Selective recovery of silver from waste low-temperature co-fired ceramic and valorization through silver nanoparticle synthesis.

PubMed

Swain, Basudev; Shin, Dongyoon; Joo, So Yeong; Ahn, Nak Kyoon; Lee, Chan Gi; Yoon, Jin-Ho

2017-11-01

Considering the value of silver metal and silver nanoparticles, the waste generated during manufacturing of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) were recycled through the simple yet cost effective process by chemical-metallurgy. Followed by leaching optimization, silver was selectively recovered through precipitation. The precipitated silver chloride was valorized though silver nanoparticle synthesis by a simple one-pot greener synthesis route. Through leaching-precipitation optimization, quantitative selective recovery of silver chloride was achieved, followed by homogeneous pure silver nanoparticle about 100nm size were synthesized. The reported recycling process is a simple process, versatile, easy to implement, requires minimum facilities and no specialty chemicals, through which semiconductor manufacturing industry can treat the waste generated during manufacturing of LTCC and reutilize the valorized silver nanoparticles in manufacturing in a close loop process. Our reported process can address issues like; (i) waste disposal, as well as value-added silver recovery, (ii) brings back the material to production stream and address the circular economy, and (iii) can be part of lower the futuristic carbon economy and cradle-to-cradle technology management, simultaneously. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Specific solubilization of impurities in culture media: Arg solution improves purification of pH-responsive tag CspB50 with Teriparatide.

PubMed

Oki, Shogo; Nonaka, Takahiro; Shiraki, Kentaro

2018-06-01

Protein purification using non-chromatographic methods is a simple technique that avoids costly resin. Recently, a cell surface protein B (CspB) tag has been developed for a pH-responsive tag for protein purification by solid-liquid separation. Proteins fused with the CspB tag show reversible insolubilization at acidic pH that can be used in solid-liquid separation for protein purification. However, brown-color impurities from co-precipitation hamper further analysis of the target proteins. In this study, we investigated the effect of additives on the co-precipitation of CspB-tagged Teriparatide (CspB50TEV-Teriparatide) expressed in Corynebacterium glutamicum and associated impurities. Arginine (Arg) at 1.0 M was found to be the most effective additive for removing impurities, particularly carotenoids and nucleic acids. Furthermore, all impurities detected in the fluorescence and absorbance spectra were successfully removed by the repetition of precipitation-redissolution in the Arg solution. The precipitation yield of the CspB50TEV-Teriparatide did not change with the addition of Arg and the repetition of the precipitation-redissolution process. Collectively, our findings indicate that the specific desorption of π-electron rich compounds by Arg may be useful in conjunction with the pH-responsive CspB tag for solid-liquid protein purification. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fast quantification of endogenous carbohydrates in plasma using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Zhu, Bangjie; Liu, Feng; Li, Xituo; Wang, Yan; Gu, Xue; Dai, Jieyu; Wang, Guiming; Cheng, Yu; Yan, Chao

2015-01-01

Endogenous carbohydrates in biosamples are frequently highlighted as the most differential metabolites in many metabolomics studies. A simple, fast, simultaneous quantitative method for 16 endogenous carbohydrates in plasma has been developed using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. In order to quantify 16 endogenous carbohydrates in plasma, various conditions, including columns, chromatographic conditions, mass spectrometry conditions, and plasma preparation methods, were investigated. Different conditions in this quantified analysis were performed and optimized. The reproducibility, precision, recovery, matrix effect, and stability of the method were verified. The results indicated that a methanol/acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) mixture could effectively and reproducibly precipitate rat plasma proteins. Cold organic solvents coupled with vortex for 1 min and incubated at -20°C for 20 min were the most optimal conditions for protein precipitation and extraction. The results, according to the linearity, recovery, precision, matrix effect, and stability, showed that the method was satisfactory in the quantification of endogenous carbohydrates in rat plasma. The quantified analysis of endogenous carbohydrates in rat plasma performed excellently in terms of sensitivity, high throughput, and simple sample preparation, which met the requirement of quantification in specific expanded metabolomic studies after the global metabolic profiling research. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Synthesis and characterization of graphene quantum dots/cobalt ferrite nanocomposite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramachandran, Shilpa; Sathishkumar, M.; Kothurkar, Nikhil K.; Senthilkumar, R.

2018-02-01

A facile method has been developed for the synthesis of a graphene quantum dots/cobalt ferrite nanocomposite. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were synthesized by a simple bottom-up method using citric acid, followed by the co-precipitation of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles on the graphene quantum dots. The morphology, structural analysis, optical properties, magnetic properties were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) measurements. The synthesized nanocomposite showed good fluorescence and superparamagnetic properties, which are important for biomedical applications.

Precipitation of Co(2+) carbonates from aqueous solution: insights on the amorphous to crystalline transformation.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González-López, Jorge; Fernández-González, Ángeles; Jiménez, Amalia

2016-04-01

Cobalt is toxic metal that is present only as a trace in the Earth crust. However, Co might concentrate on specific areas due to both natural and anthropogenic factors and thus, soils and groundwater can be contaminated. It is from this perspective that we are interested in the precipitation of cobalt carbonates, since co-precipitation with minerals phases is a well-known method for metal immobilization in the environment. In particular, the carbonates are widely used due to its reactivity and natural abundance. In order to evaluate the cobalt carbonate precipitation at room temperature, a simple experimental work was carried out in this work. The precipitation occurred via reaction of two common salts: 0.05M of CoCl2 and 0.05M of Na2CO3 in aqueous solution. After reaction, the precipitated solid was kept in the remaining water at 25 oC and under constant stirring for different aging times of 5 min, 1 and 5 hours, 1, 2, 4, 7, 30 and 60 days. In addition to the aging and precipitation experiments, we carried out experiments to determine the solubility of the solids. In these experiments each precipitate was dissolved in Milli-Q water until equilibrium was reached and then the aqueous solution was analyzed regarding Co2+ and total alkalinity. Furthermore, acid solution calorimetry of the products were attained. Finally, we modeled the results using the PHREEQC code. Solid and aqueous phase identification and characterization have been extensively reported in a previous work (González-López et al., 2015). The main results of our investigation were the initial precipitation of an amorphous cobalt carbonate that evolve towards a poorly crystalline cobalt hydroxide carbonate with aging treatment. Solubility of both phases have been calculated under two different approaches: precipitation and dissolution. Values of solubility from each approach were obtained with a general error due to differences in experiment conditions, for instance, ionic strength, temperature and water content. It was surprising the low solubility product (Ksp) of the new phase Co2CO3(OH)2 in the order of 10-30 and this could explain its appearance only after 7 days of aging. On the other hand, the high solubility product of amorphous is consistent with its instantaneous precipitation at the beginning of the reaction. Solution calorimetry shows a higher value of exothermic solution enthalpy for crystalline cobalt hydroxide carbonate and hence, the solubility result are confirmed. Although geochemical models indicated that aqueous solution was supersaturated with respect both phases, the sequence of obtained phases (first amorphous and next crystalline) indicate that the evolution of the saturation index has to be dropped with respect to amorphous phase with time. These results points towards a simultaneous dissolution of the amorphous and the precipitation of crystalline phase Co2CO3(OH)2 at the first stages of the reaction. González-López, J. ; Fernández-González, Á. ; Jiménez, A. (2015) Prepublication: Crystallization of nanostructured cobalt hydroxide carbonate at ambient conditions: a key precursor of Co3O4. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2015.079.7.02

Global Potential Net Prmary Production Predicted from Vegetation Class, Precipitation, and Temperature

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Net Primary Production (NPP), the difference between CO2 fixed by photosynthesis and CO2 lost to autotrophic respiration, is one of the most important components of the carbon cycle. Our goal was to develop a simple regression model to estimate global NPP using climate and land cover data. Approxima...

Recycling Lithium Carbonate/Lithium Hydroxide Waste

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flowers, J.; Flowers, J.

1983-01-01

Hazardous waste disposal problem eliminated by regeneration. Li2CO3/ LiOH recycling process relies on low solubility of alkali carbonates in corresponding hydroxides. Li2CO3 precipitate calcined to LI2O, then rehydrated LiOH. Regeneration eliminates need to dispose caustic waste and uses less energy than simple calcination of entire waste mass.

ZnO supported CoFe2O4 nanophotocatalysts for the mineralization of Direct Blue 71 in aqueous environments.

PubMed

Sathishkumar, Panneerselvam; Pugazhenthiran, Nalenthiran; Mangalaraja, Ramalinga Viswanathan; Asiri, Abdullah M; Anandan, Sambandam

2013-05-15

In this study, an attempt was made to render both the magnetic and photocatalytic properties in a semiconductor material to enhance the efficiency of degradation and recycling possibility of magnetic nanophotocatalysts. CoFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 loaded ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by a simple co-precipitation method and characterized using various analytical tools and in addition to check its visible light assisted photocatalytic activity. CoFe2O4/ZnO nanocatalyst coupled with acceptor, peroxomonosulphate (PMS) showed 1.69-fold enhancement in Direct Blue 71 (triazo dye; DB71) mineralization within 5h. The accomplished enrichment in decolorization was due to the production of more number of non-selective and active free radicals at the catalyst surface. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A rapid method for the sequential separation of polonium, plutonium, americium and uranium in drinking water.

PubMed

Lemons, B; Khaing, H; Ward, A; Thakur, P

2018-06-01

A new sequential separation method for the determination of polonium and actinides (Pu, Am and U) in drinking water samples has been developed that can be used for emergency response or routine water analyses. For the first time, the application of TEVA chromatography column in the sequential separation of polonium and plutonium has been studied. This method utilizes a rapid Fe +3 co-precipitation step to remove matrix interferences, followed by plutonium oxidation state adjustment to Pu 4+ and an incubation period of ~ 1 h at 50-60 °C to allow Po 2+ to oxidize to Po 4+ . The polonium and plutonium were then separated on a TEVA column, while separation of americium from uranium was performed on a TRU column. After separation, polonium was micro-precipitated with copper sulfide (CuS), while actinides were micro co-precipitated using neodymium fluoride (NdF 3 ) for counting by the alpha spectrometry. The method is simple, robust and can be performed quickly with excellent removal of interferences, high chemical recovery and very good alpha peak resolution. The efficiency and reliability of the procedures were tested by using spiked samples. The effect of several transition metals (Cu 2+ , Pb 2+ , Fe 3+ , Fe 2+ , and Ni 2+ ) on the performance of this method were also assessed to evaluate the potential matrix effects. Studies indicate that presence of up to 25 mg of these cations in the samples had no adverse effect on the recovery or the resolution of polonium alpha peaks. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Alcohol vapor sensing by cadmium-doped zinc oxide thick films based chemical sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zargar, R. A.; Arora, M.; Chackrabarti, S.; Ahmad, S.; Kumar, J.; Hafiz, A. K.

2016-04-01

Cadmium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles were derived by simple chemical co-precipitation route using zinc acetate dihydrate and cadmium acetate dihydrate as precursor materials. The thick films were casted from chemical co-precipitation route prepared nanoparticles by economic facile screen printing method. The structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of the film were characterized relevant to alcohol vapor sensing application by powder XRD, SEM, UV-VIS and DC conductivity techniques. The response and sensitivity of alcohol (ethanol) vapor sensor are obtained from the recovery curves at optimum working temperature range from 20∘C to 50∘C. The result shows that maximum sensitivity of the sensor is observed at 25∘C operating temperature. On varying alcohol vapor concentration, minor variation in resistance has been observed. The sensing mechanism of sensor has been described in terms of physical adsorption and chemical absorption of alcohol vapors on cadmium-doped zinc oxide film surface and inside film lattice network through weak hydrogen bonding, respectively.

Nano cube of CaSnO3: Facile and green co-precipitation synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic degradation of dye

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moshtaghi, Saeed; Gholamrezaei, Sousan; Salavati Niasari, Masoud

2017-04-01

In this work, nanocubes of CaSnO3 have been prepared by a simple and green co-precipitation method. In this technique, for preparation of calcium stannate, we have used from a complex structure of calcium as a new precursor and the synthesis of CaSnO3 have been done in water as a green solvent. Using of complexing precursors were created a congestion in reaction medium. Different conditions have been studied in synthetic approaches and optimized the effect of different parameters on the morphology of product such as precipitation agent (alkaline), pH, temperature, the rate of stirrer, surfactants and the mole ratio of surfactants for preparation product and obtain the best product in terms of quality and morphology. By using of this CaSnO3, two types of azo dyes (acid blue 92 and acid brown 14) have been degraded at presence of ultraviolet light from aqueous solution. Results display that the powder shows appropriate catalytic behavior for degradation of dyes (77% acid brown 14 and 67% acid black 92). Therefore these nano-cube structures have been used as photocatalysts in presence of UV light for degradation of azo dyes.

A simple and effective method for detecting precipitated proteins in MALDI-TOF MS.

PubMed

Oshikane, Hiroyuki; Watabe, Masahiko; Nakaki, Toshio

2018-04-01

MALDI-TOF MS has developed rapidly into an essential analytical tool for the life sciences. Cinnamic acid derivatives are generally employed in routine molecular weight determinations of intact proteins using MALDI-TOF MS. However, a protein of interest may precipitate when mixed with matrix solution, perhaps preventing MS detection. We herein provide a simple approach to enable the MS detection of such precipitated protein species by means of a "direct deposition method" -- loading the precipitant directly onto the sample plate. It is thus expected to improve routine MS analysis of intact proteins. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Highly transparent cerium doped gadolinium gallium aluminum garnet ceramic prepared with precursors fabricated by ultrasonic enhanced chemical co-precipitation.

PubMed

Zhang, Ji-Yun; Luo, Zhao-Hua; Jiang, Hao-Chuan; Jiang, Jun; Chen, Chun-Hua; Zhang, Jing-Xian; Gui, Zhen-Zhen; Xiao, Na

2017-11-01

Cerium doped gadolinium gallium aluminum garnet (GGAG:Ce) ceramic precursors have been synthesized with an ultrasonic chemical co-precipitation method (UCC) and for comparison with a traditional chemical co-precipitation method (TCC). The effect of ultra-sonication on the morphology of powders and the transmittance of GGAG:Ce ceramics are studied. The results indicate that the UCC method can effectively improve the homogenization and sinterability of GGAG:Ce powders, which contribute to obtain high transparent GGAG ceramic with the highest transmittance of 81%. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Achieving High Luminescent Performance K2SiF6:Mn4+ Phosphor by Co-precipitation Process with Controlling the Reaction Temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tran, Tat-Dat; Nguyen, Duy-Hung; Pham, Thanh-Huy; Nguyen, Duy-Cuong; Duong, Thanh-Tung

2018-05-01

K2SiF6:Mn4+ (KSF:Mn) phosphor was synthesized by the one-step co-precipitation process, at different temperatures. It was found that the reaction temperature played a key role in photoluminescence performance of the product. When the reaction temperature decreased from 0°C to - 20°C, the doping concentration, Mn/Si ratio, increased from 2% to 10%. However, further decrement of temperature (to - 30°C) reduced the Mn/Si ratio to 7%. The photo-luminescence (PL) intensity was maximized at the highest Mn/Si (10%), which corresponds to a reaction temperature of - 20°C. The KSF:Mn phosphor showed excellent luminescent properties at a wide range of temperatures (from room temperature to 470 K), especially after being dispersed in a polymer matrix. When combined with a commercial white light emitting diode (WLED), KSF:Mn significantly improved luminescent properties, such as color rendering index (CRI), correlated color temperature (CCT) and luminous efficiency. In particular, CRI increased from 67.3 to 87.4, while the CCT decreased from 7800 K to 3204 K. The luminous efficiency increased from 82.0 lm/W to 95.3 lm/W. The results indicated that the high quality KSF:Mn red phosphor could be achieved by a simple one-step co-precipitation method with a fine control of reaction temperature.

Reactive transport modeling to study changes in water chemistry induced by CO2 injection at the Frio-I Brine Pilot

USGS Publications Warehouse

Xu, T.; Kharaka, Y.K.; Doughty, C.; Freifeld, B.M.; Daley, T.M.

2010-01-01

To demonstrate the potential for geologic storage of CO2 in saline aquifers, the Frio-I Brine Pilot was conducted, during which 1600 tons of CO2 were injected into a high-permeability sandstone and the resulting subsurface plume of CO2 was monitored using a variety of hydrogeological, geophysical, and geochemical techniques. Fluid samples were obtained before CO2 injection for baseline geochemical characterization, during the CO2 injection to track its breakthrough at a nearby observation well, and after injection to investigate changes in fluid composition and potential leakage into an overlying zone. Following CO2 breakthrough at the observation well, brine samples showed sharp drops in pH, pronounced increases in HCO3- and aqueous Fe, and significant shifts in the isotopic compositions of H2O and dissolved inorganic carbon. Based on a calibrated 1-D radial flow model, reactive transport modeling was performed for the Frio-I Brine Pilot. A simple kinetic model of Fe release from the solid to aqueous phase was developed, which can reproduce the observed increases in aqueous Fe concentration. Brine samples collected after half a year had lower Fe concentrations due to carbonate precipitation, and this trend can be also captured by our modeling. The paper provides a method for estimating potential mobile Fe inventory, and its bounding concentration in the storage formation from limited observation data. Long-term simulations show that the CO2 plume gradually spreads outward due to capillary forces, and the gas saturation gradually decreases due to its dissolution and precipitation of carbonates. The gas phase is predicted to disappear after 500 years. Elevated aqueous CO2 concentrations remain for a longer time, but eventually decrease due to carbonate precipitation. For the Frio-I Brine Pilot, all injected CO2 could ultimately be sequestered as carbonate minerals. ?? 2010 Elsevier B.V.

Development of a calcium phosphate co-precipitate/poly(lactide-co-glycolide) DNA delivery system: release kinetics and cellular transfection studies.

PubMed

Kofron, Michelle D; Laurencin, Cato T

2004-06-01

One of the most common non-viral methods for the introduction of foreign deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into cultured cells is calcium phosphate co-precipitate transfection. This technique involves the encapsulation of DNA within a calcium phosphate co-precipitate, particulate addition to in vitro cell culture, endocytosis of the co-precipitate, and exogenous DNA expression by the transfected cell. In this study, we fabricated a novel non-viral gene transfer system by adsorbing DNA, encapsulated in calcium phosphate (DNA/Ca-P) co-precipitates, to biodegradable two- and three-dimensional poly(lactide-co-glycolide) matrices (2D-DNA/Ca-P/PLAGA, 3D-DNA/Ca-P/PLAGA). Co-precipitate release studies demonstrated an initial burst release over the first 48 h. By day 7, approximately 96% of the initially adsorbed DNA/Ca-P co-precipitate had been released. This was followed by low levels of co-precipitate release for 42 days. Polymerase chain reaction was used to demonstrate the ability of the released DNA containing co-precipitates to transfect SaOS-2 cells cultured in vitro on the 3D-DNA/Ca-P/PLAGA matrix and maintenance of the structural integrity of the exogenous DNA. In summary, a promising system for the incorporation and controlled delivery of exogenous genes encapsulated within a calcium phosphate co-precipitate from biodegradable polymeric matrices has been developed and may have applicability to the delivery of therapeutic genes and the transfection of other cell types.

Determination of 15N/14N and 13C/12C in Solid and Aqueous Cyanides

USGS Publications Warehouse

Johnson, C.A.

1996-01-01

The stable isotopic compositions of nitrogen and carbon in cyanide compounds can be determined by combusting aliquots in sealed tubes to form N2 gas and CO2 gas and analyzing the gases by mass spectrometry. Free cyanide (CN-aq + HCNaq) in simple solutions can also be analyzed by first precipitating the cyanide as copper(II) ferrocyanide and then combusting the precipitate. Reproducibility is ??0.5??? or better for both ??15N and ??13C. If empirical corrections are made on the basis of carbon yields, the reproducibility of ??13C can be improved to ??0.2???. The analytical methods described herein are sufficiently accurate and precise to apply stable isotope techniques to problems of cyanide degradation in natural waters and industrial process solutions.

Ag modified LaCoO3 perovskite oxide for photocatalytic application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayapandi, S.; Prakasini, V. Anitha; Anitha, K.

2018-04-01

The present investigation has been carried out to develop a novel photocatalytic material based on lanthanum cobaltite (LaCoO3) and silver (Ag) doped LaCoO3 perovskite oxide. Pure LaCoO3 and 5 Mol% Ag doped LaCoO3 (Ag-LaCoO3) have been synthesized by simple co-precipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and photoluminescence (PL) techniques and its photocatalytic activity was evaluated by photodegradation of methylene blue under sunlight irradiation. The observed XRD, UV and PL results indicate that Ag influences on the crystallite size and absorption coefficient of LaCoO3 perovskite oxide. The percentage of dye degradations was calculated as 60% and 99 % for LaCoO3 and 5 Mol% Ag-LaCoO3 pervoskite oxides respectively for 10 minutes (10 min) exposure to sunlight, which indicates that 5 mol% of Ag-LaCoO3, has better photodegradation activity. Hence, the present investigation confirms that Ag influences the photocatalytic activity of a material and the observations will be helpful for further developing new photocatalytic materials.

Hydrochemical controls on aragonite versus calcite precipitation in cave dripwaters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, Carlos; Lozano, Rafael P.

2016-11-01

Despite the paleoclimatic relevance of primary calcite to aragonite transitions in stalagmites, the relative role of fluid Mg/Ca ratio, supersaturation and CO32- concentration in controlling such transitions is still incompletely understood. Accordingly, we have monitored the hydrochemistry of 50 drips and 8 pools that are currently precipitating calcite and/or aragonite in El Soplao and Torca Ancha Caves (N. Spain), investigating the mineralogy and geochemistry of the CaCO3 precipitates on the corresponding natural speleothem surfaces. The data reveal that, apart from possible substrate effects, dripwater Mg/Ca is the only obvious control on CaCO3 polymorphism in the studied stalagmites and pools, where calcite- and aragonite-precipitating dripwaters are separated by an initial (i.e. at stalactite tips) Mg/Ca threshold at ≈1.1 mol/mol. Within the analyzed ranges of pH (8.2-8.6), CO32- concentration (1-6 mg/L), supersaturation (SIaragonite: 0.08-1.08; SIcalcite: 0.23-1.24), drip rate (0.2-81 drops/min) and dissolved Zn (6-90 μg/L), we observe no unequivocal influence of these parameters on CaCO3 mineralogy. Despite the almost complete overlapping supersaturations of calcite- and aragonite-precipitating waters, the latter are on average less supersaturated because the waters having Mg/Ca above ∼1.1 have mostly achieved such high ratios by previously precipitating calcite. Both calcite and aragonite precipitated at or near oxygen isotopic equilibrium, and Mg incorporation into calcite was consistent with literature-based predictions, indicating that in the studied cases CaCO3 precipitation was not significantly influenced by strong kinetic effects. In the studied cases, the calcites that precipitate at ∼11 °C from dripwaters with initial Mg/Ca approaching ∼1.1 incorporate ∼5 mol% MgCO3, close to the published value above which calcite solubility exceeds aragonite solubility, suggesting that aragonite precipitation in high-relative-humidity caves is favored from a solubility viewpoint. We also show that unaccounted CaCO3 precipitation in intermediate sampling containers and splash effects may in cases result in underestimating dripwater Ca concentration and alkalinity, potentially leading to incorrect conclusions regarding the role of fluid Mg/Ca ratio and supersaturation on CaCO3 mineralogy. A simple way to elude the first effect is by taking water samples directly from stalactites and by titrating alkalinity in the same containers used to collect dripwaters.

Investigation of Nd xY 0.25-xZr 0.75O 1.88 inert matrix fuel materials made by a co-precipitation synthetic route

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hayes, John R.; Grosvenor, Andrew P.

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is a material that we are considering in our inert matrix fuel nuclear reactors, but a complete characterization of these materials is required for them to be licensed for use. A series of NdxY0.25–xZr0.75O1.88 materials have been synthesized using a co-precipitation method, and the thermal stability of these materials has been studied by annealing them at 1400 and 1500 °C. (Nd was used as surrogate for Am.) The long-range and local structures of the materials were characterized via powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, wavelength dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Zr K- and Ymore » K-edges. These results were compared with the previous characterization of Nd-YSZ materials synthesized using a ceramic method. Moreover, the results indicated that the ordering in the local metal–oxygen polyhedral remains relatively unaffected by the synthetic method, but there was increased long-range disorder in the materials prepared by the co-precipitation method. Further, it was found that the materials produced by the co-precipitation method were unexpectedly unstable when annealed at high temperature. This study highlights the importance of determining the effect of synthetic method on material properties and demonstrates how the co-precipitation route could be used to produce inert matrix fuels.« less

Organic oxalate as leachant and precipitant for the recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sun Liang; Key Laboratory of Resources Chemistry of Nonferrous Metals, Central South University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China; Qiu Keqiang, E-mail: qiuwhs@sohu.com

2012-08-15

Graphical abstract: Display Omitted Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Vacuum pyrolysis as a pretreatment was used to separate cathode material from aluminum foils. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Cobalt and lithium can be leached using oxalate while cobalt can be directly precipitated as cobalt oxalate. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Cobalt and lithium can be separated efficiently from each other only in the oxalate leaching process. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer High reaction efficiency of LiCoO{sub 2} was obtained with oxalate. - Abstract: Spent lithium-ion batteries containing lots of strategic resources such as cobalt and lithium are considered as an attractive secondary resource. In this work, an environmentally compatible process based on vacuum pyrolysis, oxalatemore » leaching and precipitation is applied to recover cobalt and lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries. Oxalate is introduced as leaching reagent meanwhile as precipitant which leaches and precipitates cobalt from LiCoO{sub 2} and CoO directly as CoC{sub 2}O{sub 4}{center_dot}2H{sub 2}O with 1.0 M oxalate solution at 80 Degree-Sign C and solid/liquid ratio of 50 g L{sup -1} for 120 min. The reaction efficiency of more than 98% of LiCoO{sub 2} can be achieved and cobalt and lithium can also be separated efficiently during the hydrometallurgical process. The combined process is simple and adequate for the recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries.« less

Exploring precipitation pattern scaling methodologies and robustness among CMIP5 models

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kravitz, Ben; Lynch, Cary; Hartin, Corinne

Pattern scaling is a well-established method for approximating modeled spatial distributions of changes in temperature by assuming a time-invariant pattern that scales with changes in global mean temperature. We compare two methods of pattern scaling for annual mean precipitation (regression and epoch difference) and evaluate which method is better in particular circumstances by quantifying their robustness to interpolation/extrapolation in time, inter-model variations, and inter-scenario variations. Both the regression and epoch-difference methods (the two most commonly used methods of pattern scaling) have good absolute performance in reconstructing the climate model output, measured as an area-weighted root mean square error. We decomposemore » the precipitation response in the RCP8.5 scenario into a CO 2 portion and a non-CO 2 portion. Extrapolating RCP8.5 patterns to reconstruct precipitation change in the RCP2.6 scenario results in large errors due to violations of pattern scaling assumptions when this CO 2-/non-CO 2-forcing decomposition is applied. As a result, the methodologies discussed in this paper can help provide precipitation fields to be utilized in other models (including integrated assessment models or impacts assessment models) for a wide variety of scenarios of future climate change.« less

Exploring precipitation pattern scaling methodologies and robustness among CMIP5 models

DOE PAGES

Kravitz, Ben; Lynch, Cary; Hartin, Corinne; ...

2017-05-12

Pattern scaling is a well-established method for approximating modeled spatial distributions of changes in temperature by assuming a time-invariant pattern that scales with changes in global mean temperature. We compare two methods of pattern scaling for annual mean precipitation (regression and epoch difference) and evaluate which method is better in particular circumstances by quantifying their robustness to interpolation/extrapolation in time, inter-model variations, and inter-scenario variations. Both the regression and epoch-difference methods (the two most commonly used methods of pattern scaling) have good absolute performance in reconstructing the climate model output, measured as an area-weighted root mean square error. We decomposemore » the precipitation response in the RCP8.5 scenario into a CO 2 portion and a non-CO 2 portion. Extrapolating RCP8.5 patterns to reconstruct precipitation change in the RCP2.6 scenario results in large errors due to violations of pattern scaling assumptions when this CO 2-/non-CO 2-forcing decomposition is applied. As a result, the methodologies discussed in this paper can help provide precipitation fields to be utilized in other models (including integrated assessment models or impacts assessment models) for a wide variety of scenarios of future climate change.« less

Lithium recycling and cathode material regeneration from acid leach liquor of spent lithium-ion battery via facile co-extraction and co-precipitation processes.

PubMed

Yang, Yue; Xu, Shengming; He, Yinghe

2017-06-01

A novel process for extracting transition metals, recovering lithium and regenerating cathode materials based on facile co-extraction and co-precipitation processes has been developed. 100% manganese, 99% cobalt and 85% nickel are co-extracted and separated from lithium by D2EHPA in kerosene. Then, Li is recovered from the raffinate as Li 2 CO 3 with the purity of 99.2% by precipitation method. Finally, organic load phase is stripped with 0.5M H 2 SO 4 , and the cathode material LiNi 1/3 Co 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 is directly regenerated from stripping liquor without separating metal individually by co-precipitation method. The regenerative cathode material LiNi 1/3 Co 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 is miro spherical morphology without any impurities, which can meet with LiNi 1/3 Co 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 production standard of China and exhibits good electrochemical performance. Moreover, a waste battery management model is introduced to guarantee the material supply for spent battery recycling. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mesoporous composite nickel cobalt oxide/graphene oxide synthesized via a template-assistant co-precipitation route as electrode material for supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yanjie; Wang, Lincai; Cao, Peiqi; Cai, Chuanlin; Fu, Yanbao; Ma, Xiaohua

2016-02-01

A simple co-precipitation method utilizing SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) as template and ammonia as precipitant is successfully employed to synthesize nickel cobalt oxide/graphene oxide (NiCo2O4/GO) composite. The as-prepared composite (NCG-10) exhibits a high capacitance of 1211.25 F g-1, 687 F g-1 at the current density of 1 A g-1, 10 A g-1 and good cycling ability which renders NCG-10 as promising electrode material for supercapacitors. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) (full button cell) has been constructed with NCG-10 as positive electrode and lab-made reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as negative electrode. The fabricated NCG-10//rGO with an extended stable operational voltage of 1.6 V can deliver a high specific capacitance of 144.45 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1. The as-prepared NCG-10//rGO demonstrates remarkable energy density (51.36 W h kg-1 at 1 A g-1), high power density (50 kW kg-1 at 20 A g-1). The retention of capacitance is 88.6% at the current density of 8 A g-1 after 2000 cycles. The enhanced capacitive performance can be attributed to the improved specific surface area and 3D open area of NCG-10 generated by the pores and channels with the substantial function of SDS.

Use of co-immunoelectrodiffusion to detect presumed disease-associated precipitating antibodies, and time-course value of specific isotypes in bird-breeder's disease.

PubMed

Toubas, Dominique; Aubert, Dominique; Villena, Isabelle; Foudrinier, Frédérique; Chemla, Cathy; Pinon, Jean Michel

2003-01-15

The practical value of immunological diagnosis of bird-breeder's disease (BBD) is controversial, because of difficulties in distinguishing active disease patients from simple contact subjects. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of (a) presumed disease-associated antibodies precipitating pigeon antigens (immunoglobulin A (IgAp) and P2 component), (b) characterization of specific isotypes (IgG, IgM, and IgA), and (c) antibody kinetics after antigen eradication. 405 subjects (775 sera) in contact with birds were studied [by means of co-immunoelectrodiffusion (Co-IED) and enzyme-linked immunofiltration (ELIFA)] with soluble extracts of pigeon droppings and squab crop milk. These patients were divided into two groups based on the final clinical evaluation of the patients' physicians, which was taken as the gold standard (positive in 90 and negative in 315 cases). On the basis of this gold standard, the detection of presumed disease-associated precipitating antibodies by Co-IED had a specificity of 95.5%, a sensitivity of 98.7%, an accuracy of 98%, and positive and negative predictive values of 95.5% and 98.7%, respectively. Most of the patients with a final positive diagnosis of BBD had specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies by ELIFA. After antigen eradication, anti IgAp and/or P2 antibodies disappeared more rapidly than other precipitating systems. Identification by Co-IED of precipitating immune complexes IgAp and/or P2 significantly reinforces the intrinsic credibility of immunological diagnosis of BBD. Compared to these presumed disease-associated precipitating antibodies, detection and time course of specific IgM, IgA antibodies, provided no additional diagnostic value or prognostic arguments to judge disease activity after antigen eradication.

Porous Ni-Co-Mn oxides prisms for high performance electrochemical energy storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jianbo; Li, Man; Li, Junru; Wei, Chengzhen; He, Yuyue; Huang, Yixuan; Li, Qiaoling

2017-12-01

Porous Ni-Co-Mn oxides prisms have been successfully synthesized via a facile route. The process involves the preparation of nickel-cobalt-manganese acetate hydroxide by a simple co-precipitation method and subsequently the thermal treatment. The as-synthesized Ni-Co-Mn oxides prisms had a large surface area (96.53 m2 g-1) and porous structure. As electrode materials for supercapacitors, porous Ni-Co-Mn oxides prisms showed a high specific capacitance of 1623.5 F g-1 at 1.0 A g-1. Moreover, the porous Ni-Co-Mn oxides prisms were also employed as positive electrode materials to assemble flexible solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors. The resulting flexible device had a maximum volumetric energy density (0.885 mW h cm-3) and power density (48.9 mW cm-3). Encouragingly, the flexible device exhibited good cycling stability with only about 2.2% loss after 5000 charge-discharge cycles and excellent mechanical stability. These results indicate that porous Ni-Co-Mn oxides prisms have the promising application in high performance electrochemical energy storage.

Fabrication and Characterization of Biomimetic Collagen-Apatite Scaffolds with Tunable Structures for Bone Tissue Engineering

PubMed Central

Xia, Zengmin; Yu, Xiaohua; Jiang, Xi; Brody, Harold D; Rowe, David W; Wei, Mei

2013-01-01

The objective of the current study is to prepare a biomimetic collagen-apatite (Col-Ap) scaffold for improved bone repair and regeneration. A novel bottom-up approach has been developed, which combines a biomimetic self-assembly method with a controllable freeze casting technology. In this study, the mineralized collagen fibers were generated using a simple one-step co-precipitation method which involved collagen self-assembly and in situ apatite precipitation in a collagen-containing modified simulated body fluid (m-SBF). The precipitates were subjected to controllable freeze casting, forming scaffolds with either an isotropic equiaxed structure or a unidirectional lamellar structure. These scaffolds were comprised of collagen fibers and poorly crystalline bone-like carbonated apatite nanoparticles. The mineral content in the scaffold could be tailored in a range 0–54 wt% by simply adjusting the collagen content in the m-SBF. Further, the mechanisms of the formation of both the equiaxed and the lamellar scaffolds were investigated, and freezing regimes for equiaxed and lamellar solidification were established. Finally, bone forming capability of such prepared scaffolds was evaluated in vivo in a mouse calvarial defect model. It was confirmed that the scaffolds well support new bone formation. PMID:23567944

Investigations on structural and optical properties of starch capped ZnS nanoparticles synthesized by microwave irradiation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lalithadevi, B.; Mohan Rao, K.; Ramananda, D.

2018-05-01

Following a green synthesis method, zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles were prepared by chemical co-precipitation technique using starch as capping agent. Microwave irradiation was used as heating source. X-ray diffraction studies indicated that nanopowders obtained were polycrystalline possessing ZnS simple cubic structure. Transmission electron microscopic studies indicated that starch limits the agglomeration by steric stabilization. Interaction between ZnS and starch was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as well as Raman scattering studies. Quantum size effects were observed in optical absorption studies while quenching of defect states on nanoparticles was improved with increase in starch addition as indicated by photoluminescence spectra.

Sustained release of simvastatin from hollow carbonated hydroxyapatite microspheres prepared by aspartic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate.

PubMed

Wang, Ke; Wang, Yinjing; Zhao, Xu; Li, Yi; Yang, Tao; Zhang, Xue; Wu, Xiaoguang

2017-06-01

Hollow carbonated hydroxyapatite (HCHAp) microspheres as simvastatin (SV) sustained-release vehicles were fabricated through a novel and simple one-step biomimetic strategy. Firstly, hollow CaCO 3 microspheres were precipitated through the reaction of CaCl 2 with Na 2 CO 3 in the presence of aspartic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Then, the as-prepared hollow CaCO 3 microspheres were transformed into HCHAp microspheres with a controlled anion-exchange method. The HCHAp microspheres were 3-5μm with a shell thickness of 0.5-1μm and were constructed of short needle nanoparticles. The HCHAp microspheres were then loaded with SV, exhibiting excellent drug-loading capacity and sustained release properties. These results present a new material synthesis strategy for HCHAp microspheres and suggest that the as-prepared HCHAp microspheres are promising for applications in drug delivery. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Carbonate Hydroxyapatite and Silicon-Substituted Carbonate Hydroxyapatite: Synthesis, Mechanical Properties, and Solubility Evaluations

PubMed Central

Bang, L. T.; Long, B. D.; Othman, R.

2014-01-01

The present study investigates the chemical composition, solubility, and physical and mechanical properties of carbonate hydroxyapatite (CO3Ap) and silicon-substituted carbonate hydroxyapatite (Si-CO3Ap) which have been prepared by a simple precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) techniques were used to characterize the formation of CO3Ap and Si-CO3Ap. The results revealed that the silicate (SiO4 4−) and carbonate (CO3 2−) ions competed to occupy the phosphate (PO4 3−) site and also entered simultaneously into the hydroxyapatite structure. The Si-substituted CO3Ap reduced the powder crystallinity and promoted ion release which resulted in a better solubility compared to that of Si-free CO3Ap. The mean particle size of Si-CO3Ap was much finer than that of CO3Ap. At 750°C heat-treatment temperature, the diametral tensile strengths (DTS) of Si-CO3Ap and CO3Ap were about 10.8 ± 0.3 and 11.8 ± 0.4 MPa, respectively. PMID:24723840

A simple method to prepare magnetic modified beer yeast and its application for cationic dye adsorption.

PubMed

Yu, Jun-Xia; Wang, Li-Yan; Chi, Ru-An; Zhang, Yue-Fei; Xu, Zhi-Gao; Guo, Jia

2013-01-01

The purpose of this research is to use a simple method to prepare magnetic modified biomass with good adsorption performances for cationic ions. The magnetic modified biomass was prepared by two steps: (1) preparation of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) modified biomass in N, N-dimethylacetamide solution and (2) preparation of magnetic PMDA modified biomass by a situ co-precipitation method under the assistance of ultrasound irradiation in ammonia water. The adsorption potential of the as-prepared magnetic modified biomass was analyzed by using cationic dyes: methylene blue and basic magenta as model dyes. Optical micrograph and x-ray diffraction analyses showed that Fe(3)O(4) particles were precipitated on the modified biomass surface. The as-prepared biosorbent could be recycled easily by using an applied magnetic field. Titration analysis showed that the total concentration of the functional groups on the magnetic PMDA modified biomass was calculated to be 0.75 mmol g(-1) by using the first derivative method. The adsorption capacities (q(m)) of the magnetic PMDA modified biomass for methylene blue and basic magenta were 609.0 and 520.9 mg g(-1), respectively, according to the Langmuir equation. Kinetics experiment showed that adsorption could be completed within 150 min for both dyes. The desorption experiment showed that the magnetic sorbent could be used repeatedly after regeneration. The as-prepared magnetic modified sorbent had a potential in the dyeing industry wastewater treatment.

Effect of modification methods on the surface properties and n-butane isomerization performance of La/Ni-promoted SO42-/ZrO2-Al2O3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Pengzhao; Zhang, Jiaoyu; Han, Chaoyi; Yang, Chaohe; Li, Chunyi

2016-08-01

The La and/or Ni was introduced into alumina-promoted sulfated zirconia by impregnation and co-precipitation to improve the catalytic property of n-butane isomerization. Catalysts characterization shows that the addition of La/Ni has a remarkable influence on the surface and textual properties depending on the modification method. The impregnation of La/Ni facilitates the transformation of a small amount of tetragonal zirconia into monoclinic phase, while the co-precipitation improves the stability of tetragonal ZrO2. H2-TPR indicates that the addition of La/Ni changes the interaction between SO42- and supports, which affects the acidity on the surface. Specifically, the Lewis acidity is significantly enhanced by either modification method. The co-precipitation reserves almost all of the Brønsted acid sites, while the impregnation causes a remarkable decrease of Brønsted acid sites. Reaction results demonstrate that the co-precipitation exhibits a significant advantage over impregnation that the higher conversion of n-butane and selectivity to isobutane are obtained on the catalyst prepared by co-precipitation. The increase of catalytic activity is ascribed to the accelerated activation rate of n-butane molecules by hydride subtraction on the Lewis acid sites at higher reaction temperature. Furthermore, the addition of La/Ni improves the selectivity to isobutane by inhibiting the bimolecular reaction.

