Background The effect of microbial phytase on amino acid and energy digestibility is not consistent in pigs,which may be related to the phytase dosage or the adaptation length to the diet.Therefore,an experiment was c...Background The effect of microbial phytase on amino acid and energy digestibility is not consistent in pigs,which may be related to the phytase dosage or the adaptation length to the diet.Therefore,an experiment was conducted to test the hypotheses that increasing dietary phytase after an 18-day adaptation period:1)increases nutrient and energy digestibility;2)increases plasma P,plasma inositol,and bone ash of young pigs;and 3)demonstrates that maximum phytate degradation requires more phytase than maximum P digestibility.Results Data indicated that increasing inclusion of phytase[0,250,500,1,000,2,000,and 4,000 phytase units(FTU)/kg feed]in corn-soybean meal-based diets increased apparent ileal digestibility(AID)of Trp(quadratic;P<0.05),and of Lys and Thr(linear;P<0.05),and tended to increase AID of Met(linear;P<0.10).Increasing dietary phytase also increased AID and apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD)of Ca and P(quadratic;P<0.05)and increased ATTD of K and Na(linear;P<0.05),but phytase did not influence the ATTD of Mg or gross energy.Concentrations of plasma P and bone ash increased(quadratic;P<0.05),and plasma inositol also increased(linear;P<0.05)with increasing inclusion of phytase.Reduced concentrations of inositol phosphate(IP)6 and IP5(quadratic;P<0.05),reduced IP4 and IP3(linear;P<0.05),but increased inositol concentrations(linear;P<0.05)were observed in ileal digesta as dietary phytase increased.The ATTD of P was maximized if at least 1,200 FTU/kg were used,whereas more than 4,000 FTU/kg were needed to maximize inositol release.Conclusions Increasing dietary levels of phytase after an 18-day adaptation period increased phytate and IP ester degradation and inositol release in the small intestine.Consequently,increasing dietary phytase resulted in improved digestibility of Ca,P,K,Na,and the first 4 limiting amino acids,and in increased concentrations of bone ash and plasma P and inositol.In a corn-soybean meal diet,maximum inositol release requires approximately 3,200 FTU/kg more phytase than that required for maximum P digestibility.展开更多
Polyurethane/desulfurization ash(PU/DA)composites were synthesized using"one-pot method",with the incorporation of a silane coupling agent(KH550)as a"molecular bridge"to facilitate the integration ...Polyurethane/desulfurization ash(PU/DA)composites were synthesized using"one-pot method",with the incorporation of a silane coupling agent(KH550)as a"molecular bridge"to facilitate the integration of DA as hard segments into the PU molecular chain.The effects of DA content(φ)on the mechanical properties,thermal stability,and hydrophobicity of PU,both before and after the addition of KH550,were thoroughly examined.The results of microscopic mechanism analysis confirmed that KH550 chemically modified the surface of DA,facilitating its incorporation into the polyurethane molecular chain,thereby significantly enhancing the compatibility and dispersion of DA within the PU matrix.When the mass fraction of modified DA(MDA)reached 12%,the mechanical properties,thermal stability,and hydrophobicity of the composites were substantially improved,with the tensile strength reaching 14.9 MPa,and the contact angle measuring 100.6°.展开更多
Health-care waste contains potentially harmful microorganisms and compounds which can infect and affect hospital patients, healthcare workers, the general public and environment. Therefore, management of health care w...Health-care waste contains potentially harmful microorganisms and compounds which can infect and affect hospital patients, healthcare workers, the general public and environment. Therefore, management of health care waste requires safe handling, treatment and disposal procedures. While incineration reduces the volume and quantity of waste for final disposal, it leads to the production of fly and bottom ashes laden with toxic incomplete combustion products such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, furans and heavy metals. This exposes workers who handle and dispose the bottom ashes, hospital patients, the general public and environment. The goal of this study was to determine the total and individual levels of 16 most prevalent and toxic PAHs. Bottom ash samples were collected from incinerators in five county hospitals in Kenya, namely;Moi-Voi, Narok, Kitale, Makindu and Isiolo. Bottom ash samples were collected over a period of six months from the five hospitals. The samples were then sieved, homogenised and stored at 4°C in amber coloured glass containers. The PAHs were extracted using 30 ml of a hexane-acetone solvent (1:1) mixture by ultrasonication at room temperature (23°C) for 45 minutes. The PAHs were then analyzed with a GC-MS spectrophotometer model (Shimadzu GCMS-QP2010 SE) connected to a computer work station was used for the PAHs analysis. The GC-MS was equipped with an SGE BPX5 GC capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm) for the separation of compounds. Helium was used as the carrier gas at a flow rate of 15.5 ml/minute and 14.5 psi. 1 μl of the sample was injected at 280°C, split mode (10:1). The oven programming was set for a total runtime of 40 minutes, which included: 100°C (2-minute hold);10°C /min rise to 200°C;7°C /min rise to 249°C;3°C /min rise to 300°C (2-minute hold). The interface temperature was set at 290°C. Analysis was done in Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM) mode and the peak areas of each of the PAHs were collected from the chromatograph and used for quantification of the 16 PAHs listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which included, BaA (benz[a]anthracene: 4 rings), BaP (benzo[a]pyrene: 5 rings), BbF (benzo [b]fluoranthene: 5 rings), BkF (benzo[k]fluoranthene: 5 rings), Chr (chrysene: 4 rings), DbA (dibenz[a,h]anthracene: 5 rings), InP (indeno[1,2,3 - cd] pyrene: 6 rings) and Acp (acenaphthene: 3 rings), Acpy (acenaphthylene: 3 rings), Ant (anthracene: 3 rings), BghiP (benzo[g,h,i]perylene: 6 rings), Flu (fluorene: 3 rings), FluA (fluoranthene: 4 rings), Nap (naphthalene: 2 rings), PhA (phenanthrene: 3 rings) and Pyr (pyrene: 4 rings). Ion source-interface temperature was set at 200°C - 250°C. Internal standards from Sigma Aldrich were used in the analysis and the acquired mass spectra data were then matched against the NIST 2014 library [1] [2]. The mean PAHs concentration in the bottom ashes of each hospital varied broadly from 0.001 mg/kg to 0.4845 mg/kg, and the mean total concentration levels of individual PAHs ranged from 0.0072 mg/kg to 1.171 mg/kg. Low