4161 research outputs found
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Enhancing Resilience of Hot Spring Ecosystems Towards a Model of Sustainable Management of SPA Territories, Driving Innovation and Energy transition [Poster]
No full textABSTRACT: The climate observation systems have classified 2020, 2022, 2019, 2015, and 2014 as the five
hottest years in Europe over the past four decades. In the SUDOE region, 2022 was the warmest year since 1950. The projected long-term decline in precipitation in the SUDOE region may alter the natural properties of thermal springs, by changes in of shallow and deep groundwater mixing, impacting their anthropogenic ecosystem. Currently, there is no data assessing the impact of climate change, nor is there any adaptation strategy in place to anticipate its socio-economic consequences. Data on groundwater quality, climate change vulnerability, and territorial adaptive capacity are heterogeneous, exacerbating the economic divide. Migration movements and indirect impacts of climate change, as such as pandemic crises, may further intensify stress on water resources and the economy.N/
START Newsletter: Recover-Reform-Reuse for a Sustainable Future, Issue 4
No full textABSTRACT: We are almost halfway through the project activities and what a journey this has been! The advances we have made together are nothing short of remarkable. This edition of our Newsletter is a testament to our collective dedication and the exciting progress we’ve achieved. The completion of our first Periodic Report marks a significant milestone, and the advancements in tetrahedrite mineral-based thermoelectric materials are not just promising—they’re a leap towards a sustainable future. We’re excited to share updates on our ongoing activities, our synergistic collaborations with the EHRASE cluster and THERMOS project, and insightful technical information on thermoelectric generators. But that’s not all, join us on the Consortium Tour, where this time SGUDS and IGME-CSIC take centre stage. Plus, don’t miss the insightful interview with Doug Crane from our Scientific Advisory Board, whose expertise enriches our understanding of thermoelectrics.
This edition also features the fascinating adventures of Starty, exploring the practical uses of thermoelectric devices in a narrative that’s both educational and engaging. Looking ahead, we eagerly anticipate your visit to the START booth at the upcoming 40th International and 20th European Thermoelectric Conference, ICT/ECT 2024, in Krakow. We hope this Newsletter serves not only as a source of information but also as an inspiration for continued excellence. Stay connected with us for more exciting updates from START on our website and
social media channels.N/
Influência da metodologia experimental de remoção de óxidos na avaliação da velocidade de corrosão de aços inoxidáveis em contacto com sais fundidos [Resumo]
No full textRESUMO: Um dos pontos fulcrais na utilização de sais fundidos como fluidos de armazenamento de energia
térmica nas tecnologias de concentração de energia solar é a sua compatibilidade com os materiais estruturais metálicos. A corrosão dos materiais metálicos, tanto ao nível dos tanques de armazenamento de energia térmica, como ao nível das tubagens onde circulam estes fluídos, é um dos grandes desafios destas centrais, principalmente pelos custos envolvidos na utilização de materiais resistentes à corrosão e pelos riscos de funcionamento das centrais devido aos entupimentos provocados pelos óxidos formados no processo corrosivo ao longo do tempo. Assim, nos últimos anos têm-se realizado muitos estudos de avaliação de velocidades e dos mecanismos de corrosão- de várias ligas metálicas em contacto com sais fundidos a altas
temperaturas [1,2], que demonstram uma enorme disparidade de resultados publicados devido às diferentes metodologias experimentais e aos diferentes tempos de ensaio testados a nível laboratorial. Com este trabalho, pretende-se esclarecer a influência que a metodologia experimental tem no cálculo da velocidade de corrosão e qual é que deve ser seguida para obter resultados fidedignos que possam contribuir para uma adequada seleção de materiais aquando da construção e manutenção de uma central de concentração solar.N/
Portuguese limestones from the Middle Jurassic of the MCE candidate for heritage stone [Resumo]
No full textABSTRACT: The Monastery of Alcobaça (1152 AD), the Convent of Christ in Tomar (1160 AD) and the Monastery of Batalha (1386 AD), are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, having in common the construction materials that built them - Limestones from the Middle Jurassic of the Estremenho Limestone Massif (MCE). The use of these rocks, first as a structural element and later as an ornamental rock, continues today. In fact, considering the volumes of ornamental rock exploited in Portugal, these rocks have the highest values and are exported annually to more than a hundred countries, playing a decisive role in placing Portugal in the top ten world exporters of ornamental rocks.N/
Enhancing Conductivity in PEM Chitosan Membranes through Bisphosphonate Graphene Oxide [Resumo]
No full textN/
GEMAS: Boron as a geochemical proxy for weathering of European agricultural soil
No full textABSTRACT: bout a century ago, B was recognised as an essential element for the normal growth of plants and terrestrial organisms. Limitations for plant development have been recognised in agricultural systems, particularly in highly weathered soil. Boron is rarely analysed in whole rock or soil analysis, as it requires specific analytical techniques. It is often determined, after partial extraction (aqua regia or Ca-Cl), usually on a limited number of samples. Many more questions than answers exist about the environmental behaviour of B. We present B contents in agricultural soil samples (0-10 cm) collected in 33 European countries (5.6 million km2) during the GEMAS (GEochemical Mapping of Agricultural and grazing land Soil) continental-scale project. The B content, determined by ICP-MS following hot aqua regia extraction, varies in European agricultural soil from 0.5 to 49 mg/kg (median 2.42 mg/kg, n = 2108), which is somewhat similar to total B estimates for the Upper Continental Crust (17-47 mg/kg). Its spatial distribution in agricultural soil shows a patchy pattern with low values in regions with granitic bedrock and high contents in soil formed over limestone and in volcanic areas. Boron geochemical behaviour in soil is strongly dependent on other factors such as pH, CEC, presence of organic matter, clay and secondary oxides and hydroxides. Boron geochemical mapping at the continental scale in arable soil allows investigations of plant health, i.e., the beneficial and adverse effects due to the nutritional status of boron.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Palynological assemblages from Hongguleleng Formation of Western Junggar, Northwest China and their correlation with conodont zonation
No full textABSTRACT: The Upper Devonian Hongguleleng Formation is a significant stratigraphic unit near the Frasnian/Famennian and Devonian/Carboniferous boundaries of the Kazakhstan Paleoplate. However, its age is still under debate. A new palynostratigraphic analysis was conducted at the Gennaren section to provide a more accurate biostratigraphic assignment. In this study, we identified 43 species belonging to 26 spore genera, including those in open nomenclature. Despite the poor preservation of the palynofloras, the spore taxa were categorized into two assemblages. Assemblage I is established at the lower part of the lower member of the Hongguleleng Formation, containing Cornispora varicornata, cf. Auroraspora pseudocrista, and Cyrtospora cristifera. Assemblage II is from the upper part of the lower member of the Hongguleleng Formation, including Grandispora cornuta, Grandispora famennensis var. famennensis, Grandispora cf. famennensis var. minutus, Grandispora microseta, and Rugospora radiata. These assemblages are compared with the Western European DV Oppel Zone (lower-middle Famennian), and the GF to VCo Oppel zones. The assemblages are equivalent to the conodont crepida–rhomboidea and marginifera to Lower trachytera zones (middle-upper Famennian).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Ionic liquids toward enhanced carotenoid extraction from bacterial biomass
Get PDFABSTRACT: Carotenoids are high added-value products primarily known for their intense coloration and high antioxidant activity. They can be extracted from a variety of natural sources, such as plants, animals, microalgae, yeasts, and bacteria. Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B is a bacterium recognized as a hyper-pigment producer. However, due to its adaptations to its natural habitat, hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, strain 1B is resistant to different organic solvents, making carotenoid extraction through conventional methods more laborious and inefficient. Ionic liquids (ILs) have been abundantly shown to increase carotenoid extraction in plants, microalgae, and yeast; however, there is limited information regarding bacterial carotenoid extraction, especially for the Gordonia genus. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the potential of ILs to mediate bacterial carotenoid extraction and develop a method to achieve higher yields with fewer pre-processing steps. In this context, an initial screening was performed with biomass of strain 1B and nineteen different ILs in various conditions, revealing that tributyl(ethyl)phosphonium diethyl phosphate (IL#18), combined with ethyl acetate (EAc) as a co-solvent, presented the highest level of carotenoid extraction. Afterward, to better understand the process and optimize the extraction results, two experimental designs were performed, varying the amounts of IL#18 and EAc used. These allowed the establishment of 50 µL of IL#18 with 1125 µL of EAc, for 400 µL of biomass (cell suspension with about 36 g/L), as the ideal conditions to achieve maximal carotenoid extraction. Compared to the conventional extraction method using DMSO, this novel procedure eliminates the need for biomass drying, reduces extraction temperatures from 50 °C to 22 ± 2 °C, and increases carotenoid extraction by 264%, allowing a near-complete recovery of carotenoids contained in the biomass. These results highlight the great potential of ILs for bacterial carotenoid extraction, increasing the process efficiency, while potentially reducing energy consumption, related costs, and emissions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
A multiscale sensor approach for mining areas in south Portugal: from satellite to sUAS
No full textRESUMO: A deteção remota com recurso a satélites e sUAS fornecem informações cruciais, particularmente em geologia, permitindo a discriminação de unidades litológicas, características estruturais e ocorrências
minerais. As imagens de alta resolução espectral, espacial e temporal permitem uma análise mais detalhada e apoiam na identificação de zonas de alteração que podem indicar ocorrências minerais e gerar dados valiosos nas várias fases do ciclo de vida da mina.ABSTRACT: Remote sensing using satellites and sUAS provide crucial information, especially in geology, enabling the discrimination of lithological units, structural features and mineral occurrences. High spectral, spatial and temporal resolution imagery allows a more comprehensive analysis and support the identification of alteration zones that can indicate mineral occurrences and generate valuable data at the various stages of a mine's life cycle.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
