scholarly journals Epoch-Making Discovery for CO2 Characteristics: “Pseudo Osmosis” in the Gas Phase

Author(s):  
Kenji Sorimachi

Abstract Recently, unprecedented torrential rains have deluged the globe, resulting in disastrous floods. These disasters were caused by climate changes because of an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere since the industrial revolution. Therefore, atmospheric accumulation of CO2 should be reduced to avoid a future climate crisis. Many methods to fix CO2 have been developed, but a practical method has not been established, except for the method using amines based on moderate plant constructions. However, the membrane method has not yet been established because of the conflicting relationship between penetrability and specificity, although membrane technology can be used for CO2 separation. Epoch-making discoveries for CO2 characteristics have been presented as follows: 1) the high penetrability of CO2 in the gas phase caused “pursued osmosis” against polymer elasticity; 2) highly penetrable CO2 passed through polymer membranes such as authentic polymers and natural cellulose, whereas neither O2 nor N2 penetrates these polymers examined; 3) CO2 is absorbed by plastics; 4) H2 and CH4 gases penetrate through polymer membranes, but their penetration was completely blocked in the presence of water; and 5) using a polytunnel made of polymer sheets (an artificial forest or positive green house), which allows CO2 penetration, instead of hard chamber, steel, or plastic could be cost effective. Therefore, polymer membranes could be practically and economically useful for CO2 separation from the exhaust gas and atmosphere.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 260-266
Author(s):  
Haru Purnomo Ipung ◽  
Amin Soetomo

This research proposed a model to assist the design of the associated data architecture and data analytic to support talent forecast in the current accelerating changes in economy, industry and business change due to the accelerating pace of technological change. The emerging and re-emerging economy model were available, such as Industrial revolution 4.0, platform economy, sharing economy and token economy. Those were driven by new business model and technology innovation. An increase capability of technology to automate more jobs will cause a shift in talent pool and workforce. New business model emerge as the availabilityand the cost effective emerging technology, and as a result of emerging or re-emerging economic models. Both, new business model and technology innovation, create new jobs and works that have not been existed decades ago. The future workers will be faced by jobs that may not exist today. A dynamics model of inter-correlation of economy, industry, business model and talent forecast were proposed. A collection of literature review were conducted to initially validate the model.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089719002110272
Author(s):  
Joanne Huang ◽  
Jeannie D. Chan ◽  
Thu Nguyen ◽  
Rupali Jain ◽  
Zahra Kassamali Escobar

Universal area-under-the-curve (AUC) guided vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is resource-intensive, cost-prohibitive, and presents a paradigm shift that leaves institutions with the quandary of defining the preferred and most practical method for TDM. We report a step-by-step quality improvement process using 4 plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles to provide a framework for development of a hybrid model of trough and AUC-based vancomycin monitoring. We found trough-based monitoring a pragmatic strategy as a first-tier approach when anticipated use is short-term. AUC-guided monitoring was most impactful and cost-effective when reserved for patients with high-risk for nephrotoxicity. We encourage others to consider quality improvement tools to locally adopt AUC-based monitoring.


1980 ◽  
Vol 24 (02) ◽  
pp. 101-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Owen F. Hughes ◽  
Farrokh Mistree ◽  
Vedran Žanic

A practical, rationally based method is presented for the automated optimum design of ship structures. The method required the development of (a) a rapid, design-oriented finite-element program for the analysis of ship structures; (b) a comprehensive mathematical model for the evaluation of the capability of the structure; and (c) a cost-effective optimization algorithm for the solution of a large, highly constrained, nonlinear redesign problem. These developments have been incorporated into a program called SHIPOPT. The efficiency and robustness of the method is illustrated by using it to determine the optimum design of a complete cargo hold of a general-purpose cargo ship. The overall dimensions and the design loads are the same as those used in the design of the very successful SD14 series of ships. The redesign problem contains 94 variables, a nonlinear objective function, and over 500 constraints of which approximately half are non-linear. Program SHIPOPT required approximately eight minutes of central processing unit time on a CDC CYBER 171 to determine the optimum design.


