies, being found significant differences between both nylons in terms of nucleation and activation energies. The isoconversional analyses of the non-isothermal crystallization allowed to determine the temperature dependence of both the crystal growth and the overall crystallization rate that points out the slower crystallization process of nylon 10,7. Isoconversional methods (integral and differential) were applied to evaluate thermal degradation. The mechanism was similar for both nylons (e.g., A3/2 and A1.8 for nylons 7,10 and 10,7, respectively), although a remarkable difference was determined for the corresponding activation energies (175 and 210 kJ/mol for nylons 7,10 and 10,7, respectively)., This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through PID2022-140302OB-I00 and by the Generalitat de Catalunya under the project 2021-SGR-01042. Matteo Arioli is grateful for the support received from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, with the scholarship “Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formación de doctors/as 2019”., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are the most common hospital-acquired infections and cause patient discomfort, increased morbidity, and prolonged stays, altogether posing a huge burden on healthcare services. Colonization occurs upon insertion, or later by ascending microbes from the rich periurethral flora, and is therefore virtually unavoidable by medical procedures. Importantly, the dwell time is a significant risk factor for bacteriuria because it gives biofilms time to develop and mature. This is why we engineer antibacterial and antibiofilm coating through ultrasound- and nanoparticle-assisted self-assembly on silicone surfaces and validate it thoroughly in vitro and in vivo. To this end, we combine bimetallic silver/gold nanoparticles, which exercise both biocidal and structural roles, with dopamine-modified gelatin in a facile and substrate-independent sonochemical coating process. The latter mussel-inspired bioadhesive potentiates the activity and durability of the coating while attenuating the intrinsic toxicity of silver. As a result, our approach effectively reduces biofilm formation in a hydrodynamic model of the human bladder and prevents bacteriuria in catheterized rabbits during a week of placement, outperforming conventional silicone catheters. These results substantiate the practical use of nanoparticle–biopolymer composites in combination with ultrasound for the antimicrobial functionalization of indwelling medical devices., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Agrifood industries generate large amounts of waste that may result in remarkable environmental problems, such as soil and water contamination. Therefore, proper waste management and treatment have become an environmental, economic, and social challenge. Most of these wastes are exceptionally rich in bioactive compounds (e.g., polyphenols) with potential applications in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Indeed, the recovery of polyphenols from agrifood waste is an example of circular bioeconomy, which contributes to the valorization of waste while providing solutions to environmental problems. In this context, unconventional extraction techniques at the industrial scale, such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), which has demonstrated its efficacy at the laboratory level for analytical purposes, have been suggested to search for more efficient recovery procedures. On the other hand, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have been proposed as an efficient and green alternative to typical extraction solvents. This review aims to provide comprehensive insights regarding the extraction of phenolic compounds from agrifood waste. Specifically, it focuses on the utilization of MAE in conjunction with NADES. Moreover, this review delves into the possibilities of recycling and reusing NADES for a more sustainable and cost-efficient industrial application. The results obtained with the MAE-NADES approach show its high extraction efficiency while contributing to green practices in the field of natural product extraction. However, further research is necessary to improve our understanding of these extraction strategies, optimize product yields, and reduce overall costs, to facilitate the scaling-up., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

With the new environmental-friendly developments surrounding the industry and society, the use of new materials as carriers is becoming more important. In the case of essential oils and organic chemical substances, the role that cyclodextrins play is very important. The use of the Guest-host structures in the cone structure of ß-Cyclodextrins is very frequent in Pharmacy and Biochemical systems related to biomedical applications. In this work, we present a mini-review work suggesting possibilities of the application of the cyclodextrins characteristics to be used in the textile industry to achieve antibacterial, antimicrobial, or simply, aromatic properties longed in time, Postprint (published version)

