Chemical Looping Combustion Related Processes Using Solid Oxygen Carriers Oxidized in CO2 Atmosphere

Chemical-looping combustion (CLC) is an attractive process in CO2 capture, especially when solid oxygen carriers are used in it. The main requirements for oxygen-transporting materials include appropriate oxidation (in air) and reduction (in the presence of fuel) ability. In the paper a conceptual proposition for CLC-related processes with the application of solid oxygen carriers oxidized in both air and CO2 atmosphere has been presented. The possibility of the “looping” process on the same carriers using both CO2 and air atmosphere as an oxidizing agent allows us to enrich the concept of CLC and related processes by proposing a cyclic recirculation of the produced CO2 back to the installation. The oxidizing of solid oxygen carrier in a CO2 atmosphere is accompanied by CO emission from the plant. This toxic gas could be transformed into a useful product in any chemical process. It is possible to combine the looping processes with manufacturing of any appropriate morphological form of carbon in the cyclic CO disproportionation process. The combined process could lead to a lower CO2 emissions to the environment. SrTiO3 doped by Cr (STO:Cr) and a mixture of TiO2- and Ni-based compounds (TiO2-Ni) were investigated as oxygen transporting materials. The experiment methodology based on thermogravimetric, diffraction and spectroscopic studies was shown. Thermogravimetric (TGA) and Powder Diffraction (XRD) measurements were provided in-situ during a few cycles in a reducing (Ar+3 % H2) and oxidizing environment. Moreover, the STO:Cr powders were characterized ex-situ by the X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) method. It was found that in tested conditions the cyclic process of the investigated powders’ oxidation and reduction is possible. Satisfactory results considering the oxygen transport capacity was obtained for the TiO2-Ni sample

Super-hard films W-B and W-Ti-B deposited from targets sintered by SPS method

Z rosnącym zapotrzebowaniem na niezawodne, a jednocześnie zapewniające dużą wydajność, narzędzia do skrawania i obróbki plastycznej, coraz większego znaczenia nabiera rozszerzająca się grupa supertwardych ceramik przewodzących prąd. Mate-riały te dobrze rokują w związku z rozwiązaniem problemów tradycyjnych materiałów narzędziowych, których niedoskonałości obejmują wysoką cenę (azotek krzemu, azotek boru), niezdolność do cięcia stopów żelaza w wyniku reakcji chemicznych (diament), niestabilność w obecności wilgoci (azotek boru) i względnie małą twardość (węglik wolframu). Również rosnący popyt na powłoki ochronne o wysokiej twardości, o dob-rych właściwościach sprężystych i stabilności termicznej powoduje, że badania nad nowymi systemami materiałowymi prowadzone są coraz intensywniej. Pomimo że azotki metali przejściowych są już z powodzeniem stosowane do różnych zadań w prze-myśle samochodowym i lotniczym, poszukiwanie ulepszonych materiałów jest tematem wciąż aktualnym. W pracy przedstawiono badania nad osadzaniem cienkich powłok z nowych supertwardych materiałów (SHM), którymi są borki wolframu. Dodatkowo zbadano wpływ domieszkowania tych materiałów tytanem. Warstwy osadzane były metodą ablacji laserowej PLD. Tarcze do osadzania zsyntetyzowane zostały metodą spiekania plazmowego SPS proszków boru i wolframu o stosunku atomów 4,5 do 1. Osadzane z użyciem lasera warstwy mają skład stechiometryczny podobny do użytych tarcz. W warstwach tych dominuje faza WB3. Badania przeprowadzone z użyciem SEM, XRD i nanoindentacji wykazały, że skład fazowy tarcz jest odwzorowany w war-stwach osadzonych laserem. Wszystkie uzyskane warstwy są bardzo twarde i stabilne termicznie. Warstwy osadzane laserem odznaczają się dużą chropowatością. Domiesz-kowanie tytanem zwiększa ilość fazy WB3 w spiekanych tarczach i osadzanych war-stwach oraz zmniejsza ilość i wielkość naniesionych na powierzchnię cząstek.With increasing demand for high-performance and long-lasting cutting and forming tools, the members of this expanding class of superhard metals hold promise to address the shortcomings of traditional tool materials. Those shortcoming include their high cost (silicon nitride, cubic boron nitride, and diamond), their inability to cut ferrous metals due to chemical reactions (diamond), instability in the presence of humidity (cubic boron nitride) and relatively low hardness (tungsten carbide). Also the increasing industrial demand for protective coatings with high hardness, good elastic properties and thermal stability calls for the investigation of new material systems. Although transition metal (TM) nitrides are successfully applied for different tasks in automotive or aero-space industries, the search for improved materials is an ongoing topic, being far from its end. In this work the study on deposition of thin films made of new super-hard materials (SHM) such as tungsten boride are presented. Additionally, the influence of doping by titanium of those materials is investigated. Investigated films were deposited by the pul-sed laser deposition method. The used targets were synthetized by SPS method. The powders of boron and tungsten in 4.5 to 1 molar faction were used. The films deposited by PLD method have stoichiometric composition such as used targets. The WB2 and WB3 phase are dominant. Research carried out using SEM, XRD and nanoindentation test showed that the phase composition of the targets is more important in the case of laser deposition than magnetron. All obtained layers are very hard and thermally stable. In the case of magnetron sputtering, smooth layers were obtained while the layers depo-sited by the laser have a very high roughness. Titanium doping increases the amount of WB3 phase in the sintered discs, while it has no significant effect on the properties of the deposited layers

