Changes in Selected Organic and Inorganic Compounds in the Hydrothermal Carbonization Process Liquid While in Storage

Although many studies have investigated the hydrothermal transformation of feedstock biomass, little is known about the stability of the compounds present in the process liquid after the carbonization process is completed. The physicochemical characteristics of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) liquid products may change over storage time, diminishing the amount of desired products or producing unwanted contaminants. These changes may restrict the use of HTC liquid products. Here, we investigate the effect of storage temperature (20, 4, and −18 °C) and time (weeks 1-12) on structural and compositional changes of selected organic compounds and physicochemical characteristics of the process liquid from the HTC of digested cow manure. ANOVA showed that the storage time has a significant effect on the concentrations of almost all of the selected organic compounds, except acetic acid. Considerable changes in the composition of the process liquid took place at all studied temperatures, including deep freezing at −18 °C. Prominent is the polymerization of aromatic compounds with the formation of precipitates, which settle over time. This, in turn, influences the inorganic compounds present in the liquid phase by chelating or selectively adsorbing them. The implications of these results on the further processing of the process liquid for various applications are discussed

Green extraction of chitin from hard spider crab shells

A green protocol to extract chitin from crab shells using water soluble ionic liquids (ILs) is here reported. Compared to conventional multistep acid-base extraction methods, this one-pot procedure achieves pulping of recalcitrant crustacean waste shells by employing ammonium acetate, ammonium formate and hydroxylammonium acetate as water-soluble, low-cost and easy to prepare ILs. An extensive parametric analysis of the pulping process has been carried out with different ILs, different ratios, temperature and time. The optimized protocol provides a high-quality chitin comparable, if not better, to commercial chitin. The best results were obtained at 150 C-degrees with ammonium formate prepared in-situ from aqueous ammonia and formic acid: chitin was isolated in a 17 wt% yield (based on dried crab shells as starting biowaste), a degree of acetylation (DA) > 94 %, a crystallinity index of 39-46 %, a molecular weight up to 6.6 x 10(5) g/mol and a polydispersity of ca 2.0

Monomethine cyanine probes for visualization of cellular RNA by fluorescence microscopy

AbstractWe have studied spectral-luminescent properties of the monomethine cyanine dyes both in their free states and in the presence of either double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acids (dsDNAs) or single-stranded ribonucleic acids (RNAs). The dyes possess low fluorescence intensity in an unbound state, which is increased up to 479 times in the presence of the nucleic acids. In the presence of RNAs, the fluorescence intensity increase was stronger than that observed in the presence of dsDNA. Next, we have performed staining of live and fixed cells by all prepared dyes. The dyes proved to be cell and nuclear membrane permeant. They are photostable and brightly stain RNA-containing organelles in both live and fixed cells. The colocalization confirmed the specific nucleoli staining with anti-Ki-67 antibodies. The RNA digestion experiment has confirmed the selectivity of the dyes toward intracellular RNA. Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that the investigated monomethine cyanine dyes are useful fluorescent probes for the visualization of intracellular RNA and RNA-containing organelles such as nucleoli by using fluorescence microscopy

Directed self-organisation of nanostructures

Розглянуто фізико-хімічні основи та техніки впливу на процеси самоорганізації наноструктур та наноматеріалів за допомогою темплатів. Книга присвячена технології електростатичних темплат, що організують речовину на поверхні за рахунок взаємодії осаджуваних молекул або нанокластерів з неоднорідним електричним полем поблизу поверхні темплат. Увага приділена також розгляду процесів формування неоднорідного електричного поля поблизу поверхні, процесів фотопровідності у сильних електричних полях, методів виготовлення фотопровідних матеріалів для електростатичних темплат спільною конденсацією у вакуумі. Досліджено склад, структуру та морфологію тонких вуглецевих плівок на скляній підкладці та на мідному підшарі, з використанням методів рамановської та адсорбційної спектроскопії. Для фахівців у галузі прикладної фізики, фізичного матеріалознавства, студентів та аспірантів професій у галузі нанотехнологій.The physicochemical fundamentals and techniques for affecting the processes of self-organization of nanostructures, as well as the synthesis of carbon nanomaterials are considered. The monograph is devoted to the technology of electrostatic templates which organize matter on the surface due to the interaction of deposited molecules or nanoclusters with an inhomogeneous electric field near the template surface. The processes of formation of inhomogeneous electric fields near the surface, processes of photoconductivity in strong electric fields, and methods of producing photoconductive materials for electrostatic templates by co-condensation in vacuum are also considered. The composition, structure, and morphology of thin carbon films on glass substrates and on copper sublayers are investigated by means of Raman and adsorption spectroscopy. Some aspects of technologies for the production of carbon nanotubes, thermally expanded graphite, and carbonpyrocapsulated quartz are discussed. For specialists in the field of applied physics, materials physics, undergraduate and graduate students in the field of nanotechnologie

Chemical insights into the base-tuned hydrothermal treatment of side stream biomasses

Herein, we analyzed the hydrothermal processes applied to four very different side stream biomasses (chestnut foliage, sugar beet pressing chips, pine bark and branches from park cleaning, bamboo cuts) and identified diverse soluble products depending on the starting pH of the reaction, covering mild to strong basic pH conditions. Despite the biological diversity of the starting products, hydrothermal disintegration of biomass results in a remarkable reduction of chemical diversity towards a controllable number of molecular products, and the well-resolved and rather simple NMR-spectra allow the assignment of the products to only a few families of compounds. It has been revealed that in comparison with the classical hydrothermal treatment, where mostly hydrochar is produced, molar excess of base shifts the hydrothermal treatment towards a humification process. A further increase of the base content causes destruction of the biomass into the more oxygenated homogeneous colloid and thus, for the first time, it can be assigned to the hydrothermal fulvication process. We discuss diverse valorization schemes depending on the biomass and conditions applied

Synthesis and Properties of Water-Soluble Blue-Emitting Mn-Alloyed CdTe Quantum Dots

In this work, we prepared CdTe quantum dots, and series of Cd1-xMnxTe-alloyed quantum dots with narrow size distribution by an ion-exchange reaction in water solution. We found that the photoluminescence peaks are shifted to higher energies with the increasing Mn2+ content. So far, this is the first report of blue-emitting CdTe-based quantum dots. By means of cyclic voltammetry, we detected features of electrochemical activity of manganese energy levels formed inside the Cd1-xMnxTe-alloyed quantum dot band gap. This allowed us to estimate their energy position. We also demonstrate paramagnetic behavior for Cd1-xMnxTe-alloyed quantum dots which confirmed the successful ion-exchange reaction.Peer reviewe

Pickering emulgels reinforced with host-guest supramolecular inclusion complexes for high fidelity direct ink writing

| openaire: EC/H2020/788489/EU//BioELCell Lisään tiedoston kun VoR julkaistaan B. P., S. F. and M. A. gratefully acknowledge the Max Planck Society for financial support. B. P. would like to thank Branislav Jeriga for preparing some of the CNC samples. A. R. and O. R. acknowledge funding support by the Academy of Finland’s Biofuture 2025 program under project 2228357-4 (3D Manufacturing of Novel Biomaterials). O. J. R. is grateful for the support received from the ERC Advanced Grant Agreement No. 788489 (‘‘BioElCell’’), the Canada Excellence Research Chair initiative (CERC-2018-00006), and Canada Foundation for Innovation (Project number 38623). R. A. acknowledges funding from the FinnCERES GoGlobal mobility fund. This work made use of the facilities of Aalto University’s Nanomicroscopy Center. Open Access funding provided by the Max Planck SocietyDirect ink writing (DIW) of Pickering emulsions offers great potential for constructing on-demand objects. However, the rheological properties of fluid emulsions greatly undermines the shape fidelity and structural integrity of 3D-printed structures. We solve here these challenges and realize a new route towards complex constructs for actual deployment. A dynamic, supramolecular host-guest hydrogel based on poly(ethylene glycol) and α-cyclodextrin was synthesized in the continuous phase of cellulose nanocrystal-stabilized Pickering emulsions. The storage modulus of the obtained emulgels could reach up to ∼113 kPa, while being shear thinning and yielding precise printability. Diverse complex architectures were possible with high shape fidelity and structural integrity. The printed objects, for example a double-wall cylinder with 75 layers, demonstrated excellent dimensional stability (shrinkage of 7 ± 2% after freeze-drying). With the merits of a simple fabrication process and the high biocompatibility of all the components, the concept of dynamic supramolecular hydrogel-reinforced emulgels represent a potentially versatile route to construct new materials and structures VIA DIW for use in bioproducts and biomedical devices.Peer reviewe

