Search Results (3,858)

This study presents a systematic literature review of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies applied to the principal constituents of Carbon Fibre Metal Laminates (CFMLs): aluminium, carbon fibres, and epoxy resin. CFMLs are increasingly utilised in aerospace and automotive sectors due to their favourable strength-to-weight ratio; however, their production is resource- and energy-intensive, and their composite structure poses significant challenges for end-of-life (EoL) management. This review maps the diversity of existing LCA approaches, revealing substantial heterogeneity in system boundaries, impact categories, and geographical representativeness. A strong regional focus on Asia, and China in particular, was identified in the case of aluminium, as almost half of the aluminium sources were in this geography. For carbon fibres and epoxy resins, the regional impact was even more pronounced, with 63% and 70% of publications originating from Europe, respectively, hence showing an underrepresentation of certain life cycle geography, such as bauxite mining regions. A key finding is the limited consideration of EoL scenarios, primarily due to difficulties in separating composite layers, which highlights the technical gap and need for a chemically or thermally separable intermediate layer for carbon fibre composites. Furthermore, the study compares traditional keyword-based literature searches with AI-driven tools (Undermind, You.com, Litmaps), demonstrating that AI-assisted methods substantially enhance the efficiency and comprehensiveness of literature retrieval. Notably, although Undermind contributed only 23% of the initial search results, it accounted for 39% of the publications ultimately selected for in-depth analysis. In contrast, the standard Web of Science (WoS) search exhibited the lowest precision, with merely 10% of its results deemed relevant for detailed review. Importantly, 70% of the total WoS search results were excluded following an initial human screening, which underlines the extensive filtering required to identify pertinent studies from broad database outputs. The findings highlight the higher efficiency of AI-supported search strategies in comparison to conventional approaches, underscoring their potential to optimise literature screening processes in LCA research while also revealing shortcomings in reproducibility, which must be addressed to ensure the maintenance of scientific standards. Full article

This work introduces an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective strategy for synthesizing graphene nanomaterials from agricultural residues—walnut shells and apricot stones. The synthesis pathway combines desilication, controlled pre-carbonization, chemical activation with KOH, and mild exfoliation to produce few-layer graphene with a high degree of structural order. The process, conducted at 523–573 K for pre-carbonization and 1123 K for activation, enables the formation of graphene sheets with a specific surface area of approximately 1300 m²/g, carbon content of 80–90%, and average pore diameter below 100 nm. The materials were comprehensively characterized using SEM, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, and BET analysis. Raman spectra revealed an I_G/I_2D ratio of ~1.5–2 a.u., confirming the presence of 4–5 graphene layers. Compared to conventional biomass-derived graphene routes, the developed approach ensures enhanced porosity, higher graphitic ordering, and improved purity, demonstrating its strong potential for energy storage, adsorptive purification, and environmentally benign nanotechnology applications. Full article

This study systematically evaluated the removal performance of iron–carbon (Fe/C) micro-electrolysis materials with different proportions and preparation methods for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in domestic sewage. This study investigated the effects of different Fe/C ratios, hydraulic retention time (HRT), raw materials and sintering bonding conditions on the efficiency of domestic sewage treatment through both static and dynamic experiments. In the static experiments, iron filings (IFs), steel slag (SS), and coconut shell carbon (CSC) were physically mixed, whereas the dynamic tests simulated the continuous treatment of domestic sewage. The results indicated that the Fe/C materials effectively removed P, particularly materials with high Fe/C ratios, which achieved removal rates of 96–98%. The COD removal efficiency of low Fe/C ratio material was better, reaching a removal rate of more than 70% under the optimal conditions. For Fe/C physical mixed materials, SS replacing IFs had excellent performance in ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) removal (>93%), but other indicators were poor, which limited its application. Results from the continuous flow experiment indicated that the physically mixed filler with an Fe/C mass ratio of 2:1 showed excellent and stable TP and COD removal rates (98.6% and 92.8%) for the actual domestic sewage. In addition, the Fe/C micro-electrolysis filler sintered at 400 °C using kaolin as a binder exhibited good potential for pollutant removal, providing a feasible solution for reducing energy consumption. This study provides important data support for the development of low-cost and efficient decentralized rural sewage treatment technology. Full article

