Search Results (2,742)

Fibrous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is a versatile platform for solid-phase analytical chemistry because of its chemically transformable nitrile groups, mechanical robust-ness, and favourable fibre morphology. This review critically examines PAN-based fi-brous sorbents for sorption–spectroscopic analysis (SSA) of toxic metal ions, focusing on polyamine-modified PAN/polyethylenepolyamine/1,2-dichloroethane (PPD) and PAN/polyethylenepolyamine/acrylonitrile (PPA) matrices, iminodiacetate-containing fibrous ion-exchange (FIBAN) fibres, triethanolamine-modified PAN (PAN-T), and electrospun amidoximated PAN nanofibres (AOPAN). Relationships among polymer composition, fibre morphology, surface functionalisation, reagent immobilisation, ion transport, and optical response are evaluated with respect to sensitivity, selectivity, stability, reuse, and practical applicability. Particular attention is given to electrostat-ic/physical versus covalent immobilisation, matrix interference, and the distinction between adsorption capacity and direct solid-phase optical performance. Representa-tive systems include PPD–Arsenazo III for Pb(II), with a minimum detectable concen-tration of 0.24 μg L⁻¹, and AMADA immobilised on a polyeth-ylene-polyamine-modified PAN matrix for Mn(II), with a reported determination limit of 0.02 μg mL⁻¹. The review also considers sustainability, automation, nanostructured architectures, additive manufacturing, and portable optical detection. Current evi-dence indicates that no single PAN architecture is universally superior; future progress requires improved sorbent standardisation, systematic interference and leaching stud-ies, reproducible optical calibration, and validation under realistic sample conditions. Fibre diameter and porosity are also discussed as coupled determinants of diffusion, scattering, and reproducibility. Full article

Ethyl mercaptan is one of the most persistent sulfur-containing impurities in natural gas and requires efficient adsorbent/catalyst systems for removal under mild conditions. In this study, two types of halloysite-supported metal oxide catalysts, namely Mn- and Cu-based catalysts, were prepared via reflux-wet impregnation using three alkaline precipitation agents (NaOH; Ca(OH)₂; Ba(OH)₂), with and without the use of acetic acid added during the synthesis process. The objective was to evaluate how acidic and alkaline synthesis environments influence catalyst structure, surface chemistry, active metal distribution, and ethyl mercaptan adsorption performance. Characterization techniques used to examine the catalysts included Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The characterization results showed that halloysite (support) possessed a mesoporous structure with a surface area of 51.2 m²/g, while metal incorporation modified the pore structure, surface composition, crystallinity, and morphology of the support. Acid addition during synthesis produced base-dependent effects: it improved the textural properties of Mn-Ca(OH)₂ and Cu-NaOH catalysts but generally reduced active metal surface concentration, modified hydroxyl environments, and increased structural disorder in several systems. XRD and XPS studies suggested that Cu catalysts were comprised primarily of well-defined CuO/Cu₂O surface domains, while Mn catalysts were mostly amorphous or poorly crystallized MnO_x species. Adsorption testing using 200 ppm ethyl mercaptan in methane demonstrated that several synthesized catalysts significantly outperformed the commercial catalyst, which showed a breakthrough time of approximately 1200 min. The best Mn catalyst was Mn-Ba(OH)₂ synthesized without acid, reaching approximately 3600 min. The Cu catalysts showed superior performance overall, with Cu-Ca(OH)₂ synthesized without acid achieving the highest breakthrough time of approximately 8550 min, corresponding to more than a six-fold improvement over the commercial catalyst. These findings demonstrate that catalyst performance is governed not by surface area alone, but by the combined effects of active metal chemistry, precipitation environment, surface composition, crystallinity, metal–support interactions, and accessibility of adsorption-active sites. Full article

