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Author Alloul, A.; Moradvandi, A.; Puyol, D.; Molina, R.; Gardella, G.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; De Schutter, B.; Abraham, E.; Lindeboom, R.E.F.; Weissbrodt, D.G.
Title A novel mechanistic modelling approach for microbial selection dynamics : towards improved design and control of raceway reactors for purple bacteria Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Bioresource technology Abbreviated Journal
Volume 390 Issue Pages 129844-129849
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract (down) Purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) show an underexplored potential for resource recovery from wastewater. Raceway reactors offer a more affordable full-scale solution on wastewater and enable useful additional aerobic processes. Current mathematical models of PPB systems provide useful mechanistic insights, but do not represent the full metabolic versatility of PPB and thus require further advancement to simulate the process for technology development and control. In this study, a new modelling approach for PPB that integrates the photoheterotrophic, and both anaerobic and aerobic chemoheterotrophic metabolic pathways through an empirical parallel metabolic growth constant was proposed. It aimed the modelling of microbial selection dynamics in competition with aerobic and anaerobic microbial community under different operational scenarios. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to identify the most influential parameters within the model and calibrate them based on experimental data. Process perturbation scenarios were simulated, which showed a good performance of the model.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001094606700001 Publication Date 2023-10-10
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0960-8524 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 11.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 11.4; 2023 IF: 5.651
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200035 Serial 8905
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Author Alloul, A.; Blansaer, N.; Cabecas Segura, P.; Wattiez, R.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Leroy, B.
Title Dehazing redox homeostasis to foster purple bacteria biotechnology Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Trends in biotechnology : regular edition Abbreviated Journal
Volume 41 Issue 1 Pages 106-119
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract (down) Purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) show great potential for environmental and industrial biotechnology, producing microbial protein, biohydrogen, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), pigments, etc. When grown photoheterotrophically, the carbon source is typically more reduced than the PNSB biomass, which leads to a redox imbalance. To mitigate the excess of electrons, PNSB can exhibit several ‘electron sinking’ strategies, such as CO2 fixation, N2 fixation, and H2 and PHA production. The lack of a comprehensive (over)view of these redox strategies is hindering the implementation of PNSB for biotechnology applications. This review aims to present the state of the art of redox homeostasis in phototrophically grown PNSB, presenting known and theoretically expected strategies, and discussing them from stoichiometric, thermodynamic, metabolic, and economic points of view.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000923198400001 Publication Date 2022-07-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1879-3096;0167-7799 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 17.3 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 17.3; 2023 IF: 11.126
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:192944 Serial 7294
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Author Wittner, N.; Vasilakou, K.; Broos, W.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Nimmegeers, P.; Cornet, I.
Title Investigating the technical and economic potential of solid-state fungal pretreatment at nonsterile conditions for sugar production from poplar wood Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Industrial and engineering chemistry research Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-11
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
Abstract (down) Pretreatment is crucial for the conversion of lignocellulose to biofuels. Unlike conventional chemical/physicochemical methods, fungal pretreatment uses white-rot fungi and mild reaction conditions. However, challenges, including substrate sterilization, long duration, and low sugar yields associated with this method, contribute to lower techno-economic performance, an aspect that has rarely been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of fungal pretreatment of nonsterilized poplar wood. Various factors, including inoculum types, fermentation supplements, and cultivation methods, were investigated to optimize the process. A techno-economic assessment of the optimized processes was performed at a full biorefinery scale. The scenario using nonsterilized wood as a substrate, precolonized wood as an inoculum, and a 4 week pretreatment showed a 14.5% reduction in sugar production costs (€2.15/kg) compared to using sterilized wood. Although the evaluation of nonsterilized wood pretreatment showed promising cost reductions, fungal pretreatment remained more expensive than conventional methods due to the significant capital investment required.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001102138000001 Publication Date 2023-10-25
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0888-5885; 1520-5045 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 4.2 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 24.04.2024
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.2; 2023 IF: 2.843
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200155 Serial 8891
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Author Wittner, N.
Title Improving and characterising solid-state fungal pretreatment by Phanerochaete chrysosporium for sugar production from poplar wood Type Doctoral thesis
Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 206 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE)
Abstract (down) Pretreatment is a critical step in the conversion of lignocellulose into biofuels and biochemicals. During pretreatment, the recalcitrance of lignocellulose is reduced, e.g. by removing lignin, thereby making the carbohydrates more accessible for enzymatic saccharification. Fungal delignification by white-rot fungi is a biotechnological alternative to chemical/physicochemical methods, which is carried out in solid-state fermentation with mild reaction conditions and without the formation of microbial inhibitors. However, fungal pretreatment presents some challenges, such as long pretreatment time, non-selective and low delignification, low enzymatic digestibility and feedstock sterilisation requirement, making its commercial implementation challenging compared to conventional methods. This study investigates the possibility of improving and characterising the solid-state fungal pretreatment of poplar wood by Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The individual and combined effects of MnSO4 and CuSO4 supplements on the delignification of sterilised wood are investigated using response surface methodology to improve the degree and selectivity of fungal delignification. Spore-inoculated solid-state fermentations are carried out for 4 weeks in sterile vented bottles. The mechanism of the concerted action of the metal ions on lignin degradation is then elucidated by relating fungal growth and ligninolytic enzyme activities to lignocellulose degradation as a function of pretreatment time. The optimised metal-supplemented system is then applied to the pretreatment of non-sterilised wood using different inoculation techniques (spores and pre-colonised substrate), nutrients (metal ions with or without glucose and sodium nitrate) and cultivation environments (sterile aerated bottles and open trays). The fermentations are then characterised using infrared spectroscopy, in particular NIR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, with