Utilization of waste cellulose

Native outer, inner and whole bark, and paper mill waste bark have been studied and compared. Extraction with cold and warm water and different chemical pretreatments (H₂SO₄, NaOH, and NaClO) have been used to improve the accessibility of the cellulose fraction of the substrate to the enzymes and hence to increase the yield of formation of glucose.     

Utilization of waste cellulose

A pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials with sodium hypochlorite-hypochlorous acid at controlled pH (between 7 and 9) considerably increases the accessibility of the cellulosic part of the substrate to chemical and biochemical reactants. As a consequence, the yield and rate of the enzymatic hydrolysis to glucose is largely in creased. Wheat straw and spruce sawdust have been investigated. The increase in accessibility is assigned to degradation and (or) de tachment of the lignin network. The loss in cellulose and hemicellulose is not important, lignin being preferentially degraded under carefully controlled pH conditions. When applied to pure cel lulose, the pretreatment decreases the yield of enzymatic hydrolysis; in the absence of lignin, oxidation of the anhydroglucose units is im portant and results in the inhibition of the enzymatic hydrolysis.     

Utilization of a mixed-bed column for the removal of iodine from radioactive process waste solutions

A boron carbide capsule was previously designed and tested by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Washington State University (WSU) for spectral-tailoring in mixed spectrum reactors. The presented work used this B₄C capsule to create a fission product sample from the irradiation of highly enriched uranium (HEU) with a fast fission neutron spectrum. An HEU foil was irradiated inside of the capsule in WSU’s 1 MW TRIGA reactor at full power for 200 min to produce 5.8 × 10¹³ fissions. After 3 days of cooling, the sample was shipped to PNNL for radiochemical separations and analysis by gamma and beta spectroscopy. Fission yields for products were calculated from the radiometric measurements and compared to measurements from thermal neutron induced fission (analyzed in parallel with the non-thermal sample at PNNL) and published evaluated fast-pooled and thermal nuclear data. Reactor dosimetry measurements were also completed to fully characterize the neutron spectrum and total fluence of the irradiation.     

Utilization of cellulose nitrate waste

A two-step procedure for utilization of cellulose nitrate waste accumulated at industrial enterprises of the Russian Federation was suggested and experimentally checked. The procedure involves hydrolysis of cellulose nitrate in alkaline medium and incineration of hydrolysis products. The best reagents for complete hydrolysis of cellulose nitrate are aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate. As demonstrated by thermal analysis and thermodynamic calculations, incineration of cellulose nitrate base hydrolysis products can be performed without using hydrocarbon fuel.     