Aquest treball descriu i avalua diferents tècniques analítiques per a l'estudi tant de l'estat de conservació de la fusta de vaixells arqueològics com de la metodologia emprada per frenar-ne el deteriorament i la degradació. Les avaluacions es van fer principalment en fragments de fusta dels vaixells Sorres X, Cala Cativa i Cap de vol, pertanyents a la col·lecció del Museu Marítim de Barcelona i del Centre d’Arqueologia Subaquàtica de Catalunya. En primer lloc, es va posar a punt la metodologia de presa de mostra, que va consistir en el tall de làmines fines i homogènies. Les mostres es van analitzar mitjançant microscòpia òptica, microscòpia electrònica d'escombrada (SEM) i microespectroscòpia infraroja per transformada de Fourier (µ-FTIR) per tal de determinar el tipus i l'estructura interna de la fusta, identificar i determinar la distribució de sulfurs de ferro i, finalment, visualitzar els components de la fusta i la presència de l'agent de conservació polietilenglicol (PEG). Els resultats obtinguts van mostrar eflorescències de polietilenglicol i sulfurs de ferro hidratats, a més d'algunes sals i partícules de sorra. La quantitat de compostos va ser més gran a les mostres amb condicions específiques de corrosió i degradació. La presència d'articles d'acer en fustes i elevades concentracions d'oxigen accelera l'oxidació de compostos de sofre generant sulfurs de ferro i partícules d'òxid. Aquests sulfurs de ferro i partícules d'òxid provoquen danys a la fusta humida i al polietilenglicol, que és un agent de conservació que s'utilitza comunament als museus. Els espectres FTIR presentats concorden amb els espectres esperats per a fustes conservades amb PEG, i mostren que les exposicions als museus estan en constant deteriorament. La metodologia implementada ha ressaltat la importància de les condicions ambientals en què es conserven les fustes un cop extreta de l'aigua., Este trabajo describe y evalúa diferentes técnicas analíticas para el estudio tanto del estado de conservación de la madera de barcos arqueológicos, como de la metodología empleada para frenar su deterioro y degradación. Las evaluaciones se realizaron principalmente en fragmentos de madera de los barcos Sorres X, Cala Cativa y Cap de vol, pertenecientes a la colección del Museu Marítim de Barcelona y del Centre d’Arqueologia Subaquàtica de Catalunya. En primer lugar, se puso a punto la metodología de toma de muestra, que consistió en el corte de láminas finas y homogéneas. Las muestras se analizaron mediante microscopia óptica, microscopia electrónica de barrido (SEM) y microespectroscopía infrarroja por transformada de Fourier (µ-FTIR) con el fin de determinar el tipo y la estructura interna de la madera, identificar y determinar la distribución de sulfuros de hierro y, finalmente, visualizar los componentes de la madera y la presencia del agente de conservación polietilenglicol (PEG). Los resultados obtenidos mostraron eflorescencias de polietilenglicol y sulfuros de hierro hidratados, además de algunas sales y partículas de arena. La cantidad de compuestos fue mayor en las muestras con condiciones específicas de corrosión y degradación. La presencia de artículos de acero en maderas y concentraciones elevadas de oxígeno acelera la oxidación de compuestos de azufre generando sulfuros de hierro y partículas de óxido. Estos sulfuros de hierro y partículas de óxido provocan daños en la madera húmeda y en el polietilenglicol, que es un agente de conservación que se utiliza comúnmente en los museos. Los espectros FTIR presentados concuerdan con los espectros esperados para maderas conservadas con PEG, y muestran que las exposiciones en los museos están en constante deterioro. La metodología implementada ha resaltado la importancia de las condiciones ambientales en las que se conservan las maderas una vez es extraída del agua., This work describes and evaluates different analytical techniques for studying both the state of conservation of archaeological ship wood and the methodology employed to halt its deterioration and degradation. The evaluations were mainly conducted on wood fragments from the Sorres X, Cala Cativa, and Cap de vol ships, belonging to the collection of the Maritime Museum of Barcelona and the Underwater Archaeology Center of Catalonia. Firstly, the sampling methodology was developed, involving the cutting of thin and homogeneous layers. The samples were analyzed using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (µ-FTIR) to determine the type and internal structure of the wood, identify and determine the distribution of iron sulfides, and finally, visualize wood components and the presence of the conservation agent polyethylene glycol (PEG). The obtained results revealed efflorescences of polyethylene glycol and hydrated iron sulfides, along with some salts and sand particles. The quantity of compounds was higher in samples with specific corrosion and degradation conditions. The presence of steel articles in wood and elevated oxygen concentrations accelerates the oxidation of sulfur compounds, generating iron sulfides and oxide particles. These iron sulfides and oxide particles cause damage to the wet wood and polyethylene glycol, a commonly used conservation agent in museums. The presented FTIR spectra align with the expected spectra for woods preserved with PEG, indicating that museum exposures are constantly deteriorating. The implemented methodology has underscored the importance of the environmental conditions in which woods are preserved once extracted from the water.