Artificial humic substances as sustainable carriers for manganese: Development of a novel bio-based microfertilizer

This study presents a new strategy for the production of sustainable manganese fertilizer based on artificial humic substances (AHS). AHS with different manganese concentrations (0‒20%) were synthesized from poplar bark under alkaline conditions via hydrothermal treatment. For the 20% manganese formulation, the interaction of manganese with AHS resulted in reduced solubility (from 25.2% to 12.3% organic carbon) and average molecular weight of humic acids (from 11.6 to 3.9 KDa), indicating preferential binding of the high-molecular-weight fraction. The formulation with 5% of manganese achieved optimal manganese loading without compromising the AHS solubility (19.4%). Structural analyses showed only minor changes in AHS in the presence of manganese, indicating that the main structural fragments of the AHS were preserved. Structural, morphological, and spectroscopic characterizations confirmed the formation of amorphous manganese complexes within the AHS matrix, primarily in the plant-available Mn(II) oxidation state. Plant bioassays showed increased manganese uptake with the application of AHS containing 5% Mn compared to MnCl2 alone (64 mg/kg vs. 40 mg/kg in dry cucumber biomass). Interestingly, unmodified AHS at higher concentrations (50 mg/L) further enhanced manganese (67 mg/kg) and iron (up to 209 mg/kg) uptake, highlighting the potential role of AHS in facilitating metal transport

The Hygienic Study of «School Maturity» of Senior Pre-School age Children

За методиками Керна-Ірасека, Венгера, Озерецького в дітей старшого дошкільного віку 3-х ДНЗ м. Києва вивчено «шкільну зрілість» до систематичного навчання в школі. У результаті досліджень виявлена значна частка дітей, які функціонально не готові до навчання в школі. Достатній рівень мотиваційної готовності за три місяці до навчання в школі мають лише 62,5% дітей (56,8% хлопчиків та 68,1% дівчаток); достатній розвиток дрібної моторики за показником динамічного тремору – 47,0% дошкільнят (25,6% хлопчиків та 68,3% дівчаток), за показником мотометричного тесту Озерецького – лише 22,5% дітей.We studied «school maturity» in the systematic education at school by Kern-Ipasek, Wenger, Ozeretskii methods among senior pre-school age children in 3 children’s educational institutions. As a result of investigations we revealed that a significant part of the children functionally were not ready for education at school. Only 62.5 % of the children (56.8 % of the boys and 68.1 % of the girls) had a sufficient level of motivation preparedness within three months before beginning of education at school; 47.0 % of pre-school age children (25.6 % of the boys and 68.3 % of the girls) had a sufficient development of small motility by the indices of kinetic tremor; only 22.5 % of the children – by the indices of motormetric test. Among the girls the part of them with high motivational readiness higher both at the beginning and at the end of the year. Especially it touches the beginning of the year, when this difference presents 20%. Additionally there were undertaken studies of dynamics that definitely characterizes functional readiness of hand of children to the letter that testifies to the degree of the development of the psychomotor sphere of a child. The analysis of the results on determination of school maturity of children taking into account three indexes showed that a percent of children functionally unready to school at the beginning of the school year was high enough in all three gardens. The problem of «school maturity», as readiness of organism of six-year-old child to the systematic studies, extraordinarily grew in the period of reformation of the system of education in Ukraine, and presently outgrew in a medical and pedagogical problem. The protracted educational loading, decline of motive activity, considerable static loading, new duties is all considerable difficulties for a 6-year-old child, that for many children result in «school stress». For children that is not ready to the systematic studies, the period of adaptation is heavier and longer, adaptation passes to school, various difficulties of studies (and not only in A-one but also in further studies) show up more often, and exactly there are violations of health