molecular weight PAHs (Phenanthrene, Naphthalene and Fluorene) were predominant in all the hospital wastes whereas Kitale and Narok presented the lowest PAHs concentrations and the lowest number of individual PAHs. Moi/Voi recorded the highest total PAHs concentration at 1.3129 ± 0.0023 mg/kg from a total of 11 PAHs being detected from the bottom ash samples. Narok had only three PAHs being detected at very low concentrations of 0.0041 ± 0.00 mg/kg, 0.0076 ± 0.00 mg/kg and 0.012 ± 0.00 mg/kg for phenanthrene, anthracene and chrysene respectively. This study presents hospital incinerator bottom ash as containing detectable levels of both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic PAHs. Continued unprotected exposure of hospital workers (waste handlers) to the bottom ash PAHs could be hazardous to their health because of their cumulative effect. Preventive measures e.g. the use of Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be prioritised to minimise direct contact with the bottom ash. The study recommends an upgrade on incinerator technology for efficient combustion processes thus for better pollution control.展开更多
Coal gasification fly ash(CGFA)is an industrial solid waste from the coal circulating fluidized bed(CFB)gasification process,and it needs to be effectively disposed to achieve sustainable development of the environmen...Coal gasification fly ash(CGFA)is an industrial solid waste from the coal circulating fluidized bed(CFB)gasification process,and it needs to be effectively disposed to achieve sustainable development of the environment.To realize the application of CGFA as a precursor of porous carbon materials,the physicochemical properties of three kinds of CGFA from industrial CFB gasifiers are analyzed.Then,the activation potential of CGFA is acquired via steam activation experiments in a tube furnace reactor.Finally,the fluidization activation technology of CGFA is practiced in a bench-scale CFB test rig,and its advantages are highlighted.The results show that CGFA is characterized by a high carbon content in the range of 54.06%–74.09%,an ultrafine particle size(d50:16.3–26.1 μm),and a relatively developed pore structure(specific surface area SSA:139.29–551.97 m^(2)·g^(-1)).The proportion of micropores in CGFA increases gradually with the coal rank.Steam activation experiments show that the pore development of CGFA mainly includes three stages:initial pore development,dynamic equilibrium between micropores and mesopores and pore collapse.The SSA of lignite fly ash(LFA),subbituminous fly ash(SBFA)and anthracite fly ash(AFA)is maximally increased by 105%,13%and 72%after steam activation;the order of the largest carbon reaction rate and decomposition ratio of steam among the three kinds of CGFA is SBFA>LFA>AFA.As the ratio of oxygen to carbon during the fluidization activation of LFA is from 0.09 to 0.19,the carbon conversion ratio increases from 14.4%to 26.8%and the cold gas efficiency increases from 6.8%to 10.2%.The SSA of LFA increases by up to 53.9%during the fluidization activation process,which is mainly due to the mesoporous development.Relative to steam activation in a tube furnace reactor,fluidization activation takes an extremely short time(seconds)to achieve the same activation effect.It is expected to further improve the activation effect of LFA by regulating the carbon conversion ratio range of 27%–35%to create pores in the initial development stage.展开更多
Forest tree species reproduction is a key factor in maintaining the genetic diversity of future generations and the stability of forest ecosystems.The ongoing ash dieback disease could affect the reproductive ecology ...Forest tree species reproduction is a key factor in maintaining the genetic diversity of future generations and the stability of forest ecosystems.The ongoing ash dieback disease could affect the reproductive ecology of Fraxinus excelsior L.and have a major impact on the quantity and quality of pollen and seeds.In this study,we investigated pollen production and viability of pollen and seeds of ash trees with different health status from 2018 to 2022.Inflorescences were collected from 105 trees(pollen production),pollen from 125 trees(pollen viability),and seeds from 53 trees(seed quality)in two seed orchards and in one floodplain forest in southern Germany.Not all parameters were examined at every site every year.The average pollen production per tree was estimated at 471.2±647.9 billion pollen grains.In addition,we found that a high number of inflorescences did not equate to high pollen production per inflorescence.Pollen production of healthy and diseased trees did not differ significantly,although only 47%of severely diseased male trees(vs.72%for healthy trees)produced flowers.With regards to pollen viability,the TTC test showed an average viability of 73%±17%.Overall,there was a slight tendency for diseased trees to have less viable pollen.However,a significant difference could only be calculated for trees in the floodplain forest.The percentage of germinable seeds in 2018 was 38%in the floodplain forest and 57%in one of the seed orchards.The percentage of viable seeds(TTC test)ranged from 17 to 22%in the orchards in 2020.Non-viable seeds were usually heavily infested by insects.In general,seed quality was not significantly different between healthy and diseased trees.Our results indicate that ash dieback affects flower formation and pollen viability but not pollen production or seed quality.Nevertheless,the fact that hardly any flowering was observed,especially for trees that were seriously affected,suggests a negative effect of ash dieback on reproductive performance.Thus,severely diseased trees will transfer their genes to a smaller extent to the next generation.展开更多
Using fly ash as a raw material,porous ceramic particles with an apparent density of 1.21 g/cm^(3),a visible porosity of 51.03%,and a specific surface area of 4.26 m^(2)/g were prepared and used as biofilter materials...Using fly ash as a raw material,porous ceramic particles with an apparent density of 1.21 g/cm^(3),a visible porosity of 51.03%,and a specific surface area of 4.26 m^(2)/g were prepared and used as biofilter materials for wastewater treatment.Through SEM,XRD analysis,and heavy metal leaching analysis,it was found that porous ceramsite were porous materials with rough surfaces.After calcination,the newly formed mineral was silicate calcium feldspar.The heavy metal concentration in the leaching solution of porous ceramsite met the national surface water quality requirements.The treatment of domestic sewage showed that the volumetric loads of COD Cr,NH_(4)^(+)-N,and TN removed by the aerated biofilter were 5.23,0.98,and 0.35 kg/(m^(3)·d),respectively,with removal rates of 85.46%,96.13%,and 32.31%.展开更多
Recently,researchers have proposed an emitter localization method based on passive synthetic aperture.However,the unknown residual frequency offset(RFO)between the transmit-ter and the receiver causes the received Dop...Recently,researchers have proposed an emitter localization method based on passive synthetic aperture.However,the unknown residual frequency offset(RFO)between the transmit-ter and the receiver causes the received Doppler signal to shift,which affects the localization accu-racy.To solve this issue,this paper proposes a RFO estimation method based on range migration fitting.Due to the high frequency modulation slope of the linear frequency modulation(LFM)-mod-ulation radar signal,it is not affected by RFO in range compression.Therefore,the azimuth time can be estimated by fitting the peak value position of the pulse compression in range direction.Then,the matched filters are designed under different RFOs.When the zero-Doppler time obtained by the matched filters is consistent with the estimated azimuth time,the given RFO is the real RFO between the transceivers.The simulation results show that the estimation error of azimuth distance does not exceed 20 m when the received signal duration is not less than 3 s,the pulse repe-tition frequency(PRF)of the transmitter radar signal is not less than 1 kHz,the range detection is not larger than 1000 km,and the signal noise ratio(SNR)is not less than-5 dB.展开更多
Increasing the population and infrastructure in both emerging and developed countries requires a considerable amount of cement, which significantly affects the environment. The primary materials of concrete (‘cement...Increasing the population and infrastructure in both emerging and developed countries requires a considerable amount of cement, which significantly affects the environment. The primary materials of concrete (‘cement’) production emit a large quantity of CO<sub>2</sub> into the environment. Also, the cost of conventional building materials like cement gives motivation to find geopolymer waste materials for concrete. To reduce harmful effects on the environment and cost of traditional concrete substance, alternative waste materials like rice husk ash (RHA), ground granulated blast-furnace (GGBS), fly ash (FA), and metakaolin (MK) can be used due to their pozzolanic behavior. RHA waste material with a high silica concentration obtained from burning rice husks can possibly be used as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in the manufacturing of concrete, and its strong pozzolanic properties can contribute to the strength and impermeability of concrete. This review paper highlights a summary of the positive effect of using RHA as a partial substitute for cement in building construction, as well as its optimal inclusion of enhanced mechanical properties like compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength of mortar and concrete.展开更多
This work investigates durability of cement-free mortars with a binder comprised of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) activated by high-calcium fly ash (HCFA) and sodium carbonate (Na<sub>2</sub>...This work investigates durability of cement-free mortars with a binder comprised of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) activated by high-calcium fly ash (HCFA) and sodium carbonate (Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>): the soundness, sulfate resistance, alkali-silica reactivity and efflorescence factors are considered. Results of tests show that such mortars are resistant to alkali-silica expansion. Mortars are also sulfate-resistant when the amount of HCFA in the complex binder is within a limit of 10 wt%. The fineness of fly ash determines its’ ability to activate GGBFS hydration, and influence soundness of the binder, early strength development, sulfate resistance and efflorescence behavior. The present article is a continuation of authors’ work, previously published in MSA, Vol. 14, 240-254.展开更多
The aim and scope of the present study were to determine the efficacy of UFFA in evaluating the workability,static and dynamic stabilization properties,retention period,and slump loss of SCC systems in their fresh sta...The aim and scope of the present study were to determine the efficacy of UFFA in evaluating the workability,static and dynamic stabilization properties,retention period,and slump loss of SCC systems in their fresh state,as well as their compressive strength at various ages.Microstructure(SEM and XRD)of blended SCC systems were studied.Also,the thermogravimetry behavior of blended SCC specimens were researched.According to the evaluated results,incorporating up to 20%UFFA into fresh concrete improved its performance due to its engineered fine particle size and spherical geometry,both of which contribute to the enhancement of characteristics.Blends of 25%and 30%of UFFA show effect on the water-binder ratio and chemical enhancer dosage,resulting in a loss of homogeneity in fresh SCC systems.The reduced particle size,increased amorphous content,and increased surface area all contribute to the pozzolanic reactivity of the early and later ages,resulting in denser packing and thus an increase in compressive strength.The experimental results indicate that UFFA enhances the properties of SCC in both its fresh and hardened states,which can be attributed to the particles’fineness and their relative effect on SCC.展开更多
Co-firing rice husk(RH)and coal with carbon capture using oxy-combustion presents a net carbon negative energy produc-tion opportunity.In addition,the high fusion temperature of the non-sticky,silica rich,RH can mitig...Co-firing rice husk(RH)and coal with carbon capture using oxy-combustion presents a net carbon negative energy produc-tion opportunity.In addition,the high fusion temperature of the non-sticky,silica rich,RH can mitigate ash deposition as well as promote shedding of deposits.To identify the optimum operating conditions,fuel particle sizes,and blend ratios that minimize ash deposition,a Computational Fluid Dynamic methodology with add-on ash deposition and shedding models were employed to predict outer ash deposition and shedding rates during co-combustion of coal/RH in AIR and O2/CO_(2)(70/30 vol%,OXY70)oxidizer compositions.After ensuring that the fly-ash particle size distributions and particle Stokes numbers near the deposition surface were accurately represented(to model impaction),appropriate models for coal ash and RH ash viscosities that were accurate in the temperature region(1200-1300 K)of interest in this study were identified.A particle viscosity and kinetic energy(PKE)based capture criterion was enforced to model the ash capture.An erosion/shed-ding criterion that takes the deposit melt fraction and the energy consumed during particle impact into account was also implemented.Deposition rate predictions as well as the deposition rate enhancement(OXY70/AIR)were in good agreement with measured values.While the OXY70 scenario was associated with a significant reduction(60%-70%)in flue gas velocities,it also resulted in larger fly-ash particles.As a result,the PKE distributions of the erosive RH ash were similar in both scenarios and resulted in similar shedding rates.展开更多
