Electrifying HCOOH synthesis from CO2 building blocks over Cu-Bi nanorod arrays.

Precise electrochemical synthesis of commodity chemicals and fuels from CO2 building blocks provides a promising route to close the anthropogenic carbon cycle, in which renewable but intermittent electricity could be stored within the greenhouse gas molecules. Here, we report state-of-the-art CO2-to-HCOOH valorization performance over a multiscale optimized Cu-Bi cathodic architecture, delivering a formate Faradaic efficiency exceeding 95% within an aqueous electrolyzer, a C-basis HCOOH purity above 99.8% within a solid-state electrolyzer operated at 100 mA cm-2 for 200 h and an energy efficiency of 39.2%, as well as a tunable aqueous HCOOH concentration ranging from 2.7 to 92.1 wt%. Via a combined two-dimensional reaction phase diagram and finite element analysis, we highlight the role of local geometries of Cu and Bi in branching the adsorption strength for key intermediates like *COOH and *OCHO for CO2 reduction, while the crystal orbital Hamiltonian population analysis rationalizes the vital contribution from moderate binding strength of η2(O,O)-OCHO on Cu-doped Bi surface in promoting HCOOH electrosynthesis. The findings of this study not only shed light on the tuning knobs for precise CO2 valorization, but also provide a different research paradigm for advancing the activity and selectivity optimization in a broad range of electrosynthetic systems.

Construction of H-Doped PdB Nanocrystals as Electrocatalysts to Modulate Formic Acid Oxidation.

The strong ligand effect in B-doped Pd-based (PdB) catalysts renders them a promising anode for constructing formic acid fuel cells (FAFCs) exhibiting high power density and outstanding stability. However, the enhancement of the oxidation barrier is unavoidable in this alloy system owing to the electron transfer (ET) from B to Pd. In this study, a hydrogen doping strategy is employed to open charge freedom in PdB compounds and boost their formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) activity by suppressing the ET process. The resulting hydrogen-doped PdB (PdBH) exhibits an ultrahigh mass activity of up to 1.2A mg-1 Pd, which is 3.23 times that of the PdB catalyst and 9.55 times that of Pd black. Detailed experimental and theoretical studies show that the interstitial hydrogen leads to enhanced orbital hybridization and reduced electron density around Pd. This optimized ligand effect weakens the carbon monoxide adsorption and increases the direct pathway preference of PdBH, resulting in its outstanding catalytic activity for the FAOR. The development of this high-performance hydrogen-doped PdB catalyst is an important step toward the construction of advanced light element co-doped metal catalysts.

Highly Dispersed Pd-CeOx Nanoparticles in Zeolite Nanosheets for Efficient CO2-Mediated Hydrogen Storage and Release.

Formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation and CO2 hydrogenation to FA/formate represent promising methodologies for the efficient and clean storage and release of hydrogen, forming a CO2-neutral energy cycle. Here, we report the synthesis of highly dispersed and stable bimetallic Pd-based nanoparticles, immobilized on self-pillared silicalite-1 (SP-S-1) zeolite nanosheets using an incipient wetness co-impregnation technique. Owing to the highly accessible active sites, effective mass transfer, exceptional hydrophilicity, and the synergistic effect of the bimetallic species, the optimized PdCe0.2/SP-S-1 catalyst demonstrated unparalleled catalytic performance in both FA dehydrogenation and CO2 hydrogenation to formate. Remarkably, it achieved a hydrogen generation rate of 5974 molH2 molPd-1 h-1 and a formate production rate of 536 molformate molPd-1 h-1 at 50 °C, surpassing most previously reported heterogeneous catalysts under similar conditions. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the interfacial effect between Pd and cerium oxide clusters substantially reduces the activation barriers for both reactions, thereby increasing the catalytic performance. Our research not only showcases a compelling application of zeolite nanosheet-supported bimetallic nanocatalysts in CO2-mediated hydrogen storage and release but also contributes valuable insights towards the development of safe, efficient, and sustainable hydrogen technologies.

Formic acid sandwich method is well-suited for filamentous fungi identification and improves turn around time using Zybio EXS2600 mass spectrometry.