Relationship Between Anti-DFS70 Autoantibodies and Oxidative Stress

Background: The anti-DFS70 autoantibodies are one of the most commonly and widely described agent of unknown clinical significance, frequently detected in healthy individuals. It is not known whether the DFS70 autoantibodies are protective or pathogenic. One of the factors suspected of inducing the formation of anti-DFS70 antibodies is increased oxidative stress. We evaluated the coexistence of anti-DFS70 antibodies with selected markers of oxidative stress and investigated whether these antibodies could be considered as indirect markers of oxidative stress. Methods: The intensity of oxidative stress was measured in all samples via indices of free-radical damage to lipids and proteins such as total oxidant status (TOS), concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides (LPH), lipofuscin (LPS), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The parameters of the non-enzymatic antioxidant system, such as total antioxidant status (TAS) and uric acid concentration (UA), were also measured, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Based on TOS and TAS values, the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. All samples were also tested with indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and 357 samples were selected for direct monospecific anti DFS70 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing. Results:: The anti-DFS70 antibodies were confirmed by ELISA test in 21.29% of samples. Compared with anti-DFS70 negative samples we observed 23% lower concentration of LPH (P = .038) and 11% lower concentration of UA (P = .005). TOS was 20% lower (P = .014). The activity of SOD was up to 5% higher (P = .037). The Pearson correlation showed weak negative correlation for LPH, UA, and TOS and a weak positive correlation for SOD activity. Conclusion: In samples positive for the anti-DFS70 antibody a decreased level of oxidative stress was observed, especially in the case of samples with a high antibody titer. Anti-DFS70 antibodies can be considered as an indirect marker of reduced oxidative stress or a marker indicating the recent intensification of antioxidant processes

Metabolic syndrome is associated with similar long-term prognosis in non-obese and obese patients. An analysis of 45 615 patients from the nationwide LIPIDOGRAM 2004-2015 cohort studies

Aims We aimed to evaluate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and long-term all-cause mortality. Methods The LIPIDOGRAM studies were carried out in the primary care in Poland in 2004, 2006 and 2015. MetS was diagnosed based on the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) and Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. The cohort was divided into four groups: non-obese patients without MetS, obese patients without MetS, non-obese patients with MetS and obese patients with MetS. Differences in all-cause mortality was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Results 45,615 participants were enrolled (mean age 56.3, standard deviation: 11.8 years; 61.7% female). MetS was diagnosed in 14,202 (31%) by NCEP/ATP III criteria, and 17,216 (37.7%) by JIS criteria. Follow-up was available for 44,620 (97.8%, median duration 15.3 years) patients. MetS was associated with increased mortality risk among the obese (hazard ratio, HR: 1.88 [95% CI, 1.79-1.99] and HR: 1.93 [95% CI 1.82-2.04], according to NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria, respectively) and non-obese individuals (HR: 2.11 [95% CI 1.85-2.40] and 1.7 [95% CI, 1.56-1.85] according to NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria respectively). Obese patients without MetS had a higher mortality risk than non-obese patients without MetS (HR: 1.16 [95% CI 1.10-1.23] and HR: 1.22 [95%CI 1.15-1.30], respectively in subgroups with NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria applied). Conclusions MetS is associated with increased all-cause mortality risk in non-obese and obese patients. In patients without MetS obesity remains significantly associated with mortality. The concept of metabolically healthy obesity should be revised