the aim of developing rapid lignin quantification methods as an alternative to conventional wet chemical methods. Finally, the feasibility of producing fermentable sugars from sterilised and non-sterilised poplar wood using fungal pretreatment is evaluated through a techno-economic analysis. Supplementing the pretreatment system with 2.01 µmol CuSO4 and 0.77 µmol MnSO4 g-1 wood resulted in 1.9-fold higher lignin degradation, 2.3-fold higher delignification selectivity value and 2.9-fold higher glucose yield. The improved delignification could be explained by the concerted action of Mn2+ and Cu2+ ions, with Mn2+ ions inducing and Cu2+ prolonging manganese peroxidase production responsible for delignification. Fungal pretreatment at non-sterile conditions was obtained using trays in a simple solid-state fermentation set-up without sterile aeration. A 1:3 ratio of pre-colonised and untreated wood was applied for inoculation and only Cu2+, Mn2+ and sodium nitrate as supplements. Remarkably, this technology resulted in a comparably high glucose yield (28.51 ± 0.28%) to the traditional method using sterilised wood, sterile aeration and spores as inoculum, while reducing the amount of wood to be sterilised by 71.2%. Infrared spectroscopy-based methods with high coefficients of determination (R_CV
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197185 Serial 8883
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Author Shi, P.; Wang, L.; Quinn, B.K.K.; Gielis, J.
Title A new program to estimate the parameters of Preston's equation, a general formula for describing the egg shape of birds Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Symmetry Abbreviated Journal Symmetry-Basel
Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 231-10
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract (down) Preston's equation is a general model describing the egg shape of birds. The parameters of Preston's equation are usually estimated after re-expressing it as the Todd-Smart equation and scaling the egg's actual length to two. This method assumes that the straight line through the two points on an egg's profile separated by the maximum distance (i.e., the longest axis of an egg's profile) is the mid-line. It hypothesizes that the photographed egg's profile is perfectly bilaterally symmetrical, which seldom holds true because of photographic errors and placement errors. The existing parameter estimation method for Preston's equation considers an angle of deviation for the longest axis of an egg's profile from the mid-line, which decreases prediction errors to a certain degree. Nevertheless, this method cannot provide an accurate estimate of the coordinates of the egg's center, and it leads to sub-optimal parameter estimation. Thus, it is better to account for the possible asymmetry between the two sides of an egg's profile along its mid-line when fitting egg-shape data. In this paper, we propose a method based on the optimization algorithm (optimPE) to fit egg-shape data and better estimate the parameters of Preston's equation by automatically searching for the optimal mid-line of an egg's profile and testing its validity using profiles of 59 bird eggs spanning a wide range of existing egg shapes. We further compared this method with the existing one based on multiple linear regression (lmPE). This study demonstrated the ability of the optimPE method to estimate numerical values of the parameters of Preston's equation and provide the theoretical egg length (i.e., the distance between two ends of the mid-line of an egg's profile) and the egg's maximum breadth. This provides a valuable approach for comparing egg shapes among conspecifics or across different species, or even different classes (e.g., birds and reptiles), in future investigations.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000927531000001 Publication Date 2023-01-13
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2073-8994 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 2.7 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.7; 2023 IF: 1.457
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195347 Serial 7279
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Author Hassani, H.
Title First-principles study of polarons in WO₃ Type Doctoral thesis
Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 181 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract (down) Polarons are quasiparticles emerging in materials from the interaction of extra charge carriers with the surrounding atomic lattice. They appear in a wide va- riety of compounds and can have a profound impact on their properties, making the concept of a polaron a central and ubiquitous topic in material science. Al- though the concept is known for about 75 years, the origin of polarons is not yet fully elucidated. This thesis focuses on WO 3 as a well-known prototypical system for studying polarons, which inherent polaronic nature is linked to its remark- able electrical and chromic properties. The primary objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive atomistic description and understanding of polaron formation in WO 3 using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calcula- tions. Additionally, the investigation explores the interactions between polarons and the possibility of bipolaron formation. Following a systematic strategy, we first extensively analyze the dielectric and lattice dynamical properties of WO 3 in both the room-temperature P 2 1 /n and ground-state P 2 1 /c phases. Our specific focus is on characterizing the zone-center phonons, which serve as the founda- tion for identifying the phonon modes involved in the polaron formation and charge localization process. Subsequently, we examine the impact of structural distortions on the electronic structure of WO 3 to elucidate the interplay between structural distortions and electronic properties, thereby laying the groundwork for understanding electron-phonon couplings. By incorporating these critical fac- tors, we address our primary research goals. The most common explanation for the polaron formation is associated with the electrostatic screening of the extra charge by the polarizable lattice. Here, we show that, even in ionic crystals, this is not necessarily the case. We demonstrate that polarons in this compound arise primarily from non-polar atomic distortions. We then unveil that this unexpected behavior originates from the undoing of distortive atomic motions, which lowers the bandgap. As such, we coin the name of anti-distortive polaron and validate its appearance through a simple quantum-dot model, in which charge localization is the result of balancing structural, electronic, and confinement energy costs. Then, we also study the polaron-polaron interaction and present the formation of the antiferromagnetic W 4+ bipolaronic state with relatively large formation energy. Our analysis of the W 4+ bipolaronic distortions on the global structure reveals the same behavior as in experiments where the highly distorted monoclinic phase transforms into a tetragonal phase as a function of doping. Additionally, leveraging our previous findings on asymmetric polaronic distortion and examin- ing different merging orientations, we stabilize the antiferromagnetic W 5+ -W 5+ bipolaronic state with an energy lower than the W 4+ state. This thesis clari- fies the formation of unusual medium-size 2D polarons and bipolarons in WO3,which might be relevant to the whole family of ABO 3 perovskites, to which WO 3 is closely related. The simplicity of the concept provides also obvious guidelines for tracking similar behavior in other families of compounds.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198169 Serial 8868
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Loenders, B.; Michiels, R.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Is a catalyst always beneficial in plasma catalysis? Insights from the many physical and chemical interactions Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of Energy Chemistry Abbreviated Journal Journal of Energy Chemistry
Volume 85 Issue Pages 501-533
