PHOTOVOLTAIC PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN AT STRATOSPHERIC ALTITUDES

This paper compares hydrogen production by photovoltaic powered electrolysis of water at sea level and at low stratospheric altitudes up to 21 km. All the hydrogen production process has been considered from catchable solar radiation to storage technologies. The evaluation has been performed for 1 m2 of flat horizontal plane. It has been considered the electric energy amount produced by considering the equilibrium temperature of PV modules and its evolution due to external temperature and solar radiation. Hydrogen production through electrolysis has been evaluated too. Two different methods of hydrogen storage have been evaluated: high pressure compression up to 20 MPa and liquefaction process. The energetic cost of both production processes has been evaluated. The comparison is presented in terms of effective energy deliverable to final users considered in terms of HHV. This evaluation considers also, in the case of liquefaction process the energy which can be recovered by the regasification process

Validation of a bioanalytical method for the determination of synthetic and natural cannabinoids (New psychoactive substances) in oral fluid samples by means of hplc-ms/ms

New psychoactive substances (NPS) represent an important focus nowadays and are continually produced with minimal structural modifications in order to circumvent the law and increase the difficulty of identifying them. Moreover, since there are a high number of different compounds, it is arduous to develop analytical screening and/or confirmation methods that allow the identification and quantification of these compounds. The aim of this work is to develop and validate a bioanalytical method for detecting new synthetic drugs in biological samples, specifically oral fluid, using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) with minimal sample pretreatment. Oral fluid samples were simply centrifuged and denaturized with different rapid procedures before injection into the LC-MS/MS system. Calibration curves covered a linear concentration range from LOQ to 100 ng/mL. Validation parameters such as linearity, precision, accuracy, selectivity, matrix effect and thermal stability were evaluated and showed satisfactory results, in accordance with US Food & Drug Administration guidelines. The inter-day analytical bias and imprecision at two levels of quality control (QC) were within ±15% for most compounds. This method was able to identify and calculate the concentration of 10 NPS validated in this biological sample, even in the presence of matrix effect

Novel sample-substrates for the determination of new psychoactive substances in oral fluid by desorption electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry

A reliable screening and non invasive method based on the use of microextraction by packed sorbent coupled with desorption electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry was developed and validated for the detection of new psychoactive substances in oral fluid. The role of different sample substrates in enhancing signal intensity and stability was evaluated by testing the performances of two polylactide-based materials, i.e. non-functionalized and functionalized with carbon nanoparticles, and a silica-based material compared to commercially available polytetrafluorethylene supports. The best results were achieved by using the nonfunctionalized polylactide substrates to efficiently ionize compounds in positive ionization mode, whereas the silica coating proved to be the best choice for operating in negative ionization mode. LLOQs in the low μg/L, a good precision with CV% always lower than 16% and RR% in the 83(±4)-120(±2)% range, proved the suitability of the developed method for the determination of the analytes in oral fluid. Finally, the method was applied for screening oral fluid samples for the presence of psychoactive substances during private parties, revealing mephedrone in only one sample out of 40 submitted to analysis

European Council of Legal Medicine (ECLM) on-site inspection forms for forensic pathology, anthropology, odontology, genetics, entomology and toxicology for forensic and medico-legal scene and corpse investigation: the Parma form

Further to a previous publication by the European Council of Legal Medicine (ECLM) concerning on-site forensic and medico-legal scene and corpse investigation, this publication provides guidance for forensic medical specialists, pathologists and, where present, coroners’ activity at a scene of death inspection and to harmonize the procedures for a correct search, detection, collection, sampling and storage of all elements which may be useful as evidence, and ensure documentation of all these steps. This ECLM’s inspection form provides a checklist to be used on-site for the investigation of a corpse present at a crime or suspicious death scene. It permits the collection of all relevant data not only for the pathologist, but also for forensic anthropologists, odontologists, geneticists, entomologists and toxicologists, thus supporting a collaborative work approach. Detailed instructions for the completion of forms are provided

