Advances In Microfluidic Technologies For Energy And Environmental Applications

Microfluidics have aroused a new surge of interest in recent years in environmental and energy areas, and inspired novel applications to tackle the worldwide challenges for sustainable development. This book aims to present readers with a valuable compendium of significant advances in applying the multidisciplinary microfluidic technologies to address energy and environmental problems in a plethora of areas such as environmental monitoring and detection, new nanofluid application in traditional mechanical manufacturing processes, development of novel biosensors, and thermal management. This book will provide a new perspective to the understanding of the ever-growing importance of microfluidics.

Since fossil fuels suffer from dangerous side effects for the environment and their resources are limited, bioenergy attracted many attentions in various aspects as an alternative solution. Therefore, increasing number of researches are conducted every year and the processes updated frequently to make them more economic and industrially beneficial. Advances in Bioenergy and Microfluidic Applications reviews recent developments in this field and covers various advanced bio-applications, which rarely are reviewed elsewhere. The chapters are started from converting biomass to valuable products and continues with applications of biomass in water-treatment, novel sorbents and membranes, refineries, microfluidic devices and etc. The book covers various routes for gaining bioenergy from biomass. Their composition, carbon contents, heat production capacities and other important factors are reviewed in details in different chapters. Then, the processes for upgrading them directly and indirectly (using metabolic engineering and ultrasonic devices) to various fuels are explained. Each process is reviewed both technically and economically and the product analysis is given. Besides, the effect of various catalysts on increasing selectivity and productivity are taken into account. Biofuels are compared with fossil fuels and challenges in the way of bioenergy production are explained. Moreover, advanced bio-applications in membranes, adsorption, waste water treatment, microfluidic devices and etc. are introduced. This book provides a good insight about such bioprocesses and microfluidics devices for researchers, students, professors and related departments and industries that care about energy resources and curious about recent advances in related methods and technologies. Despite other books which review biomass chemistry and conversion, the current book emphasize on the application of biomass in the mentioned areas. Therefore, one can gain a better and more comprehensive insight by reading the book. Describes energy production from biomass, biomass conversion, their advantages and limitations Describes the application of biomass in membranes, sorbents, water-treatment, refineries, and microfluidic devices Offers a future outlook of bioenergy production and possibility to apply in the industries

Increasing innovations and applications make microfluidics a versatile choice for researchers in many disciplines. This book consists of multiple review chapters that aim to cover recent advances and new applications of microfluidics in biology, electronics, energy, and materials sciences. It provides comprehensive views of various aspects of microfluidics ranging from fundamentals of fabrication, flow control, and droplet manipulation to the most recent exploration in emerging areas such as material synthesis, imaging and novel spectroscopy, and marriage with electronics. The chapters have many illustrations showcasing exciting results. This book should be useful for those who are eager to learn more about microfluidics as well as researchers who want to pick up new concepts and developments in this fast-growing field.

Microfluidics and nanofluids are rapidly growing technologies of tremendous potential and benefits. This book features a spectrum of topics on these emerging technologies that include microfluidic applications, mass production of chips, flow sensing approaches, fabrication of microfluidic channels using the micromilling process, application of micromixers for wastewater treatment and life cycle assessment, solar thermal conversion of plasmonic nanofluids, and liquid cooling, as well as carbon capture utilization and storage using nanocomposite and nanofluids. The book is intended to provide useful information and guidance to a wide variety of people including students, researchers, engineers, and manufacturers who are involved or interested in these technologies.

Biosensors: Fundamentals, Emerging Technologies, and Applications provides insight into the sensing applications of different types of biosensors relating to environmental pollutants, microbiological analysis, and healthcare. It describes state-of-the-art research in biosensors, point of care testing, potential applications, as well as future prospects for biosensors. This book: Presents the essentials that readers need to know to make full use of biosensor technology Discusses recent perspectives on optical and electrochemical biosensors Details biosensor types for medical applications Teaches how to use enzymes for biological recognition in biomarker assays Proposes innovations in wearable and smart biosensors This book is aimed at advanced students, researchers, and academics across a broad interdisciplinary field including biochemical, pharmaceutical, and environmental engineering as well as materials science, analytical chemistry, and biosciences.

This book includes basics of impedance spectroscopy technology, substrate compatibility issues, integration capabilities, and several applications in the detection of different analytes. It helps explore the importance of this technique in biological detection, related micro/nanofabricated platforms and respective integration, biological synthesis schemes to carry out the detection, associated challenges, and related future directions. The various qualitative/quantitative findings of several modules are summarized in the form of the detailed descriptions, schematics, and tables. Features: Serves as a single source for exploring underlying fundamental principles and the various biological applications through impedance spectroscopy. Includes chapters based on nonbiological applications of impedance spectroscopy and IoT-enabled impedance spectroscopy-based methods for detection. Discusses derivations, substrates, applications, and several integrations. Describes micro/nanofabrication of impedance-based biological sensors. Reviews updated integrations like digital manufacturing and IoT. This book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in material science, impedance spectroscopy, and biosensing.

In the manufacturing sector, nanomaterials offer promising outcomes for cost reduction in production, quality improvement, and minimization of environmental hazards. This book focuses on the application of nanomaterials across a wide range of manufacturing areas, including in paint and coatings, petroleum refining, textile and leather industries, electronics, energy storage devices, electrochemical sensors, as well as in industrial waste treatment. This book: Examines nanofluids and nanocoatings in manufacturing and their characterization. Discusses nanomaterial applications in fabricating lightweight structural components, oil refining, smart leather processing and textile industries, and the construction industry. Highlights the role of 3D printing in realizing the full potential of nanotechnology. Considers synthetic strategies with a focus on greener protocols for the fabrication of nanostructured materials with enhanced properties and better control, including these materials' characterization and significant properties for ensuring smart outputs. Offers a unique perspective on applications in industrial waste recycling and treatment, along with challenges in terms of safety, economics, and sustainability in industrial processes. This work is written for researchers and industry professionals across a variety of engineering disciplines, including materials, manufacturing, process, and industrial engineering.

Microbial species isolated from extreme and pristine habitats are always diverse, which indicates biomolecules secreted by these species might have importance. A cure for disease is a desire considering the catastrophic situations that threaten the lives of humans and animals. Currently, the world is facing the health, social and economic, and diplomatic impacts of infectious communicable diseases caused by bacteria and viruses. It is a necessity to understand the huge microbial diversity residing everywhere with us in this world. Microorganisms are species that were born at the start of “life” and will stay after the end of all other forms of life in this world. This unseen majority has significant effects on the biogeochemical cycle as well as has numerous medical and non-medical applications. So, the ability of microorganisms to produce bioactive compounds and how they can be used in different fields, especially medicine and health care, have been discussed in this book.