Turning trash into treasure: Torrefaction of mixed waste for improved fuel properties. A case study of metropolitan city.

Solid waste management is one of the biggest challenges of the current era. The combustible fractions in the waste stream turn out to be a good energy source if converted into refuse-derived fuel. Researchers worldwide are successfully converting it into fuel. However, certain challenges are associated with its application in gasifiers, boilers, etc. to co-fire it with coal. These include high moisture content, low calorific value, and difficulty to transport and store. The present study proposed torrefaction as a pretreatment of the waste by heating it in the range of 200 °C-300 °C in the absence of oxygen at atmospheric pressure. The combustible fraction from the waste stream consisting of wood, textile, paper, carton, and plastics termed as mixed waste was collected and torrefied at 225 °C, 250 °C, 275 °C, and 300 °C for 15 and 30 min each. It was observed that the mass yield and energy yield decreased to 45% and 62.96% respectively, but the energy yield tended to increase by the ratio of 1.39. Proximate analysis showed that the moisture content and volatile matter decreased for torrefied samples, whereas the ash content and fixed carbon content increased. Similarly, the elemental analysis revealed that the carbon content increased around 23% compared to raw samples with torrefaction contrary to hydrogen and oxygen, which decreased. Moreover, the higher heating value (HHV) of the torrefied samples increased around 1.3 times as compared to the raw sample. This pretreatment can serve as an effective solution to the current challenges and enhance refuse-derived fuel's fuel properties.

Investigation of flow behaviour in the nozzle of a Pelton wheel: Effects and analysis of influencing parameters.

The performance of a Pelton wheel is influenced by the jet created by the nozzle. Therefore, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation was proposed. In this study, the significant output parameters (outlet velocity, outlet pressure, and tangential force component) and input parameters (different pressure and spear locations) were examined. In addition, the influencing parameters and their contributing percentages to the performance of the Pelton wheel were calculated using different optimisation techniques such as Taguchi Design of Experiments (DoE), Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) and Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC). The effect of input factors on the output response was examined with DoE, and the results show that the inlet pressure had the most significant impact (97.38%, 99.18%, and 97.38%, respectively, for all different spear sites with a 99% confidence level). In terms of preference values, the TOPSIS and GRA results are comparable (best ranks for simulation runs #24 and #25 and least ranks for simulations #2 and #3, respectively). The CRITIC results for the pressure parameter are in good agreement with the Taguchi ANOVA analysis. The last spear location (5 mm after the nozzle outlet), with an inlet pressure of 413685 Pa generated the best result when employing the TOPSIS and GRA techniques. The outlet pressure of the nozzle was found to have a significant impact on the flow pattern of the Pelton Wheel based on the analysis of the CRITIC, Taguchi, and CFD results.

Thermal and hydraulic performance of ZnO/EG based nanofluids in mini tubes of different diameters: An experimental investigation.

The present experimental study investigates the thermal and hydraulic performance of Ethylene Glycol (EG)-based ZnO nanofluids (NFs) in circular minichannel test sections, each of 330 mm in length and 1.0-2.0 mm inner diameters. The experiments were conducted under steady-state constant heat flux and laminar flow conditions. The stable ZnO/EG-based NFs were synthesized using a standard two-step method in varying nanoparticles (NPs) loadings (0.012-0.048 wt%). The morphological characteristics, crystal structure, and specific surface area (SSA) showed that the NPs were sized in nm, possessing excellent crystal structure and enhanced surface area. Thermal conductivity (TC) and viscosity (VC) of the NFs were examined in the 20-60 °C temperature range. Both TC and VC possessed an increasing trend with the rise in concentration of the NPs. However, with the temperature rise, TC increased while the VC decreased and vice versa. The highest enhancements in TC and VC were 14.38 % and 15.22 %, respectively, at 40 °C and 0.048 wt% of NPs loading. The highest enrichment recorded in the local and average heat transfer coefficient (HTC) were 14.80 % and 13.48% in a minichannel with 1.0 mm inner diameter, respectively. It was directly proportional to the NPs loading and volume flow rate of the NFs. The friction factor was also directly proportional to the test section's inner cross-sectional area, while the pressure gradient showed an inverse behavior. An inverse relationship was recorded for the volume flow rate of the NFs and vice versa. Maximum friction factor and the pressure drop for all three minichannel test sections were recorded as 34.58 % and 32.16 %, respectively. The well-known Shah correlation predicted the local and average HTC within ±15.0 %, while the friction factor and the pressure gradient were well predicted by the Darcy correlation within the ±10.0 % range.

Carbon capture, utilization and storage opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gases.

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies are utmost need of the modern era. CCUS technologies adoption is compulsory to keep global warming below 1.5 °C. Mineral carbonation (MC) is considered one of the safest and most viable methods to sequester anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2). MC is an exothermic reaction and occur naturally in the subsurface because of fluid-rock interactions with serpentinite. In serpentine carbonation, CO2 reacts with magnesium to produce carbonates. This article covers CO2 mitigation technologies especially mineral carbonation, mineral carbonation by natural and industrial materials, mineral carbonation feedstock availability in Pakistan, detailed characterization of serpentine from Skardu serpentinite belt, geo sequestration, oceanic sequestration, CO2 to urea and CO2 to methanol and other chemicals. Advantages, disadvantages, and suitability of these technologies is discussed. These technologies are utmost necessary for Pakistan as recent climate change induced flooding devastated one third of Pakistan affecting millions of families. Hence, Pakistan must store CO2 through various CCUS technologies.

Enhanced thermal conductivity of plasma generated ZnO-MgO based hybrid nanofluids: An experimental study.

Hybrid nanofluids (HNFs) of metallic oxide-based nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared in different basefluids (BFs) employing the thermal plasma technique. NPs of ZnO-MgO were directly dispersed into pristine coolant, engine oil, distilled water (DW), and coconut oil. Plasma was generated between two identical electrodes applying 8.0 kV at the ambient conditions and proved economically viable in preparing stable HNFs. X-ray Diffractometry (XRD) showed ZnO and MgO NPs possessed hexagonal and cubic crystal structures, respectively. The band gap is calculated through UV-visible spectroscopy. The thermal conductivity (TC) of the HNFs has been measured using a thermal conductivity analyzer based on the transient hot wire method. The band gaps of pristine coolant and its HNFs were obtained to be 3.35 eV and 3.33 eV, respectively. In engine oil and its HNFs, band gaps of 3.16 eV and 3.02 eV have been extracted. There appears to be a slight reduction in band gap for coolant and engine oil-based HNFs. The band gap value of coconut oil-based HNFs was 4.05 eV, which showed a higher value than the pristine coconut oil-based HNFs (3.95 eV). The band gap calculated in the case of DW-based HNFs was 3.79 eV. TC of HNFs with volume concentration of 0.019 % for DW, 0.020 % for coolant, 0.016 % for engine oil, and 0.017 % for coconut oil were tested between 20 and 60 °C. An increase in TC was observed with the rise in temperature of the HNFs. Maximum increment in TC was observed at 60 °C for coolant-based HNFs, which was 19 %, followed by DW (18%), coconut oil (18%), and engine oil (16%), respectively. DW-based HNFs can be used as a coolant and optical filter for optoelectronics devices like photovoltaic cells for better performance. The study underscores precise control of NPs size as pivotal for band gap influence. HNFs hold promise as the next-gen heat transfer fluids (HTFs), revolutionizing thermal conductivity across industries. This research lays a firm foundation for plasma-synthesized HNFs' application in enhanced heat transfer and optoelectronic devices. Coolant-based HNFs excel in thermal conductivity, addressing heat transfer challenges.

Evaluating sustainable municipal solid waste management scenarios: A multicriteria decision making approach.

Due to increasing urbanization and population growth, municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is a significant environmental concern in developing countries. Inadequate waste management systems lead to environmental pollution, health hazards, and economic losses. While considering the challenges and limitations, policymakers and authorities need to opt for such waste management scenarios that are environmentally friendly and resolve energy issues. Ten MSWM scenarios were developed and evaluated using seven different criteria. Four multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques, namely fuzzy logic, AHP, TOPSIS, and PROMETHEE II, were employed to rank the scenarios and identify the most appropriate option for solid waste management in Lahore. This study highlights that the optimal waste management approach comprises a composition of 54% anaerobic digestion, 37% gasification, and 9% landfill technologies. These percentages collectively represent the most suitable and effective strategies for the city's waste management needs. All the MCDM techniques consistently produce similar results. These scenarios have broader applicability across cities in Central Asia and beyond. The study's findings are aligned to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly MSWM practices. These findings endorse implementing strategies and measures aimed at fostering environmental sustainability and the responsible handling of waste, serving as a valuable reference for various regions.

Assessing the potential of GHG emissions for the textile sector: A baseline study.

The carbon footprint (CFP) is a measure of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted throughout the lifecycle of a product or activity, while the energy footprint (EFP) and water footprint (WFP) measure energy and water consumption, respectively. These footprints are essential for managing emissions and consumption and promoting low-carbon consumption. A carbon labeling scheme could help consumers make informed choices. Asia is a major textile producer and consumer, so studying textiles' carbon, energy, and water footprints is essential for managing domestic emissions, energy and water consumption, and international trade negotiations. This paper presents a method and framework for assessing CFP, EFP, and WFP at the product level and calculates the footprints for textile products. The results show that the total CFP of all textile products produced is 42,624.12 MT CO2e, with indirect emissions contributing significantly more than direct emissions. The total EFP is 248.38 PJ, with electricity consumption being the main contributor, while the total WFP is 80.71 billion liters. The spinning stage of production has the highest CFP and EFP, and energy consumption is the main contributor to all footprints. These results can help compare different products and reduce the footprints of the textile sector.

Developments in mineral carbonation for Carbon sequestration.

Mineral technology has attracted significant attention in recent decades. Mineral carbonation technology is being used for permanent sequestration of CO2 (greenhouse gas). Temperature programmed desorption studies showed interaction of CO2 with Mg indicating possibility of using natural feedstocks for mineral carbonation. Soaking is effective to increase yields of heat-activated materials. This review covers the latest developments in mineral carbonation technology. In this review, development in carbonation of natural minerals, effect of soaking on raw and heat-activated dunite, increasing reactivity of minerals, thermal activation, carbonations of waste materials, increasing efficiency of carbonation process and pilot plants on mineral carbonation are discussed. Developments in carbonation processes (single-stage carbonation, two-stage carbonation, acid dissolution, ph swing process) and pre-process and concurrent grinding are elaborated. This review also highlights future research required in mineral carbonation technology.

A comprehensive study on the performance and emission analysis in diesel engine via optimization of novel ternary fuel blends: Diesel, manganese, and diethyl ether.

Ecosystem degradation and fossil fuel depletion are the two foremost concerns to look for alternative fuels. Rapid population growth is primarily accountable for higher consumption of fossil fuel sources, although engine technology is achieving milestones in terms of fuel efficiency and lower exhaust emissions in order to contribute towards a sustainable environment. The main root cause of global warming is carbon dioxide emissions; therefore, it is imperative to assess the impact of alternative fuels in diesel engines with an aim to minimize carbon emissions. A current study deals with the reduction of carbon emissions and improvement of efficiency through addition of manganese nano-additive to di-ethyl ether and diesel fuel blend in particulate form. Fuel blends were formed by adding various proportions of manganese to high-speed diesel fuel and stirring the mixture while heating it for 10 min. The blends were then tested in diesel engines at two distinct loads and five engine speed ranges. Emission analyzer was used to ascertain the CO2 output of engine. At higher loads for 10 % diethyl ether in diesel, the increase in brake thermal efficiency was 24.19, 28.17 and 26.86 % when the manganese amount in blend was changed as 250 mg, 375 mg and 500 mg respectively. On the other side CO2 emissions increase by 11.57, 30.52 and 20.33 % for manganese concentrations of 250 mg, 375 mg and 500 mg respectively. Analysis performed with Design Expert 13 showed that the desirability was 0.796 for a blend of 375 mg manganese at 1300 rpm and 4500 W load with 33.0611 % BTE, 334.011kg/kWh BSFC, 67.8821Nm torque, and 6.072 % CO2. Therefore, it can be deduced that manganese nanoparticle blends improved engine performance but CO2 emissions also increase which can be responsible for global warming and it should be reduced through catalytic converters.

