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Northeastern of Morocco is known by the presence of several volcanic outcrops of a Neogene to Plio-quaternary age. Miocene magmatic activity in Ras Tarf (Al Hoceima region), Gourougou (Nador region) and Guilliz (Taourirt-Guercif region) areas consists mainly of shoshonitic andesites, highly potassic calc-alkaline and potassic calc-alkaline volcanic rocks. However, Plio-quaternary magmatic activity is of a smaller distribution (few outcrops in Nador, Selouane, Saka and Oujda) and it is mainly alkaline. Jorf Lakhdar volcanic site is remarkably distinguished; it is located in the NW of the Oujda city and close to the new built houses. This basaltic site is of a total three-hundred-meter square, has huge and spectacular columns, and contain a great diversity of geoheritage components. In Guercif-Taourirt region, Guilliz volcanic massif is a real fascinating site that has been well studied, but poorly promoted as it is not extremely close to the population and to urban life. This work presents, for the first time, an overview of volcanic geoheritage of Jorf Lakhdar and Guilliz with the aim of appraising the protection thereof. The two sites deserve to be recognized by the authorities as a rich geological and cultural areas, they must be protected by regional and national concerned institutions and acknowledged officially as a geoheritage of this region and Morocco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are advantageous for reducing or even eliminating the dependency on platinum resources, as the alkaline environment allows the use of non‐precious metal catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode. However, the intrinsic activity of hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) catalysts in alkaline environments is 2 to 4 orders of magnitude lower than in acidic environments, which becomes the major challenge for AEMFCs. This review examines the current developments in the intrinsic activity of alkaline HOR catalysts and systematically summarizes the hydrogen activation mechanism with a focus on potential influencing factors and enhancement strategies. Furthermore, it offers insights into the prospects for developing more efficient alkaline HOR catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogas is one of the renewable energy sources that may be used as an alternative. It can reduce negative environmental effects by producing electricity from agricultural waste and industrial effluents. This study intends to construct a lab-scale version of the VMMI instrument, which monitors the methane quality inside and outside the laboratory. In addition, this study aims to investigate the biogas upgradation by CO2 capture at atmospheric conditions utilizing three different alkaline absorbents (NaOH, Na2CO3, KOH) in the volumetric meter. To assess the efficiency of these alkaline solutions, an artificial biogas composition with a varied ratio of CO2 from 1 to 95% was prepared using natural gas as a methane source and CO2-filled cylinder. The biogas composition was analyzed on a gas chromatograph before and after CO2 absorption in an alkaline solution. In this study, potassium hydroxide had the maximum CO2 removal, 98%, compared to NaOH and Na2CO3. To further assess the effect of an acidic solvent, 1 M HCl acid was used, but it had a very low CO2 absorbing efficiency of 1.8%. Hence, major findings can help better understand proper alkaline solvent selection that contributes to high CO2 capture efficiency, easy use, and low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity and cycling performance of cathodes are key factors in aqueous zinc batteries (AZBs). The search for cathode materials with long cycle lives and high specific capacities is of paramount importance. In this study, a bimetallic telluride with a hollow polyhedral structure was synthesized using a hydrothermal method followed by vapor deposition. This composite exhibits high conductivity, facilitates rapid diffusion of electrolyte ions into the interior, and accelerates redox reactions, thereby enhancing electrochemical performance. The CoTe2 -NiTe2 electrode demonstrates an impressive specific capacity of 188.8 mAh/g at 1 A/g, highlighting its efficiency in storing a significant amount of charge per unit mass during electrochemical reactions. The assembled CoTe2 -NiTe2//Zn battery shows favorable capacity retention (76.4%) after 10000 cycles. The energy density is remarkably high, reaching 290.3 Wh/kg, while maintaining a power density of 1.75 kW/kg. This bimetallic telluride strategy holds great promise as an alternative cathode for AZBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unutilized and unproductive lands in alkaline and waterlogged areas can be used for income and employment generation through fisheries activities. Apart from the income generation, the reclamation of the land is also possible if the scientific practices are followed. Karnataka is bestowed with vast variety of water resources for fisheries activities, saline, alkaline and waterlogged areas are also present is large extent in the state where the land is unused in majority of the affected areas. In this study, Krishna command area was selected for demonstration of composite fish culture using alkaline and waterlogged lands. Four beneficiaries were identified and empowered on using of these affected areas for fish culture. They were provided with quality carp seed and 2 tons of supplementary feed to each and scientific fish culture practices were demonstrated. Meanwhile, the water quality, fish survival, health and growth were monitored throughout the demonstration period. The pH of the water gradually decreased from 8.9 to 7.5, majorly due to addition of organic load to the pond. Other water quality parameters were scientifically monitored and they exhibited a decreasing trend with optimal limits favoring to fish culture. Catla, sliver carp, grass carp, common carp and amur carp showed a better growth rate with others being in moderate condition. The total mean fish production was found to be 3.8 t/acre from the demonstration sites and with the mean gross revenue of 4.25 lakhs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the conjugate of curcumin and gluten were prepared through alkaline, ultrasonic, and enzymatic methods. The effects of grafting methods on physicochemical properties of gluten, rheology properties of frozen dough and the quality of resulted bread were evaluated. The results showed that the conjugation induced by alkaline, ultrasound, and enzyme led to the decreasing of free amino group content in the range of 26.98%~28.74%, and free sulfhydryl group content in the range of 10.80%~14.52%, respectively. The conjugation also resulted in the disrupture of intramolecular hydrogen bonding, changes of the secondary, tertiary structure and surface hydrophobicity, as well as increasing of particle size and thermal stability. The frozen dough with curcumin-gluten conjugate exhibited higher complex modulus, creep recovery and hardness than those without the conjugate. Furthermore, the incorporation of curcumin-gluten conjugate into frozen dough also helped to improve the loaf volume and the hardness of resulted bread. These results indicated that the conjugation between curcumin and gluten could prevent the deterioration of frozen dough. In addition, as compared with conjugate prepared from alkaline and enzymatic methods, the conjugate prepared from ultrasonic method showed the better ability in improving the quality of frozen dough.

