Pollution reduction from waste management and energy generation is necessary to mitigate climate change and is one of the major challenges of the 21st century. This can be achieved through the ...development of innovative energy recovery technologies from biomass and wastes, such as microwave plasma gasification. An envelope of stable CO2 plasma operation is described, by varying working gas flow rate at applied microwave powers between 1 and 6 kW, whereas H2O plasma operation is possible with flow rate ranging from 20 to 50 g/min and microwave powers between 2.5 and 6 kW. The temperature generated in a large chamber connected to the plasma torch is recorded, reaching up to 850 °C, showing a heterogeneous temperature distribution. In addition, optical emission spectroscopy measurements provide an insight into plasma chemistry and demonstrate the dissociation of CO2 and H2O molecules at extremely high temperatures of up to 6300 °C assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium. The experimental results demonstrate that the microwave plasma torch provides an ideal environment for gasification with high temperature and very chemically reactive species. This study provides valuable information for the design of microwave plasma gasification reactors with great potential for effective solid feedstock conversion into high quality syngas for energy production.
•CO2 and H2O plasma operation in a wide range of operating conditions.•Temperatures up to 850 °C achieved in chamber connected to the plasma torch.•CO2 and H2O found to dissociate along 14 cm of the plasma plume.•Temperatures from 6300 °C to 2300 °C achieved along 14 cm of the plasma plume.
It is urgent to reduce CO2 emissions to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The development of advanced conversion technologies integrated with plasma torches provides a path for the optimisation ...of clean energy recovery from biomass and wastes, thus substituting fossil fuels utilization. This article presents the temperature characterisation within a laboratory-scale microwave-induced plasma reactor operated with air, H2O and CO2 as the plasma working gases. The benefits associated with the plasma torch are highlighted and include rapid responses of the plasma and the temperature profile within the reactor to changing operating conditions. The average temperature near the side wall in the laboratory-scale reactor is proportional to the applied microwave power, ranging from 550 °C at 2 kW to 850 °C at 5 kW, while significantly higher temperatures are locally present within the plasma plume. The described system demonstrates promising conditions that are ideal for effective energy recovery from biomass and wastes into clean fuel gas.
•Comparable temperatures in reactor for air, H2O and CO2 plasmas at specific power.•Quick reactor warm-up to 650 °C in less than 5 min.•More homogeneous temperatures at high flow rate and high applied microwave power.•Average temperature near side wall of reactor up to 850 °C at 5 kW microwave power.•Temperature up to 1000 °C recorded at the bottom of the plasma reactor.
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•Biomass converted to combustible gas in a steam microwave-induced plasma reactor.•Complete biomass conversion and energy recovery into syngas is achieved.•Generated syngas rich in ...hydrogen with concentration exceeding 60% by volume.•Generated syngas with low inert dilution and calorific value ranging 10.5–12 MJ/Nm3.
Substitution of fossil fuels by sustainable practices must be rapidly implemented to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The conversion of biomass into combustible gas is investigated in a microwave-induced plasma reactor using pure steam as the plasma working gas for the first time. The optimum results are achieved at the highest forward microwave power of 6 kW with biomass carbon conversion efficiency over 98% and complete biomass energy recovery in syngas. Unreacted steam is simply condensed out, leading to the production of a syngas with low inert dilution and high calorific value in the range 10.5–12 MJ/Nm3. The syngas produced is rich in hydrogen, exceeding 60% by volume. The proposed process could aid in the transition to a carbon neutral economy as it has the potential to efficiently convert biomass to syngas that can be used for the sustainable generation of fuels, chemicals and energy.
