Purpose
Along with the harvesting of renewable energy sources to decrease the environmental footprint of the energy sector, energy storage systems appear as a relevant solution to ensure a reliable ...and flexible electricity supply network. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are so far, the most widespread operational electrochemical storage system. The aim of this study is to address the lack of comprehensive cradle-to-grave environmental impact evaluation for stationary Li-ion batteries.
Materials and methods
Three stationary Li-ion batteries are assessed here: a prototype lithium iron phosphate/graphite (LFP/G) battery and two alternatives (with nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) positive electrodes and graphite (G) or lithium titanate oxide (LTO) negative electrodes). Midpoint to endpoint environmental indicators are estimated and compared using the life cycle assessment methodology. With the help of literature data, the modelling includes all auxiliary equipment (container, power electronics, etc.) and considers end-of-life (EoL) processes that are as specific as possible for each component. The evaluation accounts for two full charge equivalent per day for a 20-year period.
Results
The endpoint analysis does not enable to determine which of the NMC/G and LFP/G batteries has the lesser environmental impacts. A more detailed examination of the midpoint indicators is essential for making a choice between the two, as both present pros and cons. However, for both endpoint and midpoint indicators, the NMC/LTO battery is less impactful than the other batteries, particularly for critical categories (human toxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity and eutrophication) as it does not need any pack replacement and contains less copper. Auxiliary equipment does not contribute significantly to most of the cradle-to-grave environmental indicators, except for steel container recycling, which induces human carcinogenic toxicity. In all other categories, the screened EoL processes indicated potential net negative impacts, especially through the recycling of lithium compounds in LFP and LTO electrodes with adapted processes. Recovering the aluminium cell containers and electrode foils from dismantled cells is also significantly beneficial.
Discussions
This work provides a consistent comparison between three different battery storage systems including all auxiliary components and all life cycle stages. Reliability of the findings hinges on the selected inventories and parameters’ assumptions, most of which are derived from the literature. Sensitivity analysis has shown the significance of certain parameters, such as the battery pack’s lifespan, in determining the least impactful battery. Primary data on the battery use phase (lifespan, round-trip efficiency, depth-of-discharge) as well as a more detailed modelling of both auxiliary equipment and EoL processes would provide a more accurate picture of the associated environmental impacts. Finally, to make a choice, other criteria such as economic aspects, pack safety or criticality risks of materials should be considered.
Graphical Abstract
The objective of this crossover experiment was to investigate the effect of a methane inhibitor, 3-nitrooxypropanol (3NOP), on enteric methane emission, methane isotopic composition, and rumen ...fermentation and microbial profile in lactating dairy cows. The experiment involved 6 ruminally cannulated late-lactation Holstein cows assigned to 2 treatments: control and 3NOP (60 mg/kg of feed dry matter). Compared with the control, 3NOP decreased methane emission by 31% and increased hydrogen emission from undetectable to 1.33 g/d. Methane emissions per kilogram of dry matter intake and milk yield were also decreased 34% by 3NOP. Milk production and composition were not affected by 3NOP, except milk fat concentration was increased compared with the control. Concentrations of total VFA and propionate in ruminal fluid were not affected by treatment, but acetate concentration tended to be lower and acetate-to-propionate ratio was lower for 3NOP compared with the control. The 3NOP decreased the molar proportion of acetate and increase those of propionate, butyrate, valerate, and isovalerate. Deuterium-to-hydrogen ratios of methane and the abundance of 13CH3D were similar between treatments. Compared with the control, minor (4‰) depletion in the 13C/12C ratio was observed for 3NOP. Genus composition of methanogenic archaea (Methanobrevibacter, Methanosphaera, and Methanomicrobium) was not affected by 3NOP, but the proportion of methanogens in the total cell counts tended to be decreased by 3NOP. Prevotella spp., the predominant bacterial genus in ruminal contents in this experiment, was also not affected by 3NOP. Compared with the control, Ruminococcus and Clostridium spp. were decreased and Butyrivibrio spp. was increased by 3NOP. This experiment demonstrated that a substantial inhibition of enteric methane emission by 3NOP in dairy cows was accompanied with increased hydrogen emission and decreased acetate-to-propionate ratio; however, neither an effect on rumen archaeal community composition nor a significant change in the isotope composition of methane was observed.
Cortisol has been identified as a biomarker in saliva to monitor psychological stress. In this work, we report a label-free paper-based electrical biosensor chip to quantify salivary cortisol at a ...point-of-care (POC) level. A high specificity of the sensor chip to detect cortisol with a detection limit of 3 pg/mL was achieved by conjugating anticortisol antibody (anti-CAB) on top of gold (Au) microelectrodes using 3,3′-dithiodipropionic acid di(N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (DTSP) as a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) agent. The electrode design utilized poly(styrene)-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PS67-b-PAA27) polymer and graphene nanoplatelets (GP) suspension coated on filter paper to increase the sensitivity of the immune response. A biosensor chip was then integrated with a lab-built low-cost miniaturized printed circuit board (PCB) to provide an electrical connection and to wirelessly transmit/receive electrical signals using MATLAB. This fully integrated proposed hand-held device successfully exhibited a wide cortisol-detection range from 3 pg/mL to 10 μg/mL, with a sensitivity of 50 Ω (pg mL–1)−1. The performance of the proposed cortisol sensor chip was validated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique with a regression value of 0.9951. The advantages of the newly developed cortisol immune biosensor over previously reported chips include an improved limit of detection, no need for additional redox medium for electron exchange, faster response to achieve stable data, excellent shelf life, and its economical production.
