PhytoGerm: extraction of germanium from biomass:an economic pre-feasibility study

Germanium is a metalloid with great potential for industrial use. Currently, the semiconductor is primarily recovered as a by-product during the exploitation of zinc. The global zinc mine and metal production, however, has been decreasing over the last years, which may result in a production to consumption deficit for germanium. “PhytoGerm” is part of the r³-initiative for tech metals and resource efficiency, a subsidy program of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Within this context, the PhytoGerm project focuses on alternative methods to extract germanium. The suggested mining process operates with ribbon grass which is capable of accumulating germanium from soils, e.g. from mine tailings. After harvesting germanium-enriched plants, the biomass is ensiled and biogas is produced by fermentation. This study analyzes the economic pre-feasibility of this process, whereby the results reveal that germanium can be obtained economically by means of phytomining under certain preconditions (i.e. absorption of 10 ppm germanium in dry biomass, twice the current price of germanium(IV)-oxide)

uncertainty and complexity in the context of COVID-19

Although the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wave has peaked with the second wave underway, the world is still struggling to manage potential systemic risks and unpredictability of the pandemic. A particular challenge is the “superspreading” of the virus, which starts abruptly, is difficult to predict, and can quickly escalate into medical and socio-economic emergencies that contribute to long-lasting crises challenging our current ways of life. In these uncertain times, organizations and societies worldwide are faced with the need to develop appropriate strategies and intervention portfolios that require fast understanding of the complex interdependencies in our world and rapid, flexible action to contain the spread of the virus as quickly as possible, thus preventing further disastrous consequences of the pandemic. We integrate perspectives from systems sciences, epidemiology, biology, social networks, and organizational research in the context of the superspreading phenomenon to understand the complex system of COVID-19 pandemic and develop suggestions for interventions aimed at rapid responses.publishersversionpublishe

Valorization of cocoa's mucilage waste to ethanol and subsequent direct catalytic conversion into ethylene

BACKGROUND: The identification of new resources for producing biofuels and chemical-based products is crucial for processes sustainability. This study presents a valorization route to produce ethanol and ethylene using cocoa’s mucilage juice (MJ) residue from cocoa’s farms of variety “Arriba” (AC). The processing parameters to maximize the ethanol production and subsequent selectively conversion into ethylene were determined. The ethanol production has been carried out by investigating the effect of three parameters such as the temperature of fermentation, the initial fermentation pH, and the addition of (NH4)2SO4 as an N source in presence of free Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC 366. Consecutively, the selectivity of ethanol-ethylene conversion using a zeolite-based ZSM-5 catalyst was evaluated at different temperatures and ethanol concentrations. RESULTS: During the ethanol production, the best sugar conversion was reached at 30 ºC, adjusting the initial pH to 5 and without nitrogen source, resulting in 86.83% of sugars conversion, the maximum ethanol concentration of 68.65 g·L-1, and maximum ethanol production rate of 2.03 g·L-1 ·h-1 after 168 hours of fermentation. On the other hand, ethylene was produced using ZSM-5 based zeolite catalyst with > 99.9 % of efficiency in the temperature range between 240 ºC to 300 ºC. In addition, selectively ethylene formation was found at 240 ºC and 30 g·L-1 of ethanol. CONCLUSIONS: The approach hereby presented shows the valorization of MJ waste of AC variety to produce ethanol and ethylene with minimum processing inputs costs, demonstrating a successful route to convert a farm residue into a bio-based product with enhanced marketability.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Bioderived pickering emulsion based on chitosan/trialkyl phosphine oxides applied to selective recovery of rare Earth elements

A novel biobased pickering emulsion (PE) material was prepared by the encapsulation of Cyanex 923 (Cy923) into chitosan (CS) to selectively recover rare earth elements (REEs) from the aqueous phase. The preparation of PE was optimized through sequentially applying a 23 full factorial design, followed by a 33 Box–Behnken design varying the Cy923 content, CS concentration, and pH of CS. The material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, rheological, compositional, and stability measurements. The resultant material was evaluated in the removal of yttrium by pH influence, nitrate concentration, kinetics, equilibrium isotherms, reusability, and a comparison with liquid–liquid (L–L) extraction and tested in a real scenario to extract Y from a fluorescent lamp powder waste. In addition, the selectivity of PE for REE was investigated with Y/Ca, Gd/Ca, and La/Ni systems. PE extracts REE at 1 = pH = 5 at nitrate concentrations up to 2 mol/L. The kinetics and equilibrium studies showed reaction times <5 min and a maximum sorption capacity of 89.98 mg/g. Compared with L–L extraction, PE consumed 48% less Cy923 without using organic diluents. PE showed a remarkable selectivity for REE in the systems evaluated, showing separation factors of 22.62, 9.35, and 504.64 for the blends Y/Ca, Gd/Ca/Mg, and La/Ni, respectively. PE showed excellent selectivity extracting Y from a real aqueous liquor from the fluorescent lamp powder. PE demonstrates to be an effective and sustainable alternative for REE recovering due to its excellent efficiency in harsh conditions, favorable green chemistry metrics, and use of a biopolymer material in its composition avoiding the use of organic solvents used in L–L extraction.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, MINECO (Project CTM2017-83581-R, PID2021-127028OB-100).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Pulp properties resulting from different pretreatments of wheat straw and their influence on enzymatic hydrolysis rate