Ultrasound assisted co-precipitation of nanostructured CuO-ZnO-Al2O3 over HZSM-5: effect of precursor and irradiation power on nanocatalyst properties and catalytic performance for direct syngas to DME.

PubMed

Allahyari, Somaiyeh; Haghighi, Mohammad; Ebadi, Amanollah; Hosseinzadeh, Shahin

2014-03-01

Nanostructured CuO-ZnO-Al2O3/HZSM-5 was synthesized from nitrate and acetate precursors using ultrasound assisted co-precipitation method under different irradiation powers. The CuO-ZnO-Al2O3/HZSM-5 nanocatalysts were characterized using XRD, FESEM, BET, FTIR and EDX Dot-mapping analyses. The results indicated precursor type and irradiation power have significant influences on phase structure, morphology, surface area and functional groups. It was observed that the acetate formulated CuO-ZnO-Al2O3/HZSM-5 nanocatalyst have smaller CuO crystals with better dispersion and stronger interaction between components in comparison to nitrate based nanocatalysts. Ultrasound assisted co-precipitation synthesis method resulted in nanocatalyst with more uniform morphology compared to conventional method and increasing irradiation power yields smaller particles with better dispersion and higher surface area. Additionally the crystallinity of CuO is lower at high irradiation powers leading to stronger interaction between metal oxides. The nanocatalysts performance were tested at 200-300 °C, 10-40 bar and space velocity of 18,000-36,000 cm(3)/g h with the inlet gas composition of H2/CO = 2/1 in a stainless steel autoclave reactor. The acetate based nanocatalysts irradiated with higher levels of power exhibited better reactivity in terms of CO conversion and DME yield. While there is an optimal temperature for CO conversion and DME yield in direct synthesis of DME, CO conversion and DME yield both increase with the pressure increase. Furthermore ultrasound assisted co-precipitation method yields more stable CuO-ZnO-Al2O3/HZSM-5 nanocatalyst while conventional precipitated nanocatalyst lost their activity ca. 18% and 58% in terms of CO conversion and DME yield respectively in 24 h time on stream test.

A GIS Tool for evaluating and improving NEXRAD and its application in distributed hydrologic modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, X.; Srinivasan, R.

2008-12-01

In this study, a user friendly GIS tool was developed for evaluating and improving NEXRAD using raingauge data. This GIS tool can automatically read in raingauge and NEXRAD data, evaluate the accuracy of NEXRAD for each time unit, implement several geostatistical methods to improve the accuracy of NEXRAD through raingauge data, and output spatial precipitation map for distributed hydrologic model. The geostatistical methods incorporated in this tool include Simple Kriging with varying local means, Kriging with External Drift, Regression Kriging, Co-Kriging, and a new geostatistical method that was newly developed by Li et al. (2008). This tool was applied in two test watersheds at hourly and daily temporal scale. The preliminary cross-validation results show that incorporating raingauge data to calibrate NEXRAD can pronouncedly change the spatial pattern of NEXRAD and improve its accuracy. Using different geostatistical methods, the GIS tool was applied to produce long term precipitation input for a distributed hydrologic model - Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Animated video was generated to vividly illustrate the effect of using different precipitation input data on distributed hydrologic modeling. Currently, this GIS tool is developed as an extension of SWAT, which is used as water quantity and quality modeling tool by USDA and EPA. The flexible module based design of this tool also makes it easy to be adapted for other hydrologic models for hydrological modeling and water resources management.

A Simple Method Based on the Application of a CCD Camera as a Sensor to Detect Low Concentrations of Barium Sulfate in Suspension

PubMed Central

de Sena, Rodrigo Caciano; Soares, Matheus; Pereira, Maria Luiza Oliveira; da Silva, Rogério Cruz Domingues; do Rosário, Francisca Ferreira; da Silva, Joao Francisco Cajaiba

2011-01-01

The development of a simple, rapid and low cost method based on video image analysis and aimed at the detection of low concentrations of precipitated barium sulfate is described. The proposed system is basically composed of a webcam with a CCD sensor and a conventional dichroic lamp. For this purpose, software for processing and analyzing the digital images based on the RGB (Red, Green and Blue) color system was developed. The proposed method had shown very good repeatability and linearity and also presented higher sensitivity than the standard turbidimetric method. The developed method is presented as a simple alternative for future applications in the study of precipitations of inorganic salts and also for detecting the crystallization of organic compounds. PMID:22346607

A simple and facile synthesis of MPA capped CdSe and CdSe/CdS core/shell nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sukanya, D.; Sagayaraj, P.

2015-06-01

II-VI semiconductor nanostructures, in particular, CdSe quantum dots have drawn a lot of attention because of their promising potential applications in biological tagging, photovoltaic, display devices etc. due to their excellent optical properties, high emission quantum yield, size dependent emission wavelength and high photostability. In this paper, we describe the synthesis and properties of mercaptopropionic acid capped CdSe and CdSe/CdS nanoparticles through a simple and efficient co-precipitation method followed by hydrothermal treatment. The growth process, characterization and the optical absorption as a function of wavelength for the synthesized MPA capped CdSe and CdSe/CdS nanoparticles have been determined using X-ray diffraction study (XRD), Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM).

Synthesis and characterization of rod like C doped ZnO nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Labhane, P. K.; Sapkal, B. M.; Sonawane, G. H.

2018-05-01

Carbon (C) doped ZnO rod like nanoparticles were prepared by simple co-precipitation method. The effect of C doping on ZnO has been evaluated by using XRD, Williamson-Hall Plot, FESEM and EDX data. UV light assisted photocatalytic activities of prepared samples were evaluated spectrophotometrically by the degradation of methylene blue (MB). C doped ZnO shows excellent catalytic efficiency compared to pure ZnO, degrading MB completely within 100 min under UV light. Photocatalysis follows the first order kinetics law and the calculated apparent reaction kinetics rate constant suggest the better activity of C-ZnO.

The impacts of changing transport and precipitation on pollutant distributions in a future climate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Yuanyuan; Fiore, Arlene M.; Horowitz, Larry W.; Gnanadesikan, Anand; Held, Isaac; Chen, Gang; Vecchi, Gabriel; Levy, Hiram

2011-09-01

Air pollution (ozone and particulate matter in surface air) is strongly linked to synoptic weather and thus is likely sensitive to climate change. In order to isolate the responses of air pollutant transport and wet removal to a warming climate, we examine a simple carbon monoxide-like (CO) tracer (COt) and a soluble version (SAt), both with the 2001 CO emissions, in simulations with the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory chemistry-climate model (AM3) for present (1981-2000) and future (2081-2100) climates. In 2081-2100, projected reductions in lower-tropospheric ventilation and wet deposition exacerbate surface air pollution as evidenced by higher surface COt and SAt concentrations. However, the average horizontal general circulation patterns in 2081-2100 are similar to 1981-2000, so the spatial distribution of COt changes little. Precipitation is an important factor controlling soluble pollutant wet removal, but the total global precipitation change alone does not necessarily indicate the sign of the soluble pollutant response to climate change. Over certain latitudinal bands, however, the annual wet deposition change can be explained mainly by the simulated changes in large-scale (LS) precipitation. In regions such as North America, differences in the seasonality of LS precipitation and tracer burdens contribute to an apparent inconsistency of changes in annual wet deposition versus annual precipitation. As a step toward an ultimate goal of developing a simple index that can be applied to infer changes in soluble pollutants directly from changes in precipitation fields as projected by physical climate models, we explore here a "Diagnosed Precipitation Impact" (DPI) index. This index captures the sign and magnitude (within 50%) of the relative annual mean changes in the global wet deposition of the soluble pollutant. DPI can only be usefully applied in climate models in which LS precipitation dominates wet deposition and horizontal transport patterns change little as climate warms. Our findings support the need for tighter emission regulations, for both soluble and insoluble pollutants, to obtain a desired level of air quality as climate warms.

Effect of Heat Treatment on Borides Precipitation and Mechanical Properties of CoCrFeNiAl1.8Cu0.7B0.3Si0.1 High-Entropy Alloy Prepared by Arc-Melting and Laser-Cladding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, H.; Tang, H.; He, Y. Z.; Zhang, J. L.; Li, W. H.; Guo, S.

2017-11-01

Effects of heat treatment on borides precipitation and mechanical properties of arc-melted and laser-cladded CoCrNiFeAl1.8Cu0.7B0.3Si0.1 high-entropy alloys were comparatively studied. The arc-melted alloy contains lots of long strip borides distributed in the body-centered cubic phase, with a hardness about 643 HV0.5. Laser-cladding can effectively inhibit the boride precipitation and the laser-cladded alloy is mainly composed of a simple bcc solid solution, with a high hardness about 769 HV0.5, indicating the strengthening effect by interstitial boron atoms is greater than the strengthening by borides precipitation. Heat treatments between 800°C and 1200°C can simultaneously improve the hardness and fracture toughness of arc-melted alloys, owing to the boride spheroidization, dissolution, re-precipitation, and hence the increased boron solubility and nano-precipitation in the bcc solid solution. By contrast, the hardness of laser-cladded alloys reduce after heat treatments in the same temperature range, due to the decreased boron solubility in the matrix.

Method for producing UO$sub 2$ loaded refractory metals

DOEpatents

Baker, R.D.; Hayter, S.W.; Lewis, H.D.

1973-12-11

A finely divided dispersion of UO/sub 2/ in tungsten or molybdenum is prepared by co-precipitating the metals from mixed aqueous solution with oxine. The co-precipitate thus formed is separated from the solution, dried, calcined, and finally reduced to UO/sub 2/ and refractory metal. (Official Gazette)

Fabrication and characterization of biomimetic collagen-apatite scaffolds with tunable structures for bone tissue engineering.

PubMed

Xia, Zengmin; Yu, Xiaohua; Jiang, Xi; Brody, Harold D; Rowe, David W; Wei, Mei

2013-07-01

The objective of the current study is to prepare a biomimetic collagen-apatite scaffold for improved bone repair and regeneration. A novel bottom-up approach has been developed, which combines a biomimetic self-assembly method with a controllable freeze-casting technology. In this study, the mineralized collagen fibers were generated using a simple one-step co-precipitation method which involved collagen self-assembly and in situ apatite precipitation in a collagen-containing modified simulated body fluid (m-SBF). The precipitates were then subjected to controllable freeze casting, forming scaffolds with either an isotropic equiaxed structure or a unidirectional lamellar structure. These scaffolds were comprised of collagen fibers and poorly crystalline bone-like carbonated apatite nanoparticles. The mineral content in the scaffold could be tailored in the range 0-54wt.% by simply adjusting the collagen content in the m-SBF. Further, the mechanisms of the formation of both the equiaxed and the lamellar scaffolds were investigated, and freezing regimes for equiaxed and lamellar solidification were established. Finally, the bone-forming capability of such prepared scaffolds was evaluated in vivo in a mouse calvarial defect model. It was confirmed that the scaffolds well support new bone formation. Copyright © 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microstructure and Tribological Properties of AlCoCrFeNiTi0.5 High-Entropy Alloy in Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Y.; Liu, W. M.; Zhang, T. B.; Li, J. S.; Wang, J.; Kou, H. C.; Li, J.

2014-01-01

Microstructure and tribological properties of an AlCoCrFeNiTi0.5 high-entropy alloy in high-concentration hydrogen peroxide solution were investigated in this work. The results show that the sigma phase precipitates and the content of bcc2 decrease during the annealing process. Meanwhile, the complex construction of the interdendrite region changes into simple isolated-island shape, and much more spherical precipitates are formed. Those changes of microstructure during the annealing process lead to the increase of hardness of this alloy. In the testing conditions, the AlCoCrFeNiTi0.5 alloy shows smoother worn surfaces and steadier coefficient of friction curves than does the 1Cr18Ni9Ti stainless steel, and SiC ceramic preserves better wear resistance than ZrO2 ceramic. After annealing, the wear resistance of the AlCoCrFeNiTi0.5 alloy increases coupled with SiC counterface but decreases with ZrO2 counterface.

Effects of Precipitant and pH on Coprecipitation of Nanosized Co-Cr-V Alloy Powders.

PubMed

Chen, Xiaoyu; Li, Yongxia; Huang, Lan; Zou, Dan; Wu, Enxi; Liu, Yanjun; Xie, Yuanyan; Yao, Rui; Liao, Songyi; Wang, Guangrong; Zheng, Feng

2017-09-21

Nanosized Co-Cr-V alloy powders were synthesized via coprecipitation method. Effects of precipitants ((NH₄)₂C₂O₄·H₂O and Na₂CO₃) and pH were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Zeta potential analyzer, thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Co-Cr-V alloy powders were consisted of major face-centered cubic Co (fcc Co) and minor hexagonal close-packed Co (hcp Co). Grain sizes of precursors and Co-Cr-V alloy powders were increased with pH value (7-10) within the ranges of 3~39 and 39~66 nm, respectively. Rod-like or granular Co-Cr-V alloy particles were assembled by interconnected nanograins. At pH = 7, Na₂CO₃ precipitant was found to be beneficial to maintain the desirable composition of Co-Cr-V powders. It was also found that lower pH favors the maintenance of pre-designed composition, while grain coarsens at higher pH. Effects of variation for precipitant and pH on the morphology and composition of Co-Cr-V alloy powder were discussed in detail and relevant mechanism was further proposed.

Magnetic and dielectric characterization of Co{sub 0.9}Ni{sub 0.1}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} prepared by hydroxide co-precipitation method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mane, S. M., E-mail: manesagar99@gmail.com; Vijaysingh Mohite Patil Mahavidyalaya Natepute, Solapur-413109; Tirmali, P. M., E-mail: pravintirmali@gmail.com

2016-04-13

Co{sub 1–x} Ni{sub x}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (where x=0.1) were prepared by using the hydroxide co-precipitation method. An obtained precipitate was sintered at 1100°C by microwave sintering technique. The structural analysis confirms the single-phase cubic spinel structure with Fd-3m space group. The magnetic characterization was carried out at temperature 300K.Saturation magnetisation and coercivity is 77.22 and 908 Oe. Irreversibility is observed between the ZFC and FC curves at 100 Oe. The variation in the dielectric constant and loss tangent are studied at room temperature with increasing frequency. Continues decrease in the the dielectric constant with increasing frequency shows inverse dependence onmore » frequency. Morphological and elemental studies were done by using the scanning electron microscope with EDAX.« less

A simple reactive-transport model of calcite precipitation in soils and other porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirk, G. J. D.; Versteegen, A.; Ritz, K.; Milodowski, A. E.

2015-09-01

Calcite formation in soils and other porous media generally occurs around a localised source of reactants, such as a plant root or soil macro-pore, and the rate depends on the transport of reactants to and from the precipitation zone as well as the kinetics of the precipitation reaction itself. However most studies are made in well mixed systems, in which such transport limitations are largely removed. We developed a mathematical model of calcite precipitation near a source of base in soil, allowing for transport limitations and precipitation kinetics. We tested the model against experimentally-determined rates of calcite precipitation and reactant concentration-distance profiles in columns of soil in contact with a layer of HCO3--saturated exchange resin. The model parameter values were determined independently. The agreement between observed and predicted results was satisfactory given experimental limitations, indicating that the model correctly describes the important processes. A sensitivity analysis showed that all model parameters are important, indicating a simpler treatment would be inadequate. The sensitivity analysis showed that the amount of calcite precipitated and the spread of the precipitation zone were sensitive to parameters controlling rates of reactant transport (soil moisture content, salt content, pH, pH buffer power and CO2 pressure), as well as to the precipitation rate constant. We illustrate practical applications of the model with two examples: pH changes and CaCO3 precipitation in the soil around a plant root, and around a soil macro-pore containing a source of base such as urea.

Investigation of electrical and magnetic properties of ferro-nanofluid on transformers

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

This study investigated a simple model of transformers that have liquid magnetic cores with different concentrations of ferro-nanofluids. The simple model was built on a capillary by enamel-insulated wires and with ferro-nanofluid loaded in the capillary. The ferro-nanofluid was fabricated by a chemical co-precipitation method. The performances of the transformers with either air core or ferro-nanofluid at different concentrations of nanoparticles of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 M were measured and simulated at frequencies ranging from 100 kHz to 100 MHz. The experimental results indicated that the inductance and coupling coefficient of coils grew with the increment of the ferro-nanofluid concentration. The presence of ferro-nanofluid increased resistance, yielding to the decrement of the quality factor, owing to the phase lag between the external magnetic field and the magnetization of the material. PMID:21711784

Investigation of electrical and magnetic properties of ferro-nanofluid on transformers.

PubMed

Tsai, Tsung-Han; Chen, Ping-Hei; Lee, Da-Sheng; Yang, Chin-Ting

2011-03-28

This study investigated a simple model of transformers that have liquid magnetic cores with different concentrations of ferro-nanofluids. The simple model was built on a capillary by enamel-insulated wires and with ferro-nanofluid loaded in the capillary. The ferro-nanofluid was fabricated by a chemical co-precipitation method. The performances of the transformers with either air core or ferro-nanofluid at different concentrations of nanoparticles of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 M were measured and simulated at frequencies ranging from 100 kHz to 100 MHz. The experimental results indicated that the inductance and coupling coefficient of coils grew with the increment of the ferro-nanofluid concentration. The presence of ferro-nanofluid increased resistance, yielding to the decrement of the quality factor, owing to the phase lag between the external magnetic field and the magnetization of the material.

Thermoelectric properties of Si/CoSi2 sub-micrometer composites prepared by melt-spinning technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Jun; Ohishi, Yuji; Ichikawa, Satoshi; Muta, Hiroaki; Kurosaki, Ken; Yamanaka, Shinsuke

2017-05-01

We here report on the influence of CoSi2 precipitates on the thermoelectric properties of heavily doped p-type Si. A simple self-assembly process using a melt-spinning technique followed by spark plasma sintering is introduced to prepare bulk Si/CoSi2 composites with a nominal composition of (Si0.99B0.01)95Co5. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations present clear evidence of a sub-micrometer CoSi2 phase with a size ranging from 50 to 500 nm. These sub-micrometer precipitates resulted in a retention of the high electrical performance of heavily doped Si, while simultaneously reducing thermal conductivity by over 20% compared to a coarse CoSi2 phase (1-10 μm) in a comparative sample prepared by arc melting and spark plasma sintering. As a result, a figure of merit ZT value of 0.21 at 1073 K was achieved in the sub-micrometer Si/CoSi2, an increase of 16% compared with the ZT value for homogeneous p-type Si with a similar carrier concentration. This suggests that the self-assembled sub-micrometer inclusions effectively enhanced the thermoelectric performance of Si-based thermoelectric materials.

Synthesis of porous sheet-like Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} microstructure by precipitation method and its potential applications in the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lu Shanshan; Jing Xiaoyan; Liu Jingyuan

2013-01-15

Porous sheet-like cobalt oxide (Co{sub 3}O{sub 4}) were successfully synthesized by precipitation method combined with calcination of cobalt hydroxide precursors. The structure, morphology and porosity properties of the products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurement. The as-prepared sheet-like microstructures were approximately 2-3 {mu}m in average diameter, and the morphology of the cobalt hydroxide precursors was retained after the calcination process. However, it appeared a large number of uniform pores in the sheets after calcination. In order to calculate the potential catalytic activity, the thermal decomposition of ammoniummore » perchlorate (AP) has been analyzed, in which cobalt oxide played a role of an additive and the porous sheet-like Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} microstructures exhibited high catalytic performance and considerable decrease in the thermal decomposition temperature of AP. Moreover, a formation mechanism for the sheet-like microstructures has been discussed. - Graphical abstract: Porous sheet-like Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} were synthesized by facile precipitation method combined with calcination of {beta}-Co(OH){sub 2} precursors. Thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetric analysis indicates potential catalytic activity in the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Synthesis of sheet-like {beta}-Co(OH){sub 2} precursors by precipitation method. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Porous sheet-like Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} were obtained by calcining {beta}-Co(OH){sub 2} precursors. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The possible formation mechanism of porous sheet-like Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} has been discussed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Porous sheet-like Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} decrease the thermal decomposition temperature of ammonium perchlorate.« less

CO-PRECIPITATION IN QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS. COMMUNICATION V. THE INFLUENCE EXERCISED BY COMPLEXION UPON THE PRECIPITATION OF ZIRCONIUM PHOSPHATE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Babko, A.K.; Shtokalo, M.I.

The influence exercised by ethylenediamino-tetraacetic acid upon some processes of precipitation was investigated. A sharp mopdification of the form of precipitate as well as a decrease of coprecipitation was ium and titanium by means of the phosphate ;method are given. (TCO-W.D.M.)

Effects of Precipitant and pH on Coprecipitation of Nanosized Co-Cr-V Alloy Powders

PubMed Central

Chen, Xiaoyu; Li, Yongxia; Huang, Lan; Zou, Dan; Wu, Enxi; Liu, Yanjun; Xie, Yuanyan; Yao, Rui; Liao, Songyi; Wang, Guangrong

2017-01-01

Nanosized Co-Cr-V alloy powders were synthesized via coprecipitation method. Effects of precipitants ((NH4)2C2O4·H2O and Na2CO3) and pH were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Zeta potential analyzer, thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Co-Cr-V alloy powders were consisted of major face-centered cubic Co (fcc Co) and minor hexagonal close-packed Co (hcp Co). Grain sizes of precursors and Co-Cr-V alloy powders were increased with pH value (7–10) within the ranges of 3~39 and 39~66 nm, respectively. Rod-like or granular Co-Cr-V alloy particles were assembled by interconnected nanograins. At pH = 7, Na2CO3 precipitant was found to be beneficial to maintain the desirable composition of Co-Cr-V powders. It was also found that lower pH favors the maintenance of pre-designed composition, while grain coarsens at higher pH. Effects of variation for precipitant and pH on the morphology and composition of Co-Cr-V alloy powder were discussed in detail and relevant mechanism was further proposed. PMID:28934147

Experimental Study of Cement - Sandstone/Shale - Brine - CO2 Interactions

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Reactive-transport simulation is a tool that is being used to estimate long-term trapping of CO2, and wellbore and cap rock integrity for geologic CO2 storage. We reacted end member components of a heterolithic sandstone and shale unit that forms the upper section of the In Salah Gas Project carbon storage reservoir in Krechba, Algeria with supercritical CO2, brine, and with/without cement at reservoir conditions to develop experimentally constrained geochemical models for use in reactive transport simulations. Results We observe marked changes in solution composition when CO2 reacted with cement, sandstone, and shale components at reservoir conditions. The geochemical model for the reaction of sandstone and shale with CO2 and brine is a simple one in which albite, chlorite, illite and carbonate minerals partially dissolve and boehmite, smectite, and amorphous silica precipitate. The geochemical model for the wellbore environment is also fairly simple, in which alkaline cements and rock react with CO2-rich brines to form an Fe containing calcite, amorphous silica, smectite and boehmite or amorphous Al(OH)3. Conclusions Our research shows that relatively simple geochemical models can describe the dominant reactions that are likely to occur when CO2 is stored in deep saline aquifers sealed with overlying shale cap rocks, as well as the dominant reactions for cement carbonation at the wellbore interface. PMID:22078161

First estimates of the contribution of CaCO3 precipitation to the release of CO2 to the atmosphere during young sea ice growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geilfus, N.-X.; Carnat, G.; Dieckmann, G. S.; Halden, N.; Nehrke, G.; Papakyriakou, T.; Tison, J.-L.; Delille, B.

2013-01-01

report measurements of pH, total alkalinity, air-ice CO2 fluxes (chamber method), and CaCO3 content of frost flowers (FF) and thin landfast sea ice. As the temperature decreases, concentration of solutes in the brine skim increases. Along this gradual concentration process, some salts reach their solubility threshold and start precipitating. The precipitation of ikaite (CaCO3.6H2O) was confirmed in the FF and throughout the ice by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. The amount of ikaite precipitated was estimated to be 25 µmol kg-1 melted FF, in the FF and is shown to decrease from 19 to 15 µmol kg-1 melted ice in the upper part and at the bottom of the ice, respectively. CO2 release due to precipitation of CaCO3 is estimated to be 50 µmol kg-1 melted samples. The dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) normalized to a salinity of 10 exhibits significant depletion in the upper layer of the ice and in the FF. This DIC loss is estimated to be 2069 µmol kg-1 melted sample and corresponds to a CO2 release from the ice to the atmosphere ranging from 20 to 40 mmol m-2 d-1. This estimate is consistent with flux measurements of air-ice CO2 exchange. Our measurements confirm previous laboratory findings that growing young sea ice acts as a source of CO2 to the atmosphere. CaCO3 precipitation during early ice growth appears to promote the release of CO2 to the atmosphere; however, its contribution to the overall release by newly formed ice is most likely minor.

An efficient method for purifying high quality RNA from wheat pistils.

PubMed

Manickavelu, A; Kambara, Kumiko; Mishina, Kohei; Koba, Takato

2007-02-15

Many methods are available for total RNA extraction from plants, except the floral organs like wheat pistils containing high levels of polysaccharides that bind/or co-precipitate with RNA. In this protocol, a simple and effective method for extracting total RNA from small and feathery wheat pistils has been developed. Lithium chloride (LiCl) and phenol:chloroform:isoamylalcohol (PCI) were employed and the samples were ground in microcentrifuge tube using plastic pestle. A jacket of liquid nitrogen and simplified procedures were applied to ensure thorough grinding of the pistils and to minimize the samples loss. These measures substantially increased the recovery of total RNA (approximately 50%) in the extraction process. Reliable differential display by cDNA-AFLP was successfully achieved with the total RNA after DNase treatment and reverse transcription. This method is also practicable for gene expression and gene regulation studies in floral parts of other plants.

Effect of Co on Discontinuous Precipitation Transformation with TCP Phase in Ni-based Alloy Containing Re

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Qianying; An, Ning; Huo, Jiajie; Zheng, Yunrong; Feng, Qiang

2017-05-01

The effect of Co on discontinuous precipitation (DP) transformation involving the formation of topologically close-packed (TCP) phase was investigated in three Ni-Cr-Re model alloys containing different levels of Co. One typical TCP phase, σ, was generated within DP cellular colonies along the migrating grain boundaries in experimental alloys during aging treatment. As a result of the increased solubility of Re in the γ matrix and enlarged interlamellar spacing of σ precipitates inside of growing DP colonies, Co addition suppressed the formation of σ phase and associated DP colonies. This study suggests that Co could potentially serve as a microstructural stabilizer in Re-containing Ni-base superalloys, which provides an alternative method for the composition optimization of superalloys.

The bovine immune response to Brucella abortus. III. Preparation of antisera against a Brucella component precipitated by sera of some infected cattle.

PubMed Central

Stemshorn, B; Nielsen, K; Samagh, B

1981-01-01

Two methods are described for the partial purification of a high molecular weight, heat-resistant component (CO1) of sonicates of smooth and rough Brucella abortus which is precipitated by sera of some infected cattle. Method 1, a combination of gel filtration chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was used to prepare CO1 from sonicates of a smooth field strain of B. abortus. Method 2, a combination of gel filtration chromatography and heat treatment, was used to obtain CO1, from sonicates of rough B. abortus strain 45/20. Rabbit antisera produced against CO1 prepared by either method contained only CO1 precipitins but were negative in standard agglutination and complement fixation tests conducted with whole cell antigens. Evidence is presented that CO1 is identical to Brucella antigen A2, and it is proposed that in future the designation A2 be employed. Images Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. PMID:6791797

A simple process to obtain anisotropic self-biased magnets constituted of stacked barium ferrite single domain particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattei, Jean-Luc; Le, Cong Nha; Chevalier, Alexis; Maalouf, Azar; Noutehou, Nathan; Queffelec, Patrick; Laur, Vincent

2018-04-01

An efficient and inexpensive process is presented that produces highly oriented bulk compacts made of BaM particles. Barium hexaferrite particles (BaM, nominal composition BaFe11O19) were prepared by a chemical coprecipitation method, using different rates and types of precipitating agents (NaOH and Na2CO3). It was demonstrated that when a large excess of Na2CO3 is used, a noteworthy packing of hexagonal BaM platelets is obtained, after mechanical compaction and firing at moderate temperature (1140 °C), without including any more steps than those required for a conventional sintering process. The hysteresis loop displays a very competitive squareness of 0.88 (normalized remanent magnetization) and a coercivity of 215 kA/m, which make this BaM bulk ferrite suitable for self-biased applications.

High Coke-Resistance Pt/Mg1-xNixO Catalyst for Dry Reforming of Methane

PubMed Central

Al-Doghachi, Faris A. J.; Islam, Aminul; Zainal, Zulkarnain; Saiman, Mohd Izham; Embong, Zaidi; Taufiq-Yap, Yun Hin

2016-01-01

A highly active and stable nano structured Pt/Mg1-xNixO catalysts was developed by a simple co-precipitation method. The obtained Pt/Mg1-xNixO catalyst exhibited cubic structure nanocatalyst with a size of 50–80 nm and realized CH4 and CO2 conversions as high as 98% at 900°C with excellent stability in the dry reforming of methane. The characterization of catalyst was performed using various kinds of analytical techniques including XRD, BET, XRF, TPR-H2, TGA, TEM, FESEM, FT-IR, and XPS analyses. Characterization of spent catalyst further confirms that Pt/Mg1-xNixO catalyst has high coke-resistance for dry reforming. Thus, the catalyst demonstrated in this study, offers a promising catalyst for resolving the dilemma between dispersion and reducibility of supported metal, as well as activity and stability during high temperature reactions. PMID:26745623

Preparation of LuAG Powders with Single Phase and Good Dispersion for Transparent Ceramics Using Co-Precipitation Method

PubMed Central

Pan, Liangjie; Jiang, Benxue; Fan, Jintai; Yang, Qiuhong; Zhou, Chunlin; Zhang, Pande; Mao, Xiaojian; Zhang, Long

2015-01-01

The synthesis of pure and well dispersed lutetium aluminum garnet (LuAG) powder is crucial and important for the preparation of LuAG transparent ceramics. In this paper, high purity and well dispersed LuAG powders have been synthesized via co-precipitation method with lutetium nitrate and aluminum nitrate as raw materials. Ammonium hydrogen carbonate (AHC) was used as the precipitant. The influence of aging time, pH value, and dripping speed on the prepared LuAG powders were investigated. It showed that long aging duration (>15 h) with high terminal pH value (>7.80) resulted in segregation of rhombus Lu precipitate and Al precipitate. By decreasing the initial pH value or accelerating the dripping speed, rhombus Lu precipitate was eliminated and pure LuAG nano powders were synthesized. High quality LuAG transparent ceramics with transmission >75% at 1064 nm were fabricated using these well dispersed nano LuAG powders. PMID:28793510

Preparation of LuAG Powders with Single Phase and Good Dispersion for Transparent Ceramics Using Co-Precipitation Method.

PubMed

Pan, Liangjie; Jiang, Benxue; Fan, Jintai; Yang, Qiuhong; Zhou, Chunlin; Zhang, Pande; Mao, Xiaojian; Zhang, Long

2015-08-19

The synthesis of pure and well dispersed lutetium aluminum garnet (LuAG) powder is crucial and important for the preparation of LuAG transparent ceramics. In this paper, high purity and well dispersed LuAG powders have been synthesized via co-precipitation method with lutetium nitrate and aluminum nitrate as raw materials. Ammonium hydrogen carbonate (AHC) was used as the precipitant. The influence of aging time, pH value, and dripping speed on the prepared LuAG powders were investigated. It showed that long aging duration (>15 h) with high terminal pH value (>7.80) resulted in segregation of rhombus Lu precipitate and Al precipitate. By decreasing the initial pH value or accelerating the dripping speed, rhombus Lu precipitate was eliminated and pure LuAG nano powders were synthesized. High quality LuAG transparent ceramics with transmission >75% at 1064 nm were fabricated using these well dispersed nano LuAG powders.

Measuring U-series Disequilibrium in Weathering Rinds to Study the Influence of Environmental Factors to Weathering Rates in Tropical Basse-Terre Island (French Guadeloupe)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, J.; Ma, L.; Sak, P. B.; Gaillardet, J.; Chabaux, F. J.; Brantley, S. L.

2015-12-01

Chemical weathering is a critical process to global CO2 consumption, river/ocean chemistry, and nutrient import to biosphere. Weathering rinds experience minimal physical erosion and provide a well-constrained system to study the chemical weathering process. Here, we applied U-series disequilibrium dating method to study weathering advance rates on the wet side of Basse-Terre Island, French Guadeloupe, aiming to understand the role of the precipitation in controlling weathering rates and elucidate the behavior and immobilization mechanisms of U-series isotopes during rind formation. Six weathering clasts from 5 watersheds with mean annual precipitation varying from 2000 to 3000 mm/yr were measured for U-series isotope ratios and major element compositions on linear core-to-rind transects. One sample experienced complete core-to-rind transformation, while the rest clasts contain both rinds and unweathered cores. Our results show that the unweathered cores are under U-series secular equilibrium, while all the rind materials show significant U-series disequilibrium. For most rinds, linear core-to-rind increases of (230Th/232Th) activity ratios suggest a simple continuous U addition history. However, (234U/238U) and (238U/232Th) trends in several clasts show evidences of remobilization of Uranium besides the U addition, complicating the use of U-series dating method. The similarity between U/Th ratios and major elements trends like Fe, Al, P in some transects and the ongoing leaching experiments suggest that redox and organic colloids could control the mobilization of U-series isotopes in the rinds. Rind formation ages and weathering advance rate (0.07-0.29mm/kyr) were calculated for those rinds with a simple U-addition history. Our preliminary results show that local precipitation gradient significantly influenced the weathering advance rate, revealing the potential of estimating weathering advance rates at a large spatial scale using the U-series dating method.

Modification of nanostructured calcium carbonate for efficient gene delivery.

PubMed

Zhao, Dong; Wang, Chao-Qun; Zhuo, Ren-Xi; Cheng, Si-Xue

2014-06-01

In this study, a facile method to modify nanostructured calcium carbonate (CaCO3) gene delivery systems by adding calcium phosphate (CaP) component was developed. CaCO3/CaP/DNA nanoparticles were prepared by the co-precipitation of Ca(2+) ions with plasmid DNA in the presence of carbonate and phosphate ions. For comparison, CaCO3/DNA nanoparticles and CaP/DNA co-precipitates were also prepared. The effects of carbonate ion/phosphate ion (CO3(2-)/PO4(3-)) ratio on the particle size and gene delivery efficiency were investigated. With an appropriate CO3(2-)/PO4(3-) ratio, the co-existence of carbonate and phosphate ions could control the size of co-precipitates effectively, and CaCO3/CaP/DNA nanoparticles with a decreased size and improved stability could be obtained. The in vitro gene transfections mediated by different nanoparticles in 293T cells and HeLa cells were carried out, using pGL3-Luc as a reporter plasmid. The gene transfection efficiency of CaCO3/CaP/DNA nanoparticles could be significantly improved as compared with CaCO3/DNA nanoparticles and CaP/DNA co-precipitates. The confocal microscopy study indicated that the cellular uptake and nuclear localization of CaCO3/CaP/DNA nanoparticles were significantly enhanced as compared with unmodified CaCO3/DNA nanoparticles. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efficient removal of antibiotics in a fluidized bed reactor by facile fabricated magnetic powdered activated carbon.

PubMed

Ma, Jianqing; Yang, Qunfeng; Xu, Dongmei; Zeng, Xiaomei; Wen, Yuezhong; Liu, Weiping

2017-02-01

Powdered activated carbons (PACs) with micrometer size are showing great potential for enabling and improving technologies in water treatment. The critical problem in achieving practical application of PAC involves simple, effective fabrication of magnetic PAC and the design of a feasible reactor that can remove pollutants and recover the adsorbent efficiently. Herein, we show that such materials can be fabricated by the combination of PAC and magnetic Fe 3 O 4 with chitosan-Fe hydrogel through a simple co-precipitation method. According to the characterization results, CS-Fe/Fe 3 O 4 /PAC with different micrometers in size exhibited excellent magnetic properties. The adsorption of tetracycline was fast and efficient, and 99.9% removal was achieved in 30 min. It also possesses good usability and stability to co-existing ions, organics, and different pH values due to its dispersive interaction nature. Finally, the prepared CS-Fe/Fe 3 O 4 /PAC also performed well in the fluidized bed reactor with electromagnetic separation function. It could be easily separated by applying a magnetic field and was effectively in situ regenerated, indicating a potential of practical application for the removal of pollutants from water.

Fabrication, Characterization and Cytotoxicity of Spherical-Shaped Conjugated Gold-Cockle Shell Derived Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiranda, Hanan Karimah; Mahmud, Rozi; Abubakar, Danmaigoro; Zakaria, Zuki Abubakar

2018-01-01

The evolution of nanomaterial in science has brought about a growing increase in nanotechnology, biomedicine, and engineering fields. This study was aimed at fabrication and characterization of conjugated gold-cockle shell-derived calcium carbonate nanoparticles (Au-CSCaCO3NPs) for biomedical application. The synthetic technique employed used gold nanoparticle citrate reduction method and a simple precipitation method coupled with mechanical use of a Programmable roller-ball mill. The synthesized conjugated nanomaterial was characterized for its physicochemical properties using transmission electron microscope (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). However, the intricacy of cellular mechanisms can prove challenging for nanomaterial like Au-CSCaCO3NPs and thus, the need for cytotoxicity assessment. The obtained spherical-shaped nanoparticles (light-green purplish) have an average diameter size of 35 ± 16 nm, high carbon and oxygen composition. The conjugated nanomaterial, also possesses a unique spectra for aragonite polymorph and carboxylic bond significantly supporting interactions between conjugated nanoparticles. The negative surface charge and spectra absorbance highlighted their stability. The resultant spherical shaped conjugated Au-CSCaCO3NPs could be a great nanomaterial for biomedical applications.

High surface area calcite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schultz, L. N.; Andersson, M. P.; Dalby, K. N.; Müter, D.; Okhrimenko, D. V.; Fordsmand, H.; Stipp, S. L. S.

2013-05-01

Calcite (CaCO3) is important in many fields—in nature, because it is a component of aquifers, oil reservoirs and prospective CO2 storage sites, and in industry, where it is used in products as diverse as paper, toothpaste, paint, plastic and aspirin. It is difficult to obtain high purity calcite with a high surface area but such material is necessary for industrial applications and for fundamental calcite research. Commercial powder is nearly always contaminated with growth inhibitors such as sugars, citrate or pectin and most laboratory synthesis methods deliver large precipitates, often containing vaterite or aragonite. To address this problem, we (i) adapted the method of carbonating a Ca(OH)2 slurry with CO2 gas to develop the first simple, cheap, safe and reproducible procedure using common laboratory equipment, to obtain calcite that reproducibly had a surface area of 14-17 m2/g and (ii) conducted a thorough characterization of the product. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed nanometer scale, rhombohedral crystals. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) confirmed highly crystalline, pure calcite that more closely resembles the dimensions of the biogenic calcite produced by algae in coccoliths than other methods for synthesizing calcite. We suggest that this calcite is useful when purity and high surface area are important.

Preparation of core-shell Ti-Nb oxide nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simakov, David S. A.; Tsur, Yoed

2008-01-01

Nanosized powders of Ti-Nb oxide core-shell nanocrystals with atomic ratios of Nb/Ti = 0.11, 0.25, and 0.38 have been prepared by two preparation routes. The first route was co-precipitation, followed by␣annealing, using NbCl5 as a source of Nb. The second route was coating of pure TiO2 nanocrystals by Nb-isopropoxide in liquid medium, followed by impregnation of the Nb into the nanoparticles by annealing. Both methods yielded anatase nanocrystals with a Nb-rich shell and a core, which had much lower Nb loadings. The anatase structure solid solution (with Nb incorporated) was stable under annealing up to 760°C. The particle size remained within the nanometric scale ( <50 nm) under heat-treatment up to 760°C. It has been shown that the fabricated powders can be redispersed in aqueous media by simple ultrasound treatment, resulting in nanosized dispersions. Using a variety of analytical techniques, including depth profiling of single nanocrystallites by AES combined with sputtering by Ar ions, the mechanism of the core-shell structure creation was studied. It is proposed that the formation of the core-shell structure is governed by solubility limitations in the co-precipitation route and by solubility and diffusion limitations in the coating-incorporation route.