We develop a mathematical model for adsorption based on averaging the flow around, and diffusion inside, adsorbent particles in a column. The model involves three coupled partial differential equations for the contaminant concentration both in the carrier fluid and within the particle as well as the adsorption rate. The adsorption rate is modelled using the Sips equation, which is suitable for describing both physical and chemical adsorption mechanisms. Non-dimensionalisation is used to determine the controlling parameter groups as well as to determine negligible terms and so reduce the system complexity. The inclusion of intra-particle diffusion introduces new dimensionless parameters to those found in standard works, including a form of internal Damköhler number and a new characteristic time scale. We provide a numerical method for the full model and show how in certain situations a travelling wave approach can be utilized to find analytical solutions. The model is validated against published experimental data for the removal of Mercury(II) and CO2. The results show excellent agreement with measurements of column outlet contaminant concentration and provide insights into the underlying chemical reactions, This publication is part of the research projects PID2020-115023RB-I00 (funding M. Aguareles, T.G. Myers, M. CalvoSchwarzwalder) financed by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033/. L.C. Auton and T.G. Myers acknowledge the CERCA Programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support, their work was also supported by the Spanish State Research Agency, through the Severo Ochoa and Maria de Maeztu Program for Centres and Units of Excellence in R&D (CEX2020-001084-M). A. Valverde acknowledges support from the Margarita Salas UPC postdoctoral grants funded by the Spanish Ministry of Universities with European Union funds - NextGenerationEU. M. Aguareles acknowledges the support of the “consolidated research group” (Ref 2021 SGR01352) of the Catalan Ministry of Research and Universities. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Elsevier, Postprint (published version)

Over the past decade, the preparation of novel materials by enzyme-embedding into biopolyesters has been proposed as a straightforward method to produce self-degrading polymers. This paper reports the preparation and enzymatic degradation of extruded self-degradable films of three different biopolyesters: poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), as well as three binary/ternary blends. Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) has been employed for the enzyme-embedding procedure, and to the best of our knowledge, the use of this approach in biopolyester blends has not been reported before. The three homopolymers exhibited differentiated degradation and suggested a preferential attack of CalB on PBS films over PBAT and PLA. Moreover, the self-degradable films obtained from the blends showed slow degradation, probably due to the higher content in PLA and PBAT. These observations pave the way for exploring enzymes capable of degrading all blend components or an enzymatic mixture for blend degradation., Peer Reviewed, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables, Postprint (published version)

Corporate Social Responsibility, sustainability, ESG criteria, and SDGs, among others, are terms weincreasingly hear in our daily lives, both in the business and personal spheres, as all companiesandindividualswanttobepartofthesustainable,environmentallyandsociallyresponsible transformation we are immersed in. Theconceptofsustainabledevelopment, asweknowittoday,isencapsulatedintheBrundtland report as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This report is grounded in achieving economic growth based on sustainability policies and the conviction that it is possible to build a more prosperous, fair, and secure future for people and the planet. Eventhoughcompanieshavebeenprovidingdataonthesustainabilityoftheirbusinessessince the 1980s, this information as a whole still fails to produce results with the necessary economic, social, and environmental value to address the major global challenges that would solve society’s most basic problems. This is why regulators have increased their demands in this matter. In Europe, an unprecedented regulatory framework has been under development since 2019, aiming to align financial information with non-financial or sustainability information, and as of the writing of this project, it is still in progress. The starting point is the European Green Deal, which forms the growth strategy of the European Union to transform Europe into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. To this end, the EU Sustainable Finance Action Plan was created, where one of its objectives is to promote long-term transparency in economic activities. In this context, the sustainability directive is framed by the obligation of double materiality, which is of great importance for the long-term performance of the company. Double materiality refers to two aspects. The first aspect is to assist companies in defining and improving strateg

