Effect of Torrefaction on Water Vapor Adsorption Properties and Resistance to Microbial Degradation of Corn Stover

The equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of biomass affects transportation, storage, downstream feedstock processing, and the overall economy of biorenewables production. Torrefaction is a thermochemical process conducted in the temperature regime between 200 and 300 °C under an inert atmosphere that, among other benefits, aims to reduce the innate hydrophilicity and susceptibility to microbial degradation of biomass. The objective of this study was to examine water sorption properties of torrefied corn stover. The EMC of raw corn stover, along with corn stover thermally pretreated at three temperatures, was measured using the static gravimetric method at equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) and temperatures ranging from 10 to 98% and from 10 to 40 °C, respectively. Five isotherms were fitted to the experimental data to obtain the prediction equation that best describes the relationship between the ERH and the EMC of lignocellulosic biomass. Microbial degradation of the samples was tested at 97% ERH and 30 °C. Fiber analyses were conducted on all samples. In general, torrefied biomass showed an EMC lower than that of raw biomass, which implied an increase in hydrophobicity. The modified Oswin model performed best in describing the correlation between ERH and EMC. Corn stover torrefied at 250 and 300 °C had negligible dry matter mass loss due to microbial degradation. Fiber analysis showed a significant decrease in hemicellulose content with the increase in pretreatment temperature, which might be the reason for the hydrophobic nature of the torrefied biomass. The outcomes of this work can be used for torrefaction process optimization, and decision-making regarding raw and torrefied biomass storage and downstream processing

Comparative efficacy of two microdoses of a potentized homoeopathic drug, Cadmium Sulphoricum, in reducing genotoxic effects produced by cadmium chloride in mice: a time course study

BACKGROUND: Cadmium poisoning in the environment has assumed an alarming problem in recent years. Effective antimutagenic agents which can reverse or combat cadmium induced genotoxicity in mice have not yet been reported. Therefore, in the present study, following the homeopathic principle of "like cures like", we tested the efficacy of two potencies of a homeopathic drug, Cadmium Sulphoricum (Cad Sulph), in reducing the genotoxic effects of Cadmium chloride in mice. Another objective was to determine the relative efficacy of three administrative modes, i.e. pre-, post- and combined pre and post-feeding of the homeopathic drugs. For this, healthy mice, Mus musculus, were intraperitoneally injected with 0.008% solution of CdCl(2) @ 1 ml/100 gm of body wt (i.e. 0.8 mcg/gm of bw), and assessed for the genotoxic effects through such studies as chromosome aberrations (CA), micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE), mitotic index (MI) and sperm head anomaly (SHA), keeping suitable succussed alcohol fed (positive) and CdCl(2) untreated normal (negative) controls. The CdCl(2) treated mice were divided into 3 subgroups, which were orally administered with the drug prior to, after and both prior to and after injection of CdCl(2) at specific fixation intervals and their genotoxic effects were analyzed. RESULTS: While the CA, MNE and SHA were reduced in the drug fed series as compared to their respective controls, the MI showed an apparent increase. The combined pre- and post-feeding of Cad Sulph showed maximum reduction of the genotoxic effects. CONCLUSIONS: Both Cad Sulph-30 and 200 were able to combat cadmium induced genotoxic effects in mice and that combined pre- and post-feeding mode of administration was found to be most effective in reducing the genotoxic effect of CdCl(2) followed by the post-feeding mode

Effect of Ash on Oxygen Carriers for the Application of Chemical Looping Combustion to a High Carbon Char Effet des cendres sur l’activité des porteurs d’oxygène dans la combustion du charbon en boucle chimique

