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Author Brienza, F.; Van Aelst, K.; Devred, F.; Magnin, D.; Tschulkow, M.; Nimmegeers, P.; Van Passel, S.; Sels, B.F.; Gerin, P.; Debecker, D.P.; Cybulska, I.
Title Unleashing lignin potential through the dithionite-assisted organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Chemical Engineering Journal Abbreviated Journal Chem Eng J
Volume 450 Issue 3 Pages 138179-14
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
Abstract The development of biomass pretreatment approaches that, next to (hemi)cellulose valorization, aim at the conversion of lignin to chemicals is essential for the long-term success of a biorefinery. Herein, we discuss a dithionite-assisted organosolv fractionation (DAOF) of lignocellulose in n-butanol and water to produce cellulosic pulp and mono-/oligo-aromatics. The study frames the technicalities of this biorefinery process and relates them to the features of the obtained product streams. We comprehensively identify and quantify all products of interest: solid pulp (acid hydrolysis-HPLC, ATR-FTIR, XRD, SEM, enzymatic hydrolysis-HPLC), lignin derivatives (GPC, GC-MS/FID, 1H-13C HSQC NMR, ICP-AES), and carbohydrate derivatives (HPLC). These results were used for inspecting the economic feasibility of DAOF. In the best process configuration, a high yield of monophenolics was reached (~20%, based on acid insoluble lignin in birch sawdust). Various other lignocellulosic feedstocks were also explored, showing that DAOF is particularly effective on hardwood and herbaceous biomass. Overall, this study demonstrates that DAOF is a viable fractionation method for the sustainable upgrading of lignocellulosic biomass.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000888204900005 Publication Date 2022-07-20
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 (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 15.1
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189322 Serial 7373
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Author Biely, K.; Von Muenchhausen, S.; Van Passel, S.
Title Vertical integration as a strategy to increase value absorption by primary producers : the Belgian sugar beet and the German rapeseed case Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication AIMS Agriculture and Food Abbreviated Journal
Volume 7 Issue 3 Pages 659-682
Keywords A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Vertical integration is a means of increasing market power. For some agricultural products, it is easier for farmers to exert control over their product beyond the farm gate, but for others it is more difficult. Cases in the latter category have two main characteristics. First, the farmer cannot sell the respective product to final consumers without processing. Second, processing is capital-intensive. Consequently, farmers have limited sales channels, and vertical integration of the supply chain is complex and challenging. It implies cooperation among farmers to process the raw material at a profitable scale and to finance the installation of processing facilities. Thus, for these product categories, farmers are prone to market power issues, since they depend on private businesses that have the financial means to install processing facilities and the logistical capacities to organize the collection of large amounts of raw material. This paper aims to identify and analyze the role of supply chain integration for farmers who are already cooperating horizontally. Two case studies serve as the basis for the analysis: sugar beet in Flanders, Belgium, and oilseed rape in Hessen, Germany. The analysis is based on a qualitative research approach combining interviews, focus groups, and workshops with farmers and processors. While for sugar beet, the effects of market power are emerging only now with the termination of the quota system, farmers growing oilseed rape have been experiencing these problems since the 1990s. Our analysis concludes that most strategies to maintain or improve farm income have been exhausted. Even various forms of vertical integration supported by European policies do not necessarily work as a successful strategy.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000860666800001 Publication Date 2022-08-17
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2471-2086 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 1.8 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.8
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191514 Serial 7374
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Author Bjørnåvold, A.; David, M.; Bohan, D.A.; Gibert, C.; Rousselle, J.-M.; Van Passel, S.
Title Why does France not meet its pesticide reduction targets? Farmers' socio-economic trade-offs when adopting agro-ecological practices Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Ecological Economics Abbreviated Journal Ecol Econ
Volume 198 Issue Pages 107440-28
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Despite substantial policy efforts made by the French government to reduce dependence on pesticides, farming practices are only changing slowly. This paper analyses the socio-economic trade-offs that 110 farmers are currently facing in the transition to agro-ecological practices. A mixed-method approach – a quantitative discrete choice experiment (DCE) and qualitative interviews – was set up to understand these farmers' motivations and perspectives, and how policy can improve to accompany them on the road to low chemical input farming. Results of the DCE indicate that the majority of the farmers in our sample are keen to change practices but are at a loss as to how this can be done, as a number of preferences for this transition came out as inconclusive. Qualitative interviews with a representative sample of the farmers that took part in the DCE complemented this result by illustrating a deep uncertainty for the future and a disconnect felt between authorities and themselves as a group. We argue that this uncertainty contributed to a lack of clear-cut solutions established through the DCE. The indepth discussions with farmers illustrated the wish for concrete and local policy measures based on farmers' networks and peer support.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000802083900003 Publication Date 2022-05-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0921-8009; 1873-6106 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 7 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:188764 Serial 7375
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Author Benedet, M.; Andrea Rizzi, G.; Gasparotto, A.; Gauquelin, N.; Orekhov, A.; Verbeeck, J.; Maccato, C.; Barreca, D.
Title Functionalization of graphitic carbon nitride systems by cobalt and cobalt-iron oxides boosts solar water oxidation performances Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Applied surface science Abbreviated Journal
Volume 618 Issue Pages 156652
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract The ever-increasing energy demand from the world population has made the intensive use of fossil fuels an overarching threat to global environment and human health. An appealing alternative is offered by sunlight-assisted photoelectrochemical water splitting to yield carbon-free hydrogen fuel, but kinetic limitations associated to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) render the development of cost-effective, eco-friendly and stable electrocatalysts an imperative issue. In the present work, OER catalysts based on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) were deposited on conducting glass substrates by a simple decantation procedure, followed by functionalization with low amounts of nanostructured CoO and CoFe2O4 by radio frequency (RF)-sputtering, and final annealing under inert atmosphere. A combination of advanced characterization tools was used to investigate the interplay between material features and electrochemical performances. The obtained results highlighted the formation of a p-n junction for the g-C3N4-CoO system, whereas a Z-scheme junction accounted for the remarkable performance enhancement yielded by g-C3N4-CoFe2O4. The intimate contact between the system components also afforded an improved electrocatalyst stability in comparison to various bare and functionalized g-C3N4-based systems. These findings emphasize the importance of tailoring g-C3N4 chemico-physical properties through the dispersion of complementary catalysts to fully exploit its applicative potential.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000950654300001 Publication Date 2023-02-04
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0169-4332 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.7 Times cited 11 Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from CNR (Progetti di Ricerca @CNR – avviso 2020 – ASSIST), Padova University (P-DiSC#04BIRD2020-UNIPD EUREKA, DOR 2020–2022), AMGA Foundation (NYMPHEA project), INSTM Consortium (INSTM21PDGASPAROTTO – NANOMAT, INSTM21PDBARMAC – ATENA) and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 823717 – ESTEEM3. The FWO-Hercules fund G0H4316N 'Direct electron detector for soft matter TEM' is also acknowledged. Many thanks are due to Prof. Luca Gavioli (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Brescia, Italy) and Dr. Riccardo Lorenzin (Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University, Italy) for their invaluable technical support.; esteem3reported; esteem3TA Approved Most recent IF: 6.7; 2023 IF: 3.387
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:196150 Serial 7376
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Author Verdierre, G.; Gauquelin, N.; Jannis, D.; Birkhölzer, Y.A.; Mallik, S.; Verbeeck, J.; Bibes, M.; Koster, G.
