DECHEMA

About: DECHEMA is a nonprofit organization based out in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Corrosion & Oxide. The organization has 756 authors who have published 1307 publications receiving 25693 citations.

Environmental Screening of Electrode Materials for a Rechargeable Aluminum Battery with an AlCl3/EMIMCl Electrolyte

Abstract: Recently, rechargeable aluminum batteries have received much attention due to their low cost, easy operation, and high safety. As the research into rechargeable aluminum batteries with a room-temperature ionic liquid electrolyte is relatively new, research efforts have focused on finding suitable electrode materials. An understanding of the environmental aspects of electrode materials is essential to make informed and conscious decisions in aluminum battery development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the relative environmental performance of electrode material candidates for rechargeable aluminum batteries with an AlCl3/EMIMCl (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) room-temperature ionic liquid electrolyte. To this end, we used a lifecycle environmental screening framework to evaluate 12 candidate electrode materials. We found that all of the studied materials are associated with one or more drawbacks and therefore do not represent a “silver bullet” for the aluminum battery. Even so, some materials appeared more promising than others did. We also found that aluminum battery technology is likely to face some of the same environmental challenges as Li-ion technology but also offers an opportunity to avoid others. The insights provided here can aid aluminum battery development in an environmentally sustainable direction.

Freshwater ecosystems profit from activated carbon-based wastewater treatment across various levels of biological organisation in a short timeframe

Abstract: Wastewater treatment plants are known as major sources for the release of micropollutants and bacteria into surface waters. To reduce this contaminant and microbial input, new technologies for effluent treatment have become available. The present paper reports the chemical, microbiological, biochemical, and biological effects of upgrading a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with a powdered activated carbon stage in the catchment area of the Schussen River, the largest German tributary of Lake Constance. Data were obtained prior to and after the upgrade between 2011 and 2017. After the upgrading, the release of antibiotic resistant and non-resistant bacteria, micropollutants, and their effect potentials was significantly lower in the effluent. In addition, in the Schussen River downstream of the wastewater treatment plant, reduced concentrations of micropollutants were accompanied by both a significantly improved health of fish and invertebrates, along with a better condition of the macrozoobenthic community. The present study clearly provides evidence for the causality between a WWTP upgrade by powdered activated carbon and ecosystem improvement and demonstrates the promptness of positive ecological changes in response to such action. The outcome of this study urgently advocates an investment in further wastewater treatment as a basis for decreasing the release of micropollutants and both resistant and non-resistant bacteria into receiving water bodies and, as a consequence, to sustainably protect river ecosystem health and drinking water resources for mankind in the future.

ToF-SIMS Study on the Initial Stages of the Halogen Effect in the Oxidation of TiAl Alloys

Abstract: Intermetallic titanium aluminide samples implanted with fluorine using plasma immersion ion implantation were investigated after high-temperature exposure for short times at 500 and 900 °C in air by ToF-SIMS as a surface analytical method. The ToF-SIMS method was applied in order to obtain information regarding the location of fluorine with respect to the oxide layer formed and the substrate after ion implantation and after high-temperature exposure, respectively. The aim of the present work was to obtain further insight into the mechanisms active during the initial stages of oxidation. The scale structure in the initial oxidation phase consists of titanium and aluminum oxides/fluorides/oxyfluorides. The arrangement of their layered structure can be interpreted according to their thermodynamic stabilities in the partial pressure gradient of oxygen over the scale and according to the metal activities and the presence of fluorine at the metal/scale interface.