Aquest document aborda de manera exhaustiva la petjada de carboni a Oxperta, una empresa dedicada al transport d’enviaments urgents, la comercialització d’energies i a la intermediació financera. L'objectiu principal del treball és desenvolupar una comprensió profunda de les emissions de CO2, derivades de les operacions de l'empresa i proposar estratègies de reducció per contribuir a la sostenibilitat ambiental. Davant les necessitats dels clients de missatgeria urgent d’obtenir informes de les emissions produïdes en els serveis contractats amb la companyia, es desenvolupa també una calculadora d’emissions en funció de la tipologia d’enviaments de cada client. La quantificació d’emissions, s’ha realitzat gràcies a un treball d’investigació dins de la companyia, recopilant dades de tota activitat que pugui ser susceptible d’emissió de diòxid de carboni. En base als coneixements adquirits en el sector del transport al llarg de les pràctiques vinculades a la universitat i la quantificació d’emissions esmentada, s’ha creat una calculadora que segons la quantitat i tipus d’enviaments en relació amb les emissions produïdes pels mateixos, permet així l’emissió d’informes per la cartera de clients. Derivat de les dades calculades, s’han proposat estratègies per reduir l’impacte de l’empresa en el medi ambient, tenint com a referència els objectius establerts per la Unió Europea de cara a les properes dècades., Este documento aborda de manera exhaustiva la temática de la huella de carbono en Oxperta, una empresa dedicada al transporte de envíos urgentes, la comercialización de energías y la intermediación financiera. El objetivo principal del trabajo es desarrollar una comprensión profunda de las emisiones de CO2 derivadas de las operaciones de la empresa y proponer estrategias de reducción para contribuir a la sostenibilidad ambiental. Ante la necesidad de los clientes de mensajería urgente de obtener informes sobre las emisiones producidas en los servicios contratados con la empresa, también se desarrolla una calculadora de emisiones en función de la tipología de envíos de cada cliente. La cuantificación de emisiones se ha realizado gracias a un trabajo de investigación dentro de la empresa, recopilando datos de toda actividad que pueda ser susceptible de emisiones de dióxido de carbono. En base en los conocimientos adquiridos en el sector del transporte a lo largo de las prácticas vinculadas a la universidad y la cuantificación de emisiones mencionada, se ha creado una calculadora que permite relacionar la cantidad y tipo de envíos con las emisiones producidas por estos, permitiendo así la emisión de informes para la cartera de clientes. Derivado de los datos calculados, se han propuesto estrategias para reducir el impacto de la empresa en el medio ambiente, teniendo como referencia los objetivos establecidos por la Unión Europea de cara a las próximas décadas., This document addresses the topic of carbon footprint at Oxperta, a company dedicated to courier shipment, energy commercialization, and financial intermediation. The main objective of the work is to develop a deep understanding of the CO2 emissions resulting from the company's operations and to propose reduction strategies to contribute to environmental sustainability. In response to the customers’ needs for courier services to obtain reports on the emissions produced in the provided services for the company, an emissions calculator is also developed based on the type of shipments for each client. The quantification of emissions has been carried out through an in-company research effort, collecting data from any activity susceptible to carbon dioxide emissions. Based on the knowledge acquired in the transportation sector throughout university practices and the mentioned emissions quantification, a calculator has been created. This one allows you to know depending on the quantity and type of shipments the emissions produced by the user, enabling the issuance of reports for the client portfolio. Derived from the calculated data, multiple strategies have been proposed to reduce the company's impact on the environment, taking a look at the goals set by the European Union for the upcoming decades.

Applications of sodium alginate (Alg) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) hydrogels in biomedicine are well-known. These are predefined by the strength and weakness of their properties, which in turn depend on the chemical structure and the architecture of their crosslinks. In this work, Alg biopolymer has been grafted to synthetic PAA that has been chemically crosslinked using N,N'-methylene-bisacrylamide (MBA) to produce a pH responsive hydrogel with adhesive property. The double crosslinking network, which combines MBA-mediated covalent crosslinks and ionic crosslinks in Alg domains, results in an elastic modulus that resembles that of highly anisotropic and viscoelastic human skin. After addressing the influence of the dual network onto the Alg-g-PAA hydrogel properties, a prospection of its potential as an adhesive has been made considering different surfaces (rubber, paper steel, porcine skin, etc). The bonding energy onto porcine skin, 32.6 ± 4.6 J/m2, revealed that the Alg-g-PAA hydrogel can be proposed in the biomedical field as tissue adhesive for wound healing applications. Finally, the hydrogel has been semi-interpenetrated with poly(hydroxymethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT-MeOH) chains through a chemical oxidative polymerization process. The resulting hydrogel, Alg-g-PAA/PEDOT-MeOH, which is even more porous than Alg-g-PAA, in addition to being electro-responsive, maintains adhesive properties., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Preprint

After a two-year long shutdown, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) restarted delivering proton-proton collisions at a new record of 13 TeV centre-of-mass energy in spring 2015. In order to further increase its discovery potential around the mid-2020’s, LHC would eventually need an upgrade to increase the total number of collisions by a factor of 10. A more powerful LHCwill provide more accurate measurements of new particles and enable the observation of rare processes that occur below the current sensitivity level. This will make possible to detect rare events not previously witnessed and increase our understanding of the energy frontier. To achieve this target, the particle detectors at CERN must upgrade their technology to be able to process fast and precisely the increased data flow, stand the higher temperatures, magnetic fields and also the ionized radiation created by those events. This Master Thesis takes care of the design and assessment of the installation of the CO2 cooling prototype (2 Phase-Accumulator Controlled Loop, 2PACL), which will be moved from the original site (Meyrin, Point 1) to CMS (Cessy, Point 5) in order to test its performance with the new upgraded hardware., Outgoing

Outgoing

Hoy en día los puertos marítimos son infraestructuras de gran importancia para la economía de todo el mundo; generan puestos de trabajo y dinamizan la economía. La elevada actividad del transporte de mercancías hace que estas ciudades portuarias sean zonas muy concurridas en las que miles de barcos llevan a cabo sus operaciones logísticas. Sin embargo, este elevado tránsito tiene una cara oculta: una mala calidad del aire, la cual puede tener consecuencias muy negativas tanto para la salud humana como para la huella de carbono de nuestro planeta. Es por ello que este trabajo tiene como objetivo centrarse en conocer cuáles son los principales mecanismos para la reducción de dichas emisiones, así como elaborar posibles estrategias innovadoras para hacer frente a todos estos problemas originados por el navío internacional.

Conductive hydrogels are becoming one of the most important milestones for the development of new scaffolds, biosensors, supercapacitors, and green electronics within the field of biomedicine. In this work, we study the effect of different types of electroactive additives such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), tannic acid, and carbon quantum dots (CQDs), to form different poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based hydrogels with enhanced electrochemical properties. Different physicochemical tests are carried out to characterize the different PVA-based hybrid hydrogels and the rates of their degradation and loss of electroactivity throughout an eight-week biodegradation process. This work shows the individual and synergistic effects of the additives on various mechanical properties, including storage modulus and swelling ratio, and electrochemical properties of the PVA hydrogel. The additives have proven to enhance the electroactivity of the PVA-based hydrogels but as well their degradation. Finally, the use of the new hydrogel as a pressure sensor is also investigated. The study provides an insight on the potential use of CQDs, in synergy with other electroactivity enhancers, in the fabrication of novel hybrid conducting hydrogels in green electronics., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

The recovery of critical raw materials (CRMs) is important to reduce the supply risk disruption and the dependency on third-countries within the European Union (EU). The present study evaluates the techno-economic implications of antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi) recovery from the process stream produced in the polishing stages of the copper electrorefining circuit. The upcycling process was based on the selective precipitation of Sb and Bi from the concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl) (up to 5–6 M) process stream containing high arsenic (As) concentrations. Four different scenarios were included in the evaluation, in which Sb and Bi were recovered as Sb4O5Cl2(s)/Sb2O3(s) and BiOCl(s)/Bi2O3(s), respectively. The results showed that implementing Bi and Sb upcycling configurations in the copper metallurgical facilities was economically feasible when recovering BiOCl(s)/Sb4O5Cl2(s) and BiOCl(s)/Sb2O3(s) from the eluate stream. Sb recovery was the most cost-intensive process in all the configurations evaluated due to the high chemical requirements needed to neutralize the free HCl excess. The consumption of chemicals represented the most important cost contributor, since high amounts of chemicals are needed for the selective Sb and Bi precipitation. The sensitivity analysis illustrated that recovering these CRMs was economically attractive for all the configurations when achieving Sb and Bi prices above 8.5 and 9.5 €/kg, respectively. Under these CRM prices, the payback period and internal rate of return for the different scenarios range from 4 to 19 years and from 6 to 28 %, respectively. This output highlights that future increase in CRM prices can be an important driver to implement Sb and Bi recovery schemes. Overall, the results of this study highlight the economic potential of implementing Sb and Bi recovery schemes in copper metallurgical plants to align with the ambitious circular economy objectives established by the EU., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (author's final draft)

Background: Human fascioliasis is considered an endemic and hyper-endemic disease in the Peruvian Andean valleys. Our objective was to determine variations in the composition of the gut microbiota among children with Fasciola hepatica and children who do not have this parasitosis. Method: A secondary analysis was performed using fecal samples stored in our biobank. The samples were collected as part of an epidemiological Fasciola hepatica cross-sectional study in children from 4 through 14 years old from a community in Cajamarca, Peru. Results: In a comparison of the bacterial genera that make up the intestinal microbiota between the F. hepatica positive and negative groups, it was found that there are significant differences in the determination of Lactobacillus (p = 0.010, CI: 8.5–61.4), Bacteroides (p = 0.020, CI: 18.5–61.4), Clostridium (p < 0.001, CI: 3.5–36.0), and Bifidobacterium (p = 0.018, CI: 1.1–28.3), with each of these genera being less frequent in children parasitized with F. hepatica. (4) Conclusions: These results show that F. hepatica may be associated with direct or indirect changes in the bacterial population of the intestinal microbiota, particularly affecting three bacterial genera., Postprint (published version)