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Abstract (down) Plasma-catalytic dry reforming of CH4 (DRM) is promising to convert the greenhouse gasses CH4 and CO2 into value-added chemicals, thus simultaneously providing an alternative to fossil resources as feedstock for the chemical industry. However, while many experiments have been dedicated to plasma-catalytic DRM, there is no consensus yet in literature on the optimal choice of catalyst for targeted products, because the underlying mechanisms are far from understood. Indeed, plasma catalysis is very complex, as it encompasses various chemical and physical interactions between plasma and catalyst, which depend on many parameters. This complexity hampers the comparison of experimental results from different studies, which, in our opinion, is an important bottleneck in the further development of this promising research field. Hence, in this perspective paper, we describe the important physical and chemical effects that should be accounted for when designing plasma-catalytic experiments in general, highlighting the need for standardized experimental setups, as well as careful documentation of packing properties and reaction conditions, to further advance this research field. On the other hand, many parameters also create many windows of opportunity for further optimizing plasma-catalytic systems. Finally, various experiments also reveal the lack of improvement in plasma catalysis compared to plasma-only, specifically for DRM, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Therefore, we present our newly developed coupled plasma-surface kinetics model for DRM, to provide more insight in the underlying reasons. Our model illustrates that transition metal catalysts can adversely affect plasmacatalytic DRM, if radicals dominate the plasma-catalyst interactions. Thus, we demonstrate that a good understanding of the plasma-catalyst interactions is crucial to avoiding conditions at which these interactions negatively affect the results, and we provide some recommendations for improvement. For instance, we believe that plasma-catalytic DRM may benefit more from higher reaction temperatures, at which vibrational excitation can enhance the surface reactions.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2023-06-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2095-4956 ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor 13.1 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes This research was supported by the FWO-SBO project PlasMa- CatDESIGN (FWO grant ID S001619N), the FWO fellowship of R. Michiels (FWO grant ID 1114921N), and the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 810182 – SCOPE ERC Synergy project). The computational resources and services used in this work were provided by the HPC core facility CalcUA of the Universiteit Antwerpen, and VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center), funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) and the Flemish Government. Approved Most recent IF: 13.1; 2023 IF: 2.594
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:198159 Serial 8806
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Author Andersen, Ja.; Holm, Mc.; van 't Veer, K.; Christensen, Jm.; Østberg, M.; Bogaerts, A.; Jensen, Ad.
Title Plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor: A combined experimental study and kinetic modeling Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Chemical engineering journal Abbreviated Journal
Volume 457 Issue Pages 141294
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor has emerged as a possible route for electrification of nitrogen fixation. In this study, we use a combination of experiments and a plasma kinetic model to investigate the ammonia synthesis from N2 and H2, both with and without a solid packing material in the plasma zone. The effect of plasma power, feed flow rate, N2:H2 feed ratio, gas residence time, temperature, and packing material (MgAl2O4 alone or impregnated with Co or Ru) on the ammonia synthesis rate were examined in the experiments. The kinetic model was employed to improve our understanding of the ammonia formation pathways and identify possible changes in these pathways when altering the N2:H2 feed ratio. A higher NH3 synthesis rate was achieved when increasing the feed flow rate, as well as when increasing the gas tem-perature from 100 to 200 ◦C when a packing material was present in the plasma. At the elevated temperature of 200 ◦C, an optimum in the NH3 synthesis rate was observed at an equimolar feed ratio (N2:H2 =1:1) for the plasma alone and MgAl2O4, while a N2-rich feed was favored for Ru/MgAl2O4 and Co/MgAl2O4. The optimum in the synthesis rate with the N2-rich feed, where high energy electrons are more likely to collide with N2, suggests that the rate-limiting step is the dissociation of N2 in the gas phase. This is supported by the kinetic model when packing material was used. However, for the plasma alone, the model found that the N2 dissociation is only rate limiting in H2-rich feeds, whereas the limited access to H in N2-rich feeds makes the hydrogenation of N species limiting.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001058978000001 Publication Date 2023-01-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1385-8947 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 15.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes We thank Topsoe A/S for providing the catalytic materials used in the study, the research group PLASMANT (University of Antwerp) for sharing their plasma kinetic model and allocating time on their cluster for the calculations, and the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering (Technical University of Denmark) for funding the project. Approved Most recent IF: 15.1; 2023 IF: 6.216
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:195877 Serial 7234
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Author Tsonev, I.; O’Modhrain, C.; Bogaerts, A.; Gorbanev, Y.
Title Nitrogen Fixation by an Arc Plasma at Elevated Pressure to Increase the Energy Efficiency and Production Rate of NOx Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering Abbreviated Journal
Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 1888-1897
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Plasma-based nitrogen fixation for fertilizer production is an attractive alternative to the fossil fuel-based industrial processes. However, many factors hinder its applicability, e.g., the commonly observed inverse correlation between energy consumption and production rates or the necessity to enhance the selectivity toward NO2, the desired product for a more facile formation of nitrate-based fertilizers. In this work, we investigated the use of a rotating gliding arc plasma for nitrogen fixation at elevated pressures (up to 3 barg), at different feed gas flow rates and composition. Our results demonstrate a dramatic increase in the amount of NOx produced as a function of increasing pressure, with a record-low EC of 1.8 MJ/(mol N) while yielding a high production rate of 69 g/h and a high selectivity (94%) of NO2. We ascribe this improvement to the enhanced thermal Zeldovich mechanism and an increased rate of NO oxidation compared to the back reaction of NO with atomic oxygen, due to the elevated pressure.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000924366700001 Publication Date 2023-02-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2168-0485 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, G0G2322N ; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, 965546 ; Approved Most recent IF: 8.4; 2023 IF: 5.951
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:194281 Serial 7239
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Author Li, S.; Sun, J.; Gorbanev, Y.; van’t Veer, K.; Loenders, B.; Yi, Y.; Kenis, T.; Chen, Q.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Plasma-Assisted Dry Reforming of CH4: How Small Amounts of O2Addition Can Drastically Enhance the Oxygenate Production─Experiments and Insights from Plasma Chemical Kinetics Modeling Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Abbreviated Journal ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.
Volume 11 Issue 42 Pages 15373-15384
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Abstract (down) Plasma-based dry reforming of methane (DRM) into

high-value-added oxygenates is an appealing approach to enable

otherwise thermodynamically unfavorable chemical reactions at

ambient pressure and near room temperature. However, it suffers

from coke deposition due to the deep decomposition of CH4. In this

work, we assess the DRM performance upon O2 addition, as well as

varying temperature, CO2/CH4 ratio, discharge power, and gas

residence time, for optimizing oxygenate production. By adding O2,

the main products can be shifted from syngas (CO + H2) toward

oxygenates. Chemical kinetics modeling shows that the improved

oxygenate production is due to the increased concentration of

oxygen-containing radicals, e.g., O, OH, and HO2, formed by electron

impact dissociation [e + O2 → e + O + O/O(1D)] and subsequent

reactions with H atoms. Our study reveals the crucial role of oxygen-coupling in DRM aimed at oxygenates, providing practical

solutions to suppress carbon deposition and at the same time enhance the oxygenates production in plasma-assisted DRM.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001082603900001 Publication Date 2023-10-23
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2168-0485 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.4 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, S001619N ; China Scholarship Council, 202006060029 ; National Natural Science Foundation of China, 21975018 ; H2020 European Research Council, 810182 ; Approved Most recent IF: 8.4; 2023 IF: 5.951
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:201013 Serial 8966
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Author Biondo, O.
Title Towards a fundamental understanding of energy-efficient, plasma-based CO<sub>2</sub> conversion Type Doctoral thesis
Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 221 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Plasma-based CO2 conversion is worldwide gaining increasing interest. The aim of this work is to find potential pathways to improve the energy efficiency of plasma-based CO2 conversion beyond what is feasible for thermal chemistry. To do so, we use a combination of modeling and experiments to better understand the underlying mechanisms of CO2 conversion, ranging from non-thermal to thermal equilibrium conditions. Zero-dimensional (0D) chemical kinetics modelling, describing the detailed plasma chemistry, is developed to explore the vibrational kinetics of CO2, as the latter is known to play a crucial role in the energy efficient CO2 conversion. The 0D model is successfully validated against pulsed CO2 glow discharge experiments, enabling the reconstruction of the complex dynamics underlying gas heating in a pure CO2 discharge, paving the way towards the study of gas heating in more complex gas mixtures, such as CO2 plasmas with high dissociation degrees. Energy-efficient, plasma-based CO2 conversion can also be obtained upon the addition of a reactive carbon bed in the post-discharge region. The reaction between solid carbon and O2 to form CO allows to both reduce the separation costs and increase the selectivity towards CO, thus, increasing the energy efficiency of the overall conversion process. In this regard, a novel 0D model to infer the mechanism underlying the performance of the carbon bed over time is developed. The model outcome indicates that gas temperature and oxygen complexes formed at the surface of solid carbon play a fundamental and interdependent role. These findings open the way towards further optimization of the coupling between plasma and carbon bed. Experimentally, it has been demonstrated that “warm” plasmas (e.g. microwave or gliding arc plasmas) can yield very high energy efficiency for CO2 conversion, but typically only at reduced pressure. For industrial application, it will be important to realize such good energy efficiency at atmospheric pressure as well. However, recent experiments illustrate that the microwave plasma at atmospheric pressure is too close to thermal conditions to achieve a high energy efficiency. Hence, we use a comprehensive set of advanced diagnostics to characterize the plasma and the reactor performance, focusing on CO2 and CO2/CH4 microwave discharges. The results lead to a deeper understanding of the mechanism of power concentration with increasing pressure, typical of plasmas in most gases, which is of great importance for model validation and understanding of reactor performance.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197213 Serial 9108
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Author Ghasemitarei, M.; Ghorbi, T.; Yusupov, M.; Zhang, Y.; Zhao, T.; Shali, P.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Effects of Nitro-Oxidative Stress on Biomolecules: Part 1—Non-Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulations Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication Biomolecules Abbreviated Journal Biomolecules
Volume 13 Issue 9 Pages 1371
Keywords A1 Journal Article; plasma medicine; reactive oxygen and; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Abstract (down) Plasma medicine, or the biomedical application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), is an expanding field within plasma research. CAP has demonstrated remarkable versatility in diverse biological applications, including cancer treatment, wound healing, microorganism inactivation, and skin disease therapy. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the effects of CAP remain incompletely understood. The therapeutic effects of CAP are largely attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which play a crucial role in the biological responses induced by CAP. Specifically, RONS produced during CAP treatment have the ability to chemically modify cell membranes and membrane proteins, causing nitro-oxidative stress, thereby leading to changes in membrane permeability and disruption of cellular processes. To gain atomic-level insights into these interactions, non-reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have emerged as a valuable tool. These simulations facilitate the examination of larger-scale system dynamics, including protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions. In this comprehensive review, we focus on the applications of non-reactive MD simulations in studying the effects of CAP on cellular components and interactions at the atomic level, providing a detailed overview of the potential of CAP in medicine. We also review the results of other MD studies that are not related to plasma medicine but explore the effects of nitro-oxidative stress on cellular components and are therefore important for a broader understanding of the underlying processes.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001071356400001 Publication Date 2023-09-11
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2218-273X ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes This research received no external funding. Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:200380 Serial 8958
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Xu, W.
Title Plasma-catalytic DRM : study of LDH derived catalyst for DRM in a GAP plasma system Type Doctoral thesis
Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 350 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Plasma is considered one of the promising technologies to solve greenhouse gas problems, as it can activate CO2 and CH4 at relatively low temperatures. Among the various types of plasmas, the gliding arc plasmatron (GAP) is promising, as it has a high level of non-equilibrium and high electron density. Nevertheless, the conversion of CO2 and CH4 in the GAP reactor is limited. Therefore, combining the GAP reactor with catalysts and making use of the heat produced by the plasma to provide thermal energy to the catalyst, forming a post-plasma catalytic (PPC) system, is hypothesized to improve its performance. Therefore, in this PhD research, we investigate important aspects of the PPC concept towards the use of the heat produced by GAP plasma to heat the plasma bed, without additional energy input. Aiming at this, based on a literature study (chapter 1), Ni-loaded layered double hydroxide (LDH) derived catalyst with good thermal catalytic DRM performance were chosen as the catalyst material. Before applying the LDH as a support material, the rehydration property of calcined LDH in moist and liquid environment was studied as part of chapter 2. The data indicated that after high temperatures calcination (600-900 C), the obtained layered double oxides (LDOs) can rehydrate into LDH, although, the rehydrated LDH were different from the original LDH. In chapter 3, different operating conditions, such as gas flow rate, gas compositions (e.g. CH4/CO2 ratio and nitrogen dilution), and addition of H2O were studied to investigate optimal conditions for PPC DRM, identifying possible differences in temperature profiles and exhaust gas compositions that might influence the catalytic performance. Subsequently, the impact of different PPC configurations, making use of the heat and exhaust gas composition produced by the GAP plasma, is shown in Chapter 4. Experiments studying the impact of adjusting the catalyst bed distance to the post-plasma, the catalyst amount, the influence of external heating (below 250 C) and the addition of H2O are discussed. As only limited improvement in the performance was achieved, a new type of catalyst bed was designed and utilized, as described in chapter 5. This improved configuration can realize better heat and mass transfer by directly connecting to the GAP device. The performance was improved and became comparable to the traditional thermal catalytic DRM results obtained at 800 C, although obtained by a fully electrically driven plasma.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:201534 Serial 9074
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Cui, Z.; Hao, Y.; Jafarzadeh, A.; Li, S.; Bogaerts, A.; Li, L.
Title The adsorption and decomposition of SF6 over defective and hydroxylated MgO surfaces: A DFT study Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Surfaces and interfaces Abbreviated Journal
Volume 36 Issue Pages 102602
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Plasma degradation is one of the most effective methods for the abatement of greenhouse gas sulfur hexafluoride

(SF6). To evaluate the potential of MgO as a catalyst in plasma degradation, we investigate the catalytic properties

of MgO on SF6 adsorption and activation by density functional theory (DFT) where the O-defective and

hydroxylated surfaces are considered as two typical plasma-generated surfaces. Our results show that perfect

MgO (001) and (111) surfaces cannot interact with SF6 and only physical adsorption happens. In case of Odefective

MgO surfaces, the O vacancy is the most stable adsorption site. SF6 undergoes a decomposition to SF5

and F over the O-defective MgO (001) surface and undergoes an elongation of the bottom S-F bond over the Odefective

(111) surface. Besides, SF6 shows a physically adsorption at the stepsite of the MgO (001) surface,

accompanied by small changes in its bond angle and length. Furthermore, SF6 is found to be physically and

chemically adsorbed over 0.5 and 1.0 ML (monolayer) H-covered O-terminated MgO (111) surfaces, respectively.

The SF6 molecule undergoes a self-decomposition on the 1.0 ML hydroxylated surface via a surface bonding

process. This study shows that defective and hydroxylated MgO surfaces have the surface capacities for SF6

activation, which shows that MgO has potential as packing material in SF6 waste treatment in packed-bed

plasmas.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000916285000001 Publication Date 2022-12-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2468-0230 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.2 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes National Natural Science Foundation of China, 52207155 ; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek; Vlaams Supercomputer Centrum; Vlaamse regering; Approved Most recent IF: 6.2; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:194364 Serial 7244
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Eshtehardi, H.A.; van 't Veer, K.; Delplancke, M.-P.; Reniers, F.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Postplasma Catalytic Model for NO Production: Revealing the Underlying Mechanisms to Improve the Process Efficiency Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering Abbreviated Journal
Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 1720-1733
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Plasma catalysis is emerging for plasma-assisted gas conversion processes. However, the underlying mechanisms of plasma catalysis are poorly understood. In this work, we present a 1D heterogeneous catalysis model with axial dispersion (i.e., accounting for back-mixing and molecular diffusion of fluid elements in the process stream in the axial direction), for plasma-catalytic NO production from N2/O2 mixtures. We investigate the concentration and reaction rates of each species formed as a function of time and position across the catalyst, in order to determine the underlying mechanisms. To obtain insights into how the performance of the process can be further improved, we also study how changes in the postplasma gas flow composition entering the catalyst bed and in the operation conditions of the catalytic stage affect the performance of NO production.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000926412800001 Publication Date 2023-02-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2168-0485 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 8.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, 30505023 GoF9618n ; Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique FNRS, 30505023 GoF9618n ; H2020 European Research Council, 810182 ; Approved Most recent IF: 8.4; 2023 IF: 5.951
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:195377 Serial 7241
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Eshtehardi, H.A.; Van ‘t Veer, K.; Delplancke, M.-P.; Reniers, F.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Postplasma Catalytic Model for NO Production: Revealing the Underlying Mechanisms to Improve the Process Efficiency Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering Abbreviated Journal
Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 1720-1733
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Plasma catalysis is emerging for plasma-assisted gas conversion

processes. However, the underlying mechanisms of plasma catalysis are poorly

understood. In this work, we present a 1D heterogeneous catalysis model with axial

dispersion (i.e., accounting for back-mixing and molecular diffusion of fluid elements in

the process stream in the axial direction), for plasma-catalytic NO production from

N2/O2 mixtures. We investigate the concentration and reaction rates of each species

formed as a function of time and position across the catalyst, in order to determine the

underlying mechanisms. To obtain insights into how the performance of the process

can be further improved, we also study how changes in the postplasma gas flow

composition entering the catalyst bed and in the operation conditions of the catalytic

stage affect the performance of NO production.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000926412800001 Publication Date 2023-02-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2168-0485 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 8.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This research was supported by the Excellence of Science FWO-FNRS project (FWO grant ID GoF9618n, EOS ID 30505023) and the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 810182 − SCOPE ERC Synergy project). The calculations were performed using the Turing HPC infrastructure at the CalcUA core facility of the Universiteit Antwerpen (UAntwerpen), a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Center VSC, funded by the Hercules Foundation, the Flemish Government (department EWI) and the UAntwerpen. Approved Most recent IF: 8.4; 2023 IF: 5.951
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:195377 Serial 7257
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Eshtehardi, H.A.; Van ‘t Veer, K.; Delplancke, M.-P.; Reniers, F.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Postplasma Catalytic Model for NO Production: Revealing the Underlying Mechanisms to Improve the Process Efficiency Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering Abbreviated Journal
Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 1720-1733
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Plasma catalysis is emerging for plasma-assisted gas conversion

processes. However, the underlying mechanisms of plasma catalysis are poorly

understood. In this work, we present a 1D heterogeneous catalysis model with axial

dispersion (i.e., accounting for back-mixing and molecular diffusion of fluid elements in

the process stream in the axial direction), for plasma-catalytic NO production from

N2/O2 mixtures. We investigate the concentration and reaction rates of each species

formed as a function of time and position across the catalyst, in order to determine the

underlying mechanisms. To obtain insights into how the performance of the process

can be further improved, we also study how changes in the postplasma gas flow

composition entering the catalyst bed and in the operation conditions of the catalytic