The emergence of new psychoactive substance (NPS) benzodiazepines: a review

The market for new psychoactive substances has increased markedly in recent years and there is now a steady stream of compounds appearing every year. Benzodiazepines consist of only a fraction of the total number of these compounds but their use and misuse has rapidly increased. Some of these benzodiazepines have only been patented, some of them have not been previously synthesised and the majority have never undergone clinical trials or tests. Despite their structural and chemical similarity, large differences exist between the benzodiazepines in their pharmacokinetic parameters and metabolic pathways and so they are not easily comparable. As benzodiazepines have been clinically used since the 1960s many analytical methods exist to quantify them in a variety of biological matrices and it is expected that these methods would also be suitable for the detection of benzodiazepines that are new psychoactive substances. Illicitly obtained benzodiazepines have been found to contain a wide range of compounds such as opiates which presents a problem since the use of them in conjunction with each other can lead to respiratory depression and death. The aim of this review is to collate the available information on these benzodiazepines and to provide a starting point for the further investigation of their pharmacokinetics which is clearly required

PSICHE: A Stratospheric Platform Producing Hydrogen and Oxygen

In the present study, the feasibility of P.S.I.C.H.E. (Photovoltaic Space Island for Conversion of Hydrogen as Energy vector), a stratospheric platform for hydrogen and oxygen production by photovoltaics, has been investigated theoretically for altitudes between 10 and 20 km form the ground at 45° latitude north. The upper envelope of the airship is equipped with a PV array that covers energy request during the day; surplus in power supplies an electrolyzer for hydrogen and oxygen production from water. Products are compressed and stored. With insufficient solar irradiance and during the night a fuel cell system fed by hydrogen and oxygen tanks supplies power requirements. Typically atmospheric conditions in Po plain were used for evaluation of PV performance at various altitudes. A propulsion system with electric motors grants airship manoeuvrability and hovering. Energy balance of PV-hydrogen energy supply system has been analysed for three airship shapes with equal volume with concern of overabundant hydrogen and oxygen production. Total weight and payload are calculated in relation to altitude. Storage tanks dimensions and products ground transportation frequency has been estimated. Hydrogen yearly production for PV square meter has been valued in relation to ground production at the same latitude

Photovoltaic Space Isle for Conversion in Hydrogen as Energy Vector: the Concept of a Stratospheric Airship for Energy Production, Telecommunications and Territorial Surveillance

A new interest of airships has begun about 15 years ago and it is witnessed by futuristic and fascinating projects. But nowadays it seems that some projects are going to become reality, despite the economic crisis. Specialized aerospace magazines presented the project JHL40 teamed by Boeing with the Canadian company SkyHook. It is a heavy-lift aircraft that combines helicop-ter rotor systems with a neutrally buoyant airship. It is considered the first heavy transport hybrid which is going to be operative. Some high altitude platforms are cur-rently in pre-design phase for civil purposes, essentially telecommunications and digital broadcasting, and military systems such as air defence and surveillance. Due to their heavy operative tasks both transport airships and high altitude platforms need large energy supply for very long enduring mission. A concrete possibility is con-stituted by photovoltaic energy production associated to a fuel cell system for hydrogen and oxygen. It is a closed mass loop cycle based on renewable solar energy, ex-cept a fractional dissipation in the hydrolytic process. It produces hydrogen and oxygen dissociation from water by electrolysis, coupled with a fuel cell system for night-time energy supply fed by O2 and H2 tanks. This paper investigates hydrogen and oxygen production by stratospheric lighter-than-air platform with large hull photovoltaic surface, at operative altitudes above 12 km, which is defined in order to avoid dangerous meteoro-logical phenomena like summer cumulonimbus and clouds shadowing in order to maximize solar energy in-tercepted in a year

“PHOTOVOLTAIC STRATOSPHERIC ISLE FOR CONVERSION IN HYDROGEN AS ENERGY VECTOR

In a previous work it has been demonstrated that solar radiation intercepted by an unconventional airship is sufficient for all energetic needs for civil uses, namely broadcastingand telecommunications. This article analyses the energetic feasibility of an airship, named PSICHE (acronym for‘photovoltaic stratospheric isle for conversion in hydrogen as energywith high quote and hydrogen and oxygen production are discussed. The advantages of this kindof hydrogen production are presented together with the environmental benefits of the system

An Innovative Lenticular Blimp for Thermal Monitoring and Close Reconnaissance

The project aim is to achieve a lite blimp equipped to scan the spatial dispersion and thermal sources. The articulation of the research program includes the study and implementation of a system for detecting aerothermography. The tests will be carried out on urban land in the city of Reggio Emilia, these operations will make possible the detection of all the basic parameters for the operation of the system, and then to streamline the processes in place. The establishment of action research refers to the need to continue working on an integrated cognitive action by which to operate the crossing, the terms of split detection, evaluation and interpretation of the dynamics of the area and priorities / critical emerging. A second aspect concerns the intention to follow the path of deepening and study of local sustainability indicators