Title Epitaxial growth of the candidate ferroelectric Rashba material SrBiO3by pulsed laser deposition Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication APL materials Abbreviated Journal
Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages 031109
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Among oxides, bismuthates have been gaining much interest due to their unique features. In addition to their superconducting properties, they show potential for applications as topological insulators and as possible spin-to-charge converters. After being first investigated in their bulk form in the 1980s, bismuthates have been successfully grown as thin films. However, most efforts have focused on BaBiO<sub>3</sub>, with SrBiO<sub>3</sub>receiving only little attention. Here, we report the growth of epitaxial films of SrBiO<sub>3</sub>on both TiO<sub>2</sub>-terminated SrTiO<sub>3</sub>and NdO-terminated NdScO<sub>3</sub>substrates by pulsed laser deposition. SrBiO<sub>3</sub>has a pseudocubic lattice constant of ∼4.25 Å and grows relaxed on NdScO<sub>3</sub>. Counter-intuitively, it grows with a slight tensile strain on SrTiO<sub>3</sub>despite a large lattice mismatch, which should induce compressive strain. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals that this occurs as a consequence of structural domain matching, with blocks of 10 SrBiO<sub>3</sub>unit planes matching blocks of 11 SrTiO<sub>3</sub>unit planes. This work provides a framework for the synthesis of high quality perovskite bismuthates films and for the understanding of their interface interactions with homostructural substrates.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000953363800004 Publication Date 2023-03-01
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2166-532X ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 6.1 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes This work received support from the ERC Advanced grant (Grant No. 833973) “FRESCO” and funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement No. 823717—ESTEEM3, Van Gogh travel grant, Nuffic, The Netherlands (CF No. 42582SB).; esteem3reported; esteem3TA Approved Most recent IF: 6.1; 2023 IF: 4.335
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:196135 Serial 7377
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Author Benedoue, S.; Benedet, M.; Gasparotto, A.; Gauquelin, N.; Orekhov, A.; Verbeeck, J.; Seraglia, R.; Pagot, G.; Rizzi, G.A.; Balzano, V.; Gavioli, L.; Noto, V.D.; Barreca, D.; Maccato, C.
Title Insights into the Photoelectrocatalytic Behavior of gCN-Based Anode Materials Supported on Ni Foams Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Nanomaterials Abbreviated Journal Nanomaterials-Basel
Volume 13 Issue 6 Pages 1035
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) is a promising n-type semiconductor widely investigated for photo-assisted water splitting, but less studied for the (photo)electrochemical degradation of aqueous organic pollutants. In these fields, attractive perspectives for advancements are offered by a proper engineering of the material properties, e.g., by depositing gCN onto conductive and porous scaffolds, tailoring its nanoscale morphology, and functionalizing it with suitable cocatalysts. The present study reports on a simple and easily controllable synthesis of gCN flakes on Ni foam substrates by electrophoretic deposition (EPD), and on their eventual decoration with Co-based cocatalysts [CoO, CoFe2O4, cobalt phosphate (CoPi)] via radio frequency (RF)-sputtering or electrodeposition. After examining the influence of processing conditions on the material characteristics, the developed systems are comparatively investigated as (photo)anodes for water splitting and photoelectrocatalysts for the degradation of a recalcitrant water pollutant [potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP)]. The obtained results highlight that while gCN decoration with Co-based cocatalysts boosts water splitting performances, bare gCN as such is more efficient in KHP abatement, due to the occurrence of a different reaction mechanism. The related insights, provided by a multi-technique characterization, may provide valuable guidelines for the implementation of active nanomaterials in environmental remediation and sustainable solar-to-chemical energy conversion.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000960297000001 Publication Date 2023-03-13
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2079-4991 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 5.3 Times cited 3 Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes The present work was financially supported by CNR (Progetti di Ricerca @CNR—avviso 2020—ASSIST), Padova University (P-DiSC#04BIRD2020-UNIPD EUREKA, DOR 2020–2022), AMGA Foundation (NYMPHEA project), INSTM Consortium (INSTM21PDGASPAROTTO—NANOMAT, INSTM21PDBARMAC—ATENA) and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 823717—ESTEEM3. The FWO-Hercules fund G0H4316N ‘Direct electron detector for soft matter TEM’ is also acknowledged. Many thanks are also due to Dr. Riccardo Lorenzin for his support to experimental activities.; esteem3reported; esteem3TA Approved Most recent IF: 5.3; 2023 IF: 3.553
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:196115 Serial 7378
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Author Jain, N.; Hao, Y.; Parekh, U.; Kaltenegger, M.; Pedrazo-Tardajos, A.; Lazzaroni, R.; Resel, R.; Geerts, Y.H.; Bals, S.; Van Aert, S.
Title Exploring the effects of graphene and temperature in reducing electron beam damage: A TEM and electron diffraction-based quantitative study on Lead Phthalocyanine (PbPc) crystals Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Micron Abbreviated Journal
Volume 169 Issue Pages 103444
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of organic crystals, such as Lead Phthalocyanine (PbPc), is very challenging since these materials are prone to electron beam damage leading to the breakdown of the crystal structure during investigation. Quantification of the damage is imperative to enable high-resolution imaging of PbPc crystals with minimum structural changes. In this work, we performed a detailed electron diffraction study to quantitatively measure degradation of PbPc crystals upon electron beam irradiation. Our study is based on the quantification of the fading intensity of the spots in the electron diffraction patterns. At various incident dose rates (e/Å2/s) and acceleration voltages, we experimentally extracted the decay rate (1/s), which directly correlates with the rate of beam damage. In this manner, a value for the critical dose (e/Å2) could be determined, which can be used as a measure to quantify beam damage. Using the same methodology, we explored the influence of cryogenic temperatures, graphene TEM substrates, and graphene encapsulation in prolonging the lifetime of the PbPc crystal structure during TEM investigation. The knowledge obtained by diffraction experiments is then translated to real space high-resolution TEM imaging of PbPc.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000965998800001 Publication Date 2023-03-21
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0968-4328 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 2.4 Times cited 1 Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes This work is supported by FWO and FNRS within the 2Dto3D network of the EOS (Excellence of Science) program (grant number 30489208) and ERC-CoGREALNANO-815128 (to Prof. Dr. Sara Bals). N.J. would like to thank Dr. Kunal S. Mali and Dr. Da Wang for useful and interesting discussions on sample preparation procedures. Approved Most recent IF: 2.4; 2023 IF: 1.98
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:196069 Serial 7379
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Author Balashova, I.O.; Tolbin, A.Y.; Tarakanov, P.A.; Krot, A.R.; Fedorova, K., V; Sergeeva, I.A.; Trashin, S.A.; De Wael, K.; Pushkarev, V.E.; Koifman, M.O.; Ponomarev, G., V.
