Anaerobic degradation of papermill sludge in a two-phase digester containing rumen microorganisms and colonized polyurethane foam

Summary The use of reticulated polyurethane foam as a support material for the immobilization of methanogenic associations and its application to the anaerobic treatment of fine particulate solid wastes was investigated. The colonization of polyurethane support particles in a continuous upflow reactor fed on a mixture of acetate, propionate and butyrate, was both rapid and dense. The combination of rumen microorganisms and colonized support particles in a two-phase digester resulted in an efficient anaerobic decomposition of papermill sludge.     

Oxide-Based Solid-State Batteries: A Perspective on Composite Cathode Architecture

The garnet-type phase Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO) attracts significant attention as an oxide solid electrolyte to enable safe and robust solid-state batteries (SSBs) with potentially high energy density. However, while significant progress has been made in demonstrating compatibility with Li metal, integrating LLZO into composite cathodes remains a challenge. The current perspective focuses on the critical issues that need to be addressed to achieve the ultimate goal of an all-solid-state LLZO-based battery that delivers safety, durability, and pack-level performance characteristics that are unobtainable with state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries. This perspective complements existing reviews of solid/solid interfaces with more emphasis on understanding numerous homo- and heteroionic interfaces in a pure oxide-based SSB and the various phenomena that accompany the evolution of the chemical, electrochemical, structural, morphological, and mechanical properties of those interfaces during processing and operation. Finally, the insights gained from a comprehensive literature survey of LLZO–cathode interfaces are used to guide efforts for the development of LLZO-based SSBs.     

Anticlastogenic effect of flavonoids against mutagen-induced micronuclei in mice.

14 flavonoids, including flavone and flavonol derivatives, were tested for their anticlastogenic effect against induction of micronuclei by benzo[a]pyrene in polychromatic erythrocytes of mice. When each flavonoid was administered orally, together with intraperitoneally administered benzo[a]pyrene, most flavonol derivatives showed an anticlastogenic effect. The data suggest that the 2,3-double bond and 3,5,7-hydroxyl groups in the flavonoid molecules may be essential to produce anticlastogenic effects against benzo[a]pyrene. Galangin, one of the active compounds, and (-)-epicatechin, a weak one, were administered to mice in order to compare their anticlastogenic effect against 3 different kinds of carcinogens: ethyl methanesulfonate, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, and adriamycin. Galangin showed a stronger anticlastogenic effect than (-)-epicatechin against ethyl methanesulfonate and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. However, there was no significant effect against adriamycin-induced micronuclei by both compounds. Our study indicates that most flavonoids are anticlastogenic agents. Their anticlastogenic effects are apparently independent of their own clastogenic activities. Furthermore, their anticlastogenic activities do not apply universally to all types of genotoxic chemicals.     

Nonwoven rGO Fiber‐Aramid Separator for High‐Speed Charging and Discharging of Li Metal Anode

Li metal, which has a high theoretical specific capacity and low redox potential, is considered to the most promising anode material for next‐generation Li ion‐based batteries. However, it also exhibits a disadvantageous solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer problem that needs to be resolved. Herein, an advanced separator composed of reduced graphene oxide fiber attached to aramid paper (rGOF‐A) is introduced. When rGOF‐A is applied, F^? anions, generated from the decomposition of the LiPF₆ electrolyte during the SEI layer formation process form semi‐ionic C? F bonds along the surface of rGOF. As Li⁺ ions are plated, the “F‐doped” rGO surface induces the formation of LiF, which is known as a component of a chemically stable SEI, therefore it helps the Li metal anode to operate stably at a high current of 20 mA cm^?2 with a high capacity of 20 mAh cm^?2. The proposed rGOF‐A separator successfully achieves a stable SEI layer that could resolve the interfacial issues of the Li metal anode.