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Ediacaran and early-palaeozoic bimodal volcanism in the Ossa-Morena Zone, SW Iberian Massif: New clues for intraplate rifting shortly after the Cadomian Orogeny
Publication . Cachapuz, P.; Chichorro, Martim Afonso; Bento dos Santos, Telmo; Carvalho, D.; Linnemann, Ulf; Zieger-Hofmann, M.; Zieger, J.; Dantas, E.; Santos, R. V.; Moita, Patrícia; Beltrame, M.; Solá, A. Rita; Díaz-Azpíroz, M.; Fernández, C.
ABSTRACT: This study focuses on bimodal meta-volcanic rocks present in the Iberian Massif, in the Evora-Aracena Metamorphic Belt of the Ossa-Morena Zone (OMZ), near the boundary with the South Portuguese Zone. New petrological, geochemical (whole-rock and Sr-Nd isotopes) and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon geochronology data are presented to track the magmatic evolution of both felsic and mafic rocks and their respective geodynamic setting during the transition between the Cadomian Orogeny and subsequent Palaeozoic rifting events. Our research shows that the Evora-Aracena Metamorphic Belt (EAMB) in the southwestern OMZ possesses a significant record of the transition between the Cadomian and Variscan cycles. U-Pb geochronological data confirm the existence of both felsic and mafic Ediacaran igneous rocks (546 and 556 Ma, respectively), a novelty in the region. The Cadomian-related felsic rocks show geochemical similarities to meta-felsic rocks formed during the initial phases of the Cambrian rifting event, namely very negative epsilon Nd values (-10.1 to -11.8), depleted HREE patterns and orogenic signatures. Such similarities imply that meta-felsic rocks formed in the earliest stages of the Cambrian Rift-to-Drift event resulted from a shallower melting. Moreover, meta-felsic rocks formed in the early stages of the Cambrian rifting (525 Ma) present a significant amount of Ediacaran aged zircons, whereas the Cadomian-related counterparts display a few discordant Cambrian ages, likely a consequence of Pb-loss. This indicates that the convergent, subduction-related regime that prevailed during most of the Cryogenian-Ediacaran times along the boundaries of NW Gondwana was swiftly supplanted by a rift-dominated regime during the Cambrian, with no substantial gap between these two thermal events. Meanwhile, meta-felsic rocks formed during the Rift-to-Drift (525-480 Ma) event exhibit progressively higher epsilon Nd values (-5.0 to +3.0), HREE-enrichment, as well as anorogenic signatures, denoting an increasing contribution of mantle-derived melts. This increasing mantle contribution eventually led to the occurrence of bimodal magmatism in the Middle Cambrian Main Rift event. Such Cambrian mafic rocks, unlike the Ediacaran mafic rocks that present flat REE patterns and continental arc signatures, display varying degrees of LREE enrichment and N-MORB to E-MORB signatures.
Pre-Mesoproterozoic crustal framework and Mesoproterozoic evolution of the SW Angolan Shield: structural, geochemical, and isotopic insights from the Kunene Complex and surrounding basement
Publication . Merino-Martínez, E.; Ferreira, Ezequiel; Valverde-Vaquero, Pablo; Rodrigues, José Feliciano; Escuder-Viruete, Javier; Garcia-Lobon, Jose Luis; Beranoaguirre, Aratz; Feria, María Carmen; Rey-Moral, Carmen; Silva, Paulo Bravo; González-Cuadra, Pablo; Sousa, João Carlo; Potti, Julián; Máximo, J.; Gutiérrez-Medina, M.; Gumiel, J.C.; Galán, Gustavo; Mochales, Tania; Manuel, José; Cordeiro, Domingos; Tassinari, Colombo C. G.; Montero, P.; Sato, Kei; Fuenlabrada, José Manuel; Galindo, Carmen
ABSTRACT: The southwestern Angolan Shield hosts the Earth's largest Mesoproterozoic massif-type anorthosite complex (up to 53,500 km(2)), the Kunene Complex (KC). This complex is the result of a long-lived (similar to 200 Ma) episodic emplacement of coalescent magmatic pulses. The recent acquisition of multidisciplinary data during the PLANAGEO project has significantly enhanced our understanding of the Precambrian crustal framework from the southwestern Angolan Shield. Combined multi-isotope, structural and geophysical data reveals distinctive crustal zones in the southwestern Angolan Shield that clearly influenced KC's emplacement within a back-arc setting. The spatio-temporal arrangement of KC pulses suggests westwards magma migration within a complex contractional regime involving large strike-slip systems. A long-lasting and extensive accretionary orogen was responsible for the tectono-thermal activity recorded during most of the Mesoproterozoic. Crustal thinning and partial melting of isotopically heterogeneous lower-crustal sources through mantle upwelling promoted the episodic felsic magmatism contemporaneous with the KC. Crustal contamination processes are evident in gabbroanorthosites, indicating mantle metasomatism and interaction with wall-rocks and granite melts during ascent, upwelled by lateral-driven forces. Deposition of extensive metasedimentary sequences (<1.26 Ga) covering the KC, along with 1.23-1.07 Ga sublithospheric and mantle-derived magmatism, indicate a shift from a compressional to an extensional regime during late-Mesoproterozoic times. Regional correlations with other Mesoproterozoic units in African and Brazilian counterparts suggest a shared geological evolution, despite potential differences in tectonic setting. These findings supports a refined geological model for the Mesoproterozoic evolution of the southwestern part of the Congo Craton.
