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Chemical Engineering in Renewable Energy Transition 

Posted on by Rahul Garkhedkar

All matter is chemical, and all energy comes from what we call stuff. Chemical engineering involves working with raw materials and transforming them into valuable products. Chemical engineers use their knowledge of various sciences and convert lab outcomes into commercial projects. The world consumed over 218,312 TWh of energy in 2022, of which coal/oil/natural gas comprised 97,824 TWh. 

Renewable energy was 30,551 TWh, mainly attributed to Sweden, France, the United States, and Canada. Today, renewable energy has found new avenues in electrolysis, photocatalysis, and fusion reactions. The International Energy Organisation (IEA) team states that the world has to triple its renewable energy capacity and significantly reduce emissions from now to 2030. Also, they develop modular nuclear reactors, increase global solar power energy and wind energy, and manufacture high-performing electric vehicles and low-emission chemicals like hydrogen and ammonia for power.

Renewable Energy: Is Green Hydrogen the Next Generation Fuel?

H2 is seen as the future fuel that will power cars, trucks, airplanes, long-haul transport vehicles, and high-temperature heat-reliant steel/cement/fertilizer industries. Different methods harness hydrogen and have been named green, blue, brown, yellow, pink, white, and turquoise hydrogen. 

  • Derived from one of the most abundant elements, H₂O, green hydrogen stands out as the most pro-environment option
  • Producers create blue hydrogen by using natural gas in the presence of a catalyst through steam methane reforming (SMR). Subsequently, they employ a carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) process to capture the resulting carbon, enhancing the environmental friendliness of this hydrogen variant.
  • Using solar power electrolysis, scientists produce yellow hydrogen, which is a relatively new advancement
  • Gasification converts coal into brown hydrogen, rendering it environmentally hazardous when released into the atmosphere.
  • An electrolysis process utilizes nuclear energy to power pink hydrogen
  • White hydrogen production uses fracking, and mostly the process is energy-intensive, requiring heavy machines, chemicals/fossil fuels
  • Turquoise hydrogen uses methane pyrolysis to produce hydrogen, a relatively new process. When capturing the carbon, it transforms into a pro-climate element.
Elucidating different Hydrogen sources.

Figure 1: Elucidating different Hydrogen sources

Top Renewable Energy Companies

Top world green net capacity hydrogen manufacturing companies, electrolyzer manufacturers, and EPC providers are GHI, H2 Green Energy, Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), ITM Power, Hydrogen Pro, Enapter, John Wood Group, Neom Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC), Air Products, First Hydrogen, AMEA Power, Lhyfe, Linde, Siemens, BP, Plug Power, ThyssenKrupp, Alcazar Energy. The total green hydrogen pipeline capacity was 166 metric tonnes in 2022. 

Green Hydrogen Leaders – Q4 2022

Figure 2: Green Hydrogen Leaders – Q4 2022 | All values are in kilo tons per year)

Hydrogen is the most abundantly available element. Atomic number 1 shows a global demand forecast of 145 million metric tons in 2030 and 660 metric tons in 2050. Europe and North America’s hydrogen market shows a fivefold growth from 2030 to 2050. 

Hydrogen demand

Figure 3: Hydrogen demand

Material Scientist Exploring Catalysis Of Light

Over the last few decades, research has been done on photocatalysis to produce hydrogen. Researchers are actively conducting laboratory work to determine how to transform it into a viable process for industrial application. Photocatalysis uses light to create chemical reactions and thus develop hydrogen. Also, experiments by the Syzygy Plasmonics team are ongoing to see how ammonia and light (LED, too) can be used to create ‘antenna-reactor’ plasmonic photocatalysts to create the lightest gas on earth. Furthermore, other elements that are showing promise are metal oxides and visible light active (VLA) for water-splitting reactions. Moreover, photocatalysis is an entirely sustainable way to split water and achieve other responses, proving to be one of the key drivers in a sustainable and circular economy.

Linking Battery Chemistry With Recycling

Everything today we need comes with batteries. Different kinds of batteries are in use, namely lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium manganese oxide (LMO), nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), Lithium titanate (LTO) and Lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) and Mckinsey projects that Li-ion battery revenue value chain will reach over $400 billion by 2030.

As batteries use various metals and minerals like Lithium (Li), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Aluminium (Al), Manganese (Mn), Vanadium (V), and Lead (Pb), the current intent is to recycle these elements than getting them from primary raw material sources. The adoption of thoroughly tested battery recycling techniques is necessary to establish effective recycling capabilities. This includes implementing government intervention, ensuring producer responsibility, and developing a comprehensive understanding of the end-of-life cycle of batteries.

Renewable Energy: Hydrogen Fuel Cells Changing Mobility

Researchers are considering hydrogen fuel cells for long-haul journeys involving class 8 trucks. In drivetrain technology, these fuel cells surpass electric cells in performance, as they enable refueling of a 100 KG hydrogen tank 15 times faster and eliminate the need for frequent stops. Daimler is the company that is developing this technology. Unlike electric batteries, hydrogen fuel cell makes their own electricity on board. 

Renault’s hydrogen vehicle uses pressurized hydrogen fuel cell power and a lithium-ion battery to run its car. The fuel cell works on an electrochemical reaction called oxidation-reduction (redox), which converts hydrogen into electricity. Moreover, the major manufacturers in the hydrogen fuel cell market are FuelCell Energy Inc, Bloom Energy, Hydrogenics Corporation, Ballard Power Systems, SFC Energy AG, Nedstack Fuel Cell Technology B.V., Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc., and a few more. 

The fuel cell market is slated to grow at 19.9 CAGR and be worth $26.1 Billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research Inc. Stationary fuel cells dominated the market in 2022 with a 69.0% share. In addition, the transportation vertical of the fuel cell market is also gaining much traction, and so are the portable fuel cells for usage in laptops, mobiles, and personal electronics. 

Chemical engineers are catalyzers, and they study the physical world at its atomic level. They lead the development of new substances, create large-scale industrial processes, and design & manage optimal production at chemical plants and industries. 

They develop process safety at plants/reactors and decide the best storage of renewable fuels and safe/economical transportation. Chemical engineers in the environmental/renewable sector use their know-how to utilize amply available organic and inorganic compounds to develop new materials/fuels. They also capture the harmful GHG and develop various processes to accomplish the broad net zero emission goals. 

Sustainable Nuclear Fusion Tech To Produce Helium

With the earth’s population turning 8.6 billion by 2030, stable energy generation is key to our future security and cohesion. Also, the second most abundant element in the universe is helium. Helion Energy is building a fusion reactor to generate electricity through the isotope deuterium.

Deuterated water (HDO) occurs in normal water. It’s available in copious amounts in our earth’s oceans, as every atom has a nucleus with electrons, protons, and neutrons.

Nuclear Fusion at the atomic level

Figure 4: Nuclear Fusion at the atomic level

Heating leads to the loss of electrons from positively charged neutrons, forming a hot cloud known as plasma. Moreover, scientists and researchers term the process of combining two light nuclei into a single, heavier element as nuclear fusion. Helion is producing electricity directly from the charged plasma itself without the need to use energy to turn steel turbines. Additionally, chemical engineers are the ones who are managing this pioneering nuclear fusion technology production on a large scale.

The global helium market is valued at $1911.28 Million in 2022 and shows a CAGR of 5.31% between 2023 and 2029. The key players in helium production are Exxon, Gazprom, Qatargas, Linde, PGNiG, and Air Liquide. Helion is backed by artificial intelligence (AI) company ChatGPT and also Microsoft has already brought its yet-to-be-produced electricity. Clean energy has become the focus for top IT leaders and companies today. So far, the current global energy investment in clean energy has been $1740 billion compared to fossil fuels which saw an investment of $1050 Billion. Moreover, IEA has asserted that the clean energy investment needs to hit $4 Trillion by 2030 to meet the Net Zero emission target by 2050.

Current global energy investment in clean energy

Figure 5: Current global energy investment in clean energy

Conclusion

Chemical engineers like Michael Faraday first discovered electrolysis in 1834. The Scottish chemist Sir William Ramsay found the noble gas helium in 1895. Chemical engineering has always paved the way for future energy transformation and seismic industrial shifts. Renewable energy is humanity’s most significant and rare chance at restoring Earth’s atmospheric temperatures. Subsequently, green hydrogen, helium, ammonia, Ilios, wind, modern biomass, MSW, and potential future clean energy sources generate electricity. Another advanced material company, Carbon Rivers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, has cracked how to recycle decommissioned wind blades into useful glass material.

The current and future energy outlook is pro-clean fuels, clean energies, clean agriculture, and clean chemistry. Hydrogen fuel for off-road vehicles, commercial energy production from helium likely by 2028, and the adoption of AI would bring much-needed accountability in the energy sector. Moreover, chemical engineers are the epicenter of all the current innovations in clean energy transition. Also, they are responsible for converting novel clean technologies to industrial-scale manufacturing. Additionally, Standardization, public and private partnerships, inter-country collaborations, and renewable energy value chains will improve clean energy production.

Medical Devices Industry: Emerging Commercialization

Posted on by Rahul Garkhedkar

The prolific digital transformation has made doctors’ tasks twofold: to improve health outcomes & second be mindful of patients’ perception of care. Moreover, connected medical devices (MD) ease monitoring and managing patient health vitals at home and improve long-term non-acute care.

As per UN statistics, chronic and non-communicable diseases (NCD) cause 75% of worldwide deaths (2022) and will claim 86% of all 90 million mortalities annually by 2050. Moreover, using AI-based medical devices and continuously monitoring health unfailingly can alleviate the substantial economic burden of lifestyle diseases. In addition, artificial implants, 3D imaging, MD as software, and improved/new MD are argumentatively changing the face of the present healthcare system.

Defining Medical Devices & Approval Bodies

Medical devices are instruments and equipment for specific medical purposes such as disease or condition diagnosis, cure, prevention, treatment, monitoring, palliation, and rehabilitation. The FDA  explains a MD as an apparatus, machine, contrivance, implant, or In vitro diagnostics (IVD) intended to manage healthcare and affect the structure or function of the body of a man or animal. MDdiffer from medicinal products in that they do not require or involve any chemical action within or outside the body to achieve their primary intended purpose.

Development, production, and commercialization of MD are critical per the risk-based classification system:

  • Class I, which poses low individual/public risk
  • Class II, which poses moderate individual/public risk
  • Class III & Class IV, where IV poses a high risk of serious health consequences to individual and public life in case of medical device malfunction

The design control and clearing of all regulatory requirements are crucial in launching any medical device. Various bodies approve the medical equipment as per country of origin. In the US, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regulates medical devices; in European Union (EU), the medical devices must comply with EU Medical Devices Regulations and carry the CE marking.