This paper emphasized the use of rice husk ash (RHA) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) in improving concrete properties, and also their combined effects on workability, compressive strength, flexural strength, permeabil...This paper emphasized the use of rice husk ash (RHA) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) in improving concrete properties, and also their combined effects on workability, compressive strength, flexural strength, permeability and water absorption capacity. Thus, in this study, the water-to-cement ratio was kept constant (0.45), the binder materials content for conventional mix was kept constant at (350 kg/m<sup>3</sup>) and the partial replacement of cement with RHASBA used was 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% by weight of cement. The maximum compressive strength was noted at a 5% replacement level of cement with RHASBA. The Results showed that the optimum replacement of cement with RHASBA in concrete was 5%, which was found to increase the compressive strength by 15%, flexural strength by 3.4%, lowered permeability by 50%, lowered sorptivity by 11.34% as compared with control concrete at 90 days of curing time. The micro-structural test results further established that RHA and SBA have a high content of SiO<sub>2</sub> which enables them to be more reactive in concrete and also revealed that the presence of RHASBA depletes Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> crystals, converting it into CaH<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>Si (C-S-H gel) leading to the strengthening of bond within the concrete matrix.展开更多
Treating waste with a waste material using freely available solar energy is the most effective way towards sustainable future.In this study,a novel photocatalyst,partly derived from waste material from the coal indust...Treating waste with a waste material using freely available solar energy is the most effective way towards sustainable future.In this study,a novel photocatalyst,partly derived from waste material from the coal industry,was developed.Fly ash hybridized with ZnO(FAeZn)was synthesized as a potential photocatalyst for dye discoloration.The synthesized photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,and ultravioletevisible/near infra-red spectroscopy.The photocatalytic activity was examined with the discoloration of methylene blue used as synthetic dye wastewater.All the experiments were performed in direct sunlight.The photocatalytic performance of FAeZn was found to be better than that of ZnO and the conventionally popular TiO2.The LangmuireHinshelwood model rate constant values of ZnO,TiO2,and FAeZn were found to be 0.016 min1,0.017 min1,and 0.020 min1,respectively.There were two reasons for this:(1)FAeZn was able to utilize both ultraviolet and visible parts of the solar spectrum,and(2)its BrunauereEmmetteTeller surface area and porosity were significantly enhanced.This led to increased photon absorption and dye adsorption,thus exhibiting an energy-efficient performance.Therefore,FAeZn,partly derived from waste,can serve as a suitable material for environmental remediation and practical solar energy applications.展开更多
An experimental program was conducted to determine the dynamic properties of pond ash(PA)and pond ash mixed with admixtures like crumb rubber(CR)and coir fiber(CF)which are wastes of different industries.Additives CR ...An experimental program was conducted to determine the dynamic properties of pond ash(PA)and pond ash mixed with admixtures like crumb rubber(CR)and coir fiber(CF)which are wastes of different industries.Additives CR and CF were mixed separately with pond ash in a percentage ranging from 0%–20%at an interval of 5%and 0%–2%at an interval of 0.5%by weight of pond ash,respectively.Dynamic properties(Shear modulus,Number of cycles to initiate liquefaction,Degradation index and Damping ratio)for pond ash mixes were determined using strain-controlled cyclic tri-axial apparatus.The shear strain was kept constant at 1.2%and the frequency varied from 0.4 to 1 Hz.Liquefaction resistance improves when crumb rubber is added to pond ash,however adding Coir fiber to pond ash has essentially no effect on the number of cycles required to initiate liquefaction.The dynamic shear modulus decreases when crumb rubber was mixed in pond ash whereas when coir fiber is added to pond ash,the dynamic shear modulus increases significantly.A mix of PA,CR,and CF was also tried to balance the number of cycles required to initiate liquefaction and shear modulus.The mixed sample in the proportion of PA(84%)+CR(15)+CF(1%)can be termed a balanced mix as the number of cycles to initiate liquefaction was more than all PA-CF mixes and also the shear modulus was more than all PA-CR mixes.Damping ratio increases with increasing frequency of loading(0.4 to 1 Hz).展开更多
The composite exciter and the CaO to Na_(2)SO_(4) dosing ratios are known to have a strong impact on the mechanical strength offly-ash concrete.In the present study a hybrid approach relying on experiments and a machi...The composite exciter and the CaO to Na_(2)SO_(4) dosing ratios are known to have a strong impact on the mechanical strength offly-ash concrete.In the present study a hybrid approach relying on experiments and a machine-learn-ing technique has been used to tackle this problem.The tests have shown that the optimal admixture of CaO and Na_(2)SO_(4) alone is 8%.The best 3D mechanical strength offly-ash concrete is achieved at 8%of the compound activator;If the 28-day mechanical strength is considered,then,the best performances are obtained at 4%of the compound activator.Moreover,the 3D mechanical strength offly-ash concrete is better when the dosing ratio of CaO to Na_(2)SO_(4) in the compound activator is 1:1;the maximum strength offly-ash concrete at 28-day can be achieved for a 1:1 ratio of CaO to Na_(2)SO_(4) by considering a 4%compound activator.In this case,the compressive andflexural strengths are 260 MPa and 53.6 MPa,respectively;the mechanical strength offly-ash concrete at 28-day can be improved by a 4:1 ratio of CaO to Na_(2)SO_(4) by considering 8%and 12%compound excitants.It is shown that the predictions based on the aforementioned machine-learning approach are accurate and reliable.展开更多
