Improved recovery of lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries by reduction roasting and NaHCO leaching.

Lithium supply risk is increasing and driving rapid progress in lithium recovery schemes from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this study, a facile recycling process consisting mainly of reduction roasting and NaHCO leaching was adopted to improve lithium recovery. The Li of spent LiNiCoMnO powder were converted to LiCO and LiAlO with the reduction effect of C and residual Al in the roasting process.

Sulfuric acid leaching of ball-milling activated FePO residue after lithium extraction from spent lithium iron phosphate cathode powder.

A mechanical-chemical process is proposed to recover the iron phosphate residue(IPR)of spent lithium iron phosphate(LFP)after lithium extraction. In this process, the IPR was pretreated by ball-milling and leached with the sulfuric acid solution. The results showed that, under the optimized ball-milling conditions (a mass ratio of the stainless-steel-ball to material to water of 2:1:2.

Death anxiety among advanced cancer patients: a cross-sectional survey.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate death anxiety in advanced cancer patients and identify associated factors in the context of Chinese culture.

Methods: Participants (N = 270) with advanced cancer in a tertiary cancer hospital completed anonymous questionnaire surveys. Measures included the Chinese version of a Likert-type Templer-Death Anxiety Scale, Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, the Social Support Rating Scale, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale.

4-Phosphoryl Pyrazolones for Highly Selective Lithium Separation from Alkali Metal Ions.

Effective receptors for the separation of Li from a mixture with other alkali metal ions under mild conditions remains an important challenge that could benefit from new approaches. In this study, it is demonstrated that the 4-phosphoryl pyrazolones, HL -HL , in the presence of the typical industrial organophosphorus co-ligands tributylphosphine oxide (TBPO), tributylphosphate (TBP) and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), are able to selectively recognise and extract lithium ions from aqueous solution. Structural investigations in solution as well as in the solid state reveal the existence of a series of multinuclear Li complexes that include dimers (TBPO, TBP) as well as rarely observed trimers (TOPO) and represent the first clear evidence for the synergistic role of the co-ligands in the extraction process.

Crystallization and Phase Transformations of Aluminum (Oxy)hydroxide Polymorphs in Caustic Aqueous Solution.

Gibbsite, bayerite, and boehmite are important aluminum (oxy)hydroxide minerals in nature and have been widely deployed in various industrial applications. They are also major components in caustic nuclear wastes stored at various U.S.

NiFe-Layered Double Hydroxide Synchronously Activated by Heterojunctions and Vacancies for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

The development of earth-abundant transition-metal-based electrocatalysts with bifunctional properties (oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)) is crucial to commercial hydrogen production. In this work, layered double hydroxide (LDH)-zinc oxide (ZnO) heterostructures and oxygen vacancies are constructed synchronously by plasma magnetron sputtering of NiFe-LDH. Using the optimal conditions, ZnO nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on the NiFe-LDH nanoflowers, which are prepared uniformly on the three-dimensional porous Ni foam.

Utilization of coal fly ash in China: a mini-review on challenges and future directions.

The rapid economic development in China places a large demand for energy, and as a result, thermal power plants in China are producing an enormous amount of coal fly ash (CFA) which causes severe environmental pollution. This paper briefly describes the current production and utilization status of CFA in China and identifies the challenges confronting sustainable CFA utilization as the Chinese economy is being transformed. These issues include a regional imbalance in supply and demand, reducing demand in the real estate industry as well as stricter laws for environmental protection.

Effect of Cr(III) Adsorption on the Dissolution of Boehmite Nanoparticles in Caustic Solution.

The incorporation of relatively minor impurity metals onto metal (oxy)hydroxides can strongly impact solubility. In complex highly alkaline multicomponent radioactive tank wastes such as those at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, tests indicate that the surface area-normalized dissolution rate of boehmite (γ-AlOOH) nanomaterials is at least an order of magnitude lower than that predicted for the pure phase. Here, we examine the dissolution kinetics of boehmite coated by adsorbed Cr(III), which adheres at saturation coverages as sparse chemisorbed monolayer clusters.

[Acupuncture combined with granule for nerve-root type cervical spondylosis and its effects on IL-6、TNF-α、IL-1β and hemorheological indexes].

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with granule for nerve-root type cervical spondylosis and its effects on serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and hemorheological indexes.

Methods: A total of 114 patients with nerve-root type cervical spondylosis were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 57 cases in each group. The patients in both groups were treated with traction.

Cr(III) Adsorption by Cluster Formation on Boehmite Nanoplates in Highly Alkaline Solution.

The development of advanced functional nanomaterials for selective adsorption in complex chemical environments requires partner studies of binding mechanisms. Motivated by observations of selective Cr(III) adsorption on boehmite nanoplates (γ-AlOOH) in highly caustic multicomponent solutions of nuclear tank waste, here we unravel the adsorption mechanism in molecular detail. We examined Cr(III) adsorption to synthetic boehmite nanoplates in sodium hydroxide solutions up to 3 M, using a combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), high-resolution atomic force microscopy (HR-AFM), time-of-fight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), Cr K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES)/extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).

Hierarchical oxygen-implanted MoS nanoparticle decorated graphene for the non-enzymatic electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide in alkaline media.

Owing to the extensive applications of hydrogen peroxide (HO) in biological, environmental and chemical engineering, it is of great importance to investigate sensitive and selective sensing platform towards the detection of HO. Herein, oxygen-implanted MoS nanoparticles decorated graphene nanocomposite is synthesized via a facile one-pot solvothermal method for the sensitive detection of HO in alkaline media. The structure and morphology of the MoS/graphene nanocomposites were systematically characterized, showing that Mo-O bonds are formed and oxygen is implanted into the crystal structure in the nanocomposite.

