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This study investigates the importance of washing process in the quantitative improvement of both porosity and specific surface area of geopolymers. To this end, geopolymers were synthesized using natural kaolinite clay via alkaline activation. The characterization of both unwashed (UW-GP) and washed (W-GP) geopolymers, involved several techniques: X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), specific surface area, pore distribution, pore volume and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). After the washing process, both specific surface area (SBET) and pore volume (Vp) of geopolymers have increased considerably: SBET = 0.59 m2/g and Vp = 0.001 cm3/g (UW-GP) versus SBET = 78.80 m2/g and Vp = 0.104 cm3/g (W-GP)) respectively. Also, the adsorption test was conducted using methylene blue molecules dissolved in water, and the results for our geopolymers were obtained as follows: Qads (UW-GP) = 52.2 mg/g and Qads (W-GP) = 55.6 mg/g. These values demonstrate that the washing process has a minimal effect on the adsorption capacity of geopolymers. Hence, the washing process allows the increasing of the surface reactivity of geopolymers through the elimination of excess of unreacted alkaline solution which is responsible of the efflorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reflects typical consumer textile washing behaviour while taking into account existing standards in the household appliance and garment industries. Two garments were washed repeatedly with artificial dirt and detergent 30 times. The collected washing water was separated using fractional filtration. Textile physical tests were used to follow property changes of the garments, the microplastic release is determined using thermoextraction/desorbtion–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and the total organic carbon was measured as a sum parameter for the organic bonded carbon. This article shows the importance of a reality‐based approach when investigating microplastics of textile origin in the laundry care process. Deposits of detergent and dirt on the textiles were detected. The total mass of sieve residues was much higher than the release of synthetic polymers. The cotton content of the garments causes a much higher fibre release than synthetic fibres. Both will lead to false results by purely gravimetric analysis because nonpolymer fibres will be included microplastic mass. The results cannot be generalised only by the main polymer type, knowledge of the textile construction must be included for final evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of 3, 10 and 50 washing cycles on the properties of cotton fabric and cotton-polyester blend in plain weave, was investigated in this study. In addition to the analysis of tensile properties in weft and warp directions and thickness, the number of particles produced in the dry state was also measured after 3, 10 and 50 washes. After washing, the entire effluent was analysed by determining the total suspended solids (TSS), the total solids (TS), the pH value and the conductivity. To determine the similarity of the observed wash cycles and properties of all processed samples, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was performed. The fabric changes indicated by total wear in the warp direction after 50 washing cycles compared to unwashed ones amounting to 41.2% for cotton and 30.9% for cotton-polyester blend, may be attributed to the synergy of washing factors and raw material composition. Cotton fabric produced significantly more particles than cotton-polyester fabric in the dry state after the examined washing cycles in all size categories. A smaller number of released particles are in the larger size category >25 μm. The obtained TSS values confirm the degree of loading of the effluent with particulate matter from the analysed fabrics, since the detergent consists of water-soluble components. The HCA dendrograms confirmed that the release of particles during the first washing cycles is mainly determined by the structural properties of fabrics, while in the subsequent cycles the synergistic effect of chemical, mechanical and thermal effects in the interaction with the material prevailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to study the power of surfactant solutions on the remediation of soils contaminated by crude oil during a batch washing process. We used as surfactants Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS). In this study, we examined the effect of various parameters: level of contamination, type of surfactant and contamination Age on the surfactant elimination of oil from soil. The results obtained in this study showed the potential of surfactants in the cleanup of soils contaminated by hydrocarbons, and the structure of surfactants has a crucial effect on the kinetic elimination. The calculated correlation coefficients (R2) suggest a good closeness-of-fit range for the first and second order kinetic model. It varies between 0.87 and 0.94 for first order kinetic model and between 0.75 and 0.89 for second order kinetic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead tri-halide perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) have attracted attention as a light source such as LEDs. However, this causes a decrease in not only their dispersibility but also photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), which is one of the factors for external quantum efficiency (EQE) of LEDs when the ligand as an insulating component is removed. Herein, we proposed a strategy to prepare PeQDs, which selectively coordinated potassium oleate on the surface of PeQDs. As a result, PeQDs were successfully prepared, while maintaining the dispersibility and high PLQY after removing the ligands and achieving improved EQE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of BHM Berg- und Hüttenmännische Monatshefte is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Acid-soluble collagen (ASC) is generally extracted by acid solubilization, followed by precipitation and dialysis. Such a process is typically time consuming and tedious, especially for dialysis. A simplified recovery process based on water washing/centrifugation of collagen pellets to replace dialysis was successfully developed. An ASC pellet from salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) skin was obtained by salt precipitation (2.6 M). The pellet was washed with 50 volumes of distilled water (DW) and centrifuged for 0–3 cycles before lyophilization. As the washing cycles augmented, decreases (p < 0.05) in the NaCl content with a coincidental increase (p < 0.05) in the hydroxyproline content were attained. Similar protein patterns between all of the ASC samples, regardless of washing cycles, were noticeable. All of the ASCs were classified as type I collagen. FTIR spectra revealed that ASC possessed a triple helical structure with sufficient washing cycles. ASC washed with DW for three cycles (ASC-3C) was selected and characterized. ASC-3C showed high extraction yield (36.73%) and had high lightness. It exhibited high thermal stability (Tmax = 37 °C) and had an ordered phase structure. Glycine and imino acids were the dominant amino acids in ASC-3C. Therefore, a simplified recovery process could be adopted for ASC production, in which the shorter time was used without adverse effects toward ASC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Wool Textile Journal is the property of National Wool Textile Science & Technology Information Center 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.)

Research on the sources of microplastics (MP) in the environment and the parameters that lead to the loss of microfibers from synthetic textiles during washing have recently attracted public attention. Considering the involvement of a variety of structural and process parameters, it is important to choose methods for quantifying fibers as MP pollutants that migrated during the washing process. In the research to date, various sampling techniques and analytical protocols for the identification of polymers from washed synthetic textiles have been applied. In the present research, pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), was applied to verify the composition of the filter residue isolated from washing and rinsing effluents. A comparison with bases of polymeric materials has proven the presence of potential environmental pollutants in the form of microfibers released during the washing process. The investigation confirmed that fragments of cotton cellulose residues predominate in relation to polyester. Based on the list of identified compounds generated by Py-GC/MS results and their retention times the multivariate data analysis proved the influence in the bath composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for organic extra virgin olive oils (OEVOOs) as quality products with greater added value. The aim of the present work was to determine whether the washing process and time of harvesting (morning or afternoon) plays an important role in the quality of Picual OEVOOs by studying quality parameters (degree of acidity, peroxide value, K232, K270, oxidative stability), and volatile and sensory profiles. Olive fruits were harvested at three maturity stages and within each phase at two times of the day (morning and afternoon). Then, samples were divided into two blocks (washed and unwashed). Volatile profile was obtained by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Regarding the physicochemical quality parameters, sensory and volatile profiles, there were no differences between the oils produced under the two treatments applied (washed/non-washed). However, the time of harvesting (morning or afternoon) did influence the volatile and sensory profile, with higher values in the oils obtained from fruits harvested in the morning, being statistically significant for the families of aldehydes, hydrocarbures and lactones. Besides, the olives harvested during the mornings gave rise to oils with higher values in the green and apple fruit attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid pace of socioeconomic progress, there has been a continuous rise in the generation of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash. Enhancing the efficiency of MSWI fly ash utilization, minimizing expenses, and developing more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable cementitious materials represent critical scientific challenges that warrant immediate attention. The research commenced with the preliminary treatment of MSWI fly ash using a blend of chemical activators and a water rinsing method. Following this, quicklime and coal fly ash were incorporated to formulate a geopolymer derived from MSWI, aimed at stabilizing the MSWI fly ash. Throughout this investigation, a selection of five chemical activators-calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, dilute sulfuric acid, and citric acid-was employed in conjunction with a water-washing procedure to condition the MSWI fly ash. Three single factor experiments denoted A, B, and C, were designed, and the corresponding geopolymer samples were prepared. In this research, the analysis focused on the solidified MSWI fly ash-based geopolymer samples, examining their physical and chemical characteristics, compressive strength, levels of heavy metal release, and the structure at a microscopic level. The findings revealed that the B3 series exhibited the most substantial 28-day compressive strength, reaching 1.692 MPa. Concurrently, the concentrations of leached heavy metals, including zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni), were all beneath the regulatory thresholds stipulated by the GB16889 and GB18598 criteria, signifying a notably effective solidification outcome. During the geopolymerization process, gel phases such as calcium aluminosilicate hydrate (C-A-S-H) and calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) are formed within the geopolymer matrix. This leads to the formation of a compact and cohesive cementitious material, which showcases superior mechanical strength and a robust capacity for heavy metal sequestration. This research contributes to the safe management of MSWI fly ash by not only facilitating its non-hazardous disposal but also enabling the efficient containment and elimination of heavy metals, chloride ions, and elemental aluminum., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The influence of 3, 10 and 50 washing cycles on the properties of cotton fabric and cotton-polyester blend in plain weave, was investigated in this study. In addition to the analysis of tensile properties in weft and warp directions and thickness, the number of particles produced in the dry state was also measured after 3, 10 and 50 washes. After washing, the entire effluent was analysed by determining the total suspended solids (TSS), the total solids (TS), the pH value and the conductivity. To determine the similarity of the observed wash cycles and properties of all processed samples, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was performed. The fabric changes indicated by total wear in the warp direction after 50 washing cycles compared to unwashed ones amounting to 41.2% for cotton and 30.9% for cotton-polyester blend, may be attributed to the synergy of washing factors and raw material composition. Cotton fabric produced significantly more particles than cotton-polyester fabric in the dry state after the examined washing cycles in all size categories. A smaller number of released particles are in the larger size category >25 μm. The obtained TSS values confirm the degree of loading of the effluent with particulate matter from the analysed fabrics, since the detergent consists of water-soluble components. The HCA dendrograms confirmed that the release of particles during the first washing cycles is mainly determined by the structural properties of fabrics, while in the subsequent cycles the synergistic effect of chemical, mechanical and thermal effects in the interaction with the material prevailed.