The Effects of Secondary Oxides on Copper-Based Catalysts for Green Methanol Synthesis.

PubMed

Hayward, James S; Smith, Paul J; Kondrat, Simon A; Bowker, Michael; Hutchings, Graham J

2017-05-10

Catalysts for methanol synthesis from CO 2 and H 2 have been produced by two main methods: co-precipitation and supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) precipitation. These two methods are compared, along with the behaviour of copper supported on Zn, Mg, Mn, and Ce oxides. Although the SAS method produces initially active material with high Cu specific surface area, they appear to be unstable during reaction losing significant amounts of surface area and hence activity. The CuZn catalysts prepared by co-precipitation, however, showed much greater thermal and reactive stability than the other materials. There appeared to be the usual near-linear dependence of activity upon Cu specific area, though the initial performance relationship was different from that post-reaction, after some loss of surface area. The formation of the malachite precursor, as reported before, is important for good activity and stability, whereas if copper oxides are formed during the synthesis and ageing process, then a detrimental effect on these properties is seen.

Synthesis and magnetic properties of bacterial cellulose—ferrite (MFe2O4, M  =  Mn, Co, Ni, Cu) nanocomposites prepared by co-precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sriplai, Nipaporn; Mongkolthanaruk, Wiyada; Pinitsoontorn, Supree

2017-09-01

The magnetic nanocomposites based on bacterial cellulose (BC) matrix and ferrite (MFe2O4, M  =  Mn, Co, Ni and Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated. The never-dried and freeze-dried BC nanofibrils were used as templates and a co-precipitation method was applied for NPs synthesis. The nanocomposites were either freeze-dried or annealed before subjected to characterization. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that only MnFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 NPs could be successfully incorporated in the BC nanostructures. The results also indicated that the BC template should be freeze-dried prior to the co-precipitation process. The magnetic measurement by a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) showed that the strongest ferromagnetic signal was found for BC-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites. The morphological investigation by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed the largest volume fraction of NPs in the BC-CoFe2O4 sample which was complimentary to the magnetic property measurement. Annealing resulted in the collapse of the opened nanostructure of the BC composites. Invited talk at 5th Thailand International Nanotechnology Conference (Nano Thailand-2016), 27-29 November 2016, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Small-Scale and Low Cost Electrodes for "Standard" Reduction Potential Measurements

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eggen, Per-Odd; Kvittingen, Lise

2007-01-01

The construction of three simple and inexpensive electrodes, hydrogen, and chlorine and copper electrode is described. This simple method will encourage students to construct their own electrode and better help in understanding precipitation and other electrochemistry concepts.

Effect of Gallium and Indium Co-Substituting on Upconversion Properties of Er/Yb:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Powders Prepared by the Co-Precipitation Method.

PubMed

Zhang, Wei; Liang, Yun-Ling; Hu, Zheng-Fa; Feng, Zu-Yong; Lun, Ma; Zhang, Xiu-ping; Sheng, Xia; Liu, Qian; Luo, Jie

2016-04-01

Gallium and Indium co-substituted Yb, Er:YAG was fabricated through the chemical co-precipitation method. The formation process and structure of the Ga3+ and In3+ substituted phosphor powders were characterized by the X-ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetry analyzer, infrared spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the effects of Ga3+ and In3+ concentration on the luminescence properties were investigated by spectrum. The results showed that the blue shift occurred after the substitution of Ga3+ and In3+ for Al3+ in matrix, and the intensity of emission spectrum was affected by the concentration of Ga3+ and In3+.

Mechanisms of scale formation and carbon dioxide partial pressure influence. Part II. Application in the study of mineral waters of reference.

PubMed

Gal, Jean-Yves; Fovet, Yannick; Gache, Nathalie

2002-02-01

In the first part, we have designed a new model of evolution for the calco-carbonic system which includes the hydrated forms of CaCO3: CaCO3 amorphous, CaCO3 x 6H2O (ikaite) and CaCO3 x H2O (monohydrate) (J. Eur. Hydr. 30 (1999) 47). According to this model, it is the precipitation of one or other of these hydrated forms which could be responsible for the breakdown of the metastable state. After this first step, the precipitates evolve to dehydrated solid forms. Through the elaboration of computer programs in which the CaCO3(0) (aq) ion pair formation was considered, this model was compared to experimental data obtained by the critical pH method applied to synthetic solutions. In the present article, the same method was applied for four French mineral waters, at 25 degrees C under study. Three samples formed a precipitation during the sodium hydroxide addition. For these three cases, this precipitation began for the CaCO3 H2O saturation. The added volume of sodium hydroxide was more than what was required for neutralizing free CO2 initially in solution. These results indicate that during a spontaneous scaling phenomenon, the pH rises at the same time by loss of the initial free CO2 and of the one produced by the hydrogen carbonate ions decomposition. Then we calculated, at various temperatures for the three studied scaling waters: CO2 partial pressures and loss of total carbon corresponding to the solubility products of CaCO3 hydrated forms. The results show that the partial pressure monitoring of the carbon dioxide is important in managing the behavior of scaling waters.

Efficient removal of copper from wastewater by using mechanically activated calcium carbonate.

PubMed

Hu, Huimin; Li, Xuewei; Huang, Pengwu; Zhang, Qiwu; Yuan, Wenyi

2017-12-01

Copper removal from aqueous solution is necessary from the stances of both environmental protection and copper resource recycling. It is important to develop a new chemical precipitation method suitable for removing copper particularly at low concentration as the case of waste mine water, with regards to the various problems related to the current precipitation methods by using strong alkalis or soluble sulfides. In this research, we studied a possible chemical precipitation of copper ions at concentration around 60 mg/L or lower by cogrinding copper sulfate in water with calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) using wet stirred ball milling. With the aid of ball milling, copper precipitation as a basic sulfate (posnjakite: Cu 4 (SO 4 ) (OH) 6 ·H 2 O) occurred at a very high copper removal rate of 99.76%, to reduce the residual copper concentration in the solution less than 0.5 mg/L, reaching the discharge limit, even with the addition amount of CaCO 3 as a stoichiometric ratio of CaCO 3 /Cu 2+ at 1:1. It is more interesting to notice that, at the same conditions, other heavy metals such as Ni, Mn, Zn and Cd do not precipitate obviously just with CaCO 3 addition at CaCO 3 /M 2+ at 1:1 so that the precipitate without the impurities can be processed as good source to recover copper. This newly proposed concept can be further developed to treat wastewaters with other metals to serve both purposes of environmental purification and resource recovery in a similar way. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

X-ray peak profile analysis of zinc oxide nanoparticles formed by simple precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pelicano, Christian Mark; Rapadas, Nick Joaquin; Magdaluyo, Eduardo

2017-12-01

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by a simple precipitation method using zinc acetate and tetramethylammonium hydroxide. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The XRD result revealed a hexagonal wurtzite structure for the ZnO nanoparticles. The TEM image showed spherical nanoparticles with an average crystallite size of 6.70 nm. For x-ray peak analysis, Williamson-Hall (W-H) and Size-Strain Plot (SSP) methods were applied to examine the effects of crystallite size and lattice strain on the peak broadening of the ZnO nanoparticles. Based on the calculations, the estimated crystallite sizes and lattice strains obtained are in good agreement with each other.

A Generalized Simple Formulation of Convective Adjustment ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Convective adjustment timescale (τ) for cumulus clouds is one of the most influential parameters controlling parameterized convective precipitation in climate and weather simulation models at global and regional scales. Due to the complex nature of deep convection, a prescribed value or ad hoc representation of τ is used in most global and regional climate/weather models making it a tunable parameter and yet still resulting in uncertainties in convective precipitation simulations. In this work, a generalized simple formulation of τ for use in any convection parameterization for shallow and deep clouds is developed to reduce convective precipitation biases at different grid spacing. Unlike existing other methods, our new formulation can be used with field campaign measurements to estimate τ as demonstrated by using data from two different special field campaigns. Then, we implemented our formulation into a regional model (WRF) for testing and evaluation. Results indicate that our simple τ formulation can give realistic temporal and spatial variations of τ across continental U.S. as well as grid-scale and subgrid scale precipitation. We also found that as the grid spacing decreases (e.g., from 36 to 4-km grid spacing), grid-scale precipitation dominants over subgrid-scale precipitation. The generalized τ formulation works for various types of atmospheric conditions (e.g., continental clouds due to heating and large-scale forcing over la

Synthesis and LPG sensing properties of nano-sized cadmium oxide.

PubMed

Waghulade, R B; Patil, P P; Pasricha, Renu

2007-04-30

This paper reports the synthesis and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) sensing properties of nano-sized cadmium oxide (CdO). The nano-sized CdO powder was successfully synthesized by using a chemical co-precipitation method using cadmium acetate and the ammonium hydroxide, as starting materials and water as a carrier. The resulting nano-sized powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The LPG sensing properties of the synthesized nano-sized CdO were investigated at different operating temperatures and LPG concentrations. It was found that the calcination temperature and the operating temperature significantly affect the sensitivity of the nano-sized CdO powder to the LPG. The sensitivity is found to be maximum when the calcination temperature was 400 degrees C. The sensitivity to 75ppm of LPG is maximum at an operating temperature 450 degrees C and it was found to be approximately 341%. The response and recovery times were found to be nearly 3-5s and 8-10s, respectively. The synthesized nano-sized CdO powder is able to detect up to 25ppm for LPG with reasonable sensitivity at an operating temperature 450 degrees C and it can be reliably used to monitor the concentration of LPG over the range (25-75ppm). The experimental results of the LPG sensing studies reveal that the nano-sized CdO powder synthesized by a simple co-precipitation method is a suitable material for the fabrication of the LPG sensor.

Synthesis of YAG nanopowder by the co-precipitation method: Influence of pH and study of the reaction mechanisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marlot, Caroline; Barraud, Elodie; Le Gallet, Sophie; Eichhorn, Marc; Bernard, Frédéric

2012-07-01

YAG nanopowders with an average grain size of 30 nm have been successfully synthesized by the co-precipitation method using nitrates with precipitant of ammonium hydrogen carbonate. The influence of precipitation conditions such as pH, aging time and calcination temperature on the formation of secondary phases has been studied. The accurate control of pH value at every stage of precipitation process is crucial to avoid the presence of YAM (Yttrium Aluminium Monoclinic, Y4Al2O9) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3) after calcination. The reaction mechanisms have been investigated using different techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and thermal analyses. The YAG phase is formed around 1050 °C passing through an intermediate phase called YAP (Yttrium Aluminium Perovskite, YAlO3). Local chemical heterogeneities are responsible for the deviation of the Y:Al ratio and the formation of YAP during heat treatment.

Facile preparation and electrochemical characterization of cobalt oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites for supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lang, Junwei; Yan, Xingbin; Xue, Qunji

A series of cobalt oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotube (Co 3O 4/MWCNT) composites are successfully synthesized by a facile chemical co-precipitation method followed by a simple thermal treatment process. The morphology and structure of as-obtained composites are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and N 2-adsorption/desorption measurements, and the electrochemical properties are investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). For all Co 3O 4/MWCNT composites, MWCNTs are well dispersed in the loosely packed Co 3O 4 nanoparticles. Among them, the Co 3O 4-5%MWCNT composite exhibits the highest specific surface area of 137 m 2 g -1 and a mesoporous structure with a narrow distribution of pore size from 2 to 10 nm. Because of the synergistic effects coming from Co 3O 4 nanoparticles and MWCNTs, the electrochemical performances of pure Co 3O 4 material are significantly improved after adding MWCNTs. The Co 3O 4-5%MWCNT composite shows the largest specific capacitance of 418 F g -1 at a current density of 0.625 A g -1 in 2 M KOH electrolyte. Furthermore, this composite exhibits good cycling stability and lifetime. Therefore, based on the above investigation, such Co 3O 4/MWCNT composite could be a potential candidate for supercapacitors.

Dye sensitized solar cells using catalytically active CuO-ZnO nanocomposite synthesized by single step method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abraham, Nelsa; Rufus, Alex; Unni, C.; Philip, Daizy

2018-07-01

In the present paper we report a low cost, single step preparation method for the synthesis of CuO-ZnO nanocomposite through simple co-precipitation technique using oxalic acid. To have a better idea about the deviations brought about by the inclusion of CuO in ZnO lattice, pure ZnO nanoparticles synthesized from 0.1 M solutions were also investigated. X-ray diffraction studies showed that the composite contains only hexagonal wurtzite ZnO and monoclinic CuO structures. The magnetic studies of CuO-ZnO heterostructures were also conducted in order to elucidate the source of the ferromagnetism observed at room temperature. The catalytic efficiency of the as prepared nanocomposite was estimated by the degradation of methylene blue and eosin yellowish which also shows its suitability as a promising candidate in waste water treatment. The effect of chenodeoxycholic acid as a co-adsorbent in the performance of dye sensitized solar cells fabricated using the synthesized ZnO and the nanocomposite was also studied and significant improvement in photovoltaic performance has been obtained for nanocomposite based solar cell.

Extraction of Li and Co from Li-ion Batteries by Chemical Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guzolu, Jafar Sharrivar; Gharabaghi, Mahdi; Mobin, Mohammad; Alilo, Hojat

2017-04-01

In this work a process involving ultrasonic washing and leaching and precipitation was used to recover Li and Co from spent Li-ion batteries. Ultrasonic washing was used to reduce energy consumption and pollution whereas hydrochloric acid was used as leaching reagent. 98 % of Li and nearly 99 % of Co were obtained under optimum condition of 5 M hydrochloric acid solution, temperature of 95 °C, reaction time of 70 min, and solid-liquid ratio of 10 g/L. In this process at first nickel, copper, iron, aluminum, cobalt, and manganese were precipitated from leaching solution using sodium hydroxide at pH f 12.5 and reaction time of 1 h and temperature was 55 °C and all metal recoveries were more than 99 %. In the precipitation experiments, lithium loss was only 18.34 %. In the next stage, white lithium carbonate was precipitated by addition of saturated sodium carbonate solution to the left filtrate from first precipitation step. The purity of the recovered powder of lithium was 95 %.

Tunable solvation effects on the size-selective fractionation of metal nanoparticles in CO2 gas-expanded solvents.

PubMed

Anand, Madhu; McLeod, M Chandler; Bell, Philip W; Roberts, Christopher B

2005-12-08

This paper presents an environmentally friendly, inexpensive, rapid, and efficient process for size-selective fractionation of polydisperse metal nanoparticle dispersions into multiple narrow size populations. The dispersibility of ligand-stabilized silver and gold nanoparticles is controlled by altering the ligand tails-solvent interaction (solvation) by the addition of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas as an antisolvent, thereby tailoring the bulk solvent strength. This is accomplished by adjusting the CO2 pressure over the liquid, resulting in a simple means to tune the nanoparticle precipitation by size. This study also details the influence of various factors on the size-separation process, such as the types of metal, ligand, and solvent, as well as the use of recursive fractionation and the time allowed for settling during each fractionation step. The pressure range required for the precipitation process is the same for both the silver and gold particles capped with dodecanethiol ligands. A change in ligand or solvent length has an effect on the interaction between the solvent and the ligand tails and therefore the pressure range required for precipitation. Stronger interactions between solvent and ligand tails require greater CO2 pressure to precipitate the particles. Temperature is another variable that impacts the dispersibility of the nanoparticles through changes in the density and the mole fraction of CO2 in the gas-expanded liquids. Recursive fractionation for a given system within a particular pressure range (solvent strength) further reduces the polydispersity of the fraction obtained within that pressure range. Specifically, this work utilizes the highly tunable solvent properties of organic/CO2 solvent mixtures to selectively size-separate dispersions of polydisperse nanoparticles (2 to 12 nm) into more monodisperse fractions (+/-2 nm). In addition to providing efficient separation of the particles, this process also allows all of the solvent and antisolvent to be recovered, thereby rendering it a green solvent process.

Composite nanoplatelets combining soft-magnetic iron oxide with hard-magnetic barium hexaferrite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Primc, D.; Makovec, D.

2015-01-01

By coupling two different magnetic materials inside a single composite nanoparticle, the shape of the magnetic hysteresis can be engineered to meet the requirements of specific applications. Sandwich-like composite nanoparticles composed of a hard-magnetic Ba-hexaferrite (BaFe12O19) platelet core in between two soft-magnetic spinel iron oxide maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) layers were synthesized using a new, simple and inexpensive method based on the co-precipitation of Fe3+/Fe2+ ions in an aqueous suspension of hexaferrite core nanoparticles. The required close control of the supersaturation of the precipitating species was enabled by the controlled release of the Fe3+ ions from the nitrate complex with urea ([Fe((H2N)2C&z.dbd;O)6](NO3)3) and by using Mg(OH)2 as a solid precipitating agent. The platelet Ba-hexaferrite nanoparticles of different sizes were used as the cores. The controlled coating resulted in an exclusively heterogeneous nucleation and the topotactic growth of the spinel layers on both basal surfaces of the larger hexaferrite nanoplatelets. The direct magnetic coupling between the core and the shell resulted in a strong increase of the energy product |BH|max. Ultrafine core nanoparticles reacted with the precipitating species and homogeneous product nanoparticles were formed, which differ in terms of the structure and composition compared to any other compound in the BaO-Fe2O3 system.By coupling two different magnetic materials inside a single composite nanoparticle, the shape of the magnetic hysteresis can be engineered to meet the requirements of specific applications. Sandwich-like composite nanoparticles composed of a hard-magnetic Ba-hexaferrite (BaFe12O19) platelet core in between two soft-magnetic spinel iron oxide maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) layers were synthesized using a new, simple and inexpensive method based on the co-precipitation of Fe3+/Fe2+ ions in an aqueous suspension of hexaferrite core nanoparticles. The required close control of the supersaturation of the precipitating species was enabled by the controlled release of the Fe3+ ions from the nitrate complex with urea ([Fe((H2N)2C&z.dbd;O)6](NO3)3) and by using Mg(OH)2 as a solid precipitating agent. The platelet Ba-hexaferrite nanoparticles of different sizes were used as the cores. The controlled coating resulted in an exclusively heterogeneous nucleation and the topotactic growth of the spinel layers on both basal surfaces of the larger hexaferrite nanoplatelets. The direct magnetic coupling between the core and the shell resulted in a strong increase of the energy product |BH|max. Ultrafine core nanoparticles reacted with the precipitating species and homogeneous product nanoparticles were formed, which differ in terms of the structure and composition compared to any other compound in the BaO-Fe2O3 system. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthesis (ESI #1) and properties (ESI #2) of the barium hexaferrite core nanoparticles, TEM of the nanoparticles synthesized under an excessive supersaturation (ESI #3), and magnetic properties of physical mixtures of the hard-magnetic hexaferrite and the soft-magnetic spinel ferrite (ESI #4). See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr05854b

Comparison of drug delivery potentials of surface functionalized cobalt and zinc ferrite nanohybrids for curcumin in to MCF-7 breast cancer cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sawant, V. J.; Bamane, S. R.; Shejwal, R. V.; Patil, S. B.

2016-11-01

The functionalization and surface engineering of CoFe2O4 and ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were performed by coating with PEG and Chitosan respectively using simple wet co-precipitation. Then multiactive therapeutic drug curcumin was loaded to form drug delivery nanohybrids by precipitation. These nanohybrids were characterized separately using UV-vis, FTIR, PL spectroscopy, XRD, VSM, SEM and TEM analysis. The moderate antibacterial activities of the nanohybrids were elaborated by in vitro antibacterial screening on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The anticancer potentials, apoptotic effects and enhanced drug delivery properties of these nanohybrids were confirmed and compared on MCF-7 cells by in vitro MTT assay. The drug delivery activities for hydrophobic drug and anticancer effects of chitosan coated zinc ferrite functionalized nanoparticles were higher than PEG coated cobalt ferrite nanohybrids.

Influence of catalyst synthesis method on selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by NH 3 with V 2O 5-WO 3/TiO 2 catalysts

DOE PAGES

He, Yuanyuan; Ford, Michael E.; Zhu, Minghui; ...

2016-04-14

We compared the molecular structures, surface acidity and catalytic activity for NO/NH 3/O 2 SCR of V 2O 5-WO 3/TiO 2 catalysts for two different synthesis methods: co-precipitation of aqueous vanadium and tungsten oxide precursors with TiO(OH) 2 and by incipient wetness impregnation of the aqueous precursors on a reference crystalline TiO 2 support (P25; primarily anatase phase). Bulk analysis by XRD showed that co-precipitation results in small and/or poorly ordered TiO 2(anatase) particles and that VO x and WO x do not form solid solutions with the bulk titania lattice. Surface analysis of the co-precipitated catalyst by High Sensitivity-Lowmore » Energy Ion Scattering (HS-LEIS) confirms that the VO x and WO x are surface segregated for the co-precipitated catalysts. In situ Raman and IR spectroscopy revealed that the vanadium and tungsten oxide components are present as surface mono-oxo O = VO 3 and O = WO 4 sites on the TiO 2 supports. Co-precipitation was shown for the first time to also form new mono-oxo surface VO 4 and WO 4 sites that appear to be anchored at surface defects of the TiO 2 support. IR analysis of chemisorbed ammonia showed the presence of both surface NH 3 * on Lewis acid sites and surface NH 4 +* on Brønsted acid sites. TPSR spectroscopy demonstrated that the specific SCR kinetics was controlled by the redox surface VO 4 species and that the surface kinetics was independent of TiO 2 synthesis method or presence of surface WO 5 sites. SCR reaction studies revealed that the surface WO5 sites possess minimal activity below ~325 °C and their primary function is to increase the adsorption capacity of ammonia. A relationship between the SCR activity and surface acidity was not found. The SCR reaction is controlled by the surface VO 4 sites that initiate the reaction at ~200 °C. The co-precipitated catalysts were always more active than the corresponding impregnated catalysts. Finally, we ascribe the higher activity of the co-precipitated catalysts to the presence of the new surface WO x sites associated surface defects on the TiO 2 support that increase the ammonia adsorption capacity.« less

Environment dependent enhanced photoluminescence and Boolean logic gates like behavior of Bi2O3 and Ag:Bi2O3 nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hariharan, S.; Karthikeyan, B.

2018-03-01

In the evolution of nanotechnology research for smart and precise sensor fabrication, here we report the implementation of simple logic gate operations performing by luminescent nanostructures in biomolecule environment based on photoluminescence (PL) technique. This present work deals with the luminescence property of α-Bi2O3 and Ag modified α-Bi2O3 nanostructures for D-glucose and Bovine serum albumin (BSA) sensing applications. These nanostructures are prepared by simple co-precipitation method and their morphology are examined using transmission electron microscope (TEM). We explore the PL characteristics of the prepared nanostructures and observe their change in PL intensity in the presence of D-glucose and BSA molecules. Enhancement in PL intensity is observed in the presence of D-glucose and BSA. Based on the PL response of prepared nanostructures in the biomolecule environment, we demonstrate biophotonic logic gates including YES, PASS 0, OR and INHIBIT gates.

Removal of р-nitrophenol from aqueous solution by magnetically modified activated carbon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Shuai; Zhao, Feng; Sun, Jian; Wang, Bin; Wei, Rongyan; Yan, Shiqiang

2013-09-01

Activated carbon was modified with γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles, using the chemical co-precipitation technique and the carboxylic acid vapor treatment technique. Two magnetic composites were characterized and compared by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, vibrating sample magnetometry and nitrogen adsorption-desorption. Then the two materials were used to remove p-nitrophenol in water. The equilibrium data revealed that the Langmuir isotherm was better in fitting the experiment result than the Freundlich isotherm, and the sorption capacity of the nanocomposite made by the chemical co-precipitation technique was higher than that of the other one. We suggest that the chemical co-precipitation technique is a more efficient and practical method to produce magnetically modified activated carbon.

Determination of Lead in Blood by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry1

PubMed Central

Selander, Stig; Cramér, Kim

1968-01-01

Lead in blood was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, using a wet ashing procedure and a procedure in which the proteins were precipitated with trichloroacetic acid. In both methods the lead was extracted into isobutylmethylketone before measurement, using ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate as chelator. The simpler precipitation procedure was shown to give results identical with those obtained with the ashing technique. In addition, blood specimens were examined by the precipitation method and by spectral analysis, which method includes wet ashing of the samples, with good agreement. All analyses were done on blood samples from `normal' persons or from lead-exposed workers, and no additions of inorganic lead were made. The relatively simple protein precipitation technique gave accurate results and is suitable for the large-scale control of lead-exposed workers. PMID:5663425

Precipitation of molybdenum(V) as the hydroxide and its separation from rhenium.

PubMed

Yatirajam, V; Ahuja, U; Kakkar, L R

1975-03-01

A study of the conditions for precipitation of molybdenum(V) hydroxide shows that for Mo concentration 1 mg ml about 97.5% of the Mo can be precipitated between pH 5 and 5.8. Lower concentrations of molybdenum(V) or molybdenum(VI) can be precipitated quantitatively by using 20 times the amount of zirconium as collector, at the same pH. On this basis, a simple method is given for quantitative separation of rhenium from large amounts of molybdenum and is attested by analysis of synthetic and molybdenite samples.

LiCoPO4 cathode from a CoHPO4·xH2O nanoplate precursor for high voltage Li-ion batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Choi, Daiwon; Li, Xiaolin; Henderson, Wesley A.

2016-02-01

Highly crystalline LiCoPO4/C cathode has been synthesized without any impurities via single step solid-state reaction using CoHPO4xH2O nanoplates as a precursor obtained by simple precipitation route. The electrochemical test shows specific capacity as high as 125mAh/g at charge/discharge rate of C/10. Synthesis approach for obtaining CoHPO4xH2O nanoplate precursor and final LiCoPO4/C cathode using single step solid-state reaction have been characterized using X-ray diffraction, thermos gravimetric analyses (TGA) – differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical test and cycling stability using different electrolytes, additive and separator have been investigated.

Lithium-Rich Nanoscale Li 1.2 Mn 0.54 Ni 0.13 Co 0.13 O 2 Cathode Material Prepared by Co-Precipitation Combined Freeze Drying (CP-FD) for Lithium-Ion Batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bai, Ying; Li, Yu; Wu, Chuan

Nanoscale Li-rich Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 material is synthesized by a co-precipitation combined freeze drying (CP-FD) method, and compared with a conventional co-precipitation method combined vacuum drying (CP-VD). With the combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it is found that the sample from CP-FD method consists of a pure phase with good crystallinity and small, homogenous particles (100-300 nm) with uniform particle size distribution. Inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP) shows that the sample has a stoichiometric ratio of n((Li)): n((Mn)): n((Ni)): n((Co))=9: 4: 1: 1; and its Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area is 5.749 m(2)g(-1). This sample achieves excellentmore » electrochemical properties: its initial discharge capacities are 298.9 mAhg(-1) at 0.1C (20 mAg(-1)), 246.1 mAhg(-1) at 0.5C, 215.8 mAhg(-1) at 1C, and 154.2 mAhg(-1) at 5C (5C charge and 5C discharge), as well as good cycling performance. In addition, the Li+ chemical diffusion coefficient of Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 material prepared by the CP-FD method is 4.59 x 10(-11) cm(2) s(-1), which is higher than that of the Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 material prepared by CP-VD. This phenomenon illustrates the potential for Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 with good rate performance synthesized by CP-FD method.« less

Variation of Strontium (Sr) in the Ferroelectric Material Barium Strontium Titanate (Ba1-xSrxTiO3) by Co precipitation Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subarwanti, Y.; Safitri, R. D.; Supriyanto, A.; Iriani, Y.; Jamaludin, A.

2017-02-01

Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) have been made with variation strontium (Sr) 10%, 30% and 50% by co-precipitation method. This study aims to determine influence addition Sr against the crystal structure, crystallite size, lattice parameter, grain size and dielectric constant. Samples have been made by co-precipitation method and then the samples were sintered by furnace at 1100°C with holding time 4 hours. Characterization of BST use X-Ray Diffraction instrument, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Resistance Capacitance Inductance (RCL meter). Based on result obtained, the larger Sr content cause the diffraction angle shift to the right (the greater) and crystallinity increasing. But, the value of dielectric constant, crystallite size and grain size decreasing with additional Sr content. Measurement of dielectric constant (K) performed in the frequency range 1 kHz to 100 kHz and the highest value at Sr content 0.1 i.e. 258.35. The addition of Sr content 30% and 50% change the crystal structure from tetragonal to cubic which has paraelectric phase.

Abundant storage protein depletion from tuber proteins using ethanol precipitation method: Suitability to proteomics study.

PubMed

Lee, Hye Min; Gupta, Ravi; Kim, Sun Hyung; Wang, Yiming; Rakwal, Randeep; Agrawal, Ganesh Kumar; Kim, Sun Tae

2015-05-01

High-abundance proteins (HAPs) hamper in-depth proteome study necessitating development of a HAPs depletion method. Here, we report a novel ethanol precipitation method (EPM) for HAPs depletion from total tuber proteins. Ethanol showed a dose-dependent effect on depletion of sporamin from sweet potato and patatin from potato tubers, respectively. The 50% ethanol was an optimal concentration. 2DE analysis of EPM-prepared sweet potato proteins also revealed enrichment of storage proteins (SPs) in ethanol supernatant (ES) resulting in detection of new low-abundance proteins in ethanol pellet (EP), compared to total fraction. The ES fraction showed even higher trypsin inhibitor activity than total proteins, further showing the efficacy of EPM in enrichment of sporamin in ES fraction. Application of this method was demonstrated for comparative proteomics of two sweet potato cultivars (Hwang-geum and Ho-bac) and purification of SP (sporamin) in its native form, as examples. Comparative proteomics identified many cultivar specific protein spots and selected spots were confidently assigned for their protein identity using MALDI-TOF-TOF analysis. Overall, the EPM is simple, reproducible, and economical for depletion of SPs and is suitable for downstream proteomics study. This study opens a door for its potential application to other tuber crops or fruits rich in carbohydrates. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Removal of dibutyl phthalate from aqueous environments using a nanophotocatalytic Fe, Ag-ZnO/VIS-LED system: modeling and optimization.

PubMed

Akbari-Adergani, B; Saghi, M H; Eslami, A; Mohseni-Bandpei, A; Rabbani, M

2018-06-01

An (Fe, Ag) co-doped ZnO nanostructure was synthesized by a simple chemical co-precipitation method and used for the degradation of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in aqueous solution under visible light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation. (Fe, Ag) co-doped ZnO nanorods were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-VIS diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, elemental mapping, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis. A Central Composite Design was used to optimize the reaction parameters for the removal of DBP by the (Fe, Ag) co-doped ZnO nanorods. The four main reaction parameters optimized in this study were the following: pH, time of radiation, concentration of the nanorods and initial DBP concentration. The interaction between the four parameters was studied and modeled using the Design Expert 10 software. A maximum reduction of 95% of DBP was achieved at a pH of 3, a photocatalyst concentration of 150 mg L -1 and a DBP initial DBP concentration of 15 mg L -1 . The results showed that the (Fe, Ag) co-doped ZnO nanorods under low power LED irradiation can be used as an effective photocatalyst for the removal of DBP from aqueous solutions.

Tooth enamel maturation reequilibrates oxygen isotope compositions and supports simple sampling methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trayler, Robin B.; Kohn, Matthew J.

2017-02-01

Oxygen isotope and major element zoning patterns of several disparate ungulate teeth were collected to evaluate the timing and geometry of enamel formation, records of isotope zoning, and tooth enamel sampling strategies. Isotopic zoning in mammalian tooth enamel encodes a sub-annual time series of isotopic variation of an animal's body water composition, with a damping factor that depends on the specifics of how enamel mineralizes. Enamel formation comprises two stages: precipitation of appositional enamel with a high CO3:PO4 ratio, followed by precipitation of maturational enamel with a lower CO3:PO4. If appositional and maturational enamel both contribute to isotope compositions (but with different CO3:PO4), and if isotope compositions vary seasonally, paired δ18O values from CO3 and PO4 profiles should show a spatial separation. CO3 isotope patterns should be shifted earlier seasonally than PO4 isotope patterns. Such paired profiles for new and published data show no resolvable shifts, i.e. CO3 and PO4 δ18O profiles show coincident maxima and minima. This coincidence suggests that enamel maturation reequilibrates appositional isotope compositions. If enamel maturation establishes enamel isotope compositions, the geometry of maturation, not apposition, should be considered when devising sampling protocols. X-ray maps of Ca zoning show that the majority of enamel (inner and middle layers) mineralizes heavily at a high angle to the external tooth surface and the enamel-dentine junction over length scales of 2-4 mm, while the outer enamel surface mineralizes more slowly. These data suggest that isotopic sampling strategies should parallel maturational geometry and focus on interior enamel to improve data fidelity. The magnitude of isotopic damping is also smaller than implied in previous studies, so tooth enamel zoning more closely reflects original body water isotopic variations than previously assumed.

[Study on X-ray powder diffraction of various structured zinc titanate prepared by the method of direct precipitation].

PubMed

Guo, Jian; Wang, Zhi-hua; Tao, Dong-liang; Guo, Guang-sheng

2007-05-01

Zinc titanate powders were prepared from Ti(SO4)2, Zn(NO3)2 x (6)H2O and (NH4)2CO3 by the method of direct precipitation. The effects of reaction conditions on the structure of zinc titanate were studied. The sample was analyzed by means of XRD and TG-DTA. The structure of zinc titanate was affected by the reaction subsequence of the formation of titanic acid and zinc carbonate. In the reaction system where titanic acid was generated earlier, collision reaction occurred between the generated zinc carbonate molecule and the surrounding titanic acid molecule. When titanic acid was generated earlier and precipitant (NH4)2CO3 was sufficient, Zn2Ti3O8 was obtained because of the sufficient collision reaction and superfluous titanic acid. In the reaction system where zinc carbonate was generated earlier, collision reaction occurred between the generated titanic acid molecule and the surrounding zinc carbonate molecule. When zinc carbonate was generated earlier and precipitant (NH4)2CO3 was sufficient, Zn2TiO4 was obtained because of the sufficient collision reaction and superfluous zinc carbonate. In addition, the kinds and structure of the production were affected by the dosage of precipitant and the reaction temperature. Zn2Ti3O8 or Zn2TiO4 could be obtained easier when using more precipitant or higher reaction temperature which could cause more sufficient collision reaction. ZnTiO3 could be obtained under the conditions of less precipitant and lower reaction temperature.

Tannic acid assisted synthesis of flake-like hydroxyapatite nanostructures at room temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vázquez, Maricela Santana; Estevez, O.; Ascencio-Aguirre, F.; Mendoza-Cruz, R.; Bazán-Díaz, L.; Zorrila, C.; Herrera-Becerra, R.

2016-09-01

A simple and non-expensive procedure was performed to synthesize hydroxyapatite (HAp) flake-like nanostructures, by using a co-precipitation method with tannic acid as stabilizing agent at room temperature and freeze drying. Samples were synthesized with two different salts, Ca(NO3)2 and CaCl2. X-ray diffraction analysis, Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy characterizations reveal Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 HAp particles with hexagonal structure and P63/m space group in both cases. In addition, the particle size was smaller than 20 nm. The advantage of this method over the works reported to date lies in the ease for obtaining HAp particles with a single morphology (flakes), in high yield. This opens the possibility of expanding the view to the designing of new composite materials based on the HAp synthesized at room temperature.

MnFe2O4: Synthesis, morphology and electrochemical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulkarni, Shrikant; Thombare, Balu; Patil, Shankar

2017-05-01

MnFe2O4 has been synthesized by simple ammonia assisted co-precipitation method to obtain nanocrystalline powder. X-ray diffraction studies confirmed its crystallinity and phase purity. The MnFe2O4 calcined at 1000°C for 4 h has spinel crystal structure with Fd3m space group and lattice constant 8.511 Å. The electrode was prepared by dip coating method on stainless steel substrate and fired at 600°C for 2 h. Random shape grains of 0.2 to 1.5 micron with pores of 1-2 micron dimensions were observed in SEM images. The electrochemical studies of MnFe2O4 were carried out with 1 mole Na2SO4 electrolyte. The MnFe2O4 electrode shows highest specific capacitance of 27.53 F.g-1 and interfacial capacitance of 0.83 F.cm-2.

Matrix precipitation: a general strategy to eliminate matrix interference for pharmaceutical toxic impurities analysis.

PubMed

Yang, Xiaojing; Xiong, Xuewu; Cao, Ji; Luan, Baolei; Liu, Yongjun; Liu, Guozhu; Zhang, Lei

2015-01-30

Matrix interference, which can lead to false positive/negative results, contamination of injector or separation column, incompatibility between sample solution and the selected analytical instrument, and response inhibition or even quenching, is commonly suffered for the analysis of trace level toxic impurities in drug substance. In this study, a simple matrix precipitation strategy is proposed to eliminate or minimize the above stated matrix interference problems. Generally, a sample of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is dissolved in an appropriate solvent to achieve the desired high concentration and then an anti-solvent is added to precipitate the matrix substance. As a result, the target analyte is extracted into the mixed solution with very less residual of APIs. This strategy has the characteristics of simple manipulation, high recovery and excellent anti-interference capability. It was found that the precipitation ratio (R, representing the ability to remove matrix substance) and the proportion of solvent (the one used to dissolve APIs) in final solution (P, affecting R and also affecting the method sensitivity) are two important factors of the precipitation process. The correlation between R and P was investigated by performing precipitation with various APIs in different solvent/anti-solvent systems. After a detailed mathematical reasoning process, P=20% was proved to be an effective and robust condition to perform the precipitation strategy. The precipitation method with P=20% can be used as a general strategy for toxic impurity analysis in APIs. Finally, several typical examples are described in this article, where the challenging matrix interference issues have been resolved successfully. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, strctural and electrochemical characterizations of lithium- manganese- rich composite cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dapeng

The electrification trend for transportation systems requires alternative cathode materials to LiCoO2 with improved safety, lowered cost and extended cycle life. Lithium- manganese- rich composite cathode materials, which can be presented in a two component notation as xLi2MnO3·(1-x)LiMO 2, (M= Ni, Co or Mn) have superior cost and energy density advantages. These cathode materials have shown success in laboratory scale experiments, but are still facing challenges such as voltage fade, moderate rate capacity and tap density for commercialization. The synthesis of precursors with high packing density and suitable physical properties is critical to achieve high energy density as well as the other acceptable electrochemical performance for the next generation lithium ion batteries. The aim of this study is to correlate the electrochemical properties of materials to their structural, morphological, and physical properties by coordinating the science of synthesis with the science of function, in order to enable the use of these compounds in vehicle technologies. Three different precursors including carbonate, hydroxide and oxalate were synthesized by co-precipitation reactions using continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) under various conditions. Research focused on areas such as nucleation and growth mechanisms, synthesis optimizations, and intrinsic limitations of each co-precipitation method. A combination of techniques such as PSA, BET, SEM, EDX FIB, TEM, Raman, FTIR, TGA-DSC, XRD, and ICP-MS, as well as electrochemical test methods such as cycling, CV, EIS and HPPC tests were used in correlation with each other in order to deepen our understanding to these materials. Related topics such as the composite structure formation process during the solid state reaction, lithium and nickel content effects on the cathode properties were also discussed. Additionally, the side reactions between the active materials and electrolyte as a result of the high charge potential were mitigated through a simple wet chemical surface coating method, and the positive effect of the surface coating on the cells' performance was also discussed.

Structural, optical and morphological characterization of Cu-doped α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles synthesized through co-precipitation technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lassoued, Abdelmajid; Lassoued, Mohamed Saber; Dkhil, Brahim; Gadri, Abdellatif; Ammar, Salah

2017-11-01

Pure and copper (Cu concentration varying from 2 to 8%) doped hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanocrystals were synthesized through co-precipitation method using simple equipment. X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) techniques were used to characterize the synthesized samples. XRD measurements confirm that all the prepared nanocrystals consist only in nanocrystalline hematite phase. These results along with TEM and SEM show that the size of the nanoparticles decreases with Cu-doping down to 21 nm. FT-IR confirm the phase purity of the nanoparticles synthesized. The Raman spectroscopy was used not only to prove that we synthesized pure and Cu-doped hematite but also to identify their phonon modes. The TGA showed three mass losses, whereas DTA resulted in three endothermic peaks. The UV-Vis absorption measurements confirm that the decrease of particle size is accompanied by a decrease in the band gap value from 2.12 eV for pure α-Fe2O3 down to 1.91 eV for 8% Cu-doped α-Fe2O3. 8% Cu-doped hematite had the smallest size, the best crystallinity and the lowest band gap.