The application of Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) to solid fuels is being investigated at the University of Kentucky, Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) with the aim of the development of a Pressurized Chemical Looping Combustion/Gasification (PCLC/G) process for the generation of electricity from coal. One important aspect of the CLC of solid fuel is the understanding of the effect of ash on the reactivity of Oxygen Carriers (OCs). The effect of ash on the redox capabilities of two different iron oxide OCs and on their ability to oxidize coal char was studied. To determine the effect of ash on the reactivity and recycle of the OCs through multiple redox cycles, fly ash from a coal-fired power plant was used. These experiments were performed in a TGMS system using 500 mg of ash/OC mixtures containing different ash concentrations up to 75%. The reducing gas was composed of 10% H2, 15% CO, 20% CO2, and a balance of Ar and the oxidizing gas was 20% O2 in Ar. Oxidation/reductions were carried to near completion. The ash was found to contain OC activity related to inherent iron present in the ash confirmed by XRD. This resulted in increased weight gain/loss on oxidation/reduction. The rate of oxidation/reduction increased with ash concentration due to increased porosity of the OC/ash mixture and better access of the reactive gases to the OC target sites. The two OCs were then used to combust a beneficiated coal char in the TGMS with the only oxygen supplied by an iron oxide OC. The starting mixture was 10% char and 90% of one of two OCs studied. The spent material containing reduced OC and ash was re-oxidized and 10% more char was added for a second reduction of the OC and oxidation of the added char. This procedure was repeated for 5 cycles increasing the ash concentrations from 5 to 25% in the char/ash/OC mixture. Carbon removal was 92 to 97.8 and 97.3 to 99.7% for the two different iron oxide OCs tested. Ash was not detrimental to the activity of the OCs and both OCs performed well. The results were promising for the application of CLC directly to solid fuels. <br> L’application de la combustion en boucle chimique (CLC) aux combustibles solides est actuellement étudiée à l’Université du Kentucky, au Centre de Recherche de l’Energie Appliquée (CAER) dans le but de développer un procédé de gazéification/combustion en boucle chimique pressurisé (PCLC/G) afin de générer de l’électricité à partir de charbon. Un des principaux aspects de la combustion en boucle chimique de combustibles solides est la compréhension de l’effet des cendres sur la réactivité des porteurs d’oxygène (OCs). L’effet des cendres sur la capacité de transfert d’oxygène et sur l’aptitude à oxyder le charbon est étudié avec deux porteurs d’oxygène à base d’oxydes de fer. Les cendres utilisées sont des cendres volantes provenant d’une centrale thermique au charbon. Les expériences sont réalisées dans un système composé d’une thermo-balance couplée à un spectrographe de masse (TGMS) dans lequel on utilise d’abord 500 mg d’un mélange de cendres/porteurs d’oxygène à différentes concentrations de cendres allant jusqu’à 75 %. Le gaz réducteur est composé de 10 % de H2, 15 % de CO, 20 % de CO2 et de 55 % de Ar; et le gaz oxydant est composé de 20 % de O2 dans Ar. Les réactions d’oxydation/réduction sont quasi totales. D’après ces expériences, les cendres ont une activité propre de porteur d’oxygène, liée à la présence de fer dans les cendres, confirmée par les analyses DRX. Cela génère une augmentation du gain ou de la perte de masse du mélange pendant l’oxydation/réduction. Les vitesses d’oxydation/réduction augmentent avec la concentration des cendres à cause de l’augmentation de la porosité du mélange de porteurs d’oxygène avec les cendres, ce qui permet un meilleur accès des gaz réactifs sur les sites actifs des porteurs d’oxygène. Dans un deuxième temps, les deux porteurs d’oxygène sont utilisés pour brûler le charbon dans le TGMS avec comme seul apport d’oxygène celui du porteur d’oxygène. Le mélange de départ est composé de 10 % de charbon et de 90 % d’un des deux porteurs d’oxygène étudiés. Le matériel restant contenant le porteur d’oxygène réduit et les cendres/fumées est ensuite ré-oxydé puis 10 % de charbon frais sont ajoutés au mélange résiduel avant une nouvelle réduction. Cette procédure est répétée durant 5 cycles en augmentant la concentration des cendres de 5 à 25 % dans le mélange char/cendres/porteur d’oxygène. La conversion du carbone observée pendant ces essais est de 92 à 97,8 % et de 97,3 à 99,7 % selon le porteur d’oxygène utilisé. Les cendres ne sont pas nuisibles à l’activité des porteurs d’oxygène, et les deux porteurs d’oxygène réagissent correctement. Les résultats sont donc prometteurs pour l’application de la combustion en boucle chimique aux combustibles solides

Cadmium toxicokinetics and bioaccumulation in turtles: trophic exposure of Trachemys scripta elegans

Ecotoxicological data in reptiles are mainly represented by field studies reporting tissues burden of wild-captured individuals but much less is known on processes of uptake, depuration, accumulation and effects of inorganic contaminants in these species. In this study, females’ Trachemys scripta elegans were exposed to cadmium (Cd) through a CdCl2 supplemented-diet with increased environmental relevant concentrations during 13 weeks and then went through a decontamination phase during 3 weeks being fed uncontaminated food. Blood and feces were collected during the three phases of the experiment and the turtles were sacrificed at the end of the experiment and organs samples collected. The Cd concentrations in blood remained stable over the course of the experiment while Cd concentrations in feces increased with time and with amount of Cd ingested. Assimilation efficiency in liver and kidney together was low (0.7 – 6.1 %) but did occur and Cd accumulated in a dose-dependent manner in organs in the following order of concentrations: kidney>liver>pancreas>muscle. In terms of organs burden, Cd-burden was the highest in liver followed by kidney and pancreas. The assimilation efficiency decreased as Cd ingested increased suggesting that at higher dose of Cd absorption decreased and/or depuration increased. Mineral content of the liver was modified according to Cd level with increased concentrations of zinc and iron with increasing Cd levels. Accumulation of Cd had no effects on survival, food consumption, growth or weight and length suggesting no effect of treatment on females’ body conditions