By-product recovery in industrial wastewater pollution control

By-products from most industries become waste when they are not recovered. This article gives examples of by-product recovery from industries such as pulp and paper, dairy, pig farm and food processing.

Although the recovery of by-products will require new processes, the investments on those processes will be paid-back easily from the benefits brought by those by-products. Also, in order to have a sustainable development, by-product recover will play a significant role in all industries in the near future.

Fabrication of carbon nanofiber by pyrolysis of freeze-dried cellulose nanofiber

The possibility of fabricating carbon nanofibers from cellulose nanofibers was investigated. Cellulose nanofiber of ~50 nm in diameter was produced using ball milling in an eco-friendly manner. The effect of the drying techniques of cellulose nanofibers on the morphology of carbon residue was studied. After pyrolysis of freeze-dried cellulose nanofibers below 600 °C, amorphous carbon fibers of ~20 nm in diameter were obtained. The pyrolysis of oven-dried precursors resulted in the loss of original fibrous structures. The different results arising from the two drying techniques are attributed to the difference in the spatial distance between cellulose nanofiber precursors.

Novel polymer-ceramic composites for protection against ballistic fragments

For the first time, internally reinforced aggregate polymer ceramic composites were evaluated against fragment simulating projectiles (FSPs) of various calibers to investigate their ballistic impact response. Samples were prepared by mechanically mixing B4C and cBN over a range of ratios and combinations with either thermosetting phenolic or epoxy resin and aramid pulp. Dry mixtures were then molded in a closed die using a heated platen press. The resulting tiles were then mounted as ‘‘strike faces’’ to an aramid backing material using an epoxy resin. Backed targets were tested in a fully instrumented firing range against 5.56 mm FSPs to test ballistic limit. A further series of tests using 7.62, 12.5, and 20 mm FSPs was conducted to examine round deformation across a range of fragments calibers. Round deformations were measured after impact and plotted against shot velocity. It was found that the polymer ceramic composite materials were effective round deformers and, like sintered ceramic strike faces, demonstrated improved ballistic performance at an equivalent areal density and impressive multihit capability.

Small axe

‘18C’ was a response to the impending amendments by the Coalition Government which will remove sections 18B – E of the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA). The Coalition has left a brief window to gauge community responses – so artists, writers and academics were requested to respond with a work on paper (photographic or pulp) to this change of the RDA. Incorporating many new and existing works ‘18C’ sends notice with visual, verbal and written work to ensure that this does not go unchallenged.

An open mic will part of the opening night for performances and responses throughout the evening. Documentation collated from the exhibition and opening night will be submitted to the office of the Australian Attorney General.

Artists include: Ange Bailey, Bumpy Favell, David Blumenstein, Dominic Golding, Heather Horricks, Jef Tan, Kirsten Lyttle, Lulu Quintanilla, Megan Evans, Peter Waples Crowe, Susan Forrester, Tama TK Favell, Torika Bolatagici, Angela Tiatia, Chiara Scafidi, Deborah Kelly, Frances Tapueluelu, Jason Heller, Jenny Fraser, Lian Low, Martin Nixon, Megan Cope, Robyne Latham, Taloi Havini, Texta Queen, Weniki Hensch.

“For them, it seems to be an abstract philosophical or legal argument. For them it’s a game, it’s a debate about words and abstract principles… For people who have experienced racism, it is a deeply personal debate, and it’s actually a debate about real people and real hurt.” - Penny Wong

The Trial of Mengistu and Other Derg Members for Genocide, Torture and Summary Executions in Ethiopia

The books argues for the rule of law, respect for human rights and the eradication of a culture of impunity in Africa. it is a product of peer-reviewed contributions from graduates of the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University ...