A new type of composite filler was designed by a modified sol-gel method using fly ash(FA),Fe(NO_(3))_(3)·9H_(2)O,and Ni(NO_(3))_(2)·6H_(2)O as raw materials.The composite filler was a spherical core-shell s...A new type of composite filler was designed by a modified sol-gel method using fly ash(FA),Fe(NO_(3))_(3)·9H_(2)O,and Ni(NO_(3))_(2)·6H_(2)O as raw materials.The composite filler was a spherical core-shell structure composed of FA as the core and NiFe_(2)O_(4)as the shell.Further,the composite filler was added into the silicone rubber to fabricate the high temperature vulcanized microwave absorption materials;X-ray diffraction,fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and scanning electron microscope confirmed that NiFe_(2)O_(4)was successfully coated on the surface of FA and formed a uniform and continuous coating layer.As expected,silicone rubber filled with the composite filler had a minimum reflection loss of-23.8 dB at 17.5 GHz with the thickness of 1.8 mm,while the effective absorption bandwidth was as high as 12 GHz.The addition of the composite filler greatly enhanced the microwave absorption properties of the system,which was resulted from multiple losses mechanism:interface polarization losses,magnetic losses,and multiple reflection losses.Also,silicone rubber filled with the composite filler exhibited excellent thermal stability,flexibility,environmental resistance,and hydrophobicity compared with traditional silicone rubber.Therefore,this work not only responds to the green chemistry to achieve efficient FA recovery,but also devises a new strategy to prepare microwave absorption materials with strong potential for civilian applications.展开更多
基金support for this research from AB Vista,Marlborough,UK,is greatly appreciated。
文摘Background The effect of microbial phytase on amino acid and energy digestibility is not consistent in pigs,which may be related to the phytase dosage or the adaptation length to the diet.Therefore,an experiment was conducted to test the hypotheses that increasing dietary phytase after an 18-day adaptation period:1)increases nutrient and energy digestibility;2)increases plasma P,plasma inositol,and bone ash of young pigs;and 3)demonstrates that maximum phytate degradation requires more phytase than maximum P digestibility.Results Data indicated that increasing inclusion of phytase[0,250,500,1,000,2,000,and 4,000 phytase units(FTU)/kg feed]in corn-soybean meal-based diets increased apparent ileal digestibility(AID)of Trp(quadratic;P<0.05),and of Lys and Thr(linear;P<0.05),and tended to increase AID of Met(linear;P<0.10).Increasing dietary phytase also increased AID and apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD)of Ca and P(quadratic;P<0.05)and increased ATTD of K and Na(linear;P<0.05),but phytase did not influence the ATTD of Mg or gross energy.Concentrations of plasma P and bone ash increased(quadratic;P<0.05),and plasma inositol also increased(linear;P<0.05)with increasing inclusion of phytase.Reduced concentrations of inositol phosphate(IP)6 and IP5(quadratic;P<0.05),reduced IP4 and IP3(linear;P<0.05),but increased inositol concentrations(linear;P<0.05)were observed in ileal digesta as dietary phytase increased.The ATTD of P was maximized if at least 1,200 FTU/kg were used,whereas more than 4,000 FTU/kg were needed to maximize inositol release.Conclusions Increasing dietary levels of phytase after an 18-day adaptation period increased phytate and IP ester degradation and inositol release in the small intestine.Consequently,increasing dietary phytase resulted in improved digestibility of Ca,P,K,Na,and the first 4 limiting amino acids,and in increased concentrations of bone ash and plasma P and inositol.In a corn-soybean meal diet,maximum inositol release requires approximately 3,200 FTU/kg more phytase than that required for maximum P digestibility.
基金Funded by the National Key Research and Development Project(No.2019YFC1908204)the Guiding Projects in Fujian Province(No.2023H0023)the Fuzhou Science and Technology Plan Project(No.2022-P-012)。
文摘Polyurethane/desulfurization ash(PU/DA)composites were synthesized using"one-pot method",with the incorporation of a silane coupling agent(KH550)as a"molecular bridge"to facilitate the integration of DA as hard segments into the PU molecular chain.The effects of DA content(φ)on the mechanical properties,thermal stability,and hydrophobicity of PU,both before and after the addition of KH550,were thoroughly examined.The results of microscopic mechanism analysis confirmed that KH550 chemically modified the surface of DA,facilitating its incorporation into the polyurethane molecular chain,thereby significantly enhancing the compatibility and dispersion of DA within the PU matrix.When the mass fraction of modified DA(MDA)reached 12%,the mechanical properties,thermal stability,and hydrophobicity of the composites were substantially improved,with the tensile strength reaching 14.9 MPa,and the contact angle measuring 100.6°.
文摘Health-care waste contains potentially harmful microorganisms and compounds which can infect and affect hospital patients, healthcare workers, the general public and environment. Therefore, management of health care waste requires safe handling, treatment and disposal procedures. While incineration reduces the volume and quantity of waste for final disposal, it leads to the production of fly and bottom ashes laden with toxic incomplete combustion products such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, furans and heavy metals. This exposes workers who handle and dispose the bottom ashes, hospital patients, the general public and environment. The goal of this study was to determine the total and individual levels of 16 most prevalent and toxic PAHs. Bottom ash samples were collected from incinerators in five county hospitals in Kenya, namely;Moi-Voi, Narok, Kitale, Makindu and Isiolo. Bottom ash samples were collected over a period of six months from the five hospitals. The samples were then sieved, homogenised and stored at 4°C in amber coloured glass containers. The PAHs were extracted using 30 ml of a hexane-acetone solvent (1:1) mixture by ultrasonication at room temperature (23°C) for 45 minutes. The PAHs were then analyzed with a GC-MS spectrophotometer model (Shimadzu GCMS-QP2010 SE) connected to a computer work station was used for the PAHs analysis. The GC-MS was equipped with an SGE BPX5 GC capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm) for the separation of compounds. Helium was used as the carrier gas at a flow rate of 15.5 ml/minute and 14.5 psi. 1 μl of the sample was injected at 280°C, split mode (10:1). The oven programming was set for a total runtime of 40 minutes, which included: 100°C (2-minute hold);10°C /min