Persistence of two coronaviruses and efficacy of steam vapor disinfection on two types of carpet.

BACKGROUND: Coronaviruses, a group of highly transmissible and potentially pathogenic viruses, can be transmitted indirectly to humans via fomites. To date, no study has investigated their persistence on carpet fibers. Establishing persistence is essential before testing the efficacy of a disinfectant. METHODS: The persistence of BCoV and HCoV OC43 on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon carpet was first determined using infectivity and RT-qPCR assays. Then, the disinfectant efficacy of steam vapor was evaluated against both coronaviruses on nylon carpet. RESULTS: Immediately after inoculation of carpet coupons, 32.50% of BCoV and 3.87% of HCoV OC43 were recovered from PET carpet, compared to 34.86% of BCoV and 24.37% of HCoV OC43 recovered from nylon carpet. After incubation at room temperature for 1 h, BCoV and HCoV OC43 showed a 3.6 and > 2.8 log10 TCID50 reduction on PET carpet, and a 0.6 and 1.8 log10 TCID50 reduction on nylon carpet. Based on first-order decay kinetics, the whole gRNA of BCoV and HCoV OC43 were stable with k values of 1.19 and 0.67 h- 1 on PET carpet and 0.86 and 0.27 h- 1 on nylon carpet, respectively. A 15-s steam vapor treatment achieved a > 3.0 log10 TCID50 reduction of BCoV and > 3.2 log10 TCID50 reduction of HCoV OC43 on nylon carpet. CONCLUSION: BCoV was more resistant to desiccation on both carpet types than HCoV OC43. Both viruses lost infectivity quicker on PET carpet than on nylon carpet. Steam vapor inactivated both coronaviruses on nylon carpet within 15 s.

Spatial Confinement Engineered Gel Composite Evaporators for Efficient Solar Steam Generation.

Recently, solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) has been developed quickly for low-cost and sustainable seawater desalination, but addressing the conflict between a high evaporation rate and salt rejection during SDIE is still challenging. Here, a spatial confinement strategy is proposed to prepare the gel composite solar evaporator (SCE) by loading one thin hydrogel layer onto the skeleton of a carbon aerogel. The SCE retains the hierarchically porous structure of carbon aerogels with an optimized water supply induced by dual-driven forces (capillary effects and osmotic pressure) and takes advantage of both aerogels and hydrogels, which can gain energy from air and reduce water enthalpy. The SCE has a high evaporation rate (up to 4.23 kg m-2 h-1 under one sun) and excellent salt rejection performance and can maintain structural integrity after long-term evaporation even at high salinities. The SDIE behavior, including heat distribution, water transport, and salt ion distribution, is investigated by combining theoretical simulations and experimental results. This work provides new inspiration and a theoretical basis for the development of high-performance interfacial evaporators.

MOF-303 with Lowered Water Evaporation Enthalpy for Solar Steam Generation.

Hydrophilic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising for solar steam generation from waste or seawater. In this study, we propose a MOF-based Janus membrane for efficient solar steam generation. We selected MOF-303 for its hydrophilic properties and 1D channels with 6.5 Å cavity diameter, making it an excellent water-absorbing layer. Characterization via Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry indicates that the nanoconfinement within MOF-303 can reduce the water evaporation enthalpy, thereby boosting water production efficiency. When deposited on various substrates, MOF-303 aimed to optimize solar steam generation. We enhanced the membrane performance by incorporating carbon black (CB), polydopamine (PDA), and perfluoro-functionalized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT-F), materials known for their solar-to-thermal energy conversion capabilities. PEDOT-F, in particular, also served as a hydrophobic layer, preventing salt recrystallization during seawater operation. Under one sun irradiation, the water evaporation flux for deionized water increased from 0.31 to 0.79 kg h-1 m-2 using a porous hydrophilic poly(vinylidene difluoride) substrate and further to 2.36 kg h-1 m-2 with the optimized MOF-303-CB/PDA-PEDOT-F membrane, achieving an energy conversion efficiency of 97%. Additionally, the desalination capability of the MOF-303 membrane effectively reduced metal ion concentrations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) to meet the WHO drinking water standards. These findings demonstrate the significant potential of the MOF-303-based Janus membrane for practical applications in solar steam generation and desalination, combining high water evaporation rates with excellent energy conversion efficiency.

Effect of Sterilization Methods on Chemical and Physical-Mechanical Properties of Cotton Compresses.