Title A covalently linked dyad based on zinc phthalocyanine and methylpheophorbide α : synthetic and physicochemical study Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Macroheterocycles Abbreviated Journal
Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 40-50
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract The first covalently linked conjugate of metal phthalocyaninate and chlorin e(6) derivative has been obtained by transesterification of alpha-ketomethyl ester in methylpheophorbide a with zinc(II) 2-(2-hydroxymethylbenzyloxy)-9(10),16(17),23(24)-tri-tert-butylphthalocyaninate under mild conditions. The dyad exhibits a panchromatic nature revealing both the phthalocyanine and pheophorbide derived bands in the UV-Vis absorption spectrum. The H-1 NMR spectroscopy data combined with theoretical calculations indicate the presence of spatial intramolecular interactions between the phthalocyanine, pheophorbide and spacer fragments of the dyad allowing to forecast its enhanced nonlinear optical properties, as well as the characteristic energy transfer from the excited pheophorbide subunit to the phthalocyanine core. Indeed, when excited in the UV-Vis range, the conjugate shows red fluorescence with the spectral maximum at 686 nm, which is close to the one of the initial zinc phthalocyaninate. Furthermore, the dyad effectively generates singlet oxygen and, in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as biocompatible solubilizer, forms stable micellar saline solutions with the particles ranged in size between 40 and 100 nm. These nanoparticles represent promising third-generation photosensitizing systems for application in theranostics.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000659682000003 Publication Date 2021-06-25
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:179196 Serial 7386
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Author Bollen, E.; Pagan, B.R.; Kuijpers, B.; Van Hoey, S.; Desmet, N.; Hendrix, R.; Dams, J.; Seuntjens, P.
Title A database system for querying of river networks : facilitating monitoring and prediction applications Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Water Science And Technology-Water Supply Abbreviated Journal Water Sci Tech-W Sup
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract The increasing availability of real-time in situ measurements and remote sensing observations have the potential to contribute to the optimization of water resources management. Global challenges such as climate change, intensive agriculture and urbanization put a high pressure on our water resources. Due to recent innovations in measuring both water quantity and quality, river systems can now be monitored in real time at an unprecedented spatial and temporal scale. To interpret the sensor measurements and remote sensing observations additional data for example on: the location of the measurement, upstream and downstream catchment characteristics, horizontal ellipsis are required. In this paper, we present a data management system to support flow-path related functionality for decision making and prediction modelling. Adding meta data sets and facilitating (near) real-time processing of sensor data questions are key concepts for the systems. The potential of the database framework for hydrological applications is demonstrated using different applications for the river system of Flanders. In one, the database framework is used to simulate the daily discharge for each segment within a catchment using a simple data-driven approach. The presented system is useful for numerous applications including pollution tracking, alerting and inter-sensor validation in river systems, or related networks.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000729755100001 Publication Date 2021-12-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1606-9749 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 0.573 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 0.573
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184814 Serial 7387
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Author Kante, M.V.; Weber, M.L.; Ni, S.; van den Bosch, I.C.G.; van der Minne, E.; Heymann, L.; Falling, L.J.; Gauquelin, N.; Tsvetanova, M.; Cunha, D.M.; Koster, G.; Gunkel, F.; Nemsak, S.; Hahn, H.; Estrada, L.V.; Baeumer, C.
Title A high-entropy oxide as high-activity electrocatalyst for water oxidation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ACS nano Abbreviated Journal
Volume 17 Issue 6 Pages 5329-5339
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract High-entropy materials are an emerging pathway in the development of high-activity (electro)catalysts because of the inherent tunability and coexistence of multiple potential active sites, which may lead to earth-abundant catalyst materials for energy-efficient electrochemical energy storage. In this report, we identify how the multication composition in high-entropy perovskite oxides (HEO) contributes to high catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), i.e., the key kinetically limiting half-reaction in several electrochemical energy conversion technologies, including green hydrogen generation. We compare the activity of the (001) facet of LaCr0.2Mn0.2Fe0.2Co0.2Ni0.2O3-delta with the parent compounds (single B-site in the ABO3 perovskite). While the single B-site perovskites roughly follow the expected volcano-type activity trends, the HEO clearly outperforms all of its parent compounds with 17 to 680 times higher currents at a fixed overpotential. As all samples were grown as an epitaxial layer, our results indicate an intrinsic composition-function relationship, avoiding the effects of complex geometries or unknown surface composition. In-depth X-ray photoemission studies reveal a synergistic effect of simultaneous oxidation and reduction of different transition metal cations during the adsorption of reaction intermediates. The surprisingly high OER activity demonstrates that HEOs are a highly attractive, earth-abundant material class for high-activity OER electrocatalysts, possibly allowing the activity to be fine-tuned beyond the scaling limits of mono-or bimetallic oxides.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000953440900001 Publication Date 2023-03-13
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1936-0851 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 17.1 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 17.1; 2023 IF: 13.942
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196097 Serial 7390
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Author Winterstetter, A.; Grodent, M.; Kini, V.; Ragaert, K.; Vrancken, K.C.M.
Title A review of technological solutions to prevent or reduce marine plastic litter in developing countries Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Sustainability Abbreviated Journal Sustainability-Basel
Volume 13 Issue 9 Pages 4894
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Growing global plastic production combined with poor waste collection has led to increasing amounts of plastic debris being found in oceans, rivers and on shores. The goal of this study is to provide an overview on currently available technological solutions to tackle marine plastic litter and to assess their potential use in developing countries. To compile an inventory of technological solutions, a dedicated online platform was developed. A total of 51 out of initially 75 submitted solutions along the plastics value chain were assessed by independent experts. Collection systems represent more than half of the shortlisted solutions. A quarter include processing and treatment technologies, either as a stand-alone solution (30%) or, more commonly, in combination with a first litter capturing step. Ten percent offer digital solutions. The rest focuses on integrated waste management solutions. For each stage in the source-to-sea spectrum-land, rivers, sea-two illustrative examples are described in detail. This study concludes that the most cost-effective type of solution tackles land-based sources of marine litter and combines technology with people-oriented practices, runs on own energy sources, connects throughout the plastics value chain with a convincing valorization plan for captured debris, and involves all relevant stakeholders.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000650920900001 Publication Date 2021-04-27
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2071-1050 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 1.789 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.789
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:178368 Serial 7396
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Author Bogaerts, A.; Centi, G.; Hessel, V.; Rebrov, E.
