Search Results (36)

The valorization of industrial waste in agriculture represents a key strategy within the circular economy framework. In this context, the present study aimed to assess the feasibility and potential of fertilizers derived from black mass, a by-product of alkaline battery recycling, as alternative sources of Zn and Mn in citrus cultivation, evaluating their effects on fruit quality and food safety. The experiment was conducted in Pedreguer (Alicante, Spain) in ‘Navelina’ cultivar using Carrizo and C-35 rootstocks, comparing conventional fertilization with black mass-based formulations applied as sulfates (BMSs) and lignosulfonates (BMLSs). The results showed that the evaluated micronutrient sources significantly increased foliar Zn concentrations up to 17.9 mg·kg⁻¹ and Mn concentrations up to 28.1 mg·kg⁻¹, values markedly higher than those observed in the Control treatment (15.20 mg·kg⁻¹ Zn and 11.5 mg·kg⁻¹ Mn). No adverse effects on yield or fruit quality were detected: Average fruit weight remained close to 200 g per fruit, and the proportion of non-marketable fruit did not exceed 2% in any treatment. Regarding food safety, Pb, Cr, and Ni concentrations in pulp and peel were below the maximum levels established by European Union regulations, with maximum values of 0.02 mg·kg⁻¹ for Ni and 0.04 mg·kg⁻¹ for Pb on a dry matter basis, while Cd, Co, and Hg were not detected. Overall, black mass-derived fertilizers enhanced Zn and Mn availability in plants without compromising plant physiology or fruit quality and maintained safe levels of heavy metals. These results support their use as a sustainable alternative for mineral fertilization in citrus orchards and reinforce their contribution to reducing the consumption of virgin raw materials and advancing toward more circular agricultural systems. Full article

Metals have a crucial impact on the environment and the economy. They constitute macro- and microelements essential for the proper functioning of living organisms. On the other hand, their excess can pose a life-threatening risk. Of particular economic importance are metals such as Co, Ni, Mn, Ti, Al, Cd, Fe, and Li, which are used, among other things, to build batteries in electric and hybrid cars. In the event of a cell fire, significant amounts of metals are rapidly released into the environment. The magnitude of emissions depends on the type of chemistry used in the battery and the type of extinguishing agent used to extinguish the fire. It should be noted that the available literature only provides information on the total amount or concentration of a given metal in the analyzed samples. However, there is no information on the speciation of metals, including their macro and nano forms, which is crucial for determining the toxicity and biological and chemical activity of a given element. Full article

This study presents a carbon footprint assessment of a novel electroslag method for cadmium (Cd) recovery from spent nickel–cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries in comparison with the carbon footprints of pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical cadmium recovery methods. A comparison of CO₂ emissions in three types of technological processes during the recovery of 1 kg of cadmium is carried out. Energy inputs and CO₂ emissions are calculated for the electroslag process and compared to conventional methods, such as pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical reduction methods. The electroslag process eliminates cadmium vaporization by using molten KCl–NaCl flux and carbon under electromagnetic stirring. Cadmium reduction occurs under a layer of flux, which prevents the contact of the reduced cadmium with the atmosphere. The electroslag process temperature is limited to 700 °C, which is lower than the boiling point of cadmium (767 °C). The electroslag remelting process uses molten KCl–NaCl flux and carbon as a reductant under electrovortex flow stirring. The pyrometallurgical method for extracting cadmium from nickel–cadmium batteries is based on the reduction of cadmium with carbon at high temperatures. In the pyrometallurgical process, coal (anthracite) is used as the carbonaceous material, which can extract 99.92% of cadmium at 900 °C. Cadmium is separated using a vacuum at temperatures ranging from 800 °C to 950 °C for several hours. Hydrometallurgy is a metal extraction process involving chemical reactions that occur in organic or aqueous solutions at low temperatures. The hydrometallurgical process involves a series of acid or alkaline leaches, followed by separation and purification methods such as absorption, cementation, ion exchange, and solvent extraction to separate and concentrate metals from leach solutions. Full article