平板结构高效钙钛矿太阳能电池的旋涂溶液溶剂工程

自2009年首次应用于太阳能电池中以来,有机铅卤化物钙钛矿材料得到了极大关注.据文献报道,有机铅卤化物钙钛矿材料在不同结构的太阳能电池中都得到了应用,其中与有机太阳能电池类似的平板结构钙钛矿具有结构简单、制备容易等优点,非常适合用于柔性电池和多节电池等各种应用.在平板结构的太阳能电池中,制备高质量的钙钛矿薄膜至关重要.真空热蒸镀法虽然可以制备厚度均匀的钙钛矿薄膜,获得高的器件性能,但是设备成本较高,不利于大规模生产.而在溶液法中,早期的一步旋涂法和两步法由于没有多孔金属氧化物的支撑,很难制备均匀的钙钛矿平板薄膜;而气相辅助的两步法虽然制备的薄膜比较均匀,但反应时间却比较长.程一兵研究组采用在旋涂N,N-二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)溶液时滴加氯苯使钙钛矿快速析出结晶的方法,制备了高质量的均匀的CH3NH3PbI3薄膜. Seok研究组采用1,4-丁内酯(GBL)和二甲基亚砜(DMSO)的混和溶剂,在旋涂时滴加甲苯的方法,在多孔二氧化钛上也制得了均匀的CH3NH3PbI3薄膜,取得了很高转化效率(16.7%),但缺少对不同溶剂比例的细致研究,另外,也没有对平板结构电池性能进行研究.
　　本文采用DMF-DMSO和GBL-DMSO作为混合溶剂在二氧化钛致密层上旋涂制备了平板结构的钙钛矿薄膜,并且对混合溶剂的比例对器件性能的影响进行了详细的考察和优化.当纯DMF或纯GBL作为旋涂溶剂时,得到的CH3NH3PbI3钙钛矿薄膜含有大量不连续的晶粒,表面的覆盖度很差,对入射光的吸收远弱于连续均匀的薄膜.而且XRD结果表明,纯DMF或纯GBL作为旋涂溶剂的薄膜残留有前驱体的杂质,对器件性能非常不利.而采用DMSO作为旋涂溶剂时,制得的薄膜表面则比较均匀,几乎达到100%的覆盖.这主要是由于在旋涂溶液中形成了PbI2-CH3NH3I-DMSO的中间相,这样可以避免纯DMF或纯GBL溶剂蒸发时PbI2和CH3NH3I的剧烈反应,因此退火后制得的CH3NH3PbI3薄膜非常均匀.然而由于纯DMSO的高粘度和低挥发速度,并不是非常适合作为旋涂溶剂,因此我们将DMF和GBL加入到DMSO中形成混合溶剂来考察对制备的钙钛矿薄膜质量和器件性能的影响.扫描电镜结果表明,加入20%~40%体积分数的DMF时,形成的薄膜表面非常均匀而且晶粒尺寸很大,达到微米级别,这样有利于减少晶界处的复合,提高电池性能.继续增加DMF比例会导致晶粒减小,晶界和孔隙增多,薄膜表面也更加粗糙.而加入GBL时得到的晶粒要远小于加入DMF时的尺寸,并且随着GBL比例的增加,薄膜的表面变得更加粗糙,孔隙明显增多,严重影响电池性能. XRD结果表明,纯DMSO和混合溶剂制得的薄膜都没有前驱体的残留.紫外可见吸收光谱表明,随着DMF比例的增加,吸收逐渐增强;而随着GBL比例的增加,吸收逐渐减弱.这主要由于不同比例溶剂制得的薄膜厚度有所差异造成的.
　　由相关的薄膜制备的平板结构太阳能电池I-V测试表明：当使用DMF-DMSO混合溶剂时,随着DMF比例由0%增至40%,短路电流和开路电压逐渐增加,填充因子略微减小,总体上导致光电转化效率逐渐增大.随着DMF继续增多,开路电压和填充因子的减小导致转化效率逐渐降低.而当使用GBL-DMSO混合溶剂时,主要受到短路电流的影响,电池的效率明显低于含DMF的混合溶剂的情况,而且随着GBL增多,电池效率逐渐降低.电池的最高转化效率达到了16.5%,最高功率点下固定电压扫描得到的稳态效率也达到了14.4%,高于报道中采用类似结构的电池的性能.由于在整个电池制备过程中,整个实验过程都低于100°C,该方法非常适合未来推广到柔性太阳能电池和多节太阳能电池上.     

Direct large-scale synthesis of perovskite barium strontium titanate nano-particles from solutions

This paper reports a wet chemical synthesis technique for large-scale fabrication of perovskite barium strontium titanate nano-particles near room temperature and under ambient pressure. The process employs titanium alkoxide and alkali earth hydroxides as starting materials and involves very simple operation steps. Particle size and crystallinity of the particles are controllable by changing the processing parameters. Observations by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy TEM indicate that the particles are well-crystallized, chemically stoichiometric and ∼50 nm in diameter. The nanoparticles can be sintered into ceramics at 1150 °C and show typical ferroelectric hysteresis loops.     