Machine learning has emerged as a promising tool to accelerate the screening of lithium–ion battery electrode materials. Gravimetric capacity, a critical performance indicator governing electrode energy density, is intrinsically related to lithium insertion and extraction mechanisms, requiring sophisticated embedding approaches that capture the structural characteristics of cathode materials. The cathode material dataset from the Materials Project database comprises heterogeneous data modalities: numerical features representing chemical properties and categorical features encoding structural characteristics. Naive integration of these disparate data types may introduce semantic gaps from statistical distributional discrepancies, potentially degrading predictive performance and limiting model generalization. To address these limitations, this study proposes a Classified Branch–CapNet model that individually embeds four distinct types of categorical structural data into separate classified branches along with numerical data for independent learning, subsequently integrating them through a late fusion strategy. This approach minimizes interference between heterogeneous data modalities while capturing structure–property relationships with enhanced precision. The proposed model achieved superior performance with a mean absolute error of 2.441 mAh/g, demonstrating substantial improvements of 56.2%, 71.2%, 73.9%, and 51.1% over conventional deep neural networks, recurrent neural networks, long short-term memory architectures, and the encoder-only Transformer, respectively. Furthermore, it achieved the lowest root mean square error of 15.236 mAh/g and the highest coefficient of determination of 0.961, confirming its superior predictive accuracy and generalization capability compared with all benchmark models. Our model therefore demonstrates significant potential to accelerate the efficient screening and discovery of high-performance battery electrode materials. Full article

Background: Hospitals generate large volumes of single-use plastic waste, which are predominantly incinerated. To improve sustainability, standardized procedure-specific surgical trays have been implemented, reducing waste and setup time. This early feasibility study investigated whether all residual plastics from surgical procedures could be recycled via pyrolysis into high-quality oil for circular reuse in medical supply production. Methods: All residual plastics from five transurethral resection (TUR) trays were subjected to pyrolysis at 430–460 °C in a batch reactor. Condensable fractions were separated into heavy (HF) and light (LF) oils, while non-condensable gases and coke were quantified. Chemical analyses included the density, water content, heating value, and elemental composition. Results: From 1.102 kg of input material, the process yielded 78 weight percent (wt%) oil (HF 59.1%, LF 40.9%), 20.5 wt% gas, and 1.5 wt% coke. HF solidified at room temperature, whereas LF remained liquid, reflecting distinct hydrocarbon chain distributions. The oils exhibited densities of 767.0 kg/m³ (HF) and 748.9 kg/m³ (LF), heating values of 46.39–46.80 MJ/kg, low water contents (<0.05 wt%), and minimal contamination (silicone ≤ 193 mg/kg; chlorine ≤ 110 mg/kg). Conclusions: Pyrolysis of surgical tray plastics produces decontaminated high-energy oils comparable in quality to fossil fuels, with a material recovery rate exceeding 75% and potential CO₂ savings of ~ 2.9 ton per t plastic compared with incineration. This process provides a technically and ecologically viable pathway toward a scalable circular economy in healthcare. Full article

Throughout the lifetime, road markings (RMs) accumulate dirt, oils, and greases, which reduce visibility, shorten service life, and compromise road safety. If RMs could degrade these pollutants, their service life would increase. When exposed to UV light and humidity, semiconductors, such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂), can interact with contaminants and promote their chemical degradation. Semiconductors are commonly used on different types of substrates to achieve self-cleaning ability. In this study, 0.25–3 wt% TiO₂ was incorporated into a commercial RM paint for this purpose. After functionalization, the RM paint samples were contaminated with Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B. After pollution, the specimens were irradiated with a light source that simulates sunlight. To assess the self-cleaning capacity of the paints, visual analysis, color variation and discoloration by using CIELAB color coordinates, diffuse reflectance, and digital image processing techniques were applied. In both techniques, the samples with 2% and 3% of TiO₂ showed a greater capacity to degrade pollutants. Further, the chemical and morphological characteristics of the reference paint and the samples that showed the best self-cleaning results were analyzed by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). They identified the polymer, filler, and pigment in the commercial paint and confirmed the TiO₂ increase after functionalization. This study demonstrated the innovative potential of incorporating semiconductors to achieve a new capability (self-cleaning) for RM paints. This breakthrough not only has the potential to extend the RM service life, but also to improve road safety through greater visibility. Full article