AbstractAn alkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing bacterial consortium enrichment in synthetic media and supplemented treated wastewater was evaluated by measuring for thiosulfate biological oxidation and detailed analysis of the structure and function of the resultant bacterial communities. Aerobic batch assays revealed that cultures enriched with treated wastewater exhibited thiosulfate oxidation rates 17% faster than cultures in synthetic medium, attributed to the influence of inorganic and organic compounds present in the wastewater. Furthermore, cultures with treated wastewater demonstrated a 55% higher sulfate production rate than cultures with synthetic medium, probably due to specific intermediates generated during the oxidation process. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed greater microbial diversity in cultures with treated wastewater compared to cultures in synthetic medium, with Thioalkalivibrio prevailing as the dominant genus in both. Other genera, such as Planktosalinus, Aliidiomarina, Roseinatronobacter, and Azoarcus, were also identified; however, their relative abundances were associated with the available carbon sources in each medium. Functional analysis revealed a predominance of genes associated with thiosulfate and sulfide oxidation, emphasizing the significant role of the SOX system within cultures. The findings suggest the potential of treated wastewater to enrich an alkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing bacterial consortia for biotechnological treatment of reduced sulfur compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization leads to a reduction in arable land area, which seriously endangers food security. Developing saline-alkali land has become a key measure to address the contradiction between population growth and limited arable land. Rice is the most important global food crop, feeding half of the world's population and making it a suitable choice for planting on saline-alkali lands. The traditional salt–alkali improvement method has several drawbacks. Currently, non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology is being increasingly applied in agriculture. However, there are few reports on the cultivation of salt/alkali-tolerant rice. Under alkaline stress, argon NTP treatment significantly increased the germination rate of Longdao 5 (LD5) rice seeds. In addition, at 15 kV and 120 s, NTP treatment significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and SOD. NTP treatment induced changes in genes related to salt-alkali stress in rice seedlings, such as chitinase and xylanase inhibitor proteins, which increased the tolerance of the seeds to salt-alkali stress. This experiment has expanded the application scope of NTP in agriculture, providing a more cost-effective, less harmful, and faster method for developing salt-alkali-tolerant rice and laying a theoretical foundation for cultivating NTP-enhanced salt-alkali-tolerant rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is challenging to develop highly active and durable electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline water electrolysis. Herein, an electrocatalyst is synthesized with highly dispersed cerium in a nickel matrix, showing an overpotential of 169 mV for HER at a current density of 500 mA cm−2, about 137 mV lower than that observed without cerium. Kinetic analysis results suggest that doping cerium facilitates the evolution of intermediate H for HER, thus accelerating the process of water dissociation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations also indicate that the introduction of highly dispersed cerium can lower the energy barrier of the kinetically sluggish Volmer step by altering the orbital occupation near the Fermi level, promoting the process of water dissociation. Furthermore, the electrolyzer constructed with the electrocatalyst exhibits a cell voltage as low as 1.67 V at 800 mA cm−2 for 2000 h in 7 м KOH at 80 °C. The robust property makes it an excellent candidate electrocatalyst for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth and development of biomass-based energy are essential conditions for supplementing the renewable energy sector dominated by solar and wind energy. Conversion of rice straw to biogas by anaerobic digestion can play a vital role in enhancing energy security and the share of bioenergy. The biggest hurdle in the process of digestion of lignocellulosic biomass like rice straw is the prerequisite of its pretreatment. Mostly high-power microwave and high-concentration alkaline pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass have been studied. In the present study, dilute alkaline and low-power microwave techniques for efficient pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials have been considered. Anaerobic digestion of untreated and pretreated rice straws was performed at mesophilic temperature to compare the effectiveness of pretreatment methods for their biogas yield. Biogas obtained from untreated rice straw was found at 213.7 NmL/gVS. Among alkaline pretreatment with dilute NaOH solution of 0.1 to 0.5% concentrations, the best biogas yield of 418.5 NmL/gVS (96% higher than untreated) was obtained from 0.2% alkaline treated rice straw. Out of different microwave pretreatment from 100 to 500 W, the best biogas yields of 458.8 NmL/gVS (114% higher than untreated) were obtained from 300 W pretreated rice straws. The average biomethane content in the biogas generated after alkaline pretreatment was 52%, and in biogas generated after microwave, pretreatment was found to be 50.7%. Microwave pretreatment was found to be slightly better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the ammonia volatilization rate, using a texture gradient with increasing doses of ammonium in alkaline soils. Design/Methodology/Approach: The experiment took place in the Análisis Químico de Suelos lab of the Soil Department of the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo. The incubations consisted of 25 g of soil from the former Texcoco lake, with 12.5% clay. The soil was air-dried and sieved with a no. 10 mesh. The soil was mixed with three different concentrations (17.5%, 22.5%, and 32.5%) of bentonite, in order to increase clay content. The mixtures were placed in plastic containers with airtight seals. Twelve-point five mL of an ammonium sulfate solution (with 150, 300, 450, 600, and 750 mg of nitrogen kg soil-1 ) was added. The ammonia was recovered in a container with a boric acid solution. Volumetry was used to quantify ammonium. A completely randomized design with two factors (clay content and ammonium dose) was used. Data were analyzed with a regression analysis, analysis of variance, and Tukey Multiple Comparison Test, using the SAS OnDemand for Academics software. Results: The ammonia volatilization has a linear trend, with the concentration of the applied nitrogen. The volatilization rate ranged from 0.02 to 0.03 mg of ammonium per milligram of the nitrogen applied per kg soil-1 . Significant statistical differences were recorded between the effect of the N dose and the clay content on the ammonia volatilization rate. Study Limitations/Implications: Clay content in the soil and ammonia volatilization rate can be used as an indicator to estimate ammonia losses and the ammonia adsorption capacity of the soil. Findings/Conclusions: Ammonia volatilization is independent from clay content and takes place immediately after its application. It has a linear trend regarding the ammonia dose applied. Ammonia volatilization rate decreases (asymptotic trend) as the clay content increases in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sisal fiber employment in concrete improves its post-crack strength, but sisal fiber degrades due to moisture and cement mineralization. Many researchers used alkaline and pozzolanic techniques to treat sisal fiber in cement composite materials. However, which treatment method is most effectively used to modify sisal fiber for sustainable use in cementing materials has yet to be well known. Therefore, this review highlights the effect of alkaline and pozzolanic materials on sisal fiber treatment. The review of various studies found employment of 1–1.5% of treated sisal fiber by alkaline or pozzolana reduces workability and improves the mechanical properties, especially as many authors found the treatment of sisal fiber by pozzolanic material averagely improves compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of cementing materials by 21.75% and 36.53%, while alkaline treatment 12.83% and 14.92% respectively, compared to control mixture. Besides these, many studies found the treatment of sisal by either alkaline or pozzolana significantly lessens water absorption capacity, improves the thermal resistivity of the fiber, improves fiber adhesion with the matrix, makes rougher microstructure of fiber surface. However, many studies reported alkaline treatment to have drawbacks in the disposal of alkaline chemicals that increase environmental pollution, at high concentrations cause fiber deterioration, and chemical production cost.

