Electrocatalytic properties of Pd-based nano-structured material for application in fuel cells

Fuel cells, especially low temperature fuel cells, are clean-energy devices that have high potentiality for use in electric power production and non-polluting vehicles. Platinum is commonly used as electrocatalysts in fuel cell electrodes, because of its excellent electrocatalytic activity and chemical stability. But, because of its high cost and limited resources, its use represents a bottleneck for large-scale application and commercialization of fuel cells. Palladium could be a good substitute for Pt, because of its similar chemical and physical properties, lower cost and higher abundance. Main challenges concern the development of Pd-based materials with high catalytic activity and durability at a reduced cost (i.e. metal content). Crucial technological issue is the optimization of the active surface of the catalysts, by the control of the morphology, shape and dispersion of the metal particles. The talk will describe the main results of the research activity carried out during the second year of the Italia-USA Bilateral Project in ENEA, concerning the fabrication and characterization of different kinds of nanostructured Pd-based electrocatalysts, by using both electrochemical and vacuum thin film deposition techniques

Search for Neutron Flux Generation in a Plasma Discharge Electrolytic Cell

Following some recent unexpected hints of neutron production in setups like high-voltage atmospheric discharges and plasma discharges in electrolytic cells, we present a measurement of the neutron flux in a configuration similar to the latter. We use two different types of neutron detectors, poly-allyl-diglicol-carbonate (PADC, aka CR-39) tracers and Indium disks. At 95% C.L. we provide an upper limit of 1.5 neutrons cm^-2 s^-1 for the thermal neutron flux at ~5 cm from the center of the cell. Allowing for a higher energy neutron component the largest allowed flux is 64 neutrons cm^-2 s^-1. This upper limit is two orders of magnitude smaller than what previously claimed in an electrolytic cell plasma discharge experiment. Furthermore the behavior of the CR-39 is discussed to point our possible sources of spurious signals.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Excess of power during electrochemical loading : materials, electrochemical conditions and techniques

"Notes on The ENEA-University of Missouri NRL-SRI International Research Activities." ENEA, University of Missouri, NRL and SRI are cooperating within the frame of an International Program. The research field is on Metal Hydrogen Systems for Energy Applications and is oriented to develop nanostructured materials to be used into electrochemical devices and to study the Fleischmann and Pons Effect. Progress in material science and improvement in controlling the effect is presented

INFLUENCE OF TRADITIONAL AND MICROWAVE TECHNOLOGY ON GARLIC SULFUR-COMPOUNDS IN GARLIC AROMATIZED OILS AND ON THE STABILITY OF OLIVE OIL TO OXIDATION

In this paper the influence of the different techniques of extraction on garlic volatile compounds, during the preparation of garlic aromatized olive oils, was studied. The aroma compounds were extracted from whole peeled garlic or chopped cloves in olive oil for 16-18 h (infusion) at room temperature and for 0-20 min. at 50-degrees divided-by 100-degrees-C (conventional heating, microwave). For the analyses, the garlic aroma compounds were stripped from the oil by the head-space technique and then analysed by GC/MS. The qualitative analysis showed that the aromatized oil prepared by microwave at 90-degrees-C for 5 min, contained the most sulphuric compounds. Prolonging heat treatments, a decrease of diallyl disulphide was noted, which was probably caused by unknown substances in the oil and not by heat treatments. During heat treatments no off-aroma phenomenon was observed. The quantitative analysis was carried out by S.I.M. technique, determining diallyl disulphide which is the most abundant and characteristic component of garlic aroma. The results pointed out that with microwave technique the extraction of diallyl disulphide was 5 times quicker than traditional methods in the first 5 min. of treatment. Using U.V. technique, the influence of heat treatments on the stability to oxidation Of the aromatized oils was also estimated. Using the microwave, the aromatized oils had induction times of oxidation longer than conventionally heating and untreated oils

Reforming of olive mill wastewater through a Pd-membrane reactor

This work investigates the exploitation of olive mill wastewater (OMW) for producing hydrogen in a membrane reformer. Olive mill wastewater was filtered and then concentrated via distillation. The intermediate distillate (about 49 wt%) with 10,600 mg L-1 total organic carbon (TOC) was used to feed a membrane reactor consisting of a dense Pd-Ag permeator tube filled with Pt-based catalyst. The reforming tests were conducted at 450 °C in the pressure range 100-500 kPa by varying the space velocity from 2.78 × 10-3 to 8.33 × 10-3 mol h-1 g cat -1. The Pd-Ag tube selectively separated the produced hydrogen, while the retentate streamdmainly containing non-permeated hydrogen, CO2 and methanedwas collected from the shell side. Gas chromatographic analysis verified the presence of side reactions (hydrogenolysis, cracking, etc.) and the deactivation of the catalyst due to the carbon formation. The hydrogen recovery was positively affected by the pressure; its highest values (over 90%) were attained at 500 kPa, while the maximum hydrogen yield was measured at 300 kPa with a space velocity of 5.56 × 10-3 mol h-1 gcat -1. Up to 2 kg of permeated hydrogen was produced per ton of olive mill wastewate

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in the management of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors: efficacy profile, safety, and quality of life

Stefano Severi,1 Ilaria Grassi,1 Silvia Nicolini,1 Maddalena Sansovini,1 Alberto Bongiovanni,2 Giovanni Paganelli1 1Nuclear Medicine Unit, 2Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy Abstract: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), developed over the last two decades, is carried out using radiopharmaceuticals such as 90Y-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotide and 177Lu-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotate (177Lu-Dotatate). These radiocompounds are obtained by labeling a synthetic somatostatin analog with a β-emitting radioisotope. The compounds differ from each other in terms of their energetic features (due to the radionuclide) and peptide receptor affinity (due to the analog) but share the common characteristic of binding specific membrane somatostatin receptors that are (generally) overexpressed in neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) and their metastases. NENs are tumors arising from diffuse neuroendocrine system cells that are classified according to grading based on Ki67 percentage values (Grades 1 and 2 are classed as neuroendocrine tumors [NETs]) and to the anatomical site of occurrence (in this paper, we only deal with gastroenteropancreatic [GEP]-NETs, which account for 60%–70% of all NENs). They are also characterized by specific symptoms such as diarrhea and flushing (30% of cases). Despite substantial experience gained in the area of PRRT and its demonstrable effects in terms of efficacy, safety, and improvement in quality of life, these compounds are still not registered (registration of 177Lu-Dotatate for the treatment of midgut NETs is expected soon). Thus, PRRT can only be used in experimental protocols. We provide an overview of the work of leading groups with wide-ranging experience and continuity in data publication in the area of GEP-NET PRRT and report our own personal experience of using different dosage schedules based on the presence of kidney and bone marrow risk factors. Our results on the retreatment of patients previously administered 90Y-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotide with a low dosage of 177Lu-Dotatate are also included. A comment on potential future developments of PRRT in GEP-NETs is provided. Keywords: 90Y-Dotatoc, 177Lu-Dotatate, radiopharmaceutical, radiolabelled receptors, neuroendocrine malignancies, delivered activit