Search Results (1,153)

CO₂ transport is a crucial part of CCUS. Nonetheless, due to the physical property differences between CO₂ and natural gas and oil, CO₂ pipeline transport is distinct from natural gas and oil transport. Gaseous CO₂ transportation has become the preferred scheme for transporting impurity-containing CO₂ tail gas in purification plants due to its advantages of simple technology, low cost, and high safety, which are well suited to the scenarios of low transportation volume and short distance in purification plants. The research on its physical property and state parameters is precisely aimed at optimizing the process design of gaseous transportation so as to further improve transportation efficiency and safety. Therefore, it has important engineering practical significance. Firstly, this paper collected and analyzed the research cases of CO₂ transport both domestically and internationally, revealing that phase state and physical property testing of CO₂ gas containing impurities is the basic condition for studying CO₂ transport. Subsequently, the exhaust gas captured by the purification plant was captured after hydrodesulfurization treatment, and the characteristics of the exhaust gas components were obtained by comparing before and after treatment. By preparing fluid samples with varied CO₂ content and conducting the flash evaporation test and PV relationship test, the compression factor and density of natural gas under different temperatures and pressures were obtained. It is concluded that under the same pressure in general, the higher the CO₂ content, the smaller the compression factor. Except for pure CO_2, the higher the CO₂ content, the higher the density under constant pressure, which is related to the content of C₂ and heavier hydrocarbon components. At the same temperature, the higher the CO₂ content, the higher the viscosity under the same pressure; the lower the pressure, the slower the viscosity growth slows down. The higher the CO₂ content at the same temperature, the higher the specific heat at constant pressure. With the decrease in temperature, the CO₂ content reaching the highest specific heat at the identical pressure gradually decreases. Finally, BWRS, PR, and SRK equations of state were utilized to calculate the compression factor and density of the gas mixture with a molar composition of 50% CO₂ and the gas mixture with a molar composition of 100% CO₂. Compared with the experimental results, the most suitable equation of state is selected as the PR equation, which refers to the parameter setting of critical nodes of CO₂ gas transport. Full article

Mussels are nutrient-rich but perishable, resulting in substantial resource loss. A protease-producing strain (Bacillus velezensis Z-1, Mytilus edulis) isolated from marine sludge was used to hydrolyze mussels, producing Y-1, a hydrolysate with antioxidant activity. In this study, ultrafiltration, gel chromatography, and LC-MS/MS were employed to isolate and identify bioactive peptides from the hydrolysate. The results revealed that the hydrolysate exhibited antioxidant activity, pancreatic cholesterol esterase inhibitory activity, pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Molecular docking using AutoDock Tools 1.5.6 was performed to analyze the interactions of peptides with CD38 and Keap1, leading to the identification of five potentially bioactive peptides: VPPFY, IMLFP, LPFLF, FLPF, and FPRIM. These peptides formed hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with CD38 and Keap1, demonstrating strong DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide anion radical scavenging capacities. This study highlights the multifunctional bioactive potential of these peptides, offering insights into their therapeutic applications. The findings provide a novel approach for the effective utilization of mussel resources and highlight their potential application value in the development of functional foods. Full article

One of the key elements in the analysis of gene expression and its post-translational regulation is miRNAs. Degradome-seq analyses are performed to analyze the cleavage of target RNAs in the transcriptome. This work presents the first degradome-seq library preparation protocol that enables successful construction of libraries, even from highly degraded RNA samples with RIN below 3, thus significantly expanding the possibilities for research when working with low-quality material. The developed protocol improves the efficiency of library preparation in degradome-seq analysis used to identify miRNA targets, reduces library preparation time, and lowers the cost of purchasing reagents by using reagents from the RNA-seq library preparation kit and proprietary-designed primers. A crucial feature of this new protocol is optimizing the purification step for short library fragments, which increases the yield of correctly sized fragments compared to previously used methods. This is achieved by implementing an original method involving tube-spin purification with gauze and precipitation using sodium acetate with glycogen, greatly enhancing recovery efficiency—a factor especially critical when working with degraded RNA. Cloning to a plasmid and sequencing of the inserted fragment verified the correctness of the library preparation using the developed protocol. This protocol represents a groundbreaking tool for degradome research, enabling the construction and sequencing of degradome libraries, even from degraded samples previously considered unsuitable for such analyses. This is due to the use of residues from the sRNA-seq library kit. It noticeably reduces the cost of library construction. The precision of the excised fragment after electrophoresis was performed during the procedure to isolate fragments of the correct length, which was improved using additional size markers. Compared to previously used methods, optimizing the purification method of degradome-seq libraries allowed an increase in the yield of fragments obtained. Full article

Multifunctional water-treatment materials urgently need to be developed to avoid normal organic matter, inorganic anions, resistant bacteria, and hazardous disinfection by-products in conventional drinking water treatment strategies. While quaternary ammonium pyridine resins (QAPRs) possess porous adsorption structures and incorporate antibacterial groups, enabling simultaneous water disinfection and purification, their limited bactericidal efficacy hinders broader utilization. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the structure-dependent antimicrobial mechanism in QAPRs is crucial for improving their antibacterial performance. Hexyl (C₆) was proved to be the optimal antibacterial alkyl in the QAPRs. A new antibacterial quaternary ammonium pyridine resin Py-61 was prepared by more surficial bactericidal N⁺ groups and higher efficient antibacterial hexyl, performing with the excellent antibacterial efficiency of 99.995%, far higher than the traditional resin Py-6C (89.53%). The antibacterial resin Py-61 completed the disinfection of sand-filtered water independently to produce safe drinking water, removing the viable bacteria from 3600 to 17 CFU/mL, which meets the drinking water standard of China in GB5749-2022 (<100 CFU/mL). Meanwhile, the contaminants in sand-filtered water were obviously removed by the resin Py-61, including anions and dissolved organic matter (DOM). The resin Py-61 can be regenerated by 15% NaCl solution, and keeps the reused antibacterial efficiency of >99.97%. As an integrated disinfection–purification solution, the novel antibacterial resin presents a promising alternative for enhancing safety in drinking water treatment. Full article

In this study, flotation tests were conducted on a laboratory scale using a sample of microcrystalline graphite ore from the Canindé region, Ceará, Brazil. The objective was to investigate the grinding time, reagent dosage, and purification process for obtaining graphene-based nanomaterials. Natural graphite has a stacked planar structure and exhibits polymorphism with rhombohedral, hexagonal, and turbostratic geometries, characteristics that directly influence its properties and technological applications. The results demonstrated that it was possible to obtain rougher concentrate with a graphite carbon content of 23.4% and a recovery of 86.4%, using a grinding time of 7.5 min and reagent dosages of 150 g/t of kerosene and 100 g/t of Flotanol D-25. This flotation process resulted in a graphite concentrate with 76.6% graphite carbon content. To increase the purity of the concentrate and expand its industrial applications, the graphite was purified in an alkaline autoclave using the hydrothermal method. In the next stage, acid leaching was performed, and this chemical treatment destabilized the regular stacking of the graphite layers, promoting the formation of graphene-like nanoplates, including monolayer graphene. Thus, the nanomaterials obtained through the process developed in this study have potential for various innovative applications, such as lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles, and two-dimensional graphene-based materials. Full article

Background: Membrane proteins are preferentially solubilized with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), which necessitates a purification protocol to deplete the surfactant prior to mass spectrometry analysis. However, maintaining solubility of intact membrane proteins is challenged in an SDS-free environment. SDS precipitation with potassium salts (KCl) offers a potentially viable workflow to deplete SDS and permit proteoform analysis. The purpose of this study is to devise a robust detergent-based protocol applicable for processing and analysis of intact membrane-associated proteoforms. Methods: The precipitation conditions impacting SDS removal from spinach chloroplasts and liver membrane proteome preparations were evaluated, capitalizing on optimization of pH (highly basic), addition of MS-compatible solubilizing additives (urea) and adjustment of the KCl to SDS ratio to maximize recovery and purity. Results: Characterization of the SDS-solubilized, KCl-precipitated spinach membrane preparation revealed multiple charge envelope MS spectra displaying high signal to noise, free of SDS adducts. Precipitation at pH 12 or with urea improved protein recovery and purity. Bottom-up analysis identified 1826 distinct liver protein groups from four independent SDS precipitation conditions. While precipitation at pH 8 without urea revealed a greater number of protein identifications by mass spectrometry, precipitation under highly basic conditions (pH 12) with urea provided higher membrane protein recovery and achieved the greatest number (732 of 1056) and largest percentage (69.3%) of membrane proteins identified in the SDS removal workflow. Conclusion: This workflow provides new opportunities for MS-based proteoform analysis by capitalizing on the benefits of SDS for protein extraction while maintaining high solubility and purity of intact proteins though KCl precipitation of the surfactant. Full article

Background/Objectives: The industrial extraction and purification processes of Cannabis sativa L. compounds are critical steps in creating formulations with reliable and reproducible therapeutic and sensorial attributes. Methods: For this study, standardized preparations of chemotype I were chemically analyzed, and the sensory attributes were studied to characterize the extraction and purification processes, ensuring the maximum retention of cannabinoids and minimization of other secondary metabolites. The industrial process used deep-cooled ethanol for selective extraction. Results: Taking into consideration that decarboxylation occurs in the process, the cannabinoid profile composition was preserved from the herbal substance to the herbal preparations, with wiped-film distillation under deep vacuum conditions below 0.2 mbar, as a final purification step. The profiles of the terpenes and cannabinoids in crude and purified Full-spectrum Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO) were analyzed at different stages to evaluate compositional changes that occurred throughout processing. Subjective intensity and acceptance ratings were received for taste, color, overall appearance, smell, and mouthfeel of FECO preparations. Conclusions: According to sensory analysis, purified FECO was more accepted than crude FECO, which had a stronger and more polarizing taste, and received higher ratings for color and overall acceptance. In contrast, a full cannabis extract in the market resulted in lower acceptance due to taste imbalance. The purification process effectively removed non-cannabinoids, improving sensory quality while maintaining therapeutic potency. Terpene markers of the flower were remarkably preserved in SOMAÍ’s preparations’ fingerprint, highlighting a major qualitative profile reproducibility and the opportunity for their previous separation and/or controlled reintroduction. The study underscores the importance of monitoring the extraction and purification processes to optimize the cannabinoid content and sensory characteristics in cannabis preparations. Full article

Many macrofungi are impractical or impossible to culture. Consequently, DNA for long-read sequencing required for the assembly of high-quality genomes must be isolated from samples taken from the environment. Collection is often in remote locations, limiting the options for stabilising samples to methods that do not require refrigeration. Fungi contain species-specific arrays of metabolites that may complicate purification techniques and call for judgement to be made to apply appropriate modifications to the DNA extraction protocol in specific cases. The protocols and commentary we describe are informed by the preparation of DNA from a range of Australasian ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic macrofungi. We collect samples into isopropanol at ambient temperature and employ a strategy of chromatin isolation followed by the sequential removal of unwanted molecular components to purify DNA. Full article