Abstract The results revealed the significant effect of NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, CaSO4, MgSO4, and Na2SO4 and pH values of 3.5–11 on the interfacial tension (IFT) reduction using three types of neutral, acidic, and basic crude oils, especially for acidic crude oil (crude oil II) as the pH was changed from 3.5 to 11 (due to saponification process). The findings showed the highest impact of pH on the IFT of crude oil II with a reducing trend, especially for the pH 11 when no salts exist. The results revealed that the salts except MgCl2 and CaCl2 led to a similar IFT variation trend for the case of distilled water/crude oil II. For the MgCl2 and CaCl2 solutions, a shifting point for IFT values was inevitable. Besides, the dissolution of 1-dodecyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride ([C12mim][Cl]) with a concentration of 100–1000 ppm eliminates the effect of pH on IFT which leads to a reducing trend for all the examined crude oils with minimum IFT of 0.08 mN/m. Finally, the [C12mim][Cl] adsorption (under pH values) for crude oils using only Na2SO4 was measured and the minimum adsorption of 0.41 mg surfactant/g Rock under the light of saponification process was obtained.

Industrial residues with high concentrations of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], characterized by an alkaline pH (between 9 and 13) and high salinity (around 100 psu), were used as a source for extremophilic chromium-resistant and -reducing microorganisms. An investigation of biodiversity through MiSeq showed the presence of 20 bacterial classes, with Bacilli (47%), Negativicutes (15%), Bacteriodia (8%), Gammaproteobacteria (7%) and Clostridia (5%) being the most abundant. The bioprospection allowed the cultivation of 87 heterotrophic bacterial colonies and 17 bacterial isolates at the end of the isolation, and screening procedures were obtained. The isolates were related to Cellulosimicrobium aquatile, C. funkei, Acinetobacter radioresistens, Staphylococcus equorum, S. epidermis, Brachybacterium paraconglometratum, Glutamicibacter creatinolyticus, Pseudomonas songnenensis, Microbacterium algeriense and Pantoea eucalypti, most of them being resistant to Cr(VI). Resistances of up to 400 mg.L−1 of chromate were obtained for four related strains (QReMLB55A, QRePRA55, QReMLB33A and QReMLB44C). The C. aquatile strain QReMLB55A and the P. songnenensis strain QReMLB33A were exposed to K2Cr2O7 (200 mg.L−1) under optimal conditions, diminishing 94% and 24% of the Cr(VI) in 6 days, respectively. These strains exhibited a high potential for chromium remediation biotechnologies.

Herein, four different metal-free nitrogen containing Covalent Triazine Frameworks (CTFs) based on their applied monomers (DCP, DCBP, m DCB and p DCB) are synthesized via a classical ionothermal synthesis route (ZnCl 2 , 400/600 °C). These materials are fully characterized and their electrochemical activities for ORR are tested and compared to each other including Carbon Super P and Pt black as standards in 0.1 M KOH. While DCP provides similar catalytic activity to Carbon Super P showing mostly a 2eˉ process (n=2.95) with high H 2 O 2 formation of 52.6 %, the other three CTFs (DCBP, m DCB and p DCB) possess higher ORR activities, surprisingly even much higher limiting current densities than Pt black, proving that O 2 is mainly reduced via direct 4eˉ pathway since n values are in the range of 3.52 to 3.62 and the detected H 2 O 2 values are in the range of 19–23.9 %. Among the studied CTFs, m DCB reaches a limiting current density of −5.61 mA cm-2 (1.21 mA cm-2 larger than that for Pt black, −4.40 mA cm-2) with 0.11 V larger onset potential compared to Pt black. The significant electrochemical performances of the CTF materials in ORR via a 4eˉ process are correlated to the high specific surface areas (up to 2500 m2 g-1), large pore volumes (up to 2.05 cm3 g-1) and the largest total N-graphitic/quaternary contents as well as micro-mesoporous structure properties. [Display omitted] • Four N-containing Covalent Triazine Frameworks (CTF) were synthesized via a classical ionothermal route. • Three CTFs provide higher ORR activities, with much larger limiting current densities than Pt black. • O 2 is mostly reduced through a direct 4eˉ process rather than 2eˉ process at three CTFs. • The N-graphitic/quaternary sites are the active sites for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By offering promising solutions to two critical issues – the integration of renewable energies into energy systems and the decarbonization of existing hydrogen applications – green hydrogen production through water electrolysis is set to play a crucial role in addressing the major challenges of the energy transition. However, the successful integration of renewable energy sources relies on gaining accurate insights into the impacts that intermittent electrical supply conditions induce on electrolyzers. Despite the rising importance of addressing intermittency issues to accelerate the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources, the state-of-the-art lacks research providing an in-depth understanding of these concerns. This paper endeavors to offer a comprehensive review of existing research, focusing on proton exchange membrane (PEM) and alkaline electrolysis technologies operating under intermittent operation. Despite growing interest over the last ten years, the review underscores the scarcity of industrial-scale databases for quantifying these impacts. [Display omitted] • Dynamic features, e.g. event frequency and amplitude, affect efficiency and durability of alkaline and PEM electrolyzers. • Intermittent operation promotes electrolyzer decay, but literature lacks consensus and studies on alkaline technology. • Industrial-scale assessments of intermittency impacts are significantly lacking for both alkaline and PEM technologies. • Developing standardized methods is crucial to understand how intermittency affects electrolyzer efficiency and durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The potential applications of this work include the reconstruction of artificial bacterial consortia that are able to resist and/or reduce chromium and are robust over time for a bioremediation application at the Quimica Central site (Mexico). Industrial residues with high concentrations of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], characterized by an alkaline pH (between 9 and 13) and high salinity (around 100 psu), were used as a source for extremophilic chromium-resistant and -reducing microorganisms. An investigation of biodiversity through MiSeq showed the presence of 20 bacterial classes, with Bacilli (47%), Negativicutes (15%), Bacteriodia (8%), Gammaproteobacteria (7%) and Clostridia (5%) being the most abundant. The bioprospection allowed the cultivation of 87 heterotrophic bacterial colonies and 17 bacterial isolates at the end of the isolation, and screening procedures were obtained. The isolates were related to Cellulosimicrobium aquatile, C. funkei, Acinetobacter radioresistens, Staphylococcus equorum, S. epidermis, Brachybacterium paraconglometratum, Glutamicibacter creatinolyticus, Pseudomonas songnenensis, Microbacterium algeriense and Pantoea