In this research, the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) on the structural properties, porosity, active pores, and surface area of the MOF-5 (Zn4O(BDC)3) metal-organic framework was studied. For this purpose, the metal-organic framework was synthesized by direct mixing and the molar ratios of the precursors to the ligand were modified to minimize the stoichiometric calculation error as well as the washing process to improve the properties of the synthesized MOF-5. In order to characterize the synthesized compounds and to investigate the effect of peroxides and washing process on the properties of the samples, X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric/Differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analysis were performed. Structure, pore volume (1.212 cm³/g), and specific surface area (2307 m²/g) were compared to the sample synthesized with H2O2. DM-P-03 was selected as the optimal sample and prepared for thermal stability. According to TG-DSC analysis, the remaining zinc compounds in the sample were checked and the thermal stability of MOF-5 structure was confirmed up to 470°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the washing process, purging solution, and buoyance force (inclined topography action) on the effectivity of the electro-kinetic method used to remediate of a silty clay loam and natural soils contaminated with Zn, Pb and/or Ni were investigated by applying 12 different experiments. The results revealed that the washing process and buoyance force can cause a small increase in the Zn removal efficiency (≤ 31%) when compared with non-washing approach using distilled water purging solution. Using 0.1 M of EDTA solution for the soil contaminated with listed metals in combination with washing can lead to significant increase in the removal efficiencies with percentages not greater than 58.4, 60.68 or 42.8%, respectively. In the presence of EDTA, however, the majority of metals passed through the soil media to the anode area. In contrast, these metals are accumulated near the cathodic region in the presence of distilled water. The results demonstrated that the buoyance force (resulted from inclination angle of 30°) with EDTA had adverse influence on the metal profile along the treated soil. Finally, the results certified that EDTA in electro-kinetic process coupled with soil washing is a new hybrid technique which achieved Pb removal efficiency from natural soil reached to 58% by improving the solubilization and transport of metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Advanced Textile Technology is the property of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Magazines 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.)

The oxidation reaction of graphite with potassium permanganate in sulfuric acid has been widely discussed in the literature; however, its application on an industrial scale lacks a detailed methodological review that describes the interaction of variations in reaction conditions. This long-range study reviews the reaction conditions in addition to analyzing in detail the sample washing process; the objective is to understand the process of oxygen transfer to graphite sheets in order to adapt the reaction conditions according to the graphene oxide (GO) applications. The results of the systematic variations of the reaction conditions indicate that longer reaction times favor solubility because of a greater presence of CO and OCO groups, the proportion of permanganate determines the homogeneity in the distribution of oxygenated groups, and it is demonstrated that the reaction is efficient at room temperature, avoiding damage to the sp2 structure of the carbon. From washing analysis, it has been determined that it is the water that transfers oxygen to the graphite during the washing process. This result indicates the importance of describing the washing process as part of the reaction itself and allows us to more precisely define the amount of water to use according to the needs of our product. Thus, from both results, the graphite oxidation process has been redefined considering the washing process, describing three stages: stage 1, primary oxidation; stage 2, ion removal; stage 3, main oxidation and sheet separation. The results of this study allow one to define the reaction conditions suitable for the use of the GO prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strawberry has a very short postharvest life due to its fast softening and decomposition. The goal of this research is to see how well a starch-silver nanoparticle (St-AgNPs) coating affects the physical, chemical, and microbiological qualities of strawberries during postharvest life. Additionally, the effect of washing with running water on silver concentration in coated strawberry fruit was studied by an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Furthermore, the shelf-life period was calculated in relation to the temperature of storage. Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), UV-Visible, and Transmission Electron Microscopic (TEM) were used to investigate the structure of starch-silver materials, the size and shape of AgNPs, respectively. The AgNPs were spherical, with an average size range of 12.7 nm. The coated samples had the lowest weight loss, decay, and microbial counts as compared to the uncoated sample. They had higher total acidity and anthocyanin contents as well. The washing process led to the almost complete removal of silver particles by rates ranging from 98.86 to 99.10%. Finally, the coating maintained strawberry qualities and lengthened their shelf-life from 2 to 6 days at room storage and from 8 to 16 days in cold storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society is the property of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society Editorial Office 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.)

There are still bottlenecks to be overcome for the feasible industrial production of first- and second-generation ethanol (1G2G EtOH). One of them is the pretreatment stage. Washing is a candidate strategy to remove lignocellulose-derived byproducts from pretreated biomass, in order to reduce the negative effects of furaldehydes and phenolic compounds in the downstream biochemical reactions. However, the effectiveness of the removal of these inhibitors is highly influenced by the operational conditions of the washing process. Here, evaluation was made of the techno-economic impacts of including a washing operation after hydrothermally pretreating sugarcane bagasse for 2G EtOH production in an integrated 1G2G biorefinery. Different washing protocols were tested, considering their effects on the enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation, and experimental data were used for simulation of process scale-up. The removal of inhibitors improved the glucose yield by 40%, followed by an increase of ~ 30% in EtOH productivity. These findings showed that washing is a cost-competitive option for a 1G2G biorefinery, with a net present value for the industrial unit of ~US$ 2.3E + 8, which was the highest among the 1G2G scenarios analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZrO2 microspheres are widely used as a simulant of UO2 in the development of nuclear fuel. However, the cracking of ZrO2 microspheres prepared by internal gelation is still a challenge during drying and sintering processes. To address this issue, we designed and optimized the washing process for obtaining crack‐free ZrO2 microspheres. Through thermogravimetric, infrared, Raman, BET, and SEM analysis, it is shown that the cracking of the microspheres is mainly related to the pores in microspheres. The washing solvent with low surface tension is used to reduce the effect of capillary force on pore shrinkage. Therefore, the optimal washing process was designed as trichloroethylene (TCE)—0.5 M NH3.H2O—Propylene glycol methyl ether (PM) and gel microspheres with a high specific surface area of 315.3 m2/g and pore volume of 0.4125 cm3/g were obtained. The characterizations also further showed that when the microspheres were dried and sintered, the water vapor and the decomposition gas of organic matter were completely released from the pores in the microspheres. Our new washing process could be directly extended for preparing crack‐free ceramic microspheres by internal gelation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid-soluble collagen (ASC) is generally extracted by acid solubilization, followed by precipitation and dialysis. Such a process is typically time consuming and tedious, especially for dialysis. A simplified recovery process based on water washing/centrifugation of collagen pellets to replace dialysis was successfully developed. An ASC pellet from salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) skin was obtained by salt precipitation (2.6 M). The pellet was washed with 50 volumes of distilled water (DW) and centrifuged for 0–3 cycles before lyophilization. As the washing cycles augmented, decreases (p < 0.05) in the NaCl content with a coincidental increase (p < 0.05) in the hydroxyproline content were attained. Similar protein patterns between all of the ASC samples, regardless of washing cycles, were noticeable. All of the ASCs were classified as type I collagen. FTIR spectra revealed that ASC possessed a triple helical structure with sufficient washing cycles. ASC washed with DW for three cycles (ASC-3C) was selected and characterized. ASC-3C showed high extraction yield (36.73%) and had high lightness. It exhibited high thermal stability (Tmax = 37 °C) and had an ordered phase structure. Glycine and imino acids were the dominant amino acids in ASC-3C. Therefore, a simplified recovery process could be adopted for ASC production, in which the shorter time was used without adverse effects toward ASC.

To improve the efficiency and safety of the thermochemical conversion process of lignin residues from the bamboo paper factory, the residual lignin of black liquor was precipitated by concentrated hydrochloric acid. It was further washed using a hydrochloric acid solution with a pH of 2 and deionized water to obtain lignin samples. The ash of lignin samples with different washing processes was prepared using a muffle furnace according to standard method (GB/T 36057-2018). Their surface morphology, chemical compositions and thermochemical behaviors were investigated by cold field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray fluorescence analyzer, X-ray diffractometer, and synchronous thermal analysis. The results showed that the washing process changed the type and content of chemical compositions in lignin ash and affected its thermochemical behaviors. The ash content of L 1 sample (13.76%) decreased to 6.13% (L 2 sample) and 4.35% (L 3 sample) when the pH value of washing filter was 4 and 7. The efficiency of ash removal was 68.39%. The LA 1 sample was composed of Si, S, O, Na, Cl, K, Ni, Zr, and Pd, especially for Cl (46.49%) and K (41.85%). The washing process decreased Cl and K. LA 2 and LA 3 samples had the high content of Si, S and O. This increased the R a and F, and deceased R b , R b/a , R b/(a+p) , F u , and S/A. Three weight loss peaks of the DTG curve and three prominent endothermic peaks of the DSC curve corresponded to Cl release, Na and K release, and S release for LA 1 sample. Compared with LA 1 , LA 2 , and LA 3 had a slight weight loss. The washing process increased the efficiency and safety of the thermochemical conversion of lignin residues in the bamboo papermaking factory. • Washing process changes chemical compositions and thermochemical behaviors of lignin ash. • Ash content of L1 sample (13.76%) decreases to 6.13% of L2 sample and 4.35% of L3 sample. • LA1 sample includes Si, S, O, Na, Cl, K, Ni, Zr, and Pd, especially for 46.49% of Cl and 41.85% of K. • Washing process improves fusion properties of ash due to removal of Cl and K. • The Cl release, Na and K release, and S release lead to weight loss of LA1 sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of inhibitors is still an economic bottleneck that needs to be resolved in order to make the biorefineries feasible, requiring the development of technologies capable of improving their competitiveness in the biofuel marketplace. Soluble and insoluble lignin can impair the enzymatic hydrolysis process by inhibition, deactivation, and unproductive adsorption of enzymes. Washing the pretreated biomass or using lignin-blocking additives during saccharification could mitigate these negative effects in future biorefineries. Here, an investigation was performed of the combined mitigation processes, in terms of their technical and economic feasibility in an integrated first and second generation (1G2G) sugarcane biorefinery. Evaluation was made of the impacts of biomass washing and soybean protein addition, separately or in combination, on glucose yields for enzymatic hydrolysis in the presence of high (liquor) and low (buffer) concentrations of soluble inhibitors/deactivators. Combining washing and soybean protein addition provided the highest glucose yields, with an increase of up to 50%. The effect of the mitigation processes could be explained by a combination of catalytic mechanisms acting on both soluble and insoluble lignin. In an industrial context, biomass washing (90 °C, 15% (w/w) solids, 3 steps) followed by soybean protein addition (12% (w/v) solids) provided a cost-competitive methodology for bioethanol production, with an estimated net present value of US$ 9.16 × 107, optimizing hydrolysis process in the 1G2G sugarcane biorefinery. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the sources of microplastics (MP) in the environment and the parameters that lead to the loss of microfibers from synthetic textiles during washing have recently attracted public attention. Considering the involvement of a variety of structural and process parameters, it is important to choose methods for quantifying fibers as MP pollutants that migrated during the washing process. In the research to date, various sampling techniques and analytical protocols for the identification of polymers from washed synthetic textiles have been applied. In the present research, pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), was applied to verify the composition of the filter residue isolated from washing and rinsing effluents. A comparison with bases of polymeric materials has proven the presence of potential environmental pollutants in the form of microfibers released during the washing process. The investigation confirmed that fragments of cotton cellulose residues predominate in relation to polyester. Based on the list of identified compounds generated by Py-GC/MS results and their retention times the multivariate data analysis proved the influence in the bath composition.

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for organic extra virgin olive oils (OEVOOs) as quality products with greater added value. The aim of the present work was to determine whether the washing process and time of harvesting (morning or afternoon) plays an important role in the quality of Picual OEVOOs by studying quality parameters (degree of acidity, peroxide value, K232, K270, oxidative stability), and volatile and sensory profiles. Olive fruits were harvested at three maturity stages and within each phase at two times of the day (morning and afternoon). Then, samples were divided into two blocks (washed and unwashed). Volatile profile was obtained by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Regarding the physicochemical quality parameters, sensory and volatile profiles, there were no differences between the oils produced under the two treatments applied (washed/non-washed). However, the time of harvesting (morning or afternoon) did influence the volatile and sensory profile, with higher values in the oils obtained from fruits harvested in the morning, being statistically significant for the families of aldehydes, hydrocarbures and lactones. Besides, the olives harvested during the mornings gave rise to oils with higher values in the green and apple fruit attributes.

The strawberry has a very short postharvest life due to its fast softening and decomposition. The goal of this research is to see how well a starch-silver nanoparticle (St-AgNPs) coating affects the physical, chemical, and microbiological qualities of strawberries during postharvest life. Additionally, the effect of washing with running water on silver concentration in coated strawberry fruit was studied by an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Furthermore, the shelf-life period was calculated in relation to the temperature of storage. Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), UV-Visible, and Transmission Electron Microscopic (TEM) were used to investigate the structure of starch-silver materials, the size and shape of AgNPs, respectively. The AgNPs were spherical, with an average size range of 12.7 nm. The coated samples had the lowest weight loss, decay, and microbial counts as compared to the uncoated sample. They had higher total acidity and anthocyanin contents as well. The washing process led to the almost complete removal of silver particles by rates ranging from 98.86 to 99.10%. Finally, the coating maintained strawberry qualities and lengthened their shelf-life from 2 to 6 days at room storage and from 8 to 16 days in cold storage.

To effectively operate burning system of lignin residues from bamboo papermaking factories to provide heating, the calorific value, proximate and ultimate analysis of lignin samples with different washing processes were determined. Their combustion properties were also investigated by TGA Q500 at different heating rates. The results showed that washing processes changed fuel properties of lignin samples. The ash content decreased and the volatile content increased during washing process. They had a different content of C, H, O, N, S and calorific value. The effect of acid-soluble and acid-insoluble lignin on calorific value was not significant. Even though combustion process of all lignin samples included four stages, about 41–65% of weight loss occurred at the IV stage. The combustion characteristics and kinetics of lignin samples also varied at different heating rates. This research will provide scientific guideline for utilization of lignin residues from the bamboo papermaking industry as a biofuel. • Washing process changes the content of acid-insoluble and acid-soluble lignin. • Washed process improves the contents of C, H, O and increases calorific value. • Washed lignin has a low content of ash and a high content of volatiles. • About 41–65% of weight loss occurs to the combustion of carbonized lignin. • Volatiles or acid-insoluble lignin has a positive effect on weight loss at II, III and IV stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non-linear advection dispersion model involving Peclet number (Pe) and intraparticle diffusion coefficient is proposed for displacement washing process of porous particles. Non-linear model equations are solved using cubic Hermite collocation method (HCM) to compute exit and average solute concentrations. Effect of different parameters such as Peclet number, intraparticle diffusion coefficient and bed porosity (ε) has been discussed theoretically as well as graphically. Industrial parameter such as displacement ratio (DR) is calculated by using model predicted values. Effect of different parameters on displacement ratio, exit and average solute concentrations is discussed through surface plots.

