Stricter environmental policies, increased energy prices and depletion of resources are forcing industries to look for bio-based and low carbon footprint products. For industries, flax is interesting resource since it is light, strong, environmental friendly and renewable. From flax plant to fiber products involves biochemical and mechanical processes. Moreover, production and processing costs have to compete with other products, like petroleum based materials. This research focusses on sustainable process improvement from flax plant to fiber production. Flax retting is a biological process at which mainly pectin is removed. Without retting, the desired fibre remains attached to the wooden core of the flax stem. As a result, the flax fibres cannot be gained, or have a lows quality. After retting, the fibers are released from the wooden core. Furthermore, machines have been introduced in the flax production process, but the best quality fibers are still produced manually. Due to the high labor intensity the process is too expensive and the process needs to be economical optimized. Since the retting process determines all other downstream processes, retting is the first step to focus on. Lab-scale experiments were performed to investigate the retting process. Factors that were researched were low cost processing conditions like, temperature, pH, dew retting and water retting. The retting rate was low, around three weeks for complete retting. The best retting conditions were at 20°C with water and any addition of chemicals. The process could be shortened to two weeks by recycling the water phase. In a scale-up experiment, a rotating drum was used at the optimal conditions from the lab-experiment (20°C and water). First the flax did not mix with the water content in the rotating drum. The flax was too rigid and did not tumble. Therefore, bundles of flax plants were used. The inner core of the bundle seemed to be protected and the retting rate was less compared to the flax on the surface of the flax bundle. This implies that mechanical impact increased retting in the rotating drum, however heterogeneous retting should be avoided. To overcome the heterogeneous retting problem, a water column was used to improve heterogeneous retting. Retting was performed in a water column and mixing was accomplished by bubbling air. As a result of the mixing, the flax bundle was retted homogenously. And after drying, it was possible to separate the fibers from the wooden flax core. Retting with a bubble column can overcome this problem and seems to be a usable retting process step. Water samples of the lab-scale experiments, the rotating drum and the bubble column showed a chemical oxygen demand (COD) content up to 4 g/L. Overall, 1 kg Flax resulted in 40 g COD. This indicates the possibility to produce biogas that can be used for generating heat and electricity, to make the process sustainable. Around 50% of the weight consists of wooden shives. The shives can be used for pyrolysis and it was possible to produce around 30% coal and 20% oil. These compounds can be used as building blocks, but also to generate heat and electricity. Heat and electricity can be used for the flax processing. Shives were only dried for 1 day at 105°C and slow pyrolysis was used. This indicates that a higher yield can be expected at fast pyrolysis. Overall, the reported implicates that quality fiber production from flax plant can be a feasible, sustainable and a renewable production process. Feasibility of the process can be obtained by, (1) retting at low-cost process conditions of 20°C and using water without any addition of chemicals, (2) with increased flax retting rate by recycling water, (3) with increased flax retting rate by introducing mixing forces, and the ability to lower the energy consumption of the overall process, (4) producing biogas from the COD with anaerobic digestion and (5) producing pyrolysis oil and pyrolysis c
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OBJECTIVE: To further test the validity and clinical usefulness of the steep ramp test (SRT) in estimating exercise tolerance in cancer survivors by external validation and extension of previously published prediction models for peak oxygen consumption (Vo2peak) and peak power output (Wpeak).DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.SETTING: Multicenter.PARTICIPANTS: Cancer survivors (N=283) in 2 randomized controlled exercise trials.INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prediction model accuracy was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and limits of agreement (LOA). Multiple linear regression was used for model extension. Clinical performance was judged by the percentage of accurate endurance exercise prescriptions.RESULTS: ICCs of SRT-predicted Vo2peak and Wpeak with these values as obtained by the cardiopulmonary exercise test were .61 and .73, respectively, using the previously published prediction models. 95% LOA were ±705mL/min with a bias of 190mL/min for Vo2peak and ±59W with a bias of 5W for Wpeak. Modest improvements were obtained by adding body weight and sex to the regression equation for the prediction of Vo2peak (ICC, .73; 95% LOA, ±608mL/min) and by adding age, height, and sex for the prediction of Wpeak (ICC, .81; 95% LOA, ±48W). Accuracy of endurance exercise prescription improved from 57% accurate prescriptions to 68% accurate prescriptions with the new prediction model for Wpeak.CONCLUSIONS: Predictions of Vo2peak and Wpeak based on the SRT are adequate at the group level, but insufficiently accurate in individual patients. The multivariable prediction model for Wpeak can be used cautiously (eg, supplemented with a Borg score) to aid endurance exercise prescription.