The aim of this work was to determine the changes in the chemical and physical-mechanical properties of gauze compresses under the influence of various sterilizations. Gauze compresses are made of cotton; therefore, all methods used focused on cotton. The methods used to test possible damage to cotton materials (pH value (pH paper, KI starch paper), yellowing test, Fehling reaction, reaction to the formation of Turnbull blue (Berlin blue), microscopic staining with methylene blue and swelling reaction with Na-zincate) did not show that the sterilizations affected the cotton compresses. The morphological characteristics were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM images showed that there were no morphological changes in the cotton fibers. FTIR-ATR spectroscopy revealed that the sterilization processes did not alter the characteristic bands of the cotton. The length of the macromolecules was increased (DP), showing that the sterilization processes had affected the cotton. The results of the wet strength test followed. The samples showed values below 100%, with the exception of two samples. It is known from theory that the relative wet strength is less than 100% when the material is damaged. The t-test performed on the strength results showed that the p-value was greater than 0.05 for all samples tested, with the exception of one sample. The degree of swelling capacity was determined, with non-sterilized samples having the highest capacity, followed by samples sterilized with ethylene oxide and then samples sterilized by steam sterilization. The results obtained are a contribution to the innovation of the topic of this work and a scientific confirmation for manufacturers and anyone interested in the influence of the sterilization process on natural fibers (cotton).

Pectin from steam explosion-treated citrus peel exhibits good emulsion properties and bioavailability-promoting effect in vitro of nobiletin.

Steam explosion (SE) is a potential method to modify pectin structure, which might be connected to its emulsifying characteristics and the bioavailability of encapsulated polymethoxyflavone like nobiletin. However, the relationship between SE-modified pectin and the bioavailability of encapsulated nobiletin is still unclear. In this study, nobiletin-loaded emulsion was fabricated using citrus pectin modified with SE (0.15-0.9 MPa, 3 min) as emulsifier for in vitro digestion study, and the transport and absorption of nobiletin in Caco-2 cells to investigate the bioavailability-promoting effect. The results showed that SE treatment lowered the droplet size of emulsion from 21.38 ± 2.30 µm to 2.14 ± 0.12 µm, enhanced the nobiletin encapsulation efficiency from 23.73 ± 0.78% to 86.27 ± 3.81%, improved the nobiletin bioaccessibility in vitro from 2.48 ± 0.10% to 25.42 ± 0.10% and increased the intracellular accumulation of nobiletin by over 10 times, even higher than that of Tween 80. In conclusion, pectin from SE-treated citrus peel exhibited good emulsion properties and bioavailability-promoting effect in vitro of nobiletin.

Green Synthesis of MOF-based Materials for Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide.

Porous ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 were synthesized via a green steam-assisted dry-gel technique and investigated as potential catalysts for CO2 electroreduction. The synthesis conditions are found to significantly influence the growth of these metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Notably, the water content employed during synthesis plays a crucial role in shaping the morphological properties of ZIF-8. Specifically, a moderate water content results in the formation of uniform ZIF-8 with a size distribution ranging from 240 to 440 nm. During CO2 electroreduction, these morphological properties exert substantial effects on the selectivity for CO formation, thereby facilitating the production of syngas with adjustable CO: H2 ratios. This feature holds promise for the widespread adoption of syngas as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, offering potential benefits for electricity generation and liquid fuel production.  Despite sharing similar structural properties with ZIF-8, ZIF-67 exhibits distinct performance characterized by its limited selectivity for CO2 electroreduction. This discrepancy is attributed to the different metal centers of the two MOFs, resulting in the distinct activation of CO2 and H2O molecules and their further reduction. This finding highlights the critical role of metal centers in MOF-based materials for electrocatalysis application.

The benefits of ablation using TactiFlex compared with TactiCath in an ex vivo model: a face-to-face experimental comparison study.

BACKGROUND: TactiFlex is a next-generation catheter that is being used increasingly in ablation-treatment strategies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in ablation lesions when the ablation power, time, and perfusion flow are varied with TactiFlex and TactiCath catheters. METHODS: The TactiFlex and TactiCath catheters were contacted perpendicularly/obliquely/parallel to the swine myocardium at varying powers (30, 40, and 50 W), time points (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 s), and forces (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 g); the depth, width, and area of each lesion were measured, and the number of steam pops that occurred was counted. RESULTS: A total of 672 (336 lesions for each catheter) radiofrequency (RF) energy applications were delivered and 648 lesions were analyzed, excluding steam pops. The surface area and volume increased significantly with an increasing contact force for the TactiCath. The TactiCath lesions were significantly deeper than those for TactiFlex in most groups with the same power and seconds. The surface area was significantly larger when the catheters were contacted obliquely/parallel to the myocardium than perpendicularly using TactiCath, whereas the difference was less significant in the case of TactiFlex. In a 10-g contact force ablation experiment, TactiFlex did not cause pops, but TactiCath caused pops in 9.8% of cases. CONCLUSION: The TactiFlex lesions were shallower than those of TactiCath. However, TactiFlex catheters reduced the steam pops during RF applications. Those data should help clinicians understand the characteristics of the catheters and develop adequate strategies.

Hydrogen Production from Methanol Steam Reforming over Fe-Modified Cu/CeO2 Catalysts.

Fe-modified Cu catalysts with CeO2 support, prepared by the impregnation method, were subjected to physicochemical analysis and catalytic tests in the steam reforming of methanol (SRM). Physicochemical studies of the catalysts were carried out using the XRF, TEM, STEM-EDS, XRD, TPR and nitrogen adsorption/desorption methods. XRD, TEM studies and catalytic tests of the catalysts were carried out at two reduction temperatures, 260 °C and 400 °C, to determine the relationship between the form and oxidation state of the active phase of the catalysts and the catalytic properties of these systems in the SRM. Additionally, the catalysts after the reaction were analysed for the changes in the structure and morphology using TEM methods. The presented results show that the composition of the catalysts, morphology, structure, form and oxidation state of the Cu and Fe active metals in the catalysts and the reaction temperature significantly impact their activity, selectivity and stability in the SRM process. The gradual deactivation of the studied catalysts under SRM conditions could result from the forming of carbon deposits and/or the gradual oxidation of the copper and iron phases under the reaction conditions.

Influence of NR/MWCNT Blending on Rotor Metal Friction and Wear during Mixing Process.

Mixing involves blending raw rubber or masticated rubber with additives using a rubber mixer, which is the most critical process in rubber production. The internal mixer, as the most important mixing equipment, experiences rotor wear during prolonged operation, affecting the gap between the mixer rotor and the chamber wall. This wear reduces mixing effectiveness, weakens filler dispersion, and ultimately impacts rubber performance. In recent years, as research on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and nanomaterials has deepened, their broad application prospects have become increasingly apparent. The objective of the present study is to understand and quantify rotor wear in rubber blends during the mixing process as influenced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes. This study found that with the increase in MWCNT content, the proportion of abrasive wear rises, while the proportion of corrosive wear decreases, leading to reduced overall wear. Compared to rubber without MWCNTs, the Payne effect decreased by 6.78%, 9.57%, 13.03%, 20.48%, and 26.06% with the addition of 1 phr, 3 phr, 5 phr, 7 phr, and 9 phr of MWCNTs, respectively. The friction coefficients between the rubber and metal increased by 6.31%, 8.57%, 25.43%, 39.31%, and 47.61%, while the metal wear rate decreased by 9.08%, 10.73%, 13.41%, 17.46%, and 25%. Conversely, the friction coefficients were reduced by 19.39%, 22.42%, 33.94%, 66.06%, and 76.36%.

Effectiveness of an Acupuncture Steam-Warming Eye Mask on Dry Eye Disease in Visual Display Terminal Users: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of an acupuncture steam-warming eye mask (ASEM) on dry eye disease (DED) in visual display terminal (VDT) users. This prospective randomized clinical trial included VDT users with DED-related features who were randomly assigned to the ASEM group (ASEM for 2 weeks, 20 participants) or the steam-warming eye mask (SEM) group (SEM for 2 weeks, 20 participants). The tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, tear meniscus height, ocular surface staining scores, eyelid and meibomian gland exam, subjective symptoms, and quality of life (QoL) scores before and after treatment were collected. A generalized linear mixed model was applied to compare the improvement of symptoms and signs between the two groups. After the 2-week treatment, all the subjective symptoms and questionnaire scores in the ASEM group improved significantly (all p < 0.05), whereas the feelings of relaxation, comfortable, and refreshment did not change in the SEM group (both p > 0.05). The TBUT, tear meniscus height, and meibum quality in the lower eyelid were significantly better in the ASEM group than the SEM group (all p < 0.05), whereas no significant changes were observed in the Schirmer test and ocular surface staining scores. Compared with the SEM group, the ASEM group experienced a stronger feeling of refreshment (p = 0.013), lower sensation of ocular discharge (p = 0.031), higher TBUT (p = 0.045), better meibomian gland expressibility of both eyelids (both p < 0.05), and better meibum quality of both eyelids (both p < 0.05), even after adjustments for age and sex. In conclusion, comparing with SEM, ASEM can improve some subjective DED symptoms, tear film stability, and meibum status in VDT users.

Effect of steam explosion pretreatment on the fermentation characteristics of polysaccharides from tea residue.

Green tea residues are the by-product of tea processing and they contain a large number of bioactive ingredients. Steam explosion has been recognized as one of the most innovative pretreatments for modifying the physicochemical characteristic of polysaccharides from lignocellulosic materials. However, the comparison of biological activity of steam exploded (SE-GTR) and unexploded (UN-GTR) green tea residue polysaccharides was still unclear, which prompted the determination of the efficacy of steam explosion in tea residue resource utilization. In this study, the effects of two extracted polysaccharides UN-GTR and SE-GTR on human gut microbiota in vitro fermentation were conducted. The results showed that after steam explosion pretreatment, SE-GTR displayed more loose and porous structures, resulting in higher polysaccharide content (2483.44±0.5 µg/mg) compared to UN-GTR (1903.56±2.6 µg/mg). In addition, after 24 h fermentation, gut microbiota produced more beneficial metabolites by SE-GTR. The largest SCFAs produced among samples was acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid. Furthermore, SE-GTR could regulate the composition and diversity of microbial community, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium. These results revealed that steam explosion pretreatment could be a promising and efficient approach to enhance the antioxidant activity and bioavailability of polysaccharides isolated from tea residues.

Effect of steam cooking and particle size on the nutritional composition, phytochemicals and antioxidant activities of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) powder.

In this study raw and steamed Pleurotus ostreatus were dried and ground and fractionated by sieving into four granulometric classes (< 200 µm, 200-250 µm, 250-355 µm and > 355 µm) and unsieved powders. The combined steam cooking and sieving improved the content of total polyphenols (+ 59.45%), flavonoids (+ 76.47%), condensed tannins (+ 68.75%) and trace elements (+ 45.51% Fe, + 63.63% Cu, + 62.42% Mn, + 121.11% Zn, and + 53.52% Se) as well as in-vitro and in-vivo antioxidant activities in the finest fraction < 200 µm compared to the raw powder. It was found that the intake at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight of the finest fractions of raw and steamed powders by the stressed rats had more of a hepatoprotective effect marked by a reduction in the level of transaminases ALAT and ASAT. This work opens a new approach for valuing edible mushrooms in the development of new food products with high antioxidant value.

In vitro digestion and fermentation characteristics of soluble dietary fiber from adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Staft) bran modified by steam explosion.

Adlay bran is known for its nutrient-rich profile and multifunctional properties, and steam explosion (SE) is an emerging physical modification technique. However, the specific effects of SE on the activity composition and antioxidant capacity of adlay bran soluble dietary fiber (SDF) during in vitro digestion, as well as its influence on gut microbiota during in vitro fermentation, remain inadequately understood. This paper reports the in vitro digestion and fermentation characteristics of soluble dietary fiber from adlay bran modified by SE (SE-SDF). Compared with the untreated samples (0-SDF), most of the phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were significantly increased in the SE-SDF digests. Additionally, SE was beneficial for adlay bran SDF to increase the content of acetic acid, propionic acid and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in fermentation broth during in vitro fermentation. SE-SDF could promote the growth of beneficial bacteria while inhibiting the proliferation of pathogenic microbes. Our research indicates that SE-SDF shows strong antioxidant properties after in vitro digestion and plays a pivotal role in regulating gut microbiota during in vitro fermentation, ultimately enhancing human intestinal health.

Utilizing superheated steam to prepare traditional Chinese twice-cooked pork bellies, exploring its effects on the texture and flavor of fat layers.

Fat greatly impacts the overall texture and flavor of pork belly. Twice-cooked pork bellies (TPB), typically boiled and sliced before "back to pot" being stir-fried, is a classic Sichuan cuisine among stir-fried dishes. In this study, the effects of substituting conventional pan-frying (PCV) with superheated steam (SHS) technology on the sensory, texture, microstructure and flavor of the fat layers were investigated. SHS was used as an alternative to boiling (120 °C for 15, 20, 25, and 30 min), and "back to pot" stir-frying was also by SHS. TPB precooked for 25 min (P25) with SHS performed better quality characteristics than PCV, with less collagen fiber disruption and lipid droplet area, resulting in a lower hardness and higher shear force. Besides, the low-oxygen environment of SHS retarded the lipid peroxidation, showing a significantly lower MDA content than PCV. Differently, PCV exhibited more grassy and fatty flavors, while P25 exhibited a unique aroma of fruity and creamy due to its higher UFA/SFA ratios in the pre-cooking stage. Overall, the sensory scores of P25 were comparable to those of PCV (with no significant difference), revealing that SHS is expected to be applied to the industrial production of stir-fried dishes.