Apparatus and methods for regeneration of precipitating solvent

DOEpatents

Liu, Guohai; Vimalchand, Pannalal; Peng, Wan Wang; Bonsu, Alexander

2015-08-25

A regenerator that can handle rich loaded chemical solvent containing precipitated absorption reaction products is disclosed. The invention is particularly suitable for separating CO.sub.2 from large gas streams that are typical of power plant processes. The internally circulating liquid stream in the regenerator (ICLS regenerator) rapidly heats-up the in-coming rich solvent stream in a downcomer standpipe as well as decreases the overall concentration of CO.sub.2 in the mixed stream. Both these actions lead to dissolution of precipitates. Any remaining precipitate further dissolves as heat is transferred to the mixed solution with an inverted bayonet tube heat exchanger in the riser portion of the regenerator. The evolving CO.sub.2 bubbles in the riser portion of the regenerator lead to substantial gas hold-up and the large density difference between the solutions in the downcomer standpipe and riser portions promotes internal circulation of the liquid stream in the regenerator. As minor amounts of solvent components present in the exit gas stream are condensed and returned back to the regenerator, pure CO.sub.2 gas stream exits the disclosed regenerator and condenser system.

Enhanced phosphate removal from wastewater by using in situ generated fresh trivalent Fe composition through the interaction of Fe(II) on CaCO3.

PubMed

Li, Yujie; He, Xiaoman; Hu, Huimin; Zhang, Tingting; Qu, Jun; Zhang, Qiwu

2018-05-21

Excessive existences of nutrients such as phosphate in the aqueous environment remain as a heavy concern although many researches have been reported for dealing with their removal. Based on the understanding toward the interactions of Fe compounds with phosphate and carbonate from many available researches, we designed a very simple and efficient approach for phosphate removal by using in situ generated fresh trivalent Fe composition through the interaction of Fe(II) as FeSO 4 on CaCO 3 . Addition and agitation of Fe(II) and CaCO 3 simultaneously to phosphate solution allowed an amorphous Fe(III)-P or Ca-Fe(III)-P precipitation, with a phosphate removal rate close to 100%, to reduce the residual phosphorus concentration less than 0.03 mg/L from 100 mg/L, reaching the discharge limit, even with the addition amounts of CaCO 3 as low as a stoichiometric ratio of CaCO 3 /PO 4 3- at 0.9 and ratio of Fe(II)/PO 4 3- at 1.5, and the percent of P 2 O 5 in the precipitate was as high as 19.4% enough as phosphate source for fertilizer production. Different from the alkaline process with enough OH - group, the slow hydrolysis of CaCO 3 resulting in low concentration of OH - group for the formation of Fe(OH) 2 , which was oxidized soon by air into trivalent Fe, achieved a continuous generation of fresh ferric composition for phosphate precipitation and could avoid its rapid formation and subsequent transformation into stable FeOOH of large particle size to lose the activity. These results based on the synergistic effect of using CaCO 3 and Fe(II) together may have applications in the treatment of eutrophic wastewater through a process with many advantages of easy operation and low-cost besides the high removal efficiency with phosphate percentage inside the precipitate high enough to serve for fertilizer production. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Kinetics of ikaite precipitation and dissolution in seawater-derived brines at sub-zero temperatures to 265 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papadimitriou, Stathys; Kennedy, Hilary; Kennedy, Paul; Thomas, David N.

2014-09-01

The kinetics of calcium carbonate hexahydrate (ikaite) precipitation and dissolution were investigated in seawater and seawater-derived brines at sub-zero temperatures using the constant addition experimental technique. The steady state rate of these two processes was found to be a function of the deviation of the solution from equilibrium with respect to ikaite and conformed to the same empirical rate law as the anhydrous CaCO3 polymorphs, calcite and aragonite. In addition to the saturation state of the brine with respect to ikaite, the salinity of the brine and the temperature of the reaction evidently exerted some control on the ikaite precipitation kinetics, while the dissolution kinetics of the polymorph were not noticeably influenced by these two parameters. The experimental salinity and temperature conditions were equivalent to those at thermal equilibrium between brine and ice in the sea ice cover of polar seas. Simple modelling of the CO2 system by extrapolation of the oceanic equivalent to sea ice brines showed that the physical concentration of seawater ions and the changes in ikaite solubility as a function of salinity and temperature, both inherent in the sea ice system, would be insufficient to drive the emergent brines to ikaite supersaturation and precipitation in sea ice down to -8 °C. The loss of dissolved inorganic carbon to the gas phase of sea ice and to sympagic autotrophs are two independent mechanisms which, in nature, could prompt the brine CO2 system towards ikaite supersaturation and precipitation. Under these conditions, the steady state precipitation rate of ikaite was found to be fast enough for rapid formation within short time scales (days to weeks) in sea ice. The observed ikaite dissolution kinetics were also found conducive to short turn-over time scales of a few hours to a few days in corrosive solutions, such as surface seawater.

Predictability of monthly temperature and precipitation using automatic time series forecasting methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papacharalampous, Georgia; Tyralis, Hristos; Koutsoyiannis, Demetris

2018-02-01

We investigate the predictability of monthly temperature and precipitation by applying automatic univariate time series forecasting methods to a sample of 985 40-year-long monthly temperature and 1552 40-year-long monthly precipitation time series. The methods include a naïve one based on the monthly values of the last year, as well as the random walk (with drift), AutoRegressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average (ARFIMA), exponential smoothing state-space model with Box-Cox transformation, ARMA errors, Trend and Seasonal components (BATS), simple exponential smoothing, Theta and Prophet methods. Prophet is a recently introduced model inspired by the nature of time series forecasted at Facebook and has not been applied to hydrometeorological time series before, while the use of random walk, BATS, simple exponential smoothing and Theta is rare in hydrology. The methods are tested in performing multi-step ahead forecasts for the last 48 months of the data. We further investigate how different choices of handling the seasonality and non-normality affect the performance of the models. The results indicate that: (a) all the examined methods apart from the naïve and random walk ones are accurate enough to be used in long-term applications; (b) monthly temperature and precipitation can be forecasted to a level of accuracy which can barely be improved using other methods; (c) the externally applied classical seasonal decomposition results mostly in better forecasts compared to the automatic seasonal decomposition used by the BATS and Prophet methods; and (d) Prophet is competitive, especially when it is combined with externally applied classical seasonal decomposition.

Effects of Dissolved Organic Matter Properties on Formation and Composition of Mineral-Organic Co-Precipitates at the Nanometer Scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Possinger, A. R.; Zachman, M.; Lehmann, J.

2016-12-01

An important, yet largely overlooked case of soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization through mineral-organic associations is the co-precipitation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) into mineral precipitates as they form. The contribution of co-precipitated DOM to the mineral-stabilized SOC pool is expected to be greatest in soil environments with frequent mineral dissolution and precipitation processes. Compared to surface adsorption, properties of mineral-organic co-precipitates are expected to differ at both the particle scale (e.g., total carbon (C) content and composition) and the molecular scale (e.g., impurities in mineral structure), with potential implications for stability and C turnover; additionally, these properties vary across C sources, amounts, and forms. Consequently, high-resolution visualization and characterization combined with bulk chemical measurements is needed to provide a more complete understanding of co-precipitate formation processes and properties, especially as a function of C co-precipitant characteristics. In this study, we evaluate the effect of model C compound and DOM chemical properties (e.g., iron-binding affinity) on the formation, structure, and chemical properties of ferrihydrite (Fh) (Fe3+3O2 •0.5H2O) co-precipitates. Salicylic acid (SA), sucrose and water-extractable DOM from coniferous or deciduous-dominated organic soils were either adsorbed to pre-formed Fh or co-precipitated with Fh. At a C/Fe ratio 10, the amount of co-precipitated C differed among all organic compounds, and for DOM, was more than 2X greater for co-precipitation than adsorption, suggesting a greater capacity for C retention. To probe the molecular-scale C spatial distribution of Fh-SA particles, we obtained Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy with Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (STEM-EELS) maps at a nanometer-scale spatial pixel resolution. Additionally, we will present chemical characteristics of organic-Fh co-precipitates and adsorption complexes investigated in bulk using C Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Ultimately, these observations of model co-precipitation systems will be used to better interpret observations of putative co-precipitated OM in natural soils.

Synthesis of aqueous suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles with the co-precipitation of iron ions in the presence of aspartic acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pušnik, Klementina; Goršak, Tanja; Drofenik, Miha; Makovec, Darko

2016-09-01

There is increasing demand for the production of large quantities of aqueous suspensions of magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles. Amino acids are one possible type of inexpensive, nontoxic, and biocompatible molecules that can be used as the surfactants for the preparation of stable suspensions. This preparation can be conducted in a simple, one-step process based on the co-precipitation of Fe3+/Fe2+ ions in the presence of the amino acid. However, the presence of this amino acid changes the mechanism of the magnetic nanoparticles' formation. In this investigation we analyzed the influence of aspartic amino acid (Asp) on the formation of magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles during the co-precipitation. The process of the nanoparticles' formation was followed using a combination of TEM, x-ray diffractometry, magnetic measurements, in-situ FT-IR spectroscopy, and chemical analysis, and compared with the formation of nanoparticles without the Asp. The Asp forms a coordination complex with the Fe3+ ions, which impedes the formation of the intermediate iron oxyhydroxide phase and suppresses the growth of the final magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles. Slower reaction kinetics can lead to the formation of nonmagnetic secondary phases. The aspartic-acid-absorbed nanoparticles can be dispersed to form relatively concentrated aqueous suspensions displaying a good colloidal stability at an increased pH.

Probabilistic regional climate projection in Japan using a regression model with CMIP5 multi-model ensemble experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishizaki, N. N.; Dairaku, K.; Ueno, G.

2016-12-01

We have developed a statistical downscaling method for estimating probabilistic climate projection using CMIP5 multi general circulation models (GCMs). A regression model was established so that the combination of weights of GCMs reflects the characteristics of the variation of observations at each grid point. Cross validations were conducted to select GCMs and to evaluate the regression model to avoid multicollinearity. By using spatially high resolution observation system, we conducted statistically downscaled probabilistic climate projections with 20-km horizontal grid spacing. Root mean squared errors for monthly mean air surface temperature and precipitation estimated by the regression method were the smallest compared with the results derived from a simple ensemble mean of GCMs and a cumulative distribution function based bias correction method. Projected changes in the mean temperature and precipitation were basically similar to those of the simple ensemble mean of GCMs. Mean precipitation was generally projected to increase associated with increased temperature and consequent increased moisture content in the air. Weakening of the winter monsoon may affect precipitation decrease in some areas. Temperature increase in excess of 4 K was expected in most areas of Japan in the end of 21st century under RCP8.5 scenario. The estimated probability of monthly precipitation exceeding 300 mm would increase around the Pacific side during the summer and the Japan Sea side during the winter season. This probabilistic climate projection based on the statistical method can be expected to bring useful information to the impact studies and risk assessments.

Antiscalant properties of Spergularia rubra and Parietaria officinalis aqueous solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheap-Charpentier, Hélène; Gelus, Dominique; Pécoul, Nathalie; Perrot, Hubert; Lédion, Jean; Horner, Olivier; Sadoun, Jonathan; Cachet, Xavier; Litaudon, Marc; Roussi, Fanny

2016-06-01

The formation of calcium carbonate in water has important implications in industry. Chemical antiscalant is usually used to control scale depositions. Plant extracts have been recently used as new green antiscalant agents, as they can be easily prepared and are environmentally friendly. In this study, stock aqueous solutions of Spergularia rubra and Parietaria officinalis, two plants used in traditional medicine to treat or prevent urolithiasis, were obtained by infusion. The antiscaling properties of these extracts towards CaCO3 formation were tested by using chronoamperometry and Fast Controlled Precipitation methods. The aqueous solution of S. rubra was further fractionated to isolate compounds of lower polarity. Their efficiency towards CaCO3 precipitation was characterized by Fast Controlled Precipitation method. The inhibiting efficiency of this fractionated solution was greater than that of the stock aqueous solution.

Fabrication of Far Red Emission Phosphors Y3Al5O12:Eu(YAG:Eu) by Co-precipitation Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thu, L. D.; Trung, D. Q.; Lam, T. D.; Anh, T. X.

2016-05-01

Phosphors YAG:Eu (with seven molar percent of Eu to YAG) was synthesized by the co-precipitation method using NH3 solution as a precipitating agent. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show that the samples are single phase, and the crystallinity starts forming at a sintering temperature of 1000°C. The crystallinity increases with the increasing sintered temperature. XRD studies followed by Rietveld refinement confirmed the body center cubic structure of the host lattice. The crystalline YAG:Eu showed four emission bands of europium ion with the force dipole transition ascribed to 5D0-7F4 located at 710 nm as the most dominating group (far-red emission—FR). The ratio of FR/OR (far-red/orange—red) is about 1.24 in all samples.

Formation of Silica-Lysozyme Composites Through Co-Precipitation and Adsorption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van den Heuvel, Daniela B.; Stawski, Tomasz M.; Tobler, Dominique J.; Wirth, Richard; Peacock, Caroline L.; Benning, Liane G.

2018-04-01

Interactions between silica and proteins are crucial for the formation of biosilica and the production of novel functional hybrid materials for a range of industrial applications. The proteins control both precipitation pathway and the properties of the resulting silica-organic composites. Here we present data on the formation of silica-lysozyme composites through two different synthesis approaches (co-precipitation vs. adsorption) and show that the chemical and structural properties of these composites, when analyzed using a combination of synchrotron-based scattering (total scattering and SAXS), spectroscopic, electron microscopy and potentiometric methods vary dramatically. We document that while lysozyme was not incorporated into nor did its presence alter the molecular structure of silica, it strongly enhanced the aggregation of silica particles due to electrostatic and potentially hydrophobic interactions, leading to the formation of composites with characteristics differing from pure silica. The differences increased with increasing lysozyme content for both synthesis approaches. Yet, the absolute changes differ substantially between the two sets of composites, as lysozyme did not just affect aggregation during co-precipitation but also particle growth and likely polymerization during co-precipitation. Our results improve the fundamental understanding of how organic macromolecules interact with dissolved and nanoparticulate silica and how these interactions control the formation pathway of silica-organic composites from sodium silicate solutions, a widely available and cheap starting material.

Structure and magnetic properties of Co-Ni-Mn alloy coatings (part 2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, V. V.; Zhikhareva, I. G.; Smirnova, N. V.; Shchipanov, V. P.

2018-03-01

Using the method of high-frequency alternating current (HFAC), based on the preliminary model forecasting of the ratio of metal ions in the electrolyte and the phase composition of the coating, Co-Ni-Mn alloy precipitates with the specified magnetic properties are obtained. It is shown that precipitation with a hexagonal close-packed α-Co phase has the highest coercive force. The presence of a free phase in a small amount (2.1 - 2.6% of weight) of Mn increases the ferromagnetic properties of films due to the domain structures with a poorly defecting α-Mn crystal lattice. The adjustable amount of the amorphous Co(OH)2 phase provides the nanostructure dimensions of the crystals.

Fabrication of chitosan single-component microcapsules with a micrometer-thick and layered wall structure by stepwise core-mediated precipitation.

PubMed

Han, Yuanyuan; Tong, Weijun; Zhang, Yuying; Gao, Changyou

2012-02-27

Incubation of CaCO(3) microparticles in chitosan (CS) solution at pH 5.2 and following with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) treatment resulted in CS single-component microcapsules with an ultra-thick wall structure. Repeating the incubation caused stepwise increase of wall thickness and finally resulted in CS microcapsules with a layered structure. This unique method is mediated by precipitation of CS on the CaCO(3) particles as a result of pH increase caused by the partial dissolution of CaCO(3) . The obtained CS capsules are stable at neutral pH. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Peristalticity-driven banded chemical garden

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pópity-Tóth, É.; Schuszter, G.; Horváth, D.; Tóth, Á.

2018-05-01

Complex structures in nature are often formed by self-assembly. In order to mimic the formation, to enhance the production, or to modify the structures, easy-to-use methods are sought to couple engineering and self-assembly. Chemical-garden-like precipitation reactions are frequently used to study such couplings because of the intrinsic chemical and hydrodynamic interplays. In this work, we present a simple method of applying periodic pressure fluctuations given by a peristaltic pump which can be used to achieve regularly banded precipitate membranes in the copper-phosphate system.

Nonaqueous purification of mixed nitrate heat transfer media

DOEpatents

Fiorucci, Louis C.; Morgan, Michael J.

1983-12-20

A nonaqueous, in-line method for removing carbonate and hydroxide contamination from a molten mixed sodium nitrate/potassium nitrate heat transfer salt. The method comprises dissolving a stoichiometric quantity of anhydrous Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 in the melt whereby an insoluble CaCO.sub.3 and Ca(OH).sub.2 precipitate is formed. The precipitate can be removed by settling, filtration or floatation techniques.

Rapid determination of actinides in seawater samples

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maxwell, Sherrod L.; Culligan, Brian K.; Hutchison, Jay B.

2014-03-09

A new rapid method for the determination of actinides in seawater samples has been developed at the Savannah River National Laboratory. The actinides can be measured by alpha spectrometry or inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The new method employs novel pre-concentration steps to collect the actinide isotopes quickly from 80 L or more of seawater. Actinides are co-precipitated using an iron hydroxide co-precipitation step enhanced with Ti +3 reductant, followed by lanthanum fluoride co-precipitation. Stacked TEVA Resin and TRU Resin cartridges are used to rapidly separate Pu, U, and Np isotopes from seawater samples. TEVA Resin and DGA Resin were usedmore » to separate and measure Pu, Am and Cm isotopes in seawater volumes up to 80 L. This robust method is ideal for emergency seawater samples following a radiological incident. It can also be used, however, for the routine analysis of seawater samples for oceanographic studies to enhance efficiency and productivity. In contrast, many current methods to determine actinides in seawater can take 1–2 weeks and provide chemical yields of ~30–60 %. This new sample preparation method can be performed in 4–8 h with tracer yields of ~85–95 %. By employing a rapid, robust sample preparation method with high chemical yields, less seawater is needed to achieve lower or comparable detection limits for actinide isotopes with less time and effort.« less

A simple and rapid method to isolate purer M13 phage by isoelectric precipitation.

PubMed

Dong, Dexian; Sutaria, Sanjana; Hwangbo, Je Yeol; Chen, P

2013-09-01

M13 virus (phage) has been extensively used in phage display technology and nanomaterial templating. Our research aimed to use M13 phage to template sulfur nanoparticles for making lithium ion batteries. Traditional methods for harvesting M13 phage from Escherichia coli employ polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based precipitation, and the yield is usually measured by plaque counting. With this method, PEG residue is present in the M13 phage pellet and is difficult to eliminate. To resolve this issue, a method based on isoelectric precipitation was introduced and tested. The isoelectric method resulted in the production of purer phage with a higher yield, compared to the traditional PEG-based method. There is no significant variation in infectivity of the phage prepared using isoelectric precipitation, and the dynamic light scattering data indirectly prove that the phage structure is not damaged by pH adjustment. To maximize phage production, a dry-weight yield curve of M13 phage for various culture times was produced. The yield curve is proportional to the growth curve of E. coli. On a 200-mL culture scale, 0.2 g L(-1) M13 phage (dry-weight) was produced by the isoelectric precipitation method.

Evaluation of an alternative extraction procedure for enterotoxin determination in dairy products.

PubMed

Meyrand, A; Atrache, V; Bavai, C; Montet, M P; Vernozy-Rozand, C

1999-06-01

A concentration protocol based on trichloroacetic acid precipitation was evaluated and compared with the reference method using dialysis concentration. Different quantities of purified staphylococcal enterotoxins were added to pasteurized Camembert-type cheeses. Detection of enterotoxins in these cheeses was performed using an automated detection system. Raw goat milk Camembert-type cheeses involved in a staphylococcal food poisoning were also tested. Both enterotoxin extraction methods allowed detection of the lowest enterotoxin concentration level used in this study (0.5 ng g-1). Compared with the dialysis concentration method, TCA precipitation of staphylococcal enterotoxins was 'user-friendly' and less time-consuming. These results suggest that TCA precipitation is a rapid (1 h), simple and reliable method of extracting enterotoxin from food which gives excellent recovery from dairy products.

Determination of heavy metals by ICP-OES and F-AAS after preconcentration with 2,2'-bipyridyl and erythrosine.

PubMed

Feist, Barbara; Mikula, Barbara; Pytlakowska, Katarzyna; Puzio, Bozena; Buhl, Franciszek

2008-04-15

The applicability of 2,2'-bipyridyl and erythrosine co-precipitation method for the separation and preconcentration of some heavy metals, such as Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in actual samples for their determination by ICP-OES and F-AAS was studied. Experimental conditions influencing the recovery of the investigated metals, such as pH, molar ratio of 2,2'-bipyridyl to erythrosine, the effect of time on co-precipitation were optimized. The analytical characteristics of the method (e.g. limit of detection, sensitivity, linear range and preconcentration factor) were obtained. The limits of detection LOD (ng mL(-1)) of the ICP-OES (F-AAS) method were: Cd: 4.0 (7.75), Co: 3.1 (57.2), Cu: 18 (10.3), Ni 21.3 (32.8), Pb: 35.9 (29.2) and Zn: 10.2 (6.90). The recovery of all the elements tested was more than 93%. The influence of inorganic matrix was examined. The proposed method was applied to determination of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in vegetables and certified reference material (NCS ZC85006 Tomato).

Ultrasound-induced capping of polystyrene on TiO2 nanoparticles by precipitation with compressed CO2 as antisolvent.

PubMed

Zhang, Jianling; Liu, Zhimin; Han, Buxing; Li, Junchun; Li, Zhonghao; Yang, Guanying

2005-06-01

In this work, a route for the synthesis of inorganic/polymer core/shell composite nanoparticles was proposed, which can be called the antisolvent-ultrasound method. Compressed CO2 was used as antisolvent to precipitate the polymer from its solution dispersed with inorganic nanoparticles, during which ultrasonic irradiation was used to induce the coating of precipitated polymers on the surfaces of the inorganic nanoparticles. TiO2/polystyrene (PS) core/shell nanocomposites have been successfully prepared using this method. The transmission electronic micrographs (TEM) of the obtained nanocomposites show that the TiO2 nanoparticles are coated by the PS shells, of which the thickness can be tuned by the pressure of CO2. The phase structure, absorption properties, and thermal stability of the composite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectra, and thermogravimetry, respectively. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) indicate the formation of a strong interaction between PS and TiO2 nanoparticles in the resultant products. This method has some potential advantages for applications and may be easily applied to the preparation of a range of inorganic/polymer core/shell composite nanoparticles.

Toward a universal carbonate clumped isotope calibration: Diverse synthesis and preparatory methods suggest a single temperature relationship

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelson, Julia R.; Huntington, Katharine W.; Schauer, Andrew J.; Saenger, Casey; Lechler, Alex R.

2017-01-01

Carbonate clumped isotope (Δ47) thermometry has been applied to a wide range of problems in earth, ocean and biological sciences over the last decade, but is still plagued by discrepancies among empirical calibrations that show a range of Δ47-temperature sensitivities. The most commonly suggested causes of these discrepancies are the method of mineral precipitation and analytical differences, including the temperature of phosphoric acid used to digest carbonates. However, these mechanisms have yet to be tested in a consistent analytical setting, which makes it difficult to isolate the cause(s) of discrepancies and to evaluate which synthetic calibration is most appropriate for natural samples. Here, we systematically explore the impact of synthetic carbonate precipitation by replicating precipitation experiments of previous workers under a constant analytical setting. We (1) precipitate 56 synthetic carbonates at temperatures of 4-85 °C using different procedures to degas CO2, with and without the use of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA) to promote rapid dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) equilibration; (2) digest samples in phosphoric acid at both 90 °C and 25 °C; and (3) hold constant all analytical methods including acid preparation, CO2 purification, and mass spectrometry; and (4) reduce our data with 17O corrections that are appropriate for our samples. We find that the CO2 degassing method does not influence Δ47 values of these synthetic carbonates, and therefore probably only influences natural samples with very rapid degassing rates, like speleothems that precipitate out of drip solution with high pCO2. CA in solution does not influence Δ47 values in this work, suggesting that disequilibrium in the DIC pool is negligible. We also find the Δ47 values of samples reacted in 25 and 90 °C acid are within error of each other (once corrected with a constant acid fractionation factor). Taken together, our results show that the Δ47-temperature relationship does not measurably change with either the precipitation methods used in this study or acid digestion temperature. This leaves phosphoric acid preparation, CO2 gas purification, and/or data reduction methods as the possible sources of the discrepancy among published calibrations. In particular, the use of appropriate 17O corrections has the potential to reduce disagreement among calibrations. Our study nearly doubles the available synthetic carbonate calibration data for Δ47 thermometry (adding 56 samples to the 74 previously published samples). This large population size creates a robust calibration that enables us to examine the potential for calibration slope aliasing due to small sample size. The similarity of Δ47 values among carbonates precipitated under such diverse conditions suggests that many natural samples grown at 4-85 °C in moderate pH conditions (6-10) may also be described by our Δ47-temperature relationship.

Autothermal reforming of propane over Mg-Al hydrotalcite-like catalysts.

PubMed

Lim, You-Soon; Park, Nam-Cook; Shin, Jae-Soon; Kim, Jong-Ho; Moon, Dong-Ju; Kim, Young-Chul

2008-10-01

The performance of hydrotalcite-like catalysts in propane autothermal reforming for hydrogen production was studied in fixed-bed flow reactor. Hydrotalcite-like catalysts were synthesized by coprecipitation and modified co-precipitation by the impregnation method and those were promoted by the addition of noble metals. Reaction test results indicated that hydrotalcite-like catalysts of modified method were showed higher H2-yield than co-precipitation method because surface Ni particles of catalysts by modified method were more abundant. When added noble metals, the activity was enhanced because the size of nickel particles was decreased and degree of dispersion was increased. Also the carbon deposit is low after the reaction. When solvent of solution was changed, activity was increased. It is because degree of dispersion was increased.

Magnetic Properties of Copper Doped Nickel Ferrite Nanoparticles Synthesized by Co Precipitation Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anjana, V.; John, Sara; Prakash, Pooja; Nair, Amritha M.; Nair, Aravind R.; Sambhudevan, Sreedha; Shankar, Balakrishnan

2018-02-01

Nickel ferrite nanoparticles with copper atoms as dopant have been prepared using co-precipitation method with general formula Ni1-xCuxFe2O4 (x=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1) and are sintered at quite ambient temperature. Structural and magnetic properties were examined using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction method (XRD) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) to study the influence of copper doping in nickel ferrite magnetic nanoparticles. X-ray studies proves that the particles are possessing single phase spinel structure with an average particle size calculated using Debye Scherer formula. Magnetic measurements reveal that saturation magnetization value (Ms) decreases while magnetic coercivity (Hc) increases upon doping.

Ferrous sulfate based low temperature synthesis and magnetic properties of nickel ferrite nanostructures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tejabhiram, Y., E-mail: tejabhiram@gmail.com; Pradeep, R.; Helen, A.T.

2014-12-15

Highlights: • Novel low temperature synthesis of nickel ferrite nanoparticles. • Comparison with two conventional synthesis techniques including hydrothermal method. • XRD results confirm the formation of crystalline nickel ferrites at 110 °C. • Superparamagnetic particles with applications in drug delivery and hyperthermia. • Magnetic properties superior to conventional methods found in new process. - Abstract: We report a simple, low temperature and surfactant free co-precipitation method for the preparation of nickel ferrite nanostructures using ferrous sulfate as the iron precursor. The products obtained from this method were compared for their physical properties with nickel ferrites produced through conventional co-precipitationmore » and hydrothermal methods which used ferric nitrate as the iron precursor. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the synthesis of single phase inverse spinel nanocrystalline nickel ferrites at temperature as low as 110 °C in the low temperature method. Electron microscopy analysis on the samples revealed the formation of nearly spherical nanostructures in the size range of 20–30 nm which are comparable to other conventional methods. Vibrating sample magnetometer measurements showed the formation of superparamagnetic particles with high magnetic saturation 41.3 emu/g which corresponds well with conventional synthesis methods. The spontaneous synthesis of the nickel ferrite nanoparticles by the low temperature synthesis method was attributed to the presence of 0.808 kJ mol{sup −1} of excess Gibbs free energy due to ferrous sulfate precursor.« less

Waste oil shale ash as a novel source of calcium for precipitated calcium carbonate: carbonation mechanism, modeling, and product characterization.

PubMed

Velts, O; Uibu, M; Kallas, J; Kuusik, R

2011-11-15

In this paper, a method for converting lime-containing oil shale waste ash into precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), a valuable commodity is elucidated. The mechanism of ash leachates carbonation was experimentally investigated in a stirred semi-batch barboter-type reactor by varying the CO(2) partial pressure, gas flow rate, and agitation intensity. A consistent set of model equations and physical-chemical parameters is proposed to describe the CaCO(3) precipitation process from oil shale ash leachates of complex composition. The model enables the simulation of reactive species (Ca(2+), CaCO(3), SO(4)(2-), CaSO(4), OH(-), CO(2), HCO(3)(-), H(+), CO(3)(2-)) concentration profiles in the liquid, gas, and solid phases as well as prediction of the PCC formation rate. The presence of CaSO(4) in the product may also be evaluated and used to assess the purity of the PCC product. A detailed characterization of the PCC precipitates crystallized from oil shale ash leachates is also provided. High brightness PCC (containing up to ∼ 96% CaCO(3)) with mean particle sizes ranging from 4 to 10 μm and controllable morphology (such as rhombohedral calcite or coexisting calcite and spherical vaterite phases) was obtained under the conditions studied. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Silica Aerogel-supported Hydrozincite and Carbonate-intercalated Hydrotalcite for High-efficiency Removal of Pb(II) Ions by Precipitation Transformation Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Lijun; Wang, Xiaoxia; Li, Jianfa; Feng, Xiaolan; Wang, Yusen

2017-09-01

In this work, hydrozincite and Zn/Al-CO3 2- hydrotalcite supported on silica aerogel were prepared via a simple and economical process and used as adsorbents for Pb(II) removal. The supported hydrozincite and Zn/Al-CO3 2- hydrotalcite possess ultra-thin thickness, high surface area, and weak crystallinity. In the batch Pb(II) adsorption experiments, the adsorbents with higher Zn(II) contents showed higher Pb(II) adsorption capacities, and the adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating a mechanism of surface chemisorption. The adsorption capacities calculated based Langmuir isotherm model are 684.9 mg/g and 555.6 mg/g for the supported hydrozincite and Zn/Al-CO3 2- hydrotalcite, respectively, higher than the adsorption capacities of other hydrotalcite-based adsorbents and most of other inorganic adsorbents reported previously. The XRD diffraction peaks of hydrozincite and Zn/Al-CO3 2- hydrotalcite disappeared after the adsorption, and the Pb(II) species were uniformly dispersed in the adsorbents in form of Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 proven by TEM, EDS mapping and XRD analysis, demonstrating the nature of the adsorption is the precipitation conversion of hydrozincite or Zn/Al-CO3 2- hydrotalcite into Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2. These results demonstrate the synergic Pb(II) removal effect of the CO3 2- and OH- derived from hydrozincite and Zn/Al-CO3 2- hydrotalcite together with their ultra-thin thickness and high surface area contribute the excellent properties of the adsorbents.

Method for rapid screening analysis of Sr-90 in edible plant samples collected near Fukushima, Japan.

PubMed

Amano, Hikaru; Sakamoto, Hideaki; Shiga, Norikatsu; Suzuki, Kaori

2016-06-01

A screening method for measuring (90)Sr in edible plant samples by focusing on (90)Y in equilibrium with (90)Sr is reported. (90)Y was extracted from samples with acid, co-precipitated with iron hydroxide, and precipitated with oxalic acid. The dissolved oxalate precipitate was loaded on an extraction chromatography resin, and the (90)Y-enriched eluate was analyzed by Cherenkov counting with a TDCR liquid scintillation counter. (90)Sr ((90)Y) concentration was determined in plant samples collected near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants with this method. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Suitable simple and fast methods for selective isolation of phospholipids as a tool for their analysis.

PubMed

Pimentel, Lígia; Fontes, Ana Luiza; Salsinha, Sofia; Machado, Manuela; Correia, Inês; Gomes, Ana Maria; Pintado, Manuela; Rodríguez-Alcalá, Luís Miguel

2018-03-08

Lipids are gaining relevance over the last 20 years, as our knowledge about their role has changed from merely energy/structural molecules to compounds also involved in several biological processes. This led to the creation in 2003 of a new emerging research field: lipidomics. In particular the phospholipids have pharmacological/food applications, participate in cell signalling/homeostatic pathways while their analysis faces some challenges. Their fractionation/purification is, in fact, especially difficult, as they are amphiphilic compounds. Moreover, it usually involves SPE or TLC procedures requiring specific materials hampering their suitableness for routine analysis. Finally, they can interfere with the ionization of other molecules during mass spectrometry analysis. Thus, simple high-throughput reliable methods to selectively isolate these compounds based on the difference between chemical characteristics of lipids would represent valuable tools for their study besides that of other compounds. The current review work aims to describe the state-of-the-art related to the extraction of phospholipids using liquid-liquid methods for their targeted isolation. The technological and biological importance of these compounds and ion suppression phenomena are also reviewed. Methods by precipitation with acetone or isolation using methanol seem to be suitable for selective isolation of phospholipids in both biological and food samples. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Pore-scale simulation of calcium carbonate precipitation and dissolution under highly supersaturated conditions in a microfludic pore network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, H.; Dewers, T. A.; Valocchi, A. J.; Werth, C. J.

2011-12-01

Dissolved CO2 during geological CO2 storage may react with minerals in fractured rocks or confined aquifers and cause mineral precipitation. The overall rate of reaction can be affected by coupled processes among hydrodynamics, transport, and reactions at pore-scale. Pore-scale models of coupled fluid flow, reactive transport, and CaCO3 precipitation and dissolution are applied to account for transient experimental results of CaCO3 precipitation and dissolution under highly supersaturated conditions in a microfluidic pore network (i.e., micromodel). Pore-scale experiments in the micromodel are used as a basis for understanding coupled physics of systems perturbed by geological CO2 injection. In the micromodel, precipitation is induced by transverse mixing along the centerline in pore bodies. Overall, the pore-scale model qualitatively captured the governing physics of reactions such as precipitate morphology, precipitation rate, and maximum precipitation area in first few pore spaces. In particular, we found that proper estimation of the effective diffusion coefficient and the reactive surface area is necessary to adequately simulate precipitation and dissolution rates. As the model domain increases, the effect of flow patterns affected by precipitation on the overall reaction rate also increases. The model is also applied to account for the effect of different reaction rate laws on mineral precipitation and dissolution at pore-scale. Reaction rate laws tested include the linear rate law, nonlinear power law, and newly-developed rate law based on in-situ measurements at nano scale in the literature. Progress on novel methods for upscaling pore-scale models for reactive transport are discussed, and are being applied to mineral precipitation patterns observed in natural analogues. H.Y. and T. D. were supported as part of the Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences under Award Number DE-SC0001114. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Alteration of magnetic and optical properties of ultrafine dilute magnetic semiconductor ZnO:Co2+ nanoparticles.

PubMed

Sharma, Prashant K; Dutta, Ranu K; Pandey, Avinash C

2010-05-15

Single-phase ZnO:Co(2+) nanoparticles of mean size 2-8 nm were synthesized by a simple co-precipitation technique. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the Co-doped ZnO nanoparticles crystallize in wurtzite structure without any impurity phase. The wurtzite structure (lattice constants) of ZnO nanoparticles decrease slightly with increasing Co doping concentration. Optical absorption spectra show an increase in the band gap with increasing Co content and also give an evidence of the presence of Co(2+) ions at tetrahedral sites of ZnO and substituted for the Zn site with no evidence of metallic Co. Initially these nanoparticles showed strong ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature, however at higher doping percentage of Co(2+), the ferromagnetic behavior was suppressed, and antiferromagnetic nature was enhanced. The enhanced antiferromagnetic interaction between neighboring Co-Co ions suppressed the ferromagnetism at higher doping concentrations of Co(2+). Photoluminescence intensity owing to the vacancies varies with the Co concentration because of the increment of oxygen vacancies. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of cobalt on structural and magnetic properties of nickel ferrite nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ati, Ali A.; Othaman, Zulkafli; Samavati, Alireza

2013-11-01

Improving the magnetic response of nanocrystalline nickel ferrites is the key issue in high density recording media. A series of cobalt substituted nickel ferrite nanoparticles with composition Ni(1-x)CoxFe2O4, where 0.0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1.0, are synthesized using co-precipitation method. The XRD spectra revealed the single phase spinel structure and the average sizes of nanoparticles are estimated to be 16-19 nm. These sizes are small enough to achieve the suitable signal to noise ratio in the high density recording media. The lattice parameter and coercivity shows monotonic increment with the increase of Co contents ascribed to the larger ionic radii of the cobalt ion. The specific saturation magnetization (Ms), remanent magnetization (Mr) and the coercivity (Hc) of the spinel ferrites are further improved by the substitutions of Co+2 ions. The values of Ms for NiFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 are found to be 43.92 and 78.59 emu/g, respectively and Hc are in the range of 51-778 Oe. The FTIR spectra of the spinel phase calcinated at 600 °C exhibit two prominent fundamental absorption bands in the range of 350-600 cm-1 assigned to the intrinsic stretching vibrations of the metal at the tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The role played by the Co ions in improving the structural and magnetic properties are analyzed and understood. Our simple, economic and environmental friendly preparation method may contribute towards the controlled growth of high quality ferrite nanopowders, potential candidates for recording.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dalal, M.; Mallick, A.; Mahapatra, A.S.

Highlights: • Cation distribution in tetrahedral and octahedral sites of spinel Ni{sub 0.4}Zn{sub 0.4}Co{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4}. • Structural analysis of observed X-ray diffraction pattern using Rietveld method. • Study of hyperfine behaviour using Mössbauer spectroscopy. • Static and dynamic magnetic measurements. • Correlation of cation distributions obtained from Rietveld analysis with the results of magnetic and Mössbauer effect measurements. - Abstract: Nanoparticles of Ni{sub 0.4}Zn{sub 0.4}Co{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} are prepared by a simple co-precipitation method. The as dried sample is heat treated at 400, 500, 600, 700 and 800 °C to obtain different sizes of nanoparticles. The crystallographicmore » phase of the samples is confirmed analyzing observed X-ray diffraction (XRD) by Rietveld method. Hyperfine parameters of the samples are derived from room temperature (RT) Mössbauer spectra of the samples. Magnetic properties of the samples are investigated by static and dynamic hysteresis loops. Different magneto-crystalline parameters are calculated from the variation of magnetization with temperature (M–T curve) under zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) conditions of the as dried sample. The cation distribution estimated from Rietveld analysis are correlated with the results of magnetic and Mössbauer effect measurements. The observed high value of saturation magnetization (72.7 emu/g at RT) of the sample annealed at 800 °C would be interesting for applications in different electromagnetic devices.« less

Synthesis of composite nanoparticles using co-precipitation of a magnetic iron-oxide shell onto core nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Primc, Darinka; Belec, Blaž; Makovec, Darko

2016-03-01

Composite nanoparticles can be synthesized by coating a shell made of one material onto core nanoparticles made of another material. Here we report on a novel method for coating a magnetic iron oxide onto the surface of core nanoparticles in an aqueous suspension. The method is based on the heterogeneous nucleation of an initial product of Fe3+/Fe2+ co-precipitation on the core nanoparticles. The close control of the supersaturation of the precipitating species required for an exclusively heterogeneous nucleation and the growth of the shell were achieved by immobilizing the reactive Fe3+ ions in a nitrate complex with urea ([Fe((CO(NH2)2)6](NO3)3) and by using solid Mg(OH)2 as the precipitating reagent. The slow thermal decomposition of the complex at 60 °C homogeneously releases the reactive Fe3+ ions into the suspension of the core nanoparticles. The key stage of the process is the thermal hydrolysis of the released Fe3+ ions prior to the addition of Mg(OH)2. The thermal hydrolysis results in the formation of γ-FeOOH, exclusively at the surfaces of the core nanoparticles. After the addition of the solid hydroxide Mg(OH)2, the pH increases and at pH 5.7 the Fe2+ precipitates and reacts with the γ-FeOOH to form magnetic iron oxide with a spinel structure (spinel ferrite) at the surfaces of the core nanoparticles. The proposed low-temperature method for the synthesis of composite nanoparticles is capable of forming well-defined interfaces between the two components, important for the coupling of the different properties. The procedure is environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and appropriate for scaling up to mass production.