Title Challenges in unconventional catalysis Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Catalysis today Abbreviated Journal
Volume 420 Issue Pages 114180
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Catalysis science and technology increased efforts recently to progress beyond conventional “thermal” catalysis and face the challenges of net-zero emissions and electrification of production. Nevertheless, a better gaps and opportunities analysis is necessary. This review analyses four emerging areas of unconventional or less- conventional catalysis which share the common aspect of using directly renewable energy sources: (i) plasma catalysis, (ii) catalysis for flow chemistry and process intensification, (iii) application of electromagnetic (EM) fields to modulate catalytic activity and (iv) nanoscale generation at the catalyst interface of a strong local EM by plasmonic effect. Plasma catalysis has demonstrated synergistic effects, where the outcome is higher than the sum of both processes alone. Still, the underlying mechanisms are complex, and synergy is not always obtained. There is a crucial need for a better understanding to (i) design catalysts tailored to the plasma environment, (ii) design plasma reactors with optimal transport of plasma species to the catalyst surface, and (iii) tune the plasma conditions so they work in optimal synergy with the catalyst. Microfluidic reactors (flow chemistry) is another emerging sector leading to the intensification of catalytic syntheses, particularly in organic chemistry. New unconventional catalysts must be designed to exploit in full the novel possibilities. With a focus on (a) continuous-flow photocatalysis, (b) electrochemical flow catalysis, (c) microwave flow catalysis and (d) ultra­ sound flow activation, a series of examples are discussed, with also indications on scale-up and process indus­ trialisation. The third area discussed regards the effect on catalytic performances of applying oriented EM fields spanning several orders of magnitude. Under well-defined conditions, gas breakdown and, in some cases, plasma formation generates activated gas phase species. The EM field-driven chemical conversion processes depend further on structured electric/magnetic catalysts, which shape the EM field in strength and direction. Different effects influencing chemical conversion have been reported, including reduced activation energy, surface charging, hot spot generation, and selective local heating. The last topic discussed is complementary to the third, focusing on the possibility of tuning the photo- and electro-catalytic properties by creating a strong localised electrical field with a plasmonic effect. The novel possibilities of hot carriers generated by the plasmonic effect are also discussed. This review thus aims to stimulate the reader to make new, creative catalysis to address the challenges of reaching a carbon-neutral world.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001004623300001 Publication Date 2023-05-09
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0920-5861 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 5.3 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes The EU ERC Synergy SCOPE project supported this work (project ID 810182) “ Surface-COnfined fast-modulated Plasma for process and Energy intensification in small molecules conversion”. This review thus aims to stimulate the reader to make new, creative catalysis to address the challenges of reaching a carbon-neutral world. Approved Most recent IF: 5.3; 2023 IF: 4.636
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:196446 Serial 7380
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Author Verswyvel, H.; Deben, C.; Wouters, A.; Lardon, F.; Bogaerts, A.; Smits, E.; Lin, A.
Title Phototoxicity and cell passage affect intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and sensitivity towards non-thermal plasma treatment in fluorescently-labeled cancer cells Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of physics: D: applied physics Abbreviated Journal
Volume 56 Issue 29 Pages 294001
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Center for Oncological Research (CORE)
Abstract Live-cell imaging with fluorescence microscopy is a powerful tool, especially in cancer research, widely-used for capturing dynamic cellular processes over time. However, light-induced toxicity (phototoxicity) can be incurred from this method, via disruption of intracellular redox balance and an overload of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This can introduce confounding effects in an experiment, especially in the context of evaluating and screening novel therapies. Here, we aimed to unravel whether phototoxicity can impact cellular homeostasis and response to non-thermal plasma (NTP), a therapeutic strategy which specifically targets the intracellular redox balance. We demonstrate that cells incorporated with a fluorescent reporter for live-cell imaging have increased sensitivity to NTP, when exposed to ambient light or fluorescence excitation, likely through altered proliferation rates and baseline intracellular ROS levels. These changes became even more pronounced the longer the cells stayed in culture. Therefore, our results have important implications for research implementing this analysis technique and are particularly important for designing experiments and evaluating redox-based therapies like NTP.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000978180500001 Publication Date 2023-07-20
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0022-3727 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.4 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes This work was partially funded by the Research Foundation— Flanders (FWO) and supported by the following Grants: 1S67621N (H V), 12S9221N (A L), and G044420N (A B and A L). We would also like to thank several patrons, as part of this research was funded by donations from different donors, including Dedert Schilde vzw, Mr Willy Floren, and the Vereycken family. Approved Most recent IF: 3.4; 2023 IF: 2.588
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:196441 Serial 7381
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Author Gerrits, N.
Title Accurate simulations of the reaction of H₂ on a curved Pt crystal through machine learning Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Journal Of Physical Chemistry Letters Abbreviated Journal J Phys Chem Lett
Volume 12 Issue 51 Pages 12157-12164
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Theoretical studies on molecule-metal surface reactions have so far been limited to small surface unit cells due to computational costs. Here, for the first time molecular dynamics simulations on very large surface unit cells at the level of density functional theory are performed, allowing a direct comparison to experiments performed on a curved crystal. Specifically, the reaction of D-2 on a curved Pt crystal is investigated with a neural network potential (NNP). The developed NNP is also accurate for surface unit cells considerably larger than those that have been included in the training data, allowing dynamical simulations on very large surface unit cells that otherwise would have been intractable. Important and complex aspects of the reaction mechanism are discovered such as diffusion and a shadow effect of the step. Furthermore, conclusions from simulations on smaller surface unit cells cannot always be transfered to larger surface unit cells, limiting the applicability of theoretical studies of smaller surface unit cells to heterogeneous catalysts with small defect densities.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000734045900001 Publication Date 2021-12-17
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1948-7185 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 9.353 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 9.353
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184717 Serial 7413
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Author Scolfaro, D.; Finamor, M.; Trinchao, L.O.; Rosa, B.L.T.; Chaves, A.; Santos, P., V.; Iikawa, F.; Couto, O.D.D., Jr.