eucalypti, most of them being resistant to Cr(VI). Resistances of up to 400 m g. L − 1 of chromate were obtained for four related strains (QReMLB55A, QRePRA55, QReMLB33A and QReMLB44C). The C. aquatile strain QReMLB55A and the P. songnenensis strain QReMLB33A were exposed to K 2 C r 2 O 7 (200 m g. L − 1 ) under optimal conditions, diminishing 94% and 24% of the Cr(VI) in 6 days, respectively. These strains exhibited a high potential for chromium remediation biotechnologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use and exploitation of natural fibers as reinforcement in composite materials continues to be developed with the aim of reducing the use of synthetic fibers which have an impact on the environmental problems. This research aims to experimentally study the fiber potential and coconut sticks for the manufacture of hybrid composite materials as one of the natural fiberbased composite materials that have performance for certain applications. The method used is the manufacture of hybrid composites by varying the volume of fiber and sticking with polyester resin matrices. While testing mechanical properties in succession refers to ASTM D 638, ASTM D 790, ASTM D 785 and ASTM D 256 testing standards for tensile strength testing, bending strength, hardness testing, and impact testing. The results obtained show that the most optimal mechanical properties occur in the composition of the 50% reinforcement volume fraction. Overall, the head stick as a reinforcing material on hybrid composites has not provided significant reinforcement due to the presence of a hard layer around the surface of the stick even though alkaline treatment has been carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual assault sample processing, despite recent funding and research efforts, remains time-consuming, labourious, and inefficient. These limitations, combined with the prevalence of sexual assaults, have prompted the need to develop a cheaper, quicker, and more robust method for separating victim and perpetrator contributions within sexual assault evidence so that analysts can keep pace with submissions and cases can be resolved in a timely manner. Thus, this study examined the use of a combined enzymatic and alkaline approach for differential cell lysis—with the goal of developing a quick, cheap, and more efficient DNA isolation method. Quantification results for this assay revealed that (72.0 ± 18.3)%, (15.8 ± 14.2)%, and (29.5 ±  23.7)% of total DNA were retained in sperm fractions for neat semen, neat vaginal, and semen–vaginal mixture eluates, respectively. Short tandem repeat (STR) analysis of mixture samples processed with this technique exhibited sperm fraction DNA profiles with mean male-to-female ratios of 1.74:1, which was a 3.01 ± 2.30-fold improvement in male-to-female ratios and led to the recovery of 5.90 ± 7.80 unshared male contributor alleles in sperm fractions that were otherwise undetected in unseparated controls. Overall, this study presented a modified differential lysis approach using prep GEM™ and sodium hydroxide treatments that can accomplish cell elution and fractional lysis within 25 min. Future studies should investigate alternative "non-sperm" cell lysis methods to enhance lysis efficiency and minimize the potential for inhibition, as well as the optimization and automation of this technique. Key points Traditional sexual assault sample processing methods are time-consuming and inefficient. This modified differential lysis method produces lysates with sufficient DNA yield and quality. A combined technique using enzymatic and alkaline lysis can accomplish fractional separation. Lysis with prep GEM and NaOH absent purification is compatible with downstream processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results revealed the significant effect of NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, CaSO4, MgSO4, and Na2SO4 and pH values of 3.5–11 on the interfacial tension (IFT) reduction using three types of neutral, acidic, and basic crude oils, especially for acidic crude oil (crude oil II) as the pH was changed from 3.5 to 11 (due to saponification process). The findings showed the highest impact of pH on the IFT of crude oil II with a reducing trend, especially for the pH 11 when no salts exist. The results revealed that the salts except MgCl2 and CaCl2 led to a similar IFT variation trend for the case of distilled water/crude oil II. For the MgCl2 and CaCl2 solutions, a shifting point for IFT values was inevitable. Besides, the dissolution of 1-dodecyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride ([C12mim][Cl]) with a concentration of 100–1000 ppm eliminates the effect of pH on IFT which leads to a reducing trend for all the examined crude oils with minimum IFT of 0.08 mN/m. Finally, the [C12mim][Cl] adsorption (under pH values) for crude oils using only Na2SO4 was measured and the minimum adsorption of 0.41 mg surfactant/g Rock under the light of saponification process was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mars missions and Martian meteorites revealed how complex the Martian crust is. The occurrence of both alkaline and sub-alkaline igneous rocks of Noachian age (>3.7 Ga) in Gale crater indicates diverse magmatic processes, with sub-alkaline rocks likely formed through the partial melting of hydrous mafic rocks, as commonly observed on Earth. The orbital discovery of excavated evolved igneous rocks scattered in Noachian terrains raise questions about the petrology of the ancient Martian crust, long thought to be basaltic. A possibly evolved crust beneath a mafic cover is supported by geophysical and seismic measurements from the Insight lander that indicate the bulk crust has a lower density than expected if it were homogeneously basaltic. If localized magmatic processes could form evolved terrains, the detection of abundant intermediate to felsic Noachian crustal exposures through remote sensing suggest regional- to global-scale processes that produced evolved crustal component(s) that are now buried below mafic materials. Due to the lack of centimetric to millimetric textural imaging and compositional measurements, the petrology of such crust is ambiguous. Future orbiter, rover, and aerial missions should focus on Noachian exposed regions exhibiting evolved crustal characteristics to unfold the petrology of the Martian crust and its formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Carboxylates such as volatile fatty acids (VFA) can be produced by acidogenic fermentation (AF) of dairy wastes including cheese whey, a massive residue produced at 160.67 million m3 of which 42% are not valorized and impact the environment. In mixed‐culture fermentations, selection pressures can favor AF and halt methanogenesis. In this study, inoculum pre‐treatment was evaluated as a selective pressure for AF demineralized cheese whey in batches. Alkaline (NaOH, pH 8.0, 6 h) and thermal (90 °C for 5 min, ice‐bath until 23 °C) pre‐treatments were tested with batch operations runs at initial pH 7.0 and 9.0, food‐to‐microorganism (F/M) ratios of 0.5 to 4.0 g COD g−1 VS, and under pressurized (P) and nonpressurized (NP) headspace, in experiments duplicated in two different research institutes. RESULTS: Acetic