Safe, Sustainable Discharge of Electric Vehicle Batteries as a Pre- treatment Step to Crushing in the Recycling Process

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an increase in global temperature to above 1.5°C can be halted but would require immediate intervention to reach net zero emissions in the next 15 years. This intervention would have to make use of sustainable energy technologies such as net-zero carbon systems for automobiles. Electric vehicle (EV) use is set to increase 3000% between 2016 and 2030. Due to the inherent toxicity of the chemicals within Li-ion batteries, they must be recycled to be sustainable. Recycling using energy recovering, hydrometallurgical process reduces greenhouse gas emissions. However, due to the high energy and power density within EV batteries, discharging the batteries is an important safety step in the pre-treatment process. There is no industry standard for discharging EV batteries. Many processes are suggested in literature with little information as to the methods used. The aim of this thesis is to explore four processes that could be suitable for industrial use. A suitable process should be ‘safe’, meaning it reduces the risk to the facility by minimizing the fire or explosion hazard, minimizes or eliminates human interaction with the battery pack and limits voltage rebound of an individual cell to 0.5V. The process should also be ‘rapid’, meaning it ensures that discharging does not become a bottleneck in recycling, ‘sustainable’ meaning it has no polluting fluid waste streams and ‘feasible’ that is, is cost efficient. Three processes were found effective. The first, is a combination of salt-solution and metal powder discharge methods using sodium carbonate and steel. This method is intended for battery packs and modules of less than 500V at 0% SOC. The second, is energy recovering electronic load discharge for battery backs greater than 500V or at greater than 0% SOC. Finally, inductive, wireless discharge with BMS ‘override’ is suggested. This method is suitable for future battery packs of all sizes equipped with wireless charging technology

Safe, Sustainable Discharge of Electric Vehicle Batteries as a Pre-treatment Step to Crushing in the Recycling Process

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an increase in global temperature to above 1.5°C can be halted but would require immediate intervention to reach net zero emissions in the next 15 years. This intervention would have to make use of sustainable energy technologies such as net-zero carbon systems for automobiles. Electric vehicle (EV) use is set to increase 3000% between 2016 and 2030. Due to the inherent toxicity of the chemicals within Li-ion batteries, they must be recycled to be sustainable. Recycling using energy recovering, hydrometallurgical process reduces greenhouse gas emissions. However, due to the high energy and power density within EV batteries, discharging the batteries is an important safety step in the pre-treatment process. There is no industry standard for discharging EV batteries. Many processes are suggested in literature with little information as to the methods used. The aim of this thesis is to explore four processes that could be suitable for industrial use. A suitable process should be ‘safe’, meaning it reduces the risk to the facility by minimizing the fire or explosion hazard, minimizes or eliminates human interaction with the battery pack and limits voltage rebound of an individual cell to 0.5V. The process should also be ‘rapid’, meaning it ensures that discharging does not become a bottleneck in recycling, ‘sustainable’ meaning it has no polluting fluid waste streams and ‘feasible’ that is, is cost efficient. Three processes were found effective. The first, is a combination of salt-solution and metal powder discharge methods using sodium carbonate and steel. This method is intended for battery packs and modules of less than 500V at 0% SOC. The second, is energy recovering electronic load discharge for battery backs greater than 500V or at greater than 0% SOC.  Finally, inductive, wireless discharge with BMS ‘override’ is suggested. This method is suitable for future battery packs of all sizes equipped with wireless charging technology

First -year mortality and survival among infants with selected congenital anomalies in Texas, 1995 to 1997

