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We explore the limitations of the adaptationist view of evolution and propose an alternative. While gradual adaptation can explain some biological and economic diversity, it cannot account for radical innovation (especially during the past 10,000 years). We argue that ubiquitously available but dormant "functional excess" provides the raw material for evolutionary disruptions. Harnessing this excess requires directed experimentation and what we call "protoscientific" problem solving. We highlight the implications of these arguments for evolutionary theory, including evolutionary economics and strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This month's column is Part 2 of a contribution from my daughter Glenna, who recently completed her PhD studies in Environmental Science from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Her article explores the current landscape of global critical raw materials (CRM) trends in research and the applications of atomic spectroscopy (AS), including inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and X-ray analytical techniques in their identification of diverse industrial and environmental media, which have been essential in method validation and quantification of CRMs in complex matrices presenting high risks of interference. Some important examples to be presented include rare earth elements (REEs) in water leaching purification (WLP) residues that co-occur with radioactive materials; REEs and other metals in acid mine drainage (AMD) environments; REEs in coal combustion (fly ash) residues; arsenic (As) from groundwater treatment sediment; and platinum-group elements (PGEs) from sewage sludge. The article also classifies the different techniques in use at each stage of the CRM recovery train, investigates present challenges to each analytical method, and discusses the problem-solving tools used., - Rob Thomas, Column Editor Part 1 of this article focused on the overview of critical raw materials (CRMs), the global context for sustainable sourcing of CRMs, and the recent […]

For the preparation of SiC nanowires (SiC NWs) by carbothermal reduction, it is of great significance to study the formation mechanism of sic nanowires for process optimization and the controllable preparation. Although first-principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) can simulate systems of hundreds of atoms on a picosecond time scale, the results of FPMD are still insufficient to elucidate the formation mechanism of core-shell SiC nanowires. To make up this deficiency, this article has conducted Deep Potential Molecular Dynamics (DPMD) simulation on nanoseconds timescales with near FPMD accuracy for systems containing thousands of atoms, the results more concretively show the formation process of core-shell SiC nanowires. DPMD simulation results show when CO molecules react with SiO molecules, CO molecules are wrapped by SiO molecules to form agglomerates, SiO molecules in the agglomerates that can come into contact with the wrapped CO molecules will react with wrapped CO molecules to form the SiC core, and SiO molecules that in the outer layer of the agglomerates will disproportionate into the amorphous SiO 2 shell. Furthermore, the formation mechanism of SiC nanowires was validated in combination with thermodynamics and experimental methods. Thermodynamic results show that vacuum conditions are favorable for the formation of SiO and CO and lower the temperature of SiC preparation. Finally, the core-shell structure of SiC NWs with good luminescence properties were successfully prepared by carbothermal reduction method using carbon black and silicon dioxide as raw materials under the pressure of less than 5 kPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic injection molding (CIM) is a near-net-shape technology for the rapid manufacture of complex-shaped small parts. Preparation of thick-walled parts remains a challenge owing to the difficulty in debinding process for green body based on micron and irregular ceramic powders. In this study, spherical metal-ceramic composite powders with different particle sizes were prepared using a wet granulation method. NiFe 2 O 4 -based cermets with a thickness of 20 mm were fabricated using both spherical (SP) and non-spherical (NSP) powders as raw materials. Roles of the powder shapes in catalytic debinding and sintering behaviour were investigated. Compared with that of NSP, green body with SP exhibited improved debinding efficiency, due to the well developed pore channels. A new perspective was proposed to explain the mass transfer mechanism during the debinding process. The adoption of spherical composite powders significantly enhanced the debinding rate without affecting the sintering performance. After sintering, sound cermet parts with uniform microstructure and the highest relative density of 98.62 % were achieved. This provides an important reference for the fabrication of large and thick-walled parts by CIM via controlling the powders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium oxysulfate (MOS) is an emerging magnesium-based cementitious material gaining attention increasingly in construction and road maintenance because of its advantages. However, MOS cement made from lightly-calcined magnesia (LCM) with low activities (around 60 %) has too low setting rates. Increasing the MgO activity can accelerate the setting but often results in a material that sets too rapidly and is too weak to be useful in practical engineering operations. To address this challenge, we developed a novel method to produce MOS cement with the appropriate setting and mechanical strength required by practical engineering operations. The method involves ball-milling raw materials of LCM with an activity exceeding 80 % and magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (MgSO 4 ⋅7H 2 O) to effectively promote particle aggregation and bonding, thereby contributing to an enhanced ability to properly control the hydration reaction process in subsequent cement preparation. Based on this new method, we utilized both low- and high-activity raw LCM materials to prepare MOS cement samples and analyzed their characteristics, including setting time, mechanical strength, water resistance, chemical composition, and microstructure. The results indicate that with highly active MgO raw material, the new method can prepare the MOS cement samples that not only have a practical engineering-needed setting time of around 1 h but also increase the compressive strength fourfold. This study offers a promising technique for producing a cementitious material suitable for prompt emergency repairs of transportation roads and infrastructures. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effects of SrCO 3 and Fe 2 O 3 particle size on the reaction process, morphology and magnetic properties of M-type strontium hexaferrites (SrM) have been further studied. Pure strontium hexaferrite magnetic sample based on SrCO 3 and Fe 2 O 3 molar ratio of 1:6 has been successfully prepared at 1150 °C. The results indicated that Fe 2 O 3 particle size was the main factor of affecting the formation of SrM, a pure SrM phase magnetic sample was able to obtain at lower calcination temperatures by using fine Fe 2 O 3 powder as raw material, and at the same calcination temperature, a sample using fine Fe 2 O 3 powder as raw material was able to obtain pure SrM phase magnetic sample with shorter holding time. When the mean particle size of Fe 2 O 3 was below 60 nm, a pure SrM phase magnetic sample was able to form at 1150 °C at a molar ratio of 1:6 of SrCO 3 and Fe 2 O 3. In this case, the magnetic parameters of the sample with the optimum magnetic parameters were saturation magnetization M S = 77.8 emu/g and coercive force H C = 4122 Oe. And the solid-state reaction process of the corresponding samples was slightly faster when the mean particle size ratio of Fe 2 O 3 and SrCO 3 was between 0.35 and 0.36. Assuming that a SrCO 3 particle is surrounded by Fe 2 O 3 particles, it can be inferred that the corresponding molar ratio of Fe and Sr of the nearest raw material particles is between 3.6 and 3.8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor machinability and limited electrical conductivity present significant challenges for silicon carbide (SiC) composites used in the semiconductor industry. In this study, Ti-Si/SiC composites were synthesized by liquid infiltration of a Ti-Si eutectic alloy, using SiC and Carbon black as raw materials. The reactive sintering mechanism and properties of Ti-Si/SiC composites were investigated using the reactive infiltration sintering process. The relative density of Ti-Si/SiC composites reached 98.43 % at 1600 °C. The results indicate that continuous infiltration of the Ti-Si eutectic alloy and dissolution-reprecipitation are critical for synthesizing Ti-Si/SiC composites. The coefficient of thermal expansion for the composites is 5.16 × 10−6 °C−1. Remarkably, the exponential increase in electrical conductivity with rising temperature strongly supports the enhanced conductive properties of this composite semiconductor. The Ti-Si/SiC composites exhibit maximum flexural strength, indentation modulus, and hardness values of 310.4 MPa, 434.1 GPa, and 29.4 GPa, respectively. This research aims to advance the application of high-performance Ti-Si/SiC materials in semiconductor technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a kind of ultra-high temperature ceramic, TaC is widely used in aerospace field. In order to improve its high temperature oxidation resistance, SiC is usually added as a second phase. TaC-SiC nanocomposites prepared by precursor-derived ceramic method have the advantages of low pyrolysis temperature, small particle size and uniform phase composition. Some studies have used solid polycarbosilane (PCS) as the precursor of SiC. However, it has problems such as high cost and need to add solvent. In this work, TaC-SiC nanocomposites were prepared by precursor-derived ceramic method with polytantaloxane (PTO) and vinyl-containing liquid polycarbosilane (LPVCS) instead of PCS as raw materials after 2 h pyrolysis at 1600 °C. The obtained TaC-SiC nanocomposites have a particle size of about 200 nm and a grain size of 15–40 nm, wrapped by 1–2 nm amorphous carbon shells, which is beneficial to inhibit grain growth. By analyzing the oxidation mechanism of TaC-SiC nanocomposites, it was found that higher SiC content was conducive to antioxidant, because the SiO 2 protective layer formed by oxidation insulated O 2 diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1540 nm lasers are widely used for excellent anti-interference capability and atmospheric transmission, whose corresponding suppressing materials are still lack of investigation Er3+ ions can effectively absorb 1540 nm lasers due to energy level transitions near this wavelength. And the absorption effect could be further enhanced by doping with heterogeneous metal ions. Herein, Co2+ has been doped into ErBO 3 with different concentrations, which could induce lattice contraction of Er3+ ion cells. The ErBO 3 samples prepared by solvothermal and calcination processes are characterized by "flower-like" porous microspheres at 800 °C. The influence of different calcination temperatures and molar ratios of raw materials on the reflection performance of 1540 nm laser light was examined. The laser reflectance of the sample was reduced to 0.707 % by doping with 20 mol% Co2+. This Co2+ doped ErBO 3 material exhibits significant potential in 1540 nm laser protection applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fumarate is an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid useful as a raw material for unsaturated polyester resins, polybutylene succinate (PBS), poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF), plasticisers, and other products. Biodegradable plastics derived from fumarate are an attractive solution to the serious environmental pollution caused by plastic disposal. A new fumarate production from CO2 and biobased pyruvate using enzymes in aqueous media under ambient temperature and pressure is an environmental approach to overcome plastic pollution and achieve CO2 capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). In this work, fumarate production from pyruvate and low-concentration CO2 below 15% captured from the gas phase using 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)-NaOH buffer solution with a multi-enzyme system consisting of pyruvate carboxylase from a bovine liver (PC; EC 6.4.1.1), recombinant malate dehydrogenase from bacteria (MDH; EC 1.1.1.37) and fumarase from a porcine heart (FUM; EC 1.1.1.37) in the presence of adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) and NADH was investigated. It was found that pyruvate can be converted into L -malate in high yields (more than 80%) directly using 15% CO2 equivalent to exhaust gas as a carboxylating agent using a dual-enzyme system consisting of PC and MDH in the presence of ATP and NADH after 5 h incubation. Moreover, fumarate production from 15% CO2 and pyruvate as raw materials was accomplished using a dual-enzyme system consisting of PC and MDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of composite materials with fewer interface problems always helps to obtaining good properties. Two types of insulating biopolymers (7% w/w) were incorporated into a conductive matrix (polyaniline) during polymerization. The synthesis method, inspired by the synthesis of polyaniline and the coating of chitosan for the development of flexible electrodes, produces thermosets that are more thermally stable than the matrix until 350 °C. While one (gum) reduces the electrical conductivity, the other (lignin) increases the basic value of the raw material (~ 0.72 S Cm–1) by a factor of 10. The physicochemical and morphological analyses show the formation of the