CO2 capture and sequestration in the cement industry

AbstractThe cement industry is coming under increased scrutiny for its CO2 emissions. The industry has reduced its CO2 footprint through energy efficiency measures, reduction of clinker factor, and the use of alternative fuels. However in a carbon-constrained world, more significant reductions are anticipated and thus CEMEX has been investigating the deployment of CO2 capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies for its own cement plants. The goal of this paper is to present the groundwork for the development and demonstration of a commercial-scale CCS project at one of CEMEX Inc.’s U.S. cement plants. The first part of this paper presents the criteria to determine the most suitable CO2 capture technology in an integrated CCS system for a cement plant. The second part of this paper summarizes how CO2 sequestration potential in proximity to one of CEMEX’s cement plants was a critical factor in determining the suitability to host a commercial CCS demonstration. Findings of this work showed that the development and demonstration of a commercial-scale CCS in the cement industry is still far from deployment. Retrofitting a very compatible CO2 capture technology for the cement industry is a limiting factor for early implementation of CCS. A pilot phase under actual cement plant flue gas conditions is a must to develop this technology to a commercial level. Uncertainties regarding the level of CO2 purity for transportation, geological sequestration, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) warrant further investigation

Biomimetics of microducts in three-dimensional bacterial nanocellulose biomaterials for soft tissue regenerative medicine

The demand for solid organs is increasing worldwide, regenerative medicine aims to develop organs that can replace their human counterparts. In this regard, this study describes a novel biomimetic-based methodology for the incorporation of microducts in 3D bacterial nanocellulose (BNC-3D) biomaterials. Although BNC is a biomaterial that has been used as a scaffold for cell culture purposes, it does not have the microduct structure that solid organs required to maintain cell viability. This study aims to biomimicry the microduct structure (blood vessels) in BNC using a corroded porcine kidney in epoxy resin during BNC synthesis. The resin mold was incorporated into the biological process of producing BNC-3D. After the BNC fermentation, the resin was removed using a novel method (acid hydrolysis) to expose the blood vessels constructs. BNC-3D and BNC-3D with microducts (BNC-3DM) were analyzed using electronic microscopy, infrared analysis, thermogravimetric and biological analysis. Results show that biomaterials biomimicry the blood vessels of the reference organ, moreover, the BNC chemical and morphological properties of BNC was not affected in the biomimetic process. Regarding cell behavior, cell viability was not affected by the incorporation of the microducts, and it was proven that viable cells adhere to the microducts surface, reproducing their shape and migrate into the biomaterial up to 245 mu m for 8 days of culture. To conclude, the data demonstrate the potential of biomimetic in BNC for regenerative medicine, in which the microducts transport fluids (blood, nutrients, and waste products) from and to engineered solid organs via animal counterparts. Graphic abstract The graphical abstract represents the structural modification of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) with the inclusion of microducts and microporosities. Furthermore, it represents the usefulness of the microducts in future applications, where, they can be used for nutrients inlet to feed the cells and to remove the wastes from the developed tissue, same as do the blood vessels. [GRAPHICS]

Cytomolecular identification of individual wheat-wheat chromosome arm associations in wheat-rye hybrids

Chromosome pairing in the meiotic metaphase I of wheatrye hybrids has been characterized by sequential genomic and fluorescent in situ hybridization allowing not only the discrimination of wheat and rye chromosomes, but also the identification of the individual wheat and rye chromosome arms involved in the chromosome associations. The majority of associations (93.8%) were observed between the wheat chromosomes. The largest number of wheat-wheat chromosome associations (53%) was detected between the A and D genomes, while the frequency of B-D and A-B associations was significantly lower (32 and 8%, respectively). Among the A-D chromosome associations, pairing between the 3AL and 3DL arms was observed with the highest frequency, while the most frequent of all the chromosome associations (0.113/ cell) was found to be the 3DS-3BS. Differences in the pairing frequency of the individual chromosome arms of wheat-rye hybrids have been discussed in relation to the homoeologous relationships between the constituent genomes of hexaploid wheat

Directed transport in a ratchet with internal and chemical freedoms

We consider mechanisms of directed transport in a ratchet model comprising, besides the external freedom where transport occurs, a chemical freedom that replaces the familiar external driving by an autonomous dynamics providing energy input, and an internal freedom representing a functional mode of a motor molecule. The dependence of the current on various parameters is studied in numerical simulations of our model. In particular, we point out the role of the internal freedom as a buffer between energy input and output of mechanical work that allows a temporary storage of injected energy and can contribute to the efficiency of current generation.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figure

