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AbstractThe development and commercialization of bio-based and biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) biopolymers could be crucial for the transition toward a sustainable circular economy. However, despite potential traditional and novel applications in the packaging, textiles, agriculture, automotive, electronics, and biomedical industries, the commercialization of PHAs is limited by their current market competitiveness. This review provides the first critical assessment of the current pure culture pilot-scale PHA literature, which could be crucial in translating promising laboratory-scale developments into industrial-scale commercial PHA production. It will also complement reviews of mixed microbial cultures currently dominating pilot-scale PHA literature. Pure culture fermentations could provide advantages, such as ease of characterizing microbial producers’ behavior, higher PHA productivities, and better alignment with existing PHA commercialization and industrial biotechnology approaches. Key aspects, including producer organisms, fermentation volumes and schemes, control schemes, optimization, and properties of the polymers produced, are discussed in-depth, to elucidate important trends, achievements, and knowledge gaps. Furthermore, specific ways for future pilot-scale studies to help address current PHA commercialization challenges are also identified. The insights, and recommendations provided will be extremely beneficial for the future development of PHA production, at both pilot and commercial scales, whilst also being beneficial to the production of other microbial polymers and industrial biotechnology as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the development of 3D chitosan-x-cobalt ferrite scaffolds (x = 5, 7.5, and 10 wt%) with interconnected porosity for potential biomedical applications. The objective was to evaluate the effects of magnetic particle incorporation on the scaffolds' structural, mechanical, magnetic, and biological properties, specifically focusing on their biocompatibility and antimicrobial performance. Methods: Scaffolds were synthesized using freeze-drying, while cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were produced via a pilot-scale combustion reaction. The scaffolds were characterized for their physical and chemical properties, including porosity, swelling, and mechanical strength. Hydrophilicity was assessed through contact angle measurements. Antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated using time kill kinetics and agar diffusion assays, and biocompatibility was confirmed through cytotoxicity tests. Results: The incorporation of cobalt ferrite increased magnetic responsiveness, altered porosity profiles, and influenced swelling, biodegradation, and compressive strength, with a maximum value of 87 kPa at 7.5 wt% ferrite content. The scaffolds maintained non-toxicity and demonstrated bactericidal activity. The optimal concentration for achieving a balance between structural integrity and biological performance was found at 7.5 wt% cobalt ferrite. Conclusions: These findings suggest that magnetic chitosan-cobalt ferrite scaffolds possess significant potential for use in biomedical applications, including tissue regeneration and advanced healing therapies. The incorporation of magnetic properties enhances both the structural and biological functionalities, presenting promising opportunities for innovative therapeutic approaches in reconstructive procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from lab-scale studies to pilot-scale applications is a critical step in advancing water remediation technologies. While laboratory experiments provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms and method effectiveness, pilot-scale studies are essential for evaluating their practical feasibility and scalability. This progression addresses challenges related to operational conditions, effectiveness and energy requirements in real-world scenarios. In this study, the potential of nanopulsed plasma bubbles, when scaled up from a lab environment, was explored by investigating critical experimental parameters, such as plasma gas, pulse voltage, and pulse repetition rate, while also analyzing plasma-treated water composition. To validate the broad effectiveness of this method, various classes of highly toxic organic pollutants were examined in terms of pollutant degradation efficiency and energy requirements. The pilot-scale plasma bubble reactor generated a high concentration of short-lived reactive species with minimal production of long-lived species. Additionally, successful degradation of all pollutants was achieved in both lab- and pilot-scale setups, with even lower electrical energy-per-order (EEO) values at the pilot scale, 2–3 orders of magnitude lower compared to other advanced oxidation processes. This study aimed to bridge the gap between lab-scale plasma bubbles and upscaled systems, supporting the rapid, effective, and energy-efficient destruction of organic pollutants in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of sewage sludge as fertilizer can be beneficial for sustainable agriculture as it could largely account for nitrogen and phosphorus demand for crops and has lower costs compared to other disposal routes, e.g., incineration, and sanitary landfills. This study evaluates the feasibility of pilot-scale pelletization of sewage sludge for non-food crops (e.g., ornamental plants). The co-pelletization method was designed by mixing sewage sludge and binder (tapioca starch) at a 9:1 sludge-to-starch weight ratio. The amount of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) of the resultant pellets were determined at 5.7%, 4.9%, and 0.2%, respectively. Following Malaysian and US Standards, non-essential elements and pathogenicity of the pelletized sewage sludge were measured below the predetermined limits and hence safe for agricultural application. The planting trial using 50% inorganic fertilizer + 50% sewage sludge pellets exhibited a promising result on the growth of the flowering plant Celosia plumosa, with having better dimension and color, 20% higher in height, 4% more chlorophyll content, 54% more leaf, 43% greater stem growth, and 27% more flowers compared to control. Likewise, the planting trial on Tagetes erecta resulted in 10.5% wider leaf, 10.6% heavier leaf dry weight, and 12.5% more chlorophyll content compared to control with full usage of inorganic fertilizer. By considering liquidities to operate the production facility, the economic analysis estimated that the production cost per ton of pelletized sewage sludge produced was USD 0.98. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage sludge in cities of Yangzi River Belt, China, generally exhibits a lower organic content and higher silt contentdue to leakage of drainage system, which caused low bioenergy recovery and carbon emission benefits in conventional anaerobic digestion (CAD). Therefore, this paper is on a pilot scale, a bio-thermophilic pretreatment anaerobic digestion (BTPAD) for low organic sludge (volatile solids (VS) of 4%) was operated with a long-term continuous flow of 200 days. The VS degradation rate and CH 4 yield of BTPAD increased by 19.93% and 53.33%, respectively, compared to those of CAD. The analysis of organic compositions in sludge revealed that BTPAD mainly improved the hydrolysis of proteins in sludge. Further analysis of microbial community proportions by high-throughput sequencing revealed that the short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment was enriched in Clostridiales, Coprothermobacter and Gelria , was capable of hydrolyzing acidified proteins, and provided more volatile fatty acid (VFA) for the subsequent reaction. Biome combined with fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that the number of bacteria with high methanogenic capacity in BTPAD was much higher than that in CAD during the medium temperature digestion stage, indicating that short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment could provide better methanogenic conditions for BTPAD. Furthermore, the greenhouse gas emission footprint analysis showed that short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment could reduce the carbon emission of sludge anaerobic digestion system by 19.18%. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, submerged and solid-state fermentation studies were performed for xylanase production simultaneously to determine ideal carbon and nitrogen sources together with necessary production parameters from the laboratory scale to the pilot scale. The results showed that barley malt sprout is effective as a nitrogen and a good carbon source. Under optimum conditions, xylanase activities 71.74 ± 2.70 U/mL, 56.95 ± 3.6 U/mL, 65.8 ± 8 U/mL and 46.05 ± 0.1 U/mL were achieved in shake flasks, 2, 10 and 30 L bioreactors, respectively. In solid-state fermentation studies, maximum activity in flasks was 759.15 ± 36.16 U/g production media, and maximum activity in pilot-scale tray bioreactor productions was 1312 ± 137.85 U/g dry substrate. Bread-making trials showed that using xylanase at 100 U/100g flour resulted in a significant increase in the loaf volume of wheat flour bread and whole wheat flour bread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial alkaline proteases are dominating the global enzyme market with a share of over 65% due to their multifarious catalytic potentials. Hence, production of proteases with novel properties of commercial significance is highly desirable to meet the global enzyme demand. Here, we report the purification, characterization, and pilot-scale application of a serine protease from the desert soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis ZMS-2 with novel properties as dehairing agent in leather processing. The enzyme was purified 16.5-fold with a specific activity of 1543.5 U mg−1 and recovery percentage of 33.6% using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange, and gel filtration chromatography. The purified enzyme was characterized as a metal ion-, surfactant-, and denaturant-compatible alkaline serine protease having a molecular weight of 36.1 kDa with an optimum activity at pH 8.5 and 60 °C. The catalytic activity of the enzyme was enhanced by Zn+2 (204%), Ag+ (110%), H2O2 (123%), Triton X-100 (110%), iso-octane (109%), chloroform (110%), ethanol (105%), ethyl acetate (110%), and acetonitrile (128%). During pilot-scale applications, the optimum condition was found to be a combination of enzyme (1.5%, 460 U mL−1), sodium sulfide (2%), and calcium hydroxide (lime) (3%). Under this condition, the time required for complete dehairing was 90 min. Chemoenzymatically processed skins exhibited better physical properties than chemically processed skin, including tensile strength (16.35 ± 6.68 N/mm), ball burst (452.88 ± 6.06 N/mm), percent elongation (38.85 ± 1.06 N), tear strength (50.16 ± 4.42 N/mm), and softness (6.5 mm). Electron microscopy analysis of the treated skin showed complete removal of hairs with roots, confirming the keratin specificity of the enzyme. Moreover, the enzyme-assisted dehairing process reduced chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS), and total suspended solids (TSS) by 68, 77, 34, and 39%, respectively. Thus, the alkaline serine protease from B. subtilis ZMS-2 is a potential dehairing agent for the eco-friendly processing of animal skins on industrial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating worldwide concerns over the difficult degradation and pollution of plastic and its associated environmental and health risks have amplified the urgent need to develop biodegradable alternatives to traditional plastics. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have emerged as a promising class of biopolymers that offer a sustainable solution. Their commercial success in various applications has highlighted PHAs' potential to mitigate environmental impact. Critical to the economic feasibility of PHA production is the optimization of downstream processing methods, crucial for scaling operations from pilot to industrial scales. This paper reviews two decades of pilot-scale studies on PHA extraction, emphasizing the advancements and challenges encountered. It also discusses chemical extraction methods applied across different feedstock and microbial strains, highlighting their role in enhancing efficiency and sustainability. This comprehensive review underscores the imperative for advancing PHA technologies, particularly in refining extraction techniques, to facilitate broader adoption in industries seeking environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae cultivation in wastewater has been widely researched under laboratory conditions as per its potential to couple treatment with biomass production. Currently, only a limited number of published articles consider outdoor and long-term microalgae-bacteria cultivations in real wastewater environmental systems. The scope of this work is to describe microalgal cultivation steps towards high-rate algal pond (HRAP) scalability and identify key parameters that play a major role for biomass productivity under outdoor conditions and long-term cultivations. Reviewed pilot-scale HRAP literature is analysed using multivariate analysis to highlight key productivity parameters within environmental and operational factors. Wastewater treatment analysis indicated that HRAP can effectively remove 90% of NH4+, 70% of COD, and 50% of PO43−. Mean reference values of 210 W m−2 for irradiation, 18 °C for temperature, pH of 8.2, and HRT of 7.7 are derived from pilot-scale cultivations. Microalgae biomass productivity at a large scale is governed by solar radiation and NH4+ concentration, which are more important than retention time variations within investigated studies. Hence, selecting the correct type of location and a minimum of 70 mg L−1 of NH4+ in wastewater will have the greatest effect in microalgae productivity. A high nutrient wastewater content increases final biomass concentrations but not necessarily biomass productivity. Pilot-scale growth rates (~ 0.54 day−1) are half those observed in lab experiments, indicating a scaling-up bottleneck. Microalgae cultivation in wastewater enables a circular bioeconomy framework by unlocking microalgal biomass for the delivery of an array of products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF), a non-thermal technology, can assist conventional olive oil extraction with a positive impact on production efficiency, maintaining the extra-virgin classification. This study evaluated the impact of PEF on the "Galega Vulgar" cultivar for the first time on a pilot scale. Its application at the industrial level should be investigated based on the promising results obtained. This study aimed to investigate the impact of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) technology in the extraction of olive oil on a pilot scale, using the "Galega Vulgar" olive variety as raw material. The extraction assisted by PEF had a malaxation time of 30 min and was compared with the traditional process of 45 min of malaxation. The main quality parameters of olive oil and the PEF's cost-benefit assessment were performed. The incorporation of PEF in olive oil production reduced the malaxation stage by 33% without compromising the yield or extra-virgin classification. This efficiency leads to a potential 12.3% increase in annual olive oil production, with a 12.3% and 36.8% rise in revenue and gross profit, respectively. For small-scale production, the considerable upfront investment required for PEF equipment may be a challenge in terms of return on investment. In this scenario, opting for a renting scheme is the best economic solution, especially given the seasonal nature of olive oil production. In medium- to large-scale production, the investment in PEF is a sound investment since it is possible to achieve, with an equipment cost of EUR 450,000 and a production output of 5 tons per hour, an annual ROI of 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) has recently emerged as a promising technology for converting diverse forms of waste with a high moisture content into value-added products such as biofuel, biochar, and activated carbon. With an increasing demand for sustainable and carbon-neutral energy sources, HTC has attracted considerable attention in the literature. However, a successful transition from laboratory-scale to large-scale industrial applications entails notable challenges. This review critically assesses the