polymer on the surface of the biopolymer with the appearance of new chemical bonds by interactions between hydroxyls of the biopolymer and the nitrogen of amine function from the polyaniline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address metallurgical waste residue pollution, this study utilized copper slag tailings (CST) and waste glass (WG) as primary raw materials, with secondary aluminum dross (SAD) as a pore-forming agent, to produce lightweight spontaneous foam glass-ceramics. The effects of raw material ratios, sintering temperature (1120–1160 °C), and sintering time (0–40 min) on foam glass-ceramics properties were investigated, elucidating the correlations between various properties. Under optimal preparation conditions (CST: WG: SAD = 7:11:2, sintered at 1150 °C for 20 min), the foam glass-ceramics exhibited a bulk density of 0.41 g/m³, compressive strength of 2.32 MPa, open porosity of 61.02 %, 2-h water absorption of 83.76 %, and mean pore size of 3.12 mm. The sintering process transformed raw materials into substances like diopside subsilic ferrian, which enhanced the strength of lightweight foam glass-ceramics. Harmful substances in the raw materials can be immobilized within the internal structure of foam glass-ceramics, ensuring excellent environmental safety. Additionally, comprehensive characterization was conducted on the foam glass-ceramics, elucidating their composition, structure, and pore-forming mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our industry today is predominantly based on linear value chains. Raw materials are extracted from primary sources, processed into products, used, and disposed of at the end of their life cycle. This linear economy causes a wide range of negative environmental impacts owing to the resulting greenhouse gas emissions and pollution of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Closed carbon cycles and climate-neutral energy production are essential for the production not only of fuels but also of all chemicals, including plastics and fertilizers, to counteract climate change and further damage to the environment. In this regard, this article discusses the importance of heterogeneous catalysts for selected technologies associated with this transformation of the resource base and energy supply. It discusses the technological framework conditions of a net CO2-neutral industry, with a focus on electrocatalytic water-splitting for hydrogen production, as well as the catalytic challenges of production of chemicals for the whole value chain using biomass, CO2 and plastic waste as raw materials. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Green carbon for the chemical industry of the future'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HPSB (Hydrolysis Product of Sodium Borohydride) hydrogen storage material is a kind of porous lamellar structural material developed by our research group. Due to the special structure of this material, it can absorb hydrogen at room temperature, hydrogen absorption pressure is 2–4 MPa, and hydrogen absorption time is 2–5 min. The main preparation method used in the experiment is hydrolysis. The main raw material is sodium borohydride, and the reaction temperature is 30 °C. In this experiment, in order to improve the hydrogen storage performance of HPSB hydrogen storage material, Co–B and Sm 2 O 3 were introduced as catalysts during the preparation of HPSB. The results show that the amount of Sm 2 O 3 and the ratio of Sm 2 O 3 to Co–B have obvious influence on the hydrogen storage performance of HPSB. In addition, according to the results of SEM analysis, the amount of Sm 2 O 3 and the ratio of Sm 2 O 3 to Co–B also have obvious effects on the microstructure of HPSB hydrogen storage materials. The sample with a doping amount of 4 wt% and a ratio of Sm 2 O 3 to Co–B of 4:6 can release 2.17 wt% H 2. • The catalyst Co–B/Sm 2 O 3 can improve the hydrogen storage performance of HPSB. • Co–B/Sm 2 O 3 doping 4 wt% and ratio 4:6 shows the best dehydrogenation performance. • The maximum total dehydrogenation amount of the Co–B/Sm 2 O 3 doped sample is 2.17 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-purity magnesia refractories were fabricated by brine magnesium hydroxide from the salt-lake brine (Qinghai Salt Lake) and Y 2 O 3 as an additive at 1780 °C. It avoided the substantial CO 2 emissions and ultra high temperature sintering process (＞1900 °C) when compared with the conventional magnesite-calcination technical approach. The results confirmed that Y 2 O 3 was dispersed on the MgO grains boundaries in the fabricated MgO aggregates, resulting in a decrease in apparent porosity and enhancing the grains' boundaries. With 3 wt% addition of Y 2 O 3 , the apparent porosity and bulk density of the sample reached to 15.9 % and 3.10 g/cm3 from 37.9 % to 2.30 g/cm3 of blank control group, respectively. Compared to the blank control without Y 2 O 3 -adding, the sample with 5 wt% Y 2 O 3 exhibited a 54.17 % increase in the resistance to molten slag. SEM results indicated that the incorporation of Y 2 O 3 in samples increased the porosity of small pores and enhanced grains boundaries, thereby suppressing slag's penetration. Furthermore, the Y 2 O 3 -adding was employed to disperse the MgO grains boundaries and existed as separate phases for grains boundaries enhancement. The slag attack of the fabricated MgO–Y 2 O 3 refractory raw materials were controlled by an inter-crystalline corrosion process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of the Ca(OH) 2 –Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 –H 2 O hydroceramic system (with and without Al 2 O 3) as a potential well cementing material was investigated from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. To simulate the harsh conditions typical of deep wells, marked by high temperature and pressure, the material was cured at 240 °C and 50 MPa. Several hydroceramic systems with varying compositions were designed and a retarder was used to optimize the thickening time of all systems. Finally, the optimized hydroceramic systems were cured for different periods ranging from 2 to 90 days to investigate their long-term stabilities. It is found that the raw materials with finer particle sizes and higher reactivity (such as silica fume and nano-activated alumina) could improve the performance of the hydroceramic system, evidenced by increased compressive strengths and decreased permeability. Changing the Ca/Si molar ratio within the range from 2:1 to 1:1 had little effect on the physical and mechanical properties of the hydroceramic system, despite significant variations in the composition of hydration products. The hydroceramic systems exhibited good stability over a curing period from 2 to 30 days, but strength retrogression phenomenon was observed during longer curing periods from 30 to 90 days. Microscopic evaluations revealed that the strength retrogression could be due to the formation of reyerite in high calcium systems, while it was the conversion of amorphous C–S–H to xonotlite that led to the strength retrogression in low calcium systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the course of the past decade, critical and strategic minerals lists have soared in popularity globally. Though nomenclature may range from critical minerals to critical raw materials, the core understanding is generally one informed by critical functionality – often linked to the energy or digital transition or to military purposes – and economic scarcity, which renders it vulnerable to supply chain disruptions. This paper develops a compendium of core critical and strategic minerals with global importance by comparing the critical and strategic minerals lists of ten jurisdictions (Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and collating a single list on the basis of clear majority representation. Because most mining law practitioners are not trained geologists, the paper then unpacks information that will be valuable to practitioners who encounter a given critical mineral in their practice: Where is it listed as a critical and strategic mineral? Geopolitically speaking, what does the world's security of supply look like? What are its main uses and why is it critical? How is it mined and refined, and are there any particular associated risks? What are the social and environmental impacts that are specifically associated with this mineral (as opposed to impacts broadly associated with all mining)? How easily substitutable is this commodity (given that that constitutes an economic risk to the mine)? Finally, what is the position regarding recyclability? Critical and strategic minerals vary in important ways from one another. The careful practitioner will want to derisk critical and strategic mineral projects in a targeted manner, mindful of the characteristics of the commodity at hand. Thus a rare earths project raises different considerations than a lithium one. Bespoke contracts require insight into the characteristics of critical and strategic minerals, as outlined in the Core Critical and Strategic Minerals Compendium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed an energy-efficient, sustainable, and economical method for capturing carbon dioxide using landfilled coal fly ash. The innovative approach processes captured carbon dioxide with supplementary additives and alkali activators to produce a new class of hydraulic cement. A total of eight cement formulations incorporating varying proportions of landfilled coal fly ash, calcium-containing industrial byproducts, and alkali activators were produced and experimentally tested. The study achieved significant CO₂ uptakes, reaching up to 8.35% by weight of the raw materials. Up to 99.98% immobilization efficiency of heavy metal (copper) was recorded along with a significant increase in the total dissolved solids and conductivity. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed CO₂ incorporation with notable peaks at 1400 cm− 1 and 1063 cm− 1, indicating carbonate species. SEM and EDS analyses revealed varied morphologies, with dense, interconnected particle networks in some of the cement formulations. Compressive strength tests showed all formulations exceeded the EPA's minimum requirement of 0.34 MPa, with the highest strength reaching 38 MPa at 28 days. The findings of this study point to the viability of the production of mechanochemically processed hydraulic cements in CO₂ environment with effective carbon sequestration capability, marked heavy metals immobilization characteristics, and enhanced physical and mechanical attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the inaccurate classification of coarse aggregate particle size due to insufficient height information in single‐view, a multi‐view and graph convolutional network (GCN) based method for coarse aggregate particle size classification was proposed in this study. First, the viewpoint selection and projection strategies were designed to build the aggregate multi‐view datasets. Then, the surface texture of the aggregate was reconstructed by using 3D point cloud information. Finally, self‐attention mechanism and three‐layer GCN were introduced to aggregate global shape feature descriptors. The experimental results show that the proposed interleaved self‐attention and view GCN model achieves a coarse aggregate particle size classification accuracy of 94.11%, outperforming other multi‐view classification algorithms. This method provides a new possibility for the accurate detection of aggregate particle size and provides significant support for the production and automatic detection of aggregate raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of new 5-(trifluoromethyl)-benzo[d]imidazole linked N-phenylamide compounds was designed and synthesized using 1-chloro-2-nitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene as raw material via five steps. Their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS. The bioassay results indicated that some of them exhibited moderate insecticidal activity (>50% inhibition) against Mythimna separata and Nilaparvata lugens at 500 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mounting global concern over the environmental consequences of petroleum-based plastics has prompted significant research into sustainable alternatives, with bioplastics emerging as a forerunning solution. This systematic review elucidates the multifaceted synthesis processes of bioplastics, which are derived from renewable sources such as plant starches, cellulose, and waste materials. The synthesis encompasses stages from raw material selection, pre-treatment, to the incorporation of various additives, with the aim to achieve specific properties in the resultant bioplastics. A substantial focus of this review lies in comprehensively understanding the role of additives, which serve as the pivotal agents in tailoring the mechanical and thermal characteristics of bioplastics. Additives, including cross-linking agents, plasticizers, fillers, compatibilizers, and reinforcement agents, are critically examined for their influence on attributes such as tensile strength, flexibility, thermal stability, and biodegradability. Factors such as intermolecular interactions, hydrogen bonding, and moisture content, play a determining role towards the resultant properties. The prospects for bioplastics are rapidly expanding, signalling a transformative shift in various applications ranging from eco-friendly packaging to advanced biomedical devices. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to both researchers and industry stakeholders, providing deep insights into the synthesis of bioplastics and the transformative role additives play in their functional properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blast furnace (BF) ironmaking is the most widely used technology for hot metal production. In steelmaking industry, 80% of the steel in the world is produced in the BF‐basic oxygen furnace route. It is well known that poor quality of the raw material i.e., high gangue content in the iron ore affects the BF process performance and the cohesive zone formation, which is the most critical zone in the BF operations. Increased gangue content in the iron ore causes variation in the slag formation and slag volume thus affecting the fuel rate and BF performance. Therefore, in this study, the slag formation is studied to understand the slag properties at different locations inside the BF. The model is based on classical thermodynamics and is implemented using ChemApp linked with FactSage databases. The model aids in understanding the slag formation in the BF for various burden chemistry, fuel, and flux inputs. The final hot metal and slag composition along with the exit gas volume and composition predicted from this model are compared with industrial BF plant data operating across different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymatic hydrolysis is an efficient processing method for valorizing chicken rest raw material by generating new food- or feed ingredients. This paper characterizes two types of chicken rest raw material: viscera and a mixture of bones, skin and remaining meat, and evaluates how industrially relevant hydrolysis process designs affect overall yield of all products, including hydrolysate, sediment, lipid, and emulsion. Eleven hydrolyses were performed using viscera and bone materials, endogenous and commercial enzymes, pre-treatments, variations in water addition and hydrolysis times. Compared to bone materials, viscera had higher proteolytic activity, more readily water-soluble components, and lower effect of adding commercial enzymes on product yields. The process of heating the raw material to hydrolysis temperature greatly impacted product yields, representing about 50 % of the overall hydrolysate production from viscera during hydrolysis. Pre-inactivation of endogenous enzymes reduced initial, but not final, hydrolysate yields. Adding commercial enzymes to pre-inactivated viscera had no effect on yields compared to not adding enzymes. Reducing water addition lowered initial hydrolysate yield from bone material. Lipid yield reflected lipid content in the raw material, and thermal pre-separation of lipids did not increase the total lipid recovery. In general, hydrolysis of viscera generated more emulsion than the bone material. [Display omitted] • Composition and proteolytic activity vary between chicken rest raw material fractions. • Hydrolysate represents 10–25 % of total dry yield of hydrolysis products. • Heating raw material before hydrolysis contributes to the overall hydrolysate yield. • Industrially relevant process design affect product yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abraham's solvation parameter model was employed as a Quantitative-Structure Property Relationship in the present study to define safrole descriptor values. Safrole has applications in a wide range of fields, including pharmaceuticals and fragrances, as a flavouring ingredient, a fragrant agent, and a raw material. Safrole, on the other hand, can behave as a toxic organic substance. Safrole descriptor values were calculated using gas-liquid chromatographic retention factors in combination with liquid-liquid partition coefficients. Experimentally determined descriptor values for safrole using gas chromatography and liquid-liquid partition systems are E = 1.108, S = 1.123, A = 0.000, L = 5.340, B = 0.174, and V = 1.246. Proposed descriptor values will be useful in determining and estimating physicochemical properties of Safrole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the development of a wood sponge (WS) modified with MnO2 nanorods (MnO2/WS) derived from balsa natural wood, an abundant and environmentally friendly raw material, for the adsorption of organic solvents, oils, and heavy metal ions from water. The MnO2/WS composite exhibits an exceptionally low density of 0.014 g cm− 3 and a high porosity of approximately 97%. It demonstrates consistent sorption-desorption performance over 20 cycles. Zeta potential analysis reveals that MnO2 nanorods carry a negative charge (-22.31 mV) at pH 4.68, indicating their affinity for adsorbing positively charged heavy metal ions, which are commonly found in industrial effluents. Moreover, WS shows remarkable mechanical robustness, enduring 1000 stress-strain cycles with high shape recovery, ensuring its durability under operational conditions. The data highlight several strengths of MnO2/WS, including cost-effective production process, high reusability, remarkable sorption capacities for carbon tetrachloride and soybean oil (29.56 and 17.65 times its mass, respectively), and efficient performance. Its capability to produce potable water from real industrial effluents positions MnO2/WS as an ideal solution for addressing water crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of multifunctional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with low cost, stable performance and mass production is still facing great challenges. High-density traditional metals limit the application of EMI shielding materials. The unique structure of wood is considered an effective way to solve the above-mentioned problems. In this study, waste wood was used as raw material to prepare low-energy metallized particleboard. The particleboard was functionally finished to show excellent hydrophobic properties and been used stably in a humid environment. Dynamic thermal mechanical properties and mechanical properties analyses of particleboard were carried out. The bend strength (MOR), elastic modulus (MOE) and tensile strength were 30.50 MPa, 5384 MPa and 7.85 MPa, respectively. Metallized particleboard exhibited excellent electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) (average value 81.62 dB) in the entire X-band. The preparation of wood-based shielding metallized particleboard provides a feasible strategy for replacing traditional metal materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphatic fertilizers applied to soil, with time, alters into different insoluble soil phosphorus fractions. Since P fertilizers are expensive and raw material supplies are limited, it is essential to evaluate changes in phosphorus fractions and balance in soil in order to determine appropriate phosphorus fertilizer management strategies for sustainable yields. A long-term experiment (20 years) was conducted in an inceptisol with rice-rice cropping system. Soil samples were collected from six treated plots and one fallow; analyzed for phosphorus fractions using sequential extraction method. Phosphorus balance was computed. The results reveled that yield was 51.5, 112.0, 147.7 and 116.7% higher under 50% NPK, 100% NPK, 150% NPK and 100% NPK + FYM over control. Irrespective of the treatments, the abundance of the various fractions of phosphorus (P) in soil as