Tree-Inspired Aerogel Comprising Nonoxidized Graphene Flakes and Cellulose as Solar Absorber for Efficient Water Generation.

As global freshwater shortages worsen, solar steam generation (SSG) emerges as a promising, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solution for water purification. However, widespread SSG implementation requires efficient photothermal materials and solar evaporators that integrate enhanced light-to-heat conversion, rapid water transportation, and optimal thermal management. This study investigates using nonoxidized graphene flakes (NOGF) with negligible defects as photothermal materials capable of absorbing over 98% of sunlight. By combining NOGF with cellulose nanofibers (CNF) through bidirectional freeze casting, we created a vertically and radially aligned solar evaporator. The hybrid aerogel exhibited exceptional solar absorption, efficient solar-to-thermal conversion, and improved surface wettability. Inspired by tree structures, our design ensures rapid water supply while minimizing heat loss. With low NOGF content (∼10.0%), the NOGF/CNF aerogel achieves a solar steam generation rate of 2.39 kg m-2 h-1 with an energy conversion efficiency of 93.7% under 1-sun illumination, promising applications in seawater desalination and wastewater purification.

The Impact of Thermal Treatment Intensity on Proteins, Fatty Acids, Macro/Micro-Nutrients, Flavor, and Heating Markers of Milk-A Comprehensive Review.

Milk thermal treatment, such as pasteurization, high-temperature short-time processing, and the emerging ultra-short-time processing (<0.5 s), are crucial for ensuring milk safety and extending its shelf life. Milk is a nutritive food matrix with various macro/micro-nutrients and other constituents that are possibly affected by thermal treatment for reasons associated with processing strength. Therefore, understanding the relationship between heating strength and milk quality is vital for the dairy industry. This review summarizes the impact of thermal treatment strength on milk's nutritional and sensory properties, the synthesizing of the structural integrity and bioavailability of milk proteins, the profile and stability of fatty acids, the retention of macro/micro-nutrients, as well as the overall flavor profile. Additionally, it examines the formation of heat-induced markers, such as Maillard reaction products, lactulose, furosine, and alkaline phosphatase activity, which serve as indicators of heating intensity. Flavor and heating markers are commonly used to assess the quality of pasteurized milk. By examining former studies, we conclude that ultra-short-time-processing-treated milk is comparable to pasteurized milk in terms of specific parameters (such as whey protein behavior, furosine, and ALP contents). This review aims to better summarize how thermal treatments influence the milk matrix, guiding the dairy industry's development and balancing milk products' safety and nutritional value.

RS-DFID Africa capacity-building initiative programme grant: harnessing unsteady phase-change heat exchange in high-performance concentrated solar power systems.

The Royal Society and UK Department for International Development supported a consortium of three universities across sub-Saharan Africa and Imperial College London with the aim of developing new knowledge on direct-steam-generation concentrated solar power (CSP) plants and supporting relevant capacity building across the Universities of Lagos, Mauritius and Pretoria. Key research findings from the programme include an improved flow-classification scheme for two-phase, liquid-liquid flows; testing of advanced surfaces with much-improved steady-state heat transfer performance-the commercial nanoFLUX surface showed up to 200% higher heat-transfer coefficients (HTCs) in pool boiling compared with other surfaces with R-134a/R-245fa; first-of-a-kind measurements of transient flow boiling HTCs, which were up to 30% lower in step perturbations than quasi-steady-state expectations in horizontal pipes with R-245fa; error estimation and corrections for laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements, leading to the development of an adapted planar LIF technique with uncertainty <10% for local, instantaneous film thickness measurements in annular flows, and the application of such diagnostic methods to pool, falling-film and flow boiling in pipes; and predictions of an ~80% increase in the net present value of a case-study CSP plant when integrated with solid storage media.

Steam quality monitoring as a strategy to reduce wet packs and sterilization failure.