Este proyecto estudia la microencapsulación de un principio activo, en este caso se trata de un aceite vegetal con propiedades medicinales. Se llevará a cabo un proceso de microencapsulación por coacervación simple, siendo aceite de árnica el principio activo y quitosano el biopolímero encapsulante. Ambos reactivos con propiedades compatibles pueden ser beneficiosos para la aplicación tópica en seres humanos, con el objetivo de hacer de antiinflamatorio principalmente. La fase experimental consiste en la preparación de las emulsiones comparando diferentes ratios entre tensioactivos, principio activo y biopolímero, de esta manera se intentará llegar a la fórmula óptima. Para analizar las microcápsulas se utilizará el zetasizer y un microscopio óptico, de esta manera se intentará caracterizar y descartar todo resultado de poco interés. Por último se hará un estudio de drug delivery aplicando las microcápsulas en un tejido a forma de apósito.

The utilization of biomimetic membranes supported by advanced self-assembled monolayers is gaining attraction as a promising sensing tool. Biomimetic membranes offer exceptional biocompatibility and adsorption capacity upon degradation, transcending their role as mere research instruments to open new avenues in biosensing. This study focused on anchoring a sparsely tethered bilayer lipid membrane onto a self-assembled monolayer composed of a biodegradable polymer, functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol)-cholesterol moieties, for lipid membrane integration. Real-time monitoring via quartz crystal microbalance, coupled with characterization using surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, provided comprehensive insights into each manufacturing phase. The resulting lipid layer, along with transmembrane pores formed by gramicidin A, exhibited robust stability. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis confirmed membrane integrity, successful pore formation, and consistent channel density. Notably, gramicidin A demonstrated sustained functionality as an ion channel upon reconstitution, with its functionality being effectively blocked and inhibited in the presence of calcium ions. These findings mark significant strides in developing intricate biodegradable nanomaterials with promising applications in biomedicine., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Actualment, els combustibles fòssils tradicionals com la gasolina o el gasoil són pràcticament l'única opció viable com a font d'energia. A finals d'any del 2022 al 2023, es va experimentar un augment de preu no defugible a les gasolineres. Encara que és cert que sembla que està sorgint un cert moviment per desplaçar els motors de combustibles fòssils pels motors elèctrics, aquestes tecnologies encara es troben en una etapa força prematura. Segons com es generi l'electricitat, no hi ha cap avenç en l'àmbit de la reducció de l'ús dels combustibles fòssils, ja que es pot generar l’energia en centrals tèrmiques on es cremarien els mateixos tipus de combustible. L'hidrogen com a substitut dels combustibles fòssils és una opció que s'està investigant i sembla una de les alternatives més viables a l'hora de generar menys emissions, ja que, en el fons, només emet aigua. A més, la potència energètica de l'hidrogen en comparació amb els combustibles convencionals és superior i, per tant, també té una major eficiència energètica. A continuació, esperant un augment considerable de l'hidrogen com a combustible, aquest treball de fi de màster pretén estudiar en quin marc legal es situen les instal·lacions d'hidrogen així com com es faria l'avaluació quantitativa del risc d'una planta d'hidrogen i amb l'objectiu d'avaluar l'acceptabilitat del terreny. Per això, es duu a terme la metodologia d’anàlisis quantitatiu de risc tal com es realitza habitualment a la consultoria Tüv Süd Iberia. Aquest estudi segueix bàsicament les instruccions presents en àmbit català que estan inspirades en el llibre Bevi. Posteriorment, aquesta metodologia es reprodueix pas a pas, iniciant-se per la identificació de les substàncies perilloses, els seus esdeveniments iniciadors i la probabilitat d'accident final. A continuació, s'ha determinat la letalitat, així com el risc individual associat a l'entorn de la planta i el risc social. Finalment, es realitza una valoració d'aquests aspectes., Hoy en día, los combustibles fósiles tradicionales como la gasolina o el diésel son prácticamente la única opción viable como fuente de energía. Al cierre del año 2022 al 2023 se experimentó un aumento no evitable de los precios en las gasolineras. Si bien es cierto que parece que está surgiendo un cierto movimiento para desplazar los motores de combustibles fósiles por motores eléctricos, estas tecnologías aún se encuentran en una fase bastante prematura. Dependiendo de cómo se genere la electricidad, no hay avances en el campo de la reducción del uso de combustibles fósiles, ya que la energía se puede generar en centrales térmicas donde se quemarían los mismos tipos de combustible. El hidrógeno como sustituto de los combustibles fósiles es una opción que se está investigando y parece una de las alternativas más viables a la hora de generar menos emisiones, ya que, en esencia, sólo emite agua. Además, el poder energético del hidrógeno en comparación con los combustibles convencionales es mayor y, por tanto, también tiene una mayor eficiencia energética. Luego, previendo un aumento considerable del hidrógeno como combustible, este trabajo de fin de máster tiene como objetivo estudiar en qué marco legal se sitúan las instalaciones de hidrógeno, así como cómo se realizaría la evaluación cuantitativa de riesgos de una planta de hidrógeno y con el objetivo de evaluar la aceptabilidad del terreno. Para ello se aplica la metodología de análisis cuantitativo de riesgos tal y como se realiza habitualmente en la consultoría Tüv Süd Iberia. Este estudio sigue básicamente las instrucciones presentes en ámbito catalán que están inspiradas en el libro Bevi. Posteriormente se reproduce esta metodología paso a paso, comenzando por la identificación de las sustancias peligrosas, sus eventos iniciadores y la probabilidad de accidente final. Luego, a continuación, se determina la letalidad, así como el riesgo individual asociado al entorno de la planta y el riesgo social. Finalmente, Nowadays, traditional fossil fuels such as petrol or diesel are practically the only viable option as an energy source. At the end of the year from 2022 to 2023, a not avoiding increase of price at gas stations was experienced. Although it is true that it seems that a certain movement is emerging to displace fossil fuel engines by electric engines, these technologies are still in a rather premature stage. Depending on how the electricity is generated, there is no progress in the field of reducing the use of the fossil fuels since energy can be generated in thermal power plants where the same types of fuel would be burnt. Hydrogen as a substitute to fossil fuels is an option that is being researched and seems to be one of the most viable alternatives when it comes to generating fewer emissions, as, in essence, only emits water. In addition, the energy power of hydrogen compared to conventional fuels is higher, and therefore, it has a higher energy efficiency, as well. Then, expecting a considerable increase of hydrogen as a fuel, this master's thesis aims to study in which legal framework hydrogen installations are situated as well as how quantitative risk assessment would be performed of a hydrogen plant and with the objective of evaluating the land acceptability. To this end, the methodology of a quantitative risk assessment, as typically performed in the consultancy company Tüv Süd Iberia, is carried out. This study basically follows the instructions present in the Catalan region which are inspired by Bevi book. Afterwards, this methodology is reproduced step by step, initiating by the identification of the dangerous substances, their initiating events, and the probability of final accident. Then, following by the determination of the lethality, as well as the individual risk associated to the surrounding to the plant and the societal risk. Finally, an assessment of this aspects is performed.