Biotechnology ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 1910-1943
Author(s):  
Veena Gayathri Krishnaswamy

Environmental pollution has been an irrefutable fact of life for many centuries; but it has become a real problem, since the start of the industrial revolution. Discharge of these toxic compounds without treatment results in serious health risks to humans and the marine ecosystem. Several physical, chemical and biological methods have been employed for the remediation of the phenolics. Bioremediation is identified as the most efficient, cost effective and eco-friendly ways for treatment of phenolic compounds. This article is a comprehensive review on the sources of phenolic compounds, their hazards, and their fate once released into the environment; the treatment technologies employed and bioremediation of these compounds using both non-extremophlic and extremophilic organisms. The review, throws light on the enzymes involved in the remediation of phenolic compounds, highlights the importance of extremophilic organisms and biological treatment of phenol containing industrial wastewaters. Such comprehensive information on the research work performed for the remediation of phenolic compounds provide ways to explore the role played by micro organisms in the remediation of phenolic compounds, which could be applied in the remediation of phenol /contaminated sites even under extreme conditions.


Author(s):  
Juan Liu ◽  
Huaiyuan Zheng ◽  
Xinyi Dai ◽  
Patrina S. P. Poh ◽  
Hans-Günther Machens ◽  
...  

Tissue engineering in combination with stem cell technology has the potential to revolutionize human healthcare. It aims at the generation of artificial tissues that can mimic the original with complex functions for medical applications. However, even the best current designs are limited in size, if the transport of nutrients and oxygen to the cells and the removal of cellular metabolites waste is mainly dependent on passive diffusion. Incorporation of functional biomimetic vasculature within tissue engineered constructs can overcome this shortcoming. Here, we developed a novel strategy using 3D printing and injection molding technology to customize multilayer hydrogel constructs with pre-vascularized structures in transparent Polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) bioreactors. These bioreactors can be directly connected to continuous perfusion systems without complicated construct assembling. Mimicking natural layer-structures of vascular walls, multilayer vessel constructs were fabricated with cell-laden fibrin and collagen gels, respectively. The multilayer design allows functional organization of multiple cell types, i.e., mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in outer layer, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) the inner layer and smooth muscle cells in between MSCs and HUVECs layers. Multiplex layers with different cell types showed clear boundaries and growth along the hydrogel layers. This work demonstrates a rapid, cost-effective, and practical method to fabricate customized 3D-multilayer vascular models. It allows precise design of parameters like length, thickness, diameter of lumens and the whole vessel constructs resembling the natural tissue in detail without the need of sophisticated skills or equipment. The ready-to-use bioreactor with hydrogel constructs could be used for biomedical applications including pre-vascularization for transplantable engineered tissue or studies of vascular biology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuping Xie ◽  
Xinjun Wan ◽  
Xiaoxiao Wei

The design and manufacture of cost-effective miniaturized optics at wafer level, usingadvanced semiconductor-like techniques, enables the production of reduced form-factor cameramodules for optical devices. However, suppressing the Fresnel reflection of wafer-level microlensesis a major challenge. Moth-eye nanostructures not only satisfy the antireflection requirementof microlens arrays, but also overcome the problem of coating fracture. This novel fabricationprocess, based on a precision wafer-level microlens array mold, is designed to meet the demandfor small form factors, high resolution, and cost effectiveness. In this study, three different kinds ofaluminum material, namely 6061-T6 aluminum alloy, high-purity polycrystalline aluminum, and purenanocrystalline aluminum were used to fabricate microlens array molds with uniform nanostructures.Of these three materials, the pure nanocrystalline aluminum microlens array mold exhibited auniform nanostructure and met the optical requirements. This study lays a solid foundation for theindustrial acceptation of novel and functional multiscale-structure wafer-level microlens arrays andprovides a practical method for the low-cost manufacture of large, high-quality wafer-level molds.


Author(s):  
I. Giglmayr ◽  
J. Paul ◽  
W. Sanz

The introduction of closed cycle gas turbines with their capability of retaining combustion generated CO2 can offer a valuable contribution to the Kyoto goal and to future power generation. Therefore, research and development at Graz University of Technology has lead to the GRAZ CYCLE, a zero emission power cycle of highest efficiency. The GRAZ CYCLE is still on a theoretical level, first tests with the turbo-machinery equipment were performed. In the GRAZ CYCLE fossil fuels are burned with pure oxygen which enables a cost-effective separation of the combustion generated CO2 by condensation. Cycle efficiencies as high as 63% can be reached. Taking the efforts for the oxygen supply into account the efficiency is reduced to 55% [1]. This work presents a further step towards a GRAZ CYCLE prototype plant, with special emphasis on the layout and design of the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). The hot exhaust gas of the turbine consists mainly of CO2 and H2O. This exhaust gas causes higher demands on the HRSG. A faster corrosion of the heat exchangers and the recirculation of the cycle fluid have to be considered. Based on the design of conventional HRSGs, the necessary adaptations are discussed and economically evaluated.