upscaling of hydrothermal carbonization processes, emphasizing the challenges, innovations, and environmental implications associated with this transition. The challenges inherent in upscaling HTC are comprehensively discussed, including aspects such as reactor design, process optimization, and the current treatment technology for process water. This review presents recent innovations and technological advancements that address these challenges and explores integrated solutions to enhancing hydrothermal carbonization's scalability. Additionally, this review highlights key companies that have developed and implemented HTC plants for commercial purposes. By overcoming the obstacles and achieving advancements in the upscaling of hydrothermal carbonization, this review contributes to the ongoing efforts to realize the full potential of HTC as a sustainable and scalable biomass conversion technology and proposes future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) remain the cornerstone of EV technology due to their exceptional energy density. The selection of cathode materials is a decisive factor in LIB technology, profoundly influencing performance, energy density, and lifespan. Among these materials, nickel-rich NCM cathodes have gained significant attention due to their high specific capacity and cost-effectiveness, making them a preferred choice for EV energy storage. However, the transition from the laboratory-scale to industrial-scale production of NMC-811 cathode material presents challenges, particularly in optimizing the oxidation process of Ni2+ ions. This paper addresses the challenges of transitioning NMC-811 cathode material production from a lab scale to a pilot scale, with its high nickel content requiring specialized oxidation processes. The important point emphasized in this transition process is how to produce cathode materials on a pilot scale, but show results equivalent to the laboratory scale. Several optimization variations are carried out, namely, the optimization of the heating rate and the calcination and sintering temperatures, as well as oxygen variations. These two aspects are important for large-scale production. This paper discusses strategies for successful pilot-scale production, laying the foundation for industrial-scale manufacturing. Additionally, NMC-811 cathodes are incorporated into 18650 cylindrical cells, advancing the adoption of high-performance cathode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsed electric field (PEF) processing of white grapes (Arinto, Moscatel Graúdo also known as Moscatel de Setúbal) before pressing for must extraction (1.2 and 1.6 kV/cm) and before bottling for finished wine physical stabilization (10 kV/cm) was implemented in a pilot-scale winery to produce about 540 L of wine for each variety. PEF was applied at these two different stages of wine production, and its effects on the sensory and physico-chemical quality of the wines were investigated. The sensory triangle tests revealed no significant change in both wine varieties' colour, odour, and taste with PEF extraction and PEF stabilization treatments. However, for colour coordinates assessed with a spectrophotometer, a significant increase in CIE b* colour coordinate was registered for PEF-extracted Arinto and Moscatel wine samples, showing a development of a more intense yellow colour. Concerning physico-chemical quality parameters, the PEF extraction increased both wine varieties' turbidity and pH, although total acidity was not affected. The total phenols also increased in Arinto with extraction. The second PEF treatment applied for wine stabilization did not affect any of the quality parameters, except total phenols, which decreased in Moscatel wine. The results encourage the application of PEF in the wineries at different stages of vinification of white wine grape varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a novel approach to synthesising polyurethane (PUR)-based aerogels at the pilot scale, optimizing synthesis variables such as the gelation solvent, solids content, chain extender/isocyanate ratio, and dispersion mode. The solids content (2–11 wt.%) is the parameter with the most influence on the density of the aerogels, with a clear decrease in this property as the solids content decreases. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that minimizing the excess of ethylenediamine (used as chain extender) in relation to the isocyanate is a valuable consideration to improve the thermal conductivity of the aerogel. Related to the chain extender/isocyanate ratio, a compromise situation where the initial isocyanate reacts almost completely is crucial. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to conduct such monitoring during the reaction. Once the conditions were optimised, the aerogel showing improved properties was synthesised using ethyl acetate as the gelling solvent, a 3.7 wt.% solids content, an ethylenediamine/isocyanate ratio of 0.20, and sonication as the dispersion mode, attaining a thermal conductivity of 0.030 W m−1 K−1 and a density of 0.046 g cm−3. Therefore, the synthesized aerogel emerges as a promising candidate for use in the construction and automotive industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic building envelope materials harness sunlight to activate self-cleaning and de-polluting properties, which can help mitigate the urban heat island effect and abate urban pollution. The performance of roofing membranes manufactured with bright-white photocatalytic (BWP) granules, and with a non-photocatalytic bright-white control (BWC), were evaluated. The solar reflectance of unexposed specimens was 0.56 for BWP and 0.60 for BWC. Small changes in solar reflectance with respect to the initial values were observed during 22 months of field exposure between March 2020 and January 2022, indicating good resistance to soiling. Changes in the de-pollution capacity during the same period were quantified with a bench-scale method adapted from the ISO Standard 22197-1, in which unexposed and aged specimens were placed horizontally inside a flow chamber admitting clean air enriched with nitric oxide (NO) under UV irradiation. In addition, a pilot-scale approach was developed to evaluate the photocatalytic performance of the same materials under more realistic urban environmental conditions. An outdoor exposure chamber was designed and built with a rectangular stainless-steel main body topped with a UV-transparent fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) thin film. The area of the 30 cm × 90 cm BWP specimen tested in the outdoor chamber was more than one order of magnitude larger than those evaluated in the benchtop apparatus. The BWP membrane was pre-activated by field exposure for 75 days. The pilot-scale chamber operation was validated in the laboratory using UV lamps to irradiate the BWP membrane and a reference TiO2-coated aluminum plate (P25, 1 g m−2) of the same dimensions. Tests showed comparable or better performance of the BWP membrane with respect to the P25 film. Its de-pollution capacity was tested with direct sunlight irradiation in Berkeley, California (37.88° N, 122.25° W) during June 2020. Urban air was enriched with NO, or with a NO/NO2 mixture, and circulated through the pilot-scale chamber at two different flows: 1.1 and 440 L min−1. The gas phase concentrations of NO and NO2 were measured upstream and downstream of the tested specimen with a chemiluminescence analyzer. Upstream levels of the challenge gases were high but realistic, not exceeding 200 ppb. The UV irradiance outdoors (15–30 W m−2) was higher and more variable than in indoor tests (11.5 W m−2), leading to overall higher NO deposition velocity under direct sunlight. In outdoor measurements, the NO deposition velocity increased at higher irradiances. When NO was the only challenge gas, a fraction of NO was oxidized to NO2 resulting in lower NO and higher NO2 downstream concentrations. However, when tested with NO/NO2 mixtures, the concentration of both compounds decreased during irradiation, and the surface showed a faster loss of photoactivity for NO2, compared with NO. These effects are consistent with those observed in the laboratory. The NOx deposition velocity outdoors was 0.7 and 105 μmol h−1 m−2 for the low and high air flow, respectively.

Abstract Background Ras gene mutation and/or overexpression are drivers in the progression of cancers, including colorectal cancer. Blocking the Ras signaling has become a significant strategy for cancer therapy. Previously, we constructed a recombinant scFv, RGD-p21Ras-scFv by linking RGD membrane-penetrating peptide gene with the anti-p21Ras scFv gene. Here, we expressed prokaryotically RGD-p21Ras-scFv on a pilot scale, then investigated the anti-tumor effect and the mechanism of blocking Ras signaling. Methods The E. coli bacteria which could highly express RGD-p21Ras-scFv was screened and grown in 100 L fermentation tank to produce RGD-p21Ras-scFv on optimized induced expression conditions. The scFv was purified from E. coli bacteria using His Ni-NTA column. ELISA was adopted to test the immunoreactivity of RGD-p21Ras-scFv against p21Ras proteins, and the IC50 of RGD-p21Ras-scFv was analyzed by CCK-8. Immunofluorescence colocalization and pull-down assays were used to determine the localization and binding between RGD-p21Ras-scFv and p21Ras. The interaction forces between RGD-p21Ras-scFv and p21Ras after binding were analyzed by molecular docking, and the stability after binding was determined by molecular dynamics simulations. p21Ras-GTP interaction was detected by Ras pull-down. Changes in the MEK-ERK /PI3K-AKT signaling paths downstream of Ras were detected by WB assays. The anti-tumor activity of RGD-p21Ras-scFv was investigated by nude mouse xenograft models. Results The technique of RGD-p21Ras-scFv expression on a pilot scale was established. The wet weight of the harvested bacteria was 31.064 g/L, and 31.6 mg RGD-p21Ras-scFv was obtained from 1 L of bacterial medium. The purity of the recombinant antibody was above 85%, we found that the prepared on a pilot scale RGD-p21Ras-scFv could penetrate the cell membrane of colon cancer cells and bind to p21Ras, then led to reduce of p21Ras-GTP (active p21Ras). The phosphorylation of downstream effectors MEK-ERK /PI3K-AKT was downregulated. In vivo antitumor activity assays showed that the RGD-p21Ras-scFv inhibited the proliferation of colorectal cancer cell lines. Conclusion RGD-p21Ras-scFv prokaryotic expressed on pilot-scale could inhibited Ras-driven colorectal cancer growth by partially blocking p21Ras-GTP and might be able to be a hidden therapeutic antibody for treating RAS-driven tumors.

ABSTRACTFood waste (FW) is high in nutrients and has gained global attention as an ideal substrate for bioenergy recovery through anaerobic digestion (AD). Ambient digesters have been widely used because of their ease of installation, low cost, and low energy input. However, to improve biogas production sustainably, there is a need to consider reactor heating using renewable energy such as solar. This study sought to apply psychrophilic and mesophilic biodigester temperatures for FW treatment. For ambient digestion, a complete-mix flexible biodigester, named STH-1000A, covered in a greenhouse structure was operated between 24 and 32 °C. A prototype complete-mix tank biodigester, named VUT-1000C, was designed and operated at mesophilic conditions of 37 °C through solar geyser heating. VUT-1000C produced 1200 L of biogas per day while STH-1000A 150 L/day. VUT-1000C and STH-1000A generated up to 1.8 and 0.4 kWh of electricity, respectively. The power balance showed that VUT-1000C used 68% of its power production and STH-1000A consumed 398%. Digester heating using solar geyser is a novel and promising technique for achieving mesophilic condition leading to improved biogas production.

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the development of 3D chitosan-x-cobalt ferrite scaffolds (x = 5, 7.5, and 10 wt%) with interconnected porosity for potential biomedical applications. The objective was to evaluate the effects of magnetic particle incorporation on the scaffolds’ structural, mechanical, magnetic, and biological properties, specifically focusing on their biocompatibility and antimicrobial performance. Methods: Scaffolds were synthesized using freeze-drying, while cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were produced via a pilot-scale combustion reaction. The scaffolds were characterized for their physical and chemical properties, including porosity, swelling, and mechanical strength. Hydrophilicity was assessed through contact angle measurements. Antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated using time kill kinetics and agar diffusion assays, and biocompatibility was confirmed through cytotoxicity tests. Results: The incorporation of cobalt ferrite increased magnetic responsiveness, altered porosity profiles, and influenced swelling, biodegradation, and compressive strength, with a maximum value of 87 kPa at 7.5 wt% ferrite content. The scaffolds maintained non-toxicity and demonstrated bactericidal activity. The optimal concentration for achieving a balance between structural integrity and biological performance was found at 7.5 wt% cobalt ferrite. Conclusions: These findings suggest that magnetic chitosan-cobalt ferrite scaffolds possess significant potential for use in biomedical applications, including tissue regeneration and advanced healing therapies. The incorporation of magnetic properties enhances both the structural and biological functionalities, presenting promising opportunities for innovative therapeutic approaches in reconstructive procedures.

