Bruce66423 shares a report from the Guardian: New filtration technology developed by Rice University may absorb some Pfas "forever chemicals" at 100 times the rate than previously possible, which could dramatically improve pollution control and speed remediations. Researchers also say they have also found a way to destroy Pfas, though both technologies face a steep challenge in being deployed on an industrial scale. A new peer-reviewed paper details a layered double hydroxide (LDH) material made from copper and aluminum that absorbs long-chain Pfas up to 100 times faster than commonly used filtration systems.
[...] [Michael Wong, director of Rice's Water Institute, a Pfas research center] said Rice's non-thermal process works by soaking up and concentrating Pfas at high levels, which makes it possible to destroy them without high temperatures. The LDH material Rice developed is a variation of similar materials previously used, but researchers replaced some aluminum atoms with copper atoms. The LDH material is positively charged and the long-chain Pfas are negatively charged, which causes the material to attract and absorb the chemicals, Wong said. [...]
Pfas are virtually indestructible because their carbon atoms are bonded with fluoride, but Rice found that the bonds could be broken if the chemicals in the material were heated to 400-500C -- a relatively low temperature. The fluoride gets trapped in the LDH material and is bonded to calcium. The leftover calcium-fluoride material is safe and can be disposed of in a landfill, Wong said. The process works with some long-chain Pfas that are among the most common water pollutants, and it also absorbed some smaller Pfas that are commonplace.
Wong said he is confident the material can be used to absorb a broad array of Pfas, especially if they are negatively charged. Most new Pfas elimination systems fail to work at an industrial scale. Wong said the new material has an advantage because its absorption rate is so strong, it can be used repeatedly and it is in a "drop in material," meaning it can be used with existing filtration infrastructure. That eliminates one of the major cost barriers.
[...] [Michael Wong, director of Rice's Water Institute, a Pfas research center] said Rice's non-thermal process works by soaking up and concentrating Pfas at high levels, which makes it possible to destroy them without high temperatures. The LDH material Rice developed is a variation of similar materials previously used, but researchers replaced some aluminum atoms with copper atoms. The LDH material is positively charged and the long-chain Pfas are negatively charged, which causes the material to attract and absorb the chemicals, Wong said. [...]
Pfas are virtually indestructible because their carbon atoms are bonded with fluoride, but Rice found that the bonds could be broken if the chemicals in the material were heated to 400-500C -- a relatively low temperature. The fluoride gets trapped in the LDH material and is bonded to calcium. The leftover calcium-fluoride material is safe and can be disposed of in a landfill, Wong said. The process works with some long-chain Pfas that are among the most common water pollutants, and it also absorbed some smaller Pfas that are commonplace.
Wong said he is confident the material can be used to absorb a broad array of Pfas, especially if they are negatively charged. Most new Pfas elimination systems fail to work at an industrial scale. Wong said the new material has an advantage because its absorption rate is so strong, it can be used repeatedly and it is in a "drop in material," meaning it can be used with existing filtration infrastructure. That eliminates one of the major cost barriers.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Amerikanen voelen zich gemiddeld maar de helft van de maand echt gezond: uit een nieuw onderzoek onder 2.000 volwassenen blijkt dat zij zich slechts 16 dagen per maand volledig gezond voelen. De rest van de tijd modderen ze voort met vermoeidheid, pijntjes of een verkoudheid die niet ernstig genoeg is om thuis te blijven, maar wel om zich continu “net niet oké” te voelen.
Die zogenoemde ‘wellness‑kloof’ wordt in de winter extra zichtbaar. De steekproef, uitgevoerd door Talker Research in opdracht van farmagigant Bayer, laat zien dat Amerikanen in de winter alleen al gemiddeld vijf “unwell days” hebben, dagen waarop ze zich duidelijk niet fit voelen maar meestal toch doorwerken. Opvallend is dat bijna de helft (46 procent) schuldgevoel heeft als ze rust nemen terwijl ze niet officieel ziek zijn, terwijl het gemiddeld vier dagen duurt voordat de eerste symptomen weer verdwijnen.
Dat strookt met een bredere trend: terwijl Gallup meldt dat fysieke gezondheid en gezonde leefgewoonten sinds de pandemie verslechteren, blijft de prestatiedruk hoog. Uit het winteronderzoek zegt 1 op de 3 Amerikanen dat ze überhaupt niet genoeg vrije dagen hebben om van dit soort “halve ziekten” te herstellen. Het gevolg: mensen slepen zich naar kantoor of werken thuis door, wat herstel vertraagt en op termijn juist meer verzuim en zorgkosten oplevert.
Artsen waarschuwen ondertussen dat goede dagelijkse gewoonten – slaap, voeding, beweging – net zo belangrijk zijn als het vermijden van virussen. Maar 59 procent geeft toe dat hun gezonde routines meteen instorten zodra ze een winterkwaaltje te pakken hebben. De les uit deze cijfers is ongemakkelijk eenvoudig: zolang rust als zwakte wordt gezien, blijven Amerikanen officieel “gezond”, maar voelen ze zich de helft van de tijd nauwelijks beter dan ziek.
dscreativ has added a photo to the pool:
My sister and I sprinkled dads ashes on this tree at Lake Bonney in May last year. I snuck back up there in October with my friend Benny to shoot this long exposure with the Milky Way in the background, then had 2 copies printed and framed and gave my sis one at Christmas. We grew up holidaying at Lake Bonney when we were kids and then dad retired up there in the late 90's. The stars at Lake Bonney are some of the best I have ever seen and the sunsets are often intense colours across the entire sky. I know dad would approve of this resting place for him, front row seats to heavenly skies. Miss you dad, I know you would love this one!
Big thanks to Benny Morris for giving me a hand shooting this one!
Nikon D850 - AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
Wolves killed more than 2,100 reindeer in Finland last year, and herders are blaming the Ukraine war
Juha Kujala no longer knows how many reindeer will return to his farm from the forest each December. The 54-year-old herder releases his animals into the wilderness on the 830-mile Finnish-Russian border each spring to grow fat on lichens, grass and mushrooms, just as his ancestors have done for generations.
But since 2022, grisly discoveries of reindeer skeletons on the forest floor have disrupted this ancient way of life. The culprits, according to Kujala: wolves from Russia.
Continue reading...There are fears that Europe is exhausted with the war, worries about Trump’s logic but some hope of a silver lining
In the Benedikt cafe in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, one wall is covered by a giant map with countries and territories cut out of lacquered wooden pieces, with Greenland at its apex.
The waiter has not been following news of the Greenland crisis and Donald Trump’s desire to annex the Danish territory. But the echoes of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin’s imperial land grab of the waiter’s own country are clear to him. “They’re crazy. The pair of them.”
Continue reading...
Thomas Hawk posted a photo:
Thomas Hawk posted a photo:
