Recycling of solar photovoltaic panels: Techno-economic assessment in waste management perspective

This work assessed the economic sustainability of photovoltaic panels (PV) recycling. The PV throughout and silver (Ag) concentration in PVs are the main factor affecting recycling. For high Ag concentrations (0.2%), the recycling is sustainable without PV recycling fee if the PV throughput is higher than 18,000 t/yr. Lower processing volumes enable sustainability only with recycling fees from 0% up to 46% of the total annualized costs in the throughput range 18,000–9000 t/yr. For low Ag concentrations (0.05%) recycling fees are instead always needed to achieve profitability, unless the throughput is higher than 43,000 t/yr. Given the high Ag revenues, efforts should be done towards its recovery. If however a mixed silver-silicon fraction was sold for more than 50–70% of its actual value depending on the Ag concentration, a simplified process without hydrometallurgical separation could generate higher profitability on the short and long term. Given the decreasing Ag content in PVs, the profitability in recycling also depends on when the investments are realized. In the medium Ag concentration scenario and for Ag prices of 600 $/kg, PV fees are always required for the net present value (NPV) to be higher than CAPEX. The later the investment, the higher the PV throughputs and PV fees required to generate the same NPV. Investing in 2025 under the hypothesis of a regular loss scenario and an Ag price of 750$/kg is the only condition that produces NPVs higher than CAPEX without PV fees if the throughput is at least 30,000 t/yr

Cryo-mechanical treatment and hydrometallurgical process for recycling Li-MnO2primary batteries with the direct production of LiMnPO4nanoparticles

In this work, an innovative hydrometallurgical recycling route for the recovery of all the materials composing Li-MnO2 primary batteries was proposed. End-of-life batteries were mechanically treated in an innovative pilot plant where a cryogenic crushing was performed. The mechanical treatment allowed for the release of the electrodic powder contained in the batteries with the simultaneous recovery of 44 kg of steel and 18 kg of plastics from 100 kg of batteries. Electrodic powder was employed as the raw material for the synthesis of LiMnPO4 nanoparticles. To obtain the synthesis precursors, selective sequential leaching of Li and Mn was performed. Li was extracted via water washing the electrodic powder and Li2CO3 and a purity of 99% was recovered. The black mass containing Mn oxides was leached using phosphoric acid, which gave a Mn-bearing precursor solution that was directly used for the hydrothermal synthesis of LiMnPO4 nanoparticles. A preliminary materials balance of the process was presented, indicating that the proposed process should be an easy hydrometallurgical route for the recycling of primary lithium batteries. In addition, the simultaneous production of high-value-added products that could be reintroduced into the battery manufacturing chain could ensure the economic feasibility of the process

Adsorption of bisphenol A by granular activated carbon prepared with different silicates as binders

Nowadays, the emerging pollutants, such as bisphenol A, are object of increased attention by the citizens and the sectors of industry and academia, as a result of the problems they cause, particularly at the health level. In this study, a set of granulated samples was prepared from a commercial powdered activated carbon, aiming its application in the removal of bisphenol A via the adsorption process. The granulation allowed to obtain granulated adsorbents with higher adsorption capacity (37.0–54.8 mg/g) than the original activated carbon (32.2 mg/g). The samples were structurally and chemically characterised using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption at 77 K, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, point of zero charge and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. The bisphenol A adsorption tests are carried out in kinetic and equilibrium modes, involving variables such as mass, pH and temperature. The results show that, using different commercial silica binders, it was possible to prepare mechanical, dimensional, chemical and structurally stable granulated adsorbents with a good capacity for bisphenol A adsorption, widening the potential and range of application for these materials