The chemical diffusion coefficients of oxygen ($D^{\delta }$) for the oxides BaFe_0.9Ce_0.1O_3−δ (BFC10), BaFe_0.9Y_0.1O_3−δ (BFY10), and BaFe_0.8Ce_0.1Y_0.1O_3−δ (BFCY1010) were determined by the oxygen pressure relaxation method in the T = 600–800 °C and pO₂ = 0.1–3.5 kPa ranges. The oxygen diffusion coefficients at 700 °C were found to be 1.80·10⁻⁵, 3.92·10⁻⁵, and 1.85·10⁻⁵ cm²/s for BFC10, BFY10, and BFCY1010, respectively. It was established that the volume oxygen diffusion increases in the order $D^{\delta }$(BFY10) > $D^{\delta }$(BFCY1010) > $D^{\delta }$(BFC10), which correlates with the data on oxygen non-stoichiometry (δ), and is associated with the oxygen vacancy content in oxides. The values of effective activation energies were determined: 1.21 ± 0.04, 1.31 ± 0.10, and 1.18 ± 0.09 eV for BFC10, BFY10, and BFCY1010, respectively. A comparative analysis of oxygen transport highlights the potential of co-doped BaFe_0.8Ce_0.1Y_0.1O_3−δ as a promising cobalt-free cathode material with triple (oxygen, proton, electron) conductivity. Full article

In recent years, edible by-products (including the liver) have gained growing popularity among consumers. That is why the study aimed to assess the energy value, chemical composition, and mineral content of broiler chicken livers after including wheat germ expeller (WGE) in the feed of the broilers. Liver samples were obtained from 32 Ross-308 chickens (8 individuals per treatment). The control group received a basal diet, whereas the remaining treatments (EX5, EX10, and EX15) were characterized by a partial substitution of ground wheat with 5%, 10%, and 15% WGE. The WGE inclusion did not influence liver weight or chemical composition. However, livers from the CT group showed a higher energy value (p ≤ 0.05) than the EX15 group. Sodium and calcium contents were higher in CT and EX5 livers than in EX10 and EX15. No differences were observed in micronutrient levels between groups. A 100 g portion of EX15 livers provided the highest NRV coverage for phosphorus, iron, zinc, and copper, while EX5 livers were richest in calcium and magnesium, and CT livers in manganese. Total Hazard Quotients for Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn in chicken livers were below 1, suggesting no potential health risk to consumers. These findings indicate that livers, also from WGE-fed broilers, may serve as a valuable dietary source of minerals for people. Full article

In this study, nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) films were synthesized on copper foil sur-faces by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and their anti-corrosion properties were comprehensively investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results showed that the graphene layer was uniformly formed and nitrogen atoms were successfully incorporated. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the sample obtained on a 30 μm thick copper foil had a high structural quality (low ID/IG value). Electrochemical measurements showed that the NG coatings significantly reduced the corrosion current density and rate compared to pure copper. In short-term tests, the highest inhibition efficiency (91.5%) was observed for the sample synthesized on a 200 μm thick copper foil. In long-term (up to 2 months) seawater immersion tests, the inhibition efficiency decreased slightly over time, but the NG coatings showed much higher anti-corrosion properties than pure copper at all times. Overall results proved that nitrogen-doped graphene is a potential material in protecting metals from long-term corrosion, not only in seawater but also in harsh environments. Full article