Title Acoustically driven stark effect in transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Acs Nano Abbreviated Journal Acs Nano
Volume 15 Issue 9 Pages 15371-15380
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract The Stark effect is one of the most efficient mechanisms to manipulate many-body states in nanostructured systems. In mono- and few-layer transition metal dichalcogenides, it has been successfully induced by optical and electric field means. Here, we tune the optical emission energies and dissociate excitonic states in MoSe2 monolayers employing the 220 MHz in-plane piezoelectric field carried by surface acoustic waves. We transfer the monolayers to high dielectric constant piezoelectric substrates, where the neutral exciton binding energy is reduced, allowing us to efficiently quench (above 90%) and red-shift the excitonic optical emissions. A model for the acoustically induced Stark effect yields neutral exciton and trion in-plane polarizabilities of 530 and 630 x 10(-5) meV/(kV/cm)(2), respectively, which are considerably larger than those reported for monolayers encapsulated in hexagonal boron nitride. Large in-plane polarizabilities are an attractive ingredient to manipulate and modulate multiexciton interactions in two-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures for optoelectronic applications.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000703553600129 Publication Date 2021-08-27
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1936-0851 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 13.942 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 13.942
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:182545 Serial 7415
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Author Firmansyah, I.; Carsjens, G.J.; de Ruijter, F.J.; Zeeman, G.; Spiller, M.
Title An integrated assessment of environmental, economic, social and technological parameters of source separated and conventional sanitation concepts : a contribution to sustainability analysis Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Journal Of Environmental Management Abbreviated Journal J Environ Manage
Volume 295 Issue Pages 113131
Keywords A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Resource recovery and reuse from domestic wastewater has become an important subject for the current development of sanitation technologies and infrastructures. Different technologies are available and combined into sanitation concepts, with different performances. This study provides a methodological approach to evaluate the sustainability of these sanitation concepts with focus on resource recovery and reuse. St. Eustatius, a small tropical island in the Caribbean, was used as a case study for the evaluation. Three source separation-communityon-site and two combined sewerage island-scale concepts were selected and compared in terms of environmental (net energy use, nutrient recovery/reuse, BOD/COD, pathogens, and GHG emission, land use), economic (CAPEX and OPEX), social cultural (acceptance, required competences and education), and technological (flexibility/ adaptability, reliability/continuity of service) indicators. The best performing concept, is the application of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed (UASB) and Trickling Filter (TF) at island level for combined domestic wastewater treatment with subsequent reuse in agriculture. Its overall average normalised score across the four categories (i. e., average of average per category) is about 15% (0.85) higher than the values of the remaining systems and with a score of 0.73 (conventional activated sludge – centralised level), 0.77 (UASB-septic tank (ST)), 0.76 (UASB-TF – community level), and 0.75 (ST – household level). The higher score of the UASB-TF at community level is mainly due to much better performance in the environmental and economic categories. In conclusion, the case study provides a methodological approach that can support urban planning and decision-making in selecting more sustainable sanitation concepts, allowing resource recovery and reuse in small island context or in other contexts.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000681105800003 Publication Date 2021-06-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0301-4797 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.01 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.01
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:180488 Serial 7437
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Author Drăgan, A.-M.; Parrilla, M.; Feier, B.; Oprean, R.; Cristea, C.; De Wael, K.
Title Analytical techniques for the detection of amphetamine-type substances in different matrices : a comprehensive review Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Trac-Trends In Analytical Chemistry Abbreviated Journal Trac-Trend Anal Chem
Volume 145 Issue Pages 116447
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
Abstract This current review focuses on contributions to amphetamine-type substances (ATS) analysis. This type of synthetic illicit drugs has been increasingly present worldwide reaching 5% of the market on illicit drugs in 2019. The increment of their production in many clandestine laboratories and easy distribution among society are two of the main concerns towards the battle against synthetic drugs. Therefore, the first part of this review details the classification and mechanism of action of ATS in the human body. Second, the pharmacological and toxicological effects of ATS on human health are described to motivate the need of early detection of ATS. Subsequently, the most used laboratory-based and portable methods are presented and critically discussed along the review. Finally, a careful discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of portable techniques employed on the field are addressed as potential tools for on-site ATS detection by law enforcement officers.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000723747000009 Publication Date 2021-09-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0165-9936; 1879-3142 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.442 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 8.442
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:183268 Serial 7460
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Author Lauriks, T.; Longo, R.; Baetens, D.; Derudi, M.; Parente, A.; Bellemans, A.; van Beeck, J.; Denys, S.
Title Application of improved CFD modeling for prediction and mitigation of traffic-related air pollution hotspots in a realistic urban street Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Atmospheric Environment Abbreviated Journal Atmos Environ
Volume 246 Issue Pages 118127
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract The correct prediction of air pollutants dispersed in urban areas is of paramount importance to safety, public health and a sustainable environment. Vehicular traffic is one of the main sources of nitrogen oxides (NO ) and particulate matter (PM), strongly related to human morbidity and mortality. In this study, the pollutant level and distribution in a section of one of the main road arteries of Antwerp (Belgium, Europe) are analyzed. The assessment is performed through computational fluid dynamics (CFD), acknowledged as a powerful tool to predict and study dispersion phenomena in complex atmospheric environments. The two main traffic lanes are modeled as emitting sources and the surrounding area is explicitly depicted. A Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approach specific for Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) simulations is employed. After a validation on a wind tunnel urban canyon test case, the dispersion within the canopy of two relevant urban pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO) and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 m (PM10), is studied. An experimental field campaign led to the availability of wind velocity and direction data, as well as PM10 concentrations in some key locations within the urban canyon. To accurately predict the concentration field, a relevant dispersion parameter, the turbulent Schmidt number, , is prescribed as a locally variable quantity. The pollutant distributions in the area of interest – exhibiting strong heterogeneity – are finally demonstrated, considering one of the most frequent and concerning wind directions. Possible local remedial measures are conceptualized, investigated and implemented and their outcomes are directly compared. A major goal is, by realistically reproducing the district of interest, to identify the locations inside this intricate urban canyon where the pollutants are stagnating and to analyze which solution acts as best mitigation measure. It is demonstrated that removal by electrostatic precipitation (ESP), an active measure, and by enhancing the dilution process through wind catchers, a passive measure, are effective for local pollutant removal in a realistic urban canyon. It is also demonstrated that the applied ABL methodology resolves some well known problems in ABL dispersion modeling.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000613550100003 Publication Date 2020-12-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1352-2310 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.629 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.629
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:173917 Serial 7477
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Author Daems, E.; Dewaele, D.; Barylyuk, K.; De Wael, K.; Sobott, F.
Title Aptamer-ligand recognition studied by native ion mobility-mass spectrometry Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Talanta Abbreviated Journal Talanta
Volume 224 Issue Pages 121917
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract The range of applications for aptamers, small oligonucleotide-based receptors binding to their targets with high specificity and affinity, has been steadily expanding. Our understanding of the mechanisms governing aptamer-ligand recognition and binding is however lagging, stymieing the progress in the rational design of new aptamers and optimization of the known ones. Here we demonstrate the capabilities and limitations of native ion mobility-mass spectrometry for the analysis of their higher-order structure and non-covalent interactions. A set of related cocaine-binding aptamers, displaying a range of folding properties and ligand binding affinities, was used as a case study in both positive and negative electrospray ionization modes. Using carefully controlled experimental conditions, we probed their conformational behavior and interactions with the high-affinity ligand quinine as a surrogate for cocaine. The ratios of bound and unbound aptamers in the mass spectra were used to rank them according to their apparent quinine-binding affinity, qualitatively matching the published ranking order. The arrival time differences between the free aptamer and aptamer-quinine complexes were consistent with a small ligand-induced conformational change, and found to inversely correlate with the affinity of binding. This mass spectrometry-based approach provides a fast and convenient way to study the molecular basis of aptamer-ligand recognition.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000600787800122 Publication Date 2020-12-02
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0039-9140; 1873-3573 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.162 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.162
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:174086 Serial 7490
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Author Weiβ, R.; Gritsch, S.; Brader, G.; Nikolic, B.; Spiller, M.; Santolin, J.; Weber, H.K.; Schwaiger, N.; Pluchon, S.; Dietel, K.; Guebitz, G.; Nyanhongo, G.
Title A biobased, bioactive, low CO₂ impact coating for soil improvers Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Green Chemistry Abbreviated Journal Green Chem
Volume 23 Issue 17 Pages 6501-6514
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Lignosulfonate-based bioactive coatings as soil improvers for lawns were developed using laccase as a biocatalyst. Incorporation of glycerol, xylitol and sorbitol as plasticizers considerably reduced the brittleness of the synthesized coatings of marine carbonate granules while thermal enzyme inactivation at 100 degrees C enabled the production of stable coatings. Heat inactivation produced stable coatings with a molecular weight of 2000 kDa and a viscosity of 4.5 x 10(-3) Pas. The desired plasticity for the spray coating of soil improver granules was achieved by the addition of 2.7% of xylitol. Agriculture beneficial microorganisms (four different Bacillus species) were integrated into the coatings. The stable coatings protected the marine calcium carbonate granules, maintained the viability of the microorganisms and showed no toxic effects on the germination and growth of model plants including corn, wheat, salad, and tomato despite a slight delay in germination. Moreover, the coatings reduced the dust formation of soil improvers by 70%. CO2 emission analysis showed potential for the reduction of up to 3.4 kg CO2-eq. kg(-1) product, making it a viable alternative to fossil-based coatings.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000683056500001 Publication Date 2021-08-09
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1463-9262; 1463-9270 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 9.125 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 9.125
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:180511 Serial 7558
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Author Nunez Manzano, M.; Gonzalez Quiroga, A.; Perreault, P.; Madanikashani, S.; Vandewalle, L.A.; Marin, G.B.; Heynderickx, G.J.; Van Geem, K.M.
Title Biomass fast pyrolysis in an innovative gas-solid vortex reactor : experimental proof of concept Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Journal Of Analytical And Applied Pyrolysis Abbreviated Journal J Anal Appl Pyrol
Volume 156 Issue Pages 105165-12
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Biomass fast pyrolysis has been considered one of the best alternatives for the thermal conversion of biomass into bio-oil. This work introduces a new reactor technology for biomass fast pyrolysis, the Gas-Solid Vortex Reactor (GSVR), to obtain high bio-oil yields. The GSVR was designed to decrease the residence time of the pyrolysis vapors; thus, the secondary cracking reactions are reduced, to enhance the segregation of the char and the unreacted biomass and to improve the heat transfer rate. Biomass fast pyrolysis experiments have been carried out for the first time in a Gas-Solid Vortex Reactor (GSVR) at 773 K, using softwood (pine) and hardwood (poplar) as feedstock. Char yields as low as 10 wt. % in the GSVR were comparable to those reported for the same feedstocks processed in conventional fluidized bed reactors. The yields of non-condensable gases in the range of 15–17 wt. % were significantly lower than those reported for other commonly used biomass fast pyrolysis reactors. Two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) revealed noticeable differences at the molecular level between the bio-oils from the GSVR and bio-oils from other reactors. The aromatics in the pine bio-oil consist almost entirely (85 wt. %) of guaiacols. For poplar bio-oils no predominant group of aromatics was found, but phenolics, syringols, and catechols were the most pronounced. The experimental results highlight the advantages of the GSVR for biomass pyrolysis, reaching stable operation in around 60 s, removing the formed char selectively during operation, and enabling fast entrainment of pyrolysis vapors. Results indicate a great potential for increasing yield and selectivity towards guaiacols in softwood (e.g., pine) bio-oil. Likewise, decreasing pyrolysis temperature could increase the yield of guaiacols and syringols in hardwood (e.g., poplar) bio-oil.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000663091200002 Publication Date 2021-04-16
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0165-2370 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.471 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.471
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:178743 Serial 7562
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Author Lee, Y.; Forte, J.D.'arf S.; Chaves, A.; Kumar, A.; Tran, T.T.; Kim, Y.; Roy, S.; Taniguchi, T.; Watanabe, K.; Chernikov, A.; Jang, J.I.; Low, T.; Kim, J.
Title Boosting quantum yields in two-dimensional semiconductors via proximal metal plates Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Nature Communications Abbreviated Journal Nat Commun
Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 7095
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract The short exciton lifetime and strong exciton-exciton interaction in transition metal dichalcogenides limit the efficiency of exciton emission. Here, the authors show that exciton-exciton interaction in monolayer WS2 can be screened using proximal metal plates, leading to an improved quantum yield. Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (1L-TMDs) have tremendous potential as atomically thin, direct bandgap semiconductors that can be used as convenient building blocks for quantum photonic devices. However, the short exciton lifetime due to the defect traps and the strong exciton-exciton interaction in TMDs has significantly limited the efficiency of exciton emission from this class of materials. Here, we show that exciton-exciton interaction in 1L-WS2 can be effectively screened using an ultra-flat Au film substrate separated by multilayers of hexagonal boron nitride. Under this geometry, induced dipolar exciton-exciton interaction becomes quadrupole-quadrupole interaction because of effective image dipoles formed within the metal. The suppressed exciton-exciton interaction leads to a significantly improved quantum yield by an order of magnitude, which is also accompanied by a reduction in the exciton-exciton annihilation (EEA) rate, as confirmed by time-resolved optical measurements. A theoretical model accounting for the screening of the dipole-dipole interaction is in a good agreement with the dependence of EEA on exciton densities. Our results suggest that fundamental EEA processes in the TMD can be engineered through proximal metallic screening, which represents a practical approach towards high-efficiency 2D light emitters.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000728559600014 Publication Date 2021-12-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2041-1723 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 12.124 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 12.124
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184870 Serial 7566
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Author Shi, P.; Yu, K.; Niinemets, Ü.; Gielis, J.
