Abstract: A method and system for performing characterization of one or more materials. One or more materials are scanned by means of a sensory system including an X-ray sensor configured to perform multi-energy imaging for obtaining at least a lower-energy X-ray image and a higher-energy X-ray image. Images obtained by means of the sensory system are segmented, and for each segmented object, data indicative of an area density and data indicative of an atom number by analysis of the lower-energy X-ray image and the higher-energy X-ray image, and data indicative of the area density and atom number is determined by means of a calibrated model. Data indicative of a mass is calculated based on the data indicative of the area density and the data indicative of the area of each of the segmented objects.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of an epoxy resin. This process includes providing lignin, one or more acids and/or esters derived from epoxidized vegetable oil(s), optionally a solvent and optionally a catalyst, to form a reactive mixture. The reactive mixture is mixed and cured in the presence of a curing agent to form the epoxy resin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flatbed air-liquid interface exposure module for exposing a plurality of cells at an air-liquid interface to nanoparticles, the flatbed air-liquid interface exposure module comprising a moisturizing section, an exposure section, and an aerosol duct. Further provided are related systems and methods.

Abstract: An assembly includes a housing with opposite first and second layers. The first and second layers are spaced apart to define a confined interior space. A semi-permeable membrane is attached to the first layer, the semi-permeable membrane covering a porous area portion of the first layer. An outlet port and an inlet port are in fluid communication with the interior space. The assembly includes a first circulator for circulating a first fluid between the outlet port and the inlet port, and a second circulator for circulating a second fluid along an exterior surface of the semi-permeable membrane. The second circulator includes a fluid duct attached to or integrated within the housing. The fluid duct is isolated from the interior space and is porous to provide fluid access to an exterior surface of the semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane forms a barrier allowing exchange of compounds across the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for separating larvae into a pulp fraction and a liquid fraction, including the steps of introducing living larvae into a grinding apparatus whist adding water, grinding the larvae by means of counter-rotating screws and separating the ground biomass of larvae into a pulp and liquid fraction. In particular, the invention is applicable to the larvae of the black soldier fly and produces a chitin-rich pulp and a fat-and-protein-rich liquid fraction.

Abstract: A planar membrane cartridge includes a support and a semi-permeable membrane layer. The support includes a first layer attached to a second layer and defining a front face and a back face of the support. At least one of the first layer and the second layer form a first embossment and a second embossment. Respective back faces of the first layer and the second layer are attached to each other along edges of the first embossment and of the second embossment, such that the first embossment defines a fluid compartment between the first layer and the second layer and the second embossment defines an internal channel between the first layer and the second layer which is isolated from the fluid compartment. An area of the first layer corresponding to the first embossment is covered by the semi-permeable membrane layer.

Abstract: Methods use a catalytic composition built up from a ceramic material including a catalytic material and a first inorganic binder and a second inorganic binder and a catalytic structure made thereof. Preferably, the structure is made by a colloidal ceramic shaping technique. The structure is used for catalytic or ion exchange applications. The catalytic structures have excellent mechanical, physicochemical and catalytic properties.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing paste composition for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped article of a material of interest, said paste composition including 70-99.8 wt. % with respect to the weight of the composition of particles of the material of interest, the material of interest being one or more compounds selected from the group of metals and metal alloys and mixtures thereof, at least one binder component, at least one additive component, which is a lubricant, one or more solvents which are miscible with each other, wherein the sum of the concentration of the at least one additive component and the at least one binder is between 0.06 wt. % and 10.0 wt. %, with respect to the weight of the paste composition, and wherein at least one of the additive component and the binder component or the mixture thereof are shear-thinning.

Abstract: A method of recovering an organic acid from an aqueous solution may include extracting the organic acid dissolved in the aqueous solution into a water immiscible extraction phase. The water immiscible extraction phase has an extractant for the organic acid. The method may also include separating the extraction phase from the aqueous solution, adding an alcohol to the extraction phase separated from the aqueous solution, and forming an ester from the organic acid and the alcohol.