In recent years, energy storage devices have had a lower energy density for supercapacitor devices. Fortunately, certain drawbacks limit the liquid-based battery-type aqueous zinc-ion hybrid capacitor electrodes. For this reason, zinc–manganese (Zn-Mn)-based zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZIHSCs) have been designed using a manganese-dioxide-functionalized carbon nanotube (MnO₂–f-MWCNT) battery-type cathode in a semi-solid gel–free-standing film electrolyte. Herein, as-prepared MnO₂–MWCNTs are synthesized and assembled for nanostructured cathode composite materials by a facile hydrothermal technique. In this work, MnO₂ nanorods with f-MWCNTs are applied to the electrode, resulting in a semi-solid-state gel film electrolyte realized by assembling the Zn-Mn hybrid capacitor. The materials’ physical–chemical conformation and their unique characteristics, crystalline structures, and different morphologies are studied through XRD, FE-SEM, FE-TEM, and XPS analysis. In this work, the design of major-source MnO₂-based materials for positive and battery-type zinc metal anode approaches, along with the electrochemical properties of MnO₂–MWCNT//Zn hybrid charge storage mechanisms, are evaluated. The coin-cell-type ZIHSC investigation of cyclic voltammetric (CV) curves and lower constant current charge/discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance (EIS) methods is also carried out. In addition, the maximum specific capacitance values, 339.98 mAh/g and 203.52 mAh/g, were observed for MnO₂–MWCNT//Zn and MnO₂//Zn at 0.2 mA/g, respectively. Finally, the higher cycling stability of MnO₂−f-MWCNT of a 94.15% capacity retention after 15,000 cycles was evaluated and compared to MnO₂//Zn of 73.05% retention in ZIHSC device applications. The assessment of electrochemical MnO₂ cathode-based Zn-Mn ZIHSC performance is applicable for future aqueous electrical energy storage devices. Full article

This study evaluated the storage stability of tomato juice, paste, and purée packaged in conventional aluminium containers (ACs) and aluminium containers coated with a food-grade stainless steel layer (ASSCs). The objective was to determine whether the stainless steel coating could reduce aluminium ion migration, preserve the physicochemical and nutritional quality of tomato products during storage, and decrease the need for antioxidant, antifungal, and acidifying additives. The stainless steel coating improved the barrier performance of the Al substrate by reducing its porosity from 6.0% to 3.8%. During storage, tomato products in ACs exhibited a marked decrease in acidity (7.65–4.07 g/100 g), whereas samples stored in ASSCs showed a smaller reduction (7.65–5.98 g/100 g), indicating enhanced chemical stability. Increasing NaCl concentrations promoted Al migration, reaching 26.4 mg/kg in AC but only 9.2 mg/kg in ASSC. The vitamin C content remained nearly unchanged (2.09–2.04 mg/100 g), while total polyphenols decreased slightly (110.13–98.81 mg/100 g). Mineral analysis (Al, Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn, Fe, and Ca) confirmed higher metal concentrations in AC-stored samples, whereas aluminium migration was effectively minimised in ASSCs. These findings demonstrate that stainless steel-coated aluminium provides superior corrosion resistance, limits metal transfer, preserves the physicochemical and antioxidant quality of the tomato products, and represents a promising packaging material for extending shelf life while reducing the need for food additives. Full article

Mine drainage containing manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) poses a major environmental challenge. In Japan, Mn-rich mine drainage frequently exceeds the discharge standards of 10 mg/L for Mn and 2 mg/L for Zn. This study evaluated laboratory-scale continuous-flow constructed wetlands (CWs) for the treatment of both synthetic and actual mine drainage without addition of external organic carbon. The actual mine drainage was collected from an anonymous former Cu–Pb–Zn mine in Japan. Two limestone-filled CWs (2 L), one planted with Phragmites australis and the other unplanted, were operated at hydraulic retention times of 1–2 d. The influent mine drainage contained approximately 66 mg/L Mn and 10–15 mg/L Zn together with Fe, Cu, Cd, and Pb. During 170 days of continuous operation, the planted CW consistently achieved lower effluent Mn and Zn concentrations than the unplanted CW under both synthetic and actual mine drainage conditions. Effluent Mn concentrations in the planted CW ranged from 5.5 to 20.0 mg/L, compared with 46.1–54.2 mg/L in the unplanted CW. Likewise, effluent Zn concentrations ranged from 0.21 to 3.0 mg/L in the planted CW and from 2.4 to 10.1 mg/L in the unplanted CW. The superior performance of the planted CW was associated with enhanced limestone dissolution, elevated pH, and favorable rhizosphere conditions that likely promoted biologically mediated Mn(II) oxidation and the formation of Mn oxides, while Mn carbonate precipitation may also have contributed to Mn removal. These findings demonstrate that limestone-based planted CWs can effectively treat Mn-rich mine drainage without addition of external organic carbon and highlight their potential as sustainable, low-energy passive treatment systems for the long-term management of abandoned mine drainage. Full article