The transition from lab-scale studies to pilot-scale applications is a critical step in advancing water remediation technologies. While laboratory experiments provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms and method effectiveness, pilot-scale studies are essential for evaluating their practical feasibility and scalability. This progression addresses challenges related to operational conditions, effectiveness and energy requirements in real-world scenarios. In this study, the potential of nanopulsed plasma bubbles, when scaled up from a lab environment, was explored by investigating critical experimental parameters, such as plasma gas, pulse voltage, and pulse repetition rate, while also analyzing plasma-treated water composition. To validate the broad effectiveness of this method, various classes of highly toxic organic pollutants were examined in terms of pollutant degradation efficiency and energy requirements. The pilot-scale plasma bubble reactor generated a high concentration of short-lived reactive species with minimal production of long-lived species. Additionally, successful degradation of all pollutants was achieved in both lab- and pilot-scale setups, with even lower electrical energy-per-order (EEO) values at the pilot scale, 2–3 orders of magnitude lower compared to other advanced oxidation processes. This study aimed to bridge the gap between lab-scale plasma bubbles and upscaled systems, supporting the rapid, effective, and energy-efficient destruction of organic pollutants in water.

Chlorobenzene (CB) and Chloronaphthalene (CN) emissions from cement plant operations pose significant environmental risks. This study investigates the mass transfer effects of chlorinated aromatic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), specifically CB and CN, in the gas phase of a continuous-tangential-flow annular photocatalytic reactor. The experiments involved introducing CB and CN into the reactor, and the degradation kinetics were analyzed using the Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L-H) model. The L-H model was applied to assess the impact of the flow rate, concentration, and relative humidity (% RH) on the degradation rate (DR). The results indicate that both the experimental and simulated degradation rates improved with increased flow rates (1 to 9 m3·h−1) and inlet concentrations (30 to 216 mg·m−3). This enhancement of the DR correlates with the availability of active OH* species on the TiO2 surface. The L-H model emphasizes the role of H2O molecules in VOC removal kinetics. The degradation rates increased with a rising water content (5 to 55%), but adverse effects on VOC conversion were observed beyond a 55% RH. This study reveals a mass transfer effect, with internal diffusional limitations in the TiO2 pores under operational conditions. The kinetics were predominantly controlled by chemical kinetics and catalyst pore availability. Furthermore, this study demonstrates a higher CB degradation than CN in the reactor and experimental conditions. For a concentration of 1.328 mM·m−3, the CB DR ranged from 0.70 to 2.84 µM·m2·s−1, as the flow rate varied from 1 to 9 m3·h−1. The CN DR varied from 0.60 to 2.20 µM·m2·s−1 within the same flow rate range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study outlines the development of an effective pilot-scale simultaneous denitrification and nitrification (SDN) system using intermittent aeration for the removal of carbon and nitrogen from real domestic sewage. Given the limited research in this area, the main objective was to evaluate the overall performance of the SBRIA system on a pilot scale and show its benefits in domestic wastewater treatment. The structured bed reactor with intermittent aeration (SBRIA) notably achieved 57% efficiency in removing total nitrogen without requiring external carbon sources. It also demonstrated impressive removal rates of 56% for total chemical oxygen demand (CODT) and 82% for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), indicating its effectiveness in degrading organic matter. In addition, the SBRIA showed high pH control and managed the consumption of alkalinity without the need for an alkalizer, maintaining consistent mean values of 7.7 ± 0.8 for pH and 166.8 ± 79.8 mg·L−1 for alkalinity. The system also proved resilient against toxic shocks caused by significant variations in influent characteristics. This study offers valuable insights and compelling results into a cost-effective and efficient treatment approach using an innovative technology not previously applied at the pilot scale. Its potential to remediate polluted water is substantial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ras gene mutation and/or overexpression are drivers in the progression of cancers, including colorectal cancer. Blocking the Ras signaling has become a significant strategy for cancer therapy. Previously, we constructed a recombinant scFv, RGD-p21Ras-scFv by linking RGD membrane-penetrating peptide gene with the anti-p21Ras scFv gene. Here, we expressed prokaryotically RGD-p21Ras-scFv on a pilot scale, then investigated the anti-tumor effect and the mechanism of blocking Ras signaling. Methods: The E. coli bacteria which could highly express RGD-p21Ras-scFv was screened and grown in 100 L fermentation tank to produce RGD-p21Ras-scFv on optimized induced expression conditions. The scFv was purified from E. coli bacteria using His Ni-NTA column. ELISA was adopted to test the immunoreactivity of RGD-p21Ras-scFv against p21Ras proteins, and the IC50 of RGD-p21Ras-scFv was analyzed by CCK-8. Immunofluorescence colocalization and pull-down assays were used to determine the localization and binding between RGD-p21Ras-scFv and p21Ras. The interaction forces between RGD-p21Ras-scFv and p21Ras after binding were analyzed by molecular docking, and the stability after binding was determined by molecular dynamics simulations. p21Ras-GTP interaction was detected by Ras pull-down. Changes in the MEK-ERK /PI3K-AKT signaling paths downstream of Ras were detected by WB assays. The anti-tumor activity of RGD-p21Ras-scFv was investigated by nude mouse xenograft models. Results: The technique of RGD-p21Ras-scFv expression on a pilot scale was established. The wet weight of the harvested bacteria was 31.064 g/L, and 31.6 mg RGD-p21Ras-scFv was obtained from 1 L of bacterial medium. The purity of the recombinant antibody was above 85%, we found that the prepared on a pilot scale RGD-p21Ras-scFv could penetrate the cell membrane of colon cancer cells and bind to p21Ras, then led to reduce of p21Ras-GTP (active p21Ras). The phosphorylation of downstream effectors MEK-ERK /PI3K-AKT was downregulated. In vivo antitumor activity assays showed that the RGD-p21Ras-scFv inhibited the proliferation of colorectal cancer cell lines. Conclusion: RGD-p21Ras-scFv prokaryotic expressed on pilot-scale could inhibited Ras-driven colorectal cancer growth by partially blocking p21Ras-GTP and might be able to be a hidden therapeutic antibody for treating RAS-driven tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the importance of black copper ores is well established, many topics remain to be studied. This manuscript describes the efforts to improve copper recovery from refractory ores on a pilot scale. Preliminary tests provided the water dose to form a stable and compact agglomerate of 89 L per ton of ore and an acid dosage of 40 kg per ton of ore. The column leaching method resulted in an effluent with 1.63 g/L Cu, a pH of 1.04, and a redox potential of 675 mV (average). Despite the similarities observed in the results, reductant agents were essential to dissolve the MnO4 present in the black copper ore. Thus, the best Mn extraction results were 67.7% using the MnO2:FeSO4 ratio of 1:3. Additionally, the kinetics of leaching are slower than in an industrial operation. The copper ore under study required more than 65 days of leaching to reach the maximum copper recovery. Finally, the total recovery of copper (including washing and resting time) indicates that the maximum value was reached for ore pretreated with NaCl, H2SO4, and FeSO4, concluding that the use of agents favored leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae provide valuable bio-components with economic and environmental benefits. The monitoring of microalgal production is mostly performed using different sensors and analytical methods that, although very powerful, are limited to qualified users. This study proposes an automated Raman spectroscopy-based sensor for the online monitoring of microalgal production. For this purpose, an in situ system with a sampling station was made of a light-tight optical chamber connected to a Raman probe. Microalgal cultures were routed to this chamber by pipes connected to pumps and valves controlled and programmed by a computer. The developed approach was evaluated on Parachlorella kessleri under different culture conditions at a laboratory and an industrial algal platform. As a result, more than 4000 Raman spectra were generated and analysed by statistical methods. These spectra reflected the physiological state of the cells and demonstrate the ability of the developed sensor to monitor the physiology of microalgal cells and their intracellular molecules of interest in a complex production environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food waste (FW) is high in nutrients and has gained global attention as an ideal substrate for bioenergy recovery through anaerobic digestion (AD). Ambient digesters have been widely used because of their ease of installation, low cost, and low energy input. However, to improve biogas production sustainably, there is a need to consider reactor heating using renewable energy such as solar. This study sought to apply psychrophilic and mesophilic biodigester temperatures for FW treatment. For ambient digestion, a complete-mix flexible biodigester, named STH-1000A, covered in a greenhouse structure was operated between 24 and 32 °C. A prototype complete-mix tank biodigester, named VUT-1000C, was designed and operated at mesophilic conditions of 37 °C through solar geyser heating. VUT-1000C produced 1200 L of biogas per day while STH-1000A 150 L/day. VUT-1000C and STH-1000A generated up to 1.8 and 0.4 kWh of electricity, respectively. The power balance showed that VUT-1000C used 68% of its power production and STH-1000A consumed 398%. Digester heating using solar geyser is a novel and promising technique for achieving mesophilic condition leading to improved biogas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In achieving the European Union's goal of making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, the scientific community is striving to develop processes and products that are technologically and economically sustainable to replace/substitute fossil-based feedstocks. In this effort, the European project LIBERATE has demonstrated the commercial opportunities of converting low-cost lignin feedstocks into high-value bio sustainable chemicals such as vanillin and mixed phenolic derivatives. Lignin is the largest regenerative source of aromatic organics. In current wood pulping industries, lignin is underutilized and widely considered a side stream primarily exploited for its energy content. A promising approach for the synthesis of biobased fine chemicals is a depolymerisation process for lignin using sodium peroxodicarbonate (PODIC®), an electrochemically produced oxidiser. Within the LIBERATE project, SINTEF has built a pilot scale plant for the electrochemical lignin depolymerisation. The plant provided CHIMAR with the phenol-rich reactor product solution from both kraft and organosolv lignin, which was used as phenol substitutes with up to 50 wt% in the formulation of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins. These resins have been able to produce successful plywood panels on a laboratory scale. Although their quality is somewhat lower than that of the reference material with traditional PF resin, this work showed that the use of lignin fractions obtained by electrochemical treatment in such an application is possible and promising.

Chemical looping gasification (CLG) is a novel gasification technology, allowing for the efficient conversion of different solid feedstocks (e.g. biogenic residues) into a high-calorific syngas. As in any chemical looping technology, the oxygen carrier (OC), transporting heat and oxygen from the air to the fuel reactor, is crucial in attaining high process efficiencies. To investigate the fate of the OC during CLG in an industrial environment, ilmenite samples, collected during >400 hours of chemical operation in 1 MWth scale using three different biomass feedstocks, were analyzed using different lab techniques. In doing so, changes in OC particle morphology and composition induced by CLG operation were determined. Moreover, the most important physical and chemical characteristics of the utilized OC were measured. The ensuing dataset allowed for an in-depth evaluation of the CLG technology in semi-industrial scale in terms of OC lifetime and durability. It was found that in the absence of agglomeration, the cycled OC exhibits an oxygen transport capacity of 2.6 wt.-%, a particle density of 3400 kg/m3 and particle diameters between 60 and 250 µm in steady-state conditions. Moreover, it was found that OC loss via particle attrition determines the lifetime of the OC inside the 1 MWth CLG system. On the other hand, feedstock-related agglomeration, observed during CLG operation with wheat straw, was shown to impede OC circulation between AR and FR and thus prevent efficient CLG operation. In summary, the present study thus not only highlights that generally long-term CLG operation in industry-like conditions is feasible, but also provides important insights into measures to improve OC lifetime and durability inside an industrial chemical looping system, such as an optimization of cyclone efficiency or tailored pre-treatment of the utilized feedstock.

The direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 is a promising strategy for decelerating the growing concentration of atmospheric CO2 to control global warming. However, DAC remains a grand challenge, calling for technologies with high CO2 capture capacity at ultra-low partial pressure (around 400 ppm) under humid conditions. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been demonstrated as outstanding sorbents for gas capture and separation owing to their intrinsic porous properties. MOFs have been widely studied for CO2 capture from industrial gas mixtures, but DAC has more demanding recognition capacity, selectivity and efficiency requirements. In this review, we extensively summarize the current progress in designing MOFs for DAC at both laboratory and pilot scales, with specific attention to structure design strategies for enhancing CO2 capture at low partial pressures, and detailed discussion on efficient CO2/H2O capture selectivity or CO2-H2O co-capture at a molecular level. In addition, the thermodynamic process, design of a reactor for DAC via MOFs and related practical examination for pilot-scale studies are highlighted, and current challenges and prospects are elaborated upon.