Investigation of tribo-mechanical performance of alkali treated rice-husk and polypropylene-random-copolymer based biocomposites.

This study was based on the experimental performance evaluation of a wood polymer composite (WPC) that was synthesized by incorporating untreated and treated rice husk (RH) fibers into a polypropylene random copolymer matrix. The submicron-scale RH fibers were alkali-treated to modify the surface and introduce new functional groups in the WPC. A compatibilizer (maleic anhydride) and a thermos-mechanical properties modifier (polypropylene grafted with 30 % glass fiber) were used in the WPC. The effects of untreated and treated RH on the WPC panels were studied using FESEM, FTIR, and microscope images. A pin-on-disk setup was used to investigate the bulk tribological properties of PPRC and WPC. The complex relationship between the friction coefficient of different loading of RH fibers in the WPC, as a function of sliding distance, was analyzed along with the temperature and morphology of the surface. It was observed that untreated RH acted as a friction modifier, while treated RH acted as a solid lubricant. Microhardness was calculated using the QCSM module on nanoindentation. It was found that untreated RH led to an increase in microhardness, while treated RH caused a decrease in hardness compared to PPRC.

Cultural bias: a comparison of semantic responses by 126 students from Pakistan and the United Kingdom to a wheelchair when viewed against a congruent and incongruent background.

PURPOSE: Converging visual behavioural and attentional allocation studies within neuroscience have shown culture influences the processing of visual information obtained from the visual field. While attending (reviewing) a visual scene, individuals from a collectivist culture attend more to the context (background) compared to those from an individualist culture who view more the focal object. This highlights the effect of cultural conditioning in terms of holistic and analytical processing of visual information. This study aimed to demonstrate these principles in the context of an assistive product, a wheelchair, highlighting the key visual elements of the form; and, how a congruent background (hospital room) or incongruent (athletics track) influenced cultural bias during visual processing and assigned meaning. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A combination of research methods (Semantic Differential Scale and eye-tracking) was used to triangulate the results. A total of 126 adult student participants, (Pakistani/collectivist, n = 57) and the (UK/individualist, n = 69), viewed a visual presentation of a wheelchair with semantically congruent and then an incongruent background and responded via an online questionnaire. A sub-sample completed the survey whilst monitored via eye-tracking. RESULTS: Pakistani respondents used shorter and less frequent fixations on the foreground compared to the responses of their counterparts (UK respondents). The wheel of the wheelchair was highlighted as the prominent form by both groups. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrate a culture-influenced pattern of visual processing even when the product was displayed against a semantically incongruent background. The findings from this study also validate and extend the outcomes of similar studies revealing a more specific, yet consistent, cultural effect on individuals' visual perception. Finally, the efficacy of triangulated research methods in their relationship to exploring the AT product's semantics was discussed.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe knowledge of AT products' semantics will be significant to investigate, for their improved social acceptance, particularly when considered from a diverse cultural standpoint.A model of best practice, focussing on semantics manipulation, will provide AT product designers, practitioners, and those involved in their marketing, Internationally, with a suitable process/tool to positively reframe the perception of these devices.Finally, this research will help product and industrial designers to consider cultural cognitive styles in the design of products for the better adoption of products within the global marketplace.

Experimental and Computational Study of Mechanical and Thermal Characteristics of h-BN and GNP Infused Polymer Composites for Elevated Temperature Applications.

Polymer-based nanocomposites are being considered as replacements for conventional materials in medium to high-temperature applications. This article aims to discover the synergistic effects of reinforcements on the developed polymer-based nanocomposite. An epoxy-based polymer composite was manufactured by reinforcing graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and h-boron nitride (h-BN) nanofillers. The composites were prepared by varying the reinforcements with the step of 0.1 from 0.1 to 0.6%. Ultrasonication was carried out to ensure the homogenous dispersion of reinforcements. Mechanical, thermal, functional, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was carried out on the novel manufactured composites. The evaluation revealed that the polymer composite with GNP 0.2 by wt % has shown an increase in load-bearing capacity by 265% and flexural strength by 165% compared with the pristine form, and the polymer composite with GNP and h-BN 0.6 by wt % showed an increase in load-bearing capacity by 219% and flexural strength by 114% when compared with the pristine form. Furthermore, the evaluation showed that the novel prepared nanocomposite reinforced with GNP and h-BN withstands a higher temperature, around 340 °C, which is validated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) trials. The numerical simulation model is implemented to gather the synthesised nanocomposite's best composition and mechanical properties. The minor error between the simulation and experimental data endorses the model's validity. To demonstrate the industrial applicability of the presented material, a case study is proposed to predict the temperature range for compressor blades of gas turbine engines containing nanocomposite material as the substrate and graphene/h-BN as reinforcement particles.

Optimization of Thermal and Structural Design in Lithium-Ion Batteries to Obtain Energy Efficient Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS): A Critical Review.

Covid-19 has given one positive perspective to look at our planet earth in terms of reducing the air and noise pollution thus improving the environmental conditions globally. This positive outcome of pandemic has given the indication that the future of energy belong to green energy and one of the emerging source of green energy is Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). LIBs are the backbone of the electric vehicles but there are some major issues faced by the them like poor thermal performance, thermal runaway, fire hazards and faster rate of discharge under low and high temperature environment,. Therefore to overcome these problems most of the researchers have come up with new methods of controlling and maintaining the overall thermal performance of the LIBs. The present review paper mainly is focused on optimization of thermal and structural design parameters of the LIBs under different BTMSs. The optimized BTMS generally demonstrated in this paper are maximum temperature of battery cell, battery pack or battery module, temperature uniformity, maximum or average temperature difference, inlet temperature of coolant, flow velocity, and pressure drop. Whereas the major structural design optimization parameters highlighted in this paper are type of flow channel, number of channels, length of channel, diameter of channel, cell to cell spacing, inlet and outlet plenum angle and arrangement of channels. These optimized parameters investigated under different BTMS heads such as air, PCM (phase change material), mini-channel, heat pipe, and water cooling are reported profoundly in this review article. The data are categorized and the results of the recent studies are summarized for each method. Critical review on use of various optimization algorithms (like ant colony, genetic, particle swarm, response surface, NSGA-II, etc.) for design parameter optimization are presented and categorized for different BTMS to boost their objectives. The single objective optimization techniques helps in obtaining the optimal value of important design parameters related to the thermal performance of battery cooling systems. Finally, multi-objective optimization technique is also discussed to get an idea of how to get the trade-off between the various conflicting parameters of interest such as energy, cost, pressure drop, size, arrangement, etc. which is related to minimization and thermal efficiency/performance of the battery system related to maximization. This review will be very helpful for researchers working with an objective of improving the thermal performance and life span of the LIBs.

Performance indicators for the optimal BTE of biodiesels with additives through engine testing by the Taguchi approach.

Biodiesel commercialization is questionable due to poor brake thermal efficiency. Biodiesel utilization should be improved with the addition of fuel additives. Hydrogen peroxide is a potential fuel additive due to extra hydrogen and oxygen content, which improves the combustion process. In this experimental study, biodiesel has been produced from Jatropha oil employing catalyzed transesterification homogeneously to examine its influence on the performance and emissions at engine loads with 1500 rpm utilizing a four-stroke single-cylinder diesel engine. D60B40 (having 60% diesel and 40% biodiesel) and D60B30A10 (60% diesel, 30% biodiesel and 10% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)), are the fuel mixtures in the current study. The addition of H2O2 reduces emissions and enhances the combustion process. This effect occurred due to the micro-explosion of the injected fuel particles (which increases in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate (HRR)). An increase of 20% in BTE and 25% reduction in BSFC for D60B30A10 was observed compared to D60B40. Significant reduction in emissions of HC up to 17.54%, smoke by 24.6% CO2 by 3.53%, and an increase in NOx was noticed when the engine is operated with D60B30A10. The HRR increased up to 18.6%, ID reduced by 10.82%, and in-cylinder pressure increased by 8.5%. Test runs can be minimized as per Taguchi's design of experiments. It is possible to provide the estimates for the full factorial design of experiments. Exhaust gas temperature standards are evaluated and examined for all fuel blends.