Utilization of waste tire rubber in hybrid plywood composite panel

The aim of this work was to use waste tire rubber (WTR) in the middle layer of hybrid plywood materials. The effects of four variable parameters, namely, WTR contents (430 and 720 g), resin contents (120 and 160 g/m²), hot pressing (single‐stage and two‐stage), and arrangements of veneer layers on the mechanical, physical, and acoustical properties, were studied. Beech (Fagus orientalis) and alder (Alnus glutinosa) veneers having 1.8‐mm thickness were used in the production of hybrid plywood panels. Rubber layers of 3‐ and 5‐mm thickness were used in the middle layer of plywood samples. To produce plywood panels, single‐stage and two‐stage hot‐pressing processes were used. Bonding of wood layers was performed using 120 and 160 g/m² urea‐formaldehyde resins, and to form the rubber layers and bond them to wood layers, methylene diisocyanate resin (150 g/m²) was used. Overall trend showed that with the increase in rubber content, the physical properties (water absorption, thickness swelling, and sound absorption) of the manufactured panels were improved, while the mechanical properties (modulus of rapture, modulus of elasticity, and impact strength) of the panels were reduced. Both physical and mechanical performances of plywood panels were improved with increase in resin content. An increase in the WTR content in plywood improved the composite's acoustical property. The production process of the wood/rubber plywood did not significantly affect their properties. The order of improvement in the physical properties of the panels is rubber content > resin content > arrangement of layers > pressing process. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ruthenium determination in synthetic purex waste solutions by AAS

A method for the determination of ruthenium in synthetic Purex waste solutions by flame AAS is described. With the usual flames and a lanthanum buffer, only cerium interference in the air-acetylene flame need be considered under the conditions applied. Ruthenium nitrosyl nitrate, ruthenium(IV) hydroxychloride and alkaline ruthenate samples gave identical results, showing that the extraordinarily stable Ru-NO bond does not hinder atomization. The preparation and standardization of the ruthenium nitrosyl solutions, and the alkaline fusion, are briefly described.     

Utilization of waste phosphate aluminum slag for cement manufacture

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of application of waste phosphate aluminum slag (PAS) for cement manufacture. To recycle waste PAS and minimize adverse effects on cement hydration induced by phosphate, NH₄OH was used to purify PAS. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to determine to confirm the removal of harmful phosphate. The effect of PAS on the hydration product composition, heat release and compressive strength was also investigated. The results demonstrated that NH₄OH was effective in removing harmful AlPO₄ in PAS and 10% NH₄OH was considered as the optimal treatment concentration. In addition, the purification of NH₄OH alleviated the delay in cement hydration caused by AlPO₄ and the heat release curve of purified PAS (PPAS) cement tends to that of OPC. Moreover, the compressive strength of PPAS mortar at 28 days was 49.4 ​MPa, which is 18% higher than the compressive strength of PAS mortar. PAS purified by NH₄OH can be applied to cement manufacturing.     

Utilization of microbes--modern developments in biological technology.

Until recently microbiology had found use only in the foodstuffs sector and in the production of antibiotics; however, the production of biomass should be regarded as the key development of the new science of biotechnology. The biomass consists of fatty and protein-rich microorganisms that can be used for example in animal feeds. The microorganisms grow not only on cellulose waste and other biological substrates but also, for example, on petroleum and methanol. Their energy demand is comparatively low. It is being realized more and more that inflexible technologies pose problems for our civilization and that biotechnology, which utilizes the cyclic metabolic pathways of microorganisms and often recycles waste materials, shows great promise for the future.     

Estimation studies of strontium in simulated nuclear waste solutions by WDXRF

Estimation of strontium has been studied by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometery (WDXRF) as an analytical technique using Sr K as an analytical line. Lower limits of detection, precision, and intensities were plotted against counting time and concentrations to assess optimum time for measurement, expected scatter of the results, and calibration curves for intensity to concentration relationship. For its assessment the best equations determined by regression and least squares fitting along with a standard multiple addition technique were applied to a complex fuel admixture and simulated nuclear fuel solutions at a bum up of 650 GJ/Kg after a 0.5-year cooling time.     