Wheat straw was subjected to three different processes prior to saccharification, namely alkaline pulping, natural pulping and autohydrolysis, in order to study their effect on the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis. Parameters like medium concentration, temperature and time have been varied in order to optimize each method. Milling the raw material to a length of 4 mm beforehand showed the best cost–value-ratio compared to other grinding methods studied. Before saccharification the pulp can be stored in dried form, leading to a high yield of glucose. Furthermore the relation of pulp properties (i.e. intrinsic viscosity, KLASON-lignin and hemicelluloses content, crystallinity, morphology) to cellulose hydrolysis is discussed

Spider chitin: An Ultrafast Microwave-Assisted Method for Chitin Isolation from Caribena versicolor Spider Molt Cuticle

Chitin, as a fundamental polysaccharide in invertebrate skeletons, continues to be actively investigated, especially with respect to new sources and the development of effective methods for its extraction. Recent attention has been focused on marine crustaceans and sponges; however, the potential of spiders (order Araneae) as an alternative source of tubular chitin has been overlooked. In this work, we focused our attention on chitin from up to 12 cm-large Theraphosidae spiders, popularly known as tarantulas or bird-eating spiders. These organisms “lose” large quantities of cuticles during their molting cycle. Here, we present for the first time a highly effective method for the isolation of chitin from Caribena versicolor spider molt cuticle, as well as its identification and characterization using modern analytical methods. We suggest that the tube-like molt cuticle of this spider can serve as a naturally prefabricated and renewable source of tubular chitin with high potential for application in technology and biomedicine. © 2019 by the authors

Energy Storage as Part of a Secure Energy Supply

The current energy system is subject to a fundamental transformation: A system that is oriented towards a constant energy supply by means of fossil fuels is now expected to integrate increasing amounts of renewable energy to achieve overall a more sustainable energy supply. The challenges arising from this paradigm shift are currently most obvious in the area of electric power supply. However, it affects all areas of the energy system, albeit with different results. Within the energy system, various independent grids fulfill the function of transporting and spatially distributing energy or energy carriers, and the demand-oriented supply ensures that energy demands are met at all times. However, renewable energy sources generally supply their energy independently from any specific energy demand. Their contribution to the overall energy system is expected to increase significantly. Energy storage technologies are one option for temporal matching of energy supply and demand. Energy storage systems have the ability to take up a certain amount of energy, store it in a storage medium for a suitable period of time, and release it in a controlled manner after a certain time delay. Energy storage systems can also be constructed as process chains by combining unit operations, each of which cover different aspects of these functions. Large-scale mechanical storage of electric power is currently almost exclusively achieved by pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations. These systems may be supplemented in the future by compressed-air energy storage and possibly air separation plants. In the area of electrochemical storage, various technologies are currently in various stages of research, development, and demonstration of their suitability for large-scale electrical energy storage. Thermal energy storage technologies are based on the storage of sensible heat, exploitation of phase transitions, adsorption/desorption processes, and chemical reactions. The latter offer the possibility of permanent and loss-free storage of heat. The storage of energy in chemical bonds involves compounds that can act as energy carriers or as chemical feedstocks. Thus, they are in direct economic competition with established (fossil fuel) supply routes. The key technology here – now and for the foreseeable future – is the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen can be transformed by various processes into other energy carriers, which can be exploited in different sectors of the energy system and/or as raw materials for energy-intensive industrial processes. Some functions of energy storage systems can be taken over by industrial processes. Within the overall energy system, chemical energy storage technologies open up opportunities to link and interweave the various energy streams and sectors. Chemical energy storage not only offers means for greater integration of renewable energy outside the electric power sector, it also creates new opportunities for increased flexibility, novel synergies, and additional optimization. Several examples of specific energy utilization are discussed and evaluated with respect to energy storage applications. The article describes various technologies for energy storage and their potential applications in the context of Germany’s Energiewende, i.e. the transition towards a more sustainable energy system. Therefore, the existing legal framework defines some of the discussions and findings within the article, specifically the compensation for renewable electricity providers defined by the German Renewable Energy Sources Act, which is under constant reformation. While the article is written from a German perspective, the authors hope this article will be of general interest for anyone working in the areas of energy systems or energy technology

Rare earth elements and uranium in Minjingu phosphate fertilizer products : plant food for thought

DATA AVAILABILITY : Data will be made available on request.Minjingu phosphate ore is Tanzania's sole domestic supply of phosphorus (P). The ore contains medium to high concentrations of naturally occurring P2O5 (20–35 %) and relevant concentrations of uranium and rare earth elements (REEs) are also suspected to be present. Currently, neither uranium nor REEs are recovered. They either end up in mine tailings or are spread across agricultural soils with fertilizer products. This work provides a first systematic review of the uranium and REE concentrations that can be expected in the different layers of Minjingu phosphate ore, the way the ore is presently processed, as well as a discussion on alternative processing pathways with uranium/REE recovery. The study analyzed ten distinct Minjingu phosphate ore layers, four mine tailings, and five intermediate and final mineral fertilizer products from the Minjingu mine and processing plant located in northern Tanzania. The results confirm that the uranium concentrations and to a lesser degree, the REE concentrations are indeed elevated if compared to concentrations in other phosphate ores. The study does not identify a significant risk resulting from this. The development of techno-economic solutions for more comprehensive utilization of Minjingu ore is, however, strongly encouraged and suggestions on such processes are provided.The Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC), Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) through Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalization (OeAD) and BMBWF/OeAD support through a Ernst Mach Grant.https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/resources-conservation-and-recyclinghj2024Chemical EngineeringChemistrySDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructur