Chemical – ASSET

Innovative Approaches for Metal Extraction from Coal Fly Ash: Towards Sustainable Resource Recovery

admin — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 02:36:20 +0000

Coal fly ash (CFA), a significant byproduct of coal-fired power plants, is a rich source of valuable metal ions, such as nickel, cobalt, and iron. These metals are critical for various industrial and technological applications, including energy storage, catalysis, and alloy production. The current study focuses on optimizing the leaching process followed by characterization using UV-Vis spectroscopy for metal ions extraction from CFA. The acid digestion process involved treating CFA with concentrated acids, such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid, under controlled conditions of temperature and reaction time to break down the matrix and release metal ions. Subsequently, the leaching process was performed, with parameters such asControlled temperature, leaching time, solid-to-liquid ratio, and acid concentration using acid-based leaching reagents, which included sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. Systematic process parameter optimization aimed to maximize recovery efficiency and minimize environmental as well as economic costs. The leachates were analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, a sensitive and reliable method for identifying and quantifying metal ions through their characteristic absorbance peaks. Standard calibration curves for nickel, cobalt, and iron were established, thus allowing the concentration of each of these species in the extracted solutions to be determined with precision. In addition, the formation of metal-ligand complexes during leaching was examined to understand the chemistry of the extraction process.Recovered metals have good usage opportunities. Nickel and cobalt have a crucial role in making nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries, widely used lithium ion batteries used in electric vehicles and portable electronic products, and the iron may find its use in steel and precursors to catalytic or magnetic materials. This work thus demonstrates the potential of coal fly ash as a secondary resource for these critical metals, contributing to the sustainability of resources and to reducing the environmental burden associated with the disposal of CFA. The integration of efficient leaching techniques with spectroscopic characterization will provide a pathway toward integrating waste valorization into a circular economy framework that addresses both environmental and industrial challenges while supporting the growth in demand for renewable energy technologies and advanced materials.

Authors List :

Insha Parvez, Ilma, Tashifa Fatima, Ayesha Fatima, Suhail, Mohammad Zain Khan*

Presenting Author :

Insha Parvez

Affiliations :

Aligarh Muslim University

Email :

inshaabbas77@gmail.com

Key Words (5 Words Maximum) :

Coal fly ash, extraction, circular economy

Impact Study of Pre-treatment with DIC on Cannabis Sativa L.

admin — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 02:49:46 +0000

Objectives
Instant Controlled Pressure Drop (DIC) is an emerging agri-food technology that applies high-temperature, short-time treatments, altering material structures by expansion while preserving product quality. DIC shows promise for applications such as biomolecule drying, sterilization, and extraction, reducing energy costs and better preserving product quality compared to conventional processes. This research aims to determine the impact of DIC pretreatment on the extraction of essential oils and cannabidiol (CBD) from Cannabis Sativa L. buds. Objectives include decarboxylating the plant, improving extraction efficiency, preserving compounds, increasing storage stability, and exploring product and byproduct applications. This work investigates how to enhance process efficiency from harvest to product formulation by integrating DIC technology for hemp pretreatment, addressing scientific challenges, and offering higher-quality hemp products.
Methods
DIC processing was performed using pilot equipment from ABCAR DIC Process (France). The DIC process involves increasing the pressure in the treatment chamber, maintaining it, and then depressurizing the chamber. Typical parameters include:
• Pressure
• Duration
• Number of cycles
Treatment parameters were optimized based on the plant material and the target outcomes, aiming to decontaminate and decarboxylate the flowers, and improve the extraction of bioactive compounds. Parameters ranged from 1 to 35 seconds, 1 to 6 bars, and 1 to 8 cycles.
CBD extraction kinetics were studied by dynamic maceration on samples of hemp buds:
• Non-treated
• Treated by DIC
• Non-treated and steam distilled
• Treated and steam distilled
CBD yield was determined by gas phase chromatography analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Results
The decarboxylation rate of CBDA to CBD was assessed by comparing concentrations of CBDA and CBD in the extracts. DIC treatment alone achieved a decarboxylation more than 80%. DIC treatment significantly enhanced the extraction kinetics of CBD. The conventional extraction method yielded 140.94 mg of CBD after 15 minutes, whereas with DIC pre-treatment, a similar amount (135.49 mg) was recovered in just 5 minutes. The aromatic profile of the essential oils, analyzed by GC-MS, revealed differences between oils extracted from DIC-treated buds and those obtained by traditional methods. Oils from DIC-treated buds demonstrated a fractionated extraction of volatile and non-volatile compounds. DIC treatment significantly improved drying efficiency, shortening the drying time to one-third of the traditional process. This results in reaching the target moisture content in just 640 minutes compared to the traditional 1920 minutes. The antimicrobial effectiveness of DIC was evaluated by comparing microbial colony counts (bacteria and fungi) on treated versus untreated hemp buds. DIC treatment reduced microbial counts by approximately 4 log (cfu/g of dried buds), highlighting DIC’s effectiveness for plant product decontamination and improved storage stability. Essential oils in the discharge waters of the DIC equipment formed stable emulsions, showing promise for bio-pesticide formulation. These emulsions, classified between nanoemulsions and macroemulsions, exhibited potential as fungicidal pesticides, insecticides, and nematicides, indicating additional applications for DIC-treated hemp flowers.