stage affect the performance of NO production.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000926412800001 Publication Date 2023-02-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2168-0485 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 8.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, 30505023 GoF9618n ; Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique – FNRS, 30505023 GoF9618n ; H2020 European Research Council, 810182 ; Approved Most recent IF: 8.4; 2023 IF: 5.951
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:195377 Serial 7258
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Zhang, K.; Wang, J.; Ninakanti, R.; Verbruggen, S.W.
Title Solvothermal synthesis of mesoporous TiO2 with tunable surface area, crystal size and surface hydroxylation for efficient photocatalytic acetaldehyde degradation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Chemical engineering journal Abbreviated Journal
Volume 474 Issue Pages 145188-14
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA)
Abstract (down) Photocatalytic acetaldehyde degradation exhibits satisfactory performance only at relatively low acetaldehyde flow rates, predominately below 10 × 10-3 mL/min, leaving ample room for improvement. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare more efficient photocatalysts for acetaldehyde degradation. Moreover, the impact of the interaction strength between the titania surface and surface water on the photocatalytic acetaldehyde efficiency is poorly understood. To address these issues, in this work a series of (0 0 1)-faceted anatase titania samples with various surface properties and structures were synthesized via a solvothermal method and tested at high acetaldehyde flow rates under UV light irradiation. With increasing solvothermal time, the pore volume, surface area, and the abundance of surface OH groups all increased, while the crystallite size decreased. These were all identified to be beneficial to promote the degradation performance. When the solvothermal temperature was 180 ℃ and the reaction time was 5 h, the prepared sample displayed the most efficient performance at 19.25× 10-3 mL/min of acetaldehyde (conversion of (74 ± 1)% versus (29 ± 1)% for P25), and achieved a 100 % conversion at 16 × 10-3 mL/min. A weaker interaction strength between surface water and the titania surface was found to improve the acetaldehyde adsorption capacity, thereby promoting the acetaldehyde degradation efficiency. The stability of the best performing sample was tested over 48 h, demonstrating a highly stable performance with no signs of deactivation. Even at a relative humidity of 30 %, the acetaldehyde conversion retains 82% of its efficiency in a dry atmosphere, highlighting its potential in practical applications.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001144928800001 Publication Date 2023-08-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1385-8947; 1873-3212 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 15.1 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 06.02.2024
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 15.1; 2023 IF: 6.216
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198652 Serial 8933
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Le Compte, M.; Cardenas De La Hoz, E.; Peeters, S.; Rodrigues Fortes, F.; Hermans, C.; Domen, A.; Smits, E.; Lardon, F.; Vandamme, T.; Lin, A.; Vanlanduit, S.; Roeyen, G.; van Laere, S.; Prenen, H.; Peeters, M.; Deben, C.
Title Single-organoid analysis reveals clinically relevant treatment-resistant and invasive subclones in pancreatic cancer Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication npj Precision Oncology Abbreviated Journal
Volume 7 Issue 1 Pages 128-14
Keywords A1 Journal article; Center for Oncological Research (CORE); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Antwerp Surgical Training, Anatomy and Research Centre (ASTARC)
Abstract (down) Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal diseases, characterized by a treatment-resistant and invasive nature. In line with these inherent aggressive characteristics, only a subset of patients shows a clinical response to the standard of care therapies, thereby highlighting the need for a more personalized treatment approach. In this study, we comprehensively unraveled the intra-patient response heterogeneity and intrinsic aggressive nature of PDAC on bulk and single-organoid resolution. We leveraged a fully characterized PDAC organoid panel ( N  = 8) and matched our artificial intelligence-driven, live-cell organoid image analysis with retrospective clinical patient response. In line with the clinical outcomes, we identified patient-specific sensitivities to the standard of care therapies (gemcitabine-paclitaxel and FOLFIRINOX) using a growth rate-based and normalized drug response metric. Moreover, the single-organoid analysis was able to detect resistant as well as invasive PDAC organoid clones, which was orchestrates on a patient, therapy, drug, concentration and time-specific level. Furthermore, our in vitro organoid analysis indicated a correlation with the matched patient progression-free survival (PFS) compared to the current, conventional drug response readouts. This work not only provides valuable insights on the response complexity in PDAC, but it also highlights the potential applications (extendable to other tumor types) and clinical translatability of our approach in drug discovery and the emerging era of personalized medicine.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001118015800001 Publication Date 2023-12-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2397-768x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:201455 Serial 9091
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Broers, F.T.H.; Janssens, K.; Weker, J.N.; Webb, S.M.; Mehta, A.; Meirer, F.; Keune, K.
Title Two pathways for the degradation of orpiment pigment (As₂S₃) found in paintings Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of the American Chemical Society Abbreviated Journal
Volume 145 Issue 16 Pages 8847-8859
Keywords A1 Journal article; Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS)
Abstract (down) Paintings are complex objects containing many different chemical compounds that can react over time. The degradation of arsenic sulfide pigments causes optical changes in paintings. The main degradation product was thought to be white arsenolite (As2O3), but previous research also showed the abundant presence of As(V) species. In this study, we investigate the influence of the presence of a medium on the degradation mechanism of orpiment (As2S3) using synchrotron radiation (SR)-based tomographic transmission X-ray microscopy, SR-based micro-X-ray fluorescence, and Xray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy. Upon direct illumination of dry orpiment powder using UV-visible light, only the formation of As2O3 was observed. When As2S3 was surrounded by a medium and illuminated, As2O3 was only observed in the area directly exposed to light, while As(V) degradation species were found elsewhere in the medium. Without accelerated artificial light aging, As(V)(aq) species are formed and migrate throughout the medium within weeks after preparation. In both scenarios, the As(V) species form via intermediate As(III)(aq) species and the presence of a medium is necessary. As(V)(aq) species can react with available cations to form insoluble metal arsenates, which induces stress within the paint layers (leading to, e.g., cracks and delamination) or can lead to a visual change of the image of the painting.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000974346900001 Publication Date 2023-04-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0002-7863 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 15 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 15; 2023 IF: 13.858
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196762 Serial 8948
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Cui, Z.; Zhou, C.; Jafarzadeh, A.; Zhang, X.; Hao, Y.; Li, L.; Bogaerts, A.
Title SF₆ degradation in γ-Al₂O₃ packed DBD system : effects of hydration, reactive gases and plasma-induced surface charges Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Plasma chemistry and plasma processing Abbreviated Journal
Volume 43 Issue Pages 635-656
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Packed-bed DBD (PB-DBD) plasmas hold promise for effective degradation of greenhouse gases like SF6. In this work, we conducted a combined experimental and theoretical study to investigate the effect of the packing surface structure and the plasma surface discharge on the SF6 degradation in a gamma-Al2O3 packing DBD system. Experimental results show that both the hydration effect of the surface (upon moisture) and the presence of excessive reactive gases in the plasma can significantly reduce the SF6 degradation, but they hardly change the discharge behavior. DFT results show that the pre-adsorption of species such as H, OH, H2O and O-2 can occupy the active sites (Al-III site) which negatively impacts the SF6 adsorption. H2O molecules pre-adsorbed at neighboring sites can promote the activation of SF6 molecules and lower the reaction barrier for the S-F bond-breaking process. Surface-induced charges and local external electric fields caused by the plasma can both improve the SF6 adsorption and enhance the elongation of the S-F bonds. Our results indicate that both the surface structure of the packing material and the plasma surface discharge are crucial for SF6 degradation performance, and the packing beads should be kept dry during the degradation. This work helps to understand the underlying mechanisms of SF6 degradation in a PB-DBD system.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000966639200001 Publication Date 2023-04-10
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0272-4324 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.6 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.6; 2023 IF: 2.355
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196033 Serial 8516
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Rivas-Murias, B.; Testa-Anta, M.; Skorikov, A.S.; Comesana-Hermo, M.; Bals, S.; Salgueirino, V.
Title Interfaceless exchange bias in CoFe₂O₄ nanocrystals Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Nano letters Abbreviated Journal
Volume 23 Issue 5 Pages 1688-1695
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Oxidized cobalt ferrite nanocrystals with a modified distribution of the magnetic cations in their spinel structure give place to an unusual exchange-coupled system with a double reversal of the magnetization, exchange bias, and increased coercivity, but without the presence of a clear physical interface that delimits two well-differentiated magnetic phases. More specifically, the partial oxidation of cobalt cations and the formation of Fe vacancies at the surface region entail the formation of a cobalt-rich mixed ferrite spinel, which is strongly pinned by the ferrimagnetic background from the cobalt ferrite lattice. This particular configuration of exchange-biased magnetic behavior, involving two different magnetic phases but without the occurrence of a crystallographically coherent interface, revolu-tionizes the established concept of exchange bias phenomenology.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000940892000001 Publication Date 2023-02-27
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1530-6984 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 10.8 Times cited 4 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes M.T.-A. acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaci?n under grant FJC2021- 046680-I. S.B. acknowledges funding from the European Research Council under the European Union?s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (ERC Consolidator Grant N o 815128 REALNANO) . V.S. acknowledges the financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaci?n under project PID2020-119242-I00 and from the European Union under project H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019 PEPSA-MATE (project number 872233) . Approved Most recent IF: 10.8; 2023 IF: 12.712
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195186 Serial 7315
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Fitawok, M.B.; Derudder, B.; Minale, A.S.; Van Passel, S.; Adgo, E.; Nyssen, J.
Title Stakeholder perspectives on farmers' resistance towards urban land-use changes in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of land use science Abbreviated Journal
Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 25-38
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract (down) Owing to growing uncontrolled land-use change and urban expansion, farmers in urban fringes are struggling to sustain their livelihood. Farmers have been expressing their dissatisfaction at different times. This study analyzes the stakeholders' perspectives on the causes and outcomes of farmers' resistance to land-use change and urban expansion processes by zooming in on Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The paper is based on focus group discussions with farmers in the neighboring villages, local agricultural extension experts, and, subsequently, key informant interviews of local government officials. Juxtaposing farmers' and local experts' positions reveals that inadequate compensations during land expropriation, lack of good governance in the urban expansion process, and inaccessibility of infrastructures are primary reasons for the farmers' struggle against urban expansion in the urban fringes. This study provides insights into the consequences of unplanned urban development challenges and may inform research and policymaking on sustainable urban development in the area and beyond.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000936397600001 Publication Date 2023-02-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1747-423x; 1747-4248 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.2 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.2; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195109 Serial 7368
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Marchetti, A.; Gori, A.; Ferretti, A.M.; Esteban, D.A.; Bals, S.; Pigliacelli, C.; Metrangolo, P.
Title Templated Out‐of‐Equilibrium Self‐Assembly of Branched Au Nanoshells Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Small Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 2206712
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Out-of-equilibrium self-assembly of metal nanoparticles (NPs) has been devised using different types of strategies and fuels, but the achievement of finite 3D structures with a controlled morphology through this assembly mode is still rare. Here we used a spherical peptide-gold superstructure (PAuSS) as a template to control the out-of-equilibrium self-assembly of Au NPs, obtaining a transient 3D branched Au-nanoshell (BAuNS) stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The BAuNS dismantled upon concentration gradient equilibration over time in the solution, leading to NPs disassembly. Notably, BAuNS assembly and disassembly favoured temporary interparticle plasmonic coupling, leading to a remarkable oscillation of their optical properties.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000914725800001 Publication Date 2023-01-17
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1613-6810 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 13.3 Times cited 1 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes European Research Council, ERC‐2017‐PoC MINIRES 789815 ERC‐2012‐StG_20111012 FOLDHALO 307108 815128 ; Approved Most recent IF: 13.3; 2023 IF: 8.643
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:194299 Serial 7247
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Marchetti, A.; Gori, A.; Ferretti, A.M.; Esteban, D.A.; Bals, S.; Pigliacelli, C.; Metrangolo, P.
Title Templated Out‐of‐Equilibrium Self‐Assembly of Branched Au Nanoshells (Small 12/2023) Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication Small Abbreviated Journal Small
Volume 19 Issue 12 Pages
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ;
Abstract (down) Out-of-equilibrium self-assembly of metal nanoparticles (NPs) has been devised using different