Title Can leaf shape be represented by the ratio of leaf width to length? Evidence from nine species of Magnolia and Michelia (Magnoliaceae) Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Forests Abbreviated Journal Forests
Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 41
Keywords A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Leaf shape is closely related to economics of leaf support and leaf functions, including light interception, water use, and CO2 uptake, so correct quantification of leaf shape is helpful for studies of leaf structure/function relationships. There are some extant indices for quantifying leaf shape, including the leaf width/length ratio (W/L), leaf shape fractal dimension (FD), leaf dissection index, leaf roundness index, standardized bilateral symmetrical index, etc. W/L ratio is the simplest to calculate, and recent studies have shown the importance of the W/L ratio in explaining the scaling exponent of leaf dry mass vs. leaf surface area and that of leaf surface area vs. leaf length. Nevertheless, whether the W/L ratio could reflect sufficient geometrical information of leaf shape has been not tested. The FD might be the most accurate measure for the complexity of leaf shape because it can characterize the extent of the self-similarity and other planar geometrical features of leaf shape. However, it is unknown how strongly different indices of leaf shape complexity correlate with each other, especially whether W/L ratio and FD are highly correlated. In this study, the leaves of nine Magnoliaceae species (>140 leaves for each species) were chosen for the study. We calculated the FD value for each leaf using the box-counting approach, and measured leaf fresh mass, surface area, perimeter, length, and width. We found that FD is significantly correlated to the W/L ratio and leaf length. However, the correlation between FD and the W/L ratio was far stronger than that between FD and leaf length for each of the nine species. There were no strong correlations between FD and other leaf characteristics, including leaf area, ratio of leaf perimeter to area, fresh mass, ratio of leaf fresh mass to area, and leaf roundness index. Given the strong correlation between FD and W/L, we suggest that the simpler index, W/L ratio, can provide sufficient information of leaf shape for similarly-shaped leaves. Future studies are needed to characterize the relationships among FD and W/L in leaves with strongly varying shape, e.g., in highly dissected leaves.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000611074700001 Publication Date 2020-12-31
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1999-4907 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 1.951 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.951
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:174473 Serial 7572
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Author Fuoco, T.; Cuartero, M.; Parrilla, M.; García-Guzmán, J.J.; Crespo, G.A.; Finne-Wistrand, A.
Title Capturing the real-time hydrolytic degradation of a library of biomedical polymers by combining traditional assessment and electrochemical sensors Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Biomacromolecules Abbreviated Journal Biomacromolecules
Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 949-960
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract We have developed an innovative methodology to overcome the lack of techniques for real-time assessment of degradable biomedical polymers at physiological conditions. The methodology was established by combining polymer characterization techniques with electrochemical sensors. The in vitro hydrolytic degradation of a series of aliphatic polyesters was evaluated by following the molar mass decrease and the mass loss at different incubation times while tracing pH and l-lactate released into the incubation media with customized miniaturized electrochemical sensors. The combination of different analytical approaches provided new insights into the mechanistic and kinetics aspects of the degradation of these biomedical materials. Although molar mass had to reach threshold values for soluble oligomers to be formed and specimens’ resorption to occur, the pH variation and l-lactate concentration were direct evidence of the resorption of the polymers and indicative of the extent of chain scission. Linear models were found for pH and released l-lactate as a function of mass loss for the l-lactide-based copolymers. The methodology should enable the sequential screening of degradable polymers at physiological conditions and has potential to be used for preclinical material’s evaluation aiming at reducing animal tests.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2021-01-27
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1525-7797 ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor 5.246 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.246
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175296 Serial 7575
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Alloul, A.; Muys, M.; Hertoghs, N.; Kerckhof, F.-M.; Vlaeminck, S.E.
Title Cocultivating aerobic heterotrophs and purple bacteria for microbial protein in sequential photo- and chemotrophic reactors Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Bioresource Technology Abbreviated Journal Bioresource Technol
Volume 319 Issue Pages 124192
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria (AHB) and purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) are typically explored as two separate types of microbial protein, yet their properties as respectively a bulk and added-value feed ingredient make them appealing for combined use. The feasibility of cocultivation in a sequential photo- and chemotrophic approach was investigated. First, mapping the chemotrophic growth kinetics for four Rhodobacter, Rhodopseudomonas and Rhodospirillum species on different carbon sources showed a preference for fructose (µmax 2.4–3.9 d−1 28 °C; protein 36–59%DW). Secondly, a continuous photobioreactor inoculated with Rhodobacter capsulatus (VFA as C-source) delivered the starter culture for an aerobic batch reactor (fructose as C-source). This two-stage system showed an improved nutritional quality compared to AHB production: higher protein content (45–71%DW), more attractive amino/fatty acid profile and contained up to 10% PNSB. The findings strengthen protein production with cocultures and might enable the implementation of the technology for resource recovery on streams such as wastewater.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000613136600013 Publication Date 2020-09-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0960-8524 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 5.651 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.651
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:171766 Serial 7677
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Demiroglu, I.; Karaaslan, Y.; Kocabas, T.; Keceli, M.; Vazquez-Mayagoitia, A.; Sevik, C.
Title Computation of the thermal expansion coefficient of graphene with Gaussian approximation potentials Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Journal Of Physical Chemistry C Abbreviated Journal J Phys Chem C
Volume 125 Issue 26 Pages 14409-14415
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Direct experimental measurement of thermal expansion coefficient without substrate effects is a challenging task for two-dimensional (2D) materials, and its accurate estimation with large-scale ab initio molecular dynamics is computationally very expensive. Machine learning-based interatomic potentials trained with ab initio data have been successfully used in molecular dynamics simulations to decrease the computational cost without compromising the accuracy. In this study, we investigated using Gaussian approximation potentials to reproduce the density functional theory-level accuracy for graphene within both lattice dynamical and molecular dynamical methods, and to extend their applicability to larger length and time scales. Two such potentials are considered, GAP17 and GAP20. GAP17, which was trained with pristine graphene structures, is found to give closer results to density functional theory calculations at different scales. Further vibrational and structural analyses verify that the same conclusions can be deduced with density functional theory level in terms of the reasoning of the thermal expansion behavior, and the negative thermal expansion behavior is associated with long-range out-of-plane phonon vibrations. Thus, it is argued that the enabled larger system sizes by machine learning potentials may even enhance the accuracy compared to small-size-limited ab initio molecular dynamics.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000672734100027 Publication Date 2021-06-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1932-7447; 1932-7455 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.536 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.536
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:179850 Serial 7719
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Van de Sompel, P.; Khalilov, U.; Neyts, E.C.
