Technological assessment of CO2 capture and EOR/EGR/ ECBM-based storage

Carbon capture and CO2-EOR-driven storage provides an efficient way to reduce CO2\ua0emissions into the atmosphere, while allowing the consumption of fossil fuels and securing sufficient energy supply. The scale of carbon capture and storage is still far short of meeting industry-scale demand. Economical large-scale capture techniques, efficient utilization, and geological storage of CO2\ua0provide the best strategy for carbon emission reduction, and CO2-EOR is an inevitable choice and will surely have great prospects in carbon-intensive countries, including China

All eyes on visible‐light peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence read‐out systems

Chemiluminescence (CL) reactions have been widely employed and explored over the past 50 years because they offer unique light emission upon a defined chemical stimulus. In this Minireview, we focus on peroxyoxalate (PO) compounds because they feature very high quantum yields tuneable over the entire visible spectrum, allowing for visible‐light detection by the naked eye without the necessity for expensive analytical instruments. Although analytical methods have been extensively described, PO‐CL read‐out is a strongly emerging field with ample industrial potential. The state‐of‐the‐art PO‐CL detection read‐out systems for various key analytes is here explored. In particular, structural requirements, recent developments of PO‐CL read‐out probes and current limitations of selected examples are detailed. Furthermore, innovative approaches and synthetic routes to push the boundaries of PO‐CL reactions into biological systems are highlighted. Underpinned by recent contributions, we share perspectives on embedding PO‐CL molecules into polymeric materials, which they consider the next step in designing high performance solid‐phase read‐out systems

Global direct nitrous oxide emissions from the bioenergy crop sugarcane (Saccharum spp. inter-specific hybrids)

Sugarcane is the second largest bioenergy crop in the world and it accounts for 80% of global sugar production. Grown mostly in wet and warm tropics with relatively high nitrogen (N) fertiliser input and crop residue retention, sugarcane production is a significant source of nitrous oxide (NO) emission. Yet, a global evaluation of research on NO emission from sugarcane crop is lacking. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis using data from 141 measurements compiled from 15 sugarcane field studies reported from different countries to i) quantify NO emissions and emission factors (EFs) globally, and for tropics and sub-tropics, and ii) identify the key factors that promote NO emission. Our analysis shows that the global mean total NO emission from sugarcane production reached 2.26 (CI: 1.93–2.62) kg NO-N ha yr with an estimated EF of 1.21% (CI: 0.971–1.46%). NO emissions increased exponentially with increase in N fertiliser rate, questioning the adequacy of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) default EF value (1%) for sugarcane NO emission estimation. Mean total NO emissions and EFs in tropics and sub-tropics did not vary significantly. Supplementing synthetic N fertiliser (SN) with organic amendments (OA) significantly increased mean NO emission (~1.4-fold) and EF (~2.5-fold) compared to SN. A remarkable reduction in NO emission (38.6%) and EF (61.5%) was evident when enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEF) replaced SN. In contrast, crop residue removal had little impact on NO emission and EF, but both parameters showed an upward trend with irrigation and increased rainfall. Soil carbon content and pH were emerged as key regulators of sugarcane NO emission and EF. It is concluded that global sugarcane NO emission could be significant and that there is considerable prospect for mitigating the emission through innovative nutrient formulations and precision agriculture that help meet crop nutrient demand without compromising environmental imperatives

Exploring Janus MoSSe monolayer as a workable media for SOF6 decompositions sensing based on DFT calculations

In modern electric systems, partial discharge (PD) or local overheating happens inevitably, leading to the SF insulated switchgears decomposition into several types of gas molecules. Thus, online monitoring these decomposition gases is considered as a promising way to detect PD to timely alarm and guarantee the safety operation of power equipments. Here, we propose recently synthesized Janus monolayer MoSSe as a superior gas sensing material by investigating the adsorption behaviors of SF decompositions, including HS, SO, SOF and SOF on Janus surfaces by first-principles calculations. The adsorption patten of SF decompositions on MoSSe monolayer is: SO > SOF > HS > SOF, in which all the absorptions exhibit physisorption. Besides, the binding strengths of the molecules adsorbed on S-layer are weaker than these on Se-layer due to the presence of out-of-plane polarization in Janus monolayer. While the adsorption strengths can be slightly enhanced by intrinsic S/Se vacancies or strain-driven of MoSSe monolayer. Importantly, the adsorption intensity can be modulated effectively by the applied electric fields. Furthermore, the response and desorption time of gas molecules on MoSSe monolayer are evaluated. With high gas sensitivity and selectivity towards SF decompositions, Janus MoSSe monolayer is demonstrated to be a promising material to be used in gas-insulated switch-gear (GIS) and constructed ultrahigh sensitivity nanodevices

The effectiveness of advertising images in promoting experiential offerings: an emotional response approach

This research examines the role of advertising images in promoting experiential offerings. In particular, it investigates the congruence effect between the emotional responses evoked by advertising images and experiential offerings on consumers’ purchase likelihood in the tourism context. This congruence effect is tested in a series of four experimental studies using different advertising stimuli and manipulations of perceived certainty associated with the offerings. The findings show that advertising images eliciting awe have a more positive impact on purchase likelihood when combined with an experiential offering communicating a low level of certainty, whereas advertising images eliciting contentment have a more positive impact on purchase likelihood when combined with an experiential offering communicating a high level of certainty. Both the theoretical and managerial implications of the findings are discussed

Carbon accounting of mined landscapes, and deployment of a geochemical treatment system for enhanced weathering at Woodsreef Chrysotile Mine, NSW, Australia

Carbonation of ultramafic mine tailings has the potential to offset greenhouse gas emissions from mining by trapping CO within the crystal structures of Mg-carbonate minerals and hydrotalcite supergroup minerals, which form as weathering products in tailings storage facilities. Here, we present a detailed geochemical and mineralogical assessment of tailings from the Woodsreef Chrysotile Mine, New South Wales, Australia, demonstrating that coupling mineralogical and elemental datasets improves the accuracy of carbon accounting in mined landscapes. Detailed analysis of tailings mineralogy using quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) and total carbon analyses reveals that previous assessments of passive mineral carbonation at Woodsreef have been underestimated. Maximum values for the abundance of total carbon (up to 0.4 wt%), as well as the abundances of secondary carbonate minerals (i.e., up to 1.9 wt% hydromagnesite and up to 2.6 wt% pyroaurite, measured with XRD) are observed between approximately 2 cm and 30 cm depth in profiles collected within experimental plots. However, an amorphous Mg-carbonate phase, that cannot be detected using XRD, is also present at comparably high abundances to depths of at least 1 m. This phase is readily observed using scanning electron microscopy, it contributes a measured carbon content of approximately 0.2 wt% at up to 1 m depth, and it has a predominantly atmospheric carbon isotopic signature (FC > 0.80). We find that using only XRD data results in the sequestered CO being underestimated by nearly four times compared to estimates incorporating total carbon measurements, highlighting the important role of amorphous Mg-carbonates in the carbon cycles of mines. Combining XRD and total carbon data, we provide an estimate for passive carbon sequestration by both crystalline and amorphous carbonates in the Woodsreef tailings (11.7 kg CO/m considering the upper 1 m) and suggest that future studies should employ both XRD and total carbon measurements for carbon accounting. The Woodsreef Chrysotile Mine was also the test site for a field-based geochemical treatment system designed to promote mineral carbonation. A solar powered, independently operating geochemical treatment system is designed and deployed to deliver controlled acid (0.08 M HSO) or water leaching treatments, and maintain soil pore saturation within optimal levels (approximately 18–36%) to enhance the weathering rate of mine tailings. While the applied treatment did not accelerate capture and mineralisation of CO from air, it could be coupled to technologies that enhance the supply of CO for mineral carbonation. We apply our new strategy for carbon accounting to this experimental site in order to assess changes in mineralogy and the spatial scale on which carbon accounting must be done to accurately measure carbon sequestered during weathering of ultramafic rock. Our work provides important lessons and context for future trials of accelerated tailings dissolution and mineral carbonation, which will benefit the next stage of development in the scale-up of this technology