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). Although the specific pathogenesis of ALS is not yet fully understood, there is increasing evidence that abnormal energy metabolism plays a key role in the onset and progression of the disease. Lactate has traditionally been considered a metabolic by-product of glycolysis and has received increasing attention in recent years. Research has shown that lactate is not only an important energy substrate but also a signaling molecule that regulates a variety of physiological processes, including neuron-glia metabolic coupling, neuroprotection and inflammatory responses. In ALS, abnormalities in lactate metabolism, dysfunction of the lactate shuttle, and dysregulation of lactate-related signaling pathways may jointly lead to neuronal energy deficits and increased neuroinflammation, thereby promoting MN degeneration. This review summarizes the latest advances in lactate metabolism and lactate-mediated signaling in ALS, with particular emphasis on their roles in neuronal energy regulation, neuroprotection and inflammatory regulation. In addition, we also discuss potential therapeutic strategies for lactate metabolism and its related pathways, aiming to provide new insights into the pathogenesis of ALS and the development of treatment methods for lactate-related metabolism. Full article

Mining and metallurgical wastes contain reactive Fe-, Al-, Ca-, Mg-, and Mn-bearing phases. These phases can be used for water treatment. Their performance depends on mineral accessibility, processing history, and water chemistry rather than waste identity alone. This review compares tailings, slags, red mud, and leaching residues for inorganic and organic contaminant removal, focusing on mechanisms, modification intensity, and validation. Cations are removed by ion exchange, surface complexation, and precipitation, whereas anion removal relies on Fe/Al sites, Ca-mediated mineral formation, and redox reactions. Organic treatment proceeds through adsorption or catalytic transformation and generally requires activation or additional functional phases. Red mud and blast-furnace slag showed the broadest applicability across both pollutant classes, although no unchanged formulation was validated for both. Under favorable conditions, waste-derived sorbents can achieve pollutant-removal efficiencies approaching 100% in synthetic solutions. However, their performance generally decreases in real wastewater and under continuous or cyclic operating conditions, with reported efficiency losses reaching approximately 25 percentage points. Deployment and machine-learning-assisted selection require application-matched processing, real-water and static/dynamic validation, and standardized reporting of separation, regeneration, cyclic stability, mass loss, secondary leaching, and spent-material fate. Full article

With the continuous development of plastic products toward larger dimensions, higher precision, and extended service life, plastic mold steels are required to simultaneously possess superior wear resistance, strength, and toughness. The effects of five alloying elements (V, Nb, Si, Mo, and Mn) on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of P20 plastic mold steel were systematically investigated after air-cooling from 860 °C, followed by tempering at 525 °C, and the underlying strengthening and toughening mechanisms were elucidated. The results revealed that, in the 0.2 V steel, approximately 62.6% of V existed in the form of fine VC carbides after austenitization at 860 °C, effectively inhibiting austenite grain coarsening. The remaining dissolved V atoms subsequently precipitated as nanoscale V–Mo-rich MC-type carbides during tempering, with an average size of less than 50 nm. This precipitation strengthening contributed an estimated strengthening increment of approximately 760 MPa, corresponding to a measured tensile strength increase of 326 MPa relative to the P20. In contrast, in the 0.1 Nb specimen, solubility calculations indicate that over 99% of Nb remains in undissolved NbC particles; TEM observations show these particles range from coarse 1–3 μm to finer 100–200 nm in size. The contribution of coarse NbC particles to material strength improvement is limited. The addition of Mo promoted the formation of abundant nanoscale MoC-type carbides (2–10 nm), which also exhibit a notable precipitation strengthening effect. Meanwhile, Si mainly contributed to solid-solution strengthening, whereas Mn enhanced the strength through solid-solution strengthening and grain refinement. Charpy impact tests demonstrated that, despite the remarkable strengthening induced by nanoscale carbide precipitation in the 0.2 V steel (tensile strength: 1237 MPa), the impact toughness deteriorated severely, dropping to 21 J. This severe toughness loss is proposed to be associated with local stress concentration around the fine carbides, which promotes secondary crack propagation. Similarly, coarse micrometer-sized NbC particles acted as detrimental sites for crack initiation and impaired impact toughness. Comparative analysis indicated that the steels containing 0.75 wt.% Si, 0.7 wt.% Mo, and 1.5 wt.% Mn achieved a favorable balance between strength, ductility, and toughness. In particular, the 0.7 Mo steel exhibited the most outstanding combination of mechanical properties, attaining a tensile strength of 1207 MPa and an impact energy of 136 J. Full article