Title Contrasting H-etching to OH-etching in plasma-assisted nucleation of carbon nanotubes Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Journal Of Physical Chemistry C Abbreviated Journal J Phys Chem C
Volume 125 Issue 14 Pages 7849-7855
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract To gain full control over the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), a thorough understanding of the underlying plasma-catalyst mechanisms is required. Oxygen-containing species are often used as or added to the growth precursor gas, but these species also yield various radicals and ions, which may simultaneously etch the CNT during the growth. At present, the effect of these reactive species on the growth onset has not yet been thoroughly investigated. We here report on the etching mechanism of incipient CNT structures from OH and O radicals as derived from combined (reactive) molecular dynamics (MD) and force-bias Monte Carlo (tfMC) simulations. Our results indicate that the oxygen-containing radicals initiate a dissociation process. In particular, we show how the oxygen species weaken the interaction between the CNT and the nanocluster. As a result of this weakened interaction, the CNT closes off and dissociates from the cluster in the form of a fullerene. Beyond the specific systems studied in this work, these results are generically important in the context of PECVD-based growth of CNTs using oxygen-containing precursors.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000641307100032 Publication Date 2021-04-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1932-7447; 1932-7455 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 4.536 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.536
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:178393 Serial 7729
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Parrilla, M.; Montiel, F.N.; Van Durme, F.; De Wael, K.
Title Derivatization of amphetamine to allow its electrochemical detection in illicit drug seizures Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Sensors And Actuators B-Chemical Abbreviated Journal Sensor Actuat B-Chem
Volume 337 Issue Pages 129819
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract Amphetamine (AMP) is posing critical issues in our society being one of the most encountered drugs-of-abuse in the current illicit market. The continuous drug production in Europe urges the development of new tools for the rapid on-site determination of illicit drugs such as AMP. However, the direct electrochemical detection of AMP is a challenge because the molecule is non-electroactive at the potential window of conventional graphite SPEs. For this reason, a derivatization step is needed to convert the primary amine into an electroactive oxidizable group. Herein, the rapid electrochemical detection of AMP in seized samples based on the derivatization by 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate (NQS) is presented by using square wave voltammetry (SWV) at graphite screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). First, a detailed optimization of the key parameters and the analytical performance is provided. The method showed a sensitivity of 7.9 µA mM-1 within a linear range from 50 to 500 µM, a limit of detection of 22.2 µM, and excellent reproducibility (RSD = 4.3%, n = 5 at 500 µM). Subsequently, the effect of NQS on common cutting agents for the selective detection of AMP is addressed. The comparison of the method with drugs-of-abuse containing secondary and tertiary amines confirms the selectivity of the method. Finally, the concept is applied to quantify AMP in 20 seized samples provided by forensic laboratories, exhibiting an accuracy of 97.3 ± 10.5%. Overall, the fast analysis of samples with the electrochemical profiling of derivatized AMP exhibits a straightforward on-site screening aiming to facilitate the tasks of law enforcement agents in the field.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000640386500001 Publication Date 2021-03-19
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0925-4005 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 5.401 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.401
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:176353 Serial 7762
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Author Vingerhoets, R.; Spiller, M.; De Backer, J.; Adriaens, A.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Meers, E.
Title Detailed nitrogen and phosphorus flow analysis, nutrient use efficiency and circularity in the agri-food system of a livestock-intensive region Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of cleaner production Abbreviated Journal
Volume 410 Issue Pages 137278-13
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract The agri-food value chain is a major cause of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) emissions and associated environmental and health impacts. The EU's farm-to-fork strategy (F2F) demands an agri-food value chain approach to reduce nutrient emissions by 50% and fertilizer use by 20%. Substance flow analysis (SFA) is a method that can be applied to study complex systems such as the agri-food chain. A review of 60 SFA studies shows that they often lack detail by not sufficiently distinguishing between nodes, products and types of emissions. The present study aims to assess the added value of detail in SFAs and to illustrate that valuable indicators can be derived from detailed assessments. This aim will be attained by presenting a highly-detailed SFA for the livestock-intensive region of Flanders, Belgium. The SFA distinguishes 40 nodes and 1827 flows that are classified into eight different categories (e.g. by-products, point source emissions) following life cycle methods. Eight novel indicators were calculated, including indicators that assess the N and P recovery potential. Flanders has a low overall nutrient use efficiency (11% N, 18% P). About 55% of the N and 56% of the P embedded in recoverable streams are reused providing 35% and 37% of the total N and P input. Optimized nutrient recycling could replace 45% of N and 48% of P of the external nutrient input, exceeding the target set by the F2F strategy. Detailed accounting for N and P flows and nodes leads to the identification of more recoverable streams and larger N and P flows. More detailed flow accounting is a prerequisite for the quantification of technological intervention options. Future research should focus on including concentration and quality as a parameter in SFAs.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000991013600001 Publication Date 2023-04-21
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0959-6526 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 11.1 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 11.1; 2023 IF: 5.715
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196227 Serial 7770
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Author Roegiers, J.; Denys, S.
Title Development of a novel type activated carbon fiber filter for indoor air purification Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Chemical Engineering Journal Abbreviated Journal Chem Eng J
Volume 417 Issue Pages 128109
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract A novel type of activated carbon fiber filter was developed for indoor air purification. The filter is equipped with electrodes for thermo-electrical regeneration at the point of saturation. The electrodes are arranged in such a way that the filter forms a pleated structure with an electrode in the tip of each pleat. This allows for a uniform temperature distribution on the filter surface during the regeneration process and the pleated structure reduces the overall pressure drop across the filter. The latter was validated by Computational Fluid Dynamics, using Darcy-Forchheimer parameters derived in previous work. The CFD model was further used to perform a virtual sensitivity study in search for the optimal ACF filter design by varying the pleat length, pleat height and filter thickness. Finally, adsorption and desorption properties were investigated with acetaldehyde and toluene as model compounds. Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption parameters, derived in previous work were successfully validated with a Multiphysics model.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000653229500132 Publication Date 2020-12-15
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 6.216 Times cited Open Access (up) OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6.216
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:174105 Serial 7800
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