Human activities have led to severe aquatic pollution and significant concerns about the ecological health of the Lianjiang River Basin (LRB). These concerns resulted in the implementation of comprehensive policies and treatments to improve the sediment and water quality. Herein, we explore the concentrations, sources, and degree of metal contamination in filtered water (FW), suspended solids (SSs), and surficial channel sediments (SCSs) in streams of the LRB. Calculated enrichment factors, an ecological risk index, and a principal component analysis were employed to understand the degree of elemental contamination, ecological risks, and their potential sources. Elements (e.g., Hg, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cu, and Mo) were mainly detected in FW, SSs, and SCSs in the Bergang, Hucheng, Xiashan, and Zhonggang rivers, and the mainstream of the LR. Four potential anthropogenic sources were identified, including electronic waste recycling (e.g., Cu, Sb, Pb, and Ni), mixed pollution (e.g., Se, Zn, Mn, and Mo), metal processing (e.g., Hg, Cr, Sn, and Cd), and battery manufacturing and recycling (e.g., Co, Ni, and Mn). Overall, Sn, Sb, Hg, Cu, and Cd were enriched by 37.5–79.2% and 34.8–91.3% at the SS and SCS sites, respectively. Mercury, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cu, and Mo posed the most risk both in the SSs and SCSs. Overall, the SS and SCS samples from the LRB remain severely contaminated with metals after recent environmental remediation. The implementation of pollution source control, sewage interception, and dredging operations should be further enhanced. Full article

The recycling of nickel–cadmium batteries poses a significant environmental challenge due to cadmium’s high biotoxicity. This study proposes a green method for recovering cadmium from cadmium oxide (CdO) using carbon (coal) in the presence of a molten binary flux (KCl:NaCl = 0.507:0.493, melting point 667 °C). The flux’s relatively low density and conductivity enable cadmium reduction beneath and through the flux layer. Brown coal (5–25 mm) served as the reductant. The reduction of cadmium from cadmium oxide with carbon (brown coal) took place in the temperature range from 667 °C to 700 °C. To enhance the process, electrovortex flows (EVF) were employed—generated by the interaction between non-uniform AC electric currents and their self-induced magnetic fields resembling conditions in a fluidised bed reactor. The graphite crucible acted as both one of the electrodes, with a graphite rod as the second electrode. As Cd and CdO are denser than both the flux and coal, the reduction proceeded below the flux layer. The flux facilitated CdO transport to the reductant, speeding up the reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the formation of metallic cadmium beneath and within the flux layer. This method demonstrates the feasibility of flux-assisted cadmium recovery without prior mixing and offers a foundation for further optimisation of sustainable battery recycling. Full article

This paper presents the design and implementation of a high-efficiency, full silicon carbide (SiC)-based center-tapped phase-shifted full-bridge (PSFB) converter for NiCd battery charging applications in railway systems. The converter utilizes SiC MOSFET modules on the primary side and SiC diodes on the secondary side, resulting in significant efficiency improvements due to the superior switching characteristics and high-temperature tolerance inherent in SiC devices. A nanocrystalline-cored center-tapped transformer is optimized to minimize voltage stress on the rectifier diodes. Additionally, the use of a nanocrystalline core provides high saturation flux density, low core loss, and excellent permeability, particularly at high frequencies, which significantly enhances system efficiency. The converter also compensates for temperature fluctuations during operation, enabling a wide and adjustable output voltage range according to the temperature differences. A prototype of the 10-kW, 50-kHz PSFB converter, operating with an input voltage range of 700–750 V and output voltage of 77–138 V, was developed and tested both through simulations and experimentally. The converter achieved a maximum efficiency of 97% and demonstrated a high power density of 2.23 kW/L, thereby validating the effectiveness of the proposed design for railway battery charging applications. Full article