acid was highly produced on both Unicamp and TU Delft samples (1.36 and 1.40 g CODAcOH L−1, respectively), at the expense of methanogenesis by combining a thermal pre‐treatment of inoculum with a NP batch operation started at pH 9.0. Microbial communities comprising VFA and alcohol producers, such as Clostridium, Fonticella and Intestinimonas, and fermenters such as Longilinea and Leptolinea. The lipid‐accumulating Candidatus microthrix was observed in both bulk material and foam. Despite the absence of methane production, Methanosaeta were detected within the microbial community. An F/M ratio of 0.5 g COD g−1 VS led to the best VFA production of 1769.4 mg L−1. CONCLUSION: Overall, inoculum thermal pre‐treatment, initial pH 9.0 and NP headspace acted as a selective pressure for halting methanogenesis and producing VFAs, valorizing cheese whey via batch acidogenic fermentation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the high efficiency leaching of W and V in a SCR denitration catalyst, the microwave assisted leaching of W and V in waste SCR catalyst was studied. The results show that under the conditions of microwave power of 600 W, reaction time of 1 h, reaction temperature of 60 °C, sodium hydroxide concentration of 40% and liquid volume/solid mass ratio of 7.5/1, the leaching rates of W and V in SCR denitration catalyst can reach 89.96% and 96.32 %, respectively. After leaching the alkaline leaching residue with 4 mol/L HC1 solution for 1 h, TiO2 with a purity of 98.76% is obtained. Compared with the traditional water bath heating method, microwave heating leaching method can not only improve the leaching rate of tungsten and vanadium on SCR denitrification catalyst, but also greatly shorten the test reaction time, which provides a reliable technical basis for the green effective leaching of W and V in SCR denitrification catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The research examined the ability of each treatment to recover a known quantity of particles and the impact on identifying polymer type using a microscope. By conducting extensive research on the changes induced in the chemical structures and morphologies of microplastics (MPs) there is potential for enhancing the detection and analysis of MPs by incorporating pre-treatment methods in the future. When treating environmental matrices with high organic content, chemical digestion treatment is required to get rid of microplastics and release particles. This type of treatment involves using a range of chemical agents, including acids, bases, and oxidizing agents. Unfortunately, there has been limited research into the chemical resistance of various types of microplastics to these substances. To address this issue, a study was conducted to examine the chemical resistance of four species of microplastics high-density polyethylene (HD-PE), low-density polyethylene (LD-PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), nitric acid (HNO3) and acetic acid (CH3COOH). The results showed that acidic and alkaline substances were the most destructive to microplastics, while oxidative reagents resulted in fewer changes to plastic properties. These findings provide valuable insights into the properties of MPs and their response to strong acids, bases and oxidizing agents, which can serve as a reference for future studies on MP pre-treatment. In addition, used as a guideline to update current protocols and ensure that microplastics can be treated without causing damage.

Various purification methods have been developed to improve local salt quality, with the NaCl content above 94%. Bentonite is one of the materials used as binder impurities in purification. The purpose of the study was to synthesize a modified bentonite using an alkaline solution, which includes sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) with various concentrations (1 M, 1.5 M, 2 M, and 2.5 M) and determined levels of Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ metals using AAS. The bentonite and activating agent 1 M (1:10) were stirred for three hours. Then, the bentonite was dried for two hours in an oven at 110°C. The activated bentonite was dried for four hours at 170°C. The activated bentonite was characterized using XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The basal spacing d001 on the diffractogram bentonite was significantly unaffected by alkaline activation. FTIR analysis represents the stretching vibration of -OH shifts towards a lower wavenumber. Alkaline activation reduced impurities from bentonite and increased the pore surface''s porosity. NaCl levels in people's salt increased after being activated using alkaline. The increase in Na+ levels was followed by a decrease in Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents. KOH-activated bentonite had a higher NaCl level than NaOH-activated bentonite.

This study examined the feasibility of producing colored geopolymer concrete using slag as the binder and investigated the effects of pigment on various properties of geopolymer concrete. The geopolymer concrete was supplemented with two varieties of pigment, namely iron oxide hydroxide in the shades of "red" and "yellow", then the following tests of compressive strength, rebound number, density, and ultrasonic pulse velocity were carried out on it. The highest compressive strength value was achieved when adding 1% of pigments, which increased the red and yellow values from the reference value by 2.7 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively. The best rebound number values can be obtained by adding 1% yellow and 3% red, which increased the red and yellow values from the reference value by 8% and 15%, respectively. The density increases as the proportion of the additional pigment rises. The maximum density values were achieved by incorporating 1% of red and yellow pigment, with a respective increase of 1% and 3% for red and yellow. The highest values of ultrasonic pulse velocity when adding 1% of yellow and red color pigments increased by 1.7% for yellow and 2% for red. The optimal addition is 1.2% as it enhances properties and reduces expenses when utilizing smaller pigments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine how the tensile strength of glass fibre reinforced polymer stirrups is affected by different types of solutions, including alkaline, seawater, tap water, and acidic solutions. The study involved the production and testing of 260 stirrups in two different shapes (L and U) with diameters of 6 and 8 mm. The stirrups were immersed in different solutions for a period of 9 months at different temperatures (25, 40, and 60 °C). The findings indicated that the alkaline solution was the most aggressive environment, resulting in a maximum reduction of 92% in tensile strength after 9 months at 60 °C. Seawater and acidic solutions were the second and third most aggressive environments, causing maximum tensile strength reductions of 34 and 22% respectively, after 9 months at 60 °C. On the other hand, tap water was found to be the least aggressive environment, causing a maximum tensile strength reduction of 20% after 9 months at 60 °C. Furthermore, the study observed that the L-shaped stirrups exhibited slightly superior performance compared