Superalloys provide high corrosion resistance and are widely used as high-performance materials in aerospace, automotive, chemical, and other industries. Herein, the investigation into the characteristics and properties of alloy waste; Inconel 625, Inconel 718, and Titanium Grade 5, from the automotive industry, was introduced as a result of a recovery in various processes. For this reason, the following procedures were carried as follows; the washing process to remove oil from the swarf was evaluated using several commercial agents and for the process of thermal disposal of processing fluids, a temperature of 900 °C was used in a muffle furnace without air access. The presented studies show that the commercially available series of washing agents did not modify the composition of the surface. However, the high temperatures during the calcination of oil residues are affecting the elemental composition of the alloys. According to the results of the analyses, it is not possible to remove 100% of the oil residues from alloy waste using washing agents based on light organic fractions; however, the effectiveness of this method reaches 99%. In this report, accurate SEM-EDS analyses show changes that occur on the surface after machining and removal of processing fluids. The NMR and GC/MS investigations indicate contaminants as a mixture of aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons with carbon numbers from C8–C30.

The influences of stock consistency on the kappa number, residual alkali of pulp, flow direction of lignin, chemical oxygen demand, oxidation with dichromate (CODCr), and five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) in effluents were investigated in a washing process. Compared with 15% stock consistency, 35% stock consistency could lead to a decrease of at least 25% in the consumption of washing water while cutting 75.27% and 46.29% of CODCr and BOD5 in washing effluents, respectively. Moreover, the residual lignin in effluents were reduced greatly from 39.35 g·t-1 to 12.76 g·t-1, which will be beneficial to treatment of washing and bleaching effluent. All the results showed that a higher stock consistency in the washing process could decrease the consumption of washing water, the generation of pollution, and the toxicity in bleaching effluent.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of ozone microbubbles water (OMB) compared to microbubbles water (MB), and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on surface decontaminating inoculated Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli on sweet basil. The washing of a heavy initial load of S. Typhimurium on sweet basil was done by washing at 30°C or 10°C with OMB (at 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 mg/L), MB and tap water (TW). Exposure times of 2, 5, or 7 min under shaking at 60 rpm. The results indicated that washing for 7 min showed the highest reduction of S. Typhimurium, 2.6 log CFU/g at 30°C with 1.0 mg/L of OMB and 2.2 log CFU/g at 10°C with 2.0 mg/L of OMB. Washing treatments with MB or TW at 10°C did not result in greater bacterial reductions compared to 30°C, similar results ranged from 1.3 to 1.8 log reductions. The optimal condition was selected and applied to washing a low initial load (4 log CFU/g) of S. Typhimurium and E. coli. Using OMB compared to MB and the common sanitizer, NaOCl (at 50 or 100 mg/L) reduced the populations of S. Typhimurium by 2.8, 1.9, 4.2, and 4.2 log CFU/g, while the populations of E. coli were reduced 2.1, 1.0, 1.4, and 1.6 log CFU/g. Micrographs from Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) revealed that microbubbles has no bactericidal effect, but microbubbles could help to remove contaminants on leaf surfaces. Bacterial cells lysis was achieved when using OMB and NaOCl and caused cell death.

Abstract: The layered nickel‐rich cathode materials are considered as promising cathode materials for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high reversible capacity and low cost. However, several significant challenges, such as the unstable powder properties and limited electrode density, hindered the practical application of the nickel‐rich cathode materials with the nickel content over 80%. Herein, important stability issues and in‐depth understanding of the nickel‐rich cathode materials on the basis of the industrial electrode fabrication condition for the commercialization of the nickel‐rich cathode materials are reviewed. A variety of factors threatening the battery safety such as the powder properties, thermal/structural stability are systemically investigated from a material point of view. Furthermore, recent efforts for enhancing the electrochemical stability of the nickel‐rich cathode materials are summarized. More importantly, critical key parameters that should be considered for the high energy LIBs at an electrode level are intensively addressed for the first time. Current electrode fabrication condition has a difficulty in increasing the energy density of the battery. Finally, light is shed on the perspectives for the future research direction of the nickel‐rich cathode materials with its technical challenges in current state by the practical aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root vegetables, which are in close contact with soil, are particularly vulnerable to soil contamination or decay as they can be contaminated from multiple sources, including primary production and processing. This study investigated effective washing conditions to reduce the microbial contamination of potatoes by using soaking and shaking in the washing process. The reduction of Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes , and Murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1) in four washing processes (soaking only, shaking only, combined soaking-shaking I, and combined soaking-shaking I-shaking II) were compared. The numbers of E. coli and L. monocytogenes decreased by 0.55 and 0.49 log CFU/g after shaking only, 1.96 and 1.80 log CFU/g after soaking, 2.07 and 1.67 log CFU/g after soaking-shaking I, and 2.42 and 1.90 log CFU/g after soaking-shaking I-shaking II, respectively. The combined process reduced the microbial contamination more efficiently than shaking only. The reduction of E. coli in the washing process was higher than that of L. monocytogenes by approximately 0.5 logs. MNV-1 showed a reduction in the soaking and shaking steps by 