The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) regulates the devices in Japan, while the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) oversees medical device regulations in Australia. The National Medical Product Administration (NMPA) in China regulates medical devices. In Israel, it is the Israeli Ministry of Health’s medical device regulation unit (AMAR) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in India.

Introducing New Medical Devices In The Market   

The global medical device market is projected to reach $471.80 billion by the end of 2023 and will grow at a CAGR of 5.26% from 2023-2028.

As per WHO, around 2 million medical devices are estimated to be available worldwide and categorized into 7000 generic groups. For regulation purposes, one begins with generic device grouping, where Medical OEM groups medical devices (MD) based on similar intended use and technological similarities without looking into special features. It then establishes the devices’ risk range/classification depending on the possible complication from device usage. The development team then deciphers the Medical Device Nomenclature System/Category (UMDNS) and computer codes for the product.

Anyone can undertake the manufacturing of medical devices, whether they are from the medical industry or not. One can build their own medical device if someone has found unique research/findings pertaining to a specific medical problem. End-users of medical equipment who think of substantially improving a particular medical product offering can also manufacture medical instruments. The complete process is divided into stages:

  • Initial prototyping
  • Setting up the resources/development team, R&D, and technical documentation
  • Product development
  • Assessment by national or local committees

Finally, after all evaluation, the manufacturer gets an FDA registered label/FDA cleared label/FDA approved label or De Novo application grant for their product. An essential aspect of the commercialization process in the US is to get approval on the ‘reimbursement fee’ for the medical device by payers based on fair market value and resultant healthcare clinical improvement and outcomes. With an increased trend towards outpatient care given in ambulatory service centers (ASCs) and office-based labs (OBL), US’s Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has added more surgical procedures to the covered procedure list (ASC CPL). Not just this, CMS also plans to phase out its inpatient-only list entirely by 2024.

Commercialization in Medical Devices Industry

Biomedical Engineers And Dynamic Synthesis

To develop devices, the medical team and biomedical engineers work together to integrate mathematics, engineering, biology, and life sciences principles to develop health devices. After building the medical device, it needs integration at healthcare providers’ clinics or doctors’ clinics, or with end-users. Once the device enters the market, biomedical engineers must work out marketing, contracting, supply chain management, IT integration, service strategy, project management, training, tech management, risk management, and quality/safety management.

Post the precursor model plan, technical testing, safety tests, clinical trials/ simulations, and regulatory review; the biomedical engineer becomes confident of the medical device’s biological and technical efficacy. Post-market launch, biomedical engineers conduct pivotal extensive studies of the medical device in question to further confirm the device’s clinical efficacy.

As part of the post-market surveillance, they monitor the long-term effectiveness and safety usage of the user base. The post-market monitoring increases the manufacturer’s responsibility and provides quality assurance of medical instruments in the market. This is necessary to receive the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for medical devices.

The industry is seeing massive traction in AI-infused devices, additive printing Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), remote patient monitoring (RPM), AR/VR use & clinical automation systems. The path-breakers in the field include the first remote surgery using 5G technology, portable oxygen concentrators (POC), cloud-connected medical devices, and portable DNA sequencing devices. The Medical fraternity and patients benefit greatly from these innovations and development with each passing day.

MedTech-inspired wearable, medical devices with biosensors and fabrics with integrated electrocardiogram (ECG) like sports shapewear, electroencephalogram (EEG), and electromyography (EMG) sensors in compressor garments to measure various biopotentials are now available to use in the market made of advanced soft materials.

Emerging medical mobile apps assist doctors in screening and detecting skin lesions and cancers in the general population. 3D-printed dental implants bring CAD/CAM image design creation and surgical guides. The accuracy and precision of 3D-printed surgical guides and implants are enhancing the dentistry profession. AI-based by Clearly assaying of Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) allows physicians to identify atherosclerosis (plaque) build-up in arteries leading to improved outcomes in heart care.

FDA Approved Medical Devices

New & Emerging Medical Devices Approved By FDA Till July 2023.
  • Twenty-three medical products/lab tests have been FDA-approved/cleared by June 2023.
  • Abbott Medical built the sensor-based TactiFlex Ablation Catheter is approved for use for people with atrial fibrillation episodes lasting less than seven days and where the same is not getting treated with medicine.
  • Biotronik Nro. Inc. has received FDA approval for the Prospera Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) System for treating intractable low back pain/leg pain. The patient or the provider manages it remotely using a remote control.
Emerging Medical Devices Approved By FDA In 2022
  • In 2022, 41 medical devices received ‘cleared’ or ‘approved’ certificates by FDA. One of the products approved was Eversense E3 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGM) developed by Senseonics, Inc. Also, the Eversense E3 system uses a sensor implanted under the skin, which can be worn for over 180 days. The transmitter, worn outside the body, relays real-time blood sugar (glucose) levels to a connected mobile device app every 5 minutes via Bluetooth.
  • General Electric Company owned Datex-Ohmeda, Inc., created the Et Control Medical device as software. Users must use the Et Control software feature with the Aisys CS2 anesthesia system. Et Control helps maintain exhaled oxygen levels and the suitable anesthetic gas quantity to minimize pain. Further, this helps maintain the anesthesia flow and decreases the providers’ GHG and workload.
New And Emerging Medical Devices Approved By FDA In 2021
  • The FDA further regulated 27 new MD in 2021.
  • Delphinus Medical Technologies, Inc. has developed the SoftVue System, an automated whole breast ultrasound system. For patients who show no signs of breast cancer and have dense breast tissue, it aims to detect the possibility. 
  • ConMed Corporation built ConMed PadPro Multifunction Electrodes (MFEs) and ConMed PadPro. Additionally, a compatible defibrillator attaches the ConMed PadPro’s MFEs, a set of sensors. The electrode measures the electric signal coming from the heart and sends the same to a defibrillator. In case of an irregular heartbeat, the attached defibrillator delivers a shock to restore a normal heartbeat.
  • The FDA approved another medical device, the Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) system. Boston Scientific Corporation designed this system as an additional therapy to reduce tremors or Parkinsonian tremors.

Conclusion

From general use items like everyday spectacles and band-aids to class III category products such as heart, spine, or shoulder implants, medical devices have seen extensive utilization. Moreover, medical professionals view artificial intelligence as a valuable addition to MedTech, as it builds instruments that are clinically error-proof. FDA has also set up the Digital Health Centre of Excellence, focusing on gauzing AI/ML Software as a medical device (SaMD) ‘s real-world performance (RWP).

The 3D printing MD market is projected to grow to $5.9 billion by 2030 and Medical AI to USD 35, 458.2 million by 2032 as per Stellarix’s analysis. Connected MD can give a timely clarion call for further medical examination, thus assisting in preventing premature mortalities. Additionally, vigorously developed and approved, robotic surgeries, wearable tech, and 3D-printed implants will also change the face of healthcare.

Millets Answering The Global Food Crisis

Posted on by Rahul Garkhedkar

Neophile and venturesome prefer to go against the grain. Here is a proffer to dash ahead and explore the world of millets, the nutri-cereals. Climate emergency and global heating cause floods, heat waves, wildfires, and intense drought. By 2070, half of the world’s population will have to bear an annual average temperature above 29°C, meaning humans will experience a temperature rise of 7.5 °C. The ancient grain and superfood called millet can become the answer to the impending global food crisis and falling food productivity. Varieties of millet can surely offer great nutrient variety and boost global health. With this blog, we measure up everything about this grain and beyond.

Extend Of Global Food Crisis

In 2022, the average Global Food Security Index (GFSI) stood at 62.2, up from 62.6 in 2019. North America led at 78.6, and Europe at 74.8.

Global Food Security Index 2022

Figure 1: GFSI Score 2022

The GFSI score for global average food costs for 2022 stood at 70.7 and saw a steep decline of 11.4% compared to the 2019 score. (lower score = higher average food costs) compared to 2019. This certainly means that globally, economies are not faring well in four GFSI pillars, namely economic resilience (affordability), production and agricultural resilience (availability), nutritional resilience (quality and safety), and environmental resilience (sustainability and adaptation). Global food security concerns include rapid climate change, worsening soil health, sporadic water availability, and the latest agricultural know-how.

Average Food Costs Change Globally

Figure 2: Average Food Costs Change Globally

The world’s cereal production is concentrated around wheat, corn, rice, oats, rye, and barley, with wheat, corn, and rice making up most of the output. Millets and their variety can help maintain food prices and even the global food crisis. They emit less CO2, need less water, and don’t require much fertilizer use. The millet’s excellent nutrient content makes it a tremendous global production and consumption contender.

Millets production globally in million metric tonnes

Figure 3: World’s cereal production

How Agriculture Impacts World’s Geopolitics

Major world nations primarily work alongside their borders, land resources, and available supplies unless an emergency hits them or there is a world tragedy. Agricultural and Food trade links increased from 11,000 in 1995 to 17,000 by 2019.

Millets: The Evolution of Food and Agricultural trade links

Figure 4: Evolution of Food and Agriculture Trade

Due to a liberal global market, low—and middle-income countries have increased their share of agriculture trade links compared to high-income countries. This is a positive development as agriculture exports further geopolitical cooperation, increased agro-commodity exchanges, international co-dependence/understanding, and mutual welfare. Transparency around agricultural food products/prices, free trade, maintaining a global seed supply of genetically diverse seeds, and robust international agricultural supply infrastructure are sure to be great levelers.

Millet cereals can boost a country’s economy since they are economical to produce. The historical grain did lose its old importance for a while, but doctors, researchers, administrators, and consumers again started to appreciate it. India is the world’s leading millet producer, and she plans to ramp up millet production each year. The government of India had put in a proposal with the support of 72 countries to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). The United Nations General Assembly passed the preceding declaration on 5th March 2021.

Since then, India has made millets popular globally, making this Nutri-cereal reach the global market. India’s millet production in 2021-22 stood at 16 million tonnes. India’s millet exports were worth USD 380 million in 2020-2021, and the North American millet market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% during 2019-2027 and reach US$ 1,192.24 million by 2027.

Food Reserves & Forex Reserves

For a long time, food reserves have supported the sustenance of citizens during a food crisis. Each country ensures that enough food reserves are kept for emergencies like COVID-19 and crop loss due to other natural happenings and political dissensions. The country’s forex reserves help manage adversities, which always start with the crucial needs of food, water, and fuel. Food stockpiling is for the common good. However, extreme hoarding can deter a country from its core purpose. During a crisis, various International bodies work alongside key nations to regulate and provide staple cereals to their population, usually as subsidies.

Key global bodies working in agriculture development are the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Grains Council (IGC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the World Bank Group, Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), World Food Programme (WFP), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the country-specific agriculture regulatory agencies.

Nutrients Dense And Sustainable Millets

Millets are an ancient grain first used around 3,300 to 1300 BCE in the Indus-Sarasvati civilization. Indian millets come in 11 varieties, namely Pearl millet, Sorghum, Finger millet, Foxtail millet, Proso millet, Kodo millet, Barnyard millet, little Millet, Browntop millet, Buckwheat millet, and Amaranth millet. Africa produces pearl millet (76% area), finger millet (19% area), tef (9%), and fonio (4%). Each millet type has a specific set of nutrients, and assimilating them into one’s diet can help enhance dietary intake. As they are high in nutrients, only a single variety of millet should be consumed daily, and one should be mindful to include a variety of millet and other grains in one’s diet.

Nutrient Profile Of Various Millets
  • Pearl millet is a source of greater energy than rice and wheat.
  • Millets contain phytochemicals called phytonutrients, which protect human cells from environmental toxins and the body’s natural chemical processes. 
  • Millets have high phenolic compounds like flavonoids, which inhibit disease-creating enzymes and are helpful in treating/managing human ailments. They are useful in Type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypertension, metabolic problems, and neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Proso millets are high in Tannins and Phytate, which are helpful in various physiological effects. 
  • Millets are generally high in calcium, lipids, iron, zinc, and high-quality proteins.
  • Millets are gluten-free, high in dietary fiber, and contain copper minerals. 

Sustainability Factor Of Millets  

Millets consume less water to grow and are less prone to crop diseases. They thrive in arid areas and don’t require fertilizers. Millet cultivation is greatly useful in meeting the sustainable development goals of countries and the world. It will abate high water consumption, display a 70-80 maturation time, and improve soil health.

They have deep fibrous roots that anchor the soil in place. Thus preventing soil erosion due to wind and rain. Significant millet varieties of sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet require a temperature of 20-35 degrees Celsius and 40- 120 cm annual rainfall. Minor millet includes little millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, and kodo millet, which require temperatures ranging from 18-29 degrees Celsius and 25-60cms rain. The millet seeds grow well in arid lands and are excellent for developing in sub-Saharan African lands.

ICRISAT has developed hybrid high-yield millet varieties in collaboration with various stakeholders. The HYV millets support farmers with increased return on investment and better stress response. As millets have shorter growing seasons, cultivators can benefit from multiple crop cycles and quicker payback. Bio-fortified millet varieties are also being researched and developed along with HYV.

Roadmap For Making Millets Mainstream      

Australia, India, China, the USA, Nigeria, and other countries producing millet significantly contribute to food trade and health. India is a spearhead and counselor for millions in the world’s population. India has charted various initiatives and strategies to bring millets to people’s luncheons, repasts, cookouts, and regales. Here is the array of activities and drives India has taken towards millet success.

  • Various ministries of India are serving only millet snacks in 2023
  • Several Indian states have launched missions on millets. Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Nagaland, and Telangana run a few noteworthy ones
  • Young Millet-based start-ups and entrepreneurship support. The start-ups have made excellent value-added products from millet, and many restaurants also serve dishes/menus made of millet grains
  • Millets recipes, snacks, and foods are showcased at local, national, and international expos, events, and fests
  • Focus on strong research and involvement of key institutes, bodies such as Institute- Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), AYUSH, ICAR, and CFTRI
  • Campaigns like Eat Right India and others create awareness of healthy millet
  • Millet oils are being researched for various health benefits

Conclusion

Millets, the shree-anna/holy grain, regain their title of being a superfood again, with people looking at healthier food and sustainable choices. Moreover, it is the best time for eaters and bon vivants to fast and include millet in their weekly nutriment. People worldwide wish to switch to wholesome and organic foods to better their health and minds. Whole grains, especially millets, have excellent dietary nutrients for cardiovascular health, gut health, healthy weight/managed obesity, and improved vitality. With enhanced interest in millets, accessible millet processing units, an improved supply chain, and careful research and developments, millets can become the next coarse grain revolution.

Vision For Cybersecurity In The Medical Technology

Posted on by Rahul Garkhedkar

In today’s dynamic healthcare landscape, fortifying the healthcare system against cyber threats like malware and ransomware attacks is pivotal. Ensuring cybersecurity is paramount across the medical industry, including biotechnology firms, insurers, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device manufacturers. Also, it encompasses a range of measures to protect organizations from internal and external cyber-attacks, maintain uninterrupted medical services, preserve data confidentiality, ensure the optimal functioning of medical systems, safeguard patient information integrity, and comply with industry regulations. In this blog, we will delve into the crucial importance of healthcare cybersecurity, and medical device cybersecurity (MedTech). Moreover, we’ll explore the multifaceted aspects of the proactive steps undertaken and the vision to safeguard the integrity of our healthcare infrastructure along with cybersecurity in the medical technology

Understanding The Importance Of Cybersecurity In Medical Technology

In recent years, the healthcare industry has become increasingly reliant on medical devices and systems, making cybersecurity an essential component of healthcare. Moreover, cyber-attacks on Protected Health Information (PHI), Personal Identification Information (PII), and other programs pose a risk to patient safety and privacy. Additionally, healthcare organizations possess a lot of information of high monetary and intelligence value to cyber thieves, making them particularly vulnerable and targeted by cyberattacks. Cybersecurity in healthcare ensures the privacy and safety of patients’ information to medical providers.

Global Cybersecurity Market In The Healthcare Sector 2023-2027

As of 2023, the global healthcare cybersecurity market has been valued at 20.1 billion U.S. dollars. This market is projected to experience substantial growth and is estimated to surpass 58 billion U.S. dollars worldwide by the year 2027.

Global cybersecurity market in the healthcare sector 2023-2027

Figure 1: Global cybersecurity market in the healthcare sector 2023-2027

Key Market Players In The Cybersecurity Healthcare Market

Censinet, Cynerio, Virta Laboratories, Palo Alto Networks, Cisco, IBM, Claroty, Juniper, CrowdStrike, Check Point, Forescout, MedCrypt, Protenus, Zeguro, JFrog, Sophos, Kudelski Security, Trend Micro, Fortinet, Imprivata, Armis, Saviynt, Sophos, Forcepoint, Verimatrix, CloudWave, Sternum, Dell EMC and others.

Common Cybersecurity Threats Faced By Healthcare Providers

Cybersecurity In The Medical Technology: Common Cybersecurity Threats Faced By Healthcare Providers

Figure 2: Cybersecurity Threats Face In Healthcare

  1. Phishing: It is the most common cybersecurity threat in healthcare. It involves infecting a seemingly innocuous email with malicious links, compromising the integrity of systems and patients’ privacy.
  2. Ransomware: Ransomware is another common and expensive threat to healthcare organizations. It encrypts data and demands payment to restore access to it.
  3. Malware is software designed to harm or exploit any computer system. It can compromise system integrity and patient privacy.
  4. Insider threats: Insider threats are cybersecurity threats involving contractors or employees who have access to sensitive information and use it for malicious purposes.
  5. DDoS attacks: Distributed Denial of Service attacks are cybersecurity threats that involve overwhelming a system with traffic, making it unavailable to users.
  6. Cloud threats: Cloud threats are a type of cybersecurity threat that involves exploiting vulnerabilities in cloud-based systems.
  7. Outdated systems: Outdated systems are a type of cybersecurity threat that involves using outdated software or hardware no longer supported by the vendor, making it vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

Enhancing Security Measures In Medical Technology

Enhancing security measures in medical technology is crucial to protect patient data and ensure patient safety. Here are some ways healthcare providers can improve the security of medical devices, such as automated diagnosis using AI, blockchain, IoT, and other smart devices :

  1. Ensure all medical devices have a secure password: Secure passwords should have at least eight characters and contain numeric, alphabetic, and special characters.
  2. IoT and smart devices: They are revolutionizing patient care, empowering patients to monitor their health with connected devices, while smart beds and medication dispensers enhance at-home care. Clinicians benefit from improved patient behavior monitoring. Healthcare transformed through IoT.
  3. Blockchain: It has revolutionized healthcare with improved data security, interoperability, and privacy. Also, streamlined electronic records, eliminated intermediaries, and enhanced identity management to drive innovation.
  4. Artificial Intelligence: Automated AI in healthcare improves outcomes with evaluated medical knowledge. It aids rapid diagnosis, offers affordable care, and prevents cybersecurity attacks.
  5. Follow FDA guidelines: The FDA provides guidelines for medical device safety that can be a starting point for securing medical devices.
  6. Find Medical Device Cybersecurity Companies: They may include McAfee, Imprivata, Protenus, Check Point Software, Philips, GE Healthcare, Trellix, CrowdStrike, etc. They may help provide some solutions.
Other Security Measures
  1. Maintain device health: Keeping up with software updates, health, and maintenance of medical devices is another way to secure clinical devices.
  2. Segment the network: Segmentation of the network can help to isolate medical devices from other network traffic, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
  3. Detect network attacks with AI: Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to detect network attacks and other security threats to medical devices.
  4. Monitor system alerts: Monitoring system alerts can help identify and respond to security threats promptly.
  5. Use basic and advanced security controls: Essential security controls like anti-virus, backup, data recovery, data loss prevention, email gateway, encryption, firewall, intrusion detection, mobile device management, and patch management bolster healthcare cybersecurity. Advanced measures such as anti-theft devices, business continuity, disaster recovery, digital forensics, multi-factor authentication, network fragmentation, login testing, information sharing, and risk scans further enhance cybersecurity for healthcare organizations.
A Vision For Robust Medical Technology Cybersecurity
  1. Cybersecurity Investment: An integrated and robust cybersecurity framework in the medical technology sector is crucial for ensuring the safety and security of medical devices and protecting patients’ confidential data.
  2. Building Digital Resilience: Healthcare’s digital transformation requires a resilient ecosystem, focusing on securing medical devices and digitalization across institutions and healthcare delivery to counter cyber threats.
  3. Adopting Cybersecurity Frameworks: Healthcare organizations benefit from established frameworks like NIST CSF, helping bolster cybersecurity, complemented by other compliance efforts like HIPAA Security Rule.
  4. Securing Supply Chain: Ensuring medical device integrity throughout its lifecycle demands stringent supply chain security to mitigate vulnerabilities comprehensively.
  5. Continuous Assessment and Improvement: Regularly evaluating and improving security programs, roles, and responsibilities while prioritizing measures are vital to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats in healthcare organizations.

Real-time Monitoring For Swift Cybersecurity Threat Detection And Response

To implement real-time monitoring solutions for detecting and responding to cybersecurity threats promptly in the medical technology sector, the following steps can be taken: 

  1. Embrace Cybersecurity Monitoring Tools: Employ real-time cybersecurity monitoring tools for network traffic, system logs, and user activities. Proactively detect unusual or malicious behavior.
  2. Automate Security Monitoring: Deploy automated systems for continuous network and endpoint security monitoring. Also, it swiftly detects and alerts cybersecurity teams about potential threats for rapid response and mitigation.
  3. Implement Real–Time Data Monitoring: Establish capabilities for real-time data monitoring to track and manage organizational data access. In addition, it analyzes system event logs, user activities, and system access instantly to identify security threats as they occur.
  4. Deploy Threat Detection and Response Software: Utilize threat detection and response software with real-time monitoring. Additionally, it detects advanced attacks and receives customizable alerts for immediate response and incident management.
  5. Establish Continuous Monitoring and Analysis: Implement continuous monitoring and analysis to monitor the network and systems continuously. Moreover, regularly review security logs, analyze events, and conduct vulnerability assessments for proactive threat identification.
  6. Integrate with Incident Response Plan: Integrate real-time monitoring solutions with an incident response plan. In addition, ensure a predefined process for prompt and effective response to cybersecurity threats, including containment, eradication, and recovery procedures.

Cybersecurity In The Medical Technology: Collaboration In Healthcare

Fostering Cybersecurity Collaboration In Healthcare

Figure 3: Cybersecurity Collaboration

  1. Identify common goals: Healthcare organizations, technology vendors, and cybersecurity experts should identify common goals and work together to achieve them.
  2. Share information: Sharing information about cybersecurity threats and best practices can help improve medical technology’s overall security.
  3. Establish clear roles and responsibilities: Establishing clear roles and responsibilities can help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goal.
  4. Leverage automation: Implementing security automation can significantly enhance the effectiveness and expediency of identifying and swiftly responding to potential threats.
  1. Develop a cybersecurity strategy: A comprehensive cybersecurity strategy can ensure all stakeholders are aligned and working towards the same goal.
  2. Train employees: Training employees on cybersecurity best practices can help reduce the perils of human mistakes and improve overall security.
  3. Participate in industry groups: Industry groups can facilitate collaboration and information sharing between healthcare organizations, technology vendors, and cybersecurity experts.

Ensuring data privacy and patient consent are critical ethical aspects of cybersecurity in medical technology. Here are the key findings:

Growing for-profit companies acquiring extensive healthcare system databases raise fresh hurdles in protecting patients’ privacy despite existing privacy laws in the United States.

  • Sharing patient data with entities that could exploit it for commercial gain or target vulnerable populations raises significant ethical concerns
  • Breaches in the confidentiality of extensive databases put millions of patients at risk of exploitation, necessitating new regulations to govern the sharing of patient data
  • Addressing ethical considerations surrounding patient data contribution to research is crucial, especially when the potential for commercial exploitation exists by sharing patient data with third-party companies
  • Privacy and confidentiality of personal information, including electronic medical records and genomic data, raise important ethical and regulatory considerations
  • Obtaining informed consent becomes essential when using individuals’ health information for research, regardless of its direct relevance to clinical or insurance purposes
  • Applying the respect principle for persons in health information research requires safeguarding patient privacy, dignity, and confidentiality while minimizing potential harm
  • Regulations should prioritize patient agency, consent, and advanced data anonymization methods to address privacy concerns related to artificial intelligence

Conclusion

The healthcare industry faces heightened vulnerability to cyberattacks due to the abundance of valuable information, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals and nation-state actors seeking monetary gain or intelligence. While the primary objective of the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors is to preserve lives and promote well-being, the digital age has brought about the computerization of personal and sensitive data. This digitization has facilitated easier access to information and drawn the attention of malicious individuals seeking to exploit vulnerabilities. Notably, biomedical devices are vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Establishing best practices for securing medical devices is crucial to ensure comprehensive cybersecurity measures. One key step is to utilize inventory data to identify all devices within the healthcare system. Moreover, given the significant attention and investments in healthcare cybersecurity, it is essential to address the potential risk posed by disgruntled individuals who intentionally disclose patient information out of personal resentment or for illicit gains in the black market where protected health information is in demand. Looking ahead, technology will continue to wield a significant influence in shaping the future of healthcare.

Smart Grids AMI: Advanced Data Security Measures

Posted on by Rahul Garkhedkar

Smart grids are cyber-physical systems whose primary goals include the protection of privacy and confidentiality of information, systems, users, and all related assets. The core of this goal heavily relies on Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), which collects, measures, analyzes, and transmits the electric energy consumption data to the central collection facility. In the smart grid, enhanced metering devices or smart meters take care of the basic AMI tasks and relay the information to operators through a network connection. It is one of the core enablers of a smart grid that takes care of distribution and billing tasks seamlessly. Thus, data security and deployment of smart grids heavily rely on AMI protection. For instance, any fault with AMI control functions can compromise the integrity of the complete network and every smart meter.

Advanced Metering Infrastructure

Figure 1: Graphical Presentation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure

Safeguarding Smart Grids: Advanced Approaches To Ensure Data Security

Similarly, protecting metering is crucial as it contains users’ data, such as voltage quality data, utilities, energy usage patterns, and much more, making it privacy-sensitive. The users may need to share that data with other entities like insurance or advisory companies, which creates loopholes for data leakage. These loopholes include smart meter ports, data inference during transmission through methods like Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring, and energy consumption profile extraction through smartphone applications via real-time monitoring methods.

As 5G technology rolls in, it brings two key features: ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (uRLLC) and machine-type communication (MTC). Machine-type communication on 5G networks supports several smart grid processes. It includes low latency, integration of DERs, vehicle-to-grid (V2G), smart metering, handling high data volumes, and fault localization. However, data security is still a vulnerable point with this tech, which further necessitates the requirement for better standards and protocols.

Several other such data security challenges need to be acknowledged and countered through advanced solutions. This blog sheds light on some of the most advanced approaches that hold great potential to resolve major concerns regarding the data security of smart grids.

Most Advanced Data Security Measures For Smart Grids AMIs

Secure Communication Protocols: 

Secure communication protocols can safeguard AMI from remote attacks. The most successful protocols offer end-to-end security with additional layers in protocol stacks like authentication and encryption. For instance, the standard de facto protocols are DLMS/COSEM, which provide encryption and authentication. Similarly, M-bus is a basic standard used across Europe, and it is utilized for remote electricity, gas, etc. meters for billing. The most advanced protocol is the IEC 61850, which was introduced to replace DNP3 for substation communications.

Currently, power substations have restricted their usage, but in the near future, they will be employed for all external substation communications. For now, the UCA international user group has established the Advanced Metering Infrastructure System Security Requirements (AMI-SER) for AMI security in smart grids across the globe. Here is a summary of the most advanced smart grid security standards and protocols that impact AMI security around the world: 

Major Smart Grid Data Security Protocols and Standards Across The Globe

Figure 2: Major Smart Grid Data Security Protocols and Standards Across The Globe

Smart Grids Security: IEC 61850 Substation Automation System Communication Architecture

Figure 3: IEC 61850 Substation Automation System Communication Architecture

Unified Security Measures:

Simultaneous applications of different safety measures, such as network monitoring solutions, encryption, authentication, and supervisory systems like SCADA or Data Analytics, can and will play a key role in securing smart grid AMIs. Alongside, there exists an imminent need to acknowledge indicators of suspicious behavior. It additionally requires dedicated incident investigation and scoping to differentiate genuine causes of concern from false positives. The investigation findings are used to set up advanced firewalls, prevent unauthorized access, and secure smart grid assets.

Better Regulatory Framework:

End-users’ lack of precaution about these issues can easily compromise the AMI data, even with encryption. Adversaries can easily subject most users’ shared keys to inference and access. Regulatory frameworks are necessary to prevent unwanted access to users’ data. For instance, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has mandated data collecting online services in Europe. It informs users about the data collection methodologies and gets their consent. They also need to ensure that data storage is in a secure location. Moreover, they share it with third parties within defined time frames.

Data Loss Prevention Techniques:

Data encryption is one of the essential Data Loss Protection (DLP) techniques used in smart grids. Alongside encryption, implementing other measures like Role-based Access Control (RBAC), strong password policies, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), intrusion prevention systems (IPS), intrusion detection systems (IDS), data backup, and disaster recovery mechanisms is crucial to prevent data loss and enhance overall grid security. By combining these techniques, smart grids can better safeguard against potential data breaches and ensure the integrity of their data. The only basic prerequisite is the holistic implementation of the techniques while tailoring them for smart grid employment.

 Blockchain:

Applying blockchain technology and smart contracts to AMI security adds new blocks to each transaction. This enhances the overall security of the system. AMIs contain information concerning energy consumption, payment records, and billing. Moreover, we can add specific conditions to prevent one-point failure in the smart grid system. It can be related to smart grid security or the contract on energy generation, distribution, and remote monitoring fronts. Blockchain is one of the most sure-shot ways to ensure all participants’ privacy and AMI data. Recent research proposed a reliable energy scheduling model through smart contracts and blockchain. It can help address the rising privacy concerns for a centralized system to handle behavioral and financial information.  

Smart Grids Security: Blockchain For Advanced Metering Infrastructure Data Security

Figure 3: Blockchain For Advanced Metering Infrastructure Data Security

AI and ML:

Artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques can analyze high volumes of data, patterns, and anomalies in much less time. AMI also enhances security, speeds up threat response, offers better intrusion detection, and automates incident response.

Final Word

AMI is the backbone of smart grids. Compromising on it can lead to far-reaching consequences for every connected smart meter and the complete network. The standards mentioned above and protocols can also potentially maintain the integrity and confidentiality of smart grid assets and users. Security measures will continue to evolve due to the ever-evolving nature of threats and technologies. The implementation of advanced data security protocols like IAC AMI-SER will also play a crucial role in ensuring better performance. These measures aim to enhance smart grid systems’ overall security and efficiency.

Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Technologies

Posted on by Rahul Garkhedkar

Effluent treatment has long been the center of focus with respect to the demand for sustainability in industrial activities. However, over time, stakeholders realized that this myopic approach excluded the sustainability aspect of the processes applied for these treatments. Thus, the need to transition effluents or industrial wastewater treatment plants towards resource efficiency and sustainability emerged. Efforts are making strong strides in optimizing water, energy, and chemical consumption in nutrient extraction and removal of carbonaceous compounds. A few technologies that demonstrated the potential to sustain the ecological challenges of wastewater treatment plants are summarized below:

Microbial Fuel Cell:

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are proficient in turning chemical energy from industrial and civil effluent. Simultaneously, applying specific electroactive bacteria (EAB) turns chemical energy into electrical energy. Alongside this, it can impact the oxidant reduction and substrate oxidation reactions that tip the scales of energy and economics in favor of the wastewater treatment plant. Research suggests that the performance of MFCs can be further modified by optimizing operational parameters like applied electric resistance, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and organic loading rate (OLR). Currently, researchers are using several mathematical models to modify the design and process of these cells.

Nevertheless, deeper research is needed to develop complete operational bottlenecks related to these cells. As a waste treatment technology, it can easily resolve the ecological dilemmas of the animal, food, and agriculture industry. It is particularly effective for treating wastes high in heavy metals.

Different Types of Microbial Fuel Cells

Image Showing Different Types of Microbial Fuel Cells

Anammox-based Nitrification – Denitrification:

Though biological denitrification is a recommended approach to nitrogen removal from industrial effluent, it is a high resource and energy-consuming task. It needs organic carbon and aeration, which leads to the generation of high quantities of biomass and GHGs, contradicting the very purpose of its application. Ammonax bacteria convert the nitrite and ammonium present in sludge into dinitrogen (N2) gas, considerably reducing energy and resource requirements.

The nitridation-anammox system is perfect for treating high-strength wastewater like digester effluents and anaerobically treated industrial effluents. It needs 60% less energy and 90% less GHGs than biological nitrogen removal processes. The only challenge is that it can’t yet be used for mainstream treatments for unidentified reasons. Several efforts are being made to resolve these reasons. The most noteworthy ones include managing the high nitrogen-to-carbon ratio to maximize the attainment of carbon-based energy. Additionally, performance improvement for low-strength wastewater and better retention of anammox bacteria are crucial aspects. Lastly, there is a focus on achieving more practical implementation of anammox processes in large-scale WWTPs.

Codigestion:

It is a modified version of anaerobic digestion focusing on the circular economy of resources.  The approach works well for both small and large-scale facilities. Several organizations are currently exploring this concept’s scope and benefits by extending the anaerobic digesters’ digestion capacity. The additional capacity of anaerobic digesters can help process higher-strength organic wastes. Codigestion is a highly lucrative process that helps digest FOG (fats, oil ma, degrease) wastes and transforms them into high-value products like biosolids, methane, etc. Technically and economically, it is a highly feasible technique; however, its economic viability still relies on several factors like organic waste characteristics, biosolids’ residual management costs, electricity costs, anaerobic digester capital costs, etc.

Circular Economy of Wastewater Treatment Plants

Circular Economy of Wastewater Treatment Plants

Synergistic Application of Ferrate:

Researchers have long demonstrated the efficient elimination of pollutants from wastewater using ferrate. However, the new approach to this concept calls for the synergistic application of ferrate with other useful measures like membrane separation, UV radiation, chemical additives, ozonation, acidification, etc. Research indicates a significant increase in the overall efficiency of water treatment when ferrate is applied synergistically.

It also mitigated other challenges like membrane fouling, less coagulation, lower levels of micropollutants’ biodegradability, deactivated or low formation of radical oxidative species, etc. However, the biggest challenge to this solution is Ferrate (VI) production in a preservable and stable form. Its shelf life is restricted to just a few seconds, making it highly unsuitable for commercial applications. However, a Dutch start-up, Ferr-Tech , developed a patented method to resolve this problem successfully. The synergistic application of Ferrate increases the energy efficiency and sustainability of wastewater treatments, thereby increasing water availability for reuse in industrial applications.

Various Ferrate Synergistic Applications For Removal of Micropollutants From Wastewater

Various Ferrate Synergistic Applications For Removal of Micropollutants From Wastewater

Membrane Bioreactor System:

Membrane bioreactor systems, or MBRs, have wide applications in effluent treatment in the food and beverage industry. It is a constantly evolving domain with scope for improvement and great potential to resolve the contaminated wastewater challenge sustainably. As per a recent pilot study, both hollow fiber and flat sheet membrane bioreactors’ rejection rates exceed 84% for differing MLSS (mixed Liquor Suspended Solid) levels. These membranes significantly reduced COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) and TSS (Total Suspended Solid) along a varying range of MLSS levels. It implies that the MBRs have great potential for sustainable chemical cleaning for food and beverage effluent.

Wastewater Hydroponics:

A slightly less researched domain, wastewater hydroponics, holds high scope in terms of sustainable effluent treatment, specifically concerning domestic, industrial, and municipal effluent. Wastewater hydroponics can remove microorganisms, pollutants, heavy metals, and every other kind of conventional pollutant through simple methods like phytoremediation. Nevertheless, several operating parameters like light duration, hydraulic retention time, influent concentration, plant selection, and pH heavily influence it. Developing a standardized evaluation index to assess the effectiveness of this method may yield fruitful and lasting results.

Conclusion

The technologies mentioned above are just a few expected to answer the challenges related to wastewater treatment plants. Most research and data suggest synergistic applications, such as integrating advanced membrane technologies with reverse osmosis. This integration might pave the way to address the demanding prerequisites of wastewater treatment plants’ sustainability issues. It may also give considerable attention to decentralized and modular systems. Additionally, integrating AI-driven solutions is essential to enable real-time adjustments, upgrade energy efficiency, and considerably constrict operating costs.

Halogen-Free Flame Retardants: Implementation Complexities

Posted on by Rahul Garkhedkar

Non-halogenated or halogen-free fire retardants (HFFRs) have emerged as a plausible solution to conventional fire retardants’ environmental and health challenges. As more countries regulate the phasing out of halogenated flame retardants, investments in HFFRs are increasing exponentially. For instance, the recent ban on brominated flame retardants and PFAs in the U.S. increased FRX’s sales by 400 MM USD in the last 1.5 years. Nevertheless, innovative HFFRs have their own challenges that demand acknowledgment and attention from several aspects.  Here is a short effort to summarize the aspects relative to the latest innovations and developments in this domain:

Understanding The Need For Halogen-Free Flame Retardants

Halogen-free flame retardants are a step up from halogen-based flame retardants in multiple ways. Researchers and industry professionals acknowledged the detrimental effects of bromine and chlorine-based flame retardants in the last decade. This realization created a need for halogen-free alternatives. Products with brominated flame retardants showed bioaccumulation persistence and toxicity profiles. They are a significant obstacle in the circular economy as the halogenated flame retardant molecules showcase POPs characteristics when discarded. Evidence suggests toxic flame retardants in wildlife, water bodies, birds, soil microbes, and humans. The adverse effects extend to hormonal disruptions and developmental, neurological, reproductive, immunological, and behavioral effects. The expansion of the halogen-free flame retardant additives market is significant as the EU and US governments impose stringent bans on the use of BFRs like decabromophenylether in electronics and electrical products. Industry experts anticipate that the halogen-free flame retardant additives market will reach its full potential in the coming years.

Classification Of HFFRs

On a broad basis, we can categorize halogen-free flame retardants into five major categories.

  • Phosphorous-based flame retardants: The phosphorus-based FRs include inorganic and organic substances ranging from red phosphorus to phosphinates, phophonates, phosphate esters, etc. As these substances come in contact with heat, they release phosphoric acid that interrupts the combustion process by forming char. This class of HFFRs has wide applications in several manufacturing industries, including textiles, plastics, coatings, polyurethane foams, etc.
  • Nitrogen-based flame retardants: These include homologues, aka melamine derivatives. They combat combustion in multiple ways, like char formation, release of inert nitrogen, and synergistic effects in combination with nitrogen and phosphorus. These products are widely used in electronics, furniture foams, and insulation.
Features of Different Halogen-Free Flame Retardants

Image 1: Features of Different Halogen-Free Flame Retardants

Further Classifications of HFFRs
  • Metal Oxides: Inorganic flame retardants, specifically magnesium and aluminum hydroxides, find widespread usage. Among the two options, many industries prefer aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) due to its cost-effectiveness and high-temperature stability. Magnesium hydroxide is a step up from it as it remains stable up to temperatures as high as 300 degrees centigrade. It is highly suitable for polymers processed under high operating temperatures. The most common use cases of metal-oxide-based FRs include paints, textiles, wires, cables, rubbers, and adhesives. These compounds release water in the presence of heat, which dilutes the flame and cools down the temperature.
  • Nanocomposites: Carbon nanoclays and nanotubes have shown effective results when used as a co-additive in specific FR applications. When used in polymer matrices, these reduce the loading prerequisites for other FRs and improve overall mechanical, heat-distortion temperatures, and thermal stability. They also decrease the material’s vapor permeability and flammability.
  • Intumescent Flame Retardants: Intumescence is the combination of foaming and charring on the surface of the polymer, which secures the underlying material from burning.  Processes requiring high levels of flame retardancy utilize intumescent FRs. They can combat the flame without toxicity and inefficiency. Based on their flame resistance, the IFRs are categorized into soft and hard classifications. These are excellent for exterior steel fireproofing, plastic pipe firestops, etc.

Major Challenges With HFFRs

  • The Dilemma of Defining Halogen-Free: A substance that is halogen-free does not contain any elements from Group 7, including chlorine, bromine, fluorine, iodine, and Astatine. This characteristic ensures the absence of these halogens in the substance. In cases where the underlying product already includes a halogen, companies can add HFFR reactively or additively to enhance its flame-retardant properties. For instance, in electronic products, people are not paying much attention to the abundant use of fluorine in fluxes for soldering purposes. Similarly, PVC extensively utilizes chlorine to enhance longevity in automobile applications such as coatings, linings, carpet back lining, and shock absorption. If an HFFR is added to these parts for enhanced safety, would the resulting end product be halogenated or halogen-free?
  • High Costs: Most alternatives that have come to light as halogenated flame retardants aren’t economical. From the pre-mentioned point, a normal present-day car has 18 kgs of PVC, which is considered highly important in the automobile industry for its economical nature, flexibility, and flame retardancy. If it were to be replaced or banned by regulatory authorities, the automotive industry would face grave consequences.
  • Performance Trade-off: HFFRs still trail their counterparts in performance. For example, halogen-free ribbon cables in automobiles pose electrical, mechanical, and physical challenges. A study revealed that maintaining the thin and wide shape of ribbon cables was difficult, as efforts were made to bring uniformity to insulation without any electrical spark test faults. Below, we provide a summary of these faults.
Halogen-Free ribbon cable characteristics and final results

Image 2: Halogen-Free ribbon cable characteristics and final results

Additional challenges
  • Fear of Regrettable Substitution: Right now, the core focus is on finding alternatives to halogenated flame retardants and less focus on the environmental, health, and overall implications of these new alternatives. For example, phosphorus-based flame retardants are explosive and neurotoxic in nature. And even in terms of efficiency, they lag behind their bromine-based counterparts. It is a must to consider these replacements from all aspects before making them the core of the global flame retardants market.
  • Large Quantities Required: The biggest issue is adding HFFRs to products in large quantities. This compromises the performance and quality of the underlying product while aiming to achieve the desired flame-retardant effect. For instance, flame retardant polymers require the use of aluminum trihydrate (ATH) at levels of 40-65 wt%, which compromises the mechanical aspects of the compounded products.

The absence of halogen in soldering pastes causes solder paste makers to face significant challenges, resulting in grasping and head-in-pillow effects. This absence will leave a massive impact on the electronics industry.

Conclusion

The halogen-free fire retardant market holds immense promise, but success requires careful navigation and informed decisions. Understanding the limitations and health risks of alternative products like nitrogen, phosphorus, and nanocomposites is key to effectively implementing them. Extensive research and development will unlock their potential, establishing a solid scientific foundation. Prioritizing long-term monitoring, rigorous testing, and standardization will ensure ethical considerations and informed choices that balance sustainability and economic viability. Also, a holistic approach allows the market to advance confidently, building a sustainable solution for fire safety challenges.

Patient Twinning: The Future of MedTech

Posted on by Rahul Garkhedkar

Here’s a typical caregiving scene, a patient comes in for medical treatment for recovery and healing. The clear goal is to achieve wholesome healing for the individual from his previous state of disease and illness. Doctors, physicians, and hospital teams intervene with medicines and treatment processes, aiming at the best possible health outcome for the patient. Despite best intentions and careful prescriptions, some ailing ones heal, and others succumb to their case. The medical fraternity is often left high and dry with the question of why some patients survive and heal faster than others. The perennial answer we hear is that every patient is different; it isn’t time that we make healthcare more personalized first, cohesive itself, and convivial at large. This is where creating a digital persona of the patient can benefit hugely. Let’s learn how patient twinning and digital twin (DT) technology is changing patient outcomes in the healthcare industry.

Need for Patient Twinning in Healthcare

The human body is one of the most complex and highly organized structures of hundreds of life processes and billions of life-sustaining cells. Everything has astounding interconnectedness, diverse genetics, and anatomical complexity in structure/behavior. The body’s chemical composition, lymphatic system, enteric nervous system (ENS), endocrine glands, and wellness factors make administering healthcare more convoluted. The patient’s social well-being, mental state, and how they feel having a say in their treatment affect the success of any medical course of action. While deciding on the cure, it is important to closely consider each individual’s unique lifestyle and medical history.

Health conditions of the heart, liver, kidney, nervous system, brain, autoimmune disorders, cancers, and rare diseases are impossible to understand fully. By having access to more historical and real-time information, practitioners become better equipped with valuable clues and can connect medical scenarios. Digital twins can enable the early-stage or prodromal period curing of diseases. With timely advice from the doctor, the sick can be relieved of acute illnesses, life-threatening conditions, surgery, organ transplant, and chemotherapy.

Doctors usually don’t have a complete picture of the patient, and connecting the complex dots is impossible. Patients cannot make complete sense of why and what is happening to them. Most diseases are understood as one of the events. In contrast, there is a possibility that one of the lifestyles led to a chronic problem or a problem with a specific organ is cascading into other health issues. A complete digital simulation of the patient’s medical history and records is now possible with patient twinning and digital twin technology, a ground-breaking development.

Features of Patient Twinning Technology

One way to utilize digital twins is by creating a complete digital patient twin for an in-patient. The digital twin of the patient receives genetic, biological, and sociological data. As a result, the digital twin becomes a complete match for the patient. Along with the chronicled data, the digital twin collects an individual’s health information in real-time and compares this data with specific clinical pathologies, diseases, courses of medication, diagnostic scenarios, and various therapies rendered for affected individuals. With collected evidence and clinical guidelines, both generic and ones put by the doctor, the Digital Twin provides doctors with a holistic, individual, and comprehensive treatment plan for the patient.

Likewise, suppose a complete digital twin is too expensive for someone, according to the medical case. In that case, doctors have access to Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies to create virtual hearts, lungs, kidneys, etc., around the clock. Virtual organs can help determine the progression of diseases over time and respond to new drugs, treatments, and even surgical interventions.

Bracing Use-Cases of Digital Twins Technology

Philip’s dynamic HeartModel provides anatomical intelligence as it tracks every frame over the cardiac cycle using 3D speckle technology and reproduces ejection fraction (EF). This virtual heart increases diagnostic confidence and yields additional clinical information without clinical procedures and inputs. If required, Siemens Healthineers is creating and working on a digital twin of the heart that can digitally simulate cardiac catheter interventions and heart surgery. The digital heart could help doctors tailor cardiological treatment more closely and guide them to proceed if there is a realistic success rate. FEops HEARTguide has created a cloud-based structural heart procedure planning platform using predictive simulation technology and artificial intelligence.

Stryker‘s Blueprint Mixed Reality technology has been built to perform complex shoulder arthroplasty procedures with digital revisions. The software provides 3-D holographic pre-operative plans assisting Orthopaedic surgeons in challenging shoulder arthroplasty cases.

Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies (JJMDC) has partnered with Microsoft to further enhance their digital surgical solutions. JJMDC’s digital offerings, such as surgical robots and medical devices, can derive valuable insights from Microsoft’s Azure-based health cloud. Additionally, they can leverage the digital twin platform for enhanced capabilities.

Radiologists and doctors collaborate closely. AI automatically labels anatomies and creates image biomarkers to differentiate between benign and malignant tissues. Real-life images of the heart using digital twin technology allow surgeons to perform intricate surgeries impossible earlier. Hospitals already generate large volumes of medical imaging data, and digital twin technology can help deduce medical insights.

Faststream Technologies provides a digital twin solution that utilizes big medical data to improve patient diagnosis and treatment outcomes. Their AI-augmented solutions enable physicians to intervene carefully. They achieve this by connecting historical data, including the patient’s medical condition, drug response, physical environment, and lifestyle choices. Additionally, they consider new social exposures, clinical events, and biological responses.

Future of Digital Twin Technology in Healthcare

As per Statista research, the global healthcare digital twins market is projected to reach $ 657 billion by 2025.

Projected Global Digital Healthcare Market Size

Figure 1: Global digital health market size until 2025

Mining healthcare records and digitalizing healthcare scans seem to be the future of the medical profession. Artificial Intelligence will not only help store exabytes of healthcare data but also assist in quickly retrieving healthcare information. According to Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) research, today, Hospitals’ total healthcare data (both digital and offline) amounts to approximately 30% of the world’s data volume, which is projected to have a CAGR of 36% in 2025.

Digital Twins Market size by 2030

Figure 2: Digital Twins Market Size by 2030

CloudMedx’s ONE platform is an AI-based, fine-tuned Large Language Model (LLM) that simplifies decision-making and ease of operation for all three healthcare stakeholders- the patients, providers, and payers. CloudMedx utilizes a powerful suite of APIs and AI-based apps. These provide a single intuitive interface that addresses concerns related to Machine Learning (ML) integration, scaling, accuracy, and data privacy.

Google DeepMind’s new AI pathways assist in identifying breast cancer before symptoms appear. Thus enabling therapy for the treatable disease. In the double-reading process, the AI simulation maintained non-inferior performance while reducing the second reader’s workload by 88%. AUGMEDIX uses ambient AI technology to convert natural clinician-patient conversations into medical notes and delivers automatic medical documentation for large healthcare systems, clinics, hospitals, and emergency departments. This Artificial Intelligence model will significantly increase patient satisfaction, increase hospital productivity, and improve doctors’ work-life satisfaction.

Limitations & Challenges of Patient Digital Twins

As Digital Twins tech is fairly new and seldom used by the large medical industry, we are yet to see its full impact any time soon. Medium and small healthcare institutions and providers will take years to fully assimilate patient-twinning technology. There are concerns about how well AI & ML will respond consistently to medical data sets, whether large or small. The process of how AI will derive inputs and suggest individual medical plans when comparing individual medical records with massive public records is still uncertain.

The perennial concerns surrounding artificial intelligence and machine learning include AI bias and patients’ data safety. There is the question of how physicians, doctors, and surgeons will make sense of the vast amount of connected information. What will be the ideal course of action when AI suggests something else and the doctor thinks/feels otherwise? We can observe the benefits of increased usage and applied cases of digital twins in various medical procedures. Additionally, we can identify the possible hurdles in adopting MedTech in healthcare.

Conclusion

Digital twins and healthcare AI are fast gaining momentum in the USA, Europe, the UK, and the rest of the world. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Mixed Reality (MR) leave no healthcare avenues untouched. Patient twinning creates digital replicas of real humans. It aids in preventive disease diagnosis and precision medical imaging, contributing to improved well-being. Moreover, surgeons and surgeries will become simpler as digital twins bring real-life simulations of human structures and increase the efficiency of all medical staff and doctors.

MR is also boosting robotic surgery, especially for difficult-to-reach and complex surgeries of the heart, digestive system, brain, nerves, and other vital organs. With AI MedTech, patients can feel comfortable and confident about health outcomes. Hospitals and clinics will also see improved patient-doctor interactions, reduced global health costs, and increased focus on preventive measures. For more updates, connect with an expert.

Direct Air Capture: Removing Carbon From Atmosphere

Posted on by Rahul Garkhedkar

Climate change mitigation scenarios that align with the aim of the Paris Agreement, aimed at limiting global warming, commonly rely on carbon dioxide removal and negative emissions technologies. Direct air capture (DAC) is a technology that involves extracting CO2 directly from the air through engineered systems. DAC can work with other negative emissions technologies. Together, they can help reduce CO2 emissions from various sources, including mobile and dispersed ones.

The outcome of the captured CO2, whether stored, reused, or utilized, is crucial. Decisions regarding the energy and materials involved in the DAC process also play a significant role. Together, they determine whether the overall process achieves emissions.

In recent years, DAC has experienced notable advancements, with commercial entities operating in the market promising opportunities for significant expansion.

DAC Technology for Zero Emission

As per IEA Net Zero Emissions by 2050, direct air capture (DAC) technologies are crucial, projected to capture over 85 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 by 2030 and approximately 980 MtCO2 by 2050. This represents a significant increase from the current capture level of around 0.01 MtCO2. Currently, 18 operational DAC facilities are located in Canada, Europe, and the United States. The development of the first large-scale DAC plant capable of capturing up to 1 MtCO2 per year is underway and expected to commence operations in the United States by the mid-2020s. This milestone signifies a significant leap in the advancement and deployment of DAC technology.

Why is There an Urgency for Carbon Removal? 

The present CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is about 420 ppm or 3,237 GtCO2 (CO2.Earth, 2022). 20 GtCO2 of CO2 capture and removal per year would be required by the end of the century to keep the temperature rise under 2°C (National Academies of Sciences, 2018). Global carbon dioxide capture and storage is 0.0385 GtCO2 per year (Global CCS Institute, 2018). Thus, achieving this goal would take roughly 21,000 years if things go at the current pace. So, it requires quick measures. This number also includes the current DAC capacity of 9,000 tCO2 per year.

Assuming a linear growth in the net global CO2 capture and storage capacity, the goal is to increase it from the current 0.0385 GtCO2 per year to 20 GtCO2 per year by the end of the century. This would require removing an estimated 798 Gt of CO2 from the atmosphere. At the current rate of 0.0385 GtCO2 removal per year, reaching the goal would take around 21,000 years. Hence, deploying DAC plants globally is urgent, which could meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping the temperature rise under 2°C.

According to CO2.Earth (2022), the current atmospheric CO2 concentration is approximately 420 ppm or 3,237 GtCO2. To limit the temperature increase to under 2°C, it is estimated that by the end of the century, we will need to capture and remove 20 GtCO2 of CO2 annually (National Academies of Sciences, 2018).

Forecast Direct Air Capture and Storage

To reach the net-zero emissions target by 2050, it was forecast that direct air capture and storage (DAC+S) technology would need to remove 71 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) in 2030. That figure should increase to 633 MtCO₂e in 2050 to achieve global net-zero.

Emissions Removal in MtCO2e

Figure: Emission Removal

How do Solid Sorbent Direct Air Capture Systems Work?

Solid sorbent direct air capture (S-DAC) systems use solid adsorbents functionalized with amines to capture atmospheric CO2. Here’s how they work: 

  1. Exposure to Air: The solid sorbent is exposed to the air, allowing it to come into contact with atmospheric CO2.
  2. Selective Adsorption: It selectively adsorbs CO2, allowing other air components to pass through.
  3. Regeneration: Once the sorbent is full, the CO2 is released from it, usually via heat application. This process, called regeneration, allows the sorbent to be reused.
  4. Storage: The captured CO2 is then separated from the sorbent and stored in durable forms of storage, such as deep geological formations.

Solid sorbent direct air capture systems are generally more energy-efficient than liquid solvent systems but require higher temperatures to release the captured CO2. The economic, environmental, and energetic performance of direct air capture processes based on solid sorbents depends significantly on the design and operation of the system. Solid sorbents can be augmented with amine surface functionalization that enhances their interactions with CO2 molecules, thus making them more effective at capturing CO2

Common Types of Solid Sorbents Used in DAC Systems

Solid sorbents are one of the two primary materials used in direct air capture (DAC) systems. Here are some of the most common types of solid sorbents used in direct air capture systems:

  1. Solid Alkali Carbonates: Solid alkali carbonates are a type of solid sorbent that can capture CO2 from the air. They are typically used in a fixed-bed reactor, exposed to the air, and selectively absorb CO2. 
  2. Chemisorbents: Chemisorbents are solid sorbents that react chemically with CO2 to form a stable compound. They are typically made from metal oxides or carbonates and can be used in a fixed-bed or fluidized-bed reactor.
  3. Solid-Supported Amine-Based Materials: Solid-supported amine-based materials are adequate for direct air capture due to their high CO2 uptakes and acceptable sorption kinetics. They are typically used in a fixed-bed reactor, exposed to the air, and selectively adsorb CO2. 
  4. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs): MOFs are a type of porous material that can be used as a solid sorbent for direct air capture. They have a high surface area and can be tailored to selectively adsorb CO2. 

The choice of solid sorbent depends on cost, efficiency, and scalability. Researchers need to conduct further studies to optimize the performance and reduce the cost of solid sorbent direct air capture systems, which are still in the early stages of development.

Challenges Associated with Using Metal-Organic Frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging as promising direct air capture (DAC) technology. They possess exceptional CO2 binding strength and high capacity for CO2 per unit volume. These properties make MOFs an attractive option for DAC applications. However, the utilization of MOFs as solid sorbents for DAC presents several challenges that need to be addressed:

  1. Moisture Interference: Moisture in the air poses a significant challenge for MOFs in DAC as it can impede the adsorption of CO2. This interference can diminish the sorbent’s efficiency and hinder its ability to capture CO2 effectively.
  2. High Regenerability Costs: Regenerating MOFs can be expensive, contributing to DAC’s overall cost. The release of captured CO2 from MOFs requires high temperatures, which are energy-intensive and can result in significant expenses.
  3. Scalability: Although MOFs hold promise for DAC, they are still in the early stages of development. Further research is necessary to optimize their performance and reduce costs. Additionally, scaling up MOFs to industrial levels is challenging, limiting their applicability in large-scale DAC systems.

Despite these challenges, MOFs remain an up-and-coming technology for direct air capture. Ongoing research is dedicated to developing new MOFs with enhanced properties and reducing associated costs to weed out these issues and unlock the full potential of MOFs for DAC.

Key Players in Direct Air Capture

  1. Carbon Engineering: It is a Canadian company that has developed a DAC technology that uses a liquid solvent to capture CO2 from the air. The captured CO2 can be used or stored to produce synthetic fuels.
  2. Climeworks: Climeworks is a Swiss company that has developed DAC technology that uses solid sorbents to capture CO2 from the air. The captured CO2 can be used for various applications, including greenhouse cultivation and carbonated beverages.
  3. Global Thermostat: A US-based company has developed DAC technology that uses solid sorbents to capture CO2 from the air. The captured CO2 can be used for a range of applications, including enhanced oil recovery and the production of building materials.
  4. Carbon Clean Solutions: Carbon Clean Solutions is an Indian company that has developed a DAC technology that uses a liquid solvent to capture CO2 from the air. The captured CO2 finds applications in a range of uses, including enhanced oil recovery and the production of building materials.
  5. Microsoft: Microsoft is a technology company that has committed to becoming carbon-negative by 2030. The company has invested in several DAC projects, including a partnership with Carbon Engineering to develop a DAC plant in the US.

Operational DAC Plants And Their Capacities

  1. There are presently 18 DAC plants operating worldwide, capturing more than 0.01 Mt CO2/year. The active plants capture, on average, 10,000 tons of CO2 per year.
  2. Currently, 18 DAC facilities operate in Canada, Europe, and the United States, with a total capture capacity of almost 0.01 Mt CO2/year. The largest plant, commissioned in Iceland in September 2021, captures 4,000 tCO2/year for storage via mineralization.
  3. The United States expects to have the largest DAC plant in advanced development operational by mid-2020. This plant will have a capacity of up to 1 MtCO2/year.

Role of DAC in Meeting Paris Agreement Objectives

The Paris Agreement wishes to bring down global warming to levels significantly below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while striving to keep the temperature increase within 1.5°C. Direct Air Capture (DAC) holds the potential to contribute to the goals set forth by the Paris Agreement in the following ways:

  1. Carbon Dioxide Removal: DAC technology can effectively extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, playing a crucial role in achieving net-zero emissions and mitigating global warming to levels well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels.
  2. Supporting Just Transitions: DAC offers a means to balance challenging emissions, including those arising from long-distance transport and heavy industry. By addressing these sources of emissions, DAC contributes to a more equitable and fair transition towards a low-carbon economy. It ensures that the burden of reducing emissions is shared proportionately.
  3. Environmental Implications: In the context of climate change mitigation, the environmental implications of the large-scale deployment of DAC must be evaluated. Life cycle assessments can evaluate the environmental trade-offs of DAC technologies, helping ensure they don’t result in problem-shifting.
  4. Mobilizing Additional Resources: DAC provides a valuable avenue for mobilizing resources to combat climate change. By offering a means to offset emissions that are difficult to avoid, DAC facilitates the increase in ambition for climate action. This, in turn, supports the transition towards a low-carbon economy by providing additional financial and environmental resources.

Supporting Policies for DAC Deployment

Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology holds great promise for achieving carbon dioxide removal and advancing towards net-zero emissions. To effectively support the deployment of DAC, implementing the following policies is recommended:

  1. Incentives and Funding: Governments can offer incentives and financial support to encourage the widespread deployment of DAC technologies. This can take the form of tax credits. Additionally, grants and low-interest loans can help alleviate the high upfront costs associated with DAC implementation.
  2. Carbon Pricing: Implementing carbon pricing mechanisms can establish a market for DAC by assigning a value to carbon emissions. Moreover, this economic incentive can encourage companies to invest in DAC technologies, leading to increased adoption and reduced deployment costs over time.
  3. Regulatory Support: Governments can facilitate DAC deployment by providing regulatory support. Streamlining the permitting process and establishing clear guidelines can reduce barriers for companies. Additionally, offering regulatory incentives can expedite the implementation of DAC technologies.
  4. International Cooperation: Collaboration between nations is crucial for supporting DAC deployment, especially in developing countries. International cooperation can involve financial assistance and technical support to ensure equitable access to DAC technologies, fostering sustainable development worldwide.
  5. Research and Development: Governments should prioritize funding research and development initiatives focused on DAC technologies. This support can drive innovation, enhance system efficiency, and reduce deployment costs. Funding for fundamental research, as well as backing for pilot projects and demonstration plants, can accelerate progress in the field.

Market Incentives And Public Investment

Market incentives and public investment can significantly support deploying Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies. Here are some examples of market incentives and public investment:

  1. Government Incentives: Governments can provide incentives to support the deployment of DAC technologies. This can include tax credits, grants, and low-interest loans to help offset the high costs of DAC deployment. For example, the federal 45Q tax credit in the United States has been raised to $180/ton from $50/ton, making DAC projects more financially viable.
  2. Public Investment: Public investment can support the deployment of DAC technologies. Funding research and development, pilot projects, and demonstration plants can accomplish this. For example, the US Department of Energy has announced a significant investment in DAC technologies. This includes chemical DAC technologies, biomass carbon removal and storage, ocean-based carbon removal, and enhanced weathering.
  3. Private Investment: Private investors can also support the deployment of DAC technologies. Private investment can fund research and development, pilot projects, and demonstration plants. Private investors increasingly support DAC, with Breakthrough Energy Ventures targeting up to $1.5 billion in investment for DAC technologies.

Research Challenges And Opportunities

Research Challenges:

  • High Costs: DAC is currently more expensive than other carbon capture technologies, and the cost of DAC needs to be reduced to make it more competitive
  • Energy Requirements: DAC requires a significant amount of energy to operate, which can increase the cost and carbon footprint of DAC systems
  • Environmental Impacts: The environmental impacts of DAC need to be evaluated to ensure that they do not result in environmental problem-shifting
  • Scalability: DAC is still in the early stages of development, and further research is needed to optimize its performance and reduce its cost. DAC is also challenging to scale up to industrial levels, which can limit its use in large-scale DAC systems

Innovation Opportunities:

  • Technological Advancements: Technological advancements are needed to reduce the cost and energy requirements of DAC systems. This can include the development of new materials and processes that are more efficient and cost-effective
  • Policy Support: Policies such as incentives and funding, carbon pricing, regulatory support, international cooperation, and research and development can support the deployment of DAC technologies and help to achieve carbon dioxide removal and net-zero emissions.
  • Collaboration: Collaboration between industry, academia, and government can help to accelerate the development and deployment of DAC technologies. This can include partnerships to develop and test new DAC technologies, as well as collaborations to share knowledge and best practices

Private Investors Supporting DAC

Various programs and initiatives have bolstered direct air capture (DAC) support. For instance, the X-Prize initiative has allocated up to USD 100 million to fund promising carbon removal proposals, including those focused on DAC. Another notable program is Breakthrough Energy’s Catalyst Program. It raises funds to invest in crucial decarbonization technologies, with DAC being one of the areas of interest.

Furthermore, the Lowercarbon Capital Fund made headlines in April 2022 by announcing its intention to invest a substantial sum of USD 350 million in start-ups developing technology-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solutions, including DAC.

Moreover, a coalition of prominent businesses formed Frontier Climate, including Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, etc. This buyer’s group has committed to utilizing advanced market commitments to purchase an initial USD 925 million worth of permanent carbon removal between 2022 and 2030.

These initiatives and collaborations demonstrate the growing recognition and commitment from various sectors. They also aim to support DAC and advance carbon removal technologies as part of broader efforts to combat climate change.

Cost Of DAC Implementation

The implementing cost of DAC technology varies based on factors such as the chosen technology and deployment scale. The cost range for DAC typically falls between $250 and $600 per tonne of CO2 removed.

To make DAC more competitive and scalable, it is essential to reduce its cost. The Department of Energy initiated the Carbon Negative Shot program in late 2021 to address this. This initiative aims to lower the cost of carbon removal technologies. It also approaches a gigaton-scale deployment of $100 per tonne of CO2 over the next decade. It is expected that supportive policies and market development will reduce the cost of DAC, potentially accelerating the widespread adoption of this technology. Notably, the 45Q federal tax credit in the United States has been increased from $50 to $180 per tonne, enhancing the financial viability of DAC projects.

Conclusion

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said that, in the scenarios they assessed, limiting atmospheric warming to the key level of around 1.5 degrees Celsius requires global greenhouse gas emissions to peak by 2025 at the latest. Even with a breakthrough sorbent, the critical factor is integrating the DAC system with low-carbon energy sources. This integration is essential for ensuring the successful and sustainable removal of CO2. Hence, establishing the lifetime of the sorbent, including appropriate operating conditions and stability to CO2 uptake-release cycles. Therefore, there is also the need to develop technology platforms that transfer energy efficiently. Taken together, intensive research focus, government policy and support, and private industry funding are necessary. Overcoming the technological challenges of developing viable DAC systems to operate at a net-zero cost requires these efforts.

To meet net-zero goals, promote diverse DACS (direct air capture and storage) techniques. Include established and innovative methods. Increase chances of success by embracing variety. By scaling up DACS technologies, we can bridge the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) gap. This will also help us make significant progress toward our sustainability targets. Moreover, investing in a diverse range of DACS methods in the coming decade is essential. However, it is likely that the industry may eventually gravitate towards a select few predominant approaches. Additionally, relying solely on a single method poses a substantial risk to DACS. Thus, failing to contribute effectively to CDR is a scenario our planet cannot afford to face.

Future Of Refreshments: Breakthroughs In RTD Beverages

Posted on by Rahul Garkhedkar

The ready-to-drink (RTD) market underwent a 360-degree change in the last two decades as consumer demand shifted to functional, natural, and healthier beverages with essentially low levels of calories, sugar, and alcohol content. It is a booming market that stood at USD 89 billion in 2021 and is expected to touch USD 142 billion by the end of this decade. While the manufacturers strive to comply with these new norms, they are also trying to address the complexities of manufacturing, supply chain, and improving the end-user experience.

The most significant share of impediments lies at the manufacturing end, where beverage makers need to keep drinks healthy and organic with distinct USPs and extended shelf life. These obstacles have opened doors to a lieu of innovations that integrate various concepts like blockchain, digital twins, AI, robots, etc., in the manufacturing process. In this blog, however, the focus remains solely on the breakthroughs that will help companies uphold the evolving standards of quality, processing, tracing, monitoring, and sustainability.

RTD Beverages: Quality

Quality is one of the most prominent differentiating attributes of canned products like RTD beverages. The biggest challenge is to retain the nutritional value of fruit-based or protein-based beverages without compromising their physiochemical properties. Health drinks, especially fruit-based drinks, have high concentrations of bioactive compounds (BCs) that favor the user’s well-being and health. However, several BCs are thermolabile and lost as the drinks pass through high-temperature preservation treatments. Also, some of the commonly used sterilization and pasteurization techniques cause physiochemical changes in the products, neutralizing the very intent of their production. Apart from that, there is the issue of microbial, enzymatic, and spore activity that needs to be controlled to keep the drink fresh till its final consumption. All these complexities demand advanced solutions that are both technologically sound and sustainable. Here are a few innovations that offer competent answers to these questions:

Innovations
  • Blue Light Technology: It emits light through Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) at a preset wavelength to inactivate microbes and mitigate environmental contamination. A team of UGA researchers claims that Blue Light will be highly effective in combating microbes like Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes and prevent the formation of biofilms on food and beverages. It may become a critical tool in controlling foodborne illnesses in the coming years.
  • Hydrodynamic Cavitation: It is a non-thermal process that inactivates microbes and enzymes at low temperatures and preserves natural BCs present in food and drinks to retain their organoleptic characteristics, keeping their freshness and taste intact for a considerable period.
Hydrodynamic Cavitation Reactor for RTD Beverages

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of Hydrodynamic Cavitation Reactor (PC: Researchgate)

  • Raslysation: It is an Ultra Violet (UV) technology introduced by a Danish firm, Lyras. Currently, it is employed by Novozymes, a biotech group, to inactivate microorganisms in liquid foods. It filters out spores and bacteria and is considered a potent alternative to pasteurization in the near future.
  • Laser Absorption Spectroscopy: Concerning beverages, this technology is used to scale the quantity of gas present in the headspace of bottles. Its application in the assembly line helps to remove defective bottles. Apart from that, it also measures nitrogen dosing the bottles.
  • Supercritical Pasteurization: The process involves the usage of supercritical carbon dioxide for pasteurization, and just like raslysation, it is deemed a potent alternative to the conventional pasteurization technology that often destroys natural BCs in beverages.

Processing

The rise in demand for clean-labeled, minimally processed beverages mandates deploying new processes that can maintain sensory and nutritional quality. Most of such techniques are still in the R&D phase, but a few are being deemed potent for commercial applications:

  • Ceramic Membrane Technology: It addresses beverages’ turbidity and bacterial count. Successful implementation of this technology will prevent corrosion and temperature resistance in drinks while preserving their aromatic attributes.
  • Electrospun Nanofibrous Films: The membrane generated by Electrospun Nanofibers exceeds the flow capacity of regular membranes by approximately twenty times. They offer a fantastic alternative for removing suspensions and other harmful beverage components through filtration. The electrospinning process creates nanofibrous films of pores with tiny diameters and high porosity. It may play a vital role in the processing of beers and fruit juices in the near future.  
Electrospun Nanofibrous Film for RTD Beverages

Figure 2: Schematic Illustration of Electrospun Nanofibrous Film

  • Filler Efficiency: It reduces the wastage of carbon dioxide and increases the consumption of beverages during processing. If used properly, this technique will allow 70-80% filling of CO2 in the beverage and reduce its wastage by fifty percent.
  • Oxygen Inhibition Technology: The oxygen inhibition technique prevents oxygen from entering the liquid during the blending phase and thus brings down the level of dissolved oxygen in the final product. It is critical in avoiding foaming and enhances a beverage’s stability at higher temperatures.
  • De-Alcoholization: As the name implies, it removes alcohol from beverages. Under this umbrella term, the beverage industry actively prefers and incorporates methods such as reverse osmosis and vacuum stripping into the production line through simple assembly.

RTD Beverages: Traceability, Monitoring, And Control

Traceability, control, and monitoring are crucial in beverage processing. Even the smallest mistakes can result in significant errors. There are a few advancements in this aspect that may play a key role in the near future:

  • IIoT: It offers multi-purpose, low-cost devices that check various added attributes of beverages like fluid properties, flow rate, gas percentage, turbidity, and so on. It updates the results in real-time and alerts if any beverage property changes.
  • Blockchain: It will benefit backward and forward traceability of the complete production process. It will give the manufacturer full control of factory floors, supply chain, and final transactions with quick identification of errors.
  • Digital Twin: These virtual replicas of the complete manufacturing framework allow operators to remotely test, control, and operate all activities. It also plays a crucial role in visualization, preliminary tests, and rectifications virtually before the real trial runs.
  • IoT And AI-based Fermentation Tank: By leveraging AI and IoT, it is possible to place a sensor on each barrel to analyze all activities simultaneously and report errors or changes before the entire batch spoils. In the coming years, it may eliminate the requirement for manual sampling.

RTD Beverage: Advanced Technologies

Several advanced tech developments will assist the beverage industry in adapting to changing market dynamics. These developments will lead to significant cost savings and improve process flow. The most recommended ones include:

  • Forward Osmosis: A beneficial technology for high-quality fruit-based beverages. It helps extract the best from products, whether raw materials or active ingredients. It creates an osmotic difference between the feed and draws solutions, allowing smoother water movement through the membrane.
Forward Osmosis Mechanism

Figure 3: Schematic Presentation of Forward Osmosis Mechanism

  • Automated Cap Chute Changeover: It eliminated the need for manually changing bottle caps, saving time and labor. The system consists of pneumatic cylinders that contract, extend, and push over plates to ease access to the bottle cap.

Ultra Clean Leakage Valve: The system helps maintain the hygiene and nutritional value of the beverage by blocking the entry of microbes into the product’s chamber. It also extends the overall shelf life of the product.

Sustainability

The food and beverage industry is working hard to align its modus operandi with the evolving sustainability standards. Along with all other changes, this is a key focus area for the industry. Here are a few noteworthy developments:

  • Hydraulic Valve: Conventional valves are several steps behind as they reduce energy consumption and flawless precision by 90%. It also prevents the unrequired mixing of liquids as the eliminated water is in an incompressible form.
  • Sustainable Homogenizer: It recaptures the freshwater in cooling transmission oil and lubricating plungers. The recaptured water is then sanitized, cooled down, and reverted to the homogenizer. The technology helps reduce freshwater consumption by 97%.
Sustainable Homogenizer for RTD Beverages

Figure 4: Schematic Diagram Of Sustainable Homogenizer

  • Impeller Blade Design: Blade designs have a crucial role in the efficiency of the process. Hence, hydrodynamic blades narrow the mixing time, enhance mixing efficiency, and reduce power consumption during the mixing phase.
  • Carbon Capture: Boiler-generated steam sterilizes beverages and leads to the generation of large quantities of carbon. Companies and organizations are now implementing various carbon capture technologies, such as carbon capturing. The beverage processing unit uses the captured carbon for carbonating drinks, optimizing carbon utilization and reducing the carbon footprint of beverage manufacturing units.

Final Word

All the innovations mentioned above regarding RTD beverages are incredible and will push beverage processing to new heights. However, they are accompanied by high costs, which may slow down new entrepreneurs. Besides that, ingredient quality and consistency will still be critical. Therefore, the manufacturers must strengthen the supply chain and focus on suppliers’ contribution. There is also an imminent need to consider material attributes as they deeply impact the functionality and efficiency of the production line. Lastly, the industry must carefully tackle the manual versus automation debate and ensure a smooth transition at each level.