Electrochemical synthesis of nanowire anodes from spent lithium ion batteries

A novel process is proposed to produce nanostructured batteries anodes from spent lithium-ion batteries. The electrodic powder recovered by the mechanical treatment of spent batteries was leached and the dissolved metals were precipitated as cobalt carbonates. Two different precipitation routes were separately tested producing cobalt carbonates with different Cu and Fe contents. Nanowire anodes were produced by electrodeposition into nanoporous alumina templates from the electrolytic baths prepared by dissolution of the precipitated carbonates. The electrochemical performances of the produced anodes were evaluated as compared to nanowire anodes produced with the same electrodeposition method but using a synthetic cobalt bath. The application of the carbonates produced by directly precipitating all the leached metals gave nanowires with capacity about halved as compared to the nanowires electrodeposited from the synthetic bath. Selectively removing Cu and Fe prior cobalt carbonate precipitation yielded, in contrast, nanowires with capacity initially larger and then gradually approaching that attained by the nanowire electrodeposited from the synthetic bath. A detailed analysis is presented describing the role of metallic impurities in determining the capacity of the produced nanowires. The impact of the illustrated results for the development of sustainable recycling processes of lithium-ion batteries is discussed

Head–neck melanoma. clinical, histopathological and prognostic features of an italian multicentric study

Background: Primitive location of melanoma could be a relevant prognostic factor. As regards the scalp, some studies indicate a particularly aggressive biological behaviour for this anatomical localisation. Objectives: In this multicentric study, data regarding head–neck melanoma (HNM) have been revised. Methods: The design of the study included two main phases. In this retrospective study, data regarding HNM have been collected and analysed. Results: In summary, our data suggest that the posterior neck is the area most affected by thicker melanomas. Cheeks and neck melanoma are associated with reduced disease-free years of life and overall survival compared with all other sites of HNM. Conclusions: This study provides useful information in defining the clinical features of HNM, thus improving diagnosis and treatment strategies

Long-Term Drug Survival and Effectiveness of Secukinumab in Patients with Moderate to Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis: 42-Month Results from the SUPREME 2.0 Study

Purpose: SUPREME, a phase IIIb study conducted in Italy, demonstrated safety and high efficacy of secukinumab for up to 72 weeks in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis. SUPREME 2.0 study aimed to provide real-world data on the long-term drug survival and effectiveness of secukinumab beyond 72 weeks.Patients and Methods: SUPREME 2.0 is a retrospective observational chart review study conducted in patients previously enrolled in SUPREME study. After the end of the SUPREME study, eligible patients continued treatment as per clinical practice, and their effectiveness and drug survival data were retrieved from medical charts.Results: Of the 415 patients enrolled in the SUPREME study, 297 were included in SUPREME 2.0; of which, 210 (70.7%) continued secukinumab treatment throughout the 42-month observation period. Patients in the biologic-naive cohort had higher drug survival than those in the biologic-experienced cohort (74.9% vs 61.7%), while HLA-Cw6-positive and HLA-Cw6-negative patients showed similar drug survival (69.3% and 71.9%). After 42 months, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 was achieved by 79.6% of patients overall; with a similar proportion of biologic-naive and biologic-experienced patients achieving PASI90 (79.8% and 79.1%). The mean absolute PASI score reduced from 21.94 to 1.38 in the overall population, 21.90 to 1.24 in biologic-naive and 22.03 to 1.77 in biologic-experienced patients after 42 months. The decrease in the absolute PASI score was comparable between HLA-Cw6-positive and HLA-Cw6-negative patients. The baseline Dermatology Life Quality Index scores also decreased in the overall patients (10.5 to 2.32) and across all study sub-groups after 42 months. Safety was consistent with the known profile of secukinumab, with no new findings. Conclusion: In this real-world cohort study, secukinumab showed consistently high long-term drug survival and effectiveness with a favourable safety profile

Secukinumab shows high efficacy irrespective of HLA-Cw6 status in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis: SUPREME study