follows: Organic P (32.4% of total P) > Calcium-P (27.76% of total P) > Mineral P (24.17% of total P) > Iron-P (6.65% of total P) > Aluminum-P (3.46% of total P) > Reductant soluble P (3.22% total P) > Occluded P (1.44% of total P) > Saloid P (0.89% total P). Phosphorus activation coefficient (%) was recorded higher under 150% NPK followed by 100% NPK + FYM > 100% NPK > 50% NPK > 100% N > control > Fallow. Hence, 100% NPK + FYM treatment has maintained phosphorus fractions in a good proportion and sustainable yields under rice-rice cropping system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, magnesia‐alumina spinel foam ceramics were prepared by foaming‐sol method using magnesia alumina spinel as raw material, anionic surfactant potassium oleate (PO) as foaming agent, and alumina sol as curing agent. The curing mechanism and the effect of alumina sol content on the stability of foam slurry and the properties of foam ceramics were investigated. In the foam slurry, the alumina sol can react with PO, so magnesia‐alumina spinel can be fixed in the foam structure through the gel network to improve the stability of the foam slurry. The gelation process reduces the viscosity of the foam slurry. The pores of magnesia‐alumina spinel foam ceramics sintered at 1500°C are mostly closed pores and the average pore was 29.7–42.1 µm. With the increase of alumina sol content, the bulk density of magnesia‐alumina spinel foam ceramics increased from 1.3 to 1.9 g/cm3, the cold compressive strength from 8.8 to 22.7 MPa, and the thermal conductivity from.417 to.806 W·m−1·K−1(350°C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous geopolymer composite (E51) reinforced by E51 epoxy resin was prepared by well‐distributed dual‐blending using red mud, metakaolin, and slag as raw materials. The effects of E51 content on microstructure, porosity, mechanical properties, and thermal insulation properties of the porous composites were investigated. The addition of E51 changed the setting time and viscosity of the slurry with high content of solid wastes (80%), which play an important role in the formation of pores during the direct foaming process. The addition of E51 had great influence on the porous properties of geopolymer composites, which in turn affected their compressive strength (0.19–1.44 MPa) and thermal conductivity (0.09–0.12 W/mK). The addition of E51 enabled the production of geopolymer composites in a rather large range of total porosity (67.3–81.1 vol%), with an optimal sample possessing a total porosity of up to 78.7 vol%, a thermal conductivity of 0.086 W/mK, and a compression strength of 0.47 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyroplastic deformation is still an important defect caused during firing in the manufacture of porcelain tiles when there is no control over the raw materials used in the formulation of ceramic tiles. The present study used mixing design as a tool in the development of pastes formulations for Brazilian porcelain tile manufacturing in order to reduce their pyroplastic deformation. Ceramic industry in Brazil has typical and complex way to set up porcelain tile formulations, using regularly more than a dozen raw materials. Therefore, the originality in this work was understanding the formulation by means of a pseudocomponent‐based approach (multiminerals triaxial diagram) and defining parameters that minimize that problem. Eleven different raw materials, supplied by Brazilian ceramic manufacturer, were used and characterized according to their physical–chemical properties. Later, raw materials were divided into three chemical categories and through a simplex‐centroid mixture design, defining the maximum limit of feldspar in 70%, 10 formulations in the experimental region were defined. All formulations were analyzed for particle size distribution, bulk density (postpressing and postburning), mechanical strength (postpressing and postfiring), thermal shrinkage, water absorption, and pyroplastic deformation. Thus, formulations that presented the most admissible behavior in the manufacture of porcelain tiles were selected, and tests were carried out for chemical, mineralogical, thermal (differential scanning calorimeter [DSC]/thermogravimetric [TG]), thermal expansion, porosity analysis, and optical fleximeter (pyroplasticity). All results were analyzed using response surfaces with data obtained by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Mixture design method proved to be a valuable tool to observe the behavior of raw materials and to optimization of Brazilian porcelain tile formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the ceramic cores were printed with heavy calcium carbonate (HCC, CaMg(CO 3) 2) powder as raw material and Al powder as additive by binder jetting (BJ). The ceramic cores were impregnated with nano-ZrO 2 dispersion solution and then sintered at high temperature to prepare the ceramic cores with low sintering shrinkage. The effects of different Al powder contents (20 wt%∼40 wt%) on the properties and sintering shrinkage of the ceramic cores were studied. It was found that with the increase of Al powder content (20 wt%∼40 wt%), the bending strength of the ceramic core gradually decreased from 35.82 MPa to 11.89 MPa, and the porosity continuously increased from 8.94 % to 46.4 %. The sintering shrinkage rate of the ceramic core also gradually decreased, and even slightly expanded. This is because the oxidation of the Al powder to Al 2 O 3 produced a large volume expansion, and the Al 2 O 3 reacted with the CaO and MgO generated by the decomposition of HCC to produce calcium hexaluminate (CA 6), calcium dialuminate (CA 2), MgAl 2 O 4 (MA) and other substances, and these reaction processes also produced a certain volume expansion. When the amount of the Al powder was 40 %, the dimensional change rates of X, Y and Z axis of the ceramic core were 2.48 %, 2.35 % and −0.6 %, respectively. Compared with the ceramic core without Al powder, the sintering shrinkage rate decreased by 91.2 %, and the dimensional accuracy of the ceramic core was improved significantly. By observing the microstructure of the ceramic cores, it is found that various substances inside the ceramic core formed a network distribution structure, which achieved a good toughening effect and ensured that the ceramic core had a good bending strength under large porosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the design and development of a new generation of MgO–C refractory material implementing spent MgO–C recyclate as a partial replacement of fresh raw materials, and a non-hazardous environment-friendly lactose- and tannin-based binder system. Throughout the experimental campaign the used MgO–C recyclate, which was received in three size fractions, was analysed, and building on the obtained results, multiple batches of various compositions of next-generation MgO–C bulks were prepared. These bulks varied in the ratio between the individual size fractions