rise to 200°C;7°C /min rise to 249°C;3°C /min rise to 300°C (2-minute hold). The interface temperature was set at 290°C. Analysis was done in Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM) mode and the peak areas of each of the PAHs were collected from the chromatograph and used for quantification of the 16 PAHs listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which included, BaA (benz[a]anthracene: 4 rings), BaP (benzo[a]pyrene: 5 rings), BbF (benzo [b]fluoranthene: 5 rings), BkF (benzo[k]fluoranthene: 5 rings), Chr (chrysene: 4 rings), DbA (dibenz[a,h]anthracene: 5 rings), InP (indeno[1,2,3 - cd] pyrene: 6 rings) and Acp (acenaphthene: 3 rings), Acpy (acenaphthylene: 3 rings), Ant (anthracene: 3 rings), BghiP (benzo[g,h,i]perylene: 6 rings), Flu (fluorene: 3 rings), FluA (fluoranthene: 4 rings), Nap (naphthalene: 2 rings), PhA (phenanthrene: 3 rings) and Pyr (pyrene: 4 rings). Ion source-interface temperature was set at 200°C - 250°C. Internal standards from Sigma Aldrich were used in the analysis and the acquired mass spectra data were then matched against the NIST 2014 library [1] [2]. The mean PAHs concentration in the bottom ashes of each hospital varied broadly from 0.001 mg/kg to 0.4845 mg/kg, and the mean total concentration levels of individual PAHs ranged from 0.0072 mg/kg to 1.171 mg/kg. Low molecular weight PAHs (Phenanthrene, Naphthalene and Fluorene) were predominant in all the hospital wastes whereas Kitale and Narok presented the lowest PAHs concentrations and the lowest number of individual PAHs. Moi/Voi recorded the highest total PAHs concentration at 1.3129 ± 0.0023 mg/kg from a total of 11 PAHs being detected from the bottom ash samples. Narok had only three PAHs being detected at very low concentrations of 0.0041 ± 0.00 mg/kg, 0.0076 ± 0.00 mg/kg and 0.012 ± 0.00 mg/kg for phenanthrene, anthracene and chrysene respectively. This study presents hospital incinerator bottom ash as containing detectable levels of both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic PAHs. Continued unprotected exposure of hospital workers (waste handlers) to the bottom ash PAHs could be hazardous to their health because of their cumulative effect. Preventive measures e.g. the use of Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be prioritised to minimise direct contact with the bottom ash. The study recommends an upgrade on incinerator technology for efficient combustion processes thus for better pollution control.
基金financially supported by the Special Research Assistant Fund Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
文摘Coal gasification fly ash(CGFA)is an industrial solid waste from the coal circulating fluidized bed(CFB)gasification process,and it needs to be effectively disposed to achieve sustainable development of the environment.To realize the application of CGFA as a precursor of porous carbon materials,the physicochemical properties of three kinds of CGFA from industrial CFB gasifiers are analyzed.Then,the activation potential of CGFA is acquired via steam activation experiments in a tube furnace reactor.Finally,the fluidization activation technology of CGFA is practiced in a bench-scale CFB test rig,and its advantages are highlighted.The results show that CGFA is characterized by a high carbon content in the range of 54.06%–74.09%,an ultrafine particle size(d50:16.3–26.1 μm),and a relatively developed pore structure(specific surface area SSA:139.29–551.97 m^(2)·g^(-1)).The proportion of micropores in CGFA increases gradually with the coal rank.Steam activation experiments show that the pore development of CGFA mainly includes three stages:initial pore development,dynamic equilibrium between micropores and mesopores and pore collapse.The SSA of lignite fly ash(LFA),subbituminous fly ash(SBFA)and anthracite fly ash(AFA)is maximally increased by 105%,13%and 72%after steam activation;the order of the largest carbon reaction rate and decomposition ratio of steam among the three kinds of CGFA is SBFA>LFA>AFA.As the ratio of oxygen to carbon during the fluidization activation of LFA is from 0.09 to 0.19,the carbon conversion ratio increases from 14.4%to 26.8%and the cold gas efficiency increases from 6.8%to 10.2%.The SSA of LFA increases by up to 53.9%during the fluidization activation process,which is mainly due to the mesoporous development.Relative to steam activation in a tube furnace reactor,fluidization activation takes an extremely short time(seconds)to achieve the same activation effect.It is expected to further improve the activation effect of LFA by regulating the carbon conversion ratio range of 27%–35%to create pores in the initial development stage.
文摘Forest tree species reproduction is a key factor in maintaining the genetic diversity of future generations and the stability of forest ecosystems.The ongoing ash dieback disease could affect the reproductive ecology of Fraxinus excelsior L.and have a major impact on the quantity and quality of pollen and seeds.In this study,we investigated pollen production and viability of pollen and seeds of ash trees with different health status from 2018 to 2022.Inflorescences were collected from 105 trees(pollen production),pollen from 125 trees(pollen viability),and seeds from 53 trees(seed quality)in two seed orchards and in one floodplain forest in southern Germany.Not all parameters were examined at every site every year.The average pollen production per tree was estimated at 471.2±647.9 billion pollen grains.In addition,we found that a high number of inflorescences did not equate to high pollen production per inflorescence.Pollen production of healthy and diseased trees did not differ significantly,although only 47%of severely diseased male trees(vs.72%for healthy trees)produced flowers.With regards to pollen viability,the TTC test showed an average viability of 73%±17%.Overall,there was a slight tendency for diseased trees to have less viable pollen.However,a significant difference could only be calculated for trees in the floodplain forest.The percentage of germinable seeds in 2018 was 38%in the floodplain forest and 57%in one of the seed orchards.The percentage of viable seeds(TTC test)ranged from 17 to 22%in the orchards in 2020.Non-viable seeds were usually heavily infested by insects.In general,seed quality was not significantly different between healthy and diseased trees.Our results indicate that ash dieback affects flower formation and pollen viability but not pollen production or seed quality.Nevertheless,the fact that hardly any flowering was observed,especially for trees that were seriously affected,suggests a negative effect of ash dieback on reproductive performance.Thus,severely diseased trees will transfer their genes to a smaller extent to the next generation.
