Nutrient recovery and recycling from fishery waste and by-products.

The circular bio-based economy offers great untapped potential for the food industry as possible valuable products and energy can be recovered from food waste. This can promote more sustainable and resilient food systems in Europe in follow-up of the European Commission's Farm to Fork strategy and support the global transition to more sustainable agri-food systems with the common agricultural and fisheries policies. With its high nutrient content, waste and by-products originating from fish and seafood industry (including aquaculture) are one of the most promising candidates to produce alternative fertilising products which can play a crucial role to replace synthetic mineral fertilisers. Whereas several studies highlighted the opportunities to recover valuable compounds from fishery waste, study towards their potential for the production of fertilising products is still scarce. This study presents an extensive overview of the characteristics of fishery waste and by-products (i.e., fish processing waste, fish sludge, seafood waste/by-products), the state-of-the-art nutrient recovery technologies and recovered nutrients as fertilising products from these waste streams. The European Commission has already adopted a revised Fertilising Products Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 providing opportunities for fertilising products from various bio-based origins. In frame of this opportunity, we address the quality and safety aspects of the fishery waste-derived fertilising products under these criteria and highlight possible obstacles on their way to the market in the future. Considering its high nutrient content and vast abundance, fish sludge has a great potential but should be treated/refined before being applied to soil. In addition to the parameters currently regulated, it is crucial to consider the salinity levels of such fertilising products as well as the possible presence of other micropollutants especially microplastics to warrant their safe use in agriculture. The agronomic performance of fishery waste-derived fertilisers is also compiled and reported in the last section of this review paper, which in most cases perform equally to that of conventional synthetic fertilisers.

Adsorption and membrane separation for removal and recovery of volatile organic compounds.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a crucial kind of pollutants in the environment due to their obvious features of severe toxicity, high volatility, and poor degradability. It is particularly urgent to control the emission of VOCs due to the persistent increase of concentration and the stringent regulations. In China, clear directions and requirements for reduction of VOCs have been given in the "national plan on environmental improvement for the 13th Five-Year Plan period". Therefore, the development of efficient technologies for removal and recovery of VOCs is of great significance. Recovery technologies are favored by researchers due to their advantages in both recycling VOCs and reducing carbon emissions. Among them, adsorption and membrane separation processes have been extensively studied due to their remarkable industrial prospects. This overview was to provide an up-to-date progress of adsorption and membrane separation for removal and recovery of VOCs. Firstly, adsorption and membrane separation were found to be the research hotspots through bibliometric analysis. Then, a comprehensive understanding of their mechanisms, factors, and current application statuses was discussed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives in this emerging field were briefly highlighted.

Environment-friendly technology for recovering cathode materials from spent lithium iron phosphate batteries.

The consumption of lithium iron phosphate (LFP)-type lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is rising sharply with the increasing use of electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide. Hence, a large number of retired LFP batteries from EVs are generated annually. A recovery technology for spent LFP batteries is urgently required. Compared with pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical and biometallurgical recycling technologies, physical separating technology has not yet formed a systematic theory and efficient sorting technology. Strengthening the research and development of physical separating technology is an important issue for the efficient use of retired LFP batteries. In this study, spent LFP batteries were discharged in 5 wt% sodium chloride solution for approximately three hours. A specially designed machine was developed to dismantle spent LFP batteries. Extending heat treatment time exerted minimal effect on quality loss. Within the temperature range of 240°C-300°C, temperature change during heat treatment slightly affected mass loss. The change in heat treatment temperature also had negligible effect on the shedding quality of LFP materials. The cathode material and the aluminium foil current collector accounted for a certain proportion in a sieve with a particle size of -1.25 + 0.40 mm. Corona electrostatic separation was performed to separate the metallic particles (with a size range of -1.5 + 0.2 mm) from the nonmetallic particles of crushed spent LFP batteries. No additional reagent was used in the process, and no toxic gases, hazardous solid waste or wastewater were produced. This study provides a complete material recovery process for spent LFP batteries.

Eddy current separation for recovering aluminium and lithium-iron phosphate components of spent lithium-iron phosphate batteries.

With the rapid development of the electric vehicle market since 2012, lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries face retirement intensively. Numerous LFP batteries have been generated given their short service life. Thus, recycling spent LFP batteries is crucial. However, published information on the recovery technology of spent LFP batteries is minimal. Traditional separators and separation theories of recovering technologies were unsuitable for guiding the separation process of recovering metals from spent LFP batteries. The separation rate of the current method for recovering spent LFP batteries was rather low. Furthermore, some wastewater was produced. In this study, spent LFP batteries were dismantled into individual parts of aluminium shells, cathode slices, polymer diaphragms and anode slices. The anode pieces were scraped to separate copper foil and anode powder. The cathode pieces were thermally treated to reduce adhesion between the cathode powder and the aluminium foil. The dissociation rate of the cathode slices reached 100% after crushing when the temperature and time reached 300℃ and 120 min, respectively. Eddy current separation was performed to separate nonferrous metals (aluminium) from aluminium and LFP mixture. The optimized operation parameters for the eddy current separation were feeding speed of 1 m/s and magnetic field rotation speed of 4 m/s. The separation rate of the eddy current separation reached 100%. Mass balance of the recovered materials was conducted. Results showed that the recovery rate of spent LFP can reach 92.52%. This study established a green and full material recovery process for spent LFP batteries.

