Multi-Pollutant Formation and Control in Pressurized Oxy-Combustion:SO_(x),NO_(x),Particulate Matter,and Mercury

Oxy-combustion is a promising carbon-capture technology,but atmospheric-pressure oxy-combustion has a relatively low net efficiency,limiting its application in power plants.In pressurized oxycombustion(POC),the boiler,air separation unit,flue gas recirculation unit,and CO_(2)purification and compression unit are all operated at elevated pressure;this makes the process more efficient,with many advantages over atmospheric pressure,such as low NO_(x)emissions,a smaller boiler size,and more.POC is also more promising for industrial application and has attracted widespread research interest in recent years.It can produce high-pressure CO_(2)with a purity of approximately 95%,which can be used directly for enhanced oil recovery or geo-sequestration.However,the pollutant emissions must meet the standards for carbon capture,storage,and utilization.Because of the high oxygen and moisture concentrations in POC,the formation of acids via the oxidation and solution of SO_(x)and NO_(x)can be increased,causing the corrosion of pipelines and equipment.Furthermore,particulate matter(PM)and mercury emissions can harm the environment and human health.The main distinction between pressurized and atmospheric-pressure oxy-combustion is the former’s elevated pressure;thus,the effect of this pressure on the pollutants emitted from POC—including SO_(x),NO_(x),PM,and mercury—must be understood,and effective control methodologies must be incorporated to control the formation of these pollutants.This paper reviews recent advances in research on SO_(x),NO_(x),PM,and mercury formation and control in POC systems that can aid in pollutant control in such systems.

Exploring European ancestry among the Kalash population: a mitogenomic perspective

DEAR EDITOR,With a population of around 4000 individuals,the Kalash people have been living in the Hindu-Kush mountain valleys of present-day northern Pakistan for centuries.Due to their mysterious origin and fairer European complexion,the genetic history of this ethnic group has been investigated previously using different markers.To date,however,the maternal genetic architecture has not been systematically dissected based on high-resolution complete mitochondrial genomes(mitogenomes),making their maternal genetic history,especially their genetic connection with Europeans from a matrilineal perspective,unclear.To unravel this issue.

In situ growth of single-crystal TiO2 nanorod arrays on Ti substrate： Controllable synthesis and photoelectro- chemical water splitting

Despite one-dimensional （1D） semiconductor nanostructure arrays attracting increasing attention due to their many advantages, highly ordered TiO2 nanorod arrays （TiO2 NR） are rarely grown in situ on Ti substrates. Herein, a feasible method to fabricate TiO2 NRs on Ti substrates by using a through-mask anodization process is reported. Self-ordered anodic aluminum oxide （AAO） overlaid on Ti substrate was used as a nanotemplate to induce the growth of TiO2 NRs. The NR length and diameter could be controlled by adjusting anodization parameters such as electrochemical anodization voltage, anodization time and temperature, and electrolyte composition. Furthermore, according to the proposed NR formation mechanism, the anodized Ti ions migrate and deposit in the AAO nanochannels to form Ti（OH）4 or amorphous TiO2 NRs under electric field, owing to the confinement effect of the template. Photoelectrochemical tests indicated that, after hydrogenation, the TiO2 NRs presented higher photocurrent density under simulated sunlight and visible light illuminations, suggesting their potential use in photoelectrochemical water splitting, photocatalysis, solar cells, and sensors.