Search

Bread is the most consumed food and one of the most wasted foods in the world. Every year, millions of tonnes of bread are wasted worldwide. The reason for this is the rapid spoilage of bakery products. This results in a large amount of unused bread in supermarkets and households. However, waste bread could be used as a renewable raw material. The most discussed strategy for recycling bakery waste is fermentation. But there are other methods to utilise bread waste, which will be discussed in the present review. In this review, we examine the latest trends in bread waste recycling; explore the possibilities for producing new chemicals, foods and other products and materials; and determine the efficiency of using bread waste to produce sugar used to make a new product through fermentation and other technologies. Bread waste is a good feedstock for microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts. These microorganisms produce glucose from bread waste. After glucose extraction, the hydrolysate can be further fermented by microorganisms to produce lactic acid, hydrogen, ethanol, 2,3-butanediol, paramylon and syngas. Bread waste is also used to produce textiles and graphene. Already now, the processing of stale bread by extrusion to make a new product is used in manufacturing. In the last decade, craft breweries have learnt to use leftover bread to brew beer, saving millions of slices of bread each year. • Creation of new products from waste bread. • Possibilities of glucose obtaining from waste bread. • Bread waste is a potential feedstock for bacteria, fungi and yeasts. • Bread waste is a promising raw material for chemicals production. • Bread waste fermentation technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High quality graphene is obtained by atmospheric pressure TIAGO torch plasma. • Microwave-plasma reaction chamber is modified to add an electromagnetic shielding. • The modified reaction chamber increases graphene production rate by 22.8 % • Electromagnetic shielding keeps the excellent quality and properties of graphene. • The improved reaction chamber reduces energy costs for graphene production. Microwave-induced plasmas (MIPs), and specifically the TIAGO device (Torche à Injection Axiale sur Guide d'Ondes), offer a streamlined, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly technique for producing high-quality graphene powder in a reaction chamber by a single-step process through ethanol decomposition. To optimize graphene synthesis process, a pivotal move involves minimizing energy dissipation through radiation to maximize the available microwave energy input. Including a metallic shielding around the reaction chamber, essentially creating a Faraday cage, is proposed. The shielding strategy prevents radiation losses and results in a remarkable increase in solid material formation up to 22.8 %. This value, along with the emitted gases proportions and plasma volume increase, shows a correlation with conditions associated with higher input power. Crucially, the shielding of the reaction chamber does not modify graphene growth kinetics in the plasma, as confirmed by Optical Emission Spectroscopy. The synthesized material undergoes a thorough examination, employing diverse techniques like Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. These analyses underscore a consistent quality of graphene, unaffected by the shielding implementation. Therefore, electromagnetic shielding of the TIAGO torch discharge not only leads to a remarkable increase in solid material formation, thus energy yield, but does so without compromising the intrinsic properties and quality of the synthesized graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, graphene has found its use in numerous industrial applications due to its unique properties. While its impermeable and conductive nature can replace currently used anticorrosive toxic pigments in coating systems, due to its large strength to weight ratio, graphene can be an important component as a next-generation additive for automotive, aerospace and construction applications. The current bottlenecks in using graphene and graphene oxide and other two-dimensional materials are the availability of cost-effective, highquality materials and their effective incorporation (functionalization and dispersion) into the product matrices. On overcoming these factors, graphene may attract significant demands in terms of volume consumption. Graphene can be produced on industrial scales and through cost-effective top-down routes such as chemical, electrochemical and/or high-pressure mechanical exfoliation. Graphene, depending on end applications, can be chemically tuned and modified via functionalization so that easy incorporation into product matrices is possible. This paper discusses different production methods and their impact on the quality of graphene produced in terms of energy input. Graphene with an average thickness below five layers was produced by both methods with varied defects. However, a higher yield of graphene with a lower number of layers was produced via the high-pressure exfoliation route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a comprehensive overview of various graphene production and deposition processes with a main focus on their utilization for energy harvesting and augmentation applications. A focused view on simple yet effective mechanical exfoliation techniques to produce graphene, and sometimes simultaneously deposit it. Two of these techniques, i.e. ball milling technique and compressed air blasting of graphite have been used and developed in our labs, respectively. The produced and deposited graphene via these methods is tested for energy harvesting enhancement in applications such as the spectral absorption enhancement of solar thermal collectors, electrode production for capacitive deionization, and as Nano-spacers in SERS applications for solar PV cells with an increase in 28% compared with Pt-based counterelectrode. The two mechanical production processes of graphene discussed are facile, economical and rapid, and is expected to bring solid-state graphene production a step closer to automation, a concept that is currently synonymous only with solution-based processes. These processes enabled the incorporation of a graphene layer on solar thermal collectors and this layer has exhibited 43% enhancement in efficiency than ones that did not have a graphene layer. Because of graphene eminence and its well-established place in many areas one of them being energy this is due to its unique thermal, mechanical, optical, electronic, and chemical properties. This paper will analyze the tools used for the synthesis of graphene and their throughput, cost and ease of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal energy conversion and utilization of integrated circuits is a very important research topic. Graphene is a new 2D material with superior electrical, mechanical, thermal, and optical properties, which is expected to continue Moore's law and make breakthroughs in the direction of "More than Moore." Graphene‐based functionalized devices are applied in various aspects, including breakthroughs in thermal devices, due to their high thermal conductivity and thermal rectification. According to the coupling of different physical quantities, graphene‐based thermal devices can be divided into four categories: uncoupled thermal devices, thermoacoustic coupling devices, thermoelectric coupling devices, and thermo‐optical coupling devices. The structure, working mechanism, and performance of these devices are discussed, as well as the coupling methods of physical quantities. Moreover, scale‐up production of graphene and prospect for future graphene‐based thermal devices are summarized. In‐depth study of the development tendency of these graphene‐based thermal devices is expected to contribute to the development of new high‐performance thermal nanoelectronic devices in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the blueprint of life as it encodes all genetic information. In genetic disorder such as gene fusion, copy number variation (CNV) and single nucleotide polymorphism, DNA sequencing is used as the gold standard for successful diagnosis. Researchers have been conducting rigorous studies to achieve genome sequence at low cost while maintaining high accuracy and high throughput, as such sequencer devices have been developed which led to the evolvement of this technology. These devices are categorized into first, second, and third DNA sequencing generations. One successful endeavor for DNA sequencing is nanopore sequencing. This specific method is considered desirable due to its ability to achieve DNA sequencing while maintaining the required standards such as low cost, high accuracy, long read length, and high throughput. On the other hand, non-nanopore sequencing techniques require extensive preparation as well as complex algorithms, and are restricted by high cost, small throughput, and small read lengths. In this review, the concepts, history, advances, challenges, applications, and potentials of nanopore sequencing are discussed including techniques and materials used for nanopore production and DNA translocation speed control. Additionally, in light of the importance of the nanopore material configuration and fabrication, graphene which is a common and effective material will be discussed in the context of nanopore fabrication techniques. Finally, this review will shed light on some nanopore-related investigations in the area of molecular biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and inexpensive method for the production of graphene-based masterbatch via polymer-assisted shear exfoliation of graphite in water was comprehensively investigated. In detail, a modified polyvinyl alcohol (mPVOH) characterized by surface energy comparable with that of graphene was used as surfactant for the production of graphene-like particles. The proposed approach allowed a yield in graphene-like particles higher than that obtained by using common surfactants, along with a narrower size distribution. A mPVOH-masterbatch containing 4.38 wt% of graphene-like particles was produced by removing the aqueous solvent from a dispersion and directly used for production of polymer nanocomposites by melt processing. Films prepared by blending the masterbatch with polyvinyl alcohol in order to have a graphene-like particles content equal to 0.3 wt% showed a 78% reduction in water permeability and a 48% increase in storage modulus as compared with pristine polymers. Improved barrier properties were also observed for polylactic acid (PLA) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-based composite films, whereas an increment of about 520% in the storage modulus was observed for the composite obtained with PLA. The obtained results are very relevant and the proposed process will open up a new pathway for using graphene-based masterbatch in the packaging industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological interfacing of graphene has become crucial to improve its biocompatibility, dispersability, and selectivity. However, biofunctionalization of graphene without yielding defects in its sp2-carbon lattice is a major challenge. Here, a process is set out for biofunctionalized defect-free graphene synthesis through the liquid phase ultrasonic exfoliation of raw graphitic material assisted by the self-assembling fungal hydrophobin Vmh2. This protein (extracted from the edible fungus Pleurotus ostreatus) is endowed with peculiar physicochemical properties, exceptional stability, and versatility. The unique properties of Vmh2 and, above all, its superior hydrophobicity, and stability allow to obtain a highly concentrated (≈440-510 μg mL−1) and stable exfoliated material ( ζ-potential, +40/+70 mV). In addition controlled centrifugation enables the selection of biofunctionalized few-layer defect-free micrographene flakes, as assessed by Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electrophoretic mobility. This biofunctionalized product represents a high value added material for the emerging applications of graphene in the biotechnological field such as sensing, nanomedicine, and bioelectronics technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal Energy Conversion: Graphene-Based Devices for Thermal Energy Conversion and Utilization (Adv. Funct. In article number 1903888, He Tian, Yi Yang, Tian-Ling Ren, and co-workers discuss the structure, working mechanism, and performance of graphene-based thermal devices, as well as the coupling methods of physical quantities. Graphene production, thermal devices, thermoacoustic coupling, thermoelectric coupling, thermo-optical coupling. [Extracted from the article]

Concrete is the most widely used construction material, however, concrete structures often suffer from poor durability and require frequent inspections and repairs. Concrete production is also associated with high carbon emissions and the large-scale depletion of natural resources. Recently, the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in cementitious materials has shown a potential to improve the performance and instigate additional functionalities. However, there is limited understanding around the environmental effects from the production of GNP and its incorporation in concrete. This study has investigated, by means of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the environmental impact of concrete reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets by focusing on the "cradle-to-gate" of GNP production and their incorporation in concrete. The production of 1 kg of G2NanPaste (GNPs product) is found to result in 0.17 kg CO2 equivalent units which is lower than Portland cement (0.86 kg CO2 eq). Ordinary Portland cement (CEM I) is 248 times more damaging than G2NanPaste in terms of global warming. The superplasticiser addition is found to have a greater environmental impact compared to G2NanPaste. The sensitivity analysis showed that if the addition of GNPs results in a 5% reduction of the Portland cement, the effect of the concrete mix on global warming can be reduced by 21%. This indicates that GNPs could be environmentally friendly if used as a supplement for some of the cement. The main aim of this paper is to perform the first LCA of the addition of graphene nanoplatelets in concrete. It is hoped that this work will pave the way for further research in this area. • Cradle-to-gate lifecycle assessment of graphene production and use in concrete. • The production of 1 kg of G2NanPaste corresponds to 0.17 kg CO2 equivalent. • Cement is 248 times more damaging than graphene nanoplatelets in concrete. • The greatest impact is on respiratory inorganics rather than global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]