Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies aiming at tackling CO2 emission have attracted much attention from scientists of various backgrounds. Most CCS systems require an efficient adsorbent to ...remove CO2 from sources such as fossil fuels (pre‐combustion) or flue gas from power generation (post‐combustion). Research on developing efficient adsorbents with a substantial capacity, good stability and recyclability has grown rapidly in the past decade. Because of their high surface area, highly porous structure, and high stability, various nanoporous materials have been viewed as good candidates for this challenging task. Here, recent developments in several classes of nanoporous materials, such as zeolites, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), mesoporous silicas, carbon nanotubes, and organic cage frameworks, for CCS are examined and potential future directions for CCS technology are discussed. The main criteria for a sustainable CO2 adsorbent for industrial use are also rationalized. Moreover, catalytic transformations of CO2 to other chemical species using nanoporous catalysts and their potential for large scale carbon capture and utilization (CCU) processes are also discussed. Application of CCU technologies avoids any potential hazard associated with CO2 reservoirs and allows possible recovery of some running cost for CO2 capture by manufacturing valuable chemicals.
Nanoporous materials have shown great potential as efficient adsorbents for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. An overview of the properties of these classes of nanomaterials with their advantages and limitations regarding use as CO2 adsorbents is presented. New research directions in CO2 utilization are also discussed.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract Safe and efficient delivery of therapeutic cells to sites of injury/disease in the central nervous system is a key goal for the translation of clinical cell transplantation therapies. ...Recently, ‘magnetic cell localization strategies ' have emerged as a promising and safe approach for targeted delivery of magnetic particle (MP) labeled stem cells to pathology sites. For neuroregenerative applications, this approach is limited by the lack of available neurocompatible MPs, and low cell labeling achieved in neural stem/precursor populations. We demonstrate that high magnetite content, self-sedimenting polymeric MPs unfunctionalized poly(lactic acid) coated, without a transfecting component achieve efficient labeling (≥ 90%) of primary neural stem cells (NSCs)—a ‘hard-to-label’ transplant population of major clinical relevance. Our protocols showed high safety with respect to key stem cell regenerative parameters. Critically, labeled cells were effectively localized in an in vitro flow system by magnetic force highlighting the translational potential of the methods used. From the Clinical Editor Utilizing self-sedimenting polymeric magnetic particles, the authors demonstrate an efficient method for magnetically labeling primary neural stem cells for magnetic localization in the central nervous system.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
In this paper, we show a novel sustainable route for the production of sorption materials for carbon capture technologies by utilizing a general plastic waste. By supporting aminated poly(vinyl ...chloride) on mesoporous silicas, a family of polymer/silica composites was synthesized, characterized and tested gravimetrically for adsorption of CO2 from the 1 : 1 v/v CO2-N2 mixture. The composites show good adsorption capacity for CO2 peaking at 12 cm3 g-1 for ethylenediamine-treated PVC products on SBA-15 support. The adsorption efficiency (CO2 : N ratio) is comparable to those observed for other nanoporous materials, such as amine-grafted mesoporous silicas. Ethylenediamine was found to be the best aminating reagent for PVC as the composite prepared from EDA-PVC gave the highest CO2 adsorption efficiency. Moreover, contact angle measurements suggested a significant improvement in hydrophobicity of the selected composites when they were compared with the unfunctionalized silica supports. This very useful development could make the composites suitable for applications in elevated moisture content environments found in flue vapours of gas-fired power plants.
In this article, we report a new sustainable synthesis procedure for manufacturing chitosan/silica CO2 adsorbents. Chitosan is a naturally abundant material and contains amine functionality, which is ...essential for selective CO2 adsorptions. It is, therefore, ideally suited for manufacturing CO2 adsorbents on a large scale. By coating chitosan onto high‐surface‐area mesoporous silica supports, including commercial fumed silica (an economical and accessible reagent) and synthetic SBA‐15 and MCF silicas, we have prepared a new family of CO2 adsorbents, which have been fully characterised with nitrogen adsorption isotherms, thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, TEM, FTIR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. These adsorbents have achieved a significant CO2 adsorption capacity of up to 0.98 mmol g−1 at ambient conditions (P=1 atm and T=25 °C). The materials can also be fully regenerated/recycled on demand at temperatures as low as 75 °C with a >85 % retention of the adsorption capacity after 4 cycles, which makes them promising candidates for advanced CO2 capture, storage and utilisation technology.
It captures the carbon: Chitosan‐coated mesoporous silica materials have been prepared as a new family of CO2 adsorbents. These adsorbents have achieved a significant CO2 adsorption capacity of up to 0.98 mmol g−1 at P=1 atm and T=25 °C, and they can also be fully regenerated/recycled at temperatures as low as 75 °C.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The physics laboratory has long been a distinctive feature of physics education. It has been given a central role in the teaching and learning of physics at school and undergraduate levels in ...universities. The literature indicates that science educators have suggested that there are academically rich benefits in the learning and understanding of physics based on laboratory work. However, some educators have begun to raise serious and valid questions about the effectiveness of the learning through laboratory work in science subjects and the heavy cost for the establishment and maintenance of laboratories. This research paper provides perspectives on these issues through a brief review of the history, goals and objectives related to the physics undergraduate laboratory. An empirical research study was conducted to determine the university students' perceptions, views and opinions with regard to physics learning during undergraduate laboratory work. This involved 143 students from first and higher years and the evidence was gathered by survey and focus group interviews, the former using a variety of types of questions. The evidence from the students is positive and suggests that undergraduate physics laboratory work may well be contributing towards the achievement of specific desirable goals. (Contains 8 tables.)
The teaching of physics through practical experiments has long been an established practice. It forms a key component of teaching of that subject at both school and university levels. As such, ...students have strong views of this method of teaching. This paper reports on the view of undergraduate physics students in relation to their experiences of practical physics at school. 500 students across three Higher Education Institutions in the UK were surveyed to determine their perceptions, views and opinions in this area. This paper initially presents the overall views of the students, and then looks in more detail at the effect the different levels to which students took the subject at school affected those views. Specifically, students who took Advanced Higher versus Higher are compared, as well as those who took Advanced Higher versus A-level. Comparison was also made between the responses of female and male students. The general picture is very encouraging, with students broadly appreciating the practical side of physics.
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