1.34 and 1.98 log GC/100 g, with no significant reduction observed after the combination process. A combined process of soaking-shaking I-shaking II was effective to eliminate E. coli, L. monocytogenes , and MNV-1 from potatoes during the handling and washing process. • Combined soaking-shaking I-shaking II treatment reduced E. coli by 2.42 log CFU/g. • L. monocytogenes was reduced by 1.90 log CFU/g during soaking-shaking I-shaking II. • Murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1) was reduced by 1.98 log GC/100 g by shaking only. • Washing processes, including shaking, were effective at eliminating all pathogens. • Washing water contamination levels after the wash process were >3 logs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nd-Fe-B nanoparticles with a particle size below 50 nm and excellent magnetic properties were obtained via a novel route which makes use of both spray drying and reduction-diffusion processes. Uniform Nd-Fe-B particles were formed by the optimization of Ca amount as a reducing agent and additional washing by milling in ethanol media. Especially, we implemented a two-step washing process which contributed to the excellent magnetic properties with high remanence and coercivity. After the removal of CaO by novel washing process, the maximum energy product ( BH ) max of the particles showed 22.1 MGOe. This value is superior to those reported in reduction-diffusion process. We used Henkel plot to assume the mechanism of magnetic interactions of the Nd-Fe-B nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The residual lithium compounds on the surface of Ni-rich layered LiNi x Co y Mn 1-x-y O 2 materials are detrimental to their electrochemical properties. This study reports a mild polyaniline (PANI) washing method to effectively reduce the residual lithium compounds on the surface of LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 material without any harmful effects on its structural integrity. After the PANI washing process, the rate and cycling performance of LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 material are significantly enhanced. The as-obtained LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 material exhibits a discharge capacity of 160.65 mAh g −1 and a capacity retention of 86.95% after 100 cycles at 55 °C and the current rate of 2C, which are much higher than those of pristine material (131.57 mAh g −1 and 74.90%). The performance enhancement mechanism is the reduction of surface residual lithium compounds due to the PANI washing process, leading to the improvement of lithium ions diffusion and electron transport. Furthermore, some PANI can be left and coated on the surface of LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 material via the washing process, which forms more stable interface film, resulting in even better cycling capability. This study provides a promising strategy for the surface modification of Ni-rich layered oxide materials for lithium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the comparison of the pellets produced from untreated EFB, the hydrothermally treated empty fruit bunch (HTT-EFB) and washed HTT-EFB was performed. The pelletization of the raw EFB, HTT-EFB, and washed HTT-EFB was conducted using a single pellet making device. In experiments performed at room temperature under a densification pressure of 150 MPa, the physical properties, mechanical strength, durability, and hydrophobicity of the produced pellets were then evaluated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was also performed to investigate the binding mechanisms within the pellets. The results showed that the washed HTT-EFB pellets had higher mechanical strength and durability than the HTT-EFB or raw EFB pellets. The HTT-EFB pellets also demonstrated hydrophobic behavior against moisture exposure. However, the washed HTT-EFB pellets required higher compaction energy than the other pellets. From this analysis, it was determined that the changes in the composition of EFB biomass owing to HTT and the washing process regulate pelletization behavior and affect the binding mechanism during pelletization. In addition, the combustion performance of treated EFB samples showed significant improvements as it has higher ignition temperatures with more uniform combustion profiles as shown in the data obtained from TGA analyser. This research demonstrated that the combination of HTT, washing, and pelletization cotreatment is a promising method for upgrading EFB into energy-dense, durable, and homogeneous hydrophobic solid fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non-linear advection dispersion model involving Peclet number ( Pe ) and intraparticle diffusion coefficient is proposed for displacement washing process of porous particles. Non-linear model equations are solved using cubic Hermite collocation method (HCM) to compute exit and average solute concentrations. Effect of different parameters such as Peclet number, intraparticle diffusion coefficient and bed porosity ( ε ) has been discussed theoretically as well as graphically. Industrial parameter such as displacement ratio (DR) is calculated by using model predicted values. Effect of different parameters on displacement ratio, exit and average solute concentrations is discussed through surface plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study on converting municipal solid waste (MSW) into chlorine-free solid fuel using a combination of hydrothermal processing and water-washing has been performed. After the product was extracted from the reactor, water-washing experiments were then conducted to obtain chlorine-free products with less than 3000 ppm total chlorine content. A series of combustion experiments were then performed for the products before and after the washing process to determine the chlorine content in the exhaust gas and those left in the ash after the combustion process at a certain temperature. A series of thermogravimetric analyses were also conducted to compare the combustion characteristics of the products before and after the washing process. Due to the loss of ash and some volatile matter after washing process, there were increases in the fixed carbon content and the heating value of the product. Considering the possible chlorine emission, the washing process after the hydrothermal treatment should be necessary only if the furnace temperature is more than 800 °C.