Authors List :

Bouchekioua Dounia (1,2), Mhemdi Houcine (1), Benali Mohammed(1), Bauffe Tanguy(1), Lefrançois Victor (2)

Presenting Author :

Bouchekioua Dounia (1,2)

Affiliations :

(1) Université de Technologie de Compiègne, ESCOM, TIMR (Integrated Transformations of Renewable Mater), Centre de recherche Royallieu - CS 60 319 - 60 203 Compiègne Cedex (2) Abcar DIC Process SAS, 11 Rue du Four Saint-Jacques, 60200 Compiègne

Email :

dounia.bouchekioua@utc.fr

Key Words (5 Words Maximum) :

Cannabis Sativa L., Extraction, Essential Oils, CBD, Decarboxylation, Instant Controlled Pressure Drop

A Novel Technique Relating Temperature to Oscillator Current Input for Magnetic Hyperthermia Treatment

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 00:30:05 +0000

Magnetic hyperthermia has become a rapidly growing field. The technique involves the injection of magnetic nanoparticles, like Ferrofluid, into tumor cells and the subsequent application of an external alternating magnetic field. The resulting temperature rise in the Ferrofluid is utilized to destroy the tumor cells. One of the obvious parameters researchers are interested in, is the temperature achieved in-situ and the time needed for this temperature to be reached. Knowing these parameters would facilitate the optimization of the treatment by preserving normal cells while also providing important temperature feedback. It is vastly preferable to determine the temperature non-invasively for several reasons. Measuring the temperature of the Ferrofluid inside the body is a complex problem since there are many dynamic variables involved, such as capillary flow, the thermal properties of tissues, and location among others. Thus, we present a new, non-invasive method to determine and control the temperature of Ferrofluid in a tumor located within the body. The experimental results indicate that this is a viable method. Additionally, the exact mechanism of heating, on which there has previously been much speculation, has been elucidated through our study. It has been found that most of the heating effect in Magnetic Ferrofluid is related to the viscosity of the oil used in the synthesis of the Ferrofluid. These results hold important practical significance and could cumulatively be utilized to further improve magnetic hyperthermia treatment.

Authors List :

Asiya Karim

Presenting Author :

Asiya Karim

Affiliations :

Smith College, Northampton, MA, USA

Email :

akarim@smith.edu

Key Words (5 Words Maximum) :

Magnet, temperature, ferro-fluid, viscosity, oscillator current

Yogurt Fortification with Green Papaya Powder and Banana Resistant Starch: Effects on the Physicochemical and Bioactive Properties.

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 23:15:44 +0000

Functional yogurts from partially skimmed milk with banana resistant starch (BRS) and green papaya powder (GPP) were prepared for added nutritional and health benefits. A total of 5 set-type yogurt groups were prepared following conventional process: (1) milk only- control, (2) milk + 1 (BRS) :1 (GPP), (3) milk + 1 (BRS) :2 (GPP), (4) milk + 2 (BRS) :1 (GPP), and (5) milk + 3 (BRS): 1 (GPP). To evaluate the effect of the supplementation with BRS and GPP on yogurt quality, physicochemical, microbiological, and bioactive properties were studied. Specifically, yogurts were analyzed for their pH, titratable acidity (TA), firmness, viscosity, water activity (aw), whey syneresis, water holding capacity (WHC), color, probiotic viability, protein and dietary fiber content, and antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) during 21 days of storage at 4 ºC. Preliminary results suggested that added BRS and GPP in optimum proportions remarkably improved WHC and nutritional, antioxidative and TPC of yogurts. Moreover, added plant-based ingredients did not affect the viability of probiotic culture composed of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus during 21 days of storage. However, yogurts supplemented with BRS and GPP had reduced firmness and viscosity as compared to control. Overall, adding plant-based ingredients such as BRS and GPP can be an effective strategy to develop yogurts with enhanced nutritional and functional value.

Authors List :

Sarker, A., Jung, Y. & Siddiqui, R.

Presenting Author :

Siddiqui, R

Affiliations :

Agricultural & Environmental Research Station, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV 25112-1000; and Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA23806.

Email :

rsiddiqui@vsu.edu

Key Words (5 Words Maximum) :

Yogurt, Banana, papaya, antioxidants, polyphenols