to the U-shaped stirrups. However, the diameter of the stirrups was found to be a negligible factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Switchgrass is an important bioenergy crop valued for its biomass yield and abiotic tolerance. Alkali stress is a major abiotic stress that significantly impedes plant growth and yield due to high salinity and pH; however, the response mechanism of switchgrass to alkali stress remains limited. Here, we characterized PvARL1, an ARF-like gene, which was up-regulated in both the shoot and root tissues under alkali stress conditions. Overexpression of PvARL1 not only improved alkali tolerance but also promoted biomass yield with more tiller and higher plant height in switchgrass. Moreover, PvARL1 overexpression lines displayed higher capacities in the maintenance of water content and photosynthetic stability compared with the controls under alkali treatments. A significant reduction in the ratio of electrolyte leakage, MDA content, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) showed that PvARL1 plays a positive role in protecting cell membrane integrity. In addition, PvARL1 also negatively affected the K+ efflux or uptake in roots to alleviate ion toxicity under alkali treatments. Overall, our results suggest that PvARL1 functions as a positive regulator in plant growth as well as in the plant response to alkali stress, which could be used to improve switchgrass biomass yield and alkali tolerance genetically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, pink colour development was investigated by changing systemically alkaline and alkaline earth ratios of the developed glaze. Group-1 (Na 2 O/CaO, Na 2 O/MgO, Na 2 O/BaO) and Group-2 (CaO/MgO, CaO/BaO) represent compositional variations. Group-1 has alkaline oxides with changing ratios of 0.2 mol Na 2 O and 0.6 mol CaO and 0.2 mol Na 2 O and 0.2 mol BaO, respectively. These ratios vary as 0.2 mol CaO and 0.1 mol BaO in Group-2. According to the results, the pink colour intensity was improved in the compositions with cassiterite (SnO 2) and malayaite CaSn(SiO 5) phases. In addition, bar-shaped BaO–CaO–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 crystals were observed in structures with high barium oxide content. It could be concluded that the pink colour development regarding the a* (redness) value may also be related to the presence of BaO–CaO–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This prospective life cycle assessment (LCA) compares the environmental impacts of alkaline electrolyser (AE) and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser systems for green hydrogen production with a special focus on the stack components. The study evaluates both baseline and near-future advanced designs, considering cradle-to-gate life cycle from material production to operation. The electricity source followed by the stacks are identified as major contributors to environmental impacts. No clear winner emerges between AE and PEM in relation to environmental impacts. The advanced designs show a reduced impact in most categories compared to baseline designs which can mainly be attributed to the increased current density. Advanced green hydrogen production technologies outperform grey and blue hydrogen production technologies in all impact categories, except for minerals and metals resource use due to rare earth metals in the stacks. Next to increasing current density, decreasing minimal load requirements. improving sustainable mining practices (including waste treatment) and low carbon intensity steel production routes can enhance the environmental performance of electrolyser systems, aiding the transition to sustainable hydrogen production. • LCA for baseline (2020) and advanced (2030) designs GW scale AE and PEM electrolyser systems was conducted. • Alternate materials required to drive down costs and improve performance were incorporated. • On an environmental basis, neither AE nor PEM (baseline and advanced) outperformed the other. • Impact reduction in advanced design can mostly be attributed to higher current densities. • Green hydrogen outperforms grey and blue hydrogen, except in Resource use, minerals and metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, different industries, such as the aerospace and biomedical industries, prefer using Ti alloys due to their excellent anti-corrosion properties and ability to generate a TiO2 oxide layer; this induces the use of anodization to increase the useful life of components. The aim of this work is to characterize the electrochemical effect of anodizing treatment on titanium alloys (Ti CP2, Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, Ti-6Al-4V, and Ti Beta-C) in NaOH and KOH at 1 M, applying a current density of 0.0025 A/cm2. The electrochemical techniques employed were electrochemical noise (EN) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), supported by ASTM G199 and ASTM G106 in electrolytes of NaCl and H2SO4 at 3.5 wt. % as a simulation of marine and industrial atmospheres. Also, the anodized transversal section and surface morphology were characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results of both electrochemical techniques indicated that Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo anodized in NaOH presented the best properties against corrosion, and the thickness of the oxide was the biggest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As for metal/zeolite supported phenol hydrodeoxygenation catalysts, it is important to improve the dispersion of metallic sites and build synergistic relationship between metallic and acid sites. The current research proposes a surface modification strategy by introducing CTAB in the NaOH etching of Beta. CTAB interacts with crystal defects to inhibit excessive crystal destruction. Aluminum atoms are protected from being removed and acid sites are reserved. Generated silicon hydroxyl groups anchor Pt0 particles. Pt0 particles are spatial resisted on the internal surface of catalysts to activate C–O bonds of phenol. Preserved acid sites provide reactive sites for dehydration reaction of cyclohexanol on the external surface of Pt/Beta-H. The high phenol conversion (i.e., 92.26 %) and cyclohexane yield (i.e., 7.18 %) were obtained at 80 °C due to the functional synergistic effect between acid and Pt0 sites. Proposed surface modification strategy proposes references for the structure design and development of efficient phenolics hydrodeoxygenation catalysts. [Display omitted] • CTAB regulates the NaOH etching sites of Beta molecular sieves. • Generated silicon hydroxyl groups anchor fine Pt particles. • Synergistic effect of Pt-acid sites of Pt/Beta catalysts is fabricated due to a hollow spatial distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct formate fuel cells (DFFCs) are recently attracting more attention, primarily because of the use of the carbon-neutral fuel, the low-cost catalyst and membrane. For improving the passive DFFC cell performance, passive, anion-exchange membrane (AEM) DFFCs were developed in this study using Ni foam as anode diffusion layer (DL) on which the catalyst slurry was coated with three different techniques, including direct brushing (DB), dripping (DR) and dip