This study reports a combined morphological, surface chemical, and mineralogical characterization of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) collected at three coastal sites—Northern (Abhour), Middle (Alhamraa), and Southern (Alkhomra)—in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during the summer (15 June–15 September 2017). The work complements a companion trace-element study of the same campaign by adding scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS/EDX mapping), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), thereby linking bulk concentrations to particle morphology, surface oxidation state, and crystalline phase. Mean PM_2.5 concentrations were 22.2, 18.9, and 14.2 µg m⁻³ at the North, Middle, and South sites, respectively. Because samples were collected on borosilicate glass-fibre filters, the SEM images are dominated by the intrinsic fibrous matrix of the substrate; the collected aerosol is resolved as discrete sub-micrometre particles and agglomerates decorating the fibres, and the morphological interpretation is framed accordingly. XPS confirmed that surface metals (Fe, Al, Ca, and traces of Pb, Cu, Zn) occur predominantly in oxidized states, with the Middle urban site showing the strongest Fe and Pb signals. XRD identified quartz, calcite, gypsum, hematite/magnetite, and aluminum oxides, with additional Pb and Cu phases at the Middle and South sites. Principal component analysis (PCA) resolved four sources—mixed marine–crustal, terrigenous/industrial (Fe–Ti–Mn), oil combustion and shipping (V–Ni–Cu), and combustion/legacy-traffic (Pb–Zn)—consistent with prior Jeddah and Red Sea studies. The integrated approach provides surface-speciation and mineralogical details not available from bulk elemental analysis alone and establishes baseline information relevant to source management and health-risk assessment in arid coastal cities. Full article

Background/Objectives: The development of multifunctional biomaterials for bone regeneration remains a key challenge in additive manufacturing. Although polylactic acid (PLA) is widely used in fused deposition modeling (FDM), its limited bioactivity and lack of intrinsic antibacterial functionality restrict its application in implantable constructs. This study aimed to develop a PLA-based composite filament combining ion-mediated bioactive potential and local antibacterial functionality using a Quality by Design (QbD) approach. Methods: PLA-based composite filaments incorporating a mollusk shell-derived biogenic calcium-containing filler (20 wt.%) and gentamicin (5 wt.%) were fabricated by solvent-free melt extrusion. A QbD framework was applied to define the Quality Target Product Profile (QTPP), identify critical quality attributes (CQAs), and assess critical material attributes (CMAs) and critical process parameters (CPPs). The material was characterized by SEM–EDS combined with ImageJ-based quantitative image analysis, TGA/DSC, mechanical testing, ICP-AES analysis of aqueous extracts, agar diffusion antibacterial assays, FDM printability assessment, and in vivo biocompatibility testing in a rat subcutaneous implantation model. Results: The developed PLA–Gen–MS material was obtained as a continuous filament with a diameter of 1.75 ± 0.05 mm and was successfully used for FDM printing of model scaffold structures. SEM–EDS confirmed matrix continuity and distribution of the calcium-containing mineral phase. ICP-AES revealed a calcium-dominant multicomponent ion release profile, with Ca as the predominant element and measurable levels of Sr, Mg, P, Mn, and Fe. TGA/DSC confirmed thermal compatibility of the components under melt-processing conditions. PLA–Gen–MS demonstrated antibacterial activity against all tested strains, with inhibition zones of approximately 20–21 mm. In vivo, the material showed a favorable preliminary tissue response compared with TiLOOP^®, including faster reduction of inflammatory infiltration and absence of foreign body giant cells by day 14. Conclusions: The QbD-guided strategy enabled the development of a multifunctional PLA-based filament integrating melt processability, structural integrity, ion-mediated bioactive potential, antibacterial functionality, printability, and favorable preliminary biocompatibility. PLA–Gen–MS can be considered a promising platform for further development of personalized bioactive and antibacterial scaffold constructs for bone regeneration. Full article