Highly efficient water desalination by capacitive deionization on biomass-derived porous carbon nanoflakes

Capacitive deionization (CDI) works by using the electrical double layer on various materials including nanoporous carbons to separate ions from saline water. To help realize industrial application, there has been an increasing interest in the exploration of carbon materials from low cost, eco-friendly and abundant biomass for CDI to align with the demands of sustainable development strategies. Herein we report pyrolysis of xylose with KHCO to prepare hierarchically porous carbon nanoflakes which display a satisfactory salt adsorption capacity of 16.29 mg g. This novel strategy can design highly efficient carbon materials from naturally-developed biomass materials with its low preparation cost, environmentally friendliness and superior desalination performance. Our xylose-derived hierarchically porous carbon nanoflakes are promising for potential industrial application for CDI

Effects of B2O3 on the structure and properties of blast furnace slag by molecular dynamics simulation

BO has the advantages of reducing the liquidus temperature and enhancing the fluidity of slag, while its influence mechanism in atomic scale has not yet been fully understood. Molecular dynamics simulation was conducted to investigate the influence of BO on the structure and properties of SiO[sbnd]CaO-AlO-BO blast furnace slag system at 1773 K. Results showed that a large number of [SiO]-[BO] structures are generated in the system after BO added, Si ions mainly exist in the form of [SiO] tetrahedrons and B ions mainly exist in the form of [BO] planar triangular structures and [BO] tetrahedrons. With the increase of BO content, the proportion of [BO] planar triangular structures increase. In addition, the content of bridge oxygen in the microstructure of slag increases obviously, the content of non-bridge oxygen decreases, and the polymerization degree of the system increases somewhat. Through the analysis of microscopic mechanism and the modified NPL viscosity model, combined with experimental data, the truth that the slag viscosity decreases with the increase of BO contents were known in the simulated concentration range

Regeneration capacity after exposure to freezing in wild oat (Avena ludoviciana Durieu.) and turnipweed (Rapistrum rugosum (L.) All.) in comparison with winter wheat

Wild oat (Avena ludoviciana Durieu.) and turnipweed (Rapistrum rugosum (L.) All.) are the most important annual weed species of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Khorasan Razavi province of Iran. This study investigated freezing tolerance in wheat (cv. Mihan) and these two weeds based on electrolyte leakage (EL), survival (SU), regrowth characteristics and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem (PS) II (F'v/F'm). Significant differences in EL% at freezing temperatures were noted between these plant species. By decreasing the freezing temperatures, EL% of the leaf in all three plants was increased. The lowest and the highest temperature causing 50 % EL (T) of leaves belonged to wild oat (−16.6℃) and wheat (−15℃), respectively. At a temperature of -12℃, SU% of wheat and turnipweed decreased by 15 % and 20 % compared to the SU% at 4℃, respectively. However, the decrease in SU% in wild oat from 4℃ to −12℃ was not significant. Lethal temperature for 50 % SU (LT) of wheat, wild oat, and turnipweed was −13.7, −14.3, and −13.5℃, respectively, and there was no significant difference between wheat and turnipweed. A general trend observed in our study was that species with higher freezing tolerance scores had a higher regrowth capacity. During the first 24 h after the freezing treatment, the F'/F' levels in wheat, wild oat, and turnipweed decreased by 33 %, 33 %, and 28 %, respectively, compared to before the freezing stress. Therefore, the presence of these weeds in wheat fields after freezing stress will be possible. Under optimal conditions and lack of integrated weed management programs, these weeds, especially wild oat, will emerge, set seeds and enrich the soil seed bank and thereby continue to be a problem in the cold climates of Iran, especially in the Khorasan Razavi province. Winter weed management using tillage, non-successive planting of annual winter crops, and crop rotation will reduce the dispersal of these weeds