Sugarcane bagasse pith (SBP), a byproduct of sugar production, is often discarded or burned as waste, despite its potential as a biofuel feedstock. This study explores ozone pretreatment as a processing step to enhance the physicochemical and pelletizing properties of SBP for biofuel production. Ozone pretreatment, conducted in a fixed-bed reactor, selectively reduced lignin content and improved the biomass's binding properties, promoting stronger interparticle adhesion during pelletization. Key variables, including moisture content, die temperature, pressure, and ozonation time, were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Central Composite Design (CCD), leading to improved pellet density and mechanical strength. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed enhanced thermal stability and combustion efficiency in ozone-treated SBP pellets. These findings demonstrate that ozone pretreatment is a promising, sustainable approach to valorize SBP and optimize biomass pellet production.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132321 | DOI Listing |
Nanoscale
March 2025
The Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel.
The growth of ultrathin layers of oxides by atomic layer deposition (ALD) is well documented for oxide substrates such as SiO, BiO, AlO, in which oxygen is the only negatively charged atom. In contrast, the knowledge regarding ALD growth on substrates containing other negatively charged atoms, such as halogens, is quite limited. The commonly used bismuth oxyhalide (BiOX) family of materials are characterised by a low density of surface hydroxyls, required for the initiation of thermal ALD growth of oxides, thus hampering the ability to grow ultrathin layers of oxides on their surface.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Rheumatol
March 2025
Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, School of Medicine, Hazrate-e Rasool General Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Aim: This double-blind, trial sought to assess the effectiveness of intra-articular ozone therapy at concentrations of 20 µg/mL and 40 µg/mL in managing pain and enhancing functional mobility in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
Method: This parallel, three-arm randomized controlled trial, conducted between 2022 and 2023, included 59 knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients randomly allocated to one of three groups: the first group received 40 µg/mL ozone therapy, the second group received 20 µg/mL ozone therapy, and the control group received oxygen. Functional mobility was assessed through the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), knee flexion range of motion (FROM), the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the six-minute walk test (6MWT).
Bioresour Technol
March 2025
CHEC Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU, Kongens Lyngby 2800, Denmark.
Sugarcane bagasse pith (SBP), a byproduct of sugar production, is often discarded or burned as waste, despite its potential as a biofuel feedstock. This study explores ozone pretreatment as a processing step to enhance the physicochemical and pelletizing properties of SBP for biofuel production. Ozone pretreatment, conducted in a fixed-bed reactor, selectively reduced lignin content and improved the biomass's binding properties, promoting stronger interparticle adhesion during pelletization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWater Res
February 2025
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 8033, 6700, EH, Wageningen, The Netherlands; KWR Watercycle Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Slow sand filters (SSFs) are commonly used for treating drinking water, effectively removing contaminants such as particles, organic matter, and microorganisms. However, the ecological dynamics of prokaryotic communities within SSFs remain poorly understood. This study investigated the top sand layer, the Schmutzdecke (SCM), along with the influent and effluent water of full-scale SSFs at four drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) in the Netherlands.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Pollut Res Int
February 2025
Department of Soil and Water Conservation and OrganicWaste Management, Centro de Edafologia y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), University Campus of Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
The biodegradation of polyurethane foam (PU foam) using a combination of oxidative pre-treatment (ozonization) and Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) mealworms was conducted in this study. Different degrees of ozone oxidation (0%, 25%, and 50%) were applied to PU foam, which was subsequently fed to mealworms.
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