Parametric Analysis of Epoxy/Crumb Rubber Composite by Using Taguchi-GRA Hybrid Technique.

Effect of parameters affecting solid particle erosion of crumb rubber epoxy composite is investigated. Five important process parameters-impact velocity, impingement angle, standoff distance, erodent size, and crumb rubber content-are taken into consideration. Erosion rate and erosion efficiency are included as the chief objectives. The Taguchi coupled gray relational analysis type statistical model is implemented to study interaction, parameters' effect on responses, and optimized parameters. ANOVA and regression model affirmed impingement angle and crumb rubber content play a significant role to minimize the erosion. Validity of the proposed model is justified with the standard probability plot and R2 value. A confirmation experiment conducted with A2B2C3D3E3 condition registers noticeable enhancement in GRG to the tune of 0.0893.

Leverage of Environmental Pollutant Crump Rubber on the Dry Sliding Wear Response of Epoxy Composites.

The effect of crump rubber on the dry sliding wear behavior of epoxy composites is investigated in the present study. Wear tests are carried out for three levels of crump rubber (10, 20, and 30 vol.%), normal applied load (30, 40, and 50 N), and sliding distance (1, 3, and 5 km). The wear behavior of crump rubber-epoxy composites is investigated against EN31 steel discs. The hybrid mathematical approach of Taguchi-coupled Grey Relational Analysis (GRA)-Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is used to examine the influence of crump rubber on the tribological response of composites. Mathematical and experimental results reveal that increasing crump rubber content reduces the wear rate of composites. Composites also show a significant decrease in specific wear values at higher applied loads. Furthermore, the coefficient of friction also shows a decreasing trend with an increase in crump rubber content, indicating the effectiveness of reinforcing crump rubber in a widely used epoxy matrix. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results also reveal that the crump rubber content in the composite is a significant parameter to influence the wear characteristic. The post-test temperature of discs increases with an increase in the applied load, while decreasing with an increase in filler loading. Worn surfaces are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy to understand structure-property correlations. Finally, existing studies available in the literature are compared with the wear data of the present study in the form of a property map.

Neural Network-Based Prediction Model to Investigate the Influence of Temperature and Moisture on Vibration Characteristics of Skew Laminated Composite Sandwich Plates.

The present study deals with the development of a prediction model to investigate the impact of temperature and moisture on the vibration response of a skew laminated composite sandwich (LCS) plate using the artificial neural network (ANN) technique. Firstly, a finite element model is generated to incorporate the hygro-elastic and thermo-elastic characteristics of the LCS plate using first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT). Graphite-epoxy composite laminates are used as the face sheets, and DYAD606 viscoelastic material is used as the core material. Non-linear strain-displacement relations are used to generate the initial stiffness matrix in order to represent the stiffness generated from the uniformly varying temperature and moisture concentrations. The mechanical stiffness matrix is derived using linear strain-displacement associations. Then the results obtained from the numerical model are used to train the ANN. About 11,520 data points were collected from the numerical analysis and were used to train the network using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. The developed ANN model is used to study the influence of various process parameters on the frequency response of the system, and the outcomes are compared with the results obtained from the numerical model. Several numerical examples are presented and conferred to comprehend the influence of temperature and moisture on the LCS plates.

Engine performance and emission characteristics of palm biodiesel blends with graphene oxide nanoplatelets and dimethyl carbonate additives.