The REPowerEU plan establishes the production objective of 35 billion m3 of biomethane in the European Union (EU) by 2030. Biomethane is an excellent energy vector to promote the defossilization of different sectors within a Power-to-Gas approach. The present study evaluates the economic and environmental implications of producing biomethane from the biogas generated in a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with a treatment capacity of 100,000 m3/d and 500,000 population equivalents. The techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) were conducted for a biomethane production plant based on biological methanation process using the hydrogen produced in a water electrolyser. The TEA illustrated that the electricity price (0–0.20 €/kWh) features an important impact on the biomethane cost (0.05–0.23 €/kWhHHV) due to the high electrolyser energy consumption. Flexible operation of the electrolyser is economically feasible at load factors above 35 %, which can be attributed to the lower impact of the electrolyser capital cost as the load factor increases. The LCA illustrated that biomethane has a lower global warming impact (<0.28 kg CO2-eq/kWhHHV) than fossil natural gas when the renewable electricity production in the mix is above 62 %. The results highlighted that high carbon prices under the EU Emission Trading System is an important driver to promote biomethane production in European countries since energy production from biomethane could be exempted to acquire emission allowances. This would provide a competitive advantage of biomethane over natural gas when considering the whole supply chain of the energy carrier. Overall, this study demonstrates that biological methanation has the potential to become an important biomethane production technology for future defossilization scenarios., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