Advancing Sustainable Production of High-Performance Cellulose Pulps
Publication . Moran, Guadalupe; Costa Trigo, Iván; Bastida, Gabriela Adriana; Mazega, André; Duran, Josep; Domínguez, José Manuel; Vilaseca, Fabiola
ABSTRACT: Highlights What are the main findings? Enzymatic hydrolysis pretreatment of industrial pulps Pulp composition influencing the enzymatic performance Enhanced conditions for high-performance cellulose pulps What is the implication of the main finding? Sustainable methodology to produce cellulose pulps Lower environmental impact and alignment with circular economic principles Improvements in tensile strength, air permeability, hydrophobicity, and internal bondingHighlights What are the main findings? Enzymatic hydrolysis pretreatment of industrial pulps Pulp composition influencing the enzymatic performance Enhanced conditions for high-performance cellulose pulps What is the implication of the main finding? Sustainable methodology to produce cellulose pulps Lower environmental impact and alignment with circular economic principles Improvements in tensile strength, air permeability, hydrophobicity, and internal bondingAbstract With a growing demand for renewable resources in high-performance materials, sustainable methods are preferred for their lower environmental impact and alignment with circular economy principles. Among these, enzymatic hydrolysis remains relatively underexplored yet shows strong potential for cellulose fibrillation, offering a promising route that may lower energy requirements by minimizing the need for extensive refining compared to conventional mechanical or chemical approaches. In this study, enzyme cocktails rich in cellulase and xylanase were applied to three industrial pulps, sulphite, bleached Kraft eucalyptus and thermomechanical pine, to produce high-performance cellulose pulps. Treatments were carried out using varying enzyme loads (5-40 filter paper units per gram of dry pulp, FPU/gdp) and reaction times (1-16 h). The resulting chemical composition, structural morphology, and physical-mechanical properties were systematically evaluated. The findings revealed that pulp composition strongly influenced enzymatic treatment, affecting surface fibrillation, fibre aggregation, swelling, and fibre shortening. Under optimized conditions, enzymatic pretreatment significantly enhanced paper performance, with improvements in tensile strength, air permeability, hydrophobicity, and internal bonding. Overall, enzymatic hydrolysis represents a sustainable solution and a strategy which could reduce energy expenditures to high-performance cellulose pulps, suitable as reinforcing fibres in packaging applications.
Optimized Planning Framework for Radial Distribution Network Considering AC and DC EV Chargers, Uncertain Solar PVDG, and DSTATCOM Using HHO
Publication . Bonela, Ramesh; Tripathy, Sasmita; Roy Ghatak, Sriparna; Swain, Sarat Chandra; Lopes, Fernando; Acharjee, Parimal
ABSTRACT: This study aims to provide an efficient framework for the coordinated integration of AC and DC chargers, intermittent solar Photovoltaic (PV) Distributed Generation (DG) units, and a Distribution Static Compensator (DSTATCOM) across residential, commercial, and industrial zones of a Radial Distribution Network (RDN) considering the benefits of various stakeholders: Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station owners, EV owners, and distribution network operators. The model uses a multi-zone planning method and healthy-bus strategy to allocate Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCSs), Photovoltaic Distributed Generation (PVDG) units, and DSTATCOMs. The proposed framework optimally determines the numbers of EVCSs, PVDG units, and DSTATCOMs using Harris Hawk Optimization, considering the maximization of techno-economic benefits while satisfying all the security constraints. Further, to showcase the benefits from the perspective of EV owners, an EV waiting-time evaluation is performed. The simulation results show that integrating EVCSs (with both AC and DC chargers) with solar PVDG units and DSTATCOMs in the existing RDN improves the voltage profile, reduces power losses, and enhances cost-effectiveness compared to the system with only EVCSs. Furthermore, the zonal division ensures that charging infrastructure is distributed across the network increasing accessibility to the EV users. It is also observed that combining AC and DC chargers across the network provides overall benefits in terms of voltage profile, line loss, and waiting time as compared to a system with only AC or DC chargers. The proposed framework improves EV owners' access and reduces waiting time, while supporting distribution network operators through enhanced grid stability and efficient integration of EV loads, PV generation, and DSTATCOM.
Improving Carbon Fixation and Acetate Production from Syngas Fermentation: On-Demand Versus Continuous Feeding
Publication . Pacheco, Marta; Silva, Tiago; silva, carla; Moura, Patrícia
ABSTRACT: Syngas fermentation is a promising carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology for producing carboxylic acids while transforming low-cost waste gas into high-value products. This study evaluates the two bioreactor feeding strategies for synthesis gas (syngas) fermentation by Eubacterium callanderi (formerly Butyribacterium methylotrophicum) strain Marburg-on-demand feeding (ODF) and continuous feeding (CF)-with a synthetic syngas mixture of 23 vol% CO2, 29 vol% CO, 32 vol% H2, and 16 vol% CH4, mimicking the syngas from lignocellulosic gasification. The ODF assay achieved a maximum syngas consumption rate of 112 mL/h, yielding 24.1 g/L acids, namely 22.9 g/L acetate and 1.3 g/L butyrate. CF of syngas at 223 mL/h required more gas (62.9 L) to produce 22.7 g/L total acids, from which 19.0 g/L acetate and 3.7 g/L butyrate were achieved. The CF-specific production rate (gproduct/gdry_cell_weight/hour) reached 0.5 g/gDCW/h (acetate) and 0.17 g/gDCW/h (butyrate), outperforming ODF with 0.3 and 0.02 g/gDCW/h, respectively. ODF minimized gas wastage and enabled CH4 accumulation inside the bioreactor up to approximately 78 vol%, while CF led to CO2 accumulation, indicating a need for more efficient CO2 utilization strategies, such as sequential fermentations. This work highlights the critical impact of the two feeding options studied with regard to scaling up the carbon-efficient production of carboxylic acids, and indicates that both strategies can have potential applications. ODF is ideal for increasing carbon fixation and achieving, simultaneously, gas cleaning, while CF fermentations are better suited to maximizing the acid production rate.