Despite safety advantages over conventional polyurethanes, one of the biggest drawbacks of polyhydroxyurethanes (PHUs) are their comparatively weak mechanical properties derived from their limited molecular weights via poly(addition). Improvement of mechanical properties of a neat, moisture-curable PHU, synthesized from typical diamine and dicarbonate precursors, was attained by blending both fumed silica and amino-functionalized silica, independently. Varying filler loadings, and both amine-terminated and cyclic carbonate-terminated PHU prepolymers (synthesized in bulk using telechelic amino-terminated poly(propylene glycol), number average molecular weight M_n~2000 g mol⁻¹) and diglycerol dicarbonate, resulted in a much-improved formulation in terms of hardness, modulus, and tensile properties. The amine-terminated prepolymer cross-linked with 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GLYMO) and 3.5 wt% of fumed silica had the highest hardness, 2.01 MPa, and the highest modulus, 5.07 MPa, according to nanoindentation tests, and we obtained E of 0.0280 MPa, σ_u of 0.118 MPa, and ε_u of 13.2%, all of which were unobtainable for the benchmark PHU as it was mechanically too weak to perform the tests. All samples were successfully cross-linked, and we found that those reinforced with amino-functionalized silica were weaker than their fumed silica counterparts due to the formation of aggregates, which were confirmed using SEM and TEM imaging. Full article

A 56-day feeding trial was designed to investigate the effects of alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) on the growth, immune response, antioxidant activity and apoptosis pathways of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). We formulated six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets with different concentrations of AOS (0% (control), 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2% and 0.25%). The results showed that the WGR of the AOS0.15–0.2 groups were markedly increased, and the FBW and SGR of the AOS0.1–0.2 groups were also markedly boosted. In addition, no significant differences were observed in FCR, SR and FI in the treatment groups. According to SGR and WG second-degree polynomial regression analysis, the optimum AOS addition level for juvenile largemouth bass was 0.14–0.15%. On the other hand, no notable differences were observed in crude protein, moisture, crude lipid or crude ash content between groups, and no notable differences were also observed in the levels of AST and ALT in the plasma between all groups. Additionally, ALP activities were considerably higher in the AOS0.15–0.25 groups. In terms of intestinal digestion and absorption function, AOS0.1 group and AOS0.15 group significantly increased the intestinal amylase and lipase activities, and A0S0.1–0.2 groups significantly increased the intestinal trypsin activities, while proper dietary supplementation with AOS significantly improved villus muscular thickness, villus height, and villus width. Furthermore, proper dietary supplementation with AOS significantly up-regulated the mRNA levels of occ, clau, C6A6, C7A5, C7A8B, C6A14 and pept1 in the intestine. No significant differences were observed in the mRNA levels of C7A6, C7A1A and C7A10A between all groups. With respect to the antioxidant and immune functions of the intestine, the analysis revealed no remarkable differences between the groups concerning SOD, GPX activity or T-AOC content in the intestine. However, a significant increase in CAT activity of the intestine was observed in the AOS0.05–0.15 groups, and MDA levels were lower in all AOS-added groups. Apart from the above, AOS0.15–0.25 groups significantly reduced intestinal TNF-α concentration. No notable differences were observed in the intestinal contents of TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-6 between all groups. Additionally, proper dietary supplementation with AOS could improve antioxidant effects and inhibit inflammation by regulating the gene expressions of the related-Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathway, including nrf2, keap1, Mn-sod, gpx, nf-κb, il-10 and tgf-β. There was no significant difference in the mRNA levels of cat, fox, il-8 and tnf-α. With respect to cell apoptosis in the intestine, TUNEL assay results showed that green positive cells were significantly lower in the AOS0.05–0.2 groups than the AOS0 group. Additionally, proper dietary supplementation with AOS could inhibit cell apoptosis by regulating the mRNA levels of bxl-xl, caspase 3, caspase 8, caspase 9 and bcl-2. However, there was no significant effect on the level of bax mRNA in any of the treatment groups. In summary, proper dietary supplementation with AOS exerted positive effects on growth, intestinal digestion and absorption function, immune antioxidant responses, and apoptosis pathways to a certain extent. Full article