Recent evidence suggests that changes in microbial colonization of the rumen prior to weaning may imprint the rumen microbiome and impact phenotypes later in life. We investigated how dietary ...manipulation from birth influences growth, methane production, and gastrointestinal microbial ecology. At birth, 18 female Holstein and Montbéliarde calves were randomly assigned to either treatment or control (CONT). Treatment was 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), an investigational anti-methanogenic compound that was administered daily from birth until three weeks post-weaning (week 14). Samples of rumen fluid and faecal content were collected at weeks 1, 4, 11, 14, 23, and 60 of life. Calves were tested for methane emissions using the GreenFeed system during the post-weaning period (week 11-23 and week 56-60 of life). Calf physiological parameters (BW, ADG and individual VFA) were similar across groups throughout the trial. Treated calves showed a persistent reduction in methane emissions (g CH
/d) throughout the post-weaning period up to at least 1 year of life, despite treatment ceasing three weeks post-weaning. Similarly, despite variability in the abundance of individual taxa across weeks, the rumen bacterial, archaeal and fungal structure differed between CONT and 3-NOP calves across all weeks, as visualised using sparse-PLS-DA. Similar separation was also observed in the faecal bacterial community. Interestingly, despite modest modifications to the abundance of rumen microbes, the reductive effect of 3-NOP on methane production persisted following cessation of the treatment period, perhaps indicating a differentiation of the ruminal microbial ecosystem or a host response triggered by the treatment in the early development phase.
Although significant technological advancements have been made in the development of analytical biosensor chips for detecting bacterial strains (E. coli, S. Mutans and B. Subtilis), critical ...requirements i.e. limit of detection (LOD), fast time of response, ultra-sensitivity with high reproducibility and good shelf-life with robust sensing capability have yet to be met within a single sensor chip. In order to achieve these criteria, we present an electrically-receptive thermally-responsive (ER-TR) sensor chip comprised of simple filter paper used as substrate coated with composite of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) polymer (PNIPAm) – graphene nanoplatelet (GR) followed by evaporation of Au electrodes for capturing both Gram-positive (S. mutans and B. subtilis) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacterial cells in real-time. Autoclave water, tap water, lake water and milk samples were tested with ER-TR chip with and without bacterial strains at varying concentration range 101–105 cells/mL. The sensor was integrated with in-house built printed circuit board (PCB) to transmit/receive electrical signals. The interaction of E. coli, S. mutans and B. subtilis cells with fibers of PNIPAm-GR resulted in a change of electrical resistance and the readout was monitored wirelessly in real-time using MATLAB algorithm. Finally, prepared ER-TR chip exhibited the reproducibility of 85–97% with shelf-life of up to four weeks after testing with lake water sample.
•Paper-Based Graphene-PNIPAm-Au sensor chip was developed as an integrated device.•Bacterial cells were captured by fibers of GR-PNIPAm without using antibody conjugation.•LCST of PNIPAm was controlled electrically using embedded IDµE on chip.•Reproducibility of 85–97% and shelf life of up to 3 weeks were achieved.•The platform tested for robustness with various bacterial strains and environmental or food samples.
This study examined the effect of 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), a substance under investigation, on enteric methane (CH4) emission, rumen fermentation, lactational performance, sensory properties of ...milk, and the resumption of ovarian cyclicity in early-lactation dairy cows. Fifty-six multi- and primiparous Holstein cows, including 8 that were rumen cannulated, were used in a 15-wk randomized complete block design experiment. Cows were blocked based on parity and previous lactation milk yield (MY) or predicted MY, and within each block were randomly assigned to one of 2 treatments: (1) control (CON), administered no 3-NOP, or (2) 3-NOP applied at 60 mg/kg of feed dry matter (3-NOP). Enteric CH4 emission was measured during experimental wk 2, 6, 9, and 15, using the GreenFeed system. Dry matter intake (DMI) and MY data were collected daily throughout the experiment, and milk composition samples were collected 7 times during the experiment. Milk samples were collected from 14 to 60 (±2) d after calving, 3 d per week, and assayed for progesterone concentration to determine resumption of ovarian activity. Compared with CON, 3-NOP decreased daily CH4 emission by 26%, CH4 yield (CH4 per kg of DMI) by 21%, and CH4 emission intensity CH4 per kg of MY or energy-corrected milk (ECM) by 25%. Enteric emission of carbon dioxide was decreased by 5%, and hydrogen emission was increased 48-fold by 3-NOP. Inclusion of 3-NOP decreased concentration of total volatile fatty acids (by 9.3%) and acetate but increased butyrate molar proportion, ethanol, and formate concentrations in ruminal fluid. Dry matter intake was lower for 3-NOP compared with CON, but DMI expressed as a percentage of body weight was not different between treatments. Treatment had no effect on milk and ECM, body weight change, or body condition score. Milk composition and milk fat and protein yields were not affected by treatment, except that concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in milk were increased by 3-NOP. Nutrient digestibility and blood metabolites and hormones were not affected by 3-NOP, except that insulin was decreased by 3-NOP. There was no effect of 3-NOP on postpartum resumption of ovarian activity, including days to first and second luteal phases, length of first and second luteal phases, and interval from first to second luteal phase. Sensory properties of milk from cows fed 3-NOP and cheese made from that milk were not affected by treatment. In this experiment, 3-NOP decreased daily enteric CH4 emission, emission yield, and emission intensity, improved feed efficiency, and did not affect lactational performance or onset of ovarian activity in early-lactation dairy cows.
