Room-temperature, selective detection of benzene at trace levels using plasma-treated metal-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Hybrid materials consisting of oxygen plasma-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes decorated with metal nanoparticles (e.g., Rh, Pd, Au or Ni) can be tailored for the recognition of benzene vapors with high sensitivity and selectivity. Metal nanoparticles donate or accept a significant amount of charge upon adsorption of a target molecule, so as to affect electron transport in the nanotube. The plasma treatment enables the cleaning, activation, functionalization and metal decoration of carbon nanotubes in a single step, which offers enormous flexibility for tuning the interfacial properties of the resulting hybrid materials. When combined in a microsensor array operating at room temperature, the use of benzene-sensitive and benzene-insensitive metal-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes can provide selective detection of benzene at trace levels with a detection limit below 50 ppb.     

Differences in the aerosolization behavior of microorganisms as revealed through their transport by biogas

The aerosol microbial diversity of biogas was analyzed in order to examine the aerosolization behavior of microorganisms. Six biogas samples were analyzed: five from mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestors treating different wastes, and one from landfill. Epifluorescent microscopic counts reveal that with 10(6) Prokarya m(-3), only one per one thousand billion were aerosolized from the digestor sludges to the biogas. SSU (Small Sub Unit) ribosomal fingerprinting (Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism) shows that microbial communities in the biogas were not just a rough copy of anaerobic digestor microbial communities and underlines that all microorganisms are not equally convoyed by biogas. To assess the difference occurring in aerosolization, 675 biogas-borne SSU ribosomal DNA were analyzed and compared to published anaerobic digestor microbial diversity. Results show that microorganisms belonging to Archaea, Deltaproteobacteria, Spirochaetes, Thermotogae, Chloroflexi phyla and sulfate-reducing groups were non-aerosolized whereas microorganisms belonging to Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, TM7 phyla as well as strictly aerobic and occasionally pathogenic species presented high levels of aerosolization. Finally, microorganisms belonging to Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla represent passively-aerosolized microorganisms with similar frequencies in biogas-borne and anaerobic digestor microbial communities.     

Experimental study of a mechanically ventilated double-skin façade with venetian sun-shading device: A full-scale investigation in controlled environment

The aim of this article is to present results of an experimental campaign performed on a full-scale facility provided with a double-skin façade. The behaviour of this architectural concept is tested under controlled climatic conditions. A summer case is scrutinised under different configurations: variation of the airflow through the double-skin façade and different angle of the solar shading device. This paper describes the experimental conditions, as well the test facility and the tested façade element. The results show the temperatures of the test cell and the façade and how they depend on the climatic conditions and the sun-shading device blade angles. One objective of this research was to measure and provide extensive data set detailing air and surface temperatures on the double-skin façade, together with airflow rates and air velocities. The experiments are fully described so that the results can be used for the validation of numerical models dealing with ventilated double-skin façades with venetian sun-shading device.     

Numerical modelling of geothermal vertical heat exchangers for the short time analysis using the state model size reduction technique

According to the introduction of a dynamic operating mode in ground-coupled heat pump systems, a short time analysis within and around borehole heat exchangers is required in the modern geothermal system simulation. A numerical modelling could be a proper answer for this challenge. However, the numerical model is time consuming and necessitates a large memory particularly in such large systems. Therefore, the state model size reduction technique has been applied in this paper with various numerical techniques particularly in the finite elements method. As a result, the reduced model developed is: (a) relevant with a validation using a traditional analytical model (using 100% modes) and (b) efficient in calculation time, only using 6% modes and consequently reducing time consumption up to 95%.     

Assessment of biogas potential hazards

Biogas produced from anaerobic fermentation of organic substances represents an alternative renewable energy source. Its utilization would contribute to substantial reduction of the solid waste volume in land-filling and incineration. Biogas so produced could be utilized on site or it could be injected into the natural gas distribution network. Microbiological and chemical compositions of different biogas types were determined in order to conduct qualitative and quantitative risk assessments of the potential health hazards associated with biogas use for cooking. Biogas types that could be allowed for injection in the natural gas pipelines were listed with recommendations, while outlining the European biogas injection policy. Results indicated that the injection of the processed biogas in the distribution network did not present any additional chemical or microbiological risk to consumers when compared to natural gas, provided that the biogas resulted from the fermentation of non-dangerous waste. However, since this study did not examine the microbiological and chemical composition of biogas originating from wastewater sludges and/or industrial wastes, the injection of this type of biogas into the gas distribution network should not be allowed unless a similar risk evaluation study is conducted for each case.     