文摘Using fly ash as a raw material,porous ceramic particles with an apparent density of 1.21 g/cm^(3),a visible porosity of 51.03%,and a specific surface area of 4.26 m^(2)/g were prepared and used as biofilter materials for wastewater treatment.Through SEM,XRD analysis,and heavy metal leaching analysis,it was found that porous ceramsite were porous materials with rough surfaces.After calcination,the newly formed mineral was silicate calcium feldspar.The heavy metal concentration in the leaching solution of porous ceramsite met the national surface water quality requirements.The treatment of domestic sewage showed that the volumetric loads of COD Cr,NH_(4)^(+)-N,and TN removed by the aerated biofilter were 5.23,0.98,and 0.35 kg/(m^(3)·d),respectively,with removal rates of 85.46%,96.13%,and 32.31%.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Foundation of China(No.62027801).
文摘Recently,researchers have proposed an emitter localization method based on passive synthetic aperture.However,the unknown residual frequency offset(RFO)between the transmit-ter and the receiver causes the received Doppler signal to shift,which affects the localization accu-racy.To solve this issue,this paper proposes a RFO estimation method based on range migration fitting.Due to the high frequency modulation slope of the linear frequency modulation(LFM)-mod-ulation radar signal,it is not affected by RFO in range compression.Therefore,the azimuth time can be estimated by fitting the peak value position of the pulse compression in range direction.Then,the matched filters are designed under different RFOs.When the zero-Doppler time obtained by the matched filters is consistent with the estimated azimuth time,the given RFO is the real RFO between the transceivers.The simulation results show that the estimation error of azimuth distance does not exceed 20 m when the received signal duration is not less than 3 s,the pulse repe-tition frequency(PRF)of the transmitter radar signal is not less than 1 kHz,the range detection is not larger than 1000 km,and the signal noise ratio(SNR)is not less than-5 dB.
文摘Increasing the population and infrastructure in both emerging and developed countries requires a considerable amount of cement, which significantly affects the environment. The primary materials of concrete (‘cement’) production emit a large quantity of CO<sub>2</sub> into the environment. Also, the cost of conventional building materials like cement gives motivation to find geopolymer waste materials for concrete. To reduce harmful effects on the environment and cost of traditional concrete substance, alternative waste materials like rice husk ash (RHA), ground granulated blast-furnace (GGBS), fly ash (FA), and metakaolin (MK) can be used due to their pozzolanic behavior. RHA waste material with a high silica concentration obtained from burning rice husks can possibly be used as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in the manufacturing of concrete, and its strong pozzolanic properties can contribute to the strength and impermeability of concrete. This review paper highlights a summary of the positive effect of using RHA as a partial substitute for cement in building construction, as well as its optimal inclusion of enhanced mechanical properties like compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength of mortar and concrete.
文摘This work investigates durability of cement-free mortars with a binder comprised of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) activated by high-calcium fly ash (HCFA) and sodium carbonate (Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>): the soundness, sulfate resistance, alkali-silica reactivity and efflorescence factors are considered. Results of tests show that such mortars are resistant to alkali-silica expansion. Mortars are also sulfate-resistant when the amount of HCFA in the complex binder is within a limit of 10 wt%. The fineness of fly ash determines its’ ability to activate GGBFS hydration, and influence soundness of the binder, early strength development, sulfate resistance and efflorescence behavior. The present article is a continuation of authors’ work, previously published in MSA, Vol. 14, 240-254.
文摘The aim and scope of the present study were to determine the efficacy of UFFA in evaluating the workability,static and dynamic stabilization properties,retention period,and slump loss of SCC systems in their fresh state,as well as their compressive strength at various ages.Microstructure(SEM and XRD)of blended SCC systems were studied.Also,the thermogravimetry behavior of blended SCC specimens were researched.According to the evaluated results,incorporating up to 20%UFFA into fresh concrete improved its performance due to its engineered fine particle size and spherical geometry,both of which contribute to the enhancement of characteristics.Blends of 25%and 30%of UFFA show effect on the water-binder ratio and chemical enhancer dosage,resulting in a loss of homogeneity in fresh SCC systems.The reduced particle size,increased amorphous content,and increased surface area all contribute to the pozzolanic reactivity of the early and later ages,resulting in denser packing and thus an increase in compressive strength.The experimental results indicate that UFFA enhances the properties of SCC in both its fresh and hardened states,which can be attributed to the particles’fineness and their relative effect on SCC.
基金funded through the University Coal Research Program being administered by DOE-NETL (Award Number:DE-FE0031741).
文摘Co-firing rice husk(RH)and coal with carbon capture using oxy-combustion presents a net carbon negative energy produc-tion opportunity.In addition,the high fusion temperature of the non-sticky,silica rich,RH can mitigate ash deposition as well as promote shedding of deposits.To identify the optimum operating conditions,fuel particle sizes,and blend ratios that minimize ash deposition,a Computational Fluid Dynamic methodology with add-on ash deposition and shedding models were employed to predict outer ash deposition and shedding rates during co-combustion of coal/RH in AIR and O2/CO_(2)(70/30 vol%,OXY70)oxidizer compositions.After ensuring that the fly-ash particle size distributions and particle Stokes numbers near the deposition surface were accurately represented(to model impaction),appropriate models for coal ash and RH ash viscosities that were accurate in the temperature region(1200-1300 K)of interest in this study were identified.A particle viscosity and kinetic energy(PKE)based capture criterion was enforced to model the ash capture.An erosion/shed-ding criterion that takes the deposit melt fraction and the energy consumed during particle impact into account was also implemented.Deposition rate predictions as well as the deposition rate enhancement(OXY70/AIR)were in good agreement with measured values.While the OXY70 scenario was associated with a significant reduction(60%-70%)in flue gas velocities,it also resulted in larger fly-ash particles.As a result,the PKE distributions of the erosive RH ash were similar in both scenarios and resulted in similar shedding rates.
