The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funded six Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB) for a second phase in 2019 and previously 13 BBSRC NIBB for a first phase in 2014. These networks promote interactions between academia and industry to advance research along the technology readiness levels (TRLs). The networks fund collaborations that start in the region of TRL2 and Johnson Matthey contributes to the management of one of these BBSRC NIBB entitled ‘The Elements of Bioremediation, Bio-Manufacturing and Bioenergy (E3B)’. This network brings together communities working on metals in biology.
Bacterial cellulose (BC) has attracted much research interest, delivering a combination of exclusive properties, such as flexibility, hydrophilicity, crystallinity and a three-dimensional network. In this study, the effects of carbon source and cultivation conditions on BC production by the bacterium Acetobacter xylinum subsp. sucrofermentans DSM 15973 were assessed. Fructose was the most suitable carbon source and high BC concentrations up to 31 g l–1 were achieved in substrates with 60 g l–1 fructose under static culture conditions. Notably, BC production was equally high under the same fermentation conditions in agitated cultures (~30 g l–1). Moreover, the effectiveness of sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite solutions in BC purification and their potential impact on BC structure and properties were explored. The combination of weak NaOH and NaOCl proved an effective purification method, preserving the fibre structure and crystallinity of BC.
Quantitative thermal imaging, the measurement of temperature by use of thermal imaging devices, is reviewed here from a metrological perspective with a focus on measurement confidence and system application to fields such as condition monitoring and healthcare diagnostics. Thermal imaging has seen greatly increased application for the measurement of temperature following dramatic improvements in practicality and price. Selected thermal imaging systems are reviewed here by providing some example measurements outputs from devices, highlighting their outcomes on measurement confidence and impact on practical use, such as in condition monitoring and healthcare diagnostics.
Steam Reforming of Hydrocarbons for Synthesis Gas Production M. Fowles and M. Carlsson, Top. Catal., 2021, 64, 856 LINK https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-021-01496-z This article is dedicated to the career of Mike Spencer. It describes the process and history of steam reforming for the production of synthesis gas (syngas) for manufacture of ammonia and methanol. The history of the development...
It is human nature to prefer additive problem solving even if removal may be the more efficient solution. This heuristic has wide ranging implications when dealing with science, innovation and complex problem solving. This is compounded when dealing with these issues at an institutional level. Additive solutions to workflows with extra software tools and proprietary digital solutions can impede work without offering any advantages in terms of Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) data principles or productivity. This viewpoint highlights one possible workflow and the mentality underpinning it with an aim to incorporate FAIR data, improved productivity and longevity of written documents while improving workloads within industrial research and development (R&D).
Introduction In recent years, whenever the subject of digitalisation or digital transformation is brought up for discussion, we normally observe two distinguishing reactions from the attendees: one group is excited and satisfied, the other, interested and worried. Of course, some have a good mixture of both. The former has been from companies, big or small, which have a clear...
NON-PEER REVIEWED FEATURE Received 17th March 2022; Online 6th April 2022 Operando XAFS Investigation on the Effect of Ash Deposition on Three-Way Catalyst Used in Gasoline Particulate Filters and the Effect of the Manufacturing Process on the Catalytic Activity M. Panchal, J. Callison, V. Skukauskas, D. Gianolio, G. Cibin, A. P. E. York, M. E. Schuster, T. I. Hyde, P. Collier, C. R. A....
“A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.” — Sundar Pichai Johnson Matthey recognises that diversity and inclusion (D&I) are fundamental to who we are and our success. As part of our new sustainability goals and targets announced earlier in 2021, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged company, which includes having...
Look out for a refresh of the journal’s website which is coming in 2022. There will be a new look and feel with new functionality to help you find, download and share the articles from both current and past issues. In addition, articles will be marked with their peer review status and article history. Peer reviewed articles will display the dates when the article was received at the...
Non-Kinetic Phenomena in Thermal Analysis Data; Computational Fluid Dynamics Reactor Studies R. L. Gibson, M. J. H. Simmons, E. H. Stitt, L. Liu and R. W. Gallen, Chem. Eng. J., 2021, 426, 130774 LINK https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.130774 A characterisation method for the transport phenomena happening in thermal analysis reactors was developed using computational fluid dynamics....
Electronic textiles (e-textiles) hold the key for seamless integration of electronic devices for wearable applications. Compared to other flexible substrates, such as plastic films, textiles are, however, challenging substrates to work with due to their surface roughness. Researchers at the University of Exeter, UK, demonstrated that using different coating techniques as well as different types of graphene coatings is the key to overcome this challenge. The results of coating selected monofilament textile fibres and woven textiles with graphene are discussed here. These conductive textiles are fundamental components in e-textiles, and some applications will be reviewed in this paper. That includes light-emitting devices, touch and position sensors, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. The possibility of triboelectric energy harvesting is also discussed as the next step to realise self-powered e-textiles.
Introduction This book is part of the Springer series Women in Engineering and Science, Series Editor Jill S. Tietjen, Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA. It has the subtitle ‘Contributions from the Atomic Level and Up’ and this is certainly true: the contributions go all the way up from the atomic scale to the level of society, culture, education and policy. The book is dedicated to the...
Introduction “Space Robotics” by Yaobing Wang belongs to the series Space Science and Technologies co-published by Beijing Institute of Technology Press, China, and Springer Nature Pte Ltd, Singapore. The Editor-in-Chief of the series, Peijian Ye, is Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and has published a collection of 10 volumes. This volume’s author, Yaobin Wang, is...
Fast Synthesis of n-type Half-Heusler TiNiSn Thermoelectric Material K. Chen, C. Nuttall, E. Stefanaki, K. Placha, R. Tuley, K. Simpson, J.-W. G. Bos and M. J. Reece, Scr. Mater., 2021, 191, 71 LINK https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2020.09.010 In the medium temperature range for thermoelectric applications the n-type half-Heusler TiNiSn is very promising. Unfortunately, there is a...
Toward Reversible and Moisture-Tolerant Aprotic Lithium-Air Batteries I. Temprano, T. Liu, E. Petrucco, J. H. J. Ellison, G. Kim, E. Jónsson and C. P. Grey, Joule, 2020, 4, (11), 2501 LINK https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2020.09.021 In this study, reversable LiOH-based lithium-oxygen battery cycling was exhibited after introducing an ionic liquid to a DME-based electrolyte containing water...
Pore-Scale Filtration Model for Coated Catalytic Filters in Automotive Exhaust Gas Aftertreatment M. Plachá, P. Kočí, M. Isoz, M. Svoboda, E. Price, D. Thompsett, K. Kallis and A. Tsolakis, Chem. Eng. Sci., 2020, 226, 115854 LINK https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2020.115854 This paper reviews the filtration efficiency of automotive exhaust gas filters with the impact of catalyst distribution....
Brazing Filler Metals M. Way, J. Willingham and R. Goodall, Int. Mater. Rev., 2020, 65, (5), 257 LINK https://doi.org/10.1080/09506608.2019.1613311 Brazing is a joining technique that is more than 5000 years old. It is a versatile technique that is still fundamental to some of the biggest engineering challenges faced today. The ability to join dissimilar material combinations (for example,...