This study assesses the phytochemicals and bioactivity of four plant species: Polypodium vulgare, Chamaemelum nobile, Ocimum forsskaolii Benth, and Lavandula stoechas. Plant chemical composition was determined. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay, and HPLC identified key phenolic compounds. In vitro ruminal fermentation trials evaluated gas production, metabolizable energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMd), and the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), which were subsequently identified using GC–MS. Significant variations (p ≤ 0.05) were observed among species. C. nobile and O. forsskaolii exhibited the highest total nitrogen contents (3.39 ± 0.42% and 3.20 ± 0.69%, respectively). All species contained high levels of insoluble dietary fiber, with L. stoechas showing the highest neutral detergent fiber (62.39%). C. nobile also recorded the highest polyphenol and flavonoid levels (73.88 ± 0.79 mg GAE/g DW and 27.85 ± 0.54 mg QE/g DW, respectively), along with strong antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 0.38 mg/mL). HPLC identified catechol in P. vulgare, ferulic acid in C. nobile, chlorogenic acid in O. forsskaolii, and apigenin in L. stoechas as major compounds. For in vitro fermentation, the highest gas production was recorded at D20, accompanied by increases in ME, OMd, and VFA production. GC-MS analysis revealed that the distribution of total VFAs among acetate, propionate, butyrate, and branched-chain fatty acids varied in a clear dose-dependent manner, closely associated with the acetate-to-propionate (A/P) ratio, which in turn influenced CH₄ production. These findings highlight the potential of plant extracts rich in dietary fiber and bioactive compounds to offer a sustainable alternative to conventional feed additives, enhancing ruminal fermentation, energy efficiency, and livestock performance. Full article

The main objective of treatment with MSZ is to ensure that the drug reaches the colon, where it exerts its therapeutic effect. However, due to pH variation throughout the gastrointestinal tract and the risk of degradation or premature absorption, a considerable portion of the drug may not reach the colon in adequate concentrations. In this study, computational modeling was combined with experimental approaches for the design of MSZ nanoparticles (MSZ-NPs) suitable for chitosan (CS) incorporation. Quantum chemical calculations and molecular modeling revealed the importance of pH as a nucleation determinant and in the growth of the MSZ complexes. At pH~1.0, cationic clusters predominated, characterized by higher interaction energies and larger volumes/surface areas. At pH~4.0, zwitterionic clusters were stabilized, whereas at pH~6.0, anionic clusters formed the most compact assemblies, with the smallest calculated volume (4817 ų) and surface area (2458 Ų). Consistent with the computational predictions, experimental approaches showed a progressive reduction in particle size with increasing pH. Nanoparticles prepared at pH 1.5 (F1.5), 4.0 (F4.0), and 6.0 (F6.0) showed mean diameters of 937, 556, and 146 nm, respectively, with corresponding zeta potentials (ZPs) of +8.5, −22.3, and −31.6 mV. Drug precipitation efficiency was as follows: 51.6% to F1.5, 95.1% to F4.0, and 75.5% to F6.0. F4.0 and F6.0 were selected to evaluate the effect of CS incorporation. The CS incorporation resulted in a reversal in the zeta potential in formulations prepared at pH 4.0 and 6.0. When 5% CS was added during nanoparticle formation (F4.0-5 and F6.0-5), the particles were smaller in diameter and had a lower positive ZP. F6.0-5 achieved the most favorable properties and strong mucoadhesion, evidenced by the ZP shift from +26.8 mV to −1.9 mV at a pH of 6.8. The modeling and experimental approaches guided the rational design of MSZ-NPs for CS incorporation, yielding mucoadhesive nanoparticles for colon-targeted drug delivery. Full article

The magnetic fluid seal (MFS) is a novel sealing technique that offers numerous benefits such as non-wear, long life, zero leakage, etc. There are numerous potential applications for it in the fields of energy and chemical industry, aerospace, machinery and electricity, etc. However, compared with a mechanical seal, the pressure of MFS is relatively low, which greatly limits its application promotion. Therefore, in this paper, a magnetic fluid sealing device with a dual magnetic source (present MFS) is firstly designed to improve the sealing pressure. Secondly, the effects of different sealing gaps, pole tooth heights, pole tooth angles and pole tooth eccentricity distances on the sealing pressure are investigated through numerical simulations to obtain the better combination of structural parameters for sealing performance. Finally, a test rig was built to confirm the reliability of the new device, and the results show that the new device’s sealing pressure is significantly higher than the conventional MFS’ at the same rate of rotation, with a maximum increase of 1.69 times and 1.71 times in sealing gas and liquid, respectively. This paper provides a reference for the improvement of sealing pressure of MFS in engineering applications. Full article