Abstract: A process prepares an oxygen carrier for a chemical looping process including providing a material A having a first transition metal and/or an oxide of the first transition metal. The first transition metal is selected from chemical element groups 6-11 of the Periodic System. Material A is subjected to a reaction with H2 to reduce the first transition metal and/or oxide to form a reduced material B. Material B is treated with a salt solution of a second transition metal selected to have a standard reduction potential larger than the first transition metal. A portion of the first transition metal in the reduced material B is replaced by the second transition metal. A molar ratio of the first transition metal with respect to the second transition metal in material B ranges between 2:1 and 100:1. An oxygen carrier is obtained with the method and is regenerated using steam.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the determination of the monoisotopic mass of a macromolecule from a mass Mmono spectrometry spectrum of said macromolecule based on the experimentally determined most abundant mass, with accuracy in the low parts-per-million (ppm) range. The method uses a simple, double-linear model for predicting the monoisotopic mass based on the experimentally determined most abundant mass, comprising the steps of (a) deriving the most abundant mass MMostAb from the spectrum; and (b) calculating the monoisotopic mass MMono from the most abundant mass MMostAb, using MMono=a+?MMOSTAB+?; wherein ? is a scalar slope obtainable by fitting the slope of monoisotopic mass versus most abundant mass for a plurality of macromolecules from a macromolecule database; and ? is a scalar residue of the form ?=?int+sfrac, ?int being an integer, and ?frac being a sawtooth function of MMostAb.

Abstract: A deep approximation neural network architecture which extrapolates data over unseen states for demand response applications in order to control distribution systems like product distribution systems of which energy distribution systems, e.g. heat or electrical power distribution, are one example. The method is a model-free control technique mainly in the form of Reinforcement Learning (RL) where a controller learns from interaction with the system to be controlled to control product distributions of which energy distribution systems, e.g. heat or electrical power distribution, are one example.

Abstract: An energy storage system including an energy storage string formed by rechargeable cells connected in series and an energy management device including a master control unit and at least a first local control unit associated to a first rechargeable cell. A storage string connecting circuit is coupling a positive string terminal with a negative string terminal and a cell connecting circuit is coupling a positive and a negative cell terminal of the first rechargeable cell. The storage string connecting circuit includes a first capacitor device forming with the energy storage string a first closed-loop LC-circuit, and/or the cell connecting circuit includes a second capacitor device forming with the first rechargeable cell a second closed-loop LC-circuit. A master AC signal generator and a local signal generator are configured for generating a first and a second AC pulse in respectively the storage string connecting circuit and the cell connecting circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides tools and methods for degrading MTBE, TBA and/or HCHO using abacierial consortium comprising one or more strains selected from Methylibium LD3, Hydrogenophaga LD1 and/or Mycobacterium LD6.

Abstract: A catalytic composition is built up from a ceramic material including a catalytic material and a first inorganic binder and a second inorganic binder and a catalytic structure made thereof. Preferably, the structure is made by a colloidal ceramic shaping technique. The structure is usable for catalytic or ion exchange applications as well. It is demonstrated that the catalytic structures have excellent mechanical, physicochemical and catalytic properties.

Abstract: A method for producing a chiral amine may include performing a transamination reaction of a prochiral amino acceptor and an amino donor in a first solution in the presence of a transaminase, thereby forming a chiral amine and a co-product in the first solution. The amino donor is a high molecular weight (HMW) amino donor. In some examples, the molecular weight of the HMW amino donor is at least 150 g/mol. In some examples, the amino donor is affixed on a support, the total molecular weight of the amino donor and the support being at least 150 g/mol.

Abstract: A system is for producing products, advantageously solvents, by fermentation, advantageously multi-stage fermentation. The fermentation is complemented with pervaporation as in situ product recovery technology, combined with a multistage condensation of the permeate. The condensates are separately introduced in the downstream processing of the system to recover the produced products, advantageously solvents. The system for producing products, advantageously solvents, by fermentation is simplified and has an overall improved energy efficiency, compared to systems described in the art.

Abstract: A hybrid battery charger-testing device is described being a modification of a battery charger having a DC output stage, and a boost converter added to the DC output stage of the charger, the boost converter being configured to output pulses and/or a continuous AC wave for testing a battery. The hybrid charger can be used to output a purely AC test wave, e.g. sinusoidal wave for an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test, to output pulses such as HPPC pulses and/or to perform GITT or incremental charge tests. For example, determination of battery parameters by diagnostic testing can be achieved by combining the existing functionality of a battery charger with test procedures involving currents much lower than used during charging of the battery or of returning battery energy to the electricity grid.

Abstract: A surgical implant may include a porous structure with interconnected pores for ingrowth of bone into the porous structure. The porous structure has an arrangement of fibres which are attached to one another, the fibres being arranged in stacked layers. The porous structure has a surface including different regions having different porosities. A method of making the above surgical implant is also described.