One of the world’s most sustainable solutions is to replace fossil-based polymers with biopolymers. The production of xanthan gum can be optimized using various renewable and cost-effective raw materials, which is a key focus in industrial biotechnology. Xanthan gum is a bioengineered thickening, stabilizing, and emulsifying agent. It has unique properties for use in many industries (food, biotechnology, petrochemicals, agricultural, cosmetics, wastewater treatment) and medical applications. It is tasteless, environmentally safe, non-toxic, and biodegradable. The biotechnological production of xanthan gum depends on several factors: bacterial strain development, culture medium preparation, carbon sources, fermentation parameters and modes, pH, temperature, recovery, purification, and quality control regulations. Bio-innovative strategies have been developed to optimize the production of xanthan gum. A variety of carbon and nitrogen sources, as well as alternative renewable sources, have been used in the production of xanthan gum. The aim of the present study was to optimize the xanthan gum yield using Xanthomonas campestris bacteria and different carbon (D-glucose, D-sorbitol, lactose, sucrose, D-mannitol, D-fructose, erythritol, coconut palm sugar, L-arabinose, unrefined cane sugar), various nitrogen (bacterial peptone, casein peptone, L-glutamic acid, L-arginine, L-methionine, L-tryptophan, malt extract, meat extract, L-phenylalanine, soy peptone) and alternative carbon (orange peels, tangerine peels, lemon peels, avocado peels, melon peels, apple peels, cellulose, xylose, xylitol) sources. The xanthan gum samples were analyzed using antioxidant methods. Our study showed that using L-glutamic acid as the carbon source for 72 h of bacterial fermentation of Xanthomonas campestris resulted in the highest xanthan gum yield: 32.34 g/L. However, using renewable resources, we achieved a very high concentration of xanthan gum in just 24 h of fermentation. According to the reducing power and DPPH methods, the highest antioxidant activities were measured for xanthan gum whose biosynthesis was based on renewable resources. Xanthan gum structures have been verified by FT-IR and ¹H NMR analysis. The sustainable biotechnology study has the advantage of increasing the sustainable production of xanthan gum by using renewable alternative resources compared to other production processes. Xanthan gum continues to be a valuable biopolymer with a wide range of industrial applications while promoting environmentally friendly production practices. Full article

To address the challenge of ultra-deep desulfurization in fuels, a series of heteropolyacid-based poly(ionic liquid) catalysts (C4-PIL@PW, C8-PIL@PW, and C16-PIL@PW) were synthesized via radical polymerization and anion exchange methods. The prepared catalysts were characterized via FT-IR, XRD pattern, and Raman spectroscopy. Optimal reaction parameters (e.g., temperature, catalyst dosage, and O/S molar ratio) were systematically investigated, as well as the catalytic mechanism. The typical sample C8-PIL@PW exhibited exceptional oxidative desulfurization (ODS) performance, achieving a sulfur removal of 99.2% for dibenzothiophene (DBT) without any organic solvent as extractant. Remarkably, the sulfur removal could still retain 89% after recycling five times without regeneration. This study provides a sustainable and high-efficiency catalyst for ODS, offering insights into fuel purification strategies. Full article

The synthesis of oxide nanopowders through ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) represents a sustainable method for producing high-purity, spherical particles tailored for advanced material applications. Recent developments in USP synthesis leverage the continuous transport of aerosols from an ultrasonic generator to a high-temperature furnace, with nanopowders collected efficiently using an electrostatic precipitator. This study explored the use of USP for titanium oxysulfate and aluminum nitrate solutions derived from the aluminum industry, focusing on resource recovery and waste reduction. Titanium oxysulfate was synthesized by leaching slag, generated during the reduction of red mud, with sulfuric acid under oxidizing, high-pressure conditions. After purification, the titanium oxysulfate solution was processed using USP in a hydrogen reduction atmosphere to yield spherical titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanopowders. The hydrogen atmosphere enabled precise control over the nanoparticles’ morphology and crystallinity, enhancing their suitability for use in applications such as photocatalysis, pigments, and advanced coatings. In parallel, both synthetic and laboratory solutions of aluminum nitrate [Al(NO₃)₃] were prepared. The laboratory solution was prepared by leaching aluminum hydroxide oxide (AlOOH) with hydrochloric acid to form aluminum chloride (AlCl₃), followed by a conversion to aluminum nitrate through the addition of nitric acid. The resulting aluminum nitrate solution was subjected to USP, producing highly uniform, spherical alumina (Al₂O₃) nanopowders with a narrow size distribution. The resulting nanopowders, characterized by their controlled properties and potential applicability, represent an advancement in oxide powder synthesis and resource-efficient manufacturing techniques. Full article