coating (DC). The catalysts on cathode and anode of the AEM DFFCs were Pt and Pd, respectively, with identical loading of 2 mg/cm2. Nafion was used as anode binder with loading of 1.87 mg/cm2. Both V – I curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of those passive AEM DFFCs were measured and investigated with the mixture of potassium formate (HCOOK) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as anolyte at room temperature. Besides, the micrographs of the catalyst-coated Ni foams were also presented to inspect the catalyst distribution on the DL. An additional cell using traditional carbon cloth as DL was also tested for comparison. The polarization curves and EIS showed that the mass transport to the catalyst layer was significantly enhanced for those cells using Ni foam as DL, compared to the carbon cloth-based passive, AEM DFFC. Besides, the performance of the Ni foam-based DFFC with anode catalyst coated by DC technique was the best among all, while the cell possessing carbon cloth-based anode yielded the lowest maximum power density, 22.5 mW/cm2. The maximum power density of the passive AEM DFFC in this study reached 37.7 mW/cm2 when the cell having Ni foam anode made by DC method was fed with the mixture of 3 M HCOOK in 3 M KOH as liquid fuel. The results suggested that not only the mass transport loss but the activation loss can be lowered with appropriate catalyst distribution over the skeleton of the Ni foam. • Three coating techniques were used to achieve catalyst-coated Ni foam as DFFCs anode. • Performance of the passive DFFCs can be greatly improved with Ni foam as DL. • Cell having Ni foam DL coated with DC technique yielded highest cell performance. • Carbon cloth-based passive DFFC encountered significant mass transport loss. • EIS curves showed that mass transport and activity of the Ni foam-based cell were enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, physically crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol and tetraethyl orthosilicate (PVA-TEOS/PT) composite membrane doped by NaOH was used synthesized to enhance the performance of an alkaline direct sodium borohydride fuel cell (DSBFC) for the first time. The PVA-TEOS (PT) solution was subjected to varying number of freeze-thaw cycle and doped with varying concentration of NaOH for further characterization and performance evaluation in DSBFC. The physical crosslinking increased the amorphous nature of the membrane electrolyte and hence, the ionic conductivity improved significantly. The amount of TEOS in PVA matrix was varied from 5 wt % to 15 wt %. The highest ionic conductivity of 9.67 ± 0.04 × 10−3 S cm−1 was obtained for the membrane freeze-thawed of cycle 7 having 10 wt % of TEOS and dipped in 4 M NaOH solution (PT 10 wt% -7Cy-(4 M)). The physically crosslinked NaOH doped PVA-TEOS composites were tested in a single DSBFC using the Pt (40 wt %)/C at anode and cathode both. The fuel NaBH 4 mixed with supporting electrolyte NaOH was used at anode and pure oxygen was used as oxidant at cathode. The membrane electrolyte (PT 10 wt% -7Cy-(4 M)) with highest conductivity of 9.67 ± 0.04 × 10−3 S cm−1 exhibited highest peak power/maximum power density of 85.19 mW/cm2 at a current density of 184 mA/cm2 at the temperature of 60 °C. The recorded highest power density (85.19 mW/cm2) was capable to run array of LED light (1.2 W) for at least 12 h without any fall in performance. [Display omitted] • Physical crosslinking by freeze-thaw enhanced interaction between PVA and TEOS. • Number of freeze-thaw cycle affects the ionic conductivity of PT membrane. • Wt % of TEOS in the PVA control the ionic conductivity of PT membrane. • PT 10 wt% -7Cy-(4 M) membrane electrolyte exhibited highest ionic conductivity. • PT 10 wt% -7Cy-(4 M) produced highest power density of 84.19 mW/cm2 in DSBFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is challenging and thermodynamically expensive because of its dilute concentration (421 ppm, December 2023). Utilizing the concentrating effect of dissolving atmospheric CO2 in alkaline solution to form dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), we explored the potential of an alkalotolerant hydrogenotrophic methanogen, Methanococcus vannielii, to capture and convert CO2 at low partial pressures to methane. Kinetic constants for CO2 reduction to CH4 were determined from experiments in serum bottles at low pCO2 at 30˚C. At pH 7, 8, and 9, the apparent KM is 0.4, 1.2, and 1.2 mM DIC and the apparent vmax is 5.6, 7.8, and 2.9 mmol CH4 L−1 OD−1 hr−1, respectively. Using atmosphere-equilibrated DIC concentrations at pH 7, 8, and 9, methane formation rates were 1.1, 2.3, and 2.1 mmol CH4 L−1 OD−1 hr−1, respectively. Our data show that alkaline hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis is an alternative to photosynthetic CO2 fixation for biological capture and conversion of CO2 at atmospheric concentrations at reasonable rates.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were prepared from delignified kenaf bast fiber by using alkaline pulping, based on soda anthraquinone, hydrogen peroxide bleaching, and acid hydrolysis treatment with H2SO4. The size and morphology of the fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the isolated fiber from unbleached and bleached pulp had a diameter between 9 to 30 µm. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy exhibited that the content of lignin decreased in the pulping process, and the lignin was almost completely removed during hydrogen peroxide bleaching. Moreover, fibers were characterized for crystallinity using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The fiber crystallinity gradually increased at each stage of the process (raw kenaf bast, unbleached pulp, bleached pulp, and acid hydrolysis). The fiber was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), which showed that the isolated pulp nanofibers had diameters of approximately 30 nm.

This study examined the feasibility of producing colored geopolymer concrete using slag as the binder and investigated the effects of pigment on various properties of geopolymer concrete. The geopolymer concrete was supplemented with two varieties of pigment, namely iron oxide hydroxide in the shades of "red" and "yellow", then the following tests of compressive strength, rebound number, density, and ultrasonic pulse velocity were carried out on it. The highest compressive strength value was achieved when adding 1% of pigments, which increased the red and yellow values from the reference value by 2.7 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively. The best rebound number values can be obtained by adding 1% yellow and 3% red, which increased the red and yellow values from the reference value by 8% and 15%, respectively. The density increases as the proportion of the additional pigment rises. The maximum density values were achieved by incorporating 1% of red and yellow pigment, with a respective increase of 1% and 3% for red and yellow. The highest values of ultrasonic pulse velocity when adding 1% of yellow and red color pigments increased by 1.7% for yellow and 2% for red. The optimal addition is 1.2% as it enhances properties and reduces expenses when utilizing smaller pigments.