To investigate the effect of microalloying on hydrogen embrittlement resistance of hot-stamped steels with strength levels of 1.8 GPa and above, six composition schemes were designed based on conventional 34MnB5 steel, including three routes, namely Nb, V, and Nb–V. U-bend constant-strain bending tests and slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) tests were conducted on quenched specimens for each scheme. Results indicated that the Nb-containing compositions exhibited superior hydrogen embrittlement resistance. The mechanism by which microalloying refines the martensitic microstructure of 34MnB5 in the quenched state and enhances its resistance to hydrogen embrittlement was studied in detail. It was found that Nb exhibits stronger effects than V in refining and homogenizing the martensite structure. The fundamental reasons for Nb’s enhanced ability to pin austenite grain boundaries at high temperatures—leading to better microstructural refinement and homogenization—are its higher temperature range for second-phase precipitation, greater driving force for grain boundary diffusion, lower austenite grain boundary diffusion coefficient, and weaker tendency for high-temperature coarsening of precipitates. The microstructural refinement and homogenization induced by Nb addition are more pronounced than those achieved by combined additions of Nb and V. Furthermore, within the concentration range of 0–0.1%, the amount of Nb is positively correlated with the degree of microstructural refinement and homogenization. By reducing martensite lath size through microalloying, multiple microstructural modifications occur: decreased density of geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) in the matrix, significant increase in interface density—especially a higher proportion of high-angle grain boundaries—reduced number of Σ3 special harmful grain boundaries, weakened matrix texture intensity, fewer twin martensites, and smaller twin martensite sizes. These factors collectively contribute significantly to the improved hydrogen embrittlement resistance of Nb-containing steels. Full article

Corn stover (CS), as a major agricultural residue in Northeast China, suffers from inefficient anaerobic digestion (AD) due to its rigid lignocellulosic structure and the generation of inhibitory phenolic compounds during pretreatment. Alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) disrupts lignocellulosic structures while generating methanogenesis-inhibiting phenolic compounds. Current pretreatments only resolve either lignocellulosic rigidity or phenolic toxicity, with no integrated method to mitigate both simultaneously. This work investigated a combined strategy of AHP pretreatment coupled with MnO₂ amendment to improve methane production from CS using laboratory-scale batch AD. Results demonstrated that 3% AHP pretreatment induced structural modifications and altered lignin-related functional groups, while the subsequent addition of 1.0 g MnO₂ significantly (p < 0.05) removed up to 28.4% of the generated total phenolic equivalents and alleviated volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation. The Mn-AHP group achieved the highest cumulative methane production of 449.28 ± 13.25 mL/g VS, representing a 14.6% increase compared to the control and a 3.24% improvement over the AHP-only group. Microbial analysis revealed increased relative abundance of acidogenic bacteria (e.g., Synergistota) and a compositional shift in the archaeal community toward a structure dominated by Methanobacterium and Methanothrix. These findings indicate that coupling AHP with MnO₂ is a promising approach to address the dual challenges of lignocellulosic recalcitrance and phenolic inhibition, providing a feasible pathway for agricultural waste valorization. Full article

Elasticized expanded polystyrene (EPS-T) is widely used as a resilient layer in floating floors, where dynamic stiffness is the key input for impact-sound prediction, while FEM modelling additionally requires elastic parameters and damping descriptions consistent with the adopted test or modelling configuration. This study investigates whether ISO-type dynamic stiffness testing and acoustic-response modal identification can provide consistent vibroacoustic parameters for EPS-T. Rectangular specimens of different thicknesses were tested for dynamic stiffness and damping using an ISO 9052-1-type setup. Additional cylindrical compression tests were used to examine apparent Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio, while impulse-excited acoustic responses of clamped specimens were combined with inverse FEM identification. The ISO-type dynamic stiffness decreased from approximately 53.3 MN/m³ for nominal 17 mm specimens to 27.0 MN/m³ for nominal 53 mm specimens. This trend was described by a compliance model with an effective Young’s modulus of 2.04 MPa and an equivalent contact/support stiffness of 101.2 MN/m³. Acoustic-response inverse FEM gave consistent Young’s modulus values, ranging from 1.77 MPa to 2.16 MPa, with a mean close to 2.05 MPa. Direct use of s′ = E/h overestimated stiffness and underestimated predicted ΔL_w by approximately 2–5 dB. The two routes provided consistent estimates of the effective modulus, but this consistency applies only to modulus identification and not to direct stiffness conversion or damping transfer. Full article