types of strategies and fuels, but the achievement of finite 3D structures with a controlled

morphology through this assembly mode is still rare. Here we used a spherical peptide-gold

superstructure (PAuSS) as a template to control the out-of-equilibrium self-assembly of Au NPs,

obtaining a transient 3D branched Au-nanoshell (BAuNS) stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulphate

(SDS). The BAuNS dismantled upon concentration gradient equilibration over time in the solution,

leading to NPs disassembly. Notably, BAuNS assembly and disassembly favoured temporary

interparticle plasmonic coupling, leading to a remarkable oscillation of their optical properties.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2023-03-23
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1613-6810 ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor 13.3 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes P.M. is grateful to the European Research Council (ERC) for the Starting Grant ERC-2012- StG_20111012 FOLDHALO (Grant Agreement no. 307108) and the Proof-of-Concept Grant ERC-2017-PoC MINIRES (Grant Agreement no.789815). A. M. and P. M. are thankful to the project Hydrogex funded by Cariplo Foundation (grant no. 2018-1720). D.A.E. and S.B. acknowledges financial support from ERC Consolidator Grant Number 815128 REALNANO and Grant Agreement No. 731019 (EUSMI). Approved Most recent IF: 13.3; 2023 IF: 8.643
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:200859 Serial 8960
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Gielis, J.
Title Conquering Mount Improbable Type P1 Proceeding
Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 153-173 T2 - Proceedings of the 1st International
Keywords P1 Proceeding; Economics; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract (down) Our scientific and technological worldviews are largely dominated by the concepts of entropy and complexity. Originating in 19th-century thermodynamics, the concept of entropy merged with information in the last century, leading to definitions of entropy and complexity by Kolmogorov, Shannon and others. In its simplest form, this worldview is an application of the normal rules of arithmetic. In this worldview, when tossing a coin, a million heads or tails in a row is theoretically possible, but impossible in practice and in real life. On this basis, the impossible (in the binary case, the outermost entries of Pascal's triangle xn and yn for large values of n) can be safely neglected, and one can concentrate fully on what is common and what conforms to the law of large numbers, in fields ranging from physics to sociology and everything in between. However, in recent decades it has been shown that what is most improbable tends to be the rule in nature. Indeed, if one combines the outermost entries xn and yn with the normal rules of arithmetic, either addition or multiplication, one obtains Lamé curves and power laws respectively. In this article, some of these correspondences are highlighted, leading to a double conclusion. First, Gabriel Lamé's geometric footprint in mathematics and the sciences is enormous. Second, conic sections are at the core once more. Whereas mathematics so far has been exclusively the language of patterns in the sciences, the door is opened for mathematics to also become the language of the individual. The probabilistic worldview and Lamé's footprint can be seen as dual methods. In this context, it is to be expected that the notions of information, complexity, simplicity and redundancy benefit from this different viewpoint.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2023-11-29
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 978-90-833839-0-3 ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:201045 Serial 9014
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Bian, G.; Ageeva, O.; Roddatis, V.; Li, C.; Pennycook, T.J.; Habler, G.; Abart, R.
Title Crystal structure controls on oriented primary magnetite micro-inclusions in plagioclase From oceanic gabbro Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of petrology Abbreviated Journal
Volume 64 Issue 3 Pages egad008-18
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Oriented needle-, lath- and plate-shaped magnetite micro-inclusions in rock forming plagioclase from mafic intrusive rocks, were investigated using correlated optical microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The magnetite micro-inclusions were analysed on cuts parallel and perpendicular to the inclusion-elongation directions. The crystal structures of the two phases are in direct contact along the interfaces. The shape, shape orientation and crystallographic orientation relationships between the magnetite micro-inclusions and the plagioclase host appear to be controlled by the tendency of the system to optimise lattice match along the interfaces. The elongation direction of the inclusions ensures good match between prominent oxygen layers in the magnetite and plagioclase crystal structures across the interfaces bounding the inclusions parallel to their elongation direction. In cross-section, additional modes of lattice match, such as the commensurate impingement of magnetite and plagioclase lattice planes along the interfaces, the parallel alignment of the interfaces to low-index lattice planes of magnetite or plagioclase, or the parallel alignment to low index lattice planes of both phases are observed, which appear to control the selection of interface facets, as well as the shape and crystallographic orientation relationships between magnetite micro-inclusions and plagioclase host. The systematics of the inclusion cross-sectional shapes and crystallographic orientation relationships indicate recrystallisation of magnetite with potential implications for natural remanent magnetisation of magnetite-bearing plagioclase grains.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001010636400007 Publication Date 2023-01-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0022-3530 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 3.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9; 2023 IF: 3.28
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195160 Serial 7292
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Author Vladimirova, N.V.; Frolov, A.S.; Sanchez-Barriga, J.; Clark, O.J.; Matsui, F.; Usachov, D.Y.; Muntwiler, M.; Callaert, C.; Hadermann, J.; Neudachina, V.S.; Tamm, M.E.; Yashina, L.V.
Title Occupancy of lattice positions probed by X-ray photoelectron diffraction : a case study of tetradymite topological insulators Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Surfaces and interfaces Abbreviated Journal
Volume 36 Issue Pages 102516-10
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Occupancy of different structural positions in a crystal lattice often seems to play a key role in material prop-erties. Several experimental techniques have been developed to uncover this issue, all of them being mostly bulk sensitive. However, many materials including topological insulators (TIs), which are among the most intriguing modern materials, are intended to be used in devices as thin films, for which the sublattice occupancy may differ from the bulk. One of the possible approaches to occupancy analysis is X-ray Photoelectron Diffraction (XPD), a structural method in surface science with chemical sensitivity. We applied this method in a case study of Sb2(Te1-xSex)3 mixed crystals, which belong to prototypical TIs. We used high-angle annular dark field (HAADF) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) as a reference method to verify our analysis. We revealed that the XPD data for vacuum cleaved bulk crystals are in excellent agreement with the reference ones. Also, we demonstrate that the anion occupancy near a naturally formed surface can be rather different from that of the bulk. The present results are relevant for a wide range of compositions where the system remains a topological phase, as we ultimately show by probing the transiently occupied topological surface state above the Fermi level by ultrafast photoemission.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000901694900001 Publication Date 2022-11-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2468-0230 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 6.2 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6.2; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:193502 Serial 7327
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Author Buyle, M.; Audenaert, A.; Brusselaers, J.; Van Passel, S.
Title Rebound effects following technological advancement? The case of a global shock in ferrochrome supply Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of cleaner production Abbreviated Journal
Volume 391 Issue Pages 136264-11
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Energy and Materials in Infrastructure and Buildings; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract (down) Novel recycling technologies aim at increasing material efficiency by turning former waste products into valuable reclaimed resources. A key question is whether such technologies really reduce primary resource consumption or instead stimulate aggregated market demand. In this study the consequences of a positive shock in ferrochrome supply to the global stainless steel value chain is assessed quantitatively. This new source might be unlocked by technology under development for the recovery of chromium from carbon and stainless steel slags. The aim of this study is to quantitatively assess the income and substitution effects of reclaimed ferrochrome along a part of the stainless steel value chain. The impact of the supply shock is analysed by means of a vector autoregression (VAR), a dynamic model where lagged values of all included variables estimate current state of the system. Additionally, the VAR model is extended to a structural vector autoregression (SVAR) to account for contemporary effects as well. Both the VAR and SVAR model indicate that additional ferrochrome supply leads to an increase in aggregated supply of stainless steel, in combination with a substitution effect between ferrochrome and nickel. The extended SVAR model additionally highlights that contemporaneous effects do play an important role as well to capture the direct rebound effect in the ferrochrome market when working with quarterly data. In other words, an additional supply of reclaimed ferrochrome triggers a complex combination of interactions and consequences, yet it does not necessarily lead to a lower overall material consumption. The main contributions of this paper are the assessment of direct rebound effects of supplying reclaimed metals along the value chain and the demonstration that quantifying the effects of circular strategies is feasible.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000930165300001 Publication Date 2023-01-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0959-6526 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 11.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 11.1; 2023 IF: 5.715
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:193569 Serial 7365
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Author Vervloessem, E.
Title The role of pulsing and humidity in plasma-based nitrogen fixation : a combined experimental and modeling study Type Doctoral thesis
Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 358 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Nitrogen (N) is an indispensable building block for all living organisms as well as for pharmaceutical and chemical industry. In a nutshell, N is needed for plants to grow and beings to live and nitrogen fixation (NF) is the process that makes N available for plants as food by converting N2 into a reactive form, such as ammonia (NH3) or nitrogen oxides (NOx), upon reacting with O2 and H2. The aim of this thesis is to elucidate (wet) plasma-based nitrogen fixation with a focus on (1) the role of pulsing in achieving low energy consumption, (2) the role of H2O as a hydrogen source in nitrogen fixation and (3) elucidation of nitrogen fixation pathways in humid air and humid N2 plasma in a combined experimental and computational study. Furthermore, this thesis aims to take into account the knowledge-gaps and challenges identified in the discussion of the state of the art. Specifically, (1) we put our focus on branching out to another way of introducing water into the plasma system, i.e. H2O vapor, (2) we de-couple the problem for pathway elucidation by starting with characterization of the chosen plasma, next a simpler gas mixture and building up from there, (3) we include modelling, though not under wet conditions and (4) we focus on also analyzing species and performance outside liquid H2O. Firstly, based on the reaction analysis of a validated quasi-1D model, we can conclude that pulsing is indeed the key factor for energy-efficient NOx- formation, due to the strong temperature drop it causes. Secondly, the thesis shows that added H2O vapor, and not liquid H2O, is the main source of H for NH3 generation. Related to this, we discuss how the selectivity of plasma-based NF in humid air and humid N2 can be controlled by changing the humidity in the feed gas. Interestingly, NH3 production can be achieved in both N2 and air plasmas using H2O as a H source. Lastly, we identified a significant loss mechanism for NH3 and HNO2 that occurs in systems where these species are synthesized simultaneously, i.e. downstream from the plasma, HNO2 reacts with NH3 to form NH4NO2, which decomposes into N2 and H2O. This reduces the effective NF when not properly addressed, and should therefore be considered in future works aimed at optimizing plasma-based NF. In conclusion, this thesis adds further to the current state of the art of plasma-based NF both in the presence of H2O and in dry systems.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197038 Serial 9088
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