Ultra-trace level determination of hydroquinone in waste photographic solutions by UV-vis spectrophotometry

A simpler UV-vis spectrophotometric method was investigated for hydroquinone (HQ) determination using KMnO₄ as oxidizing agent for conversion of HQ to p-benzoquinone (BQ) as well as signal enhancer. Various parameters such as analytical wavelength, stability time, temperature, pH, solvent effect and interference of chemicals were checked and parameters optimized by using 1 μg ml⁻¹ standard solution of HQ. Beer's Law was applicable in the range of 0.07-2 μg ml⁻¹ and 0.005-0.05 μg ml⁻¹ at 245.5 nm and at 262 nm for aqueous standard solutions of HQ with linear regression coefficient value of 0.9978 and 0.9843 and detection limit of 0.021 μg ml⁻¹ and 0.0016 μg ml⁻¹ HQ, respectively. Standard deviation of 1.7% and 2.4% was true for 1 μg ml⁻¹ and 0.03 μg ml⁻¹ HQ solution (n = 11) run at respective wavelengths. The method was successfully applied to dilute waste photographic developer samples for free HQ determination.     

Resorcinol - formaldehyde adsorption of cesium from Hanford waste solutions

Batch equilibrium measurements were conducted at 25±2 °C with a granular resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) resin to determine the distribution coefficients (K _d ) for cesium. In the tests, Hanford Site actual waste sample containing radioactive cesium (¹³⁷Cs) and a pretreated waste sample that was spiked with non-radioactive ¹³³Cs were used. Initial concentrations of non-radioactive cesium in the waste sample were varied to generate an equilibrium isotherm for cesium. Majority of the tests were conducted at 25±2 °C using a liquid to solid phase ratio of 100 ml/g and at a contact time of 72 hours. Two additional tests were conducted at a liquid to solid phase ratio of 10 and at contact time of 120 hours. The measured distribution coefficient (K _d ) for radioactive cesium (¹³⁷Cs) was 948 ml/g, the K _d for non-radioactive cesium (¹³³Cs) was 1039 ml/g. The K _d for nonradioactive cesium decreased from 1039 to 691 ml/g with increased initial cesium concentration from 8 to 64 g/ml. Very little change of the K _d was observed at initial cesium concentration above 64 g/ml. The maximum sorption capacity for cesium on granular RF resin was 1.17 mmole/g dry resin. This value was calculated from the fit of the equilibrium isotherm data to the Dubinin-Radushkevich equation. Previously, a total capacity of 2.84 mmole/g was calculated by Bibler and Wallace for air-dried RF resin.This work was conducted at the Savannah River Technology Center in Aiken, SC, which is operated for the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Westinghouse Savannah River Company under Contract DE-AC09-96SR18500. The Hanford River Protection Project-Waste Treatment Plant (RPP-WTP) funded this work. The authors are very grateful to Karen Palmer, Betty Mealer, and Yvonne Simpkins for their assistance in the experimental work.     

Characterization of high level nuclear waste solutions from different origin

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - A simple, simultaneously multi-elemental, ICP-AES based method was optimized to characterize nuclear high level waste solutions from different...     

Preparation of nanomaterials from aqueous solutions imitating the hydrometallurgy waste

A technique was developed for synthesis of precursors of nanomaterials from artificial mixtures of aqueous salt solutions, based on flotation extraction followed by reduction of the precursors in direct micelles in view of a surfactant structure. This technique imitates preparation of nanomaterials from hydrometallurgy waste. The resulting materials containing platinum nanoparticles were tested for their ability to catalyze oxidation of carbon monoxide.     