Adsorption study of selenium ions from aqueous solutions using MgO nanosheets synthesized by ultrasonic method.

MgO nanosheets with thickness ranges of 3-10 molecule layers and high specific area (166.44mg) were successfully fabricated by an ultrasound-assisted exfoliation method and used as adsorbent for the removal of both selenite (Se(IV)) and selenate (Se(VI)) from aqueous solutions. The resulting MgO nanosheets displayed high maximum adsorption capacities of 103.

Alkaline electrochemical advanced oxidation process for chromium oxidation at graphitized multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Alkaline electrochemical advanced oxidation processes for chromium oxidation and Cr-contaminated waste disposal were reported in this study. The highly graphitized multi-walled carbon nanotubes g-MWCNTs modified electrode was prepared for the in-situ electrochemical generation of HO. RRDE test results illustrated that g-MWCNTs exhibited much higher two-electron oxygen reduction activity than other nanocarbon materials with peak current density of 1.

The leaching kinetics of cadmium from hazardous Cu-Cd zinc plant residues.

A large amount of Cu-Cd zinc plant residues (CZPR) are produced from the hydrometallurgical zinc plant operations. Since these residues contain substantial amount of heavy metals including Cd, Zn and Cu, therefore, they are considered as hazardous wastes. In order to realize decontamination treatment and efficient extraction of the valuable metals from the CZPR, a comprehensive recovery process using sulfuric acid as the leaching reagent and air as the oxidizing reagent has been proposed.

Adsorption behaviors and vibrational spectra of hydrogen peroxide molecules at quartz/water interfaces.

The effect of HO concentration on the change of H-bonds at a water/quartz interface was systematically examined by surface-specific sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was further utilized to interpret the specific molecular dynamics as well as the configuration and evolution of water and HO molecules at the interface. The results from this study demonstrated the important role of surface H-bonds on determination of the stability of adsorbed HO at solvated, silica, xerogel surfaces.

Enhanced boron adsorption onto synthesized MgO nanosheets by ultrasonic method.

MgO nanosheets with high adsorption performance were fabricated by an ultrasonic method. It was revealed that, nest-like MgO was formed from the magnesium salt solution precipitation and further calcination. Then the nest-like MgO was exfoliated by ultrasonic waves to obtain MgO nanosheets with approximately a lateral of 200-600nm and a thickness of 10nm.

Research and industrialization progress of recovering alumina from fly ash: A concise review.

Fly ash, a by-product of high temperature combustion of coal in coal-fired power plants, is one of the most complex and largest amount of industrial solid wastes generated in China. Its improper disposal has become an environmental problem. Now it is widely realized that fly ash should be considered as a useful and potential mineral resource.

Assessment of environmental risk for red mud storage facility in China: a case study in Shandong Province.

Red mud storage facility (RM-SF) pollution remains a serious problem in China mainly due to the RM's huge quantity, little recyclability, and high alkalinity. And, there is also a risk of dam failure because almost all RM-SFs are processed by damming. In order to address this challenge and improve the level of risk management, it is necessary to evaluate the environmental risk of RM-SFs systematically.

Effects of particle size and coating on decomposition of alumina-extracted residue from high-alumina fly ash.

The effective removal of alkali in the alumina-extracted reside (AER) obtained by extracting alumina from high-alumina fly ash is the premise for realizing the utilization of the silicon component in the fly ash. Sodium was removed from the AER by a decomposition reaction. The effects of the particle size and reactant coating on the decomposition reaction of AER were studied, and the results showed that by decreasing the particle size, the decomposition reaction rate of AER could be enhanced obviously and the Na2O content of the products could be decreased effectively.

Reduced cortical thickness, surface area in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a surface-based morphometry and neuropsychological study.

Neural impairments accompanying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have received growing research attention. Previous neuroimaging studies exclusively used volumetric methods to measure cortical volume as a whole rather than focusing on anatomical and neuropathological distinct indices. Here we decomposed the cortical architecture into cortical thickness (CTh), surface area (SA), and gyrification, for the first time, to provide a more integrative profile of brain damage in COPD.

[Effect of diets with different fat levels on the body size and development of Lucilia sericata].

Objective: To observe the effect of diets with different fat levels on the body size and development of Lucilia sericata.

Methods: Under the constant temperature of 28 degrees C, the larvae were reared on the diets containing 0% (G0), 10% (G1), 30% (G3), 50% (G5) and 80% (G8) fat tissues (fat/muscle ratio), respectively. Length and weight of larvae and pupae were measured at 12 h interval since 16 h after eclosion.

[Electroacupuncture for post-stroke urinary incontinence: a multi-center randomized controlled study].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture(EA) for apoplectic urinary incontinence.

Methods: Two hundred and four cases of apoplectic urinary incontinence were randomized into an EA group (136 cases) and an indwelling catheter group (68 cases). The EA was applied at Qugu (CV 2), Zhongji (CV 3), Shuidao (ST 28), Qihai (CV 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4), etc.

Indirect electrochemical Cr(III) oxidation in KOH solutions at an Au electrode: the role of oxygen reduction reaction.

The indirect electro-oxidation of Cr(III) by in situ generated superoxide at a gold electrode has been investigated in KOH solutions using cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis spectroscopy. It is observed that the indirect Cr(III) oxidation behavior is substantially affected by the media pH and there is a pH-modulated oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) process to generate reactive oxygen species which promotes Cr(III) oxidation. The ORR in KOH solutions is attributed to a quasi-reversible diffusion-controlled reaction.

Grey and white matter abnormalities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a case-control study.

Objectives: The irreversible airflow limitation characterised by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes a decrease in the oxygen supply to the brain. The aim of the present study was to investigate brain structural damage in COPD.

Design: Retrospective case-control study.