文摘This paper emphasized the use of rice husk ash (RHA) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) in improving concrete properties, and also their combined effects on workability, compressive strength, flexural strength, permeability and water absorption capacity. Thus, in this study, the water-to-cement ratio was kept constant (0.45), the binder materials content for conventional mix was kept constant at (350 kg/m<sup>3</sup>) and the partial replacement of cement with RHASBA used was 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% by weight of cement. The maximum compressive strength was noted at a 5% replacement level of cement with RHASBA. The Results showed that the optimum replacement of cement with RHASBA in concrete was 5%, which was found to increase the compressive strength by 15%, flexural strength by 3.4%, lowered permeability by 50%, lowered sorptivity by 11.34% as compared with control concrete at 90 days of curing time. The micro-structural test results further established that RHA and SBA have a high content of SiO<sub>2</sub> which enables them to be more reactive in concrete and also revealed that the presence of RHASBA depletes Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> crystals, converting it into CaH<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>Si (C-S-H gel) leading to the strengthening of bond within the concrete matrix.
文摘Treating waste with a waste material using freely available solar energy is the most effective way towards sustainable future.In this study,a novel photocatalyst,partly derived from waste material from the coal industry,was developed.Fly ash hybridized with ZnO(FAeZn)was synthesized as a potential photocatalyst for dye discoloration.The synthesized photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,and ultravioletevisible/near infra-red spectroscopy.The photocatalytic activity was examined with the discoloration of methylene blue used as synthetic dye wastewater.All the experiments were performed in direct sunlight.The photocatalytic performance of FAeZn was found to be better than that of ZnO and the conventionally popular TiO2.The LangmuireHinshelwood model rate constant values of ZnO,TiO2,and FAeZn were found to be 0.016 min1,0.017 min1,and 0.020 min1,respectively.There were two reasons for this:(1)FAeZn was able to utilize both ultraviolet and visible parts of the solar spectrum,and(2)its BrunauereEmmetteTeller surface area and porosity were significantly enhanced.This led to increased photon absorption and dye adsorption,thus exhibiting an energy-efficient performance.Therefore,FAeZn,partly derived from waste,can serve as a suitable material for environmental remediation and practical solar energy applications.
文摘An experimental program was conducted to determine the dynamic properties of pond ash(PA)and pond ash mixed with admixtures like crumb rubber(CR)and coir fiber(CF)which are wastes of different industries.Additives CR and CF were mixed separately with pond ash in a percentage ranging from 0%–20%at an interval of 5%and 0%–2%at an interval of 0.5%by weight of pond ash,respectively.Dynamic properties(Shear modulus,Number of cycles to initiate liquefaction,Degradation index and Damping ratio)for pond ash mixes were determined using strain-controlled cyclic tri-axial apparatus.The shear strain was kept constant at 1.2%and the frequency varied from 0.4 to 1 Hz.Liquefaction resistance improves when crumb rubber is added to pond ash,however adding Coir fiber to pond ash has essentially no effect on the number of cycles required to initiate liquefaction.The dynamic shear modulus decreases when crumb rubber was mixed in pond ash whereas when coir fiber is added to pond ash,the dynamic shear modulus increases significantly.A mix of PA,CR,and CF was also tried to balance the number of cycles required to initiate liquefaction and shear modulus.The mixed sample in the proportion of PA(84%)+CR(15)+CF(1%)can be termed a balanced mix as the number of cycles to initiate liquefaction was more than all PA-CF mixes and also the shear modulus was more than all PA-CR mixes.Damping ratio increases with increasing frequency of loading(0.4 to 1 Hz).
基金supported by the Scientific Research Fund Project of Yunnan Education Department(Grant Numbers 2023J1974 and 2023J1976)the Yunnan University Professional Degree Graduate Student Practical Innovation Fund Project(Grant Number ZC-22222374)also supported by the Yunnan Provincial Education Department Fund(Grant No.2022Y286).
文摘The composite exciter and the CaO to Na_(2)SO_(4) dosing ratios are known to have a strong impact on the mechanical strength offly-ash concrete.In the present study a hybrid approach relying on experiments and a machine-learn-ing technique has been used to tackle this problem.The tests have shown that the optimal admixture of CaO and Na_(2)SO_(4) alone is 8%.The best 3D mechanical strength offly-ash concrete is achieved at 8%of the compound activator;If the 28-day mechanical strength is considered,then,the best performances are obtained at 4%of the compound activator.Moreover,the 3D mechanical strength offly-ash concrete is better when the dosing ratio of CaO to Na_(2)SO_(4) in the compound activator is 1:1;the maximum strength offly-ash concrete at 28-day can be achieved for a 1:1 ratio of CaO to Na_(2)SO_(4) by considering a 4%compound activator.In this case,the compressive andflexural strengths are 260 MPa and 53.6 MPa,respectively;the mechanical strength offly-ash concrete at 28-day can be improved by a 4:1 ratio of CaO to Na_(2)SO_(4) by considering 8%and 12%compound excitants.It is shown that the predictions based on the aforementioned machine-learning approach are accurate and reliable.
文摘A new type of composite filler was designed by a modified sol-gel method using fly ash(FA),Fe(NO_(3))_(3)·9H_(2)O,and Ni(NO_(3))_(2)·6H_(2)O as raw materials.The composite filler was a spherical core-shell structure composed of FA as the core and NiFe_(2)O_(4)as the shell.Further,the composite filler was added into the silicone rubber to fabricate the high temperature vulcanized microwave absorption materials;X-ray diffraction,fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and scanning electron microscope confirmed that NiFe_(2)O_(4)was successfully coated on the surface of FA and formed a uniform and continuous coating layer.As expected,silicone rubber filled with the composite filler had a minimum reflection loss of-23.8 dB at 17.5 GHz with the thickness of 1.8 mm,while the effective absorption bandwidth was as high as 12 GHz.The addition of the composite filler greatly enhanced the microwave absorption properties of the system,which was resulted from multiple losses mechanism:interface polarization losses,magnetic losses,and multiple reflection losses.Also,silicone rubber filled with the composite filler exhibited excellent thermal stability,flexibility,environmental resistance,and hydrophobicity compared with traditional silicone rubber.Therefore,this work not only responds to the green chemistry to achieve efficient FA recovery,but also devises a new strategy to prepare microwave absorption materials with strong potential for civilian applications.