Non-intubated patients with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 could benefit from awake proning. Awake proning is an attractive intervention in settings with limited resources, as it comes with no additional costs. However, awake proning remains poorly used probably because of unfamiliarity and uncertainties regarding potential benefits and practical application. To summarize evidence for benefit and to develop a set of pragmatic recommendations for awake proning in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, focusing on settings where resources are limited, international healthcare professionals from high and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with known expertise in awake proning were invited to contribute expert advice. A growing number of observational studies describe the effects of awake proning in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in whom hypoxemia is refractory to simple measures of supplementary oxygen. Awake proning improves oxygenation in most patients, usually within minutes, and reduces dyspnea and work of breathing. The effects are maintained for up to 1 hour after turning back to supine, and mostly disappear after 6–12 hours. In available studies, awake proning was not associated with a reduction in the rate of intubation for invasive ventilation. Awake proning comes with little complications if properly implemented and monitored. Pragmatic recommendations including indications and contraindications were formulated and adjusted for resource-limited settings. Awake proning, an adjunctive treatment for hypoxemia refractory to supplemental oxygen, seems safe in non-intubated patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory failure. We provide pragmatic recommendations including indications and contraindications for the use of awake proning in LMICs.
The seaweed aquaculture sector, aimed at cultivation of macroalgal biomass to be converted into commercial applications, can be placed within a sustainable and circular economy framework. This bio-based sector has the potential to aid the European Union meet multiple EU Bioeconomy Strategy, EU Green Deal and Blue Growth Strategy objectives. Seaweeds play a crucial ecological role within the marine environment and provide several ecosystem services, from the take up of excess nutrients from surrounding seawater to oxygen production and potentially carbon sequestration. Sea lettuce, Ulva spp., is a green seaweed, growing wild in the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea. Sea lettuce has a high nutritional value and is a promising source for food, animal feed, cosmetics and more. Sea lettuce, when produced in controlled conditions like aquaculture, can supplement our diet with healthy and safe proteins, fibres and vitamins. However, at this moment, Sea lettuce is hardly exploited as resource because of its unfamiliarity but also lack of knowledge about its growth cycle, its interaction with microbiota and eventually, possible applications. Even, it is unknown which Ulva species are available for aquaculture (algaculture) and how these species can contribute to a sustainable aquaculture biomass production. The AQULVA project aims to investigate which Ulva species are available in the North Sea and Wadden Sea which can be utilised in onshore aquaculture production. Modern genomic, microbiomic and metabolomic profiling techniques alongside ecophysiological production research must reveal suitable Ulva selections with high nutritional value for sustainable onshore biomass production. Selected Ulva spp lines will be used for production of healthy and safe foods, anti-aging cosmetics and added value animal feed supplements for dairy farming. This applied research is in cooperation with a network of SME’s, Research Institutes and Universities of Applied Science and is liaised with EU initiatives like the EU-COST action “SeaWheat”.
In the course of the “energie transitie” hydrogen is likely to become a very important energy carrier. The production of hydrogen (and oxygen) by water electrolysis using electricity from sun or wind is the only sustainable option. Water electrolysis is a well-developed technique, however the production costs of hydrogen by electrolysis are still more expensive than the conventional (not sustainable) production by steam reforming. One challenge towards the large scale application of water electrolysis is the fabrication of stable and cheap (noble metal free) electrodes. In this project we propose to develop fabrication methods for working electrodes and membrane electrode stack (MEAs) that can be used to implement new (noble metal free) electrocatalysts in water electrolysers.
Green methanol is emerging as a key player in sustainable biotech, offering a renewable alternative to fossil fuels or sugar based feedstocks. Although methanol has long been considered a promising material for bioproduction, using it on industrial scale has been challenging due to its high oxygen demands, making the process expensive and inefficient. This project focuses on developing a sustainable, but more economical feasible way to produce biochemicals, like Single Cell Protein (SCP). The innovative solution proposed by FeedstocksUnited (FSU) is to use paraformaldehyde, a compound derived from renewable methanol, as feedstock, which requires much less oxygen during fermentation. This new method has already shown promising results in the lab, where it was tested with microorganisms that can use formaldehyde (released from paraformaldehyde) as a source of carbon and energy. FSU’s approach has the potential to significantly reduce the costs and environmental impacts associated with large-scale bioproduction. The process can be managed more efficiently than methods using methanol, since the production of paraformaldehyde from formaldehyde is tunable. This process control will lead to better yields and reduced energy and feedstock consumption. The HAN BioCentre, with its advanced research facilities and experienced team, will conduct further research to optimize this method for industrial applications. This includes studying how organisms metabolize formaldehyde and improving the process through continuous fermentation. The research also supports educational goals by involving students in cutting-edge biotechnological work. Ultimately, the project aims to provide a solid proof-of-concept that can be scaled up to industrial levels, contributing to a more sustainable bioeconomy.