OBJECTIVES: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is extensively employed for the identification of filamentous fungi on MALDI Biotyper (Bruker Daltonics) and Vitek MS (biomerieux), but the performance of fungi identification on new EXS2600 (Zybio) is still unknow. Our study aims to evaluate the new EXS2600 system's (Zybio) ability to rapidly identify filamentous fungi and determine its effect on turnaround time (TAT) in our laboratory. METHODS: We tested 117 filamentous fungi using two pretreatment methods: the formic acid sandwich (FA-sandwich) and a commercial mold extraction kit (MEK, Zybio). All isolates were confirmed via sequence analysis. Laboratory data were extracted from our laboratory information system over two 9-month periods: pre-EXS (April to December 2022) and post-EXS (April to December 2023), respectively. RESULTS: The total correct identification (at the species, genus, or complex/group level) rate of fungi was high, FA-sandwich (95.73%, 112/117), followed by MEK (94.02%, 110/117). Excluding 6 isolates not in the database, species-level identification accuracy was 92.79% (103/111) for FA-sandwich and 91.89% (102/111) for MEK; genus-level accuracy was 97.29% (108/111) and 96.39% (107/111), respectively. Both methods attained a 100% correct identification rate for Aspergillus, Lichtheimia, Rhizopus Mucor and Talaromyces species, and were able to differentiate between Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum within the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex. Notably, high confidence was observed in the species-level identification of uncommon fungi such as Trichothecium roseum and Geotrichum candidum. The TAT for all positive cultures decreased from pre EXS2600 to post (108.379 VS 102.438, P < 0.05), and the TAT for tissue decreased most (451.538 VS 222.304, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The FA-sandwich method is more efficient and accurate for identifying filamentous fungi with EXS2600 than the MEK. Our study firstly evaluated the performance of fungi identification on EXS2600 and showed it is suitable for clinical microbiology laboratories use.

Highthroughput Screening of CuBi Bimetallic Catalyst Array for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction Reaction by Scanning Electrochemical Microscope.

The testing and evaluation of catalysts in CO2 electroreduction is a very tedious process. To study the catalytic system of CO2 reduction more quickly and efficiently, it is necessary to establish a method that can detect multiple catalysts at the same time. Herein, a series of CuBi bimetallic catalysts have been successfully prepared on a single glass carbon electrode by a scanning micropieptte contact method. The application of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) enabled the visualization of the CO2 reduction activity in diverse catalyst micro-points. The SECM imaging with Substrate generation/tip collection (SG/TC) mode was conducted on CuBi bimetallic micro-points, revealing that HER reaction emerged as the prevailing reaction when a low overpotential was employed. While the applied potential was lower than -1.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl), the reduction of CO2 to formic acid became dominant. Increasing the bismuth proportion in the bimetallic catalyst can inhibit the hydrogen evolution reaction at low potential and enhances the selectivity of the CO product at high cathode overpotential.This research offers a novel approach to examining arrays of catalysts for CO2 reduction.

Formic acid as an antibiotic alternative in broiler diets: effects on growth, carcass characteristics, blood chemistry, and intestinal microbial load.

This study explored the ability of formic acid (FA) to replace antibiotics in broiler chicken diets. It examined how FA affected the chickens' growth, carcass characteristics, blood chemistry, and gut bacteria. The experiment randomly assigned 300 one-day-old (Ross 308) broiler chicks to 5 groups, each divided into 6 replicates with 10 unsexed chicks. The following were the treatments: 1st group, negative control (NC): only received a basal diet; 2nd group, positive control (PC): received a basal diet supplemented with 0.5 grams of Colistin antibiotic per kilogram of diet; 3rd, 4th, and 5th groups (FA2, FA4, and FA6) these groups received a basal diet along with formic acid added at increasing levels: 2, 4, and 6 Cm3 per kilogram of diet, respectively. Results found no significant differences in live body weight (LBW) or body weight gain (BWG) between treatment groups, except for LBW at one week and BWG at 0 to 1 and 4 to 5 wk of age. No significant variations were found in feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) among the treatment groups, excluding FI and FCR at 1 to 2 wk of age. The treatments significantly impacted carcass traits, dressing percentage, breast meat, thigh meat, spleen, giblets, blood levels of urea, creatinine, total protein, globulin, and albumin, as well as the activity of enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in chicks fed different diets compared to control groups. The addition of FA to the diet significantly impacted antioxidant levels. Also, the FA2 group had the highest total bacterial count (TBC). However, the FA6 group was the opposite; it had the lowest levels of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and Coliform. Supplementing broiler diets with formic acid improves blood parameters, antioxidant activity, and gut bacteria counts, with 4.0 cm³ formic acid/kg diet supplementation promoting optimal broiler health and product quality.

Cobalt-Doped Bismuth Nanosheet Catalyst for Enhanced Electrochemical CO2 Reduction to Electrolyte-Free Formic acid.

Electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction reaction (CO2RR) to valuable liquid fuels, such as formic acid/formate (HCOOH/HCOO-) is a promising strategy for carbon neutrality. Enhancing CO-2RR activity while retaining high selectivity is critical for commercialization. To address this, we developed metal-doped bismuth (Bi) nanosheets via a facile hydrolysis method. These doped nanosheets efficiently generated high-purity HCOOH using a porous solid electrolyte (PSE) layer. Among the evaluated metal-doped Bi catalysts, Co-doped Bi demonstrated improved CO2RR performance compared to pristine Bi, achieving ~90% HCOO- selectivity and boosted activity with a low overpotential of ~1.0 V at a current density of 200 mA cm-2. In a solid electrolyte reactor, Co-doped Bi maintained HCOOH Faradaic efficiency of ~72% after a 100-hour operation under a current density of 100 mA cm-2, generating 0.1 M HCOOH at 3.2 V. Density functional theory (DFT) results revealed that Co-doped Bi required a lower applied potential for HCOOH generation from CO2, due to stronger binding energy to the key intermediates OCHO* compared to pure Bi. This study shows that metal doping in Bi nanosheets modifies the chemical composition, element distribution, and morphology, improving CO2RR catalytic activity performance by tuning surface adsorption affinity and reactivity.

Investigating inhibiting factors affecting seed germination index in kitchen waste compost products: Soluble carbon, nitrogen, and salt insights.

The seed germination index (GI) serves as the principal determinant that impedes the integration of aerobic composting products into agricultural lands. The current research work predominantly focuses on exploring the correlation between physical and chemical indicators of the compost products and GI, neglecting the fundamental cause. This study systematically analyzed the composition of GI aqueous extracts from compost products derived from kitchen waste under various composting methodologies, with nitrogen, carbon, and inorganic salt as critical factors. The analytical work concluded that acetic acid, formic acid, and ammonium were the inhibitory factors influencing GI. Validation experiments introduced inhibitory factors, yielding a functional relationship formula depicting GI variations due to a single influential factor. This study conclusively identified acetic acid as the primary constraint, establishing that its inhibitory concentration corresponded to 70 % GI stands at 85 mg/L. This study will provide guidelines for the future research on enhancing aerobic composting techniques.

Formic acid enhances whole-plant mulberry silage fermentation by boosting lactic acid production and inhibiting harmful bacteria.

Mulberry has also been regarded as a valuable source of forage for ruminants. This study was developed to investigate the impact of four additives and combinations thereof on fermentation quality and bacterial communities associated with whole-plant mulberry silage. Control fresh material (FM) was left untreated, while other groups were treated with glucose (G, 20 g/kg FM), a mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum and L. buchneri (L, 106 CFU/g FM), formic acid (A, 5 mL/kg FM), salts including sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (S, 1.5 g/kg FM), a combination of G and L (GL), a combination of G and A (GA), or a combination of G and S (GS), followed by ensiling for 90 days. Dry matter content in the A, S, GA, and GS groups was elevated relative to the other groups (p < 0.01). Relative to the C group, all additives and combinations thereof were associated with reductions in pH and NH3-N content (p < 0.01). The A groups exhibited the lowest pH and NH3-N content at 4.23 and 3.27 g/kg DM, respectively (p < 0.01), whereas the C groups demonstrated the highest values at 4.43 and 4.44 g/kg DM, respectively (p < 0.01). The highest levels of lactic acid were observed in the GA and A groups (70.99 and 69.14 g/kg DM, respectively; p < 0.01), followed by the GL, L, and GS groups (66.88, 64.17 and 63.68 g/kg DM, respectively), with all of these values being higher than those for the C group (53.27 g/kg DM; p < 0.01). Lactobacillus were the predominant bacteria associated with each of these samples, but the overall composition of the bacterial community was significantly impacted by different additives. For example, Lactobacillus levels were higher in the G, A, and GA groups (p < 0.01), while those of Weissella levels were raised in the L, GL, and GS groups (p < 0.01), Pediococcus levels were higher in the A and GA groups (p < 0.01), Enterococcus levels were higher in the G and S groups (p < 0.01), and Lactococcus levels were raised in the S group (p < 0.01). Relative to the C group, a reduction in the levels of undesirable Enterobacter was evident in all groups treated with additives (p < 0.01), with the greatest reductions being evident in the A, S, GA, and GS groups. The additives utilized in this study can thus improve the quality of whole-plant mulberry silage to varying extents through the modification of the associated bacterial community, with A and GA addition achieving the most efficient reductions in pH together with increases in lactic acid content and the suppression of undesirable bacterial growth.

A Biphasic Strategy to Synergistically Accelerate Activation and CO Spillover in Formic Acid Oxidation Catalysis.

Developing highly efficient and carbon monoxide (CO)-tolerant platinum (Pt) catalysts for the formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) is vital for direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs), yet it is challenging due to the high energy barrier of direct intermediates (HCOO* and COOH*) as well as the CO poisoning issues associated with Pt alloy catalysts. Here we present a versatile biphasic strategy by creating a hexagonal/cubic crystalline-phase-synergistic PtPb/C (h/c-PtPb/C) catalyst to tackle the aforementioned issues. Detailed investigations reveal that h/c-PtPb/C can simultaneously facilitate the adsorption of direct intermediates while inhibiting CO adsorption, thereby significantly improving the activation and CO spillover. As a result, h/c-PtPb/C showcases an outstanding FAOR activity of 8.1 A mgPt-1, which is 64.5 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C and significantly surpasses monophasic PtPb. Moreover, the h/c-PtPb/C-based membrane electrode assembly exhibits an exceptional peak power density of 258.7 mW cm-2 for practical DFAFC applications.

Heterostructured Pt-PbS Nanobelt Achieves Remarkable Direct Formic Acid Oxidation Catalysis.

Developing efficient and CO-tolerant platinum (Pt)-based anodic catalysts is challenging for a direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC). Herein, we report heterostructured Pt-lead-sulfur (PtPbS)-based nanomaterials with gradual phase regulation as efficient formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) catalysts. The optimized Pt-PbS nanobelts (Pt-PbS NBs/C) display the mass and specific activities of 5.90 A mgPt-1 and 21.4 mA cm-2, 2.2/1.2, 1.5/1.1, and 36.9/79.3 times greater than those of PtPb-PbS NBs/C, Pt-PbSO4 NBs/C, and commercial Pt/C, respectively. Simultaneously, it exhibits a higher membrane electrode assembly (MEA) power density (183.5 mW cm-2) than commercial Pt/C (40.3 mW cm-2). This MEA stably operates at 0.4 V for 25 h, demonstrating a competitive potential of device application. The distinctive heterostructure endows the Pt-PbS NBs/C with optimized dehydrogenation steps and resisting the CO poisoning, thus presenting the remarkable FAOR performance. This work paves an effective avenue for creating high-performance anodic catalysts for fuel cells and beyond.

A mechanistic study on conversion of carbon dioxide into formic acid promoted by 1-ethyl-2, 3-dimethyl-imidazolium nitrite.