Various cancer cells have been demonstrated to have the capacity to form plasmonic gold nanoparticles when chloroauric acid is introduced to their cellular microenvironment. But their biomedical ...applications are limited, particularly considering the millimolar concentrations and longer incubation period of ionic gold. Here, we describe a simplistic method of intracellular biomineralization to produce plasmonic gold nanoparticles at micromolar concentrations within 30 min of application utilizing polyethylene glycol as delivery vector for ionic gold. We have characterized this process for intracellular gold nanoparticle formation, which progressively accumulates proteins as the ionic gold clusters migrate to the nucleus. This nano-vectorized application of ionic gold emphasizes its potential biomedical opportunities while reducing the quantity of ionic gold and required incubation time. To demonstrate its biomedical potential, we further induce in-situ biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles within MCF7 tumor mouse xenografts which is followed by its photothermal remediation.
Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have shown considerable potential in a vast number of biomedical applications. However, currently there are no clinically approved injectable GNP formulations. Conversely, ...gold salts have been used in the clinic for nearly a century. Further, there is evidence of GNP formation in patients treated with gold salts (i.e., chrysiasis). Recent reports evaluating this phenomenon in human cells and in murine models indicate that the use of gold ions for in situ formation of theranostic GNPs could greatly improve the delivery within dense biological tissues, increase efficiency of intracellular gold uptake, and specificity of GNP formation within cancer cells. These attributes in combination with safe clinical application of gold salts make this process a viable strategy for clinical translation. Here, the first summary of the current knowledge related to GNP biomineralization in mammalian cells is provided along with critical assessment of potential biomedical applications of this newly emergent field.
Mammalian cells can synthesize nanoparticles from ions from gold salts. Gold salt drugs have been clinically applied for nearly a century, with evidence of nanoparticle formation within those patients. However, the mainstream use of these gold drugs considerably predates popular study of gold particles. Here a newly emergent field is summarized, wherein biomedically relevant gold particles are prepared in situ.
The aim of this work was to determine the effect of 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) on the enteric methane (CH4) emissions and performance of lactating dairy cows when mixed in with roughage or ...incorporated into a concentrate pellet. After 2 pretreatment weeks without 3-NOP supplementation, 30 Holstein Friesian cows were divided into 3 homogeneous treatment groups: no additive, 3-NOP mixed in with the basal diet (roughage; NOPbas), and 3-NOP incorporated into a concentrate pellet (NOPconc). The pretreatment period was followed by a 10-wk treatment period in which the NOPbas and NOPconc cows were fed 1.6 g of 3-NOP/cow per day. After the treatment period, a 2-wk washout period followed without 3-NOP supplementation. The CH4 emissions were measured using a GreenFeed unit (C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD) installed in a freestall with cubicles during the entire experimental period. On average for the total treatment period and compared with the no-additive group, CH4 production (g/d) was 28 and 23% lower for NOPbas and NOPconc, respectively. Methane yield (g/kg of dry matter intake) and methane intensity (g/kg of milk) were 23 and 24% lower for NOPbas, respectively, and 21 and 22% lower for NOPconc, respectively. No differences were found between NOPbas and NOPconc. Moreover, supplying 3-NOP did not affect total dry matter intake, milk production, or milk composition. The results of this experiment show that 3-NOP can reduce enteric CH4 emissions of dairy cattle when incorporated into a concentrate pellet and that this reduction is not different from the effect of mixing in 3-NOP with the basal diet (roughage). This broadens the possibilities for using 3-NOP in the dairy sector worldwide, as it is not always feasible to provide an additive mixed in with the basal diet.
The influence of a high temperature annealing (2200 deg C) on the microstructure and the electrical properties of BaZr0.9Y0.1O3-delta has been examined. The high temperature annealing was achieved ...using an optical floating zone furnace. The obtained sample is homogeneous with an average grain size of about 5mum. No additional phases were found in the XRD pattern and the structure was identified to be cubic. After the high temperature annealing, the grain boundary conductivity is increased by approximately two orders of magnitude, while the bulk conductivity remains the same.
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