Photoactivatable nitric oxide donors (photoNORMs) are promising agents for controlled NO release and real-time optical tracking in biomedical theranostics. Here, we report a comprehensive density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) study on a series of hybrid ruthenium–gold nanocluster systems of the general formula [(L)Ru(NO)(SH)@Au₂₀], where L = salen, bpb, porphyrin, or phthalocyanine. Structural and bonding analyses reveal that the Ru–NO bond maintains a formal {RuNO}⁶ configuration with pronounced Ru → π*(NO) backbonding, leading to partial reduction of the NO ligand and an elongated N–O bond. Natural Bond Orbital (NBO), Natural Energy Decomposition Analysis (NEDA), and Extended Transition State–Natural Orbitals for Chemical Valence (ETS–NOCV) analyses confirm that Ru–NO bonding is dominated by charge-transfer and polarization components, while Ru–S and Au–S linkages exhibit a delocalized, donor–acceptor character coupling the molecular chromophore with the metallic cluster. TDDFT results reproduce visible–near-infrared (NIR) absorption features arising from mixed metal-to-ligand and cluster-mediated charge-transfer transitions. The calculated zero–zero transition and reorganization energies predict NIR-II emission (1.8–3.8 μm), a region of high biomedical transparency, making these systems ideal candidates for luminescence-based NO sensing and therapy. This study establishes fundamental design principles for next-generation Ru-based photoNORMs integrated with plasmonic gold nanoclusters, highlighting their potential as multifunctional, optically trackable theranostic platforms. Full article

Silver and gold nanoparticles (NPs) have gained considerable attention in recent years due to their wide-ranging applications in medicine, agriculture, industry, and other fields where they may interact with the environment. Green synthesis of NPs supports sustainability by reducing chemical waste and energy use while improving their biocompatibility through plant phytochemicals. Accordingly, it is important to assess the effects of metal NPs on microorganisms, which play vital roles in ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. This study aimed to investigate microbial growth dynamics in the presence of green-synthesized silver and gold NPs (using an aqueous extract of Mentha × piperita leaves) and to evaluate potential mechanisms of their interaction. Microorganisms were cultivated in 96-well microtiter plates, and growth curves were analyzed alongside bacterial enumeration on Petri plates. Silver NPs affected the growth of Brevundimonas vesicularis USM1, Pseudarthrobacter oxydans USM2, and Pseudomonas putida USM4, although these strains exhibited partial resistance. In contrast, gold NPs did not inhibit the growth of the tested strains. The ability of Brevundimonas vesicularis USM1 to precipitate metal NPs highlights its potential for sustainable bioremediation applications. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the environmental impact and sustainability aspects of silver and gold NPs in microbial systems. Full article

This study examines the swelling behaviour of nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) when interacting with tyre pyrolysis oils (TPO), with a focus on the chemical composition of TPO and their interaction with rubber matrices. Initially, a comparative analysis with conventional diesel fuel (DF) was performed using advanced analytical techniques, including two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (2D-GC/MS), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy. The analysis revealed that TPO contains a significantly higher proportion of aromatic hydrocarbons than DF, along with unsaturated and oxygen-containing compounds not present in DF. Based on these compositional differences, blends of TPO and DF were formulated and evaluated for their suitability as liquid energy carriers according to the specifications of DF. In principle, blends with an addition of up to 5 vol% TPO in DF are technically suitable for use as fuel. Subsequently, the sorption behaviour of TPO, DF, and their blends in NBR was investigated. The swelling potential was determined based on mass, density, and volume, and the changes in the hardness and tensile strength of NBR were recorded. The results demonstrate that TPO induces pronounced swelling in NBR, as evidenced by a marked increase in mass uptake and volume expansion. A linear increase was observed between the degree of swelling and the increasing TPO content in the blends. Mechanical property assessments revealed a corresponding decrease in the hardness and tensile strength of NBR upon exposure to TPO, with the most severe effects associated with neat TPO. This work provides a comprehensive assessment of TPO as a potential blend component for DF. It highlights the need for careful consideration of material compatibility in practical applications. Full article