of the MgO–C recyclate, the ratio between the individual binder components and the amount of water used during the preparation of the raw material batches. The bulk samples were prepared in the form of cylinders through uniaxial pressing, cured and coked, and studied in terms of their cold crushing strength, microstructural parameters, thermal behaviour, residual carbon content, and microstructure. The proposed next generation of MgO–C composites represents a potential eco-friendly alternative to MgO–C refractories prepared from traditional raw materials while utilizing waste material which would otherwise end up landfilled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nonferrous Metals (Extractive Metallurgy) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nonferrous Metals (Extractive Metallurgy) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nonferrous Metals (Extractive Metallurgy) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nonferrous Metals (Extractive Metallurgy) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lithium‐sulfur batteries are emerging as sustainable replacements for current lithium‐ion batteries. The commercial viability of this novel type of battery is still under debate due to the extensive use of highly reactive lithium‐metal anodes and the complex electrochemistry of the sulfur cathode. In this research, a novel sulfur‐based battery has been proposed that eliminates the need for metallic lithium anodes and other critical raw materials like cobalt and graphite, replacing them with biomass‐derived materials. This approach presents numerous benefits, encompassing ample availability, cost‐effectiveness, safety, and environmental friendliness. In particular, two types of biochar‐based anode electrodes (non‐activated and activated biochar) derived from spent common ivy have been investigated as alternatives to metallic lithium. We compared their structural and electrochemical properties, both of which exhibited good compatibility with the typical electrolytes used in sulfur batteries. Surprisingly, while steam activation results in an increased specific surface area, the non‐activated ivy biochar demonstrates better performance than the activated biochar, achieving a stable capacity of 400 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and a long lifespan (>400 cycles at 0.5 A g−1). Our results demonstrate that the presence of heteroatoms, such as oxygen and nitrogen positively affects the capacity and cycling performance of the electrodes. This led to increased d‐spacing in the graphitic layer, a strong interaction with the solid electrolyte interphase layer, and improved ion transportation. Finally, the non‐activated biochar was successfully coupled with a sulfur cathode to fabricate lithium‐metal‐free sulfur batteries, delivering a specific energy density of ~600 Wh kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the in situ TaC/Ni composites were prepared by reactive sintering method using Ta, Ni and graphite as raw materials, and their oxidation behavior at 873, 973 and 1073 K in air is investigated by static cyclic oxidation method. The results present that the oxidation behavior of composites conforms to the linear kinetic law. At 873 K, the oxidation of TaC and Ni–Ta matrix generate NiO, Ta2O5, TaO2 and NiTa2O6. The oxide scale is consisted by double continuous layers, including the outer NiO and inner Ta2O5 layer, due to the diffusion of Ni ion through the oxide ion vacancies in Ta2O5. The Oxygen inward diffuse along the interface between TaC and Ni–Ta matrix, and then dissolves in TaC and replaces C sites to generate Ta oxides. At 973 K, more Ta oxides occupy the oxide scale, forming the alternative distribution of NiO and Ta oxides, resulted from the accelerated diffusion of Ta ions. At 1073 K, the oxide scale is mainly taken up by NiTa2O6 with slight NiO. The formation reaction of Ta2O5 and NiTa2O6 shows high Pilling Bedworth ratio near to 2, resulting in the expansion and compressive stress in oxide scale. The oxidation of composites is primarily controlled by the inward diffusion of Oxygen, leading the formation of non-protective oxide scale with pores and cracks on surface. One effective method to improve the oxidation resistance of TaC/Ni composites is to restrict the formation of Ta2O5 and NiTa2O6, to inhibit the appearance of cracks in oxide scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial solar-driven evaporation technology shows great potential in the field of industrial seawater desalination, and the development of efficient and low-cost evaporation materials is key to achieving large-scale applications. Hydrogels are considered to be promising candidates; however, conventional hydrogel-based interfacial solar evaporators have difficulty in simultaneously meeting multiple requirements, including a high evaporation rate, salt resistance, and good mechanical properties. In this study, a Janus sponge-like hydrogel solar evaporator (CPAS) with excellent comprehensive performance was successfully constructed. The introduction of biomass agar (AG) into the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel backbone reduced the enthalpy of water evaporation, optimized the pore structure, and improved the mechanical properties. Meanwhile, by introducing hydrophobic fumed nano-silica aerogel (SA) and a synergistic foaming-crosslinking process, the hydrogel spontaneously formed a Janus structure with a hydrophobic surface and hydrophilic bottom properties. Based on the reduction of the evaporation enthalpy and the modulation of the pore structure, the CPAS evaporation rate reached 3.56 kg m-2 h-1 under one sun illumination. Most importantly, owing to the hydrophobic top surface and 3D-interconnected porous channels, the evaporator could work stably in high concentrations of salt-water (25 wt% NaCl), showing strong salt resistance. Efficient water evaporation, excellent salt resistance, scalable preparation processes, and low-cost raw materials make CPAS extremely promising for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioplastic is a biodegradable and environmentally friendly material because it uses natural materials in the form of plant fibers. The plants with high fiber content can be converted to cellulose acetate as a raw material for bioplastics. Durian skin is a biomass waste that has the potential to be a raw material for bioplastics. Cellulosebased bioplastics are generally made by adding adhesives, plasticizers, and fillers. In this study, the manufacture of bioplastics used the cellulose acetate from durian skin with variations of plasticizer concentration, plasticizer type, starch adhesive, and chitosan. Glycerol and sorbitol were used as plasticizers with variations in concentration of 20%, 30%, and 40%. The mass ratio of cellulose and starch used was 1.5:1. Bioplastics were produced by adding chitosan, starch, and variations of plasticizers in each concentration which were achieved varying