With this project, a solar-powered desalination plant has been successfully designed to supply potable water to the Molo Community. This community is a rural Kenyan tribe composed of approximately 900 individuals, residing on the shores of Lake Turkana, one of the world's largest saltwater lakes. Recently, their potable water supply system has become unusable due to the rise in the lake's water level, resulting in a critical situation. Through a comprehensive analysis of global water scarcity and direct engagement with local stakeholders, the project identified the urgent need for a solution to address water scarcity in the community. Following extensive research, reverse osmosis was selected as the most suitable desalination method for the plant's design, capable of producing 117.6 cubic meters of potable water daily. The design process has encompassed various stages, including pretreatment, main treatment, and post-treatment processes, each carefully tailored to meet the community's specific requirements, considering the water conditions and parameters to be treated. Additionally, the project has considered the economic feasibility of the plant, estimating a water price of 0.91€/m3, making it accessible to all community members. Furthermore, environmental sustainability has been a priority throughout the project, considered a key variable in its design. On one hand, the use of renewable energy has enabled the elimination of highly polluting fossil fuels. On the other hand, the proposal to utilize the brine produced by the plant for irrigating halophyte plants offers both waste management solutions and potential income generation opportunities for the community. This approach promotes circular economy principles by maximizing the utilization of available resources, even turning waste such as brine into an asset. The results obtained demonstrate the viability of a solar-powered reverse osmosis plant to improve the quality of life for the Kenyan community. It is expe

Cancer, namely breast and prostate cancers, is the leading cause of death in many developed countries. Controlled drug delivery systems are key for the development of new cancer treatment strategies, to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy and tackle off-target effects. In here, we developed a biomaterials-based wireless electrostimulation system with the potential for controlled and on-demand release of anti-cancer drugs. The system is composed of curcumin-loaded poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanoparticles (CUR/PEDOT NPs), encapsulated inside coaxial poly(glycerol sebacate)/poly(caprolactone) (PGS/PCL) electrospun fibers. First, we show that the PGS/PCL nanofibers are biodegradable, which allows the delivery of NPs closer to the tumoral region, and have good mechanical properties, allowing the prolonged storage of the PEDOT NPs before their gradual release. Next, we demonstrate PEDOT/CUR nanoparticles can release CUR on-demand (65 % of release after applying a potential of -1.5 V for 180 s). Finally, a wireless electrostimulation platform using this NP/fiber system was set up to promote in vitro human prostate cancer cell death. We found a decrease of 67 % decrease in cancer cell viability. Overall, our results show the developed NP/fiber system has the potential to effectively deliver CUR in a highly controlled way to breast and prostate cancer in vitro models. We also show the potential of using wireless electrostimulation of drug-loaded NPs for cancer treatment, while using safe voltages for the human body. We believe our work is a stepping stone for the design and development of biomaterial-based future smarter and more effective delivery systems for anti-cancer therapy., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Linear polyamides, known as nylons, are a class of synthetic polymers with a wide range of applications due to their outstanding properties, such as chemical and thermal resistance or mechanical strength. These polymers have been used in various fields: from common and domestic applications, such as socks and fishing nets, to industrial gears or water purification membranes. By their durability, flexibility and wear resistance, nylons are now being used in addictive manufacturing technology as a good material choice to produce sophisticated devices with precise and complex geometric shapes. Furthermore, the emergence of triboelectric nanogenerators and the development of biomaterials have highlighted the versatility and utility of these materials. Due to their ability to enhance triboelectric performance and the range of applications, nylons show a potential use as tribo-positive materials. Because of the easy control of their shape, they can be subsequently integrated into nanogenerators. The use of nylons has also extended into the field of biomaterials, where their biocompatibility, mechanical strength and versatility have paved the way for groundbreaking advances in medical devices as dental implants, catheters and non-absorbable surgical sutures. By means of 3D bioprinting, nylons have been used to develop scaffolds, joint implants and drug carriers with tailored properties for various biomedical applications. The present paper aims to collect evidence of these recently specific applications of nylons by reviewing the literature produced in recent decades, with a special focus on the newer technologies in the field of energy harvesting and biomedicine., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

This study aims to analyze and compare decarbonization strategies in refineries, which are the third-largest source of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from stationary sources. To achieve this, the study first introduces the structure and main processes of a refinery. The study then examines energy consumption in refineries, focusing on steam, fuel gas and electricity. These energy inputs are fundamental for refinery operations and their production is responsible for the majority of the GHG emissions. Understanding this energy consumption is essential for identifying effective decarbonization strategies. Following this, the concept of decarbonization is introduced. Decarbonization involves reducing or eliminating dependence on fossil fuels, the main GHG emitters, by transitioning to cleaner and renewable sources of energy. The study focuses on two primary decarbonization strategies: electrification and the adoption of biomass in steam boilers, gas turbines and combined heat and power (CHP) systems. The study conducts an economic and environmental analysis to compare the decarbonization strategies according to their abatement cost. This involves evaluating the capital expenditure (CAPEX), operational expenditure (OPEX), and environmental impact of each strategy to be able to calculate the cost of abating emissions. An Excel model has been designed to calculate these factors.

Deliverable D.1.2 del projecte europeu WUITIPS, Preprint