How well the Reliable Ensemble Averaging Method (REA) for 15 CMIP5 GCMs simulations works for Mexico?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colorado, G.; Salinas, J. A.; Cavazos, T.; de Grau, P.

2013-05-01

15 CMIP5 GCMs precipitation simulations were combined in a weighted ensemble using the Reliable Ensemble Averaging (REA) method, obtaining the weight of each model. This was done for a historical period (1961-2000) and for the future emissions based on low (RCP4.5) and high (RCP8.5) radiating forcing for the period 2075-2099. The annual cycle of simple ensemble of the historical GCMs simulations, the historical REA average and the Climate Research Unit (CRU TS3.1) database was compared in four zones of México. In the case of precipitation we can see the improvements by using the REA method, especially in the two northern zones of México where the REA average is more close to the observations (CRU) that the simple average. However in the southern zones although there is an improvement it is not as good as it is in the north, particularly in the southeast where instead of the REA average is able to reproduce qualitatively good the annual cycle with the mid-summer drought it was greatly underestimated. The main reason is because the precipitation is underestimated for all the models and the mid-summer drought do not even exists in some models. In the REA average of the future scenarios, as we can expected, the most drastic decrease in precipitation was simulated using the RCP8.5 especially in the monsoon area and in the south of Mexico in summer and in winter. In the center and southern of Mexico however, the same scenario in autumn simulates an increase of precipitation.

Technological process for cell disruption, extraction and encapsulation of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis.

PubMed

Machado, Francisco R S; Trevisol, Thalles C; Boschetto, Daiane L; Burkert, Janaína F M; Ferreira, Sandra R S; Oliveira, J Vladimir; Burkert, Carlos André V

2016-01-20

In this work, the effectiveness of different enzymatic techniques for cell wall disruption of Haematococcus pluvialis for the extraction of carotenoids and subsequent encapsulation of extracts in the co-polymer poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) using the Solution Enhanced Dispersion by Supercritical fluids (SEDS) technique was investigated. Glucanex(®) performed best compared with Lyticase(®) and Driselase(®). The conditions for enzymatic lysis using this enzyme preparation were established as a pH of 4.5, a temperature of 55 °C, an initial activity of β-1,3-glucanase of 0.6 U mL(-1) and a reaction time of 30 min. Enzymatic lysis assisted by ultrasound without biomass freezing was shown to be a promising and simple one-step technique for cell wall disruption, reaching 83.90% extractability. In the co-precipitation experiments, the highest encapsulation efficiency (51.21%) was obtained when using a higher biomass to dichloromethane ratio (10 mg mL(-1)) at the carotenoid extraction step and a lower pressure of precipitation (80 bar). In these conditions, spherical particles in the micrometer range (0.228 μm) were obtained. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Application of precipitation methods for the production of water-insoluble drug nanocrystals: production techniques and stability of nanocrystals.

PubMed

Xia, Dengning; Gan, Yong; Cui, Fude

2014-01-01

This review focuses on using precipitation (bottom-up) method to produce water-insoluble drug nanocrystals, and the stability issues of nanocrystals. The precipitation techniques for production of ultra-fine particles have been widely researched for last few decades. In these techniques, precipitation of solute is achieved by addition of a non-solvent for solute called anti-solvent to decrease the solvent power for the solute dissolved in a solution. The anti-solvent can be water, organic solvents or supercritical fluids. In this paper, efforts have been made to review the precipitation techniques involving the anti-solvent precipitation by simple mixing, impinging jet mixing, multi-inlet vortex mixing, the using of high-gravity, ultrasonic waves and supercritical fluids. The key to the success of yielding stable nanocrystals in these techniques is to control the nucleation kinetics and particle growth through mixing during precipitation based on crystallization theories. The stability issues of the nanocrystals, such as sedimentation, Ostwald ripening, agglomeration and cementing of crystals, change of crystalline state, and the approaches to stabilizing nanocrystals are also discussed in detail.

Supercritical antisolvent co-precipitation of rifampicin and ethyl cellulose.

PubMed

Djerafi, Rania; Swanepoel, Andri; Crampon, Christelle; Kalombo, Lonji; Labuschagne, Philip; Badens, Elisabeth; Masmoudi, Yasmine

2017-05-01

Rifampicin-loaded submicron-sized particles were prepared through supercritical anti-solvent process using ethyl cellulose as polymeric encapsulating excipient. Ethyl acetate and a mixture of ethyl acetate/dimethyl sulfoxide (70/30 and 85/15) were used as solvents for both drug and polymeric excipient. When ethyl acetate was used, rifampicin was crystallized separately without being embedded within the ethyl cellulose matrix while by using the ethyl acetate/dimethyl sulfoxide mixture, reduced crystallinity of the active ingredient was observed and a simultaneous precipitation of ethyl cellulose and drug was achieved. The effect of solvent/CO 2 molar ratio and polymer/drug mass ratio on the co-precipitates morphology and drug loading was investigated. Using the solvent mixture, co-precipitates with particle sizes ranging between 190 and 230nm were obtained with drug loading and drug precipitation yield from respectively 8.5 to 38.5 and 42.4 to 77.2% when decreasing the ethyl cellulose/rifampicin ratio. Results show that the solvent nature and the initial drug concentrations affect morphology and drug precipitation yield of the formulations. In vitro dissolution studies revealed that the release profile of rifampicin was sustained when co-precipitation was carried out with the solvent mixture. It was demonstrated that the drug to polymer ratio influenced amorphous content of the SAS co-precipitates. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms and infrared spectra revealed that there is neither interaction between rifampicin and the polymer nor degradation of rifampicin during co-precipitation. In addition, stability stress tests on SAS co-precipitates were carried out at 75% relative humidity and room temperature in order to evaluate their physical stability. SAS co-precipitates were X-ray amorphous and remained stable after 6months of storage. The SAS co-precipitation process using a mixture of ethyl acetate/dimethyl sulfoxide demonstrates that this strategy can be successful for controlling rifampicin delivery. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of PDMS-Based Microfluidic Devices: Application for Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thu, Vu Thi; Mai, An Ngoc; Le The Tam; Van Trung, Hoang; Thu, Phung Thi; Tien, Bui Quang; Thuat, Nguyen Tran; Lam, Tran Dai

2016-05-01

In this work, we have developed a convenient approach to synthesize magnetic nanoparticles with relatively high magnetization and controllable sizes. This was realized by combining the traditional co-precipitation method and microfluidic techniques inside microfluidic devices. The device was first designed, and then fabricated using simplified soft-lithography techniques. The device was utilized to synthesize magnetite nanoparticles. The synthesized nanomaterials were thoroughly characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy and a vibrating sample magnetometer. The results demonstrated that the as-prepared device can be utilized as a simple and effective tool to synthesize magnetic nanoparticles with the sizes less than 10 nm and magnetization more than 50 emu/g. The development of these devices opens new strategies to synthesize nanomaterials with more precise dimensions at narrow size-distribution and with controllable behaviors.

Aqueous synthesis of polyhedral “brick-like” iron oxide nanoparticles for hyperthermia and T2 MRI contrast enhancement†

PubMed Central

Worden, Matthew; Bruckman, Michael A.; Kim, Min-Ho; Steinmetz, Nicole F.; Kikkawa, James M.; LaSpina, Catherine

2015-01-01

A low temperature, aqueous synthesis of polyhedral iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) is presented. The modification of the co-precipitation hydrolysis method with Triton X surfactants results in the formation of crystalline polyhedral particles. The particles are herein termed iron oxide “nanobricks” (IONBs) as the variety of particles made are all variations on a simple “brick-like” rhombohedral shape as evaluated by TEM. These IONBs can be easily coated with hydrophilic silane ligands, allowing them to be dispersed in aqueous media. The dispersed particles are investigated for potential applications as hyperthermia and T2 MRI contrast agents. The results demonstrate that the IONBs perform better than comparable spherical IONPs in both applications, and show r2 values amongst the highest for iron oxide based materials reported in the literature. PMID:26693011

Modelling spatial and temporal vegetation variability with the Climate Constrained Vegetation Index: evidence of CO2 fertilisation and of water stress in continental interiors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Los, S. O.

2015-06-01

A model was developed to simulate spatial, seasonal and interannual variations in vegetation in response to temperature, precipitation and atmospheric CO2 concentrations; the model addresses shortcomings in current implementations. The model uses the minimum of 12 temperature and precipitation constraint functions to simulate NDVI. Functions vary based on the Köppen-Trewartha climate classification to take adaptations of vegetation to climate into account. The simulated NDVI, referred to as the climate constrained vegetation index (CCVI), captured the spatial variability (0.82 < r <0.87), seasonal variability (median r = 0.83) and interannual variability (median global r = 0.24) in NDVI. The CCVI simulated the effects of adverse climate on vegetation during the 1984 drought in the Sahel and during dust bowls of the 1930s and 1950s in the Great Plains in North America. A global CO2 fertilisation effect was found in NDVI data, similar in magnitude to that of earlier estimates (8 % for the 20th century). This effect increased linearly with simple ratio, a transformation of the NDVI. Three CCVI scenarios, based on climate simulations using the representative concentration pathway RCP4.5, showed a greater sensitivity of vegetation towards precipitation in Northern Hemisphere mid latitudes than is currently implemented in climate models. This higher sensitivity is of importance to assess the impact of climate variability on vegetation, in particular on agricultural productivity.

Co-Precipitation Synthesis of Gadolinium Aluminum Gallium Oxide (GAGG) via Different Precipitants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yan; Yang, Shenghui; Zhang, Ye; Jiang, Jun; Jiang, Haochuan

2014-02-01

In order to obtain a uniform transparent ceramic scintillator, well-dispersed fine starting powders with high-purity, small grain size, spherical morphology and high sinter-ability are necessary. In this study, Ce3+ doped gadolinium aluminum gallium garnet Gd3Al3Ga2O12 (GAGG) powders were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. NH4OH, NH4HCO3 and the mixed solution of NH4OH and NH4HCO3 were used as precipitants, respectively. The precursor composition, phase formation process, microstructure, morphology, particle size distribution and luminescent properties of obtained GAGG powders were measured. The results show that powders prepared using the mixed precipitant exhibit the best microstructural morphology, good sinter-ability and highest luminescent intensity. Pure GAGG polycrystalline powders could be obtained at about 950°C for 1.5 h and the average size of the particles is about 50 nm. The photoluminescence spectrum shows a strong green-yellow emission near 540 nm.

Polyol synthesis, functionalisation, and biocompatibility studies of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as potential MRI contrast agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hachani, Roxanne; Lowdell, Mark; Birchall, Martin; Hervault, Aziliz; Mertz, Damien; Begin-Colin, Sylvie; Thanh, Nguy&Ecirtil; N. Thi&Cmb. B. Dot; Kim

2016-02-01

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) of low polydispersity were obtained through a simple polyol synthesis in high pressure and high temperature conditions. The control of the size and morphology of the nanoparticles was studied by varying the solvent used, the amount of iron precursor and the reaction time. Compared with conventional synthesis methods such as thermal decomposition or co-precipitation, this process yields nanoparticles with a narrow particle size distribution in a simple, reproducible and cost effective manner without the need for an inert atmosphere. For example, IONPs with a diameter of ca. 8 nm could be made in a reproducible manner and with good crystallinity as evidenced by X-ray diffraction analysis and high saturation magnetization value (84.5 emu g-1). The surface of the IONPs could be tailored post synthesis with two different ligands which provided functionality and stability in water and phosphate buffer saline (PBS). Their potential as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent was confirmed as they exhibited high r1 and r2 relaxivities of 7.95 mM-1 s-1 and 185.58 mM-1 s-1 respectively at 1.4 T. Biocompatibility and viability of IONPs in primary human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) was studied and confirmed.Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) of low polydispersity were obtained through a simple polyol synthesis in high pressure and high temperature conditions. The control of the size and morphology of the nanoparticles was studied by varying the solvent used, the amount of iron precursor and the reaction time. Compared with conventional synthesis methods such as thermal decomposition or co-precipitation, this process yields nanoparticles with a narrow particle size distribution in a simple, reproducible and cost effective manner without the need for an inert atmosphere. For example, IONPs with a diameter of ca. 8 nm could be made in a reproducible manner and with good crystallinity as evidenced by X-ray diffraction analysis and high saturation magnetization value (84.5 emu g-1). The surface of the IONPs could be tailored post synthesis with two different ligands which provided functionality and stability in water and phosphate buffer saline (PBS). Their potential as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent was confirmed as they exhibited high r1 and r2 relaxivities of 7.95 mM-1 s-1 and 185.58 mM-1 s-1 respectively at 1.4 T. Biocompatibility and viability of IONPs in primary human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) was studied and confirmed. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr03867g

Preparation, characterization, nanostructures and bio functional analysis of sonicated protein co-precipitates from brewers' spent grain and soybean flour.

PubMed

Alu'datt, Muhammad H; Gammoh, Sana; Rababah, Taha; Almomani, Mohammed; Alhamad, Mohammad N; Ereifej, Khalil; Almajwal, Ali; Tahat, Asma; Hussein, Neveen M; Nasser, Sura Abou

2018-02-01

This investigation was performed to assess the effects of sonication on the structure of protein, extractability of phenolics, and biological properties of isolated proteins and protein co-precipitates prepared from brewers' spent grain and soybean flour. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the sonicated protein isolates and co-precipitates had different microstructures with fewer aggregates and smaller particles down to the nanometer scale compared to non-sonicated samples. However, the levels of free and bound phenolics extracted from non-sonicated protein isolates and protein co-precipitates increased compared to sonicated samples. The bound phenolics extracted after acid hydrolysis of sonicated protein co-precipitates showed improved ACE inhibitory activity and diminished antioxidant potency compared to non-sonicated samples. However, the free phenolics extracted from sonicated protein co-precipitates showed decreased ACE inhibitory activity and increased antioxidant activities compared to non-sonicated samples. The free and bound phenolics extracted from sonicated protein co-precipitates showed increased alpha-amylase inhibitory activity compared to non-sonicated samples. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A simple solvent method for the recovery of LixCoO2 and its applications in alkaline rechargeable batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yanan; Song, Dawei; Li, Li; An, Cuihua; Wang, Yijing; Jiao, LiFang; Yuan, Huatang

2014-04-01

A simple solvent method is proposed for the recovery of waste LixCoO2 from lithium-ion batteries, which employs inexpensive DMF to remove the binder of PVDF. This method is convenient to manipulate and low-cost to apply. Electrochemical investigations indicate that recovered LixCoO2 materials with a small amount of S-doping exhibit excellent properties as negative materials for alkaline rechargeable Ni/Co batteries. At the discharge current density of 100 mA g-1, the LixCoO2 + 1% S electrode displays the max discharge capacity of 357 mAh g-1 and outstanding capacity retention rate of 85.5% after 100 cycles. It could overcome not only the sophisticated, energy-intensive shortcomings of conventional recycling methods, but also the high-cost restriction on alkaline rechargeable Ni/Co batteries.

Facile fabrication of superparamagnetic graphene/polyaniline/Fe3O4 nanocomposites for fast magnetic separation and efficient removal of dye.

PubMed

Mu, Bin; Tang, Jie; Zhang, Long; Wang, Aiqin

2017-07-13

Using graphene as adsorbent for removal of pollutants from polluted water is commonly recognized to be costly because the graphene is usually produced by a very complex process. Herein, a simple and eco-friendly method was employed to fabricate efficient superparamagnetic graphene/polyaniline/Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposites for removal of dyes. The exfoliation of graphite as nanosheets and the functionalization of nanosheets with polyaniline and Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were simultaneously achieved via a one-pot reaction process combining the intercalation polymerization of aniline and the co-precipitation of the residual Fe 3+ and the generated Fe 2+ . The obtained graphene/polyaniline/Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposites exhibited excellent adsorption performance for Congo red, even in the presence of Brilliant green. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms were well fitted with pseudo second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. In a word, this method is simple and industrially feasible, which provides a new approach to fabricate highly efficient graphene-based adsorbents on large scale for removal of dyes. In addition, it also can be used to exfoliate other two-dimensional materials, such as boron nitride, carbon nitride and MoS 2 for a range of possible applications.

Simple synthesis of PbSe nanocrystals and their self-assembly into 2D ‘flakes’ and 1D ‘ribbons’ structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Díaz-Torres, E., E-mail: ediaz@cinvestav.mx; Ortega-López, M.; Matsumoto, Y.

2016-08-15

Highlights: • PbSe is obtained in a simple way by the co-precipitation method at low-temperature. • The structural, morphological and optical properties of PbSe were studied. • Adding NH{sub 4}OH to the precursor solutions influences on the morphology. • 2D- and 1D-PbSe structures assemble by oriented attachment. • PbSe can be a potential candidate for thermoelectric applications. - Abstract: This work presents a simple and low-temperature method to prepare a variety of Lead selenide (PbSe) nanostructures, using aqueous solutions of Pb(NO{sub 3}){sub 2} and NaHSe. Nanostructures with different morphology were obtained by varying the Pb:Se molar ratio, as well asmore » the mixing sequence of NH{sub 4}OH with either Pb(NO{sub 3}){sub 2} or NaHSe. Nanoparticles with different shapes (spherical and octahedral), and self-assembled structures (flakes and ribbons) were observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy. X-ray results confirmed that the PbSe rock-salt crystalline structure was obtained for all of the prepared samples. The crystal size is in the order of 7.3 to 8.9 nm for single nanocrystals. The absorption spectra of the samples show exciton absorption bands at 1395 nm and 1660 nm. This material could be used to develop more advanced structures for thermoelectric generators.« less

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphos Ph Complexes.

PubMed

Phanopoulos, Andreas; Long, Nicholas; Miller, Philip

2015-04-10

Herein we report the synthesis of a tridentate phosphine ligand N(CH2PPh2)3 (N-triphos(Ph)) (1) via a phosphorus based Mannich reaction of the hydroxylmethylene phosphine precursor with ammonia in methanol under a nitrogen atmosphere. The N-triphos(Ph) ligand precipitates from the solution after approximately 1 hr of reflux and can be isolated analytically pure via simple cannula filtration procedure under nitrogen. Reaction of the N-triphos(Ph) ligand with [Ru3(CO)12] under reflux affords a deep red solution that show evolution of CO gas on ligand complexation. Orange crystals of the complex [Ru(CO)2{N(CH2PPh2)3}-κ(3)P] (2) were isolated on cooling to RT. The (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectrum showed a characteristic single peak at lower frequency compared to the free ligand. Reaction of a toluene solution of complex 2 with oxygen resulted in the instantaneous precipitation of the carbonate complex [Ru(CO3)(CO){N(CH2PPh2)3}-κ(3)P] (3) as an air stable orange solid. Subsequent hydrogenation of 3 under 15 bar of hydrogen in a high-pressure reactor gave the dihydride complex [RuH2(CO){N(CH2PPh2)3}-κ(3)P] (4), which was fully characterized by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. Complexes 3 and 4 are potentially useful catalyst precursors for a range of hydrogenation reactions, including biomass-derived products such as levulinic acid (LA). Complex 4 was found to cleanly react with LA in the presence of the proton source additive NH4PF6 to give [Ru(CO){N(CH2PPh2)3}-κ(3)P{CH3CO(CH2)2CO2H}-κ(2)O](PF6) (6).

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes

PubMed Central

Phanopoulos, Andreas; Long, Nicholas; Miller, Philip

2015-01-01

Herein we report the synthesis of a tridentate phosphine ligand N(CH2PPh2)3 (N-triphosPh) (1) via a phosphorus based Mannich reaction of the hydroxylmethylene phosphine precursor with ammonia in methanol under a nitrogen atmosphere. The N-triphosPh ligand precipitates from the solution after approximately 1 hr of reflux and can be isolated analytically pure via simple cannula filtration procedure under nitrogen. Reaction of the N-triphosPh ligand with [Ru3(CO)12] under reflux affords a deep red solution that show evolution of CO gas on ligand complexation. Orange crystals of the complex [Ru(CO)2{N(CH2PPh2)3}-κ3P] (2) were isolated on cooling to RT. The 31P{1H} NMR spectrum showed a characteristic single peak at lower frequency compared to the free ligand. Reaction of a toluene solution of complex 2 with oxygen resulted in the instantaneous precipitation of the carbonate complex [Ru(CO3)(CO){N(CH2PPh2)3}-κ3P] (3) as an air stable orange solid. Subsequent hydrogenation of 3 under 15 bar of hydrogen in a high-pressure reactor gave the dihydride complex [RuH2(CO){N(CH2PPh2)3}-κ3P] (4), which was fully characterized by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. Complexes 3 and 4 are potentially useful catalyst precursors for a range of hydrogenation reactions, including biomass-derived products such as levulinic acid (LA). Complex 4 was found to cleanly react with LA in the presence of the proton source additive NH4PF6 to give [Ru(CO){N(CH2PPh2)3}-κ3P{CH3CO(CH2)2CO2H}-κ2O](PF6) (6). PMID:25938678

Silica Aerogel-supported Hydrozincite and Carbonate-intercalated Hydrotalcite for High-efficiency Removal of Pb(II) Ions by Precipitation Transformation Reactions.

PubMed

Wang, Lijun; Wang, Xiaoxia; Li, Jianfa; Feng, Xiaolan; Wang, Yusen

2017-09-25

In this work, hydrozincite and Zn/Al-CO 3 2- hydrotalcite supported on silica aerogel were prepared via a simple and economical process and used as adsorbents for Pb(II) removal. The supported hydrozincite and Zn/Al-CO 3 2- hydrotalcite possess ultra-thin thickness, high surface area, and weak crystallinity. In the batch Pb(II) adsorption experiments, the adsorbents with higher Zn(II) contents showed higher Pb(II) adsorption capacities, and the adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating a mechanism of surface chemisorption. The adsorption capacities calculated based Langmuir isotherm model are 684.9 mg/g and 555.6 mg/g for the supported hydrozincite and Zn/Al-CO 3 2- hydrotalcite, respectively, higher than the adsorption capacities of other hydrotalcite-based adsorbents and most of other inorganic adsorbents reported previously. The XRD diffraction peaks of hydrozincite and Zn/Al-CO 3 2- hydrotalcite disappeared after the adsorption, and the Pb(II) species were uniformly dispersed in the adsorbents in form of Pb 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2 proven by TEM, EDS mapping and XRD analysis, demonstrating the nature of the adsorption is the precipitation conversion of hydrozincite or Zn/Al-CO 3 2- hydrotalcite into Pb 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2 . These results demonstrate the synergic Pb(II) removal effect of the CO 3 2- and OH - derived from hydrozincite and Zn/Al-CO 3 2- hydrotalcite together with their ultra-thin thickness and high surface area contribute the excellent properties of the adsorbents.

Effect of reducing agents on low-temperature synthesis of nanostructured LiFePO4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulka, Andrzej; Walczak, Katarzyna; Zając, Wojciech; Molenda, Janina

2017-09-01

Simple co-precipitation synthesis procedure yielding nanometric LiFePO4 with enhanced electrochemical properties without any post-synthesis heat treatment is presented. XRD, SEM and TEM analysis of the obtained powders revealed platelet crystallites and well crystalized bulk structure. Effective way of decreasing amount of Fe3+ containing phases by addition of reducing agents (KI, (NH4)2S2O3, glucose and the atmosphere of 5%H2-95%Ar) during low-temperature (107 °C) synthesis is described. The traditional analytical chemistry methods or the Mӧssbauer spectroscopy methods revealed that utilization of selected reducing agents diminished Fe3+ concentration from 25 to 12 at%. The constructed cells with optimized LiFePO4 as a cathode material showed superior electrochemical performances, including high reversible capacity up to 162 mAh/g at C/10 current discharge rate, flat voltage plateau with a value close to 3.45 V vs. Li0/+.

Unique and hierarchically structured novel Co3O4/NiO nanosponges with superior photocatalytic activity against organic contaminants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raja, Vahini; Puvaneswaran, Senthil Kumar; Swaminathan, Karuthapandian

2017-12-01

In the present study, novel Co3O4/NiO nanosponges designed for the photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants were synthesized by a simple precipitation technique. The formation of sponge-like nanostructures was clearly evident through the TEM analysis. The photocatalytic efficiency was tested against rhodamine B (RhB) and congo red (CR) dye solutions. Co3O4/NiO nanosponges showed excellent and enhanced photocatalytic efficacy compared to those of Co3O4, NiO nanoparticles, and standards like TiO2 and ZnO. The influence of paramount important operational parameters was explored and the conditions for the best photocatalytic efficiency were optimized. The trapping experiment revealed that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) identified was OH radical. These findings certainly open up a new way for synthesizing a morphology dependent photocatalyst.

An Integrated, Low Temperature Process to Capture and Sequester Carbon Dioxide from Industrial Emissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wendlandt, R. F.; Foremski, J. J.

2013-12-01

Laboratory experiments show that it is possible to integrate (1) the chemistry of serpentine dissolution, (2) capture of CO2 gas from the combustion of natural gas and coal-fired power plants using aqueous amine-based solvents, (3) long-term CO2 sequestration via solid phase carbonate precipitation, and (4) capture solvent regeneration with acid recycling in a single, continuous process. In our process, magnesium is released from serpentine at 300°C via heat treatment with ammonium sulfate salts or at temperatures as low as 50°C via reaction with sulfuric acid. We have also demonstrated that various solid carbonate phases can be precipitated directly from aqueous amine-based (NH3, MEA, DMEA) CO2 capture solvent solutions at room temperature. Direct precipitation from the capture solvent enables regenerating CO2 capture solvent without the need for heat and without the need to compress the CO2 off gas. We propose that known low-temperature electrochemical methods can be integrated with this process to regenerate the aqueous amine capture solvent and recycle acid for dissolution of magnesium-bearing mineral feedstocks and magnesium release. Although the direct precipitation of magnesite at ambient conditions remains elusive, experimental results demonstrate that at temperatures ranging from 20°C to 60°C, either nesquehonite Mg(HCO3)(OH)●2H2O or a double salt with the formula [NH4]2Mg(CO3)2●4H2O or an amorphous magnesium carbonate precipitate directly from the capture solvent. These phases are less desirable for CO2 sequestration than magnesite because they potentially remove constituents (water, ammonia) from the reaction system, reducing the overall efficiency of the sequestration process. Accordingly, the integrated process can be accomplished with minimal energy consumption and loss of CO2 capture and acid solvents, and a net generation of 1 to 4 moles of H2O/6 moles of CO2 sequestered (depending on the solid carbonate precipitate and amount of produced H2 and O2 gas reacted to produce heat and water). Features of the integrated process include the following: 1) the four separate processes have compatible chemistry, enabling design of an integrated, continuous process scheme for CO2 capture and sequestration; 2) all 4 stages of the process can be conducted at ambient or slightly elevated temperatures; 3) precipitating carbonate directly from the capture solvent eliminates the need for costly CO2 gas compression; and 4) recycling the acid used for serpentine dissolution and the solvent used for CO2 capture reduces feed stock costs.

The Synthesis of Calcium Salt from Brine Water by Partial Evaporation and Chemical Precipitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lalasari, L. H.; Widowati, M. K.; Natasha, N. C.; Sulistiyono, E.; Prasetyo, A. B.

2017-02-01

In this study would be investigated the effects of partial evaporation and chemical precipitation in the formation of calcium salt from brine water resources. The chemical reagents used in the study was oxalate acid (C2H2O4), ammonium carbonate (NH4)2CO3) and ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) with reagent concentration of 2 N, respectively. The procedure was 10 liters brine water evaporated until 20% volume and continued with filtration process to separate brine water filtrate from residue (salt). Salt resulted from evaporation process was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. Filtrate then was reacted with C2H2O4, (NH4)2CO3 and NH4OH reagents to get salt products in atmospheric condition and variation ratio volume brine water/chemicals (v/v) [10/1; 10/5; 10/10; 10/20; 10/30; 10:50; 20/1; 20/5; 20/10; 20/20; 20/30; 20:50]. The salt product than were filtered, dried, measured weights and finally characterized by SEM/EDS and XRD techniques. The result of experiment showed the chemical composition of brine water from Tirta Sanita, Bogor was 28.87% Na, 9.17% Mg, 2.94% Ca, 22.33% O, 0.71% Sr, 30.02% Cl, 1.51% Si, 1.23% K, 0.55% S, 1.31% Al. The chemical composition of salt resulted by partial evaporation was 53.02% Ca, 28.93%O, 9.50% Na, 2.10% Mg, 1.53% Sr, 1.20% Cl, 1.10% Si, 0.63% K, 0.40% S, 0.39% Al. The salt resulted by total evaporation was indicated namely as NaCl. Whereas salt resulted by partial evaporation was CaCO3 with a purity of 90 % from High Score Plus analysis. In the experiment by chemical precipitation was reported that the reagents of ammonium carbonate were more reactive for synthesizing calcium salt from brine water compared to reagents of oxalate acid and ammonium hydroxide. The salts precipitated by NH4OH, (NH4)2CO3, and H2C2O4 reagents were indicated as NaCl, CaCO3 and CaC2O4.H2O, respectively. The techniques of partial evaporation until 20% volume sample of brine water and chemical precipitation using (NH4)2CO3 reagent are recommended in the synthesis of calcium salts from brine water because are simple, flexible and economical.

Calcium carbonate scale control, effect of material and inhibitors.

PubMed

Macadam, J; Parsons, S A

2004-01-01

This paper focuses on developing a reproducible method for reducing calcium carbonate scale formation on heated surfaces where scaling can cause serious problems. It is known that calcium carbonate precipitation is sensitive to impurity ions, such as iron and zinc, even at trace concentration levels. In this paper two sets of experiments are reported. The first experiments were undertaken to investigate the effect of zinc, copper and iron dosing on CaCO3 nucleation and precipitation. Results from the experiments showed that the most effective inhibitor of CaCO3 precipitation was zinc and the effect was linked to dose levels and temperature. Copper and iron had little effect on precipitation in the dose range investigated. The second trial was undertaken to translate the precipitation data to scale formation. These tests were undertaken at 70 degrees C. 5 mg x L(-1) zinc dose reduced the scale formation by 35%. The effect of iron on calcium carbonate scaling rate was not significant. The physical nature of the material on which the scale is formed also influences the scaling. The scaling experiment was also used to investigate the effect of different surface material (stainless steel, copper and aluminium) on CaCO3 scale formation. Copper surface scaled the most.

Temporal and spatial characteristics of extreme precipitation events in the Midwest of Jilin Province based on multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis method and copula functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Enliang; Zhang, Jiquan; Si, Ha; Dong, Zhenhua; Cao, Tiehua; Lan, Wu

2017-10-01

Environmental changes have brought about significant changes and challenges to water resources and management in the world; these include increasing climate variability, land use change, intensive agriculture, and rapid urbanization and industrial development, especially much more frequency extreme precipitation events. All of which greatly affect water resource and the development of social economy. In this study, we take extreme precipitation events in the Midwest of Jilin Province as an example; daily precipitation data during 1960-2014 are used. The threshold of extreme precipitation events is defined by multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA) method. Extreme precipitation (EP), extreme precipitation ratio (EPR), and intensity of extreme precipitation (EPI) are selected as the extreme precipitation indicators, and then the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test is employed to determine the optimal probability distribution function of extreme precipitation indicators. On this basis, copulas connect nonparametric estimation method and the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) method is adopted to determine the bivariate copula function. Finally, we analyze the characteristics of single variable extremum and bivariate joint probability distribution of the extreme precipitation events. The results show that the threshold of extreme precipitation events in semi-arid areas is far less than that in subhumid areas. The extreme precipitation frequency shows a significant decline while the extreme precipitation intensity shows a trend of growth; there are significant differences in spatiotemporal of extreme precipitation events. The spatial variation trend of the joint return period gets shorter from the west to the east. The spatial distribution of co-occurrence return period takes on contrary changes and it is longer than the joint return period.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Núñez-Coavas, H.

As cast Cu{sub 90}Co{sub 10} ribbons rapidly solidified by twin-roller melt spinning, exhibit special microstructure features. This processing method provides scenarios where a different phase selection takes place; coherent Co precipitates form directly from solidification, with neither a spinodal-like composition oscillation nor a discontinuously precipitated laminar phase. Samples are processed at tangential wheel speeds of 10 m/s (V10), 15 m/s (V15), 20 m/s (V20) and 30 m/s (V30). Microstructures resulting from this single step process are characterized and the hysteresis properties and the magnetoresistance effects evaluated. Samples V30 have a quite uniform density of coherent precipitates, with a narrow sizemore » distribution around 4 nm. On contrary, non-uniform precipitate distributions are found in samples cooled at lower rates; zones with a high density of coherent Co-rich precipitates are found forming colonies. These colonies are consistent with the extended compositional fluctuations occurring during very early stages in the cooling process. Samples may exhibit wide (V10) and even bimodal (V15) size distributions. Only samples V30 behave close to the ideal superparamagnetism. Samples V20 present relatively large coercivity and relative remanence and behave as an interacting superparamagnet, while the hysteresis loops of ribbons cooled at lower rates exhibit a ferromagnetic contribution in addition to the superparamagnetic-like one. This ferromagnetic component arises from blocked precipitates, larger than the upper bound size for superparamagnetic behavior at 300 K (12 nm). Room temperature magnetoresistance values associated to granular scattering units decrease as the mean precipitate size increases, but they remain below 2%, which is lower than that measured in samples annealed after rapid solidification, indicating that in this latter case contributions from the spinodally segregated matrix take place in addition to that of Co granules. - Highlights: •Microstructures of twin-rolled Cu{sub 90}Cu{sub 10} alloys are for the first time characterized. •Coherent Co-rich precipitates distribute forming dense colonies inside the grains. •No coexisting multilayer-like structures (spinodal or laminar phases) are detected. •Magnetic hysteresis arises from inter-particle interaction in these dense colonies. •Magnetoresistance level in these purely granular systems is low (1.6% at 300 K).« less

[Isolation and purification of seven catechin compounds from fresh tea leaves by semi-preparative liquid chromatography].

PubMed

Gong, Zhihong; Chen, Si; Gao, Jiangtao; Li, Meihong; Wang, Xiaxia; Lin, Jun; Yu, Xiaomin

2017-11-08

An effective and simple method was established to simultaneously purify seven tea catechins (gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), catechin (C), epigallocatechin-3- O -gallate (EGCG), epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin-3- O -(3- O -methyl)-gallate (EGCG3"Me) and epicatechin-3- O -gallate (ECG)) from fresh tea leaves by semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fresh leaves of Tieguanyin tea were successively extracted with methanol and chloroform. Then crude catechins were precipitated from the aqueous fraction of chloroform extraction by adding lead subacetate. Crude catechins were used for the isolation of the seven target catechin compounds by semi-preparative HPLC. Methanol-water and acetonitrile-water were sequentially used as mobile phases. After two rounds of semi-preparative HPLC, all target compounds were achieved with high purities (>90%). The proposed method was tested on two additional tea cultivars and showed similar results. This method demonstrated a simple and efficient strategy based on solvent extraction, ion precipitation and semi-preparative HPLC for the preparation of multiple catechins from tea leaves.

Structural and optical studies of Mg doped nanoparticles of chromium oxide (Cr2O3) synthesized by co-precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Jarnail; Verma, Vikram; Kumar, Ravi

2018-04-01

We present here the synthesization, structural and optical studies of Mg doped nanoparticles of Chromium oxide (Cr2O3) prepared using co-precipitation method. These samples were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Raman spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy techniques. We have demonstrated that there is negligible change in optical band gap with the Mg doping. The prepared Cr2O3 nanoparticles are spherical in shape, but they are transformed into platelets when doped with Mg. The XRD studies reveal that the Mg doping in Cr2O3 doesn't affect the structure of Chromium oxide (Cr2O3).

URANIUM RECOVERY PROCESS

DOEpatents

Bailes, R.H.; Long, R.S.; Olson, R.S.; Kerlinger, H.O.

1959-02-10

A method is described for recovering uranium values from uranium bearing phosphate solutions such as are encountered in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers. The solution is first treated with a reducing agent to obtain all the uranium in the tetravalent state. Following this reduction, the solution is treated to co-precipitate the rcduced uranium as a fluoride, together with other insoluble fluorides, thereby accomplishing a substantially complete recovery of even trace amounts of uranium from the phosphate solution. This precipitate usually takes the form of a complex fluoride precipitate, and after appropriate pre-treatment, the uranium fluorides are leached from this precipitate and rccovered from the leach solution.

A simple, rapid and sensitive RP-HPLC-UV method for the simultaneous determination of sorafenib & paclitaxel in plasma and pharmaceutical dosage forms: Application to pharmacokinetic study.

PubMed

Khan, Ismail; Iqbal, Zafar; Khan, Abad; Hassan, Muhammad; Nasir, Fazle; Raza, Abida; Ahmad, Lateef; Khan, Amjad; Akhlaq Mughal, Muhammad

2016-10-15

A simple, economical, fast, and sensitive RP-HPLC-UV method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of Sorafenib and paclitaxel in biological samples and formulations using piroxicam as an internal standard. The experimental conditions were optimized and method was validated according to the standard guidelines. The separation of both the analytes and internal standard was achieved on Discovery HS C18 column (250mm×4.6mm, 5μm) using Acetonitrile and TFA (0.025%) in the ratio of (65:35V/V) as the mobile phase in isocratic mode at a flow rate of 1ml/min, with a wavelength of 245nm and at a column oven temperature of 25°Cin a short run time of 12min. The limits of detection (LLOD) were 5 and 10ng/ml while the limits of quantification (LLOQ) were 10 and 15ng/ml for sorafenib and paclitaxel, respectively. Sorafenib, paclitaxel and piroxicam (IS) were extracted from biological samples by applying acetonitrile as a precipitating and extraction solvent. The method is linear in the range of 15-20,000ng/ml for paclitaxel and 10-5000ng/ml for sorafenib, respectively. The method is sensitive and reliable by considering both of its intra-day and inter-day co-efficient of variance. The method was successfully applied for the quantification of the above mentioned drugs in plasma. The developed method will be applied towards sorafenib and paclitaxel pharmacokinetics studies in animal models. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Iron on mixed zirconia-titania substrate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst and method of making same

DOEpatents

Dyer, Paul N.; Nordquist, Andrew F.; Pierantozzi, Ronald

1986-01-01

A Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising iron co-deposited with or deposited on particles comprising a mixture of zirconia and titania, preferably formed by co-precipitation of compounds convertible to zirconia and titania, such as zirconium and titanium alkoxide. The invention also comprises the method of making this catalyst and an improved Fischer-Tropsch reaction process in which the catalyst is utilized.

Surface properties of poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) precipitation polymerized in supercritical CO2 and the influence of the molecular weight.

PubMed

Shen, Qing; Gu, Qing-Feng; Hu, Jian-Feng; Teng, Xin-Rong; Zhu, Yun-Feng

2003-11-15

In this paper, the surface properties, e.g., the total surface free energy and the related Lifshitz-van der Waals and Lewis acid-base components, of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precipitation polymerized in supercritical CO(2) have been characterized. Moreover, the influence of molecular weight varying has been also investigated. Results show that the surface properties of PAN resulting from supercritical CO(2) are different from those obtained by the conventional method. Of these data, one important finding is that the supercritical CO(2) PAN seems to decrease the surface free energy with the increased molecular weight. Based on previous recorded NMR spectra of this PAN and especially compared to commercial PAN, such phenomena are discussed and ascribed to an increase of the H-bonds and a reduction of the isotacticity in the supercritical CO(2) condition for PAN.