values in tensile strength, water absorption, density values, elongation values, Young's modulus, degradability, and different bioplastic surface structures. The best bioplastic result is bioplastic with 20% sorbitol concentration for a density of 0.852 g/mL, water absorption of 45.99%, tensile strength of 613.12 Kpa, elongation of 2.35%, and Young's modulus of 26090.21 Kpa. In addition, the degradation time without landfill has met the Indonesian National Standard (INS) for 45 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has created many challenges for the modern and interconnected world we live in. Global supply chains (GSCs), which until this outbreak, had shown a certain level of responsiveness and reliability in responding to disruptions, were subject to a great test of their resilience. Adopting a qualitative research approach and carrying out in‐depth interviews with several different companies, it is shown that COVID‐19 has caused substantial harm to a variety of industries worldwide, compromising all nodes of their supply chain, from raw material assurance to the delivery of finished goods to consumers. Consequently, the disruption propagation was both from upstream and downstream of the value chain. The results also revealed some mitigation measures adopted and the intention to implement future ones to deal with consequences of potential future disruptions. Aiming to investigate if the pandemic crisis was intensifying deglobalization trends, the study also researched the relationship between supply chain disruptions and their impact on global trade. The analysis pointed to a deacceleration of international trade during the first months of the disease, mainly due to the closure of borders, but after this period, global dynamics started to be re‐established, suggesting that there is not an intensification of deglobalization trends. The study is considered relevant to the literature, as it brings more evidence and diversified viewpoints from various interviewees and industries in a recovering phase of COVID‐19 impacts, as well as to GSCs' decision‐makers since it brings about some managerial insights to better navigate through crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beef rendang production process at the Payakumbuh Rendang small and medium industry can cause environmental impacts due to the use of energy that produces various emissions, such as using boilers. This research aims to analyze the life cycle of the rendang production process in the form of inventory data, including raw materials, energy, and emissions produced in the production process, and analyze the environmental impact of 250 g packaged rendang, which includes the transportation, storage, washing, cutting, milling, grating, pressing processes, cooking and packaging using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, and providing recommendations for improvements at stages of the production process. This research uses a gate-to-gate approach on SimaPro 9.4 software with the CML-IA Baseline method and refers to the 2016 ISO 14040 standard. The results of this research show the impact of 250 g of packaged rendang for the global warming potential (GWP100a) category of 1.41E-13 kg CO2 eq, ozone layer depletion 1.45E-16 kg CFC-11 eq, human toxicity 1.06E-14 kg 1.4-DB eq, photochemical oxidation 1.12E-14 kg C2H4 eq, acidification 1.07E-13 kg·SO2·eq, and eutrophication 4.98E-14 kg PO4 eq. Using electrical energy during storage, packaging, and cooking impacts the environment. Recommendations for improvements given to reduce environmental impacts are that the use of Beef freezers for storing spices can reduce electricity usage in the storage process by 17.9%, optimizing the retort usage time from 1.5 hours to 10 minutes reduces electricity usage in the packaging process by 24%, and the addition of hybrid solar panels for boilers can reduce electricity usage from Coal-Fired Power Plant (PLTU) by 63%. The improvement scenario shows a reduction in electricity use during the production process by 79.1% and a 9-68.4% reduction for all impact categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To control spontaneous combustion of sulfide ores, the compound inhibitor was prepared by selecting physical resistance raw materials(Na2CO3), chemical resistance raw materials(Melatonin), Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTMAB) and hydroxyethyl cellulose(HEC). With the help of the simultaneous thermal analyzer, different concentrations of inhibitors were prepared and the thermal behavior of the ore samples with 10, 15, and 20 wt% inhibitor at four heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 K/min was determined. The Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method was applied to calculate the activation energy of sulfide ores with different concentrations. The results showed that: Gradually increasing the heating rate will increase the reaction intensity of each ore sample in the first weight loss stage of thermal decomposition, and then reduce the mass of the ore samples involved in the second weight loss stage; The thermal stability of each resisted ore sample is better than that of the original ore sample; The increase in the concentration of inhibitor can inert the reaction process of ore samples in the thermal decomposition stage, weakening the exothermic effect of ore samples; The inhibitor with 15 wt% had a better effect on preventing spontaneous combustion of sulfide ores, and its property value is higher than other concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Essential oil from fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) is a useful source of natural raw materials due to its biological characteristics; therefore, it is used in the pharmaceutical and food preservation sectors. Plant parts have a major impact on the physiology, metabolism, synthesis and variability of essential oils. The aim of this investigation was to describe the essential oil composition of fennel, which was produced from leaves, umbels, verdant fruits and ripe fruits. It is clear that the highest levels of essential oil output (1.79% or 1.21 g plant−1) were produced by ripe fruits, afterwards, verdant fruits (0.79% or 0.30 g plant−1), then leaves or umbels (0.24% or 0.10 g plant−1). The principal constituents of fennel essential oil that were extracted from different portions were estragole (118.80–964.81 mg 100 g−1), limonene (128.02–681.99 mg 100 g−1), fenchone (8.16–30.43 mg 100 g−1) and γ‐terpinene (18.00–34.01 mg 100 g−1); while the majority belonged to the class of oxygenated monoterpenes (130.56–1016.72 mg 100 g−1). Essential oil obtained from ripe fruits resulted in the greatest values of major components and major chemical class. This study indicated that differences in fennel essential oil were caused by the subordination of fennel plants to plant parts, and hence, its biological activities were impacted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]