Novel ultrathin nanoflake assembled porous MnO2/carbon strip microspheres for superior pseudocapacitors

A novel hierarchical MnO2/carbon strip (MnO2/C) microsphere is synthesized via galvanostatic charge-discharge of a MnO@C matrix precursor where the carbon is from a low-cost citric acid. This hierarchical structure is composed of manganese oxides nanoflakes and inlaid carbon strips. The ultrathin nanoflakes assemble to form porous microspheres with a rippled surface superstructure. Due to its improved conductivity and remarkable increased phase contact area, this novel structure exhibits an excellent electrochemical performance with a specific capacitance of 485.6 F g -1 at a current density of 0.5 A g-1 and an area capacitance as high as 4.23 F cm-2 at a mass loading of 8.7 mg cm-2. It also shows an excellent cycling stability with 88.9% capacity retention after 1000 cycles. It is speculated that the present low-cost novel hierarchical porous microspheres can serve as a promising electrode material for pseudocapacitors. © 2014 American Chemical Society.

Biocompatibility of transition metal-substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles

Transition metals of copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel were substituted into cobalt ferrite nanoparticles via a sol-gel route using citric acid as a chelating agent. The microstructure and elemental compositions of the nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The particle size of the nanoparticles was investigated using particle size analyzer, and the zeta potentials were measured using zeta potential analyzer. The phase components of the synthesized transition metal-substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were studied using Raman spectroscopy. The biocompatibility of the nanoparticles was assessed using osteoblast-like cells. Results indicated that the substitution of transition metals strongly influences the physical, chemical properties, and biocompatibility of the cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media.

LC–MS and GC–MS metabolite profiling of nickel(II) complexes in the latex of the nickel-hyperaccumulating tree Sebertia acuminata and identification of methylated aldaric acid as a new nickel(II) ligand

Targeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) technology using size exclusion chromatography and metabolite profiling based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were used to study the nickel-rich latex of the hyperaccumulating tree Sebertia acuminata. More than 120 compounds were detected, 57 of these were subsequently identified. A methylated aldaric acid (2,4,5-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-1,6-hexan-dioic acid) was identified for the first time in biological extracts and its structure was confirmed by 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. After citric acid, it appears to be one of the most abundant small organic molecules present in the latex studied. Nickel(II) complexes of stoichiometry NiII:acid = 1:2 were detected for these two acids as well as for malic, itaconic, erythronic, galacturonic, tartaric, aconitic and saccharic acids. These results provide further evidence that organic acids may play an important role in the transport and possibly in the storage of metal ions in hyperaccumulating plants.

Elemental and metabolite profiling of nickel hyperaccumulators from New Caledonia

Leaf material from nine Ni hyperaccumulating species was collected in New Caledonia: Homalium kanaliense (Vieill.) Briq., Casearia silvana Schltr, Geissois hirsuta Brongn. & Gris, Hybanthus austrocaledonicusSeem, Psychotria douarrei (G. Beauvis.) Däniker, Pycnandra acuminata (Pierre ex Baill.) Swenson & Munzinger (syn Sebertia acuminata Pierre ex Baill.), Geissois pruinosa Brongn. & Gris, Homalium deplanchei (Viell) Warb. and Geissois bradfordii (H.C. Hopkins). The elemental concentration was determined by inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and from these results it was foundthat the species contained Ni concentrations from to 250–28,000 mg/kg dry mass. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS)-based metabolite profiling was then used to analyse leaves of each species.The aim of this study was to target Ni-binding ligands through correlation analysis of the metabolite levels and leaf Ni concentration. Approximately 258 compounds were detected in each sample. As has been observed before, a correlation was found between the citric acid and Ni concentrations in the leaves for all species collected. However, the strongest Ni accumulator, P. douarrei, has been found to contain particularly high concentrations of malonic acid, suggesting an additional storage mechanism for Ni. A size exclusion chromatography separation protocol for the separation of Ni-complexes in P. acuminata sap was also applied to aqueous leaf extracts of each species. A number of metabolites were identified in complexes with Ni including Ni-malonate from P. douarrei. Furthermore, the levels for some metabolites were found to correlate with the leaf Ni concentration. These data show that Ni ions can be bound by a range of small molecules in Ni hyperaccumulation in plants.