Recovery of valuable metals from red mud: A comprehensive review.

As a bulk solid waste with high alkalinity, red mud (RM) not only occupies a large amount of land and requires high maintenance costs, but also unavoidably generates serious hazards to the surrounding ecological environment. The comprehensive treatment of RM has become an enormous challenge for the green, low-carbon and high-quality development of the global alumina industry. To minimize the RM destruction to the ecology and the waste of secondary resources, the sustainable utilization of RM was widely investigated in the past decades, especially for the recovery of valuable metals. This paper systematically summarized the research status of recycling valuable metals (Al, Fe, Na, Ti, Sc, Ga, V and RE) from RM in recent years. The recycling technology mainly includes physical beneficiation, hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy and electrodialysis. The technical principles and characteristics as well as the current problems of various recovery processes from RM were comprehensively introduced, and the future development directions of sustainable utilization were also prospected. The advantages and disadvantages based on the different aspects of recovery efficiency, energy consumption and environmental impact were also discussed. The proposal of new technologies for the harmless, high-value and full utilization of RM is beneficial to the future research on the comprehensive utilization of bulk industrial solid wastes.

Electrochemical-driven green recovery of lithium, graphite and cathode from lithium-ion batteries using water.

The expected exponential increase in consumption of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) would pose a unique challenge to the availability of near-critical resources like lithium and graphite in the upcoming decade. We present a lithium recovery process that utilizes a degradation mechanism, i.e., lithium plating, as a tool to concentrate metallic lithium at the anode/separator interface for convenient extraction at room temperature - using only water. Electrochemical characterization of fast charged (1-6 C) LIBs yielded a maximum capacity fade of 50% over ten cycles. The lithium plating was confirmed via voltage plateau analysis, coulombic efficiency, and DC resistance measurements. A maximum lithium plating condition was observed to exist between 4C and 5C, thereby limiting the energy consumption in the extraction process. Post-mortem film thickness measurement showed an incrementing film deposition with a maximum of 35 µm thickness. SEM and XPS analysis confirmed increasing concentration of a dense dendritic metallic lithium deposition on the anode/separator interface with C-rate. A green recovery process was adopted to extract the concentrated metallic lithium using distilled water. The lithium from the plated film, solid/electrolyte interface (SEI), electrolyte, anode, and cathode, was extracted as salts. A 37% improvement in lithium recoverability was achieved with fast charging under ambient conditions. XPS analysis showed ∼92% of lithium yield with no residual lithium in the graphite. In addition, the battery-grade graphite was recovered with 97% purity after heat treatment of the washed anode film, and concentrated transition metals oxides in the cathode to 93% purity for convenient extraction.

Characteristic, hazard and iron recovery technology of red mud - A critical review.

Red mud (RM) is the major waste material with strong alkaline discharged which is during the alumina extraction process. The global stock of RM has exceeded 4 billion tons and its disposal as a solid waste has always been a thorny environmental problem. However, RM is widely considered to be a potential resource due to its high content of valuable metal components such as iron. High-iron RM is rich in iron and can potentially become a valuable resource if the iron can be extracted effectively. It is of great research value and profound significance to recover iron from high-iron RM. This paper systematically reviews the iron recovery methods for resource utilization of high-iron RM, and divides the technology of iron recovery from high-iron RM into three aspects: physical separation method, pyrometallurgy method (reduction smelting and reduction roasting) and hydrometallurgy method (acid leaching). The basic principles and effect of iron extraction of the above technologies are summarized respectively, and the advantages and disadvantages of different technologies are compared. It is pointed out that the feasibility and economic cost are the main factor restricting the industrial application of these technologies. Therefore, it is of great significance to overcome various problems and difficulties, and develop innovative processes and technologies, which can realize the recycling and utilization of iron in high-iron RM and realize the reduction of RM emission at the same time.

Changes in the Microbial Community Diversity of Oil Exploitation.

To systematically evaluate the ecological changes of an active offshore petroleum production system, the variation of microbial communities at several sites (virgin field, wellhead, storage tank) of an oil production facility in east China was investigated by sequencing the V3 to V4 regions of 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) of microorganisms. In general, a decrease of microbial community richness and diversity in petroleum mining was observed, as measured by operational taxonomic unit (OTU) numbers, α (Chao1 and Shannon indices), and ß (principal coordinate analysis) diversity. Microbial community structure was strongly affected by environmental factors at the phylum and genus levels. At the phylum level, virgin field and wellhead were dominated by Proteobacteria, while the storage tank had higher presence of Firmicutes (29.3-66.9%). Specifically, the wellhead displayed a lower presentence of Proteobacteria (48.6-53.4.0%) and a higher presence of Firmicutes (24.4-29.6%) than the virgin field. At the genus level, the predominant genera were Ochrobactrum and Acinetobacter in the virgin field, Lactococcus and Pseudomonas in the wellhead, and Prauseria and Bacillus in the storage tank. Our study revealed that the microbial community structure was strongly affected by the surrounding environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen content, salinity, and pH, which could be altered because of the oil production. It was observed that the various microbiomes produced surfactants, transforming the biohazard and degrading hydro-carbon. Altering the microbiome growth condition by appropriate human intervention and taking advantage of natural microbial resources can further enhance oil recovery technology.

Circular economy and the matter of integrated resources.

A circular economy offers solutions for global sustainability challenges through the transition from the linear take-make-use-dispose economy to a better organisation of resources. However, realising a circular economy has ran into various biophysical constraints. Circular economy implementation is shaped by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's butterfly diagram that depicts 'biological' and 'technical' flows as separate cycles, subsequently interpreted as organic materials circulating in open loop systems via the environment and inorganic materials circulating in closed loop systems within society. Conversely, in our view, resource flows often contain tightly bound combinations of organic and inorganic materials either due to their natural composition or due to their technical design. Building on this observation, a new diagram is proposed that broadens the scope of the circular economy to cover extractive sectors and the return of materials from anthropogenic use to natural reserves, thereby reshaping the conceptual space within which solutions such as effective zero-waste-residue technologies, business models, and policies can be developed for the optimal management of integrated resources from a whole-system perspective. The diagram offers a realistic outlook on the biophysical limitations of circularity and endeavours to inspire discussion that supports the transition towards a sustainable circular economy.

Predicting engagement with an online psychosocial intervention for psychosis: Exploring individual- and intervention-level predictors.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with psychosis demonstrate positive attitudes towards utilising digital technology in mental health treatment. Although preliminary research suggests digital interventions are feasible and acceptable in this population, little is known about how to best promote engagement with these resources. Candidate predictors include therapist support, sources of motivation and recovery style. Understanding what factors predict engagement will aid more effective design and implementation of digital interventions to improve clinical benefits. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate demographic, psychological, and treatment variables that predict overall and type of engagement with a psychosocial, online intervention for individuals with psychosis. METHODS: Ninety-eight participants with a history of psychosis were given access to a web program containing modules on self-management and recovery, which they were asked to use flexibly at their own pace. Activity was automatically logged by the system. Baseline measures of demographics, recovery style and motivation were administered, and participants were randomised to receive either website access alone, or website access plus weekly, asynchronous emails from an online coach over 12 weeks. Log and baseline assessment data were used in negative binomial regressions to examine predictors of depth and breadth of use over the intervention period. A logistic regression was used to examine the impact of predictor variables on usage profiles (active or passive). RESULTS: Depth and breadth of engagement were positively predicted by receiving email support, low levels of externally controlled motivations for website use, older age, and having a tertiary education. There was a significant interaction between level of controlled motivation and condition (+/-email) on breadth and depth of engagement: receiving asynchronous emails was associated with increased engagement for individuals with low, but not high, levels of externally controlled motivations. Receiving email support and more autonomous motivations for treatment predicted more active use of the website. CONCLUSIONS: Asynchronous email support can promote engagement with online interventions for individuals with psychosis, potentially enabling self-management of illness and improving clinical outcomes. However, those using online interventions due to external motivating factors, may have low levels of engagement with the intervention, irrespective of coaching provided. These findings may guide design and implementation of future online interventions in this population.

The Influence of Phosphogypsum Addition on Phosphorus Release in Biochemical Treatment of Sewage Sludge.

The paper is focused on the research of biochemical treatment of sewage sludge and phosphogypsum under sulphate-reducing conditions with a phosphorus release process. The theoretical foundations of the work were based on the biochemical formalization using the principles of autocatalysis of natural systems. During the experimental research for the control of physicochemical parameters of the process spectroquantic, X-ray fluorescence analysis and other techniques were used. A schematic model of the dephosphatation process under anaerobic stabilization of sewage sludge and phosphogypsum was developed. The increase of phosphogypsum dosage had a close correlation with the release of phosphate ions. At the stimulating action of the phosphogypsum additive, a 2.5⁻5.0-fold increase in soluble phosphate concentration was observed. The rational dose of phosphogypsum was determined. Along with an increase the ratio of COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)/phosphogypsum to 0.1, an increase in the phosphate ions in solution was observed. A further increase in the ratio of COD/phosphogypsum did not affect the concentration of phosphate ions in solution.

Research in operation training mode of new neonatal recovery technology / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To study the application effect of feedback training mode on new neonatal recovery technology.Methods 101 midwives,obstetric doctors and pediatricians who participated the training were tested about the professional knowledge and skills of new neonatal recovery technology according to the teaching material of neonatal asphyxia recovery and neonatal resuscitation guidelines (2007 revision in Beijing).The results showed no statistical significance.And they were randomly divided into the control group (51 cases) and the observation group(50 cases).The control group adopted traditional method,that was,the teacher taught first and then the students took practice.The observation group used feedback training method.Results The theoretical and technical results of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group.The learning motivation,learning initiative,cooperation degree,ability of observation and solving problem and operation proficiency were also significantly higher than those of the control group.Conclusions Feedback training methods can significantly increase the learning effect of perinatal personnel,and make popularized the new neonatal recovery technology.