Congenital anomalies have been a leading cause of infant mortality for the past twenty years in the United States. Few registry-based studies have investigated the mortality experience of infants with congenital anomalies. Therefore, a registry-based mortality study was conducted of 2776 infants from the Texas Birth Defects Registry who were born January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1997, with selected congenital anomalies. Infants were matched to linked birth-infant death files from the Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. One year Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and mortality estimates were generated for each of the 23 anomalies by maternal race/ethnicity, infant sex, birth weight, gestational age, number of life-threatening anomalies, prenatal diagnosis, hospital of birth and other variables. There were 523 deaths within the first year of life (mortality rate = 191.0 per 1,000 infants). Infants with gastroschisis, trisomy 21, and cleft lip ± palate had the highest first year survival (92.91%, 92.32%, and 87.59%, respectively). Anomalies with the lowest survival were anencephaly (5.13%), trisomy 13 (7.41%), and trisomy 18 (10.29%). Infants born to White, Non-Hispanic women had the highest first year survival (83.57%; 95% CI: 80.91, 85.88), followed by African-Americans (82.43%; 95% CI: 76.98, 86.70) and Hispanics (79.28%; 95% CI: 77.19, 81.21). Infants with birth weights ≥2500 grams and gestational ages ≥37 weeks also had the highest first year survival. First year mortality drastically increased as the number of life-threatening anomalies increased. Mortality was also higher for infants with anomalies that were prenatally diagnosed. Slight differences existed in survival based on infant\u27s place of delivery. In logistic regression analysis, birth weight (\u3c1500 grams: OR = 7.48; 95% CI: 5.42, 10.33; 1500–2499 grams: OR = 3.48; 95% CI: 2.74, 4.42), prenatal diagnosis (OR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.43, 2.58) and number of life-threatening anomalies (≥3: OR = 22.45; 95% CI: 11.67, 43.18) were the strongest predictors of death within the first year of life for all infants with selected congenital anomalies. To achieve further reduction in the infant mortality rate in the United States, additional research is needed to identify ways to reduce mortality among infants with congenital anomalies

The biostratigraphic record of Cretaceous to Paleogene tectono-eustatic relative sea-level change in Jamaica

The island of Jamaica forms the northern extent of the Nicaraguan Rise, an elongate linear tectonic feature stretching as far as Honduras and Nicaragua to the south. Uplift and subaerial exposure of Jamaica during the Neogene has made the island rare within the Caribbean region, as it is the only area where rocks of the Nicaraguan Rise are exposed on land. Biostratigraphic dating and palaeoenvironmental interpretations using larger benthic foraminifera, supplemented by planktonic foraminifera, nannopalaeontology and palynology of outcrop, well and corehole samples has enabled the creation of a regional relative sea-level curve through identification of several depositional sequences. This study recognises ten unconformity-bounded transgressive-regressive sequences which record a complete cycle of relative sea level rise and fall. Sequences are recognised in the Early to ‘Middle’ Cretaceous (EKTR1), Coniacian-Santonian (STR1), Campanian (CTR1), Maastrichtian (MTR1-2), Paleocene-Early Eocene (PETR1), Eocene (YTR1-3) and Late Eocene-Oligocene (WTR1). These transgressive-regressive cycles represent second to fourth order sequences, although most tie with globally recognised third order sequences. Comparisons of the Jamaican relative sea-level curve with other published global mean sea-level curves show that local tectonics exerts a strong control on the deposition of sedimentary sequences in Jamaica. Large unconformities (duration >1 Ma) are related to significant regional tectonic events, with minor overprint of a global eustatic signal, while smaller unconformities (duration <1 Ma) are produced by global eustatic trends. The relatively low rates of relative sea-level rise calculated from the regional relative sea-level curve indicate that carbonate production rates were able to keep pace with the rate of relative sea-level rise accounting for the thick successions of Maastrichtian carbonates and those of the Yellow and White Limestone Groups. Carbonate platform drowning within the White Limestone Group during the Oligocene to Miocene is attributed to environmental deterioration given the low rates of relative sea-level rise

Solar vanadium redox-flow battery powered by thin-film silicon photovoltaics for efficient photoelectrochemical energy storage