The Quality by Design (QbD) concept has been widely applied to the optimization of traditional Chinese medicine production processes recently. This work focused on optimizing the critical purification process of Scutellaria baicalensis extract used in the preparation of Zhusheyong Shuanghuanglian. Considering the impact of noise parameters and changes in herbal properties, an experimental design method was employed for optimization. Multiple batches of Scutellaria baicalensis decoction were prepared in this research, and quantitative models of Scutellaria baicalensis herbal properties, critical process parameters (CPPs), and process evaluation indicators were established. The R² of the quantitative models were all higher than 0.80. According to the model, the yield of baicalin was identified as a critical material property (CMA). The pH of first acid precipitation (X₁), first temperature holding time (X₂), pH of alkalization (X₃), ethanol amount (X₄), and end pH of ethanol washing (X₅) were CPPs. Considering the difficulty in controlling the end pH of the ethanol washing, it was considered to be a noise parameter. The Monte Carlo probability-based method was used to calculate the design space, determining the range of controllable parameters, which was successfully validated through experiments. Normal operation ranges for controllable parameters are recommended as follows: X₁ of 0.8–2.2, X₂ of 25–35 min, X₃ of 6.5–7.5, and X₄ of 0.8–1.2 g/g. Full article

Geobacillus and Parageobacillus spores are major spoilage agents in thermally treated, shelf-stable foods, particularly milk products, due to their high heat resistance. This study aimed to investigate how spore purification, maturation time, and sporulation temperature influence the germination and heat resistance of P. thermoglucosidasius, G. thermodenitrificans, and G. stearothermophilus spores, with the goal of improving the reliability of microbial risk assessment. All three species germinate efficiently in milk, likely triggered by lactose and glucose. Ethanol-treated spores during purification germinated without heat activation, while water-washed spores required it. At least four days of maturation were needed for efficient germination, though extending maturation to seven days led to strain-dependent changes in heat resistance: it increased in G. thermodenitrificans, decreased in P. thermoglucosidasius, and remained stable in G. stearothermophilus. Sporulation at 55 °C consistently favored germination at the same revival temperature. G. stearothermophilus reached the highest heat resistance at 55 °C, whereas the other species were more resistant when sporulated at 60 °C. These findings underscore the importance of standardizing spore-preparation protocols, as key parameters such as purification, maturation time, and sporulation temperature critically affect spore properties relevant to food stability. Full article

Polyethersulfone (PES) has been widely used to fabricate hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membranes due to its good oxidative, thermal, and hydrolytic stability. Typical PES hollow-fiber membranes with a single bore have limited strength and may break under uneven pressure and vibration during membrane backwashing. Multi-channel hollow-fiber membranes have stronger breaking force due to their larger cross-sectional area, but fabricating them remains challenging due to the difficulty in controlling the phase inversion process. This study uses the vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) method to fabricate a seven-channel PES hollow-fiber membrane, and the air gap and air relative humidity can help in membrane morphology control. Moreover, carboxylic graphene quantum dots (CGQDs) are first used in ultrafiltration membranes to increase membrane porosity and hydrophilicity. We found that the membrane prepared with a 7.5% CGQD mass fraction, a 10 cm air gap, and 99% relative humidity had the highest flux and porosity; the membrane pore size distribution was concentrated at 72 nm, and the pure water flux could reach 464 L·m⁻² h⁻¹·bar⁻¹. In the long-term filtration performance test, the membrane can reject more than about 15% TOC and 84% turbidity at 50 L·m⁻² h⁻¹ flux, confirming its stability for water purification applications. Full article

Lignocellulose is the most abundant renewable resource in nature, providing a large supply of lignin. The efficient separation and utilization of lignin from lignocellulose can help alleviate the current shortage of fossil fuels. Ionic liquids, as green solvents, have been widely applied in the field of biorefining. However, most research has focused on the extraction and purification of cellulose, while lignin is often treated as a by-product. The high-value utilization of lignin has currently emerged as a hot topic. This review summarizes recent advances in the extraction of lignin from lignocellulose using ionic liquids and the mechanisms of lignin extraction. Additionally, it briefly discusses the applications of ionic liquids in the high-value utilization of lignin, including lignin depolymerization, modification, the preparation of lignin-based functional materials, and biofuels. This review aims to provide ideas for the extraction and high-value utilization of lignin through ionic liquids. Full article