Microalgae have gained attention as a promising source of chlorophylls and carotenoids in various industries. However, scaling up of conventional bubble columns presents challenges related to cell sedimentation and the presence of non-photosynthetic cells due to non-circulating zones and decreased light accessibility, respectively. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the newly developed continuously circulated bioreactor ROSEMAX at both laboratory and pilot scales, compared to a conventional bubble column. There was no significant difference in the biomass production and photosynthetic pigment content of Tetraselmis sp. cultivated at the laboratory scale (p > 0.05). However, at the pilot scale, the biomass cultured in ROSEMAX showed significantly high biomass (1.69 ± 0.11 g/L, dry weight, DW), chlorophyll-a (14.60 ± 0.76 mg/g, DW), and total carotene (5.64 ± 0.81 mg/g, DW) concentrations compared to the conventional bubble column (1.17 ± 0.11 g/L, DW, 10.67 ± 0.72 mg/g, DW, 3.21 ± 0.56 mg/g, DW, respectively) (p ≤ 0.05). Flow cytometric analyses confirmed that the proportion of Tetraselmis sp. live cells in the culture medium of ROSEMAX was 32.90% higher than that in the conventional bubble column, with a photosynthetic efficiency 1.14 times higher. These results support suggestions to use ROSEMAX as a bioreactor for industrial-scale applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the study of Eucalyptus globulus bark and sawdust direct liquefaction. Laboratory scale experiments were carried out to assess the impact of several variables on the reaction yield and the sugar content of the bio-oil. These variables were the biomass type and concentration, the solvent, and the reaction time. The results show that E. globulus sawdust presented the highest yields (>95%), but the highest sugar content after water extraction was obtained for E. globulus bark (~5.5% vs. 1.2% for sawdust). Simultaneously, industrial-scale tests were carried out at the ENERGREEN pilot plant using the same reaction variables, which resulted in reaction yields of nearly 100%. The reagents and raw materials used, as well as the products obtained (bio-oil, reaction condensates, polyols, and sugar phases) were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. The heating value of the bio-oils is higher than the original biomass (higher heating value of E. globulus sawdust bio-oil 29 MJ/kg vs. 19.5 MJ/kg of the original E. globulus sawdust). The analyses of the bio-oils allowed us to identify the presence of high-added-value compounds, such as levulinic acid and furfural. Finally, a study of the accelerated aging of liquefied biomass showed that the biofuel density increases from 1.35 to 1.44 kg/dm3 after 7 days of storage due to the occurrence of repolymerization reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact generated by the indiscriminate disposal of heavy metals into the different bodies of water is not only environmental but also social due to the health effects it produces in several organisms, including ourselves. Therefore, treatment systems around the world are the subject of continuous research to find treatment systems that are economical, efficient, and easy to implement in the industries that generate these increasingly harmful impacts on society and the environment in general. One way to design and develop systems of water treatment is that which takes advantage of the waste generated, such as the waste from the E. crassipes plant. The conditions of this plant make it perfect due to its abundant biomass and important content of cellulose and hemicellulose. Nevertheless, in almost all the investigations that characterize the way in which the biomass of this plant adsorbs heavy metals, it does so under laboratory conditions, being very far from the reality of industrial discharges. The objective of this project is to design and develop a pilot-scale industrial wastewater treatment system with plant biomass and EDTA. Three pilot-scale systems were built with EDTA-modified biomass in different concentrations, giving the parameters of the design for the development of a system that can treat around 80 L of Chromium (VI) contaminated water. This treatment system with E. crassipes biomass and EDTA with proportions of 9:1 costs around USD 10, which is quite cheap compared to conventional ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large quantities dilute acetic acid are generated during the industrial acetylation of cellulose. In the light of sustainability and circularity, it is crucial to recover and recycle the acetic acid (closed loop) released during this production. In this work, a simulation strategy for the robust design of the recovery of acetic acid from cellulose acetate production wastewater was developed and experimentally validated. The corresponding models (NRTL & UNIFAC) were discussed and used for simulation trials. The practical values confirmed the assumption of the applicability of a NRTL activity coefficient of αij = 0.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium (Se) is essential to human health, yet harmful in high doses. Of the water-soluble Se redox species, Se(IV) readily adsorbs onto iron and aluminium oxides. Se(VI), the dominant form in oxygenated waters, is more mobile and less readily adsorbed. In this study, the removal of Se(VI) by reduction with Fe(II) to Se(IV) and subsequent adsorption onto iron hydroxides is investigated in a pilot plant for biological iron and manganese removal from groundwater to investigate an economical approach for Se removal during drinking water production. While Se(IV) is removed by up to 90%, Se(VI) shows no removal over 48 h. In batch-shaking tests, the adsorption of Se(IV) and Se(VI) onto iron hydroxides with and without addition of Fe(II) or dithionite as reducing agents was studied. Se(IV) was removed to a greater extent by adsorption than Se(VI) (7% and 2.6%, respectively, at a starting concentration of 0.1 mg/L) and the addition of reducing agents resulted in no significantly higher removal of Se(VI). Reducing Se(VI) with Fe(II) or dithionite and consequent adsorption onto iron hydroxides can therefore be excluded as viable removal mechanism for Se(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a widely used method for VOC emissions mitigation essential for the long-term sustainability of clean and efficient industrial production. In this experimental study, chemical representatives of different VOC groups were subjected to deep catalytic oxidation on a pilot scale. State-of-the-art monolithic and spherical pelletized commercially available catalysts containing precious metals (Pt, Pd) as the active compounds were used. Experimental conditions (gas flow, high loads of VOC, and real flue gas mixture) were as close as possible to the real full-scale applications. For each catalyst and the tested VOC, a light-off curve was obtained and T50 and T90 values (temperatures corresponding to 50% and 90% conversions) were calculated. T50 and T90 values obtained in this pilot-scale study were compared with other laboratory-scale studies outcomes. T50 values are not significantly different; however, T90 are higher for the pilot scale. The interesting aspect of this comparison is to see if newly developed catalysts have better performance than already adopted and used commercial samples of VOC oxidation catalysts. The lowest T50 values were observed over Pt,Pd (1:1)—monolith sample, and lowest T90 over Pt,Pd/Al2O3,CeO2—pelletized catalyst. CatOX pilot VOC emissions mitigation over noble metal catalysts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a diverse and widely distributed global resource base, woody biomass is a compelling organic feedstock for conversion to renewable liquid fuels. In California, woody biomass comprises the largest