Next-generation recycling technologies must be urgently innovated to tackle huge volumes of spent batteries, photovoltaic panels or printed circuit boards (WPCBs). Current e-waste recycling industrial technology is dominated by traditional recycling technologies. Herein, ionic liquids (ILs), deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and promising oxidizing additives that can overcome some traditional recycling methods of metal ions from e-waste, used in our works from last year, are presented. The unique chemical environments of ILs and DESs, with the application of low-temperature extraction procedures, are important environmental aspects known as “Green Methods”. A closed-loop system for recycling zinc and manganese from the “black mass” (BM) of waste, Zn-MnO₂ batteries, is presented. The leaching process achieves a high efficiency and distribution ratio using the composition of two solvents (Cyanex 272 + diethyl phosphite (DPh)) for Zn(II) extraction. High extraction efficiency with 100% zinc and manganese recovery is also achieved using DESs (cholinum chloride/lactic acid, 1:2, DES 1, and cholinum chloride/malonic acid, 1:1, DES 2). New, greener recycling approaches to metal extraction from the BM of spent Li-ion batteries are presented with ILs ([N_8,8,8,1][Cl], (Aliquat 336), [P_6,6,6,14][Cl], [P_6,6,6,14][SCN] and [Benzet][TCM]) eight DESs, Cyanex 272 and D2EHPA. A high extraction efficiency of Li(I) (41–92 wt%) and Ni(II) (37–52 wt%) using (Cyanex 272 + DPh) is obtained. The recovery of Ni(II) and Cd(II) from the BM of spent Ni-Cd batteries is also demonstrated. The extraction efficiency of DES 1 and DES 2, contrary to ILs ([P_6,6,6,14][Cl] and [P_6,6,6,14][SCN]), is at the level of 30 wt% for Ni(II) and 100 wt% for Cd(II). In this mini-review, the option to use ILs, DESs and Cyanex 272 for the recovery of valuable metals from end-of-life WPCBs is presented. Next-generation recycling technologies, in contrast to the extraction of metals from acidic leachate preceded by thermal pre-treatment or from solid material only after thermal pre-treatment, have been developed with ILs and DESs using the ABS method, as well as Cyanex 272 (only after the thermal pre-treatment of WPCBs), with a process efficiency of 60–100 wt%. In this process, four new ILs are used: didecyldimethylammonium propionate, [N_10,10,1,1][C₂H₅COO], didecylmethylammonium hydrogen sulphate, [N_10,10,1,H][HSO₄], didecyldimethylammonium dihydrogen phosphate, [N_10,10,1,1][H₂PO₄], and tetrabutylphosphonium dihydrogen phosphate, [P_4,4,4,4][H₂PO₄]. The extraction of Cu(II), Ag(I) and other metals such as Al(III), Fe(II) and Zn(II) from solid WPCBs is demonstrated. Various additives are used during the extraction processes. The Analyst 800 atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS) is used for the determination of metal content in the solid BM. The ICP-OES method is used for metal analysis. The obtained results describe the possible application of ILs and DESs as environmental media for upcycling spent electronic wastes. Full article

The main idea of this work is based on the latest achievements in the commercialization of sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries, which constitute a basis of analysis for military applications as energy storage systems. Technical, engineering, and ecological aspects were analyzed to find the optimal solution for using Na-ion batteries for military purposes. When selecting batteries for military applications, the following criteria are required: (a) they are more durable than standard batteries, (b) resistant to fire, (c) cannot explode, (d) cannot emit heat so as not to reveal their position, (e) equipped with safety elements and protective circuits to ensure safety, and (f) have the highest possible energy density, defined as the ratio of capacity to weight. The advantages and challenges of Na-ion batteries are discussed and compared to typical lithium-ion batteries, and also lithium iron phosphate, Ni-Cd, and Ni-MH batteries. The prospects for expanding the practical applications of Na-ion batteries in the military are presented. The unique properties of Na-ion batteries, such as their lower risk of ignition, more excellent thermal stability, and ability to work in extreme conditions, are essential from the point of view of military operations. Additionally, when considering environmental and logistical aspects, sodium-ion batteries may offer more sustainable and cost-effective solutions for the military. Therefore, this work aims not only to present the technological potential of these systems but also to draw attention to their strategic importance for the future of military operations. Battery discharge can result from leaving current receivers switched on or even from a drop in temperature. The discharge current should not exceed 1/10 of the battery capacity (1C). Discharging below the discharge voltage may result in irreversible damage. Sodium-ion batteries are safer to use than their lithium counterparts and allow for discharge to 0 V, eliminating the possibility of uncontrolled thermal discharge due to a short circuit (explosion, ignition), which is particularly important in the military. Full article

The urgent removal of Cd, Co, and Ni from nitrate and sulfate is essential to mitigate the potential risk of chemical pollution from large volumes of industrial wastewater. In this study, these metal ions were rapidly recovered through applying voltage on nitrate and sulfate, utilizing laser-induced graphene/polyimide (LIG/PI) film as the electrode. Following the application of external voltage, both the pH value and conductivity of the solution undergo changes. Compared to Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺ exhibits a lower standard electrode potential and stronger reducibility. Consequently, in both nitrate and sulfate solutions, the reaction sequence follows the order of Cd²⁺ > Co²⁺ > Ni²⁺, with the corresponding electrode adsorption quantities in the order of Cd²⁺ > Co²⁺ ~ Ni²⁺. Additionally, using the recovered Co(OH)₂ as the raw material, a LiCoO₂ composite was prepared. The assembled battery with this composite exhibited a specific capacity of 122.8 mAh g⁻¹, meeting practical application requirements. This research has significance for fostering green development. Full article

This research investigated the contamination characteristics, sources, and health risks of five metals in soils from two villages named DK and SXC, downstream from a battery industry hub in Xinxiang city, Henan Province, China. The average concentrations of Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn in DK were 5.93, 41.31, 71.40, 62.20, and 115.83 mg/kg, respectively, and in SXC were 2.04, 30.41, 41.22, 36.18, and 96.04 mg/kg, respectively. The single factor pollution index (P_i) revealed a consistent descending order of Cd > Cu > Zn > Ni > Pb in DK and SXC. The geo-accumulation index (I_geo) indicated that the Cd pollution in DK was extreme, and in SXC was at a heavy to extreme level. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) indicated that Cd presented a significantly high ecological risk while it was low for other metals. Principal component analysis classified them into the anthropogenic origin of Cd and common mixed origin of others. The elevated levels and pollution load of heavy metals with closer proximity to the battery factory imply that the factory is a probable source of contamination. Overall, the health risks posed by heavy metals were more pronounced for local children compared to adults, with Cd being the primary contributor to both pollution and health risks. This investigation provides a crucial basis for the heavy metal pollution management and related risk prevention in areas affected by electronic waste irrigation. Full article

The increasing demand for electricity and the electrification of various sectors require more efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions. This paper focuses on the novel rechargeable nickel–zinc battery (RNZB) technology, which has the potential to replace the conventional nickel–cadmium battery (NiCd), in terms of safety, performance, environmental impact, and cost. The paper aims to provide a comprehensive and systematic analysis of RNZBs by modeling their lifecycle cost (LCC) from cradle to grave. This paper also applies this LCC model to estimate costs along the RNZB’s lifecycle in both cases: per kilogram of battery mass and per kilowatt hour of energy released. This model is shown to be reliable by comparing its results with costs provided by recognized software used for LCC analysis. A comparison of LCCs for three widely used battery technologies: lead–acid, Li-ion LFP, and NMC batteries, which can be market competitors of NiZn, is also provided. The study concludes that the NiZn battery was found to be the cheapest throughout its entire lifecycle, with NiZn Formulation 1 being the cheapest option. The cost per unit of energy released was also found to be the lowest for NiZn batteries. The current research pain points are the availability of data for nickel–zinc batteries, which are in the research and development phase, while other battery types are already widely used in energy storage. This paper recommends taking into account the location factor of infrastructures, cost of machinery, storage, number of suppliers of raw materials, amount of materials transported in each shipment, and the value of materials recovered after the battery recycling process to further reduce costs throughout the battery’s lifecycle. This LCC model can be also used for other energy storage technologies and serve as objective functions for optimization in further developments. Full article

In this paper, a buck DC-DC converter with the proposed twin frequency control scheme (TFCS) and accurate load current sensing (ALCS) was designed and implemented with 0.18 µm CMOS technology for a supply voltage ranging from 2.0 to 3.0 V, which is compatible with state-of-the-art batteries (NiCd/NiMH: 1.1–2 V, Li-Ion: 2.5–4.2 V). The proposed converter yields a peak efficiency of about 92.7% with a load current of 30 mA. Furthermore, it only occupies a silicon area of 1.3 mm². The proposed buck converter is dedicated for smartphone applications whereby it spends most of its time in idle, low load conditions. Full article

Ferrites have excellent magnetic, electric, and optical properties that make them an indispensable choice of material for a plethora of applications, such as in various biomedical fields, magneto–optical displays, rechargeable lithium batteries, microwave devices, internet technology, transformer cores, humidity sensors, high-frequency media, magnetic recordings, solar energy devices, and magnetic fluids. Recently, magnetically recoverable nanocatalysts are one of the most prominent fields of research as they can act both as homogeneous and heterogenous catalysts. Nano-ferrites provide a large surface area for organic groups to anchor, increase the product and decrease reaction time, providing a cost-effective method of transformation. Various organic reactions were reported, such as the photocatalytic decomposition of a different dye, alkylation, dehydrogenation, oxidation, C–C coupling, etc., with nano-ferrites as a catalyst. Metal-doped ferrites with Co, Ni, Mn, Cu, and Zn, along with the metal ferrites doped with Mn, Cr, Cd, Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, or lanthanides and surface modified with silica and titania, are used as catalysts in various organic reactions. Metal ferrites (MFe₂O₄) act as a Lewis acid and increase the electrophilicity of specific groups of the reactants by accepting electrons in order to form covalent bonds. Ferrite nanocatalysts are easily recoverable by applying an external magnetic field for their reuse without significantly losing their catalytic activities. The use of different metal ferrites in different organic transformations reduces the catalyst overloading and, at the same time, reduces the use of harmful solvents and the production of poisonous byproducts, hence, serving as a green method of chemical synthesis. This review provides insight into the application of different ferrites as magnetically recoverable nanocatalysts in different organic reactions and transformations. Full article

The accurate prediction of the state of charge (SOC) of Ni-Cd batteries is critical for developing battery management systems for high-speed trains. To address the challenges of the large floating charge voltage of Ni-Cd batteries and the vulnerability of a battery’s SOC to environmental factors such as temperature, this paper proposes an adaptive adjustment mechanism-based particle swarm optimization (APSO) generalized regression neural network (GRNN) model. The proposed model introduces the concept of the particle aggregation degree to quantify the convergence of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Furthermore, the speed weight of the particle swarm is adaptively adjusted using a comprehensive loss function to optimize the parameters of the GRNN model. To validate the proposed method, simulation experiments are conducted under test conditions using Ni-Cd batteries, and the prediction accuracies of various algorithms are compared. The experimental results demonstrate that the APSO-GRNN model significantly reduces the model’s prediction error. In addition, under the influence of different temperatures and noises, this method demonstrates strong robustness and high practical application value by accurately predicting the SOC, even with limited data samples. Full article

Industrial production generates aerosols of complex composition, including an ultrafine fraction. This is typical for mining and metallurgical industries, welding processes, and the production and recycling of electronics, batteries, etc. Since nano-sized particles are the most dangerous component of inhaled air, in this study we aimed to establish the impact of the chemical nature and dose of nanoparticles on their cytotoxicity. Suspensions of CuO, PbO, CdO, Fe₂O₃, NiO, SiO₂, Mn₃O₄, and SeO nanoparticles were obtained by laser ablation. The experiments were conducted on outbred female albino rats. We carried out four series of a single intratracheal instillation of nanoparticles of different chemical natures at doses ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 mg per animal. Bronchoalveolar lavage was taken 24 h after the injection to assess its cytological and biochemical parameters. At a dose of 0.5 mg per animal, cytotoxicity in the series of nanoparticles changed as follows (in decreasing order): CuO NPs > PbO NPs > CdO NPs > NiO NPs > SiO₂ NPs > Fe₂O₃ NPs. At a lower dose of 0.25 mg per animal, we observed a different pattern of cytotoxicity of the element oxides under study: NiO NPs > Mn₃O₄ NPs > CuO NPs > SeO NPs. We established that the cytotoxicity increased non-linearly with the increase in the dose of nanoparticles of the same chemical element (from 0 to 0.5 mg per animal). An increase in the levels of intracellular enzymes (amylase, AST, ALT, LDH) in the supernatant of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid indicated a cytotoxic effect of nanoparticles. Thus, alterations in the cytological parameters of the bronchoalveolar lavage and the biochemical characteristics of the supernatant can be used to predict the danger of new nanomaterials based on their comparative assessment with the available tested samples of nanoparticles. Full article