This study investigated the engine performance and emission characteristics of biodiesel blends with combined Graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GNPs) and 10% v/v dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as fuel additives as well as analysed the tribological characteristics of those blends. 10% by volume DMC was mixed with 30% palm oil biodiesel blends with diesel. Three different concentrations (40, 80 and 120 ppm) of GNPs were added to these blends via the ultrasonication process to prepare the nanofuels. Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) surfactant was added to improve the stability of these blends. GNPs were characterised using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), while the viscosity of nanofuels was investigated by rheometer. UV-spectrometry was used to determine the stability of these nanoplatelets. A ratio of 1:4 GNP: SDS was found to produce maximum stability in biodiesel. Performance and emissions characteristics of these nanofuels have been investigated in a four-stroke compression ignition engine. The maximum reduction in BSFC of 5.05% and the maximum BTE of 22.80% was for B30GNP40DMC10 compared to all other tested blends. A reduction in HC (25%) and CO (4.41%) were observed for B30DMC10, while a reduction in NOx of 3.65% was observed for B30GNP40DMC10. The diesel-biodiesel fuel blends with the addition of GNP exhibited a promising reduction in the average coefficient of friction 15.05%, 8.68% and 3.61% for 120, 80 and 40 ppm concentrations compared to B30. Thus, combined GNP and DMC showed excellent potential for utilisation in diesel engine operation.

Fundamental Concepts of Hydrogels: Synthesis, Properties, and Their Applications.

In the present review, we focused on the fundamental concepts of hydrogels-classification, the polymers involved, synthesis methods, types of hydrogels, properties, and applications of the hydrogel. Hydrogels can be synthesized from natural polymers, synthetic polymers, polymerizable synthetic monomers, and a combination of natural and synthetic polymers. Synthesis of hydrogels involves physical, chemical, and hybrid bonding. The bonding is formed via different routes, such as solution casting, solution mixing, bulk polymerization, free radical mechanism, radiation method, and interpenetrating network formation. The synthesized hydrogels have significant properties, such as mechanical strength, biocompatibility, biodegradability, swellability, and stimuli sensitivity. These properties are substantial for electrochemical and biomedical applications. Furthermore, this review emphasizes flexible and self-healable hydrogels as electrolytes for energy storage and energy conversion applications. Insufficient adhesiveness (less interfacial interaction) between electrodes and electrolytes and mechanical strength pose serious challenges, such as delamination of the supercapacitors, batteries, and solar cells. Owing to smart and aqueous hydrogels, robust mechanical strength, adhesiveness, stretchability, strain sensitivity, and self-healability are the critical factors that can identify the reliability and robustness of the energy storage and conversion devices. These devices are highly efficient and convenient for smart, light-weight, foldable electronics and modern pollution-free transportation in the current decade.

Effect of Treatment With Tabalumab, a B Cell-Activating Factor Inhibitor, on Highly Sensitized Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease Awaiting Transplantation.

B cell-activation factor (BAFF) is critical for B cell maturation. Inhibition of BAFF represents an appealing target for desensitization of sensitized end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. We conducted a Phase 2a, single-arm, open-label exploratory study investigating the effect of tabalumab (BAFF inhibitor) in patients with ESRD and calculated panel reactive antibodies (cPRAs) >50%. The treatment period duration was 24 weeks. Eighteen patients received tabalumab, at doses of 240-mg subcutaneous (SC) at Week 0 followed by 120-mg SC monthly for 5 additional months. Patients were followed for an additional 52 weeks. Immunopharmacologic effects were characterized through analysis of blood for HLA antibodies, BAFF concentrations, immunoglobulins, T and B cell subsets, as well as pre- and posttreatment tonsil and bone marrow biopsies. Significant reductions in cPRAs were observed at Weeks 16 (p = 0.043) and 36 (p = 0.004); however, absolute reductions were small (<5%). Expected pharmacologic changes in B cell subsets and immunoglobulin reductions were observed. Two tabalumab-related serious adverse events occurred (pneumonia, worsening of peripheral neuropathy), while the most common other adverse events were injection-site pain and hypotension. Three patients received matched deceased donor transplants during follow-up. Treatment with a BAFF inhibitor resulted in statistically significant, but not clinically meaningful reduction in the cPRA from baseline (NCT01200290, Clinicaltrials.gov).