生态建造：教育套餐和环境手册

生态建造是一个关注于传播建成环境中可持续性的需要以及促成可持续性的方式的项目。它针对于两个群体：16-19岁的学生，为他们制作了一个交互式的光盘；建造行业中的专业人员。光盘中提出了这样的问题--你的家和学校有多绿色？它说明了类似于建筑尺度和朝向的设计决策如何影响到建筑在能耗方面的表现和CO2的排放量。光盘包括了衡量如往宅温室节能效果的术语表，来解释它们对建筑的影响。这样学生们就可以对他们自己的学校和家进行评估，并提出怎样的设计可以提高它们的节能效果。如果我们想全球化地实现可持续性的未来，下一代的介入至关重要。环境手册中更深入地研究了这些问题，并关注到了其他建筑类型，如办公建筑。本文描述了正趋于完成的教育光盘和环境手册中涉及的一些根本的环境和教育因素。     

Passive Treatment of Circumneutral Mine Drainage from the St. Louis Mine Tunnel,Rico, CO: Part 1—Case Study: Characteristics of the Mine Drainage

This publication is a case study of the seasonal variability of mine water drainage from the Saint Louis Tunnel (SLT) at the inactive Rico-Argentine mine site located in southwestern Colorado. It is an introductory paper for the two passive water treatment system technology evaluations contained in this issue. Mine water chemistry changes from baseflow to a snowmelt runoff event (SMRE) where snowmelt runoff follows preferential migration pathways to flush acidic weathering products from the upper mine workings to the SLT. Baseflow mine drainage is characterized as circumneutral, with Zn, Cd, Mn, and Ni concentrations primarily in the dissolved form. Dissolved Zn, Mn, Fe, and potentially Cd illustrate equilibrium with carbonate minerals. Total concentrations of Fe, Cu, Pb, and As are primarily in the suspended form and suggest sorption to Fe oxides. Mine water chemistry during the SMRE reflects mixing of circumneutral baseflow waters with more acidic waters flushing the upper mine workings. Geothermal activity provides for a consistently warm mine water discharge from the SLT. The two seasons that provide the most challenge to passive water treatment of SLT mine drainage are the SMRE period and the low flow stage of the Dolores River. Mine water flow and chemistry during SMRE are highly correlated with Dolores River flow and this site conceptual model was and will be used to assist in pilot project evaluation, water treatment system design, monitoring system design, a seasonal compliance approach, and water management.

     

Printed, flexible electrochromic displays using interdigitated electrodes

We describe herein some of our initial studies in pursuit of a simple, economical method of mass producing electrochromic displays. The approach we have taken is to print the display on polymer film utilizing commercially available conductive inks in an interdigitated electrode structure with a conductive metal oxide powder, dispersed in a polymer binder, as the electrode surface. A range of electrochromic materials suitable for use with an aqueous gel electrolyte have been explored and examples presented.     

In situ monitoring of the biocatalysed partial hydrolysis of cocoa butter and palm oil fraction

Partial glycerides are widely used ingredients in confectionery products that can be produced from natural fats. In a biocatalytic partial hydrolysis of cocoa butter and palm oil fractions, a product mixture containing 1.5% monoglycerides and 5.5% diglycerides intended for the use in confectionery products was created. This study is a proof of principle that shows the feasibility of monitoring the biocatalytic partial hydrolysis of these two natural fats in situ with ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. An economic approach was utilised for calibration since partial glyceride calibration standards are costly and poorly available. The released compounds were quantified by means of chemometric modelling, and the model was validated with gas chromatography. Resulting root mean square errors were in the low per cent range. Additionally, the results indicate that distinction of the released free fatty acids is possible with ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.     

Performance analysis of a double calcium looping‐integrated biomass‐fired power plant: Exploring a carbon reduction opportunity

Integrating biomass energy generation with carbon capture will result in “carbon neutral” to “carbon negative” technology. Countries like India and China possess significant reserves of limestone. Calcium looping (CaL) technology can prove to be a promising option for carbon capture in these countries. The present work aims at improving the performance of CaL‐integrated biomass‐fired power plant (BFPP) by exploring different looping configurations. In this study, (i) standalone BFPP, (ii) conventional CaL (single stage), and (iii) double CaL‐integrated BFPP have been systematically evaluated. A comparative performance evaluation of these three plants in terms of energy, exergy and ecological assessment, has been carried out. A detailed parametric study and unit‐wise exergy analysis of the best configuration among the three are presented to identify the scope for further improvement in efficiency and energy savings.     

Living Materials Herald a New Era in Soft Robotics

Living beings have an unsurpassed range of ways to manipulate objects and interact with them. They can make autonomous decisions and can heal themselves. So far, a conventional robot cannot mimic this complexity even remotely. Classical robots are often used to help with lifting and gripping and thus to alleviate the effects of menial tasks. Sensors can render robots responsive, and artificial intelligence aims at enabling autonomous responses. Inanimate soft robots are a step in this direction, but it will only be in combination with living systems that full complexity will be achievable. The field of biohybrid soft robotics provides entirely new concepts to address current challenges, for example the ability to self‐heal, enable a soft touch, or to show situational versatility. Therefore, “living materials” are at the heart of this review. Similarly to biological taxonomy, there is a recent effort for taxonomy of biohybrid soft robotics. Here, an expansion is proposed to take into account not only function and origin of biohybrid soft robotic components, but also the materials. This materials taxonomy key demonstrates visually that materials science will drive the development of the field of soft biohybrid robotics.