The motion of the 2D hydrodynamic Chaplygin sleigh in the presence of circulation

We consider the motion of a planar rigid body in a potential flow with circulation and subject to a certain nonholonomic constraint. This model is related to the design of underwater vehicles. The equations of motion admit a reduction to a 2-dimensional nonlinear system, which is integrated explicitly. We show that the reduced system comprises both asymptotic and periodic dynamics separated by a critical value of the energy, and give a complete classification of types of the motion. Then we describe the whole variety of the trajectories of the body on the plane.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures. This article uses some introductory material from arXiv:1109.321

Evaluating executive functions in primary school children in Alicante using body percussion

The current pilot study aims primarily to discover if the executive functions of students in their fourth year of primary school can be improved using psychomotor stimulation through the practice of body percussion using the BAPNE® Method. We have carried out a quantitative study over the course of 34 weeks with an experimental group and a control group. The study was based on a research protocol with a total of n=70 subjects, divided between an experimental group and a control group in an area of the Valencian Community (Spain) with above average socioeconomic characteristics and average educational outcomes. Analysis of the results from the post-test of the experimental group shows that there has been a notable improvement in cognitive skills involving attention, as well as working memory. The evaluation tool used to measure attention levels and working memory was the ENFEN test. The methodology used was experimental in its design and used a collection of pre- and post-test sample measurements, before and after the method was implemented. Subsequently, statistical analysis was carried out. This was factorial in design and considered the measurements taken before and after

Assessment of the CPL-0015 isolate as a vaccine strain for the control of canine parvovirus in Cuba

The safety and protective efficacy of the CPL-0015 Cuban isolate of canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) were evaluated for its possible use as a vaccine strain candidate. The study included a total of 23 healthy Beagle dogs of both sexes, aged 84 days and without specific maternal antibodies against canine parvovirus. Safety was analysed by comparing clinicopathological values, food consumption, body weight, rectal temperature and white blood cell counts for 14 consecutive days between control dogs (n=5) and dogs subcutaneously injected (n=10) with 2 mL (equivalent to two doses) of the CPL-0015 strain with an antigenic titer of 106.0 infectious dose50 in cell culture/mL. The protective effectiveness was determined by measuring and comparing anti-CPV-2 IgG levels and clinical signs during 56 experimental days between control dogs (n=2) and dogs inoculated (n=6) with double doses of 1 mL each, separated by a 21-day interval. All animals were challenged orally on day 35 with the virulent strain Cornell-780916 (105.0 infective dose50 in cell culture/mL). The results showed that the CPL-0015 strain did not negatively impact the physiological condition of the exposed animals. The inoculated and challenged animals showed not only significantly increased levels of anti-CPV-2 IgG (P<0.05) when compared to days 0, 35, and the control group animals but also had 100% survival without clinical signs of the disease, unlike the control group. It is concluded that CPL-0015 is safe and provides effective protection against homologous virulent strains

Pectin methyl esterases and rhamnogalacturonan hydrolases: weapons for successful Monilinia laxa infection in stone fruit?

The secretion of cell wall‐degrading enzymes is one of the mechanisms used by necrotrophic fungi to colonize host tissues. However, information about virulence factors of Monilinia spp., the causal agents of brown rot in stone fruit, is scarce. Plant cell walls have three main components that are broken down by fungal enzymes: cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin. In order to identify Monilinia laxa candidate proteins involved in pectin hydrolysis, two in vitro approaches were conducted: (i) phenotypic and ecophysiological characterization of growth of the pathogen at different pHs, in glucose‐ and pectin‐containing solid media for 7 days' incubation; and (ii) expression analysis of genes encoding M. laxa pectin methyl esterases (MlPMEs) and rhamnogalacturonan hydrolases (MlRG‐HYDs) after incubation for 0.5, 2, 6, 24 and 48 h in glucose‐ and pectin‐containing liquid media. Phenotypic tests showed the role of carbon source on M. laxa growth rate and aggressiveness, and indicated that pectinases were greatly affected by pH. Gene expression analyses uncovered differences among members of each family of pectinases and between the two families, defining sets of genes expressed at earlier (0.5–6 h) and later (48 h) phases. Notably, the up‐ or down‐regulation of these target genes was carbon source‐dependent. Finally, an in vivo study confirmed the synergistic and complementary role that these genes play in the M. laxa–stone fruit pathosystem. Based on these results, it is hypothesized that MlPME2, MlRG‐HYD1 and MlRG‐HYD2 may be potential virulence factors of M. laxa in the process from infection to colonization.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio