An upflow mode membrane-less microbial fuel cell （ML-MFC） was designed for wastewater treatment. Granular graphite electrodes, which are flexible in size, were adopted in the ML-MFC. Microbes present in anaerobic ac...An upflow mode membrane-less microbial fuel cell （ML-MFC） was designed for wastewater treatment. Granular graphite electrodes, which are flexible in size, were adopted in the ML-MFC. Microbes present in anaerobic activated sludge were used as the biocatalyst and artificial wastewater was tested as substrate. During the electrochemically active microbe enrichment stage, a stable power output of 536 mW.m-3 with reference to the anode volume was generated by the ML-MFC running in batch mode. The voltage output decreased from 203 mV to about 190 mV after the ML-MFC was changed from batch mode to normally continuous mode, indicating that planktonic electrochemically active bacterial strains in the ML-MFC may be carried away along with the effluent. Cyclic voltammograms showed that the attached microbes possessed higher bioelectrochemical activity than the planktonic microbes. Forced aeration to the cathode benefited the electricity generation obviously. Higher feeding rate and longer electrode distance both increased the electricity generation. The coulombic yield was not more than 20% throughout the study, which is lower than that of MFCs with membrane. It is proposed that dissolved oxygen diffused from the cathode to the anode may consume part of the substrate.展开更多
Electrocatalytic splitting of water by means of renewable energy as the electricity supply is one of the most promising methods for storing green renewable energy as hydrogen. Although two-thirds of the earth’s surfa...Electrocatalytic splitting of water by means of renewable energy as the electricity supply is one of the most promising methods for storing green renewable energy as hydrogen. Although two-thirds of the earth’s surface is covered with water, there is inadequacy of freshwater in most parts of the world. Hence, splitting seawater instead of freshwater could be a truly sustainable alternative. However, direct seawater splitting faces challenges because of the complex composition of seawater. The composition, and hence, the local chemistry of seawater may vary depending on its origin, and in most cases, tracking of the side reactions and standardizing and customizing the catalytic process will be an extra challenge. The corrosion of catalysts and competitive side reactions due to the presence of various inorganic and organic pollutants create challenges for developing stable electro-catalysts. Hence, seawater splitting generally involves a two-step process, i.e., purification of seawater using reverse osmosis and then subsequent fresh water splitting. However, this demands two separate chambers and larger space, and increases complexity of the reactor design. Recently, there have been efforts to directly split seawater without the reverse osmosis step. Herein, we represent the most recent innovative approaches to avoid the two-step process, and compare the potential application of membrane-assisted and membrane-less electrolyzers in direct seawater splitting(DSS). We particularly discuss the device engineering, and propose a novel electrolyzer design strategies for concentration gradient based membrane-less microfluidic electrolyzer.展开更多
This study demonstrated the potential of single chamber up-flow membrane-less microbial fuel cell（UFML-MFC） in wastewater treatment and power generation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and enhance the per...This study demonstrated the potential of single chamber up-flow membrane-less microbial fuel cell（UFML-MFC） in wastewater treatment and power generation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and enhance the performance under different operational conditions which affect the chemical oxygen demand（COD） reduction and power generation,including the increase of KCl concentration（MFC1） and COD concentration（MFC2）. The results showed that the increase of KCl concentration is an important factor in up-flow membrane-less MFC to enhance the ease of electron transfer from anode to cathode. The increase of COD concentration in MFC2 could led to the drop of voltage output due to the prompt of biofilm growth in MFC2 cathode which could increase the internal resistance. It also showed that the COD concentration is a vital issue in up-flow membrane-less MFC.Despite the COD reduction was up to 96%, the power output remained constrained.展开更多
Stabilising soft marine clay and estuarine soils via vacuum preloading has become very popular in Australasia over the past decades because it is a cost-effective and time-efficient approach.In recent times,new land o...Stabilising soft marine clay and estuarine soils via vacuum preloading has become very popular in Australasia over the past decades because it is a cost-effective and time-efficient approach.In recent times,new land on areas outside but adjacent to existing port amenities,the Fisherman Islands at the Port of Brisbane(POB),was reclaimed to cater for an increase in trade activities.A vacuum preloading method combined with surcharge to stabilise the deep layers of soil was used to enhance the application of prefabricated vertical drains(PVDs).This paper describes the performance of this combined surcharge fill and vacuum system under the embankment and also compares it with a surcharge loading system to demonstrate the benefits of vacuum pressure over conventional fill.The performance of this embankment is also presented in terms of field monitoring data,and the relative performance of the vacuum together with non-vacuum systems is evaluated.An analytical solution to radial consolidation with time-dependent surcharge loading and vacuum pressure is also presented in order to predict the settlement and associated excess pore water pressure(EPWP)of deposits of thick soft clay.展开更多
The formation of biomolecular condensates via liquid-liquid phase separation(LLPS)is an advantageous strategy for cells to organize subcellular compartments for diverse functions.The involvement of LLPS is more widesp...The formation of biomolecular condensates via liquid-liquid phase separation(LLPS)is an advantageous strategy for cells to organize subcellular compartments for diverse functions.The involvement of LLPS is more widespread and overrepresented in RNA-related biological processes.This is in part because that RNAs are intrinsically multivalent macromolecules,and the presence of RNAs affects the formation,dissolution,and biophysical properties of biomolecular condensates formed by LLPS.Emerging studies have illustrated how LLPS participates in RNA transcription,splicing,processing,quality control,translation,and function.The interconnected regulation between LLPS and RNAs ensures tight control of RNA-related cellular functions.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （20306029, 20576137）.
文摘An upflow mode membrane-less microbial fuel cell （ML-MFC） was designed for wastewater treatment. Granular graphite electrodes, which are flexible in size, were adopted in the ML-MFC. Microbes present in anaerobic activated sludge were used as the biocatalyst and artificial wastewater was tested as substrate. During the electrochemically active microbe enrichment stage, a stable power output of 536 mW.m-3 with reference to the anode volume was generated by the ML-MFC running in batch mode. The voltage output decreased from 203 mV to about 190 mV after the ML-MFC was changed from batch mode to normally continuous mode, indicating that planktonic electrochemically active bacterial strains in the ML-MFC may be carried away along with the effluent. Cyclic voltammograms showed that the attached microbes possessed higher bioelectrochemical activity than the planktonic microbes. Forced aeration to the cathode benefited the electricity generation obviously. Higher feeding rate and longer electrode distance both increased the electricity generation. The coulombic yield was not more than 20% throughout the study, which is lower than that of MFCs with membrane. It is proposed that dissolved oxygen diffused from the cathode to the anode may consume part of the substrate.
基金King Abdullah University of Science and Technology for funding through the funding grant (BAS/1/1413-01-01)the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC,EP/V027433/1)+1 种基金the Royal Society (RGSR1211080IESR2212115)。
文摘Electrocatalytic splitting of water by means of renewable energy as the electricity supply is one of the most promising methods for storing green renewable energy as hydrogen. Although two-thirds of the earth’s surface is covered with water, there is inadequacy of freshwater in most parts of the world. Hence, splitting seawater instead of freshwater could be a truly sustainable alternative. However, direct seawater splitting faces challenges because of the complex composition of seawater. The composition, and hence, the local chemistry of seawater may vary depending on its origin, and in most cases, tracking of the side reactions and standardizing and customizing the catalytic process will be an extra challenge. The corrosion of catalysts and competitive side reactions due to the presence of various inorganic and organic pollutants create challenges for developing stable electro-catalysts. Hence, seawater splitting generally involves a two-step process, i.e., purification of seawater using reverse osmosis and then subsequent fresh water splitting. However, this demands two separate chambers and larger space, and increases complexity of the reactor design. Recently, there have been efforts to directly split seawater without the reverse osmosis step. Herein, we represent the most recent innovative approaches to avoid the two-step process, and compare the potential application of membrane-assisted and membrane-less electrolyzers in direct seawater splitting(DSS). We particularly discuss the device engineering, and propose a novel electrolyzer design strategies for concentration gradient based membrane-less microfluidic electrolyzer.
基金the Science Fund MOSTI Grant (02-01-15-SF0201) for their support on this study
文摘This study demonstrated the potential of single chamber up-flow membrane-less microbial fuel cell（UFML-MFC） in wastewater treatment and power generation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and enhance the performance under different operational conditions which affect the chemical oxygen demand（COD） reduction and power generation,including the increase of KCl concentration（MFC1） and COD concentration（MFC2）. The results showed that the increase of KCl concentration is an important factor in up-flow membrane-less MFC to enhance the ease of electron transfer from anode to cathode. The increase of COD concentration in MFC2 could led to the drop of voltage output due to the prompt of biofilm growth in MFC2 cathode which could increase the internal resistance. It also showed that the COD concentration is a vital issue in up-flow membrane-less MFC.Despite the COD reduction was up to 96%, the power output remained constrained.
基金the support of the Port of Brisbane Pty LtdCoffey Geotechnicsresearch funding from the Australia Research Council
文摘Stabilising soft marine clay and estuarine soils via vacuum preloading has become very popular in Australasia over the past decades because it is a cost-effective and time-efficient approach.In recent times,new land on areas outside but adjacent to existing port amenities,the Fisherman Islands at the Port of Brisbane(POB),was reclaimed to cater for an increase in trade activities.A vacuum preloading method combined with surcharge to stabilise the deep layers of soil was used to enhance the application of prefabricated vertical drains(PVDs).This paper describes the performance of this combined surcharge fill and vacuum system under the embankment and also compares it with a surcharge loading system to demonstrate the benefits of vacuum pressure over conventional fill.The performance of this embankment is also presented in terms of field monitoring data,and the relative performance of the vacuum together with non-vacuum systems is evaluated.An analytical solution to radial consolidation with time-dependent surcharge loading and vacuum pressure is also presented in order to predict the settlement and associated excess pore water pressure(EPWP)of deposits of thick soft clay.
文摘The formation of biomolecular condensates via liquid-liquid phase separation(LLPS)is an advantageous strategy for cells to organize subcellular compartments for diverse functions.The involvement of LLPS is more widespread and overrepresented in RNA-related biological processes.This is in part because that RNAs are intrinsically multivalent macromolecules,and the presence of RNAs affects the formation,dissolution,and biophysical properties of biomolecular condensates formed by LLPS.Emerging studies have illustrated how LLPS participates in RNA transcription,splicing,processing,quality control,translation,and function.The interconnected regulation between LLPS and RNAs ensures tight control of RNA-related cellular functions.