In the present study, hierarchically ordered macro-mesoporous γ-alumina with a grainy wall structure was synthesized, for the first time, through a facile route from aluminum-tri-sec-butoxide as an aluminum precursor and polystyrene spheres as a template. This macro-mesoporous alumina possesses a highly ordered porous structure with a grainy wall of nanoparticles (ca. 45 nm), a high surface area (ca. 213 m/g), and a large pore volume (ca. 0.45 cm/g). By simply controlling the ratio of water in the washing process during the synthesis of macro-mesoporous γ-aluminum oxide, pseudoboehmite nanoparticles were found as an intermediate substance. Subsequent calcination at 600 °C induced the formation of hierarchically ordered macro-mesoporous γ-alumina with a grainy wall. This material is expected to be a good candidate for a catalyst, adsorbent, and composite material, due to the uniform macro-mesoporous structure, larger surface area, and grainy wall, which could improve the accessibility of large molecules to the active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil loss due to crop harvesting (SLCH) has been established as an important soil erosion process that has contributed to soil degradation in many countries of the world. Consequently, researchers have recommended washing of harvested tubers before transporting to market place. Unfortunately, many low resource farmers could not adopt washing method due to scarcity of water during harvesting period (dry season), cost of additional labor and possible tuber spoilage when not dried on time. This has stimulated the need for alternative method of removing soil adhering to tubers. A field experiment was conducted between 2011 and 2012 on an Alfisol derived from basement complex parent rock to (i) compare effectiveness and efficacy of hand rubbing process with washing process of harvested potato tubers and (ii) examine sweet potato cultivar effects on soil loss during harvesting. Ten commonly grown cultivars of sweet potato in Africa were planted in an experiment laid out in a randomised complete block design with four replications. Total harvested tubers from each replication were weighed and shared into two equal weights of tubers for hand rubbing and washing respectively to remove soil sticking to tubers. Soil collected was analysed to estimate plant nutrients contained in it. All data collected on soil loss and cost of removing soil from tubers were analysed using ANOVA. Contribution of hand rubbed soil loss to total soil loss ranged from 93.2% (Ex-igbaraian) to 98.2% (Shaba) in 2011 and ranged from 95.4% (Benue) to 97.0% (TIS87/0087) in 2012. Total SLCH was significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) different among the cultivars and largely determined by the size of the tubers as significant ( P ≤ 0.05) correlation coefficient between yield and soil loss was obtained. Average soil nutrient losses for two growing seasons were 32.8 g org. C ha −1 harvest −1 , 10.0 g N ha −1 harvest −1 , 16.4 g P ha −1 harvest −1 , 6.3 g K ha −1 harvest −1, 6.9 g Ca ha −1 harvest −1 , and 10.4 g Mg ha −1 harvest −1 . The average potato yield ranged from 2.0 t ha −1 (TIS 8441) to ≈0.2 t ha −1 (Akwide). Averagely, cost analysis of soil removal revealed that farmers would have saved 42, 600 ha −1 season −1 and 36, 400 ha −1 season −1 in 2011 and 2012 respectively by adopting hand rubbing technology instead of washing. Thorough hand rubbing of harvested tubers on the farm is suggested as an alternative to washing because the method removed about 96% of soil adhering to tubers. Developing potato harvesters that could mimic the hand rubbing process is suggested on large scale potato farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The particulate matter (PM) pollution of Beijing fluctuated significantly before and after precipitation events during the rainy period. The rainwater samples were continually collected at five-minute intervals on the roof of a building in downtown Beijing. The PM 2.5 was also monitored at same temporal scale. The pH and concentrations of ammonia-N, nitrate-N, phosphorus, sulfur, and heavy metals (Cd, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu) in the rainwater samples were measured, and the values were used to assess the effect of washing on PM 2.5 and determine the characteristics of the rainwater pollutants. The PM 2.5 was negatively correlated to the quantity of accumulated rainfall (R 2 value ranged from 0.668 to 0.974), which identified the function of the washing process on PM 2.5 pollution. The washing process of rainfall strongly affects PM 2.5 , which decreased to 10–30 μg m − 3 with 5 mm of rainfall. The analysis of the temporal patterns of ten pollutants in rainwater demonstrated that most of the pollution load was contributed by the first 5 to 10 min of the washing process. The event mean concentration (EMC) of nine inorganic pollutants was used to evaluate the pollution load and identify sources of particle pollution. Sulfur was the primary inorganic element detected in PM, and the average EMC of twelve rainfall events was 8.92 mg L − 1 . The EMC of ammonia-N, nitrate-N, and phosphorus after significant PM 2.5 pollution was 11.57 mg L − 1 , 1.72 mg L − 1 , and 0.019 mg L − 1 , respectively. The total pollution load of the rainwater collecting area during the rainy reason was also calculated, and the largest heavy metal load of 3.11 mg was attributed to Zn. The pollution loads of heavy metals and the stable relationship between the pollutants indicate the potential urban environmental management policies in Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]