Solar-powered vanadium redox-flow batteries (VRFB) have emerged as an attractive method for large-scale and efficient energy storage and conversion. However, due to the stringent charging voltage requirements of vanadium-based systems (1.4–1.7 V), common photobatteries, applying standard photovoltaics with nonoptimized photovoltages, cannot be completely charged bias-free, i.e. by only using bias-free solar energy, or if they can be, only at unpractical low current densities of just a few mA cm−2. In response to this critical challenge, the present study aimed to design and test a compact device combining a high-photovoltage silicon multijunction solar cell with an all-vanadium continuous-flow battery. In particular, we applied a monolithic triple junction solar cell, which can provide photovoltage of up to 2.2 V. Additionally, we have introduced the concept of increased illumination intensity for the solar VRFB. As a first demonstration, a complete bias-free solar charging at 25 mA cm−2 (300 mW cm−2 illumination) is reported. Moreover, we investigated the influence of the operation parameters of the redox-flow battery itself: the membrane type and the vanadium concentration in the electrolyte (i.e. storage capacity). The presented results provide evidence that the low-cost thin-film silicon based solar VRFB can be considered as an outstanding alternative for practical energy storage and conversion usage. A maximum bias-free solar conversion efficiency of 12.3% was achieved during charging, combined with promising and competitive energy efficiencies for the complete charge–discharge process that can guarantee an overall solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency of  >10%

Solar vanadium redox-flow battery powered by thin-film silicon photovoltaics for efficient photoelectrochemical energy storage

Solar-powered vanadium redox-flow batteries (VRFB) have emerged as an attractive method for large-scale and efficient energy storage and conversion. However, due to the stringent charging voltage requirements of vanadium-based systems (1.4–1.7 V), common photobatteries, applying standard photovoltaics with nonoptimized photovoltages, cannot be completely charged bias-free, i.e. by only using bias-free solar energy, or if they can be, only at unpractical low current densities of just a few mA cm-2. In response to this critical challenge, the present study aimed to design and test a compact device combining a high photovoltage silicon multijunction solar cell with an all-vanadium continuous-flow battery. In particular, we applied a monolithic triple junction solar cell, which can provide photovoltage of up to 2.2 V. Additionally, we have introduced the concept of increased illumination intensity for the solar VRFB. As a first demonstration, a complete bias-free solar charging at 25 mAcm-2 (300 mW cm-2 illumination) is reported. Moreover, we investigated the influence of the operation parameters of the redox-flow battery itself: the membrane type and the vanadium concentration in the electrolyte (i.e. storage capacity). The presented results provide evidence that the low-cost thin-film silicon based solar VRFB can be considered as an outstanding alternative for practical energy storage and conversion usage. A maximum bias-free solar conversion efficiency of 12.3% was achieved during charging, combined with promising and competitive energy efficiencies for the complete charge–discharge process that can guarantee an overall solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency of >10%.Peer Reviewe

Mission, Organization, and Future Direction of the Serological Sciences Network for COVID-19 (SeroNet) Epidemiologic Cohort Studies.

BackgroundGlobal efforts are needed to elucidate the epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the underlying cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including seroprevalence, risk factors, and long-term sequelae, as well as immune responses after vaccination across populations and the social dimensions of prevention and treatment strategies.MethodsIn the United States, the National Cancer Institute in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, established the SARS-CoV-2 Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet) as the nation's largest coordinated effort to study coronavirus disease 2019. The network comprises multidisciplinary researchers bridging gaps and fostering collaborations among immunologists, epidemiologists, virologists, clinicians and clinical laboratories, social and behavioral scientists, policymakers, data scientists, and community members. In total, 49 institutions form the SeroNet consortium to study individuals with cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, cardiovascular diseases, human immunodeficiency virus, transplant recipients, as well as otherwise healthy pregnant women, children, college students, and high-risk occupational workers (including healthcare workers and first responders).ResultsSeveral studies focus on underrepresented populations, including ethnic minorities and rural communities. To support integrative data analyses across SeroNet studies, efforts are underway to define common data elements for standardized serology measurements, cellular and molecular assays, self-reported data, treatment, and clinical outcomes.ConclusionsIn this paper, we discuss the overarching framework for SeroNet epidemiology studies, critical research questions under investigation, and data accessibility for the worldwide scientific community. Lessons learned will help inform preparedness and responsiveness to future emerging diseases