Global Warming and Technologies for Carbon Capture and Storage

Global concern about climate change caused by anthropogenic activities, such as the large scale use of fossil fuels as major energy sources for domestic and industrial application, which on combustion give off carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Deforestation is also reducing one of the natural sinks for CO2. These anthropogenic activities have led to an increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and have thus resulted in the warming of the earth’s surface (Global Warming), droughts, melting of ice caps, and loss of coral reefs. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and other variety of emerging technologies and methods have been developed. These technologies and methods are reviewed in this article. Keywords: Global warming, carbon capture and storage, amine-based absorbents, Metal-Organic Framework

Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFS): A Review

The search for supramolecular promising porous crystalline materials with diverse applications such as gas storage, catalysis, chemo-sensing, energy storage, and optoelectronic have led to the design and construction of Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs). COFs are a class of porous crystalline polymers that allow the precise integration of organic building blocks and linkage motifs to create predesigned skeletons and nano-porous materials. In this review article, a historic overview of the chemistry of COFs, survey of the advances in topology design and synthetic reactions, basic design principles that govern the formation of COFs as porous crystalline polymers as well as common synthetic procedures and characterization techniques are discussed. Furthermore some challenges associate with the synthesis of COFs are highlighted. We hope that this review will help researchers, industrialists and academics in no mean feat

Bio-Diesel Production from Oil of Orange ( Citrus Sinensis ) Peels as Feedstock

Although, in Nigeria orange peels are considered as a waste, this study is intended to convert the waste into wealth by establishing the production of biodiesel with oil obtained from orange peels; using transeterification process. Oil from sun-dried/ ground orange peels were extractedusing n-hexane. Transesterification process was done at a temperature range of 80 - 83 \ub0C with oil to ethanol mole ratio of 1:3 respectively and sodium hydroxide as catalyst. The parameters analyzed included: Viscosity, Density and the concentrations of K, Na, Ca, Mg and P.The viscosity and density of the biodiesel obtained were 2.1 stand 825 kg/m3 respectively. The mean concentrations of K, Na, Ca, Mg and P in the biodiesel were 4 ppm, 7 ppm, 3 ppm, 3 ppm and 8 ppm respectively. These results are in close agreement with ASTM standards requirement for biodiesel. The glycerol was recycled trice before it finally lost potent.It is thus apparent that the locally-sourced feedstock (orange peels) would be a good source for the production of biodiesel

Net positive outcomes for nature

Much research and policy effort is being expended on seeking ways to conserve living nature while enabling the economic and social development needed to increase global equity and end poverty. We propose that this will only be possible if the language of policy shifts away from setting conservation targets that focus on avoiding losses and towards developing processes that consider net outcomes for biodiversity

Initiation of a proto‐transform fault prior to seafloor spreading

Transform faults are a fundamental tenet of plate tectonics, connecting offset extensional segments of mid‐ocean ridges in ocean basins worldwide. The current consensus is that oceanic transform faults initiate after the onset of seafloor spreading. However, this inference has been difficult to test given the lack of direct observations of transform fault formation. Here, we integrate evidence from surface faults, geodetic measurements, local seismicity, and numerical modelling of the subaerial Afar continental rift and show that a proto‐transform fault is initiating during the final stages of continental breakup. This is the first direct observation of proto‐transform fault initiation in a continental rift, and sheds unprecedented light on their formation mechanisms. We demonstrate that they can initiate during late‐stage continental rifting, earlier in the rifting cycle than previously thought. Future studies of volcanic rifted margins cannot assume that oceanic transform faults initiated after the onset of seafloor spreading

Extension and stress during continental breakup: seismic anisotropy of the crust in Northern Afar

Studies that attempt to simulate continental rifting and subsequent breakup require detailed knowledge of crustal stresses, however observational constraints from continental rifts are lacking. In addition, a knowledge of the stress field around active volcanoes can be used to detect sub-surface changes to the volcanic system. Here we use shear wave splitting to measure the seismic anisotropy of the crust in Northern Afar, a region of active, magma-rich continental breakup. We combine shear wave splitting tomography with modelling of gravitational and magmatic induced stresses to propose a model for crustal stress and strain across the rift. Results show that at the Ethiopian Plateau, seismic anisotropy is consistently oriented N–S. Seismic anisotropy within the rift is generally oriented NNW–SSE, with the exception of regions north and south of the Danakil Depression where seismic anisotropy is rift-perpendicular. These results suggest that the crust at the rift axis is characterized by rift-aligned structures and melt inclusions, consistent with a focusing of tectonic extension at the rift axis. In contrast, we show that at regions within the rift where extension rate is minimal the seismic anisotropy is best explained by the gravitationally induced stress field originating from variations in crustal thickness. Seismic anisotropy away from the rift is controlled by a combination of inherited crustal structures and gravitationally induced extension whereas at the Dabbahu region we show that the stress field changes orientation in response to magmatic intrusions. Our proposed model provides a benchmark of crustal stress in Northern Afar which will aid the monitoring of volcanic hazard. In addition we show that gravitational forces play a key role in measurements of seismic anisotropy, and must be considered in future studies. We demonstrate that during the final stages of continental rifting the stress field at the rift axis is primarily controlled by tectonic extension, but that gravitational forces and magmatic intrusions can play a key role in the orientation of the stress field

Synthesis And Spectroscopic Studies Of Tetrakis(Acetato)Copper(Ii) Dihydrate Complex.

Copper(II) tetrakis(acetato) dihydrate complex has been synthesized using standard laboratory methods involving precipitation, filtration, evaporation and  recrystallization. The synthesis was carried out in order to re-establish the chemical nature of metal complexes in their dimeric state.  Infrared spectra of ligand and complex were recorded. Atomic Absorption, Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopic Studies and melting points of the complex were also recorded. The colour change in the complexation of metal to the ligand was also recorded. Infrared spectral peak for the oxygen-metal (M-O) was 490 cm-1 for copper acetate. The Infrared Spectroscopic Studies showed that copper complexed with acetate ligand by the replacement of hydrogen in the OH bond of the acetate in one hand and another via a dative bond brought about by the oxygen atom in the C=O lone pair of electrons. Key words:  Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Tetrakis(Acetato)Copper(II), Complex

Seismicity during continental breakup in the Red Sea rift of Northern Afar

Continental rifting is a fundamental component of plate tectonics. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of magmatic activity in accommodating extension during late-stage rifting, yet the mechanisms by which crustal thinning occurs are less clear. The Red Sea rift in Northern Afar presents an opportunity to study the final stages of continental rifting as these active processes are exposed sub-aerially. Between February 2011 and February 2013 two seismic networks were installed in Ethiopia and Eritrea. We locate 4951 earthquakes, classify them by frequency content and calculate 31 focal mechanisms. Results show that seismicity is focused at the rift axis and the western marginal graben. Rift axis seismicity accounts for ∼64% of the seismic moment release and exhibits a swarm-like behavior. In contrast, seismicity at the marginal graben is characterized by high-frequency earthquakes that occur at a constant rate. Results suggest that the rift axis remains the primary locus of seismicity. Low frequency earthquakes, indicative of magmatic activity, highlight the presence of a magma complex ∼12 km beneath Alu-Dalafilla at the rift axis. Seismicity at the marginal graben predominantly occurs on westward dipping, antithetic faults. Focal mechanisms show that this seismicity is accommodating E-W extension. We suggest that the seismic activity at the marginal graben is either caused by upper crustal faulting accommodating enhanced crustal thinning beneath Northern Afar, or as a result of flexural faulting between the rift and plateau. This seismicity is occurring in conjunction with magmatic extension at the rift axis, which accommodates the majority of long-term extension