fraction of underutilized biomass available for biofuel production, but conversion to fuels is challenged both by recalcitrance to deconstruction and by toxicity toward downstream saccharification and fermentation due to organic acids and phenolic compounds generated during pretreatment. In this study, we optimize pretreatment and scale-up of an integrated one-pot process for deconstruction of California woody biomass using the ionic liquid (IL) cholinium lysinate [Ch][Lys] as a pretreatment solvent. By evaluating the impact of solid loading, solid removal, yeast acclimatization, fermentation temperature, fermentation pH, and nutrient supplementation on final ethanol yields and titers, we achieve nearly full conversion of both glucose and xylose to ethanol with commercial C5-utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We then demonstrate process scalability in 680 L pilot-scale fermentation, achieving >80% deconstruction efficiency, >90% fermentation efficiency, 27.7 g/L ethanol titer, and >80% ethanol distillation efficiency from the IL-containing hydrolysate post fermentation. This fully integrated process requires no intermediate separations and no intermediate detoxification of the hydrolysate. Using an integrated biorefinery model, current performance results in a minimum ethanol selling price of $8.8/gge. Reducing enzyme loading along with other minor process improvements can reduce the ethanol selling price to $3/gge. This study is the largest scale demonstration of IL pretreatment and biofuel conversion known to date, and the overall biomass-to-ethanol efficiencies are the highest reported to date for any IL-based biomass-to-biofuel conversion.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) technology in the extraction of olive oil on a pilot scale, using the “Galega Vulgar” olive variety as raw material. The extraction assisted by PEF had a malaxation time of 30 min and was compared with the traditional process of 45 min of malaxation. The main quality parameters of olive oil and the PEF’s cost-benefit assessment were performed. The incorporation of PEF in olive oil production reduced the malaxation stage by 33% without compromising the yield or extra-virgin classification. This efficiency leads to a potential 12.3% increase in annual olive oil production, with a 12.3% and 36.8% rise in revenue and gross profit, respectively. For small-scale production, the considerable upfront investment required for PEF equipment may be a challenge in terms of return on investment. In this scenario, opting for a renting scheme is the best economic solution, especially given the seasonal nature of olive oil production. In medium- to large-scale production, the investment in PEF is a sound investment since it is possible to achieve, with an equipment cost of EUR 450,000 and a production output of 5 tons per hour, an annual ROI of 20%.

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) has recently emerged as a promising technology for converting diverse forms of waste with a high moisture content into value-added products such as biofuel, biochar, and activated carbon. With an increasing demand for sustainable and carbon-neutral energy sources, HTC has attracted considerable attention in the literature. However, a successful transition from laboratory-scale to large-scale industrial applications entails notable challenges. This review critically assesses the upscaling of hydrothermal carbonization processes, emphasizing the challenges, innovations, and environmental implications associated with this transition. The challenges inherent in upscaling HTC are comprehensively discussed, including aspects such as reactor design, process optimization, and the current treatment technology for process water. This review presents recent innovations and technological advancements that address these challenges and explores integrated solutions to enhancing hydrothermal carbonization’s scalability. Additionally, this review highlights key companies that have developed and implemented HTC plants for commercial purposes. By overcoming the obstacles and achieving advancements in the upscaling of hydrothermal carbonization, this review contributes to the ongoing efforts to realize the full potential of HTC as a sustainable and scalable biomass conversion technology and proposes future directions.

This research presents a novel approach to synthesising polyurethane (PUR)-based aerogels at the pilot scale, optimizing synthesis variables such as the gelation solvent, solids content, chain extender/isocyanate ratio, and dispersion mode. The solids content (2–11 wt.%) is the parameter with the most influence on the density of the aerogels, with a clear decrease in this property as the solids content decreases. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that minimizing the excess of ethylenediamine (used as chain extender) in relation to the isocyanate is a valuable consideration to improve the thermal conductivity of the aerogel. Related to the chain extender/isocyanate ratio, a compromise situation where the initial isocyanate reacts almost completely is crucial. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to conduct such monitoring during the reaction. Once the conditions were optimised, the aerogel showing improved properties was synthesised using ethyl acetate as the gelling solvent, a 3.7 wt.% solids content, an ethylenediamine/isocyanate ratio of 0.20, and sonication as the dispersion mode, attaining a thermal conductivity of 0.030 W m−1 K−1 and a density of 0.046 g cm−3. Therefore, the synthesized aerogel emerges as a promising candidate for use in the construction and automotive industries.

Fe–26Si–9B alloy is a promising high temperature phase change material (HTPCM), due to its high heat of fusion, small volumetric change, abundance, and low cost. Additionally, graphite has been identified as a promising candidate for use as a container material for this alloy. In this study, the feasibility of using graphite for Fe–26Si–9B HTPCM is investigated in a pilot-scale. Specifically, 4–5 kg Fe–26Si–9B master alloys were melted in graphite crucibles using an induction furnace, which underwent 2–3 thermal cycles in the temperature range of 1,100–1,375°C. The results showed that SiC and B4C precipitates were formed in the alloys. However, these carbides were found to be present only on the surface of the solidified alloys and not in the main body. Still, the chemical composition of the Fe–26Si–9B alloy remained relatively stable during the thermal cycles. It was also seen that the graphite crucible withstood the temperature cycles without cracking. Therefore, the use of graphite as a container for Fe–26Si–9B phase change material is a promising approach.

A clinoptilolite-rich natural zeolite was tested as a substitute for kieselguhr as a filtering material to eliminate ingredients that cause beer haze formation. Two-grain sizes of micronized natural zeolite were thermally activated to 400 °C, to enhance its adsorption performance and remove the impurities adsorbed in the microporous system of zeolites, followed by their physicochemical characterization. The activated zeolites mixed with four commercial filter aids in different ratios were used for beer filtration at the pilot scale. Most of the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of beers filtered with commercial filter aids and with zeolites were similar. Using zeolite in filtering mixtures significantly reduces the number of microorganisms present in the filtered beer, which can eliminate the necessity of beer sterilization after filtration. The results evidenced that activated natural zeolites, which are cheap materials, are promising candidates as filter aids and can replace kieselguhr without producing any degradation of the beer filtration process.