Highly efficient electrocatalysts fabricated via electrophoretic deposition for alcohol oxidation,oxygen reduction,hydrogen evolution,and oxygen evolution reactions

Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a versatile technique that has drawn attention due to its ease of use and performance in depositing high-quality layers at room temperature. This technique principle is based on the deposition of charged particles from a stable colloidal suspension on a conductive substrate using either a direct or alternating current. Using relatively simple and low-cost equipment, the EPD technique enables the deposition of layers with controlled microstructures at nanoscale. The EPD technique has been particularly successful in the fabrication of the electrocatalyst layers for low-temperature fuel cells, which are anchored on the top of the fuel cell electrodes. In comparison with other electrocatalyst layer deposition techniques such as drop-casting, the EPD technique offers clear advantages for the control of the thickness and packing density of the electrocatalyst layers. Owing to the dense packing density, electrocatalyst layers deposited by EPD could achieve enhanced conductivity and efficiency. The present review aims at comprehensively evaluating the recently published results on the electrocatalyst layers fabricated by EPD and applied in oxygen reduction reactions, alcohol electro-oxidation reactions, hydrogen evolution reactions, and oxygen evolution reactions.     

Marvelous self-assembly of hierarchically nanostructured porous zirconium phosphate solid acids with high thermal stability

A hierarchical structure of thermally stable macroporous zirconium phosphate solid acids with supermicroporous walls was prepared by a simple self-assembly process from the precursors of zirconium propoxide and orthophosphoric acid solution. The macroporous structures are uniform with the diameters ranging from 300 to 800 nm, one-dimensional channel-like. The effect of surfactant Brij 56 on the formation of macroporous structures has been studied. The frameworks of the synthesized hierarchical zirconium phosphates are amorphous with Zr–O–P bonding, exhibiting remarkably high thermal stability (at least 800 °C), on the basis of the X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. Larger quantities of Zr–OH and P–OH groups are observed besides surface hydroxyl groups, suggesting the presence of acidity and the possibility of surface functionalization for practical applications including catalysis. The macroporous zirconium phosphates with hierarchical structures could also be the potential and efficient catalyst supports for the design of the structured catalysts and reactors.     

Role of shear stress on composition, diversity and dynamics of biofilm bacterial communities

This article evaluates the effect of shear stress on the composition of biofilm bacterial communities. For the first time, a Conical Couette-Taylor Reactor (CCTR) was used to develop biofilms at varying shear stresses (from 0.055 to 0.27 Pa) and provided a useful model for studying the effect of hydrodynamics on biofilms. The composition, diversity and dynamics of biofilm bacterial communities were analysed using the PCR-SSCP fingerprint method. Results clearly demonstrate a link between shear stress and composition of the microbial communities. High shear stresses decrease biofilm diversity and the analysis of biofilm community dynamics suggests that shear stress would slow down biofilm maturation and tend to maintain a young biofilm.     

Effect of initial powder type on the hydrogen storage properties of high-pressure torsion consolidated Mg

While severe plastic deformation (SPD) on bulk samples has been widely applied for modifying the H-sorption properties, there has been little attention towards the use of SPD on powder materials. In this context, the aim of the present work was to compare the H-storage properties of high-pressure torsion (HPT) consolidated products obtained from two distinct Mg powder precursors: atomized micro-sized and condensed ultrafine powder particles. The results showed that the nature of the initial powder precursor had a pronounced effect on the H-sorption behavior. The HPT product obtained from the condensed ultrafine powder showed faster absorption kinetics than the consolidated product obtained from the atomized powder. However, the HPT product obtained from atomized powder could absorb more hydrogen and showed faster desorption kinetics corresponding to a lower activation energy. These results are discussed by taking into account the effectiveness of the HPT process to refine the grain sizes and differences in the dispersion of fine MgO oxide particles.