The implementation of high-throughput diagnostic sequencing has led to the generation of large amounts of mutational data, making their interpretation more complex and responsible for long delays. It ...has been important to prioritize certain analyses, particularly those of “actionable” genes in diagnostic situations, involving specific treatment and/or management. In our project, we carried out an objective assessment of the clinical actionability of genes involved in myopathies, for which only few data obtained methodologically exist to date. Using the ClinGen Actionability criteria, we scored the clinical actionability of all 199 genes implicated in myopathies published by FILNEMUS for the “National French consensus on gene Lists for the diagnosis of myopathies using next generation sequencing”. We objectified that 63 myopathy genes were actionable with the currently available data. Among the 36 myopathy genes with the highest actionability scores, only 8 had been scored to date by ClinGen. The data obtained through these methodological tools are an important resource for strategic choices in diagnostic approaches and the management of genetic myopathies. The clinical actionability of genes has to be considered as an evolving concept, in relation to progresses in disease knowledge and therapeutic approaches.
Une horloge à pression constante construite par la maison L. Leroy et Cie a été installée à l’Observatoire de Neuchâtel en 1949 pour la transmission de l’heure et arrêtée en 1962. Elle est ...actuellement démontée en 6 éléments et conservée sur place. Elle comporte des assemblages fragiles, des matériaux constitutifs vulnérables aux chocs, du mercure susceptible de se déverser, ainsi que des éléments volumineux et lourds. Afin d’assurer sa conservation à long terme au regard de ces spécificités, nous avons conçu un conditionnement de stockage ainsi qu’une caisse de transport démontable. La sélection des divers matériaux s’est faite par différents tests et outils.
A constant-pressure clock built by L. Leroy & Co. was mounted in the Observatory of Neuchâtel in 1949 for the transmission of time and was turned off in 1962. The clock is now conserved on site, ...currently disassembled in six constituents. The clock contains some fragile assembling materials and is vulnerable to shocks. It is susceptible to mercury spills, and some of its constituents are heavy and bulky. A storage packaging as well as a demountable light transport case was designed to ensure its long-term conservation in accordance to these specific characteristics. All materials were selected by different tests and tools.
Les troubles neuro-musculosquelettiques (TMS), représentent 87 % des affections professionnelles reconnues et des enjeux de santé et socio-économique majeurs dans les pays industrialisés (0,2 à 2 % ...du PIB selon les pays). Les facteurs organisationnels, comme la parcellisation, l’appauvrissement de la tâche et la dépendance organisationnelle sont à l’origine des modalités de sollicitation biomécanique favorisant la survenue des TMS. Dans le cadre d’une démarche ergonomique de prévention, l’institut d’ingénierie de la santé (2IS) a développé une expertise concernant la caractérisation des facteurs de risque biomécaniques liés à l’environnement professionnel. Pour une étude de recherche et développement, nous avons évalué l’impact d’un nouveau dispositif mécanique (démultiplication par crémaillère d’un outil à main) sur les facteurs de risque de TMS du membre supérieur lors d’une tâche simulée de découpe de tore en acier.
Notre plateforme technologique permet d’enregistrer des signaux électrophysiologiques d’activation musculaire, d’amplitude articulaire, de vitesse et d’accélération du mouvement. L’analyse des explorations permet ensuite de caractériser les paramètres d’intensité et temporels de l’astreinte musculo-squelettique.
Le prototype permet une diminution significative de la durée de coupe (−16 %) et du niveau d’activation des fléchisseurs communs poignet–main–doigts (46 % vs 42 % EMGmax). L’index énergétique d’activation musculaire, qui caractérise l’astreinte, est réduit de 48 % pour ce groupe musculaire. Le prototype permet également de réduire (−14 %) le temps passé en dehors de la zone neutre du poignet (0–30°).
Le développement de la plate-forme et des dispositifs technologiques ambulatoires dédiés à l’exploration des environnements et des astreintes biomécaniques et neurophysiologiques représente une opportunité pour étudier, en situation réelle ou en laboratoire, les facteurs de risque de TMS.
Brevibacterium massiliense infection in man is rare. We report here the second case with isolation of B. massiliense in human. This micro-organism requires specific laboratory investigations such as ...16S rRNA gene sequencing for accurate species identification. The clinical outcome was favorable.
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