Resorcinol - formaldehyde adsorption of cesium from Hanford waste solutions

Batch equilibrium measurements were conducted at 25±2 °C with a granular resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) resin to determine the distribution coefficients (K _d ) for cesium. In the tests, Hanford Site actual waste sample containing radioactive cesium (¹³⁷Cs) and a pretreated waste sample that was spiked with non-radioactive ¹³³Cs were used. Initial concentrations of non-radioactive cesium in the waste sample were varied to generate an equilibrium isotherm for cesium. Majority of the tests were conducted at 25±2 °C using a liquid to solid phase ratio of 100 ml/g and at a contact time of 72 hours. Two additional tests were conducted at a liquid to solid phase ratio of 10 and at contact time of 120 hours. The measured distribution coefficient (K _d ) for radioactive cesium (¹³⁷Cs) was 948 ml/g, the K _d for non-radioactive cesium (¹³³Cs) was 1039 ml/g. The K _d for nonradioactive cesium decreased from 1039 to 691 ml/g with increased initial cesium concentration from 8 to 64 g/ml. Very little change of the K _d was observed at initial cesium concentration above 64 g/ml. The maximum sorption capacity for cesium on granular RF resin was 1.17 mmole/g dry resin. This value was calculated from the fit of the equilibrium isotherm data to the Dubinin-Radushkevich equation. Previously, a total capacity of 2.84 mmole/g was calculated by Bibler and Wallace for air-dried RF resin.This work was conducted at the Savannah River Technology Center in Aiken, SC, which is operated for the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Westinghouse Savannah River Company under Contract DE-AC09-96SR18500. The Hanford River Protection Project-Waste Treatment Plant (RPP-WTP) funded this work. The authors are very grateful to Karen Palmer, Betty Mealer, and Yvonne Simpkins for their assistance in the experimental work.     

Utilization of waste seashells and Camelina sativa oil for biodiesel synthesis

The seafood industry produces over 100 million pounds of seashell waste every year. With landfill space diminishing quickly, ways to recycle waste materials are becoming more sought for. Herein, we utilized waste mussel, clam and oyster shells as heterogeneous catalysts for the transesterification of Camelina sativa oil as a feedstock into biodiesel. Camelina sativa oil provides a reliable solution for biodiesel production because it has high tolerance of cold weather, drought, low-fertility soils and contains approximately 40% oil content. The catalysts from waste seashells were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. High biodiesel yields were achieved at a 12:1 (alcohol:oil) molar ratio with 1?wt.% waste seashell catalysts in 2?h at 65°C. Biodiesel was analyzed by ¹H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy and the fuel properties of the biodiesel produced from Camelina sativa oil and waste seashells were compared with American Society for Testing and Materials standards.     

Solvate phases crystallizing from hybrid halide perovskite solutions: Chemical classification and structural relations

Solution crystallization techniques of hybrid lead halides for perovskite photovoltaics, while remaining the most common method for fabricating solar cells, are inevitably complicated by the formation of numerous intermediate solvates that predetermine the morphology and properties of the final perovskite light-harvesting layer. Here, for the first time, a chemical classification of known solvates is proposed based on a comprehensive analysis of their structural features and relationships with possible structural types.     

Utilization of Slovak bentonites in deposition of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel

The basic strategic aims in the field of managing high-level radioactive waste and liquidation of nuclear power plants are all contained in the Energy policy of the Slovak Republic. Its aim is to resolve the concept of the backside of the nuclear energetics fuel cycle??long-term deposition of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel (SNF). The most important form of high-level radioactive waste and SNF long-term deposition is their deposition in deep geological formations created by natural as well as engineering barriers used to isolate the long-lived radionuclides from the biosphere. The basic components of these barriers are clays, of which bentonite is generally referred to as the most suitable clay material. There are a few significant bentonite deposits in the Slovak Republic: Jel?ový potok, Kopernica, Lastovce, Lieskovec, Dolná Ves. The review article summarizes the information on geotechnical properties of Slovak bentonites published up-to-date, which is inevitable to know for the intention of their use. It highlights the advantages and shows drawbacks of five Slovak deposits. It suggests further research direction, to draw a thorough hydraulical, microbial and radiation profile of Slovak bentonites.