Thermogravimetric and thermovolumetric study of municipal solid waste (MSW) and wood biomass for hydrogen-rich gas production: a case study of Tashkent region.

Application of municipal solid and wood waste, as dominant sources of biomass, could be a promising alternative for producing energy from renewables via thermochemical gasification technology. In this paper, a study of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and excurrent gas composition produced by the municipal solid waste (MSW) and wood biomass gasification is presented. Thermogravimetric and heat flow curves for waste samples were performed at the temperature interval of 20-890 °C with a heating rate of 10 °C min-1 under a nitrogen atmosphere. According to thermal analysis data, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves, the degradation stages of waste samples was determined, which correspond to the mono- or bimodal evolution of volatile compounds and the degradation of the resulting carbon residue. The gasification experiments were conducted in a high-pressure quartz reactor at temperatures of 850, 900, and 950 °C, using steam (0.3 g/min) and argon (2 dm3/min) as the gasifying agents. To ascertain the syngas composition, gas chromatography was employed in conjunction with a thermal conductivity detector. Both types of biomass showed remarkably similar syngas compositions. The highest concentration of hydrogen-rich gases was recorded at 950 °C for wood biomass, with 42.9 vol% and 25.2 vol% for hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO), and for MSW, with an average 44.2 vol% and 18 vol% for H2 and CO. Higher temperatures improved the syngas composition by promoting endothermic gasification reactions, increasing hydrogen yield while decreasing tar and solid yields. This research helped to comprehend the evolution of the gasification process and the relationship between increased H2 and CO production as the gasification temperature increased.

Determinants of Household Energy Choice for Cooking in Northern Sudan: A Multinomial Logit Estimation.

Traditional biomass utilization is connected with negative environmental and human health impacts. However, its transition to cleaner cooking fuels is still low where the household's fuels preferences play an important role in the process. To examine the factors that influence the household's cooking fuel choice in Northern Sudan, a multinomial logit model (MNL) was used to analyze data collected from Kassala state in two selected districts, New Halfa and Nahr Atabara. The findings show that the most utilized fuels are still firewood and charcoal, which are used by 63.4% of all respondents. The results also revealed that socioeconomic factors have an impact on household fuel choice, where one additional unit of credit access may boost the possibility of choosing LPG by 22.7%. Furthermore, one additional level of education would reduce 5.4% of charcoal users while simultaneously raising 10% of current liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) users. Therefore, the study suggests initiating mobilization and training programs to raise awareness and encourage the usage of cleaner fuels. This study will provide policymakers with information on household cooking energy utilization while designing and developing policies related to energy. It will also contribute to the expanding body of literature concerning the transition to clean cooking fuels from traditional biomass.

Ocular tuberculosis epidemiology, clinic features and diagnosis: A brief review.

The spread of tuberculosis is directly related to the processes of globalization and migration. Tuberculosis has also been the main cause of fatality associated with antimicrobial resistance and also the main cause of death in people who have HIV infection. Additionally, tuberculosis smites the lungs in 80% of patients, and in the remaining 20% of patients the tuberculosis may smites other organs, such as the vision/eye. Ocular tuberculosis is a specific infectious disease of bacterial etiology with a chronic and persistent course, the prognosis of which is extremely doubtful. Even effective chemotherapy can be accompanied by a decrease in visual acuity, and clinical recovery is not always persistent. Ocular tuberculosis often leads to permanent disability and, as a result, the quality of life of patients decreases. A statistical reporting of this disease does not always reflect the true picture, since ocular tuberculosis sometimes develops against the background of an existing specific lesion in the lung tissue. Currently, ocular tuberculosis remains substantially a conjectural clinical diagnosis. This review paper presents an analytical review of the literature on the epidemiology, clinical features, and diagnosis methods of ocular tuberculosis. The results of recent studies that focused on the modern clinical manifestations of this pathology, its diagnosis, and complex therapy are systematized. The development of new rational regimens and pathogenetic treatment methods are also highlighted in this review.