2018 ◽  
Vol 930 ◽  
pp. 609-612
Author(s):  
Quezia Cardoso ◽  
Franks Martins Silva ◽  
Ligia Silverio Vieira ◽  
Julio Cesar Serafim Casini ◽  
Solange Kazume Sakata ◽  
...  

Graphene has attracted significant interest because of its excellent electrical properties. However, a practical method for producing graphene on a large scale is yet to be developed. Graphene oxide (GO) can be partially reduced to graphene-like sheets by removing the oxygen-containing groups and recovering the conjugated structure. GO can be produced using inexpensive graphite as the raw material via cost-effective chemical methods. High vacuum and temperature (10−7 mbar and 1100°C, respectively) conditions are well-known to enable the preparation of reduced powder at the laboratory scale. However, a large-scale high vacuum reduction system that can be routinely operated at 10−7 mbar requires considerable initial capital as well as substantial operational and maintenance costs. The current study aims at developing an inexpensive method for the large-scale reduction of graphene oxide. A stainless steel vessel was evacuated to backing-pump pressure (10−2 mbar) and used to process GO at a range of temperatures. The reduction of GO powder at low vacuum pressures was attempted and investigated by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The experimental results of processing GO powder at various temperatures (200–1000°C) at relatively low pressures are reported. The microstructures of the processed materials were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and chemical microanalyses via energy dispersive X-ray analysis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 200 ◽  
pp. 11-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J. Finlayson-Pitts

The term “Anthropocene” was coined by Professor Paul Crutzen in 2000 to describe an unprecedented era in which anthropogenic activities are impacting planet Earth on a global scale. Greatly increased emissions into the atmosphere, reflecting the advent of the Industrial Revolution, have caused significant changes in both the lower and upper atmosphere. Atmospheric reactions of the anthropogenic emissions and of those with biogenic compounds have significant impacts on human health, visibility, climate and weather. Two activities that have had particularly large impacts on the troposphere are fossil fuel combustion and agriculture, both associated with a burgeoning population. Emissions are also changing due to alterations in land use. This paper describes some of the tropospheric chemistry associated with the Anthropocene, with emphasis on areas having large uncertainties. These include heterogeneous chemistry such as those of oxides of nitrogen and the neonicotinoid pesticides, reactions at liquid interfaces, organic oxidations and particle formation, the role of sulfur compounds in the Anthropocene and biogenic–anthropogenic interactions. A clear and quantitative understanding of the connections between emissions, reactions, deposition and atmospheric composition is central to developing appropriate cost-effective strategies for minimizing the impacts of anthropogenic activities. The evolving nature of emissions in the Anthropocene places atmospheric chemistry at the fulcrum of determining human health and welfare in the future.


2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (9) ◽  
pp. 227-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.W. van Groenestijn ◽  
W.N.M. van Heiningen ◽  
N.J.R. Kraakman

Traditional biofilters for waste gas treatment are mainly based on the degradation activity of bacteria. The application of fungi in biofilters has several advantages: fungi are more resistant to acidification and drying out, and the aerial mycelia of fungi form a larger surface area in the gas phase than bacterial biofilms, which may facilitate the uptake of hydrophobic volatile compounds. The research described here identifies important conditions for the operation of fungal-based biofilters. Biofilters with perlite packing were operated at different pHs and relative inlet gas humidities. Toluene was used as a model pollutant. It was shown that a low pH is a prerequisite for fungal growth in biofilters. Also, the fungal biofilters were more resistant to drying out and more active than the bacterial biofilters. Fungal biofilters eliminated 80-125 g toluene/m3 filterbed/h. Several measures that could limit the clogging of fungal biofilters with fungal biomass were investigated. The introduction of mites helped to control excessive fungal growth and pressure drop. The pressure drop of a perlite/fungi/mites filter of 1 m height, loaded with 200 m3 gas/m3 filter/h stabilised around 130 Pa. Biofilters based on the action of fungi are cost-effective for the treatment of waste gases containing aromatic compounds, alkenes and other hydrophobic compounds.


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