BACKGROUND: Hospital articles processed by steam are widely used in the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), responsible for due sterilization. Steam sterilization is discussed worldwide, aiming to protect patients. If steam is outside the specified requirements, the sterilization process may fail, resulting in the wet packs at the end of the sterilization cycle. METHODS: The present study evaluated the steam quality at Santa Catarina Hospital (São Paulo, SP, Brazil) from 2016 to 2022. Saturated steam containing noncondensable gases, excess condensate, or even superheat was characterized using the methodology indicated in the European Standard EN 285:2015. RESULTS: From 2016 to 2020, qualification tests showed that the saturated steam quality does not achieve standard limit parameters. Infrastructural maintenance actions were taken to adjust the saturated steam quality. In 2021, the steam quality followed technical standards, and its adequacy was confirmed in 2022. CONCLUSIONS: The points developed by the hospital's maintenance department, the adoption of appropriate devices for this purpose, and the correct preventive maintenance in the autoclaves, together with the correct qualification of the equipment and proof of the steam quality, contributed to improve the safety of the hospital sterilization process and reduce the incidence of wet packages.

Separate hydrolysis and fermentation of softwood bark pretreated with 2-naphthol by steam explosion.

BACKGROUND: 2-Naphthol, a carbocation scavenger, is known to mitigate lignin condensation during the acidic processing of lignocellulosic biomass, which may benefit downstream processing of the resulting materials. Consequently, various raw materials have demonstrated improved enzymatic saccharification yields for substrates pretreated through autohydrolysis and dilute acid hydrolysis in the presence of 2-naphthol. However, 2-naphthol is toxic to ethanol-producing organisms, which may hinder its potential application. Little is known about the implications of 2-naphthol in combination with the pretreatment of softwood bark during continuous steam explosion in an industrially scalable system. RESULTS: The 2-naphthol-pretreated softwood bark was examined through spectroscopic techniques and subjected to separate hydrolysis and fermentation along with a reference excluding the scavenger and a detoxified sample washed with ethanol. The extractions of the pretreated materials with water resulted in a lower aromatic content in the extracts and stronger FTIR signals, possibly related to guaiacyl lignin, in the nonextractable residue when 2-naphthol was used during pretreatment. In addition, cyclohexane/acetone (9:1) extraction revealed the presence of pristine 2-naphthol in the extracts and increased aromatic content of the nonextractable residue detectable by NMR for the scavenger-pretreated materials. Whole-slurry enzymatic saccharification at 12% solids loading revealed that elevated saccharification recoveries after 48 h could not be achieved with the help of the scavenger. Glucose concentrations of 16.9 (reference) and 15.8 g/l (2-naphthol) could be obtained after 48 h of hydrolysis. However, increased inhibition during fermentation of the scavenger-pretreated hydrolysate, indicated by yeast cell growth, was slight and could be entirely overcome by the detoxification stage. The ethanol yields from fermentable sugars after 24 h were 0.45 (reference), 0.45 (2-naphthol), and 0.49 g/g (2-naphthol, detoxified). CONCLUSION: The carbocation scavenger 2-naphthol did not increase the saccharification yield of softwood bark pretreated in an industrially scalable system for continuous steam explosion. On the other hand, it was shown that the scavenger's inhibitory effects on fermenting microorganisms can be overcome by controlling the pretreatment conditions to avoid cross-inhibition or detoxifying the substrates through ethanol washing. This study underlines the need to jointly optimize all the main processing steps.

Hofmeister Effect-Assisted Facile Fabrication of Self-Assembled Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Graphite Composite Sponge-Like Hydrogel for Solar Steam Generation.

The use of hydrogel-based interfacial solar evaporators for desalination is a green, sustainable, and extremely concerned freshwater acquisition strategy. However, developing evaporators that are easy to manufacture, cheap, and have excellent porous structures still remains a considerable challenge. This work proposes a novel strategy for preparing a self-assembling sponge-like poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphite composite hydrogel based on the Hofmeister effect for the first time. The sponge-like hydrogel interfacial solar evaporator (PGCNG) is successfully obtained after combining with graphite. The whole process is environmental-friendly and of low-carbon free of freezing process. The PGCNG can be conventionally dried and stored. PGCNG shows impressive water storage performance and water transmission capacity, excellent steam generation performance and salt resistance. PGCNG has a high evaporation rate of 3.5 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 kW m-2 h-1 solar irradiation and PGCNG demonstrates stable evaporation performance over both 10 h of continuous brine evaporation and 30 cycles of brine evaporation. Its excellent performance and simple, scalable preparation strategy make it a valuable material for practical interface solar seawater desalination devices.