Role of alloy additions on strengthening in 17-4 PH stainless steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murthy, Arpana Sudershan

Alloy modifications by addition of niobium (Nb), vanadium (V), nitrogen (N) and cobalt (Co) to cast 17-4 PH steel were investigated to determine the effect on mechanical properties. Additions of Nb, V, and N increased the yield strength from 1120 MPa to 1310 MPa while decreased the room temperature charpy V notch (CVN) toughness from 20 J to four Joules. The addition of Co to cast 17-4 PH steel enhanced the yield strength and CVN toughness from 1140 MPa to 1290 MPa and from 3.7 J to 5.5 J, respectively. In the base 17-4 PH steel, an increase in block width from 2.27 ± 0.10 μm in the solution treated condition to 3.06 ± 0.17 μm upon aging at 755 K was measured using orientation image microscopy. Cobalt inhibited recrystallization and block boundary migration during aging resulting in a finer martensitic block structure. The influence of Co on copper (Cu) precipitation in steels was studied using atom probe tomography. A narrower precipitate size distribution was observed in the steels with Co addition. The concentration profile across the matrix / precipitate interface indicated rejection of Co atoms from the copper precipitates. This behavior was observed to be energetically favorable using first principle calculations. The activation energies for Cu precipitation increased from 205 kJ/ mol in the non-cobalt containing alloy, to 243 kJ/ mol, and 272 kJ/ mol in alloys with 3 wt. %Co, and 7 wt. % Co, respectively. The role of Co on Cu precipitation in cast 17-4 PH steel is proposed as follows: (i) Co is rejected out of the Cu precipitate and sets up a barrier to the growth of the Cu precipitate; (ii) results in Cu precipitates of smaller size and narrower distribution; (iii) the coarsening of Cu precipitates is inhibited; and (iv) the activation energy for Cu precipitation increases.

Preparation and characterization of polyol assisted ultrafine Cu-Ni-Mg-Ca mixed ferrite via co-precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boobalan, T.; Pavithradevi, S.; Suriyanarayanan, N.; Manivel Raja, M.; Ranjith Kumar, E.

2017-04-01

Nanocrystalline spinel ferrite of composition Cu0.2Ni0.2Mg0.2Ca0.4Fe2O4 is synthesized by wet hydroxyl co-precipitation method in ethylene glycol as chelating agent and sodium hydroxide as precipitator at pH 8. Ethylene glycol is utilized as the medium which serves as the dissolvable and in addition a complexing specialist. The synthesized particles are annealed at various temperatures. Thermogravimetric investigation affirms that at 280 °C ethylene glycol is dissipated totally and stable phase arrangement happens over 680 °C. FTIR spectra of as synthesized and annealed at 1050 °C recorded between 400 cm-1 and 4000 cm-1. Structural characterizations of all the samples are carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) affirm that the particles are spherical and cubic shape with the crystallite size of 12 nm to 32 nm. Magnetic measurements are performed utilizing vibrating sample magnetometer at room temperature.

Recovery of nickel and cobalt as MHP from limonitic ore leaching solution: Kinetics analysis and precipitate characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Safitri, Nina; Mubarok, M. Zaki; Winarko, Ronny; Tanlega, Zela

2018-05-01

In the present study, precipitation of nickel and cobalt as mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) from pregnant leach solution of nickel limonite ore from Soroako after iron removal stage was carried out. A series of MHP precipitation experiments was conducted by using MgO slurry as neutralizing agent and the effects of pH, temperature, duration of precipitation and the addition of MHP seed on the precipitation behavior of nickel, cobalt, as well as iron and manganese was studied. Characterization of MHP product was performed by particle size analyzer (PSA) as well as X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analyses. Kinetics analysis was made by using differential-integral method for the rate of homogenous reaction. Precipitation at pH 7, temperature 50°C for 30 minute, without seed addition resulted in nickel and cobalt recoveries of 82.8% and 92%, respectively with co-precipitated iron and manganese of 70% and 24.2%, respectively. The seed addition increases nickel and cobalt precipitations significantly to 99.9% and 99.1%, respectively. However, the addition of seed into led to a significant increase of manganese co-precipitation from 24.2% without seed addition to 39.5% at the addition of 1 g seed per 200 mL of PLS. Kinetics analysis revealed that Ni precipitation to form MHP follows the second-order reaction kinetics with activation energy of 94.6 kJ/mol.

Evaluation of National Atmospheric Deposition Program measurements for co-located Sites CO89 and CO98 at Rocky Mountain National Park, 2012

USGS Publications Warehouse

,

2013-01-01

Median weekly absolute percent differences for selected parameters including: sample volume, 8.0 percent; ammonium concentration, 9.1 percent; nitrate concentration, 8.5 percent; sulfate concentration, 10.2 percent. Annual precipitation-weighted mean concentrations were higher for CO98 compared to CO89 for all analytes. The chemical concentration record for CO98 contains more valid samples than the CO89 record. Therefore, the CO98 record is more representative of 2012 total annual deposition at Loch Vale. Daily precipitation-depth records for the co-located precipitation gages were 100 percent complete, and the total annual precipitation depths between the sites differed by 0.1 percent for the year (91.5 and 91.4 cm).

Development of the Ion Exchange-Gravimetric Method for Sodium in Serum as a Definitive Method

PubMed Central

Moody, John R.; Vetter, Thomas W.

1996-01-01

An ion exchange-gravimetric method, previously developed as a National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) reference method for the determination of sodium in human serum, has been re-evaluated and improved. Sources of analytical error in this method have been examined more critically and the overall uncertainties decreased. Additionally, greater accuracy and repeatability have been achieved by the application of this definitive method to a sodium chloride reference material. In this method sodium in serum is ion-exchanged, selectively eluted and converted to a weighable precipitate as Na2SO4. Traces of sodium eluting before or after the main fraction, and precipitate contaminants are determined instrumentally. Co-precipitating contaminants contribute less than 0.1 % while the analyte lost to other eluted ion-exchange fractions contributes less than 0.02 % to the total precipitate mass. With improvements, the relative expanded uncertainty (k = 2) of the method, as applied to serum, is 0.3 % to 0.4 % and is less than 0.1 % when applied to a sodium chloride reference material. PMID:27805122

Genotype and plant trait effects on soil CO2 efflux responses to altered precipitation in switchgrass

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background/Question/Methods Global climate change models predict increasing drought during the growing season, which will alter many ecosystem processes including soil CO2 efflux (JCO2), with potential consequences for carbon retention in soils. Soil moisture, soil temperature and plant traits such...

Fast and effective low-temperature freezing extraction technique to determine organotin compounds in edible vegetable oil.

PubMed

Liu, Yingxia; Ma, Yaqian; Wan, Yiqun; Guo, Lan; Wan, Xiaofen

2016-06-01

Most organotin compounds that have been widely used in food packaging materials and production process show serious toxicity effects to human health. In this study, a simple and low-cost method based on high-performance liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of four organotins in edible vegetable oil samples was developed. Four organotins including dibutyltin dichloride, tributyltin chloride, diphenyltin dichloride, and triphenyltin chloride were simultaneously extracted with methanol using the low-temperature precipitation process. After being concentrated, the extracts were purified by matrix solid-phase dispersion using graphitized carbon black. The experimental parameters such as extraction solvent and clean-up material were optimized. To evaluate the accuracy of the new method, the recoveries were investigated. In addition, a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was also proposed for comparison. The procedures of extracting and purifying samples for the analysis were simple and easy to perform batch operations, also showed good efficiency with lower relative standard deviation. The limits of detection of the four organotins were 0.28-0.59 μg/L, and the limits of quantification of the four organotins were 0.93-1.8 μg/L, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the simultaneous analysis of the four organotins in edible vegetable oil. Some analytes were detected at the level of 2.5-28.8 μg/kg. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Fibrin-based tissue engineering: comparison of different methods of autologous fibrinogen isolation.

PubMed

Dietrich, Maren; Heselhaus, Johanna; Wozniak, Justyna; Weinandy, Stefan; Mela, Petra; Tschoeke, Beate; Schmitz-Rode, Thomas; Jockenhoevel, Stefan

2013-03-01

This study is focussed on the optimal method of autologous fibrinogen isolation with regard to the yield and the use as a scaffold material. This is particularly relevant for pediatric patients with strictly limited volumes of blood. The following isolation methods were evaluated: cryoprecipitation, ethanol (EtOH) precipitation, ammonium sulfate [(NH(4))(2)SO(4))] precipitation, ammonium sulfate precipitation combined with cryoprecipitation, and polyethylene glycol precipitation combined with cryoprecipitation. Fibrinogen yields were quantified spectrophotometrically and by electrophoretic analyses. To test the influence of the different isolation methods on the microstructure of the fibrin gels, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used and the mechanical strength of the cell-free and cell-seeded fibrin gels was tested by burst strength measurements. Cytotoxicity assays were performed to analyze the effect of various fibrinogen isolation methods on proliferation, apoptosis, and necrosis. Tissue development and cell migration were analyzed in all samples using immunohistochemical techniques. The synthesis of collagen as an extracellular matrix component by human umbilical cord artery smooth muscle cells in fibrin gels was measured using hydroxyproline assay. Compared to cryoprecipitation, all other considered methods were superior in quantitative analyses, with maximum fibrinogen yields of ∼80% of total plasma fibrinogen concentration using ethanol precipitation. SEM imaging demonstrated minor differences in the gel microstructure. Ethanol-precipitated fibrin gels exhibited the best mechanical properties. None of the isolation methods had a cytotoxic effect on the cells. Collagen production was similar in all gels except those from ammonium sulfate precipitation. Histological analysis showed good cell compatibility for ethanol-precipitated gels. The results of the present study demonstrated that ethanol precipitation is a simple and effective method for isolation of fibrinogen and a suitable alternative to cryoprecipitation. This technique allows minimization of the necessary blood volume for fibrinogen isolation, particularly important for pediatric applications, and also has no negative influence on microstructure, mechanical properties, cell proliferation, or tissue development.

A novel inorganic precipitation-peptization method for VO2 sol and VO2 nanoparticles preparation: Synthesis, characterization and mechanism.

PubMed

Li, Yao; Jiang, Peng; Xiang, Wei; Ran, Fanyong; Cao, Wenbin

2016-01-15

In this paper, a simple, safe and cost-saving precipitation-peptization method was proposed to prepare VO2 sol by using inorganic VOSO4-NH3⋅H2O-H2O2 reactants system in air under room temperature. In this process, VOSO4 was firstly precipitated to form VO(OH)2, then monometallic species of VO(O2)(OH)(-) were formed through the coordination between VO(OH)2 and H2O2. The rearrangement of VO(O2)(OH)(-) in a nonplanar pattern and intermolecular condensation reactions result in multinuclear species. Finally, VO2 sol is prepared through the condensation reactions between the multinuclear species. After drying the obtained sol at 40°C, VO2 xerogel exhibiting monoclinic crystal structure with the space group of C2/m was prepared. The crystal structure of VO2 nanoparticles was transferred to monoclinic crystal structure with the space group of P21/c (VO2(M)) by annealing the xerogel at 550°C. Both XRD and TEM analysis indicated that the nanoparticles possess good crystallinity with crystallite size of 34.5nm as estimated by Scherrer's method. These results suggest that the VO2 sol has been prepared successfully through the proposed simple method. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Co-precipitation of protein and polyester as a method to isolate high molecular weight DNA.

PubMed

Dixson, Jamie D

2005-02-01

DNA isolation is often the limiting step in genetic analysis using PCR and automated fragment analysis due to low quality or purity of DNA, the need to determine and adjust DNA concentrations after isolation etc. Several protocols have been developed which are either safe and provide good quality DNA or hazardous and provide excellent quality DNA. In this brief communication I describe a new and rapid method of DNA isolation which employs the co-precipitation of protein and polyester, in the presence of acetone, to remove contaminating proteins from a lysed-tissue sample, thus leaving high quality pure DNA. The advantages of this method are increased safety over the phenol:chloroform and the chaotrophic salt methods and increased purity over the salting-out method. Since the concentrations of DNA isolated using this method are relatively consistent regardless of the amount of starting tissue (within limits), adjustments of the DNA concentrations before use as templates in PCR's are not necessary.

Hydrometallurgical recovery of metal values from sulfuric acid leaching liquor of spent lithium-ion batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Xiangping; Chen, Yongbin; Zhou, Tao, E-mail: zhoutao@csu.edu.cn

2015-04-15

Highlights: • Selective precipitation and solvent extraction were adopted. • Nickel, cobalt and lithium were selectively precipitated. • Co-D2EHPA was employed as high-efficiency extraction reagent for manganese. • High recovery percentages could be achieved for all metal values. - Abstract: Environmentally hazardous substances contained in spent Li-ion batteries, such as heavy metals and nocuous organics, will pose a threat to the environment and human health. On the other hand, the sustainable recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries may bring about environmental and economic benefits. In this study, a hydrometallurgical process was adopted for the comprehensive recovery of nickel, manganese, cobalt andmore » lithium from sulfuric acid leaching liquor from waste cathode materials of spent lithium-ion batteries. First, nickel ions were selectively precipitated and recovered using dimethylglyoxime reagent. Recycled dimethylglyoxime could be re-used as precipitant for nickel and revealed similar precipitation performance compared with fresh dimethylglyoxime. Then the separation of manganese and cobalt was conducted by solvent extraction method using cobalt loaded D2EHPA. And McCabe–Thiele isotherm was employed for the prediction of the degree of separation and the number of extraction stages needed at specific experimental conditions. Finally, cobalt and lithium were sequentially precipitated and recovered as CoC{sub 2}O{sub 4}⋅2H{sub 2}O and Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3} using ammonium oxalate solution and saturated sodium carbonate solution, respectively. Recovery efficiencies could be attained as follows: 98.7% for Ni; 97.1% for Mn, 98.2% for Co and 81.0% for Li under optimized experimental conditions. This hydrometallurgical process may promise a candidate for the effective separation and recovery of metal values from the sulfuric acid leaching liquor.« less

Development of magnetic octadecylsilane particles as solid-phase extraction adsorbent for the determination of fat-soluble vitamins in fruit juice-milk beverage by capillary liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Hu, Chaofan; Jia, Li; Liu, Qingqing; Zhang, Sheng

2010-07-01

A sensitive, fast and simple method based on magnetic octadecylsilane particles was developed for the extraction of three fat-soluble vitamins followed by capillary LC (CLC) analysis with UV detection. Magnetic octadecylsilane particles were prepared based on three-step reactions including co-precipitation, sol-gel polymerization and alkylation. The characterization of the prepared product was studied by scanning electron microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry. The particles were used as magnetic SPE adsorbent for the extraction of fat-soluble vitamins in fruit juice-milk beverage. The extraction condition and efficiency of the particles for fat-soluble vitamins were investigated. By coupling magnetic SPE with capillary LC with UV detection, low concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins in fruit juice-milk beverage can be detected without the interference from other substances in the sample matrix.

Effect of Ce doping on structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of ZnO nano-structures.

PubMed

Selvam, N Clament Sagaya; Vijaya, J Judith; Kennedy, L John

2014-03-01

A novel self-assembled pure and Ce doped ZnO nano-particles (NPs) were successfully synthesized by a simple low temperature co-precipitation method. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), High resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results indicated that the prepared photocatalysts shows a novel morphology, high crystallinity, uniform size distribution, and more defects. Photocatalytic degradation (PCD) of nonylphenol, a potent endocrine disrupting chemical in aqueous medium was investigated. Higher amount of oxygen defects exhibits enhanced PCD of nonylphenol. In addition, the influence of the Ce contents on the structure, morphology, absorption, emission and photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated systematically. The relative PCD efficiency of pure ZnO, Ce-doped ZnO NPs and commercial TiO2 (Degussa P-25) have also been discussed.

A novel strategy for phosphopeptide enrichment using lanthanide phosphate co-precipitation.

PubMed

Mirza, Munazza Raza; Rainer, Matthias; Güzel, Yüksel; Choudhary, Iqbal M; Bonn, Günther K

2012-08-01

Reversible phosphorylation of proteins is a common theme in the regulation of important cellular functions such as growth, metabolism, and differentiation. The comprehensive understanding of biological processes requires the characterization of protein phosphorylation at the molecular level. Although, the number of cellular phosphoproteins is relatively high, the phosphorylated residues themselves are generally of low abundance due to the sub-stoichiometric nature. However, low abundance of phosphopeptides and low degree of phosphorylation typically necessitates isolation and concentration of phosphopeptides prior to mass spectrometric analysis. In this study, we used trivalent lanthanide ions (LaCl(3), CeCl(3), EuCl(3), TbCl(3), HoCl(3), ErCl(3), and TmCl(3)) for phosphopeptide enrichment and cleaning-up. Due to their low solubility product, lanthanide ions form stable complexes with the phosphate groups of phosphopeptides and precipitate out of solution. In a further step, non-phosphorylated compounds can easily be removed by simple centrifugation and washing before mass spectrometric analysis using Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight. The precipitation method was applied for the isolation of phosphopeptides from standard proteins such as ovalbumin, α-casein, and β-casein. High enrichment of phosphopeptides could also be achieved for real samples such as fresh milk and egg white. The technology presented here represents an excellent and highly selective tool for phosphopeptide recovery; it is easily applicable and shows several advantages as compared with standard approaches such as TiO(2) or IMAC.

Ikaite precipitation by mixing of shoreline springs and lake water, Mono Lake, California, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bischoff, James L.; Stine, Scott; Rosenbauer, Robert J.; Fitzpatrick, John A.; Stafford, Thomas W., Jr.

1993-08-01

Metastable ikaite (CaCO 3·6H 2O) forms abundantly during winter months along the south shoreline of Mono Lake where shoreline springs mix with lake water. Ikaite precipitates because of its decreased solubility at low temperature and because of orthophosphate-ion inhibition of calcite and aragonite. During the spring some of the ikaite is transformed to anhydrous CaCO 3 and is incorporated into tufa, but most is dispersed by wave action into the lake where it reacts to form gaylussite (Na 2Ca(CO 3) 2· 5H 2O). Spring waters have low pH values, are dominantly Ca-Na-HCO 3, have low radiocarbon activities, and are mixtures of deep-seated geothermal and cold groundwaters. Chemical modeling reveals that precipitation of CaCO 3 can occur over a broad range of mixtures of spring and lake water with a maximum production occurring at 96% spring water and 4% lake water. Under these conditions all the Ca and a significant fraction of the CO 3 of the precipitate is spring supplied. A radiocarbon age of 19,580 years obtained on a natural ikaite sample supports this conclusion. With the springs supplying a large and probably variable portion of the carbonate, and with apparent 14C age of the carbonate varying from spring to spring, tufa of similar actual antiquity may yield significantly different 14C dates, making tufa at this location unsuitable for absolute age dating by the radiocarbon method.

Ikaite precipitation by mixing of shoreline springs and lake water, Mono Lake, California, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bischoff, J.L.; Stine, S.; Rosenbauer, R.J.; Fitzpatrick, J.A.; Stafford, Thomas W.

1993-01-01

Metastable ikaite (CaCO3??6H2O) forms abundantly during winter months along the south shoreline of Mono Lake where shoreline springs mix with lake water. Ikaite precipitates because of its decreased solubility at low temperature and because of orthophosphate-ion inhibition of calcite and aragonite. During the spring some of the ikaite is transformed to anhydrous CaCO3 and is incorporated into tufa, but most is dispersed by wave action into the lake where it reacts to form gaylussite (Na2Ca(CO3)2?? 5H2O). Spring waters have low pH values, are dominantly Ca-Na-HCO3, have low radiocarbon activities, and are mixtures of deep-seated geothermal and cold groundwaters. Chemical modeling reveals that precipitation of CaCO3 can occur over a broad range of mixtures of spring and lake water with a maximum production occurring at 96% spring water and 4% lake water. Under these conditions all the Ca and a significant fraction of the CO3 of the precipitate is spring supplied. A radiocarbon age of 19,580 years obtained on a natural ikaite sample supports this conclusion. With the springs supplying a large and probably variable portion of the carbonate, and with apparent 14C age of the carbonate varying from spring to spring, tufa of similar actual antiquity may yield significantly different 14C dates, making tufa at this location unsuitable for absolute age dating by the radiocarbon method. ?? 1993.

pH-responsive drug delivery system based on AIE luminogen functionalized layered zirconium phosphate nano-platelets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Dongdong, E-mail: lidongdong@jlu.edu.cn; Zhang, Yuping; Zhou, Bingbing

2015-05-15

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogen, quaternary tetraphenylethene cation (TPEN), was successfully incorporated into layered α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) by using co-precipitation method to form inorganic–organic hybrid materials. The obtained materials show the characteristic hexagonal platelet shape with the interlayer distance did not reveal significant difference compared with pure α-ZrP. In addition, the obtained hybrid materials emit strong blue emission centered at 476 nm in aqueous media due to the electrostatic interactions of TPEN with the anionic framework of α-ZrP, which largely restrict their intramolecular rotation. More importantly, the materials provide a pH dependent release of doxorubicin (DOX), suggesting that AIE luminogen functionalizedmore » α-ZrP may be used as an imaging guided and pH-responsive delivery system for targeting therapy. - Graphical abstract: AIE luminogen was successfully incorporated into layered α-zirconium phosphate by a co-precipitation method to form inorganic–organic hybrid materials, showing a pH dependent release of DOX. - Highlights: • AIE luminogen cation was incorporated into layered α-ZrP by co-precipitation method. • The obtained material emits strong blue emission upon UV irradiation. • The material exhibits pH dependent release of DOX. • The AIE functionalized α-ZrP has potential applications in imaging guided therapy.« less

Removal of copper (II) from aqueous solutions by flotation using polyaluminum chloride silicate (PAX-XL60 S) as coagulant and carbonate ion as activator.

PubMed

Ghazy, S E; Mahmoud, I A; Ragab, A H

2006-01-01

Flotation is a separation technology for removing toxic heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. Here a simple and rapid flotation procedure is presented for the removal of copper(II) from aqueous solutions. It is based on the use of polyaluminum chloride silicate (PAX-XL60 S) as coagulant and flocculent, carbonate ion as activator and oleic acid (HOL) as surfactant. Both ion and precipitate flotation are included depending on the solution pH. Ion and precipitate flotation in the aqueous HOL-PAX-XL60 S-Cu2+-CO3(2-) system gave powerful preferential removal of Cu2+ (F -100%) over the HOL-PAX-XL60 S-Cu2+ system containing no CO3(2+) ion (F approximately 86%). The role of CO3(2-) ion is also evident from decreasing the dose of PAX-XL60 S from 700 mg l(-1) to 200 mg l(-1). The other parameters, influencing the flotation process, namely: metal ion, surfactant and PAX-XL60 S concentrations, ionic strength, temperature and foreign ions were examined. Moreover, the procedure was successfully applied to recover Cu2+ ions from different volumes up to 11 and from natural water samples.

Reference values assessment in a Mediterranean population for small dense low-density lipoprotein concentration isolated by an optimized precipitation method.

PubMed

Fernández-Cidón, Bárbara; Padró-Miquel, Ariadna; Alía-Ramos, Pedro; Castro-Castro, María José; Fanlo-Maresma, Marta; Dot-Bach, Dolors; Valero-Politi, José; Pintó-Sala, Xavier; Candás-Estébanez, Beatriz

2017-01-01

High serum concentrations of small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sd-LDL-c) particles are associated with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Their clinical application has been hindered as a consequence of the laborious current method used for their quantification. Optimize a simple and fast precipitation method to isolate sd-LDL particles and establish a reference interval in a Mediterranean population. Forty-five serum samples were collected, and sd-LDL particles were isolated using a modified heparin-Mg 2+ precipitation method. sd-LDL-c concentration was calculated by subtracting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) from the total cholesterol measured in the supernatant. This method was compared with the reference method (ultracentrifugation). Reference values were estimated according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine recommendations. sd-LDL-c concentration was measured in serums from 79 subjects with no lipid metabolism abnormalities. The Passing-Bablok regression equation is y = 1.52 (0.72 to 1.73) + 0.07 x (-0.1 to 0.13), demonstrating no significant statistical differences between the modified precipitation method and the ultracentrifugation reference method. Similarly, no differences were detected when considering only sd-LDL-c from dyslipidemic patients, since the modifications added to the precipitation method facilitated the proper sedimentation of triglycerides and other lipoproteins. The reference interval for sd-LDL-c concentration estimated in a Mediterranean population was 0.04-0.47 mmol/L. An optimization of the heparin-Mg 2+ precipitation method for sd-LDL particle isolation was performed, and reference intervals were established in a Spanish Mediterranean population. Measured values were equivalent to those obtained with the reference method, assuring its clinical application when tested in both normolipidemic and dyslipidemic subjects.

Mechanisms of scale formation and carbon dioxide partial pressure influence. Part I. Elaboration of an experimental method and a scaling model.

PubMed

Gal, Jean-Yves; Fovet, Yannick; Gache, Nathalie

2002-02-01

Scale formation in industrial or domestic installations is still an important economic problem. The existence of a metastable domain for calcium carbonate supersaturated solutions and its breakdown are observed under conditions rarely well defined. In most cases it is the pH rise caused by the carbon dioxide loss that involves calcium carbonate precipitation. Before studying this problem, we suggest in this first part, a new model for the evolution of the calcocarbonic system that takes into account the hydrated forms of CaCO3: CaCO3 amorphous, CaCO3 x 6H2O (ikaite) and CaCO3 x H2O (monohydrate). According to this model, the precipitation of any one of these hydrated forms could be responsible for the breakdown of the metastable state. After this first step, the solids evolve into dehydrated forms. At first, the metastable domain spread of the calcium carbonate supersaturated solutions was studied by the elaboration of computer programs in which the formation of CaCO3(0)(aq) ion pairs was taken into account. These ion pairs are supposed to evolve through dehydration to form the various calcium carbonate solid form precursors. This thermodynamic study was then compared to the experimental methods of the critical pH. Here the pH rise was caused by adding sodium hydroxide under different conditions for sodium hydroxide addition speed, agitation mode and ageing of solutions. For the highest speed of sodium hydroxide addition, the CaCO3 ionic product reached the value of the amorphous calcium carbonate solubility product, and the reaction of the amorphous calcium carbonate precipitation was of the homogenous type. Decreasing the reagent's addition speed caused an extension of the titration time. Then, the breakdown of the metastable state was obtained with the CaCO3 x H2O heterogeneous precipitation. This clearly illustrates the probable ageing of the precursors of the solid states that are considered in this model.

Review of calcium carbonate polymorph precipitation in spring systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Brian

2017-05-01

Many spring deposits throughout the world are characterized by spectacular deposits of calcium carbonate that are formed of various combinations of aragonite and calcite, and in very rare cases vaterite. The factors that control the precipitation of the aragonite and calcite have been the subject of considerable debate that has been based on natural precipitates and information gained from numerous laboratory experiments. Synthesis of this information indicates that there is probably no single universal factor that controls calcite and aragonite precipitation in all springs. Instead, the reason for aragonite as opposed to calcite precipitation should be ascertained by considering the following ordered series of possibilities for each system. First, aragonite, commonly with calcite as a co-precipitate, will form from spring water that has a high CO2 content and rapid CO2 degassing, irrespective of the Mg:Ca ratio and scale of precipitation. Second, aragonite can be precipitated from waters that have low levels of CO2 degassing provided that the Mg:Ca ratio is high enough to inhibit calcite precipitation. Third, the presence of biofilms may lead to the simultaneous precipitation of aragonite and calcite (irrespective of CO2 degassing or Mg:Ca ratio) either within the different microdomains that develop in the biofilm or because of diurnal changes in various geochemical parameters associated with the biofilm. Although the precipitation of calcite and aragonite has commonly been linked directly to water temperature, there is no clear evidence for this proposition. It is possible, however, that temperature may be influencing another parameter that plays a more direct role in the precipitation of these CaCO3 polymorphs. Despite the advances that have been made, the factors that ultimately control calcite and aragonite are still open to debate because this long-standing problem has still not been fully resolved.

Co-Precipitation Synthesis and Optical Properties of Mn4+-Doped Hexafluoroaluminate w-LED Phosphors

PubMed Central

Geitenbeek, Robin G.; Meijerink, Andries

2017-01-01

Mn4+-activated hexafluoroaluminates are promising red-emitting phosphors for white light emitting diodes (w-LEDs). Here, we report the synthesis of Na3AlF6:Mn4+, K3AlF6:Mn4+ and K2NaAlF6:Mn4+ phosphors through a simple two-step co-precipitation method. Highly monodisperse large (~20 μm) smoothed-octahedron shaped crystallites are obtained for K2NaAlF6:Mn4+. The large size, regular shape and small size distribution are favorable for application in w-LEDs. All Mn4+-doped hexafluoroaluminates show bright red Mn4+ luminescence under blue light excitation. We compare the optical properties of Na3AlF6:Mn4+, K3AlF6:Mn4+ and K2NaAlF6:Mn4+ at room temperature and 4 K. The luminescence measurements reveal that multiple Mn4+ sites exist in M3AlF6:Mn4+ (M = Na, K), which is explained by the charge compensation that is required for Mn4+ on Al3+ sites. Thermal cycling experiments show that the site distribution changes after annealing. Finally, we investigate thermal quenching and show that the luminescence quenching temperature is high, around 460–490 K, which makes these Mn4+-doped hexafluoroaluminates interesting red phosphors for w-LEDs. The new insights reported on the synthesis and optical properties of Mn4+ in the chemically and thermally stable hexafluoroaluminates can contribute to the optimization of red-emitting Mn4+ phosphors for w-LEDs. PMID:29149083

Synthesis, characterization and adsorption properties of magnetite/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites.

PubMed

Qi, Tingting; Huang, Chenchen; Yan, Shan; Li, Xiu-Juan; Pan, Si-Yi

2015-11-01

Three kinds of magnetite/reduced graphene oxide (MRGO) nanocomposites were prepared by solvothermal, hydrothermal and co-precipitation methods. The as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized and compared by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and zeta potential. The results showed that MRGO made by different methods differed in surface functional groups, crystal structure, particle sizes, surface morphology and surface charge. Due to their unlike features, these nanocomposites displayed dissimilar performances when they were used to adsorb drugs, dyes and metal ions. The MRGO prepared by the co-precipitation method showed special adsorption ability to negative ions, but those synthesized by the solvothermal method obtained the best extraction ability and reusability to the others and showed a good prospective in magnetic solid-phase extraction. Therefore, it is highly recommended to use the right preparation method before application in order to attain the best extraction performance. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of solution conditions on deposition of calcium phosphate on titanium by NaOH-treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Q. L.; Cui, F. Z.; Wang, H.; Kim, T. N.; Kim, J. O.

2000-03-01

The present paper demonstrated a biomimetic method to coat calcium phosphate (Ca-P) on the surface of titanium induced by NaOH-treatment from a simple supersaturated hydroxyapatite solution (SHS). The influence of pH value and calcium ions concentration on the precipitation process was investigated. It is necessary for the solution to be supersaturated than the critical concentration of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) to get Ca-P coatings on titanium surface. In the precipitating process, it seems that amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) precipitated first, then OCP, and finally hydroxyapatite (HA). The system was in continuous evolution and the phase transitions occurred in sequence.

Iron doped SnO2/Co3O4 nanocomposites synthesized by sol-gel and precipitation method for metronidazole antibiotic degradation.

PubMed

Agarwal, Shilpi; Tyagi, Inderjeet; Gupta, Vinod Kumar; Sohrabi, Maryam; Mohammadi, Sanaz; Golikand, Ahmad Nozad; Fakhri, Ali

2017-01-01

Sol-gel and precipitation reaction methods were used to synthesize Un-doped and Fe-doped SnO 2 /Co 3 O 4 nanocomposites under UV light; the synthesized nanocomposites were applied for the photocatalytic degradation of metronidazole antibiotic. The developed photo catalyst was well characterized using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), UV-Visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Effective parameters such as pH, photocatalyst dose and contact time was optimized and well investigated. From the obtained facts it is clear that the 98.3% of MTZ was degraded with in 15min, pH6 and 0.1g catalyst when the Fe molar ratio was 1:1 at %. As compared to results obtained from un-doped SnO 2 /Co 3 O 4 nanocomposites Fe doped SnO 2 /Co 3 O 4 nanocomposites possess greater photocatalytic efficiency. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Linear arrangements of nano-scale ferromagnetic particles spontaneously formed in a copper-base Cu-Ni-Co alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakakura, Hibiki; Kim, Jun-Seop; Takeda, Mahoto

2018-03-01

We have investigated the influence of magnetic interactions on the microstructural evolution of nano-scale granular precipitates formed spontaneously in an annealed Cu-20at%Ni-5at%Co alloy and the associated changes of magnetic properties. The techniques used included transmission electron microscopy, superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry, magneto-thermogravimetry (MTG), and first-principles calculations based on the method of Koster-Korringa-Rostker with the coherent potential approximation. Our work has revealed that the nano-scale spherical and cubic precipitates which formed on annealing at 873 K and 973 K comprise mainly cobalt and nickel with a small amount of copper, and are arranged in the 〈1 0 0〉 direction of the copper matrix. The SQUID and MTG measurements suggest that magnetic properties such as coercivity and Curie temperature are closely correlated with the microstructure. The combination of results suggests that magnetic interactions between precipitates during annealing can explain consistently the observed precipitation phenomena.

Mechanisms for chemostatic behavior in catchments: implications for CO2 consumption by mineral weathering

USGS Publications Warehouse

Clow, David W.; Mast, M. Alisa

2010-01-01

Concentrations of weathering products in streams often show relatively little variation compared to changes in discharge, both at event and annual scales. In this study, several hypothesized mechanisms for this “chemostatic behavior” were evaluated, and the potential for those mechanisms to influence relations between climate, weathering fluxes, and CO2 consumption via mineral weathering was assessed. Data from Loch Vale, an alpine catchment in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, indicates that cation exchange and seasonal precipitation and dissolution of amorphous or poorly crystalline aluminosilicates are important processes that help regulate solute concentrations in the stream; however, those processes have no direct effect on CO2 consumption in catchments. Hydrograph separation analyses indicate that old water stored in the subsurface over the winter accounts for about one-quarter of annual streamflow, and almost one-half of annual fluxes of Na and SiO2 in the stream; thus, flushing of old water by new water (snowmelt) is an important component of chemostatic behavior. Hydrologic flushing of subsurface materials further induces chemostatic behavior by reducing mineral saturation indices and increasing reactive mineral surface area, which stimulate mineral weathering rates. CO2 consumption by carbonic acid mediated mineral weathering was quantified using mass-balance calculations; results indicated that silicate mineral weathering was responsible for approximately two-thirds of annual CO2 consumption, and carbonate weathering was responsible for the remaining one-third. CO2 consumption was strongly dependent on annual precipitation and temperature; these relations were captured in a simple statistical model that accounted for 71% of the annual variation in CO2 consumption via mineral weathering in Loch Vale.

Emergent Hydrological Regimes in Amazonia Determine Vegetation Productivity and Structure.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahlström, A.; Canadell, J.; Schurgers, G.; Berry, J. A.; Guan, K.; Jackson, R. B.

2016-12-01

The Amazon rain forest has a disproportionate significance for global CO2 storage and biodiversity. Earth system models (ESMs) that estimate future climate and vegetation show little agreement in simulations in Amazonia. Here we show that evapotranspiration (ET), gross primary productivity (GPP) and above ground biomass in both models and empirical data align on an emergent hydrologically determined relationship that describes a functional relationship with annual precipitation (P). The physical relationship describes the potential for plant productivity and has a breakpoint at 2000 mm annual precipitation, where the system transitions between water and radiation limitation of annual ET. While ESM GPP is generally underestimated due to a low-bias in their internally generated P, their response to annual precipitation generally matches empirical data. It is different for biomass: ESMs show some ability in capturing biomass levels in the energy-limited wet hydrological regime above 2000 mm annual precipitation but they do not fully capture the biomass structure tipping point found in empirical data at the hydrological regime breakpoint that coincide with the forest-savanna transition. This discrepancy is likely due to the relatively simple representation of disturbances, primarily fires, and vegetation dynamics found in ESMs, and implies that ESMs likely overestimate the resilience to a potential future drying of the Amazon. Future elevated CO2 may increase plant water use efficiency and shift GPP upwards, but it will not affect the breakpoint between the regimes or the susceptibility of the forest which are both determined by precipitation and its role in determining the hydrological regime. This analysis reconciles and explains the findings of many studies on the Amazon. Our results suggests that future Amazonian biomass is governed by changes in precipitation, vegetation dynamics and disturbances, none of which are well predicted and represented by ESMs. Improvements of these processes are the most pressing challenges for more accurate future predictions on the fate of the Amazon and the global tropics.

Measurement of gamma' precipitates in a nickel-based superalloy using energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy coupled with automated segmenting techniques.

PubMed

Tiley, J S; Viswanathan, G B; Shiveley, A; Tschopp, M; Srinivasan, R; Banerjee, R; Fraser, H L

2010-08-01

Precipitates of the ordered L1(2) gamma' phase (dispersed in the face-centered cubic or FCC gamma matrix) were imaged in Rene 88 DT, a commercial multicomponent Ni-based superalloy, using energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM). Imaging was performed using the Cr, Co, Ni, Ti and Al elemental L-absorption edges in the energy loss spectrum. Manual and automated segmentation procedures were utilized for identification of precipitate boundaries and measurement of precipitate sizes. The automated region growing technique for precipitate identification in images was determined to measure accurately precipitate diameters. In addition, the region growing technique provided a repeatable method for optimizing segmentation techniques for varying EFTEM conditions. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Soil Organic Matter Stabilization via Mineral Interactions in Forest Soils with Varying Saturation Frequency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Possinger, A. R.; Inagaki, T.; Bailey, S. W.; Kogel-Knabner, I.; Lehmann, J.

2017-12-01

Soil carbon (C) interaction with minerals and metals through surface adsorption and co-precipitation processes is important for soil organic C (SOC) stabilization. Co-precipitation (i.e., the incorporation of C as an "impurity" in metal precipitates as they form) may increase the potential quantity of mineral-associated C per unit mineral surface compared to surface adsorption: a potentially important and as yet unaccounted for mechanism of C stabilization in soil. However, chemical, physical, and biological characterization of co-precipitated SOM as such in natural soils is limited, and the relative persistence of co-precipitated C is unknown, particularly under dynamic environmental conditions. To better understand the relationships between SOM stabilization via organometallic co-precipitation and environmental variables, this study compares mineral-SOM characteristics across a forest soil (Spodosol) hydrological gradient with expected differences in co-precipitation of SOM with iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) due to variable saturation frequency. Soils were collected from a steep, well-drained forest soil transect with low, medium, and high frequency of water table intrusion into surface soils (Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, Woodstock, NH). Lower saturation frequency soils generally had higher C content, C/Fe, C/Al, and other indicators of co-precipitation interactions resulting from SOM complexation, transport, and precipitation, an important process of Spodosol formation. Preliminary Fe X-ray Absorption Spectroscopic (XAS) characterization of SOM and metal chemistry in low frequency profiles suggest co-precipitation of SOM in the fine fraction (<20 µm). Short-term (10d) aerobic incubation of high and low saturation frequency soils showed greater SOC mineralization per unit soil C for low saturation frequency (i.e., higher co-precipitation) soils; however, increased mineralization may be attributed to non-mineral associated fractions of SOM. Further work to identify the component of SOM contributing to rapid mineralization using 13C-labeled substrates will link the observed chemical characteristics (13C-NMR, C K-edge XANES, and Fe XAS) of mineral-organic associations resulting from varying saturation frequency with mechanisms driving mineralization processes.

Selection and deposition of nanoparticles using CO.sub.2-expanded liquids

DOEpatents

Roberts, Christopher B [Auburn, AL; McLeod, Marshall Chandler [Hillsboro, OR; Anand, Madhu [Auburn, AL

2008-06-10

A method for size selection of nanostructures comprising utilizing a gas-expanded liquids (GEL) and controlled pressure to precipitate desired size populations of nanostructures, e.g., monodisperse. The GEL can comprise CO.sub.2 antisolvent and an organic solvent. The method can be carried out in an apparatus comprising a first open vessel configured to allow movement of a liquid/particle solution to specific desired locations within the vessel, a second pressure vessel, a location controller for controlling location of the particles and solution within the first vessel, a inlet for addition of antisolvent to the first vessel, and a device for measuring the amount of antisolvent added. Also disclosed is a method for forming nanoparticle thin films comprising utilizing a GEL containing a substrate, pressurizing the solution to precipitate and deposit nanoparticles onto the substrate, removing the solvent thereby leaving a thin nanoparticle film, removing the solvent and antisolvent, and drying the film.

Selection of nanoparticles using CO.sub.2-expanded liquids

DOEpatents

Roberts, Christopher B; McLeod, Marshall Chandler; Anand, Madhu

2013-02-19

A method for size selection of nanostructures comprising utilizing a gas-expanded liquids (GEL) and controlled pressure to precipitate desired size populations of nanostructures, e.g., monodisperse. The GEL can comprise CO.sub.2 antisolvent and an organic solvent. The method can be carried out in an apparatus comprising a first open vessel configured to allow movement of a liquid/particle solution to specific desired locations within the vessel, a second pressure vessel, a location controller for controlling location of the particles and solution within the first vessel, a inlet for addition of antisolvent to the first vessel, and a device for measuring the amount of antisolvent added. Also disclosed is a method for forming nanoparticle thin films comprising utilizing a GEL containing a substrate, pressurizing the solution to precipitate and deposit nanoparticles onto the substrate, removing the solvent thereby leaving a thin nanoparticle film, removing the solvent and antisolvent, and drying the film.

Responses of Soil CO2 Emissions to Extreme Precipitation Regimes: a Simulation on Loess Soil in Semi-arid Regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, R.; Zhao, M.; Hu, Y.; Guo, S.

2016-12-01

Responses of soil CO2 emission to natural precipitation play an essential role in regulating regional C cycling. With more erratic precipitation regimes, mostly likely of more frequent heavy rainstorms, projected into the future, extreme precipitation would potentially affect local soil moisture, plant growth, microbial communities, and further soil CO2 emissions. However, responses of soil CO2 emissions to extreme precipitation have not yet been systematically investigated. Such performances could be of particular importance for rainfed arable soil in semi-arid regions where soil microbial respiration stress is highly sensitive to temporal distribution of natural precipitation.In this study, a simulated experiment was conducted on bare loess soil from the semi-arid Chinese Loess Plateau. Three precipitation regimes with total precipitation amounts of 150 mm, 300 mm and 600 mm were carried out to simulate the extremely dry, business as usual, and extremely wet summer. The three regimes were individually materialized by wetting soils in a series of sub-events (10 mm or 150 mm). Co2 emissions from surface soil were continuously measured in-situ for one month. The results show that: 1) Evident CO2 emission pulses were observed immediately after applying sub-events, and cumulative CO2 emissions from events of total amount of 600 mm were greater than that from 150 mm. 3) In particular, for the same total amount of 600 mm, wetting regimes by applying four times of 150 mm sub-events resulted in 20% less CO2 emissions than by applying 60 times of 10 mm sub-events. This is mostly because its harsh 150 mm storms introduced more over-wet soil microbial respiration stress days (moisture > 28%). As opposed, for the same total amount of 150 mm, CO2 emissions from wetting regimes by applying 15 times of 10 mm sub-events were 22% lower than by wetting at once with 150 mm water, probably because its deficiency of soil moisture resulted in more over-dry soil microbial respiration stress days (moisture < 15%). Overall, soil CO2 emissions not only responded to total precipitation amount, but was also sensitive to precipitation regimes. Such differentiated responses of CO2 emissions highlight the necessity to properly account for relative contributions from CO2 emissions when projecting global carbon cycling into future climate scenarios.

AJIPHASE®: A Highly Efficient Synthetic Method for One-Pot Peptide Elongation in the Solution Phase by an Fmoc Strategy.

PubMed

Takahashi, Daisuke; Inomata, Tatsuji; Fukui, Tatsuya

2017-06-26

We previously reported an efficient peptide synthesis method, AJIPHASE®, that comprises repeated reactions and isolations by precipitation. This method utilizes an anchor molecule with long-chain alkyl groups as a protecting group for the C-terminus. To further improve this method, we developed a one-pot synthesis of a peptide sequence wherein the synthetic intermediates were isolated by solvent extraction instead of precipitation. A branched-chain anchor molecule was used in the new process, significantly enhancing the solubility of long peptides and the operational efficiency compared with the previous method, which employed precipitation for isolation and a straight-chain aliphatic group. Another prerequisite for this solvent-extraction-based strategy was the use of thiomalic acid and DBU for Fmoc deprotection, which facilitates the removal of byproducts, such as the fulvene adduct. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Towards deriving Ni-rich cathode and oxide-based anode materials from hydroxides by sharing a facile co-precipitation method.

PubMed

Qiu, Haifa; Du, Tengfei; Wu, Junfeng; Wang, Yonglong; Liu, Jian; Ye, Shihai; Liu, Sheng

2018-05-22

Although intensive studies have been conducted on layered transition metal oxide(TMO)-based cathode materials and metal oxide-based anode materials for Li-ion batteries, their precursors generally follow different or even complex synthesis routes. To share one route for preparing precursors of the cathode and anode materials, herein, we demonstrate a facile co-precipitation method to fabricate Ni-rich hydroxide precursors of Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1(OH)2. Ni-rich layered oxide of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 is obtained by lithiation of the precursor in air. An NiO-based anode material is prepared by calcining the precursor or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) incorporated precursors. The pre-addition of ammonia solution can simplify the co-precipitation procedures and the use of an air atmosphere can also make the heat treatment facile. LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 as the cathode material delivers a reversible capacity of 194 mA h g-1 at 40 mA g-1 and a notable cycling retention of 88.8% after 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1. This noticeable performance of the cathode arises from a decent particle morphology and high crystallinity of the layered oxides. As the anode material, the MWCNTs-incorporated oxides deliver a much higher reversible capacity of 811.1 mA h g-1 after 200 cycles compared to the pristine oxides without MWCNTs. The improvement on electrochemical performance can be attributed to synergistic effects from MWCNTs incorporation, including reinforced electronic conductivity, rich meso-pores and an alleviated volume effect. This facile and sharing method may offer an integrated and economical approach for commercial production of Ni-rich electrode materials for Li-ion batteries.

Synthesis of nanometer-size inorganic materials for the examination of particle size effects on heterogeneous catalysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emerson, Sean Christian

The effect of acoustic and hydrodynamic cavitation on the precipitation of inorganic catalytic materials, specifically titania supported gold, was investigated. The overall objective was to understand the fundamental factors involved in synthesizing nanometer-size catalytic materials in the 1--10 nm range in a cavitating field. Materials with grain sizes in this range have been associated with enhanced catalytic activity compared to larger grain size materials. A new chemical approach was used to produce titania supported gold by co-precipitation with higher gold yields compared to other synthesis methods. Using this approach, it was determined that acoustic cavitation was unable to influence the gold mean crystallite size compared to non-sonicated catalysts. However, gold concentration on the catalysts was found to be very important for CO oxidation activity. By decreasing the gold concentration from a weight loading of 0.50% down to approximately 0.05%, the rate of reaction per mole of gold was found to increase by a factor of 19. Hydrodynamic cavitation at low pressures (6.9--48 bar) was determined to have no effect on gold crystallite size at a fixed gold content for the same precipitation technique used in the acoustic cavitation studies. By changing the chemistry of the precipitation system, however, it was found that a synergy existed between the dilution of the gold precursor solution, the orifice diameter, and the reducing agent addition rate. Individually, these factors were found to have little effect and only their interaction allowed gold grain size control in the range of 8--80 nm. Further modification of the system chemistry and the use of hydrodynamic cavitation at pressures in excess of 690 bar allowed the systematic control of gold crystallite size in the range of 2--9 nm for catalysts containing 2.27 +/- 0.17% gold. In addition, it was shown that the enhanced mixing due to cavitation led to larger gold yields compared to classical syntheses. The control of gold grain size was gained at the loss of CO activity, which was attributed to the formation of non-removable sodium titanate species. The increased mixing associated with cavitation contributed to the activity loss by partially burying the gold and incorporating more of the sodium titanate species into the catalysts. This work produced the first evidence of hydrodynamic cavitation influencing the gold crystallite size on titania supported gold catalysts and is the only study reporting the control of grain size by simple mechanical adjustment of the experimental parameters. Despite the low activity observed due to sodium titanate, the methodology of adjusting the chemistry of a precipitating system could be used to eliminate such species. The approach of modifying the chemical precipitation kinetics relative to the dynamics of cavitation offers a general scheme for future research on cavitational processing effects.

Preparation of immunoglobulin Y from egg yolk using ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange chromatography.

PubMed

Ko, K Y; Ahn, D U

2007-02-01

The objective of this study was to develop an economical, simple, and large-scale separation method for IgY from egg yolk. Egg yolk diluted with 9 volumes of cold water was centrifuged after adjusting the pH to 5.0. The supernatant was added with 0.01% charcoal or 0.01% carrageenan and centrifuged at 2,800 x g for 30 min. The supernatant was filtered through a Whatman no. 1 filter paper and then the filtrate was concentrated to 20% original volume using ultrafiltration. The concentrated solution was further purified using either cation exchange chromatography or ammonium sulfate precipitation. For the cation exchange chromatography method, the concentrated sample was loaded onto a column equilibrated with 20 mM citrate-phosphate buffer at pH 4.8 and eluted with 200 mM citrate-phosphate buffer at pH 6.4. For the ammonium sulfate precipitation method, the concentrated sample was twice precipitated with 40% ammonium sulfate solution at pH 9.0. The yield and purity of IgY were determined by ELISA and electrophoresis. The yield of IgY from the cation exchange chromatography method was 30 to 40%, whereas that of the ammonium sulfate precipitation was 70 to 80%. The purity of IgY from the ammonium sulfate method was higher than that of the cation exchange chromatography. The cation exchange chromatography could handle only a small amount of samples, whereas the ammonium sulfate precipitation could handle a large volume of samples. This suggests that ammonium sulfate precipitation was a more efficient and useful purification method than cation exchange chromatography for the large-scale preparation of IgY from egg yolk.

Extraction and quantification of adenosine triphosphate in mammalian tissues and cells.

PubMed

Chida, Junji; Kido, Hiroshi

2014-01-01

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is the "energy currency" of organisms and plays central roles in bioenergetics, whereby its level is used to evaluate cell viability, proliferation, death, and energy transmission. In this chapter, we describe an improved and efficient method for extraction of ATP from tissues and cells using phenol-based reagents. The chaotropic extraction reagents reported so far co-precipitate ATP with insoluble proteins during extraction and with salts during neutralization. In comparison, the phenol-based reagents extract ATP well without the risks of co-precipitation. The extracted ATP can be quantified by the luciferase assay or high-performance liquid chromatography.

Trace Metals in Groundwater and Vadose Zone Calcite: In Situ Containment and Stabilization of Stronthium-90 and Other Divalent Metals and Radionuclides at Arid Western DOE Sites: Final Report for Award Number DE-FG07-02ER63486 to the University of Idaho (RW Smith) Environmental Management Science Program Project Number 87016

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smith, Robert W.; Fujita, Yoshiko

2007-11-07

Radionuclide and metal contaminants are present in the vadose zone and groundwater throughout the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) energy research and weapons complex. In situ containment and stabilization of these contaminants represents a cost-effective treatment strategy that minimizes workers’ exposure to hazardous substances, does not require removal or transport of contaminants, and generally does not generate a secondary waste stream. We have investigated an in situ bioremediation approach that immobilizes radionuclides or contaminant metals (e.g., strontium-90) by their microbially facilitated co-precipitation with calcium carbonate in groundwater and vadose zone systems. Calcite, a common mineral in many aquifers and vadosemore » zones in the arid west, can incorporate divalent metals such as strontium, cadmium, lead, and cobalt into its crystal structure by the formation of a solid solution. Collaborative research undertaken by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), University of Idaho, and University of Toronto as part of this Environmental Management Science Program project has focused on in situ microbially-catalyzed urea hydrolysis, which results in an increase in pH, carbonate alkalinity, ammonium, calcite precipitation, and co-precipitation of divalent cations. In calcite-saturated aquifers, microbially facilitated co-precipitation with calcium carbonate represents a potential long-term contaminant sequestration mechanism. Key results of the project include: **Demonstrating the linkage between urea hydrolysis and calcite precipitation in field and laboratory experiments **Observing strontium incorporation into calcite precipitate by urea hydrolyzers with higher distribution coefficient than in abiotic **Developing and applying molecular methods for characterizing microbial urease activity in groundwater including a quantitative PCR method for enumerating ureolytic bacteria **Applying the suite of developed molecular methods to assess the feasibility of the proposed bioremediation technique at a contaminated site located within the 100-N area of the Hanford, Washington site **Assessing the role of nitrification on the persistence of precipitated calcite by modifying primers for identification of the amoA gene region of various ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) for characterizing AOB in the field« less

Application of microscopy technology in thermo-catalytic methane decomposition to hydrogen

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mei, Irene Lock Sow, E-mail: irene.sowmei@gmail.com; Lock, S. S. M., E-mail: serenelock168@gmail.com; Abdullah, Bawadi, E-mail: bawadi-abdullah@petronas.com.my

2015-07-22

Hydrogen production from the direct thermo-catalytic decomposition of methane is a promising alternative for clean fuel production because it produces pure hydrogen without any CO{sub x} emissions. However, thermal decomposition of methane can hardly be of any practical and empirical interest in the industry unless highly efficient and effective catalysts, in terms of both specific activity and operational lifetime have been developed. In this work, bimetallic Ni-Pd on gamma alumina support have been developed for methane cracking process by using co-precipitation and incipient wetness impregnation method. The calcined catalysts were characterized to determine their morphologies and physico-chemical properties by usingmore » Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric Analysis. The results suggested that that the catalyst which is prepared by the co-precipitation method exhibits homogeneous morphology, higher surface area, have uniform nickel and palladium dispersion and higher thermal stability as compared to the catalyst which is prepared by wet impregnation method. This characteristics are significant to avoid deactivation of the catalysts due to sintering and carbon deposition during methane cracking process.« less

Selective detection of Co2+ by fluorescent nano probe: Diagnostic approach for analysis of environmental samples and biological activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahajan, Prasad G.; Dige, Nilam C.; Desai, Netaji K.; Patil, Shivajirao R.; Kondalkar, Vijay V.; Hong, Seong-Karp; Lee, Ki Hwan

2018-06-01

Nowadays scientist over the world are engaging to put forth improved methods to detect metal ion in an aqueous medium based on fluorescence studies. A simple, selective and sensitive method was proposed for detection of Co2+ ion using fluorescent organic nanoparticles. We synthesized a fluorescent small molecule viz. 4,4‧-{benzene-1,4-diylbis-[(Z)methylylidenenitrilo]}dibenzoic acid (BMBA) to explore its suitability as sensor for Co2+ ion and biocompatibility in form of nanoparticles. Fluorescence nanoparticles (BMBANPs) prepared by simple reprecipitation method. Aggregation induced enhanced emission of BMBANPs exhibits the narrower particle size of 68 nm and sphere shape morphology. The selective fluorescence quenching was observed by addition of Co2+ and does not affected by presence of other coexisting ion solutions. The photo-physical properties, viz. UV-absorption, fluorescence emission, and lifetime measurements are in support of ligand-metal interaction followed by static fluorescence quenching phenomenon in emission of BMBANPs. Finally, we develop a simple analytical method for selective and sensitive determination of Co2+ ion in environmental samples. The cell culture E. coli, Bacillus sps., and M. tuberculosis H37RV strain in the vicinity of BMBANPs indicates virtuous anti-bacterial and anti-tuberculosis activity which is of additional novel application shown by prepared nanoparticles.

Approximating Long-Term Statistics Early in the Global Precipitation Measurement Era

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stanley, Thomas; Kirschbaum, Dalia B.; Huffman, George J.; Adler, Robert F.

2017-01-01

Long-term precipitation records are vital to many applications, especially the study of extreme events. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) has served this need, but TRMMs successor mission, Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), does not yet provide a long-term record. Quantile mapping, the conversion of values across paired empirical distributions, offers a simple, established means to approximate such long-term statistics, but only within appropriately defined domains. This method was applied to a case study in Central America, demonstrating that quantile mapping between TRMM and GPM data maintains the performance of a real-time landslide model. Use of quantile mapping could bring the benefits of the latest satellite-based precipitation dataset to existing user communities such as those for hazard assessment, crop forecasting, numerical weather prediction, and disease tracking.

Structure and composition of Fe-OM co-precipitates that form in soil-derived solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fritzsche, Andreas; Schröder, Christian; Wieczorek, Arkadiusz K.; Händel, Matthias; Ritschel, Thomas; Totsche, Kai U.

2015-11-01

Iron oxides represent a substantial fraction of secondary minerals and particularly affect the reactive properties of natural systems in which they formed, e.g. in soils and sediments. Yet, it is still obscure how transient conditions in the solution will affect the properties of in situ precipitated Fe oxides. Transient compositions, i.e. compositions that change with time, arise due to predominant non-equilibrium states in natural systems, e.g. between liquid and solid phases in soils. In this study, we characterize Fe-OM co-precipitates that formed in pH-neutral exfiltrates from anoxic topsoils under transient conditions. We applied soil column outflow experiments, in which Fe2+ was discharged with the effluent from anoxic soil and subsequently oxidized in the effluent due to contact with air. Our study features three novel aspects being unconsidered so far: (i) the transient composition of soil-derived solutions, (ii) that pedogenic Fe oxides instead of Fe salts serve as major source for Fe2+ in soil solution and (iii) the presence of exclusively soil-derived organic and inorganic compounds during precipitation. The experiments were carried out with two topsoil materials that differed in composition, texture and land use. Derived from Mössbauer spectroscopy, broad distributions in quadrupole splittings (0-2 mm s-1) and magnetic hyperfine fields (35-53 T) indicated the presence of low-crystalline ferrihydrite and even lower crystalline Fe phases in all Fe-OM co-precipitates. There was no unequivocal evidence for other Fe oxides, i.e. lepidocrocite and (nano)goethite. The Fe-OM co-precipitates contained inorganic (P, sulfate, silicate, Al, As) and organic compounds (proteins, polysaccharides), which were concurrently discharged from the soils. Their content in the Fe-OM co-precipitates was controlled by their respective concentration in the soil-derived solution. On a molar basis, OC and Fe were the main components in the Fe-OM co-precipitates (OC/Fe ratio = 0.5-2). The elemental composition of the Fe-OM co-precipitates was in accordance with the sequential precipitation of Fe(III)phosphates/arsenates prior to the formation of ferrihydrite. This explains decreasing Si contents in the Fe-OM co-precipitates with increasing availability of P. With respect to constant mean quadrupole splittings and slightly decreasing mean magnetic hyperfine fields, increasing contents of OC, P and Al in the Fe-OM co-precipitates did not further increase the structural disorder of the Fe polyhedra, while the crystallite interactions slightly decreased. Scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering revealed the coincidental presence of variably sized aggregates and a considerable amount of Fe-OM co-precipitates, which remained dispersed in solution for months. Thus, variably composed Fe-OM co-precipitates with highly diverse aggregate sizes and comparably constant poor crystallinity can be expected after the oxidation of Fe2+ in transient, soil-derived solutions.

Strontium Co-precipitation During Biomineralization of Calcite in Porous Media Using Differing Treatment Strategies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lauchnor, E. G.; Schultz, L.; Mitchell, A.; Cunningham, A. B.; Gerlach, R.

2013-12-01

The process of ureolytically-induced calcium carbonate mineralization has been shown in laboratory studies to be effective in co-precipitation of heavy metals and radionuclides. During this process, the microbially catalyzed hydrolysis of urea increases alkalinity and pH, thus promoting CaCO3 precipitation in the presence of dissolved calcium. One proposed application of biomineralization includes the remediation of radionuclides such as strontium, which can be co-precipitated in situ within calcite. Strontium is of concern at several US DOE sites where it is a radioactive product of uranium fission and groundwater contaminant. Our research focuses on promoting attached bacteria, or biofilms, in subsurface environments where they serve as immobilized catalysts in biomineralization and can aide in co-precipitation of some contaminants. In this work, flat plate reactors with 1 mm etched flow channels designed to mimic a porous medium environment were used. Reactors were inoculated with the model ureolytic bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii and addition of urea, calcium and strontium containing fluid was performed to induce biomineralization. Continuous flow and stopped-flow injection strategies were investigated to evaluate differences in strontium co-precipitation efficiency. During stopped-flow experiments, injection of cementation fluid containing urea, Ca2+ and Sr2+ was alternated with growth nutrients for stimulation of microbial activity. Control parameters such as urea and calcium concentration and injection flow rate are currently being varied to optimize rate and efficiency of strontium co-precipitation. Ureolytically induced calcite precipitation and strontium incorporation in the calcite was verified by chemical and mineralogical analyses, including X-ray diffraction and ICP-MS. Strontium co-precipitation efficiency was similar under different injection strategies. Alternating calcium-containing fluid with growth nutrients allowed for continued viability of the ureolytic biofilms and also insured that bacterially-induced mineralization was still occurring after 60 days of operation. Batch rate experiments demonstrated the effective use of alternative sources of substrates for biomineralization, which are economical for use in field-scale remediation. Fertilizer has been shown to be an effective urea source and several economical carbon and nutrient sources such as molasses and whey are being evaluated for stimulating ureolytic microorganisms. This research demonstrates on a bench scale the use of different injection strategies to control precipitation of calcium carbonate, as well as the feasibility of strontium co-precipitation in porous media. The ongoing optimization of strontium co-precipitation will lead to additional work on potential remediation of other heavy metal groundwater contaminants.

Analysis of chemical warfare agents in organic liquid samples with magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction and gas chromatography mass spectrometry for verification of the chemical weapons convention.

PubMed

Singh, Varoon; Purohit, Ajay Kumar; Chinthakindi, Sridhar; Goud, Raghavender D; Tak, Vijay; Pardasani, Deepak; Shrivastava, Anchal Roy; Dubey, Devendra Kumar

2016-05-27

A simple, sensitive and low temperature sample preparation method is developed for detection and identification of Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs) and scheduled esters in organic liquid using magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction (MDSPE) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The method utilizes Iron oxide@Poly(methacrylic acid-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) resin (Fe2O3@Poly(MAA-co-EGDMA)) as sorbent. Variants of these sorbents were prepared by precipitation polymerization of methacrylic acid-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (MAA-co-EGDMA) onto Fe2O3 nanoparticles. Fe2O3@poly(MAA-co-EGDMA) with 20% MAA showed highest recovery of analytes. Extractions were performed with magnetic microspheres by MDSPE. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were studied and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, method showed linearity in the range of 0.1-3.0μgmL(-1) (r(2)=0.9966-0.9987). The repeatability and reproducibility (relative standard deviations (RSDs) %) were in the range of 4.5-7.6% and 3.4-6.2% respectively for organophosphorous esters in dodecane. Limits of detection (S/N=3/1) and limit of quantification (S/N=10/1) were found to be in the range of 0.05-0.1μgmL(-1) and 0.1-0.12μgmL(-1) respectively in SIM mode for selected analytes. The method was successfully validated and applied to the extraction and identification of targeted analytes from three different organic liquids i.e. n-hexane, dodecane and silicon oil. Recoveries ranged from 58.7 to 97.3% and 53.8 to 95.5% at 3μgmL(-1) and 1μgmL(-1) spiking concentrations. Detection of diethyl methylphosphonate (DEMP) and O-Ethyl S-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothiolate (VX) in samples provided by the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Proficiency Test (OPCW-PT) proved the utility of the developed method for the off-site analysis of CWC relevant chemicals. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

WC/Co composite surface structure and nano graphite precipitate induced by high current pulsed electron beam irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, S. Z.; Zhang, Y.; Xu, Y.; Gey, N.; Grosdidier, T.; Dong, C.

2013-11-01

High current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) irradiation was conducted on a WC-6% Co hard alloy with accelerating voltage of 27 kV and pulse duration of 2.5 μs. The surface phase structure was examined by using glancing-angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) methods. The surface tribological properties were measured. It was found that after 20 pulses of HCPEB irradiation, the surface structure of WC/Co hard alloy was modified dramatically and composed of a mixture of nano-grained WC1-x, Co3W9C4, Co3W3C phases and graphite precipitate domains ˜50 nm. The friction coefficient of modified surface decreased to ˜0.38 from 0.6 of the initial state, and the wear rate reduced from 8.4 × 10-5 mm3/min to 6.3 × 10-6 mm3/min, showing a significant self-lubricating effect.

Investigation of Synthesis and Magnetic Properties of Rod-Shaped CoFe2O4 via Precipitation-Topotactic Reaction Employing α-FeOOH and γ-FeOOH As Templates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Xiaohui; Dong, Hongfei; Tan, Yuzhuo; Meng, Jinhong

2018-03-01

Rod-shaped CoFe2O4 was prepared by chemical precipitation-topotactic reaction method, and in this preparation needle-like γ-FeOOH and α-FeOOH were synthesized to use as template materials. The evolution of phase and morphology in the process of calcination exhibits that α-FeOOH and γ-FeOOH experienced different routes to form the α-Fe2O3 middle phase with different crystallinity and morphology. The synthesis process of CoFe2O4 revealed that the crystallinity, purity and morphology of CoFe2O4 depend on the α-Fe2O3 middle phase. The magnetic measurement showed that the CoFe2O4 prepared from α-FeOOH has higher saturation magnetization and coercivity, and the crystallinity and morphology may play important roles in achieving a better magnetic performance.

Novel Thermally Stable Poly (vinyl chloride) Composites for Sulfate Removal

EPA Science Inventory

BaCO₃ dispersed PVC composites were prepared through a polymer re-precipitation method. The composites were tested for sulfate removal using rapid small scale column test (RSSCT) and found to significantly reduce sulfate concentration. The method was extended to synthe...

Global modeling of land water and energy balances. Part III: Interannual variability

USGS Publications Warehouse

Shmakin, A.B.; Milly, P.C.D.; Dunne, K.A.

2002-01-01

The Land Dynamics (LaD) model is tested by comparison with observations of interannual variations in discharge from 44 large river basins for which relatively accurate time series of monthly precipitation (a primary model input) have recently been computed. When results are pooled across all basins, the model explains 67% of the interannual variance of annual runoff ratio anomalies (i.e., anomalies of annual discharge volume, normalized by long-term mean precipitation volume). The new estimates of basin precipitation appear to offer an improvement over those from a state-of-the-art analysis of global precipitation (the Climate Prediction Center Merged Analysis of Precipitation, CMAP), judging from comparisons of parallel model runs and of analyses of precipitation-discharge correlations. When the new precipitation estimates are used, the performance of the LaD model is comparable to, but not significantly better than, that of a simple, semiempirical water-balance relation that uses only annual totals of surface net radiation and precipitation. This implies that the LaD simulations of interannual runoff variability do not benefit substantially from information on geographical variability of land parameters or seasonal structure of interannual variability of precipitation. The aforementioned analyses necessitated the development of a method for downscaling of long-term monthly precipitation data to the relatively short timescales necessary for running the model. The method merges the long-term data with a reference dataset of 1-yr duration, having high temporal resolution. The success of the method, for the model and data considered here, was demonstrated in a series of model-model comparisons and in the comparisons of modeled and observed interannual variations of basin discharge.

Arsenic mobilization and immobilization in paddy soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kappler, A.; Hohmann, C.; Zhu, Y. G.; Morin, G.

2010-05-01

Arsenic is oftentimes of geogenic origin and in many cases bound to iron(III) minerals. Iron(III)-reducing bacteria can harvest energy by coupling the oxidation of organic or inorganic electron donors to the reduction of Fe(III). This process leads either to dissolution of Fe(III)-containing minerals and thus to a release of the arsenic into the environment or to secondary Fe-mineral formation and immobilisation of arsenic. Additionally, aerobic and anaerobic iron(II)-oxidizing bacteria have the potential to co-precipitate or sorb arsenic during iron(II) oxidation at neutral pH that is usually followed by iron(III) mineral precipitation. We are currently investigating arsenic immobilization by Fe(III)-reducing bacteria and arsenic co-precipitation and immobilization by anaerobic iron(II)-oxidizing bacteria in batch, microcosm and rice pot experiments. Co-precipitation batch experiments with pure cultures of nitrate-dependent Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria are used to quantify the amount of arsenic that can be immobilized during microbial iron mineral precipitation, to identify the minerals formed and to analyze the arsenic binding environment in the precipitates. Microcosm and rice pot experiments are set-up with arsenic-contaminated rice paddy soil. The microorganisms (either the native microbial population or the soil amended with the nitrate-dependent iron(II)-oxidizing Acidovorax sp. strain BoFeN1) are stimulated either with iron(II), nitrate, or oxygen. Dissolved and solid-phase arsenic and iron are quantified. Iron and arsenic speciation and redox state in batch and microcosm experiments are determined by LC-ICP-MS and synchrotron-based methods (EXAFS, XANES).

Putting Citizen-Collected Observations to Work -- The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doesken, N.

2015-12-01

When CoCoRaHS was born (1998), climate-relevant information was far from our minds. We were simply enlisting volunteers to help capture, display and communicate the nature of small scale variability within northern Colorado storms. Climate change was talked about then, but not with the sense of concern and urgency as today. Now, many years later, the simple back-yard precipitation measurements being taken by thousands of volunteers across much of North America are creating valuable and easily-accessible data and information serving many and varied purposes from federal and state climate monitoring to drought and extreme storm analysis and research. Many volunteers have been with the project now for a decade or longer and have contributed literally thousands of individual observations and reports. Long-time participants along with recent recruits of all ages are seeing first-hand how day by day observations of weather conditions combine - over time and space -- to define and describe key elements of our climate and its variations. The fact that the data from volunteers are frequently used and applied by scientists and decision makers is one of the key factors in retaining long-term volunteers. Examples will be presented of volunteer precipitation data being used both independently and in combination with data from federal monitoring systems. Challenges of maintaining a large volunteer network will be discussed along with some plans and opportunities for the future.

Choice of 17O Abundance Correction Affects Δ47 and Thus Calibrations for Paleothermometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelson, J.; Schauer, A. J.; Huntington, K. W.; Saenger, C.; Lechler, A. R.

2016-12-01

The clumped isotope composition of CO2 derived from carbonate (Δ47) varies with temperature, making it a valuable geothermometer with broad applications. However, its accuracy is limited by inter-laboratory discrepancies of carbonate reference materials and disagreement among Δ47-temperature calibrations. Here we use a suite of CO2-H2O equilibrations at known temperatures with a wide range in 13C and 18O compositions to show how the correction for the abundance of 17O impacts Δ47 and potentially explains these discrepancies. When a traditional value of 0.5164 is used for the fractionation between 17O and 18O (λ), corrected Δ47 in 23 °C CO2-H2O equilibrations exhibits a dependence on 13C composition that is equivalent to 20 ºC (Δ47 range of 0.06 ‰). In contrast, these discrepancies are effectively removed when λ=0.528, as in global meteoric waters. Furthermore, carbonate standards with identical formation temperatures have significantly different Δ47 when corrected using λ=0.5164, but agree within error when λ=0.528. The choice of λ affects the accuracy of all sample Δ47 values, unless the sample CO2, mass spectrometer reference gas, and equilibrated gases share the same 13C composition. The sensitivity of Δ47 to the choice of λ, and the apparent dependence on 13C when 0.5164 is used, are relevant to the abiogenic experiments used in Δ47-temperature calibrations given that precipitation methods involving CO2 bubbling produce carbonates depleted in 13C by tens of permil relative to methods that mix salts. We evaluate the influence of 17O correction on Δ47-temperature calibrations using a suite of 58 abiogenic carbonates precipitated at 4-85 ºC using CO2 bubbling and the mixing of salts. Aliquots of precipitated carbonates were digested at 25 and 90ºC, but all other preparatory and analytical variables were held constant. When corrected using λ=0.5164, various precipitation methods yield sub-parallel Δ47-temperature relationships with slopes of 0.034-0.044 (x 106/T2), but offset intercepts. Conversely, Δ47-temperature relationships overlap within error when λ=0.528. This suggests that the method used to correct for 17O abundance likely contributes to observed calibration discrepancies and that adopting λ=0.528 may reduce the uncertainty in Δ47 temperature reconstructions.

Impacts of precipitation and potential evapotranspiration patterns on downscaling soil moisture in regions with large topographic relief

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cowley, Garret S.; Niemann, Jeffrey D.; Green, Timothy R.; Seyfried, Mark S.; Jones, Andrew S.; Grazaitis, Peter J.

2017-02-01

Soil moisture can be estimated at coarse resolutions (>1 km) using satellite remote sensing, but that resolution is poorly suited for many applications. The Equilibrium Moisture from Topography, Vegetation, and Soil (EMT+VS) model downscales coarse-resolution soil moisture using fine-resolution topographic, vegetation, and soil data to produce fine-resolution (10-30 m) estimates of soil moisture. The EMT+VS model performs well at catchments with low topographic relief (≤124 m), but it has not been applied to regions with larger ranges of elevation. Large relief can produce substantial variations in precipitation and potential evapotranspiration (PET), which might affect the fine-resolution patterns of soil moisture. In this research, simple methods to downscale temporal average precipitation and PET are developed and included in the EMT+VS model, and the effects of spatial variations in these variables on the surface soil moisture estimates are investigated. The methods are tested against ground truth data at the 239 km2 Reynolds Creek watershed in southern Idaho, which has 1145 m of relief. The precipitation and PET downscaling methods are able to capture the main features in the spatial patterns of both variables. The space-time Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients of efficiency of the fine-resolution soil moisture estimates improve from 0.33 to 0.36 and 0.41 when the precipitation and PET downscaling methods are included, respectively. PET downscaling provides a larger improvement in the soil moisture estimates than precipitation downscaling likely because the PET pattern is more persistent through time, and thus more predictable, than the precipitation pattern.

Discontinuous Precipitation Reactions in Co-10Al-4C (At. Pct)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamali, H.; Hossein Nedjad, S.; Kaufman, M. J.; Field, R. D.; Clarke, A. J.

2018-05-01

The evolution of microstructure and microhardness of a Co-10Al-4C (at. pct) alloy during isothermal aging at 800 and 900 °C is reported. Fine κ-Co3AlC0.5 intermetallic precipitates form in an FCC α-Co matrix after aging at both temperatures. Lamellar discontinuous precipitation also occurred at grain boundaries and the lamellar transformation product consumed the fine κ-Co3AlC0.5 precipitates in the matrix during aging. The microhardness of the alloy decreased dramatically upon formation of the lamellar product. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the lamellar product consists of α-Co, κ-Co3AlC0.5, and B2-CoAl phases at 800 °C. The orientation relationship between α-Co and κ-Co3AlC0.5 phases, and between α-Co and B2-CoAl phases were identified as cube-on-cube and Kurdjumov-Sachs, respectively. The discontinuous product at 900 °C was composed of alternating α-Co and κ-Co3AlC0.5 lamellae, without the B2-CoAl phase that formed at 800 °C. Additional continuous coarsening of κ-Co3AlC0.5 phase was observed in the lamellar aggregate during prolonged aging at 900 °C. The main driving force for the discontinuous reaction appears to be the reduction in both interfacial energy and elastic strain energy where the latter is attributed to the relatively high lattice mismatch between the κ-Co3AlC0.5 precipitates and the α-Co matrix.

Extraction of Ni (II) from Spent Hydrodesulfurization HDS Catalyst Through Leaching and Electroless Precipitation of Ni(OH)2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradhan, Sangita R.; Dash, Barsha; Sanjay, Kali; Subbaiah, T.

2013-04-01

The extraction of nickel (II) from a spent hydro-desulfurization catalyst containing 11.6 pct Ni was carried out through sulfuric acid leaching. Variations of parameters such as the concentration of acid, temperature, and time, were studied and optimized. Nickel hydroxide was precipitated from the leach liquor via neutralization with 1 M sodium hydroxide up to pH 12 in three different methods: normal neutralization precipitation, and then neutralization precipitation followed by aging at 353 K (80 °C) for 4 hours and neutralization of the leach liquor with 10 pct (v/v) of 0.1 N sodium lauryl sulfate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) microanalysis shows a difference in crystallinity with the method of precipitation. The nickel hydroxide contains Cu(II), Co(II), Zn(II), and Mn(II) as trace impurities. The discharge capacities of the precipitated nickel hydroxides were 120 mAhg-1, 140.72 mAhg-1, and 145.2 mAhg-1 for aged sample, sample without surfactant, and with surfactant respectively.

Simultaneous separation of copper, cadmium and cobalt from sea-water by co-flotation with octadecylamine and ferric hydroxide as collectors.

PubMed

Cabezon, L M; Caballero, M; Cela, R; Perez-Bustamante, J A

1984-08-01

A method is proposed for the simultaneous quantitative separation of traces ofCu(II), Cd(II) and Co(II) from sea-water samples by means of the co-flotation (adsorbing colloid flotation) technique with ferric hydroxide as co-precipitant and octadecylamine as collector. The experimental parameters have been studied and optimized. The drawbacks arising from the low solubility of octadecylamine and the corresponding sublates in water have been avoided by use of a 6M hydrochloric acid-MIBK-ethanol (1:2:2 v v ) mixture. The results obtained by means of the proposed method have been compared with those given by the usual ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate/MIBK extraction method.

A satellite simulator for TRMM PR applied to climate model simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spangehl, T.; Schroeder, M.; Bodas-Salcedo, A.; Hollmann, R.; Riley Dellaripa, E. M.; Schumacher, C.

2017-12-01

Climate model simulations have to be compared against observation based datasets in order to assess their skill in representing precipitation characteristics. Here we use a satellite simulator for TRMM PR in order to evaluate simulations performed with MPI-ESM (Earth system model of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, Germany) performed within the MiKlip project (https://www.fona-miklip.de/, funded by Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany). While classical evaluation methods focus on geophysical parameters such as precipitation amounts, the application of the satellite simulator enables an evaluation in the instrument's parameter space thereby reducing uncertainties on the reference side. The CFMIP Observation Simulator Package (COSP) provides a framework for the application of satellite simulators to climate model simulations. The approach requires the introduction of sub-grid cloud and precipitation variability. Radar reflectivities are obtained by applying Mie theory, with the microphysical assumptions being chosen to match the atmosphere component of MPI-ESM (ECHAM6). The results are found to be sensitive to the methods used to distribute the convective precipitation over the sub-grid boxes. Simple parameterization methods are used to introduce sub-grid variability of convective clouds and precipitation. In order to constrain uncertainties a comprehensive comparison with sub-grid scale convective precipitation variability which is deduced from TRMM PR observations is carried out.

Morphology and Kinetics of Growth of CaCO3 Precipitates Formed in Saline Water at 30°C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sui, Xin; Wang, Baohui; Wu, Haiming

2018-02-01

The crystallization kinetics and morphology of CaCO3 crystals precipitated from the high salinity oilfield water were studied. The crystallization kinetics measurements show that nucleation and nuclei growth obey the first order reaction kinetics. The induction period of precipitation is extended in the high salinity solutions. Morphological studies show that impurity ions remain mostly in the solution phase instead of filling the CaCO3 crystal lattice. The morphology of CaCO3 precipitates can be changed from a smooth surface (calcite) to rough spheres (vaterite), and spindle rod bundles, or spherical, ellipsoid, flowers, plates and other shapes (aragonite).

Synthesis of [Zn-Al-CO 3] layered double hydroxides by a coprecipitation method under steady-state conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Z.; Evans, D. G.; Duan, X.; Vial, C.; Ghanbaja, J.; Prevot, V.; de Roy, M.; Forano, C.

2005-09-01

A continuous co-precipitation method under steady-state conditions has been investigated for the preparation of nanometer-size layered double hydroxide (LDH) particles using Zn 2Al(OH) 6(CO 3) 0.5·2H 2O as a prototype. The objective was to shorten the preparation time by working without an aging step, using a short and controlled residence time in order to maintain a constant supersaturation level in the reactor and constant particle properties in the exit stream over time. The effects of varying the operating conditions on the structural and textural properties of the LDHs have been studied, including total cation concentration, solvent, residence time, pH and intercalation anion. The products have been characterized using ICP, XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM and TEM. The LDHs prepared by the continuous coprecipitation method have a poorer crystallinity and lower crystallite sizes than those synthesized by the conventional batch method. The results have shown that increasing either cation concentration or the fraction of monoethylene glycol (MEG) in MEG/H 2O mixtures up to 80% (v/v) affect salt solubility and supersaturation, which gives rise to smaller crystallites, larger surface areas and more amorphous compounds. This increase is however limited by the precipitation of zinc and aluminum hydroxides occurring around a total cation concentration of 3.0×10 -1 M in pure water and 3.0×10 -2 M in H 2O/EtOH mixtures. Crystallite size increases with residence time, suggesting a precipitation process controlled by growth. Finally, the continuous coprecipitation method under steady-state conditions has been shown to be a promising alternative to the traditional coprecipitation technique in either pure water or mixed H 2O/MEG solvents.

Antibodies against toluene diisocyanate protein conjugates. Three methods of measurement.

PubMed

Patterson, R; Harris, K E; Zeiss, C R

1983-12-01

With the use of canine antisera against toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-dog serum albumin (DSA), techniques for measuring antibody against TDI-DSA were evaluated. The use of an ammonium sulfate precipitation assay showed suggestive evidence of antibody binding but high levels of TDI-DSA precipitation in the absence of antibody limit any usefulness of this technique. Double-antibody co-precipitation techniques will measure total antibody or Ig class antibody against 125I-TDI-DSA. These techniques are quantitative. The polystyrene tube radioimmunoassay is a highly sensitive method of detecting and quantitatively estimating IgG antibody. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay is a rapidly adaptable method for the quantitative estimation of IgG, IgA, and IgM against TDI-homologous proteins. All these techniques were compared and results are demonstrated by using the same serum sample for analysis.

Strengthening and Improving Yield Asymmetry of Magnesium Alloys by Second Phase Particle Refinement Under the Guidance of Integrated Computational Materials Engineering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Dongsheng; Lavender, Curt

2015-05-08

Improving yield strength and asymmetry is critical to expand applications of magnesium alloys in industry for higher fuel efficiency and lower CO 2 production. Grain refinement is an efficient method for strengthening low symmetry magnesium alloys, achievable by precipitate refinement. This study provides guidance on how precipitate engineering will improve mechanical properties through grain refinement. Precipitate refinement for improving yield strengths and asymmetry is simulated quantitatively by coupling a stochastic second phase grain refinement model and a modified polycrystalline crystal viscoplasticity φ-model. Using the stochastic second phase grain refinement model, grain size is quantitatively determined from the precipitate size andmore » volume fraction. Yield strengths, yield asymmetry, and deformation behavior are calculated from the modified φ-model. If the precipitate shape and size remain constant, grain size decreases with increasing precipitate volume fraction. If the precipitate volume fraction is kept constant, grain size decreases with decreasing precipitate size during precipitate refinement. Yield strengths increase and asymmetry approves to one with decreasing grain size, contributed by increasing precipitate volume fraction or decreasing precipitate size.« less

Sintering of BaCe(sub 0.85)Y(sub 0.15)O(sub 3-delta) with/without SrTiO3 Dopant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dynys, F.; Sayir, A.; Heimann, P. J.

2004-01-01

The perovskite composition, BaCe(sub 0.85)Y(sub 0.15)O(sub 3-delta), displays excellent protonic conduction at high temperatures making it a desirable candidate for hydrogen separation membranes. This paper reports on the sintering behavior of BaCe(sub 0.85)Y(sub 0.15)O(sub 3-delta) powders doped with SrTiO3. Two methods were used to synthesize BaCe(sub 0.85)Y(sub 0.15)O(sub 3-delta) powders: (1) solid state reaction and (2) wet chemical co-precipitation. Co-precipitated powder crystallized into the perovskite phase at 1000 C for 4 hrs. Complete reaction and crystallization of the perovskite phase by solid state was achieved by calcining at 1200 C for 24 hrs. Solid state synthesis produced a coarser powder with an average particle size of 1.3 microns and surface area of 0.74 sq m/g. Co-precipitation produced a finer powder with a average particle size of 65 nm and surface area of 14.9 sq m/g. Powders were doped with 1, 2, 5, and 10 mole % SrTiO3. Samples were sintered at 1450 C, 1550 C and 1650 C. SrTiO3 enhances sintering, optimal dopant level is different for powders synthesized by solid state and co-precipitation. Both powders exhibit similar grain growth behavior. Dopant levels of 5 and 10 mole % SrTiO3 significantly enhances the grain size.

Synthesis of cerium oxide (CeO 2) by co-precipitation for application as a reference material for X-ray powder diffraction peak widths

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

de Lima Batista, Anderson Márcio; Miranda, Marcus Aurélio Ribeiro; Martins, Fátima Itana Chaves Custódio

Several methods can be used to obtain, from powder diffraction patterns, crystallite size and lattice strain of polycrystalline samples. Some examples are the Scherrer equation, Williamson–Hall plots, Warren/Averbach Fourier decomposition, Whole Powder Pattern Modeling, and Debye function analysis. To apply some of these methods, it is necessary to remove the contribution of the instrument to the widths of the diffraction peaks. Nowadays, one of the main samples used for this purpose is the LaB6 SRM660b commercialized by the National Institute of Standard Technology; the width of the diffraction peak of this sample is caused only by the instrumental apparatus. However,more » this sample can be expensive for researchers in developing countries. In this work, the authors present a simple route to obtain micron-sized polycrystalline CeO 2that have a full width at half maximum comparable with the SRM660b and therefore it can be used to remove instrumental broadening.« less

Sensitive indicators of Stipa bungeana response to precipitation under ambient and elevated CO2 concentration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Yaohui; Zhou, Guangsheng; Jiang, Yanling; Wang, Hui; Xu, Zhenzhu

2018-02-01

Precipitation is a primary environmental factor in the semiarid grasslands of northern China. With increased concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases, precipitation regimes will change, and high-impact weather events may be more common. Currently, many ecophysiological indicators are known to reflect drought conditions, but these indicators vary greatly among species, and few studies focus on the applicability of these drought indicators under high CO2 conditions. In this study, five precipitation levels (- 30%, - 15%, control, + 15%, and + 30%) were used to simulate the effects of precipitation change on 18 ecophysiological characteristics in Stipa bungeana, including leaf area, plant height, leaf nitrogen (N), and chlorophyll content, among others. Two levels of CO2 concentration (ambient, 390 ppm; 550 ppm) were used to simulate the effects of elevated CO2 on these drought indicators. Using gray relational analysis and phenotypic plasticity analysis, we found that total leaf area or leaf number (morphology), leaf water potential or leaf water content (physiology), and aboveground biomass better reflected the water status of S. bungeana under ambient and elevated CO2 than the 13 other analyzed variables. The sensitivity of drought indicators changed under the elevated CO2 condition. By quantifying the relationship between precipitation and the five most sensitive indicators, we found that the thresholds of precipitation decreased under elevated CO2 concentration. These results will be useful for objective monitoring and assessment of the occurrence and development of drought events in S. bungeana grasslands.

Upgrades to the REA method for producing probabilistic climate change projections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Ying; Gao, Xuejie; Giorgi, Filippo

2010-05-01

We present an augmented version of the Reliability Ensemble Averaging (REA) method designed to generate probabilistic climate change information from ensembles of climate model simulations. Compared to the original version, the augmented one includes consideration of multiple variables and statistics in the calculation of the performance-based weights. In addition, the model convergence criterion previously employed is removed. The method is applied to the calculation of changes in mean and variability for temperature and precipitation over different sub-regions of East Asia based on the recently completed CMIP3 multi-model ensemble. Comparison of the new and old REA methods, along with the simple averaging procedure, and the use of different combinations of performance metrics shows that at fine sub-regional scales the choice of weighting is relevant. This is mostly because the models show a substantial spread in performance for the simulation of precipitation statistics, a result that supports the use of model weighting as a useful option to account for wide ranges of quality of models. The REA method, and in particular the upgraded one, provides a simple and flexible framework for assessing the uncertainty related to the aggregation of results from ensembles of models in order to produce climate change information at the regional scale. KEY WORDS: REA method, Climate change, CMIP3

Effect of synthesizing method on the properties of LiFePO4/C composite for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Man-Soon; Islam, Mobinul; Park, Young Min; Ur, Soon-Chul

2013-03-01

Olivine-type LiFePO4/C cathode materials are fabricated with FePO4 powders that are pre-synthesized by two different processes from iron chloride solution. Process I is a modified precipitation method which is implemented by the pH control of a solution using NH4OH to form FePO4 precipitates at room temperature. Process II is a conventional precipitation method, of which H3PO4 (85%) solution is gradually added to a FeCl3 solution during the process to maintain a designated mole ratio. The solution is subsequently aged at 90°C in a water bath until FePO4 precipitates appear. In order to synthesize LiFePO4/C composites, each batch of FePO4 powders is then mixed with pre-milled lithium carbonate and glucose (8 wt. %) as a carbon source in a ball-mill. The structural characteristics of both LiFePO4/C composites fabricated using iron phospates from two different routes have been examined employing XRD and SEM. The modified precipitation process is considered to be a relatively simple and effective process for the preparation of LiFePO4/C composites owing to their excellent electrochemical properties and rate capabilities.

In situ treatment of arsenic contaminated groundwater by aquifer iron coating: Experimental study.

PubMed

Xie, Xianjun; Wang, Yanxin; Pi, Kunfu; Liu, Chongxuan; Li, Junxia; Liu, Yaqing; Wang, Zhiqiang; Duan, Mengyu

2015-09-15

In situ arsenic removal from groundwater by an aquifer iron coating method has great potential to be a cost effective and simple groundwater remediation technology, especially in rural and remote areas where groundwater is used as the main water source for drinking. The in situ arsenic removal technology was first optimized by simulating arsenic removal in various quartz sand columns under anoxic conditions. The effectiveness was then evaluated in an actual high-arsenic groundwater environment. The arsenic removal mechanism by the coated iron oxide/hydroxide was investigated under different conditions using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/X-ray absorption spectroscopy, electron probe microanalysis, and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. Aquifer iron coating method was developed via a 4-step alternating injection of oxidant, iron salt and oxygen-free water. A continuous injection of 5.0 mmol/L FeSO4 and 2.5 mmol/L NaClO for 96 h can form a uniform goethite coating on the surface of quartz sand without causing clogging. At a flow rate of 7.2 mL/min of the injection reagents, arsenic (as Na2HAsO4) and tracer fluorescein sodium to pass through the iron-coated quartz sand column were approximately at 126 and 7 column pore volumes, respectively. The retardation factor of arsenic was 23.0, and the adsorption capacity was 0.11 mol As per mol Fe. In situ arsenic removal from groundwater in an aquifer was achieved by simultaneous injections of As(V) and Fe(II) reagents. Arsenic fixation resulted from a process of adsorption/co-precipitation with fine goethite particles by way of bidentate binuclear complexes. Therefore, the study results indicate that the high arsenic removal efficiency of the in situ aquifer iron coating technology likely resulted from the expanded specific surface area of the small goethite particles, which enhanced arsenic sorption capability and/or from co-precipitation of arsenic on the surface of goethite particles. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of Co2+ on electrical and optical behavior of Mn2+-doped ZnS quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakthivel, P.; Muthukumaran, S.

2018-07-01

Co2+-doped Zn0.98Mn0.02S quantum dots with various concentrations of Co2+ from 0% to 4% have been successfully synthesized by a simple co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirmed the acquirement of cubic structure and phase purity in all the samples. The average crystallite size of the particles was ∼3 nm observed from XRD result. Surface morphology of the samples was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). TEM study was also taken to know the structural parameters of the samples. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra proved the presence of Co2+ and Mn2+ in ZnS host lattice. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the elemental composition with their normal stoichiometric ratio. In the dielectric study, dielectric dispersion and dielectric loss were increased with Co2+ composition due to the increase of carrier concentration. From the AC conductivity measurement, the maximum conductivity was observed for Co2+ = 2% due to their higher charge carrier density and it was decreased for Co2+ = 4% due to the scattering of charge carriers. Because of the low dielectric constant at higher frequency, these materials can be used for high-frequency applications. The variation of peak intensity and wavelength shifting in UV-vis absorption and transmittance were discussed on the basis of formation of secondary phase and variation of charge carrier density. The continuous red shift of energy gap by Co2+-doping is attributed to the direct energy transfer between excited states and 3d levels of Co2+ ions. Photoluminescence spectra showed the strong and broad blue emission bands between 468 nm and 483 nm. Since higher transmittance was observed for Co2+ = 2% addition, this material can be selected for optimum applications of optoelectronic devices.

PDF added value of a high resolution climate simulation for precipitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soares, Pedro M. M.; Cardoso, Rita M.

2015-04-01

General Circulation Models (GCMs) are models suitable to study the global atmospheric system, its evolution and response to changes in external forcing, namely to increasing emissions of CO2. However, the resolution of GCMs, of the order of 1o, is not sufficient to reproduce finer scale features of the atmospheric flow related to complex topography, coastal processes and boundary layer processes, and higher resolution models are needed to describe observed weather and climate. The latter are known as Regional Climate Models (RCMs) and are widely used to downscale GCMs results for many regions of the globe and are able to capture physically consistent regional and local circulations. Most of the RCMs evaluations rely on the comparison of its results with observations, either from weather stations networks or regular gridded datasets, revealing the ability of RCMs to describe local climatic properties, and assuming most of the times its higher performance in comparison with the forcing GCMs. The additional climatic details given by RCMs when compared with the results of the driving models is usually named as added value, and it's evaluation is still scarce and controversial in the literuature. Recently, some studies have proposed different methodologies to different applications and processes to characterize the added value of specific RCMs. A number of examples reveal that some RCMs do add value to GCMs in some properties or regions, and also the opposite, elighnening that RCMs may add value to GCM resuls, but improvements depend basically on the type of application, model setup, atmospheric property and location. The precipitation can be characterized by histograms of daily precipitation, or also known as probability density functions (PDFs). There are different strategies to evaluate the quality of both GCMs and RCMs in describing the precipitation PDFs when compared to observations. Here, we present a new method to measure the PDF added value obtained from dynamical downscaling, based on simple PDF skill scores. The measure can assess the full quality of the PDFs and at the same time integrates a flexible manner to weight differently the PDF tails. In this study we apply the referred method to characaterize the PDF added value of a high resolution simulation with the WRF model. Results from a WRF climate simulation centred at the Iberian Penisnula with two nested grids, a larger one at 27km and a smaller one at 9km. This simulation is forced by ERA-Interim. The observational data used covers from rain gauges precipitation records to observational regular grids of daily precipitation. Two regular gridded precipitation datasets are used. A Portuguese grid precipitation dataset developed at 0.2°× 0.2°, from observed rain gauges daily precipitation. A second one corresponding to the ENSEMBLES observational gridded dataset for Europe, which includes daily precipitation values at 0.25°. The analisys shows an important PDF added value from the higher resolution simulation, regarding the full PDF and the extremes. This method shows higher potential to be applied to other simulation exercises and to evaluate other variables.

Method to produce biomass-derived compounds using a co-solvent system containing gamma-valerolactone

DOEpatents

Dumesic, James A.; Motagamwala, Ali Hussain

2017-06-27

A method to produce an aqueous solution of carbohydrates containing C5- and/or C6-sugar-containing oligomers and/or C5- and/or C6-sugar monomers in which biomass or a biomass-derived reactant is reacted with a solvent system having an organic solvent, and organic co-solvent, and water, in the presence of an acid. The method produces the desired product, while a substantial portion of any lignin present in the reactant appears as a precipitate in the product mixture.

Climate impacts on agriculture: Implications for forage and rangeland production

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Izaurralde, Roberto C.; Thomson, Allison M.; Morgan, Jack

2011-04-19

Projections of temperature and precipitation patterns across the United States during the next 50 years anticipate a 1.5 to 2°C warming and a slight increase in precipitation as a result of global climate change. There have been relatively few studies of climate change impacts on pasture and rangeland (grazingland) species compared to those on crop species, despite the economic and ecological importance of the former. Here we review the literature on pastureland and rangeland species to rising CO2 and climate change (temperature, and precipitation) and discuss plant and management factors likely to influence pastureland and rangeland responses to change (e.g.,more » community composition, plant competition, perennial growth habit, seasonal productivity, and management methods). Overall, the response of pasture species to increased [CO2] is consistent with the general response of C3 and C4 type vegetation, although significant exceptions exist. Both pastureland and rangeland species should exhibit an acceleration of metabolism and development due to earlier onset of spring green-up and longer growing seasons. However, in the studies reviewed here, C3 pasture species increased their photosynthetic rates by up to 40% while C4 species exhibited no increase in photosynthesis. In general, it is expected that increases in [CO2] and precipitation would enhance rangeland net primary production (NPP) while increased air temperatures would either increase or decrease NPP. Much of this uncertainty in response is due to uncertain future projections of precipitation, both globally and regionally. For example, if annual precipitation changes little or declines, rangeland plant response to warming temperatures and rising [CO2] may be neutral or may decline due to increased water stress. This review reveals the need for comprehensive studies of climate change impacts on the pasture ecosystem including grazing regimes, mutualistic relationships (e.g., plant roots-nematodes; N-fixing organisms), as well as the ecosystem carbon balance, essential nutrients, and water.« less

Solubility and precipitation of nicotinic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide.

PubMed

Rehman, M; Shekunov, B Y; York, P; Colthorpe, P

2001-10-01

Solubilities of a model compound (nicotinic acid) in pure supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) and SC-CO(2) modified with methanol have been measured in the pressure range of 80-200 bar and between temperatures of 35 and 90 degrees C. On-line ultraviolet detection enabled a simple and relatively fast measurement of very low levels of solubility (10(-7) mol fraction) with good accuracy in pure and modified SC-CO(2). The solute solubility in both pure SC-CO(2) and SC-CO(2) modified with methanol increased with pressure at all investigated temperatures. A retrograde solubility behavior was observed in that, at pressures below 120 bar, a solubility decrease on temperature increase occurred. Solubility data were used to calculate supersaturation values and to define optimum operating conditions to obtain crystalline particles 1-5 microm in diameter using the solution-enhanced dispersion by supercritical fluids (SEDS) process, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of a one-step production process for particulate pharmaceuticals suitable for respiratory drug delivery. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:1570-1582, 2001

N, S co-doped-TiO2/fly ash beads composite material and visible light photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Jun; Sheng, Tong; Su, Lili; Xu, Guangqing; Wang, Dongmei; Zheng, Zhixiang; Wu, Yucheng

2013-11-01

Using TiCl4 as the titanium source, urea as the precipitating agent, nano-TiO2/fly ash beads composite materials were prepared by hydrolysis-precipitation method. Using (NH2)2CO and (NH2)2SC as the N and S source respectively, N and S co-doped TiO2/fly ash beads composite materials were prepared by grinding them together according to a certain proportion and calcined at 500 °C for 2 h. The composite materials were characterized by SEM, EDS, XPS, and UV-vis spectrophotometer methods. The UV-vis absorption spectra results show that the absorption edge of un-doped composites is 390 nm while that of doped composites red-shifts to 500 nm. The photocatalytic activity of composite materials was evaluated by degradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation (halogen lamp, 250 W). The results showed that after irradiation for 1 h, degradation rate of N, S co-doped-TiO2/fly ash beads composite material can reach 65%, while the degradation rate of un-doped sample and P25 were just 10% and 6%, respectively. The composite material also showed excellent recycling properties.

Carbon isotope signature of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in precipitation and atmospheric CO2.

PubMed

Górka, Maciej; Sauer, Peter E; Lewicka-Szczebak, Dominika; Jędrysek, Mariusz-Orion

2011-01-01

This paper describes results of chemical and isotopic analysis of inorganic carbon species in the atmosphere and precipitation for the calendar year 2008 in Wrocław (SW Poland). Atmospheric air samples (collected weekly) and rainwater samples (collected after rain episodes) were analysed for CO2 and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations and for δ13C composition. The values obtained varied in the ranges: atmospheric CO2: 337-448 ppm; δ13CCO2 from -14.4 to -8.4‰; DIC in precipitation: 0.6-5.5 mg dm(-3); δ13CDIC from -22.2 to +0.2‰. No statistical correlation was observed between the concentration and δ13C value of atmospheric CO2 and DIC in precipitation. These observations contradict the commonly held assumption that atmospheric CO2 controls the DIC in precipitation. We infer that DIC is generated in ambient air temperatures, but from other sources than the measured atmospheric CO2. The calculated isotopic composition of a hypothetical CO2 source for DIC forming ranges from -31.4 to -11.0‰, showing significant seasonal variations accordingly to changing anthropogenic impact and atmospheric mixing processes. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Design of Novel Precipitate-Strengthened Al-Co-Cr-Fe-Nb-Ni High-Entropy Superalloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antonov, Stoichko; Detrois, Martin; Tin, Sammy

2018-01-01

A series of non-equiatomic Al-Co-Cr-Fe-Nb-Ni high-entropy alloys, with varying levels of Co, Nb and Fe, were investigated in an effort to obtain microstructures similar to conventional Ni-based superalloys. Elevated levels of Co were observed to significantly decrease the solvus temperature of the γ' precipitates. Both Nb and Co in excessive concentrations promoted the formation of Laves and NiAl phases that formed either during solidification and remained undissolved during homogenization or upon high-temperature aging. Lowering the content of Nb, Co, or Fe prevented the formation of the eutectic type Laves. In addition, lowering the Co content resulted in a higher number density and volume fraction of the γ' precipitates, while increasing the Fe content led to the destabilization of the γ' precipitates. Various aging treatments were performed which led to different size distributions of the strengthening phase. Results from the microstructural characterization and hardness property assessments of these high-entropy alloys were compared to a commercial, high-strength Ni-based superalloy RR1000. Potentially, precipitation-strengthened high-entropy alloys could find applications replacing Ni-based superalloys as structural materials in power generation applications.

Influence of gamma-irradiation on the non-isothermal decomposition of calcium-gadolinium oxalate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moharana, S. C.; Praharaj, J.; Bhatta, D.

Thermal decomposition of co-precipitated unirradiated and irradiated Ca-Gd oxalate has been studied by adopting differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric (TG) techniques. The reaction occurs through two stages corresponding to the decomposition of gadolinium oxalate (Gd-Ox) followed by that of calcium oxalate (Ca-Ox). The kinetic parameters for both the stages are calculated by using solid state reaction models and Coats-Redfern's equation. The co-precipitation as well as irradiation alter the DTA peak temperatures and the kinetic parameters of Ca-Ox. The decomposition of Gd-Ox follows the two dimensional Contracting area (R-2) mechanism, while that of Ca-Ox follows the Avrami-Erofeev (A(2)) mechanism (n =2), which are also exhibited by the co-precipitated and irradiated samples. Co-precipitation decreases the energy of activation and the pre-exponential factor of the individual components but the reverse phenomenon takes place upon irradiation of the co-precipitate. The mechanisms underlying the phenomena are explored.

Preparation of Fe3O4/Bentonite Nanocomposite from Natural Iron Sand by Co-precipitation Method for Adsorbents Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sebayang, Perdamean; Kurniawan, Candra; Aryanto, Didik; Arief Setiadi, Eko; Tamba, Konni; Djuhana; Sudiro, Toto

2018-03-01

An adsorption method is one of the effective ways to filter the heavy metals wastes in aqueous system. In this paper, the Fe3O4/bentonite nanocomposites were successfully prepared from natural iron sand by co-precipitation method. The chemical process was carried out by dissolving and hot stirring the milled iron sand and bentonite in acid solution and precipitating it by NH4OH. The sediment was then washed using distilled water to neutralize pH and dried at 100 °C for 5 hours to produce Fe3O4/bentonite powders. The samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, BET, TEM, VSM and AAS. All samples were composed by Fe3O4 single phase with a spinnel structure and lattice parameter of 8.373 Å. The transmittance peak of FTIR curve proved that the Fe3O4 particles and bentonite had a molecular bonding. The addition of bentonite to Fe3O4 nanoparticles generally reduced the magnetic properties of Fe3O4/bentonite nanocomposites. The optimum condition of 30 wt% bentonite resulted 105.9 m2/g in surface area, 14 nm in an average particle size and 3.2 nm in pore size. It can be used as Cu and Pb adsorbent materials.

Synthesis and characterization of CaCO3 (calcite) nano particles from cockle shells (Anadara granosa Linn) by precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Widyastuti, Sri; Intan Ayu Kusuma, P.

2017-06-01

Calcium supplements can reduce the risk of osteoporosis, but they are not automatically absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Nanotechnology is presumed to have a capacity in resolving this problem. The preparation and characterization of calcium carbonate nano particle to improve the solubility was performed. Calcium carbonate nano particles were synthesized using precipitation method from cockle shells (Anadara granosa Linn). Samples of the cockle shells were dried in an oven at temperature of 50°C for 7 (seven) days and subsequently they were crushed and blended into fine powder that was sieved through 125-μm sieve. The synthesis of calcium carbonate nanocrystals was done by extracting using hydro chloride acid and various concentrations of sodium hydroxide were used to precipitate the calcium carbonate nano particles. The size of the nano particles was determined by SEM, XRD data, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results of XRD indicated that the overall crystalline structure and phase purity of the typical calcite phase CaCO3 particles were approximately 300 nm in size. The method to find potential applications in industry to yield the large scale synthesis of aragonite nano particles by a low cost but abundant natural resource such as cockle shells is required.

Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation: a Novel Grout for Permeability Control in Subsurface Engineering Works

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minto, J. M.; Hingerl, F.; Lunn, R. J.; Benson, S. M.

2016-12-01

ContextWe utilise the urea hydrolysing capability of soil bacteria Sporosarcina pasteurii to precipitate CaCO3 in a process termed Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP). MICP injection fluid properties are low particle size and low viscosity giving excellent grout penetrability. The CaCO3 grout has been shown to be effective at reducing permeability in porous and fractured media. MICP has consequently been proposed as an alternative to more traditional cement and chemical grouts, particularly in the fields of radioactive waste disposal and geological sequestration of CO2. This study investigates the role of fluid flow/CaCO3 feedback during precipitation and accelerated dissolution to better understand the longevity of an MICP grout under low pH environmental conditions such as found in a carbon sequestration reservoir. MethodsExperiments were conducted on a single Berea sandstone core in a high pressure core holder to characterise permeability, porosity and multiphase flow behaviour at sequestration reservoir temperature and pressure. Characterisation was carried out before MICP, after MICP, and after accelerated dissolution with hydrochloric acid. At each step the entire core was scanned in a medical x-ray CT scanner to spatially resolve (with a resolution of 0.5x0.5x1mm) the changes in porosity and saturation with CaCO3 precipitation and dissolution. Finally, the dried core was scanned with μ-CT at 30μm (full core) and 10μm (sub-volume) resolutions to investigate structural changes to the Berea at near pore scale. ResultsSix MICP treatment cycles over two days reduced core permeability from 886 mDarcy to 40 mDarcy with a greater reduction in porosity at the inlet. Dissolution with acid restored much of the porosity, but did not restore permeability to the same extent. Preferential flow paths formed during the dissolution step were visible in the first 4mm of the 100mm core, but did not extend further into the core. DiscussionThis study provides evidence that MICP can potentially produce a long lasting seal, even in challenging subsurface environments, provided that a thick enough layer of CaCO3 can be precipitated with a low initial permeability. Challenges remain for ensuring that such a barrier can be created in the subsurface and are the subject of further investigation.

Semimicrodetermination of tantalum with selenous acid

USGS Publications Warehouse

Grimaldi, F.S.; Schnepfe, M.M.

1958-01-01

Tantalum is separated and determined gravimetrically by precipitation with selenous acid from a highly acidic solution containing oxalic and tartaric acids. The method is selective for the determination of up to 30 mg. of tantalum pentoxide, and tolerates relatively large amounts of scandium, yttrium, cerium, titanium, zirconium, thorium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, uranium, iron, aluminum, gallium, tin, lead, antimony, and bismuth. The separation of tantalum from niobium and titanium is not strictly quantitative, and correction is made colorimetrically for the small amounts of niobium and titanium co-precipitating with the tantalum. The method was applied to the determination of tantalum in tantaloniobate ores.

Photocatalytic properties of BiVO{sub 4} prepared by the co-precipitation method: Degradation of rhodamine B and possible reaction mechanisms under visible irradiation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martinez-de la Cruz, A., E-mail: azael70@yahoo.com.mx; Perez, U.M. Garcia

2010-02-15

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO{sub 4}) was synthesized by the co-precipitation method at 200 {sup o}C. The photocatalytic activity of the oxide was tested for the photodegradation of rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The analysis of the total organic carbon showed that the mineralization of rhodamine B over a BiVO{sub 4} photocatalyst ({approx}40% after 100 h of irradiation) is feasible. In the same way, a gas chromatography analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy revealed the existence of organic intermediates during the photodegradation process such as ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene, and phthalic anhydride. The modification of variables such as dispersion pH, amount of dissolvedmore » O{sub 2}, and irradiation source was studied in order to know the details about the photodegradation mechanism.« less

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Precipitation behavior of B2-ordered aluminide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Chang-Suk

2006-12-01

Fine dispersion of disordered phases is obtained in Ni-Al-Cr and Fe-Al-Co temary systems. A transmission electron microscope investigation has been performed on the precipitation of α-Cr in B2-ordered β-NiAl with different stoichiometry and α-Fe in B2-FeAl(Co) compound. Precipitation behavior and hardening were investigated by measuring the hardness variation. The hardness of NiAl and FeAl increases appreciably with the fine precipitation of α-Cr and α-Fe, and over-age softening occurs after prolonged aging. In the case of B2-NiAl(Cr), perfect lattice coherency is maintained at the interfaces between the α-Cr particles and the matrix during the initial stage of aging. After prolonged aging, a loss of coherency occurs by the attraction of matrix dislocations to the particle/matrix interface, followed by climbing around the particles. On the other hand, in the case of B2-FeAl(Co), the disordered α-Fe phase is present as a precipitate in the B2-FeAl(Co) matrix and has a cubic-cubic orientation with the matrix. At the early aging periods, prismatic dislocation loops formed in the B2-FeAl(Co) matrix. B2-FeAl(Co) matrix is typically hardened by the precipitation of α-Fe.

A New Wet Deposition Module in SILAM Chemical Transport Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kouznetsov, R.; Sofiev, M.

2013-12-01

The System for Integrated modeLling of Atmopsheric coMposition SILAM (http://silam.fmi.fi/) is a CTM model of FMI air-quality research unit. SILAM is used for research, operational and emergency-response assessments and forecasting of the atmospheric composition within the scope of European and Finnish national projects. Characteristic scales of the SILAM applications vary from -mesoscale (grid spacing 1 km) up to the globe with characteristic resolution of 1 degree. Till recently, a simple approach based on scavenging coefficients and their species-dependent scaling was used in SILAM. Due to the lack of information on the vertical structure of precipitation in older meteorological datasets, it was prescribed. The new scheme uses a mechanistic description of the scavenging process and utilizes the vertical profiles of cloud water content. A simple model for dissociation of H2SO3 accounts for saturation of SO2 scavenging. As the vertical profiles of precipitation rates are rarely available from meteorological models, they are reconstructed from the profiles of cloud water and surface precipitation fields. The rain/snow increment in a 3D model grid cell is taken as a fraction of surface precipitation intensity equal to the cell's fraction of total cloud water column. The phase of precipitation (liquid/solid) is a function of air temperature. The fall speed is derived from the size of water drops given by a function of rain/snow intensity. In-cloud scavenging is considered as an equilibrium process: . the concentrations in cloud water are assumed to be in equilibrium with ambient air. The sub-cloud scavenging is driven by the precipitation that comes from above the cell. The scavenging by a single droplet is considered as a two-way equilibration process of in-water and in-air concentrations, controlled by the hydrometeors size, cross-section and a time the droplet falls through a cell, effective solubility and amount of already dissolved pollutant. The solubility for most species is given by their effective Henry factors as functions of temperature. An exception is SO2 since the in-water amount of [S(IV)] is not a linear function of SO2 partial pressure in the air. The effective Henry factor for SO2 is then calculated from a dissociation equation after all other species in a cell are processed and their in-water concentrations are known. The new scheme results in substantially more realistic vertical patterns for scavenging. The consideration of equilibration rather than one-way scavenging allows modelling the vertical redistribution of pollutants by precipitation. The scheme provides a simple and well-grounded means to account for saturation of scavenging for SO2.

Zinc and Carbonate Co-Substituted Nano-Hydroxyapatite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Girija, E. K.; Kumar, G. Suresh; Thamizhavel, A.

2011-07-01

Synthesis of Zn or CO32- substituted nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) and its physico-chemical properties have been well documented. However, the effects of the simultaneous substitution of Zn and CO32- in nano-HA have not been reported. In the present study, Zn and CO32- substitutions in nano HA independently and concurrently have been done by wet precipitation method and characterized by XRD and FT-IR for its phase purity and chemical homogeneity. Further modulations of the bioactivity and thermal stability of HA due to the substitutions have been studied.

Precipitation of CaCO3 due to the Uptake of CO2 in Aqueous Solutions - Mechanisms and Rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dietzel, M.; Purgstaller, B.; Rinder, T.; Niedermayr, A.

2012-12-01

In natural and man-made environments the exchange of CO2 between aqueous solutions and the atmosphere frequently induces precipitation of CaCO3 polymorphs. Liberation of gaseous CO2 is well known to induce carbonate formation and extensively studied. In contrast significant gaps of knowledge exist with respect to the combined CO2 uptake and CaCO3 formation, although it is known to be highly valid for many natural and man-made surroundings causing e.g. travertine and scaling in analogy to CO2 liberation. Recently CO2 uptake is also discussed for biomineralization issues and debated for CO2 sequestration by using alkaline residue materials. In the present study CO2 uptake and CaCO3 precipitation mechanisms and rates were experimentally studied by diffusion of CO2 through a polyethylene membrane from an inner to an outer solution containing carbonic acid and CaCl2 (10 mM), respectively. The pH of the outer solution was kept constant between 8.3 and 11.5 by pH stat. technique (25°C). At a critical Ion Activity Product (IAP) CaCO3 is formed in the outer solution. The NaOH titration curve and Ca2+ concentrations reflect CO2 uptake and CaCO3 precipitation rates. To discover the impact of a drift in pH due to CO2 uptake on CaCO3 precipitation hydrogeochemical modeling was applied. XRD, (micro)Raman pattern and SEM imaging reveal the formation of calcite and vaterite at pH 8.3 and 9, whereas at pH > 10 vaterite is additionally formed. However at a given pH the formation of individual CaCO3 polymorphs strongly depends on the CO2 uptake rate (adjusted by membrane thickness), which controls carbonate accumulation in the solution. At elevated pH of the outer solution the uptake rate of CO2 is significantly higher and less time for nucleation of CaCO3 is required compared to lower pH. Surprisingly at the total experimental time of ≈ 20 h the amount of precipitated CaCO3 is similar for all experiments. This can be explained by significant higher CaCO3 precipitation rates at low versus high pH if once a critical IAP is reached. If a drift in pH is permitted the internal Pco2 value can be used as a reliable proxy to evaluate whether uptake of CO2 results in an increase or decrease of IAP with a threshold value of 10-6.15 atm at 25°C (pH ≈ 11). The obtained relationships for CaCO3 formation through CO2 uptake are discussed for selected alkaline environments.

Calcium carbonate precipitation by strain Bacillus licheniformis AK01, newly isolated from loamy soil: a promising alternative for sealing cement-based materials.

PubMed

Vahabi, Ali; Ramezanianpour, Ali Akbar; Sharafi, Hakimeh; Zahiri, Hossein Shahbani; Vali, Hojatollah; Noghabi, Kambiz Akbari

2015-01-01

The relevant experiments were designed to determine the ability of indigenous bacterial strains isolated from limestone caves, mineral springs, and loamy soils to induce calcium carbonate precipitation. Among all isolates examined in this study, an efficient carbonate-precipitating soil bacterium was selected from among the isolates and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequences as Bacillus licheniformis AK01. The ureolytic isolate was able to grow well on alkaline carbonate-precipitation medium and precipitate calcium carbonate more than 1 g L(-1). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) examinations were performed in order to confirm the presence of calcium carbonate in the precipitate and to determine which polymorphs were present. The selected isolate was determined to be an appropriate candidate for application in a surface treatment of cement-based material to improve the properties of the mortar. Biodeposition of a layer of calcite on the surface of cement specimens resulted in filling in pore spaces. This could be an alternative method to improve the durability of the mortar. The kind of bacterial culture and medium composition had a profound impact on the resultant CaCO(3) crystal morphology. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Mixing a sol and a precipitate of block copolymers with different block ratios leads to an injectable hydrogel.

PubMed

Yu, Lin; Zhang, Zheng; Zhang, Huan; Ding, Jiandong

2009-06-08

A facile method to obtain a thermoreversible physical hydrogel was found by simply mixing an aqueous sol of a block copolymer with a precipitate of a similar copolymer but with a different block ratio. Two ABA-type triblock copolymers poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid)-B-poly(ethylene glycol)-B-poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) were synthesized. One sample in water was a sol in a broad temperature region, while the other in water was just a precipitate. The mixture of these two samples with a certain mix ratio underwent, however, a sol-to-gel-to-precipitate transition upon an increase of temperature. A dramatic tuning of the sol-gel transition temperature was conveniently achieved by merely varying mix ratio, even in the case of a similar molecular weight. Our study indicates that the balance of hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity within this sort of amphiphilic copolymers is critical to the inverse thermal gelation in water resulting from aggregation of micelles. The availability of encapsulation and sustained release of lysozyme, a model protein by the thermogelling systems was confirmed. This "mix" method provides a very convenient approach to design injectable thermogelling biomaterials with a broad adjustable window, and the novel copolymer mixture platform is potentially used in drug delivery and other biomedical applications.

Solar geoengineering, atmospheric water vapor transport, and land plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caldeira, Ken; Cao, Long

2015-04-01

This work, using the GeoMIP database supplemented by additional simulations, discusses how solar geoengineering, as projected by the climate models, affects temperature and the hydrological cycle, and how this in turn is related to projected changes in net primary productivity (NPP). Solar geoengineering simulations typically exhibit reduced precipitation. Solar geoengineering reduces precipitation because solar geoengineering reduces evaporation. Evaporation precedes precipitation, and, globally, evaporation equals precipitation. CO2 tends to reduce evaporation through two main mechanisms: (1) CO2 tends to stabilize the atmosphere especially over the ocean, leading to a moister atmospheric boundary layer over the ocean. This moistening of the boundary layer suppresses evaporation. (2) CO2 tends to diminish evapotranspiration, at least in most land-surface models, because higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations allow leaves to close their stomata and avoid water loss. In most high-CO2 simulations, these effects of CO2 which tend to suppress evaporation are masked by the tendency of CO2-warming effect to increase evaporation. In a geoengineering simulation, with the warming effect of CO2 largely offset by the solar geoengineering, the evaporation suppressing characteristics of CO2 are no longer masked and are clearly exhibited. Decreased precipitation in solar geoengineering simulations is a bit like ocean acidification - an effect of high CO2 concentrations that is not offset by solar geoengineering. Locally, precipitation ultimately either evaporates (much of that through the leaves of plants) or runs off through groundwater to streams and rivers. On long time scales, runoff equals precipitation minus evaporation, and thus, water runoff generated at a location is equal to the net atmospheric transport of water to that location. Runoff typically occurs where there is substantial soil moisture, at least seasonally. Locations where there is enough water to maintain runoff are typically locations where there is sufficient water to maintain plant growth. This work aims at: (i) Identifying the geographical distribution of sensitivity of modeled-NPP to changes in CO2, temperature, and various parameters related to the hydrological cycle; (ii) Geographically partitioning changes in modeled-NPP to changes in CO2, temperature, and hydrological variables (and a non-linear interaction term).

Heavy metal immobilization via microbially induced carbonate precipitation and co-precipitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lauchnor, E. G.; Stoick, E.

2017-12-01

Microbially induced CaCO3 precipitation (MICP) has been successfully used in applications such as porous media consolidation and sealing of leakage pathways in the subsurface, and it has the potential to be used for remediation of metal and radionuclide contaminants in surface and groundwater. In this work, MICP is investigated for removal of dissolved heavy metals from contaminated mine discharge water via co-precipitation in CaCO3 or formation of other metal carbonates. The bacterially catalyzed hydrolysis of urea produces inorganic carbon and ammonium and increases pH and the saturation index of carbonate minerals to promote precipitation of CaCO3. Other heavy metal cations can be co-precipitated in CaCO3 as impurities or by replacing Ca2+ in the crystal lattice. We performed laboratory batch experiments of MICP in alkaline mine drainage sampled from an abandoned mine site in Montana and containing a mixture of heavy metals at near neutral pH. Both a model bacterium, Sporosarcina pasteurii, and a ureolytic bacterium isolated from sediments on the mine site were used to promote MICP. Removal of dissolved metals from the aqueous phase was determined via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and resulting precipitates were analyzed via electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Both S. pasteurii and the native ureolytic isolate demonstrated ureolysis, increased the pH and promoted precipitation of CaCO3 in batch tests. MICP by the native bacterium reduced concentrations of the heavy metals zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel and manganese in the water. S. pasteurii was also able to promote MICP, but with less removal of dissolved metals. Analysis of precipitates revealed calcium carbonate and phosphate minerals were likely present. The native isolate is undergoing identification via 16S DNA sequencing. Ongoing work will evaluate biofilm formation and MICP by the isolate in continuous flow, gravel-filled laboratory columns. This research demonstrates that MICP can be promoted in natural, contaminated water containing a