Potassium tantalate (KTaO 3) is a promising material for dielectric applications at low temperature. However, dense and single-phase ceramics cannot be obtained by conventional sintering because of the evaporation of potassium that leads to secondary phases. Here, we demonstrate that spark plasma sintering is a suitable method to obtain dense and single-phase KTaO 3 ceramics, by optimizing three parameters: initial composition, temperature, and pressure. A 2 mol% K-excess in the precursors leads to a large grain growth and dense single-phase ceramics. Without K-excess, a small amount of secondary phase (K 6 Ta 10.8 O 30) is observed at the surface but can be removed by polishing. At ∼10 K, the dielectric permittivity is 4 times higher in the ceramic from the 2 mol% K-excess powder, because of the larger grain size. The thermal conductivity decreases with decreasing grain size and stays above the thermal conductivity of KNbO 3 ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of metal-free oxygen electrode has been proposed. Its distinguishing feature is applying as an active layer nanodispersed graphitic carbon nitride with electrocatalytic properties controlled by synthesis conditions. Optimal conditions of thermochemical synthesis of g-C3N4 by a heat treatment of a solid mixture of melamine precursor and nitrogen-rich urea additive have been defined. The obtained layered g-C3N4 has been characterized by XRD, selected area electron diffraction, TEM and FTIR. An investigation of the electrocatalytic characteristics of oxygen electrodes has been carried out in a fuel half-cell with alkaline electrolyte. The electrochemical characteristics of the obtained g-C3N4 material with melamine-to-urea ratio 1:2 have been shown to be close to those of platinum electrodes. Electrochemical studies have shown that the obtained carbon nitride is a promising material as metal-free catalyst for oxygen electrodes of fuel cells The long-term testing of produced materials confirmed that they were stable over six months. Layered g-C3N4 was synthesized at different ratios of melamine to urea and its location during synthesis. Electrochemical studies have shown that the obtained carbon nitride is a promising material as metal-free catalyst for oxygen electrodes of fuel cells. It is shown that the best electrochemical characteristics of oxygen electrodes are obtained with an excess of nitrogen atoms in the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutritional and economic value of oils is affected by its antioxidant properties linked to their total phenolic content (TPC). The analysis of antioxidants such as phenols may be affected by the lipophilic character of the media. Therefore, the accurate determination of TPC in oils deserves particular attention. This research has tested the effect of the alkaline medium in the quantification of TPC in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and olive pomace oil (OPO) using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Seven different EVOO and OPO oils were used to gain representativity and study matrix effects in the analysis. Among the alkaline conditions assayed, the Folin-Ciocalteu method led to maximum TPC in EVOOs samples using 7.5% Na2CO3, whereas 35% Na2CO3 showed better characterization of TPC in OPOs than milder basic conditions. Therefore, when analyzing olive oil products, adjusting the alkaline media in the Folin Ciocalteu assay is important for optimal TPC determination. TPC analyses via Folin-Ciocalteu with different media was supported with antioxidant activities determined with reference assays: 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid cation radical and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon–air batteries (SABs) are attracting significant attention for their potential as high‐energy‐density electrochemical storage devices. One of the main limitations for the commercial use of alkaline SABs is the high corrosion, which results in a low conversion efficiency. Herein, the aim is to examine the influence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the conversion efficiency of SABs, shedding light on key factors affecting their performance. SABs using KOH as electrolyte at two concentrations, 0.5 and 2.0 mol L−1, are investigated. The results show that replacing part of the water in the alkaline electrolyte with PEG changes the etching behavior from anisotropic to polishing and increases the specific energy density by 53% and 123% in 0.5 and 2 mol L−1 KOH electrolytes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing the favorable morphology with large surface area and abundant oxygen vacancies for BiVO 4 can enhance its electron diffusion lengths and improve its photocatalytic ability toward photoelectrochemical water oxidation. The ex-situ alkaline etching process is reported to be facile for enhancing the light absorption and oxygen vacancy of BiVO 4 , but the systematic study of alkaline etching on the photocatalytic ability of BiVO 4 is rare. In this study, alkaline-etched BiVO 4 is firstly fabricated using a hydrothermal process with different durations as the photocatalyst of water oxidation. The BiVO 4 etched by alkaline for longer durations presents rougher surface, more oxygen vacancies and higher light absorption. The larger carrier densities and the smaller charge-transfer resistances are also achieved for the alkaline etched BiVO 4. The largest photocurrent density of 2.38 mA/cm2 is achieved at 1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in the Na 2 SO 4 electrolyte for BiVO 4 etched by alkaline for 45 min, while the pristine BiVO 4 electrode only shows a photocurrent density of 0.59 mA/cm2. The photocurrent retention of 81% is also obtained for the alkaline etched BiVO 4 electrode after continuous illumination for 6000 s. The results imply the feasibility of applying the alkaline etching process on refining the photoelectrochemical catalytic ability of BiVO 4. [Display omitted] • Alkaline-etched BiVO 4 is fabricated by hydrothermal process in various durations. • Etching BiVO 4 with longer time shows rougher surface and more oxygen vacancies. • Photocurrent density of 2.38 mA/cm2 is got at 1.23 V RHE for optimal etched BiVO 4. • It is due to large carrier densities and smaller charge-transfer resistances. • Photocurrent retention of 81% is got after continuous illumination for 6000 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive tree pruning is an abundant and renewable lignocellulosic residue, which is generally burned in the fields, causing economic costs and environmental problems. This lignocellulosic residue can be considered a suitable raw material for the production of a wide range of byproducts in a biorefinery context due to its high content of potentially fermentable carbohydrates. To take advantage of its sugar content, pretreatment is necessary to enhance the accessibility of the enzymes to the cellulosic fraction. The aim of this work is to obtain sugars contained in olive tree pruning as a substrate for the production of bioethanol by fermentation. Specifically, the production of fermentable sugars by sequential pretreatment with sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide is studied. A two-factor rotatable composite central design temperature and catalyst concentration (H2SO4 and NaOH) has been generated, and response surface methodology has been used to discuss and optimize the responses. This work shows that under optimal pretreatment conditions (130 °C, 1.90% w/v H2SO4 and 130 °C, 1.49% w/v NaOH) of 1 kg of olive tree pruning, a solution rich in sugars (102 g of glucose and 61 g of xylose) and a solid residue generating 99 g of glucose by enzymatic hydrolysis is obtained. Moreover, applying the combined severity to the acid pretreatment, it has been determined that 20% of the olive tree pruning is fast solubilization, and it was also found that the apparent activation energy of the acid hydrolysis reaction is 85.07 kJ/mol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were prepared from delignified kenaf bast fiber by using alkaline pulping, based on soda anthraquinone, hydrogen peroxide bleaching, and acid hydrolysis treatment with H2SO4. The size and morphology of the fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the isolated fiber from unbleached and bleached pulp had a diameter between 9 to 30 µm. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy exhibited that the content of lignin decreased in the pulping process, and the lignin was almost completely removed during hydrogen peroxide bleaching. Moreover, fibers were characterized for crystallinity using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The fiber crystallinity gradually increased at each stage of the process (raw kenaf bast, unbleached pulp, bleached pulp, and acid hydrolysis). The fiber was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), which showed that the isolated pulp nanofibers had diameters of approximately 30 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]