Background: Understanding genetic variations is important in predicting treatment response and forms the basis for identifying new pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic targets for psoriasis treatment. There are limited data on the efficacy of secukinumab in relation to genetic markers. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of secukinumab 300 mg in HLA-Cw6-positive (Cw6-POS) and HLA-Cw6-negative (Cw6-NEG) patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque-type psoriasis. Methods: SUPREME was a 24-week, phase IIIb study with an extension period up to 72 weeks. Primary end point was Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) 90 response rate after 16 weeks. Results: In total, 434 patients were recruited: 185 (42\ub76%) were Cw6-POS and 246 (56\ub77%) were Cw6-NEG (three not assessed). Mean \ub1 SD age was 45\ub72 \ub1 13\ub72 years (Cw6-POS 42\ub77 \ub1 13\ub71; Cw6-NEG 47\ub72 \ub1 12\ub79). The baseline PASI score was comparable between the cohorts [Cw6-POS 20\ub77 \ub1 8\ub799; Cw6-NEG 21\ub75 \ub1 9\ub799 (P = 0\ub7777)]. At week 16, PASI 90 was achieved in 80\ub74% of Cw6-POS and 79\ub77% of Cw6-NEG patients (difference 0\ub776; 95% confidence interval 127\ub704 to 8\ub723). No differences in absolute PASI at week 16 (Cw6-POS 1\ub736 \ub1 3\ub758; Cw6-NEG 1\ub718 \ub1 2\ub729) were observed. The overall safety profile of secukinumab was consistent with that previously reported. No statistically significant difference was detected in the rate of treatment-emergent adverse events [Cw6-POS 42\ub77%; Cw6-NEG 49\ub76% (P = 0\ub7295)]. A high PASI 90 response was achieved with secukinumab with a fast reduction in absolute PASI. Conclusions: Determination of HLA-Cw6 status for secukinumab therapy is unnecessary, as it is highly effective regardless of HLA-Cw6 status

Clostridia Initiate Heavy Metal Bioremoval in Mixed Sulfidogenic Cultures

Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) are widely used for attenuating heavy metal pollution by means of sulfide generation. Due to their low metal tolerance, several SRB species depend on associated bacteria in mixed cultures to cope with metal-induced stress. Yet the identity of the SRB protecting bacteria is largely unknown. We aimed to identify these associated bacteria and their potential role in two highly metal-resistant mixed SRB cultures by comparing bacterial community composition and SRB activity between these cultures and two sensitive ones. The SRB composition in the resistant and sensitive consortia was similar. However, whereas the SRB in the sensitive cultures were strongly inhibited by a mixture of copper, zinc, and iron, no influence of these metals was detected on SRB growth and activity in the resistant cultures. In the latter, a Gram-positive population mostly assigned to Clostridium spp.initiated heavy metal bioremoval based on sulfide generation from components of the medium (mainly sulfite) but not from sulfate. After metal levels were lowered by the Clostridium spp. populations, SRB started sulfate reduction and raised the pH of the medium. The combination of sulfite reducing Clostridium spp. with SRB may improve green technologies for removal of heavy metals

REDISCOVER International Guidelines on the Perioperative Care of Surgical Patients With Borderline-resectable and Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

OBJECTIVE: The REDISCOVER consensus conference aimed at developing and validate guidelines on the perioperative care of patients with borderline resectable (BR-) and locally advanced (LA) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Coupled with improvements in chemotherapy and radiation, the contemporary approach to pancreatic surgery supports resection of BR-PDAC and, to a lesser extent, LA-PDAC. Guidelines outlining the selection and perioperative care for these patients are lacking.METHODS: The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) methodology was used to develop the REDISCOVER guidelines and create recommendations. The Delphi approach was used to reach consensus (agreement ≥80%) among experts. Recommendations were approved after a debate and vote among international experts in pancreatic surgery and pancreatic cancer management. A Validation Committee used the AGREE II-GRS tool to assess the methodological quality of the guidelines. Moreover, an independent multidisciplinary advisory group revised the statements to ensure adherence to non-surgical guidelines.RESULTS: Overall, 34 recommendations were created targeting centralization, training, staging, patient selection for surgery, possibility of surgery in uncommon scenarios, timing of surgery, avoidance of vascular reconstruction, details of vascular resection/reconstruction, arterial divestment, frozen section histology of perivascular tissue, extent of lymphadenectomy, anticoagulation prophylaxis and role of minimally invasive surgery. The level of evidence was however low for 29 of 34 clinical questions. Participants agreed that the most conducive mean to promptly advance our understanding in this field is to establish an international registry addressing this patient population ( https://rediscover.unipi.it/ ).CONCLUSIONS: The REDISCOVER guidelines provide clinical recommendations pertaining to pancreatectomy with vascular resection for patients with BR- and LA-PDAC, and serve as the basis of a new international registry for this patient population.</p