Effect of phosphogypsum on saline-alkalinity and aggregate stability of bauxite residue

A column experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of phosphogypsum (PG) on the saline- alkalinity, and aggregate stability of bauxite residue. Results showed that: with increasing leaching time, the concentrations of saline-alkali ions decreased while the concentration increased in bauxite residue leachate; compared with CK (control group) treatment, pH, electric conductivity (EC), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), and exchangeable Na⁺ content of bauxite residue were reduced following PG treatment; average particle sizes in aggregates following CK and PG treatments were determined to be 155 and 193 nm, respectively. SR-μCT test results also confirmed that bauxite residue following PG treatment acquired larger aggregates and larger pore diameter. These results indicate that the PG treatment could significantly modulate the saline-alkalinity, and simultaneously enhance aggregate stability of bauxite residue, which provides a facile approach to reclaim bauxite residue disposal areas.     

碳酸性侵蚀与AAR作用下纳米混凝土的耐久性

地铁混凝土处于地下空间,容易受到地下水的碳酸性侵蚀；碱集料反应 (AAR)是一种严重的混凝土耐久性问题,既难以发现又难以修补,由两者共同作用引起的混凝土耐久性降低严重影响地铁隧道的正常使用.为研究纳米材料对地铁混凝土在碳酸性侵蚀和AAR共同作用下耐久性的影响,在普通混凝土中掺入适量纳米SiO₂和纳米Fe₂O₃,利用自行研制的碳酸性侵蚀试验箱进行试验,采用碳酸性侵蚀深度、膨胀率和声速作为测试指标来评价纳米混凝土在碳酸性侵蚀和AAR共同作用下的耐久性.试验结果表明:掺入纳米颗粒后,混凝土的膨胀率和侵蚀深度有了明显降低,而声速有了明显提升,说明纳米混凝土的耐久性优于普通混凝土；在182 d龄期时,掺量为2%的纳米SiO₂混凝土耐久性改善最明显,侵蚀深度和膨胀率最小,声速最大且声速下降幅度最小；其次是掺量为1%的纳米Fe₂O₃混凝土.由于纳米颗粒特殊的物理化学性质,改善了混凝土内部的微观结构和孔溶液的化学组成,使碳酸性侵蚀和碱集料反应共同作用下混凝土的耐久性得到了提高.     

钢渣复合取代矿粉、砂和石用作混凝土掺合料与骨料及其性能分析

用风淬渣粉取代矿粉、电炉渣砂取代混合砂、电炉渣石取代碎石制备混凝土，分析了混凝土的内照射指数、外照射指数、f-CaO含量、沸煮膨胀值、比表面积、密度、含水率、容重、含泥量、泥块含量、坍落度、抗压强度及其化学组成、矿物组成与微观形貌，研究了钢渣的安全性与稳定性及风淬渣粉取代矿粉、电炉渣砂取代混合砂、电炉渣石取代碎石与钢渣复合取代矿粉、砂和石对混凝土性能的影响。结果表明，风淬渣粉、电炉渣砂和电炉渣石的安全性与稳定性满足国标要求，可用于混凝土。当风淬渣粉取代20wt%矿粉、电炉渣砂取代10wt%混合砂和电炉渣石取代20wt%碎石时，混凝土的性能最优。钢渣复合取代矿粉、砂和石的比例合适，可改善混凝土的界面结构密实度，尤其能提高混凝土养护后期的强度。     

Investigating the wicking behavior of micro/nanofibrous core-sheath PET–PAN yarn modified by dimethyl 5-sodium sulfoisophthalate

The present research aims at imparting an improved wicking ability to the recycled multifilament yarns by wrapping composite nanofibers to attain an efficient material for filtration purposes. Therefore, polyacrylonitrile nanofibers containing dimethyl 5-sodium sulfoisophthalate nanoparticles were wrapped around the recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) yarn by means of a novel electrospinning technique. Several tests were performed to investigate the parameters affecting wicking rise and moisture regain of the samples. Taguchi method was used in two separate designs (with or without nanoparticles). Some factors such as polymer solution concentration, mass ratio of nanoparticles, take-up rate, and number of filaments were considered as the variable factors while yarn wicking rate and moisture regain were the response factors. It was found that the hydrophilic nature of nanoparticles together with the ultrafine structure of nanofibers provide yarns with enhanced wicking properties. Although solution concentration is the predominant factor in wicking rate of the yarns containing nanoparticles, the most effective factor in wicking rise and moisture regain for other cases is the number of filaments. The mechanism of nanoparticle effect on fluidic jet during electrospinning process is explained by theory of nanofluids stability which has never been validated experimentally in previous research studies. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 48185.     

The effect of atmospheric plasma treatment of recycled carbon fiber at different plasma powers on recycled carbon fiber and its polypropylene composites

To increase the mechanical properties of recycled carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites, recycled carbon fibers (RCF) were subjected to atmospheric plasma treatment at different plasma powers (100, 200, and 300 W). The changes on surface topography and roughness of RCF were examined by atomic force microscopy. Plasma treatment of RCF increased the roughness value of RCF. The variation of surface elemental compositions and tensile strength of RCF were determined by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and tensile test, respectively. Plasma-treated RCF-reinforced PP composites were fabricated using high speed thermo-kinetic mixer. Plasma treatment of RCF at 100 W increased the tensile and flexural strength values of RCF-reinforced PP composites considerably by 17 and 11%, respectively. However, plasma treatment of RCF at higher plasma powers (200 W and 300 W) decreased tensile and flexural strength values of composites because of the etching of RCF. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47131.     

混菌矿化增强再生粗骨料的物理力学性能

为克服单一微生物培养成本高且矿化鲁棒性不足的缺陷，提出了一种混菌矿化增强再生粗骨料物理力学性能的方法.通过筛选矿化效率较高的好氧嗜碱混菌，考察了混菌矿化对再生粗骨料物理力学性能和混凝土抗压强度的影响.结果表明：相同增强时间下，混菌比纯菌呈现出更优异的矿化增强效果；随着混菌矿化增强时间的延长，再生粗骨料吸水率和压碎指标呈现出先减小后增大的趋势，最优增强时间为15 d；采用矿化增强再生粗骨料制备的再生混凝土抗压强度提高幅度达到22.1%.     

Extraction of protein from food waste: An overview of current status and opportunities

The chief intent of this review is to explain the different extraction techniques and efficiencies for the recovery of protein from food waste (FW) sources. Although FW is not a new concept, increasing concerns about chronic hunger, nutritional deficiency, food security, and sustainability have intensified attention on alternative and sustainable sources of protein for food and feed. Initiatives to extract and utilize protein from FW on a commercial scale have been undertaken, mainly in the developed countries, but they remain largely underutilized and generally suited for low-quality products. The current analysis reveals the extraction of protein from FW is a many-sided (complex) issue, and that identifies for a stronger and extensive integration of diverse extraction perspectives, focusing on nutritional quality, yield, and functionality of the isolated protein as a valued recycled ingredient.     

Destructive and non-destructive evaluation of concrete for optimum sand to aggregate volume ratio

Aggregates are the biggest contributor to concrete volume and are a crucial parameter in dictating its mechanical properties. As such, a detailed experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of sand-to-aggregate volume ratio (s/a) on the mechanical properties of concrete utilizing both destructive and non-destructive testing (employing UPV (ultrasonic pulse velocity) measurements). For investigation, standard cylindrical concrete samples were made with different s/a (0.36, 0.40, 0.44, 0.48, 0.52, and 0.56), cement content (340 and 450 kg/m³), water-to-cement ratio (0.45 and 0.50), and maximum aggregate size (12 and 19 mm). The effect of these design parameters on the 7, 14, and 28 d compressive strength, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and UPV of concrete were assessed. The careful analysis demonstrates that aggregate proportions and size need to be optimized for formulating mix designs; optimum ratios of s/a were found to be 0.40 and 0.44 for the maximum aggregate size of 12 and 19 mm, respectively, irrespective of the W/C (water-to-cement) and cement content.     

Topography‐Induced Cell Self‐Organization from Simple to Complex Aggregates

Self‐organization is a fundamental and indispensable process in a living system. To understand cell behavior in vivo such as tumorigenesis, 3D cellular aggregates, instead of 2D cellular sheets, have been employed as a vivid in vitro model for self‐organization. However, most focus on the macroscale wetting and fusion of cellular aggregates. In this study, it is reported that self‐organization of cells from simple to complex aggregates can be induced by multiscale topography through confined templates at the macroscale and cell interactions at the nanoscale. On the one hand, macroscale templates are beneficial for the organization of individual cells into simple and complex cellular aggregates with various shapes. On the other hand, the realization of these macro‐organizations also depends on cell interactions at the nanoscale, as demonstrated by the intimate contact between nanoscale pseudopodia stretched by adjacent frontier cells, much like holding hands and by the variation in the intermolecular interactions based on E‐cadherin. Therefore, these findings may be very meaningful for clarifying the organizational mechanism of tumor development, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.     

Effect of recycled content and rPET quality on the properties of PET bottles,part II: Migration

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were produced from three types of recycled PET (rPET) with four levels of recycled content. The migration of substances from these bottles to water was studied. Several migrated substances were detected. The migrated amounts of acetaldehyde and ethylene glycol complied with the limits given in the food contact material (FCM) legislation. Migration of 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane was below the limit of 10 μg·L⁻¹, which is conventionally applied for non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) not classified as ‘carcinogenic’, ‘mutagenic’ or ‘toxic to reproduction’ (CMR). Limonene, acetone, butanone and furan were also detected as migrants, of which limonene is a natural fragrant, and the other three are probably residues from solvents used to clean and protect the mould at the small-scale production facility. Finally, benzene and styrene were also found as migrants from rPET. These migrants appear to originate from heat-induced reactions within the PET matrix, which involve contaminants. The formation of benzene in rPET is attributed to polyvinylchloride as contaminant. The migrated amounts of benzene from the PET bottles with recycled content to the water simulant are relatively small (0.03–0.44 μg·L⁻¹) after 10 days at 40°C. Consequently, the margin of exposure is 3.10⁵–8.10⁶. Hence, the level of concern for the public health is low, and the migrated amount represents a low priority for risk management. The FCM legislation demands a risk assessment for migrating NIAS. Depending on the underlying data and exposure scenario, different threshold limits in the food can be derived which can still be considered as safe.