CONTEXT: The conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to formic acid (FA) through hydrogenation using 1-ethyl-2,3- dimethyl imidazolium nitrite (EDIN) ionic liquid was studied to understand the catalytic roles within EDIN. CO2 hydrogenation in various solvents has been explored, but achieving high efficiency and selectivity remains challenging due to the thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness of CO2. This study explored two mechanistic pathways through theoretical calculations, revealing that the nitrite (NO2-) group is the most active site. The oxygen site on nitrite favorably activates H2, while the nitrogen site shows a minor activation barrier of 108.90 kJ/mol. The Gibbs energy variation indicates stable FA formation via EDIN, suggesting effective hydrogen (H2) activation and subsequent CO2 conversion. These insights are crucial for developing improved catalytic sites and processes in ionic liquid catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation. METHODS: Quantum chemical calculations were conducted using the ORCA software package at the Restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) and density functional theory (DFT) levels. The RHF method, known for its predictive abilities in simpler systems, provided a baseline description of electronic structures. In contrast, DFT was employed for its effectiveness in complex interactions involving significant electron correlation. A valence triple-zeta polarization (def2-TZVPP) basis set was employed for both RHF and DFT, ensuring accurate and correlated calculations. The B3LYP functional was utilized for its rapid convergence and cost-efficiency in larger molecules. Dispersion corrected functionals (DFT-D) addressed significant dispersion forces in ionic liquids, incorporating Grimme's D2, D3, and D4 corrections. Geometry optimizations, kinetics, and thermodynamic calculations were performed in the gas phase. The Nudged Elastic Band Transition State (NEB-TS) approach, combining Climbing Image-NEB (CINEB) and Eigenvector-Following (EF) methods, was used to find the minimum energy path (MEP) between reactants and products. Thermochemical analyses based on vibrational frequency calculations evaluated properties such as Enthalpy, Entropy, and Gibbs energy using ideal gas statistical mechanics.

Chemical-based Hydrogen Storage Systems: Recent Developments, Challenges, and Prospectives.

Hydrogen (H2) is being acknowledged as the future energy carrier due to its high energy density and potential to mitigate the intermittency of other renewable energy sources. H2 also ensures a clean, carbon-neutral, and sustainable environment for current and forthcoming generations by contributing to the global missions of decarbonization in the transportation, industrial, and building sectors. Several H2 storage technologies are available and have been employed for its secure and economical transport. The existing H2 storage and transportation technologies like liquid-state, cryogenic, or compressed hydrogen are in use but still suffer from significant challenges regarding successful realization at the commercial level. These factors affect the overall operational cost of technology. Therefore, H2 storage demands novel technologies that are safe for mobility, transportation, long-term storage, and yet it is cost-effective. This review article presents potential opportunities for H2 storage technologies, such as physical and chemical storage. The prime characteristics and requirements of H2 storage are briefly explained. A detailed discussion of chemical-based hydrogen storage systems such as metal hydrides, chemical hydrides (CH3OH, NH3, and HCOOH), and liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) is presented. Furthermore, the recent developments and challenges regarding hydrogen storage, their real-world applications, and prospects have also been debated.

Effects of fixation and demineralization on histomorphology and DNA amplification of canine bone marrow.

Fixation and demineralization protocols for bone marrow (BM) across diagnostic laboratories are not standardized. How different protocols affect histomorphology and DNA amplification is incompletely understood. In this study, 2 fixatives and 3 demineralization methods were tested on canine BM samples. Twenty replicate sternal samples obtained within 24 hours of death were fixed overnight in either acetic acid-zinc-formalin (AZF) or 10% neutral-buffered formalin (NBF) and demineralized with formic acid for 12 hours. Another 53 samples were fixed in AZF and demineralized with hydrochloric acid for 1-hour, formic acid for 12 hours, or ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) for 24 hours. Histologic sections were scored by 4 raters as of insufficient, marginal, good, or excellent quality. In addition, DNA samples extracted from sections treated with the different fixation and demineralization methods were amplified with 3 sets of primers to conserved regions of T cell receptor gamma and immunoglobulin heavy chain genes. Amplification efficiency was graded based on review of capillary electrophoretograms. There was no significant difference in the histomorphology scores of sections fixed in AZF or NBF. However, EDTA-based demineralization yielded higher histomorphology scores than demineralization with hydrochloric or formic acid, whereas formic acid resulted in higher scores than hydrochloric acid. Demineralization with EDTA yielded DNA amplification in 29 of 36 (81%) samples, whereas demineralization with either acid yielded amplification in only 2 of 72 (3%) samples. Although slightly more time-consuming and labor-intensive, tissue demineralization with EDTA results in superior morphology and is critical for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with the DNA extraction method described in this article.

Innovative microwave in situ approach for crystallizing TiO2 nanoparticles with enhanced activity in photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications.

This investigation introduces an innovative approach to microwave-assisted crystallization of titania nanoparticles, leveraging an in situ process to expedite anatase crystallization during microwave treatment. Notably, this technique enables the attainment of crystalline material at temperatures below 100 °C. The physicochemical properties, including crystallinity, morphology, and textural properties, of the synthesized TiO2 nanomaterials show a clear dependence on the microwave crystallization temperature. The presented microwave crystallization methodology is environmentally sustainable, owing to heightened energy efficiency and remarkably brief processing durations. The synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles exhibit significant effectiveness in removing formic acid, confirming their practical utility. The highest efficiency of formic acid photodegradation was demonstrated by the T_200 material, reaching almost 100% efficiency after 30 min of irradiation. Furthermore, these materials find impactful application in dye-sensitized solar cells, illustrating a secondary avenue for the utilization of the synthesized nanomaterials. Photovoltaic characterization of assembled DSSC devices reveals that the T_100 material, synthesized at a higher temperature, exhibits the highest photoconversion efficiency attributed to its outstanding photocurrent density. This study underscores the critical importance of environmental sustainability in the realm of materials science, highlighting that through judicious management of the synthesis method, it becomes feasible to advance towards the creation of multifunctional materials.

Covalent-Organic-Framework-Modified Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensor for Selective Detection of Hazardous Formic Acid.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a novel family of porous crystalline materials utilized in various advanced applications. However, applying COFs as a hazardous organic acid gas sensor is substantial but still challenging. Herein, a phenylenediamine-based covalent organic framework (TPDA-TPB COF) featuring excellent crystallinity, ultrastable thermal stability, and high surface area was successfully constructed. Then, the TPDA-TPB COF-modified quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor is fabricated by immobilizing the TPDA-TPB COF thin film on the gold-QCM chip. The fabricated TPDA-TPB COF-modified QCM sensor demonstrates a rapid response, excellent reproducibility, high selectivity, and sensitivity to formic gas, arising from hydrogen-bonding interactions between formic acid and the outermost layer of the TPDA-TPB COF, as determined by extensive analysis and density functional theory calculations. The basic sites of the TPDA-TPB COF, which are numerous due to its high nitrogen content, and the carboxylic acid groups present in formic acid exhibit efficient interactions. The sensitivity of the TPDA-TPB COF-modified QCM sensor was found to be 7.75 Hz ppm-1 at standard room temperature and pressure conditions, with a limit of detection (LOD) of formic acid down to 1.18 ppm, which is significantly below the workplace olfactory threshold limit of 5.0 ppm established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The TPDA-TPB COF-modified QCM sensor exhibits remarkable detecting capabilities, making it highly attractive for detecting organic acid vapors in diverse applications that require superior performance.

pH-Universal Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction with Ampere-Level Current Density on Doping-Engineered Bismuth Sulfide.

The practical application of the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to form formic acid fuel is hindered by the limited activation of CO2 molecules and the lack of universal feasibility across different pH levels. Herein, we report a doping-engineered bismuth sulfide pre-catalyst (BiS-1) that S is partially retained after electrochemical reconstruction into metallic Bi for CO2RR to formate/formic acid with ultrahigh performance across a wide pH range. The best BiS-1 maintains a Faraday efficiency (FE) of ~95 % at 2000 mA cm-2 in a flow cell under neutral and alkaline solutions. Furthermore, the BiS-1 catalyst shows unprecedentedly high FE (~95 %) with current densities from 100 to 1300 mA cm-2 under acidic solutions. Notably, the current density can reach 700 mA cm-2 while maintaining a FE of above 90 % in a membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer and operate stably for 150 h at 200 mA cm-2. In situ spectra and density functional theory calculations reveals that the S doping modulates the electronic structure of Bi and effectively promotes the formation of the HCOO* intermediate for formate/formic acid generation. This work develops the efficient and stable electrocatalysts for sustainable formate/formic acid production.

Ultra-Large Two-Dimensional Metal Nanowire Networks by Microfluidic Laminar Flow Synthesis for Formic Acid Electrooxidation.

Despite the great research interest in two-dimensional metal nanowire networks (2D MNWNs) due to their large specific surface area and abundance of unsaturated coordination atoms, their controllable synthesis still remains a significant challenge. Herein, a microfluidics laminar flow-based approach is developed, enabling the facile preparation of large-scale 2D structures with diverse alloy compositions, such as PtBi, AuBi, PdBi, PtPdBi, and PtAuCu alloys. Remarkably, these 2D MNWNs can reach sizes up to submillimeter scale (~220 µm), which is significantly larger than the evolution from the 1D or 3D counterparts that typically measure only tens of nanometers. The PdBi 2D MNWNs affords the highest specific activity for formic acid (2669.1 mA mg-1) among current unsupported catalysts, which is 103.5 times higher than Pt-black, respectively. Furthermore, in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) experiments provide comprehensive evidence that PdBi 2D MNWNs catalysts can effectively prevent CO* poisoning, resulting in exceptional activity and stability for the oxidation of formic acid.

Efficiency of Virucidal Disinfectants on Wood Surfaces in Animal Husbandry.

The aim of this study was to test the inactivation of viruses on germ carriers of different types of wood using a disinfectant in order to assess the biosafety of wood as a building material in animal husbandry. The laboratory disinfectant efficacy tests were based on German testing guidelines and current European standards. Five different types of wood germ carriers, i.e., spruce (Picea abies), pine (Pinus sylvestris), poplar (Populus sp.), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), were inoculated with enveloped or non-enveloped viruses and then treated with one of three different disinfectants. The results revealed that intact, fine-sawn timber with a low roughness depth can be effectively inactivated. Peracetic acid proved to be the most effective disinfectant across all tests. Regardless of the pathogen and the type of wood, a concentration of 0.1% of the pure substance at a temperature of 10 °C and an exposure time of one hour can be recommended. At a temperature of -10 °C, a concentration of 0.75% is recommended. The basic chemicals formic acid and glutaraldehyde demonstrated only limited effectiveness overall. The synergistic effects of various wood components on the inactivation of viruses offer potential for further investigation. Disinfectant tests should also be conclusively verified in field trials to ensure that the results from standardised laboratory tests can be transferred to real stable conditions.

Outcome of early emergency intubation and early emergency dialysis in deliberate self-harm with formic acid in a tertiary care center in South India: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to evaluate the outcome of early emergency intubation and early dialysis in formic acid (FA) poisoning and to determine the clinical features associated with its mortality. METHODS: It is a retrospective cohort study of 78 patients who presented to the emergency medicine department from July 2008 to June 2015 with alleged history and clinical features of FA poisoning. The outcome of early intubation and early dialysis was studied in terms of 7-day and 30-day mortality. The outcome was compared in severe and not severe groups separately. Severity was graded according to Med-Tu chart used for corrosive poisoning. RESULTS: In the severe group (n = 53), early dialysis was done in 15 patients. There was 53% (n = 8) 30-day mortality. In the group where early dialysis was not done there was a significant increase in mortality 92.1% (n = 35). This was statistically significant with a P = 0.003. In a similar fashion 7-day mortality was analyzed in the severe group where mortality was higher when early dialysis was not done. In not severe group early dialysis has minimally decreased the mortality. Early intubation in severe group did not demonstrate any mortality benefit. Patients who were intubated early and not intubated early had equally high mortality. In not severe group, intubation could not make any significant difference in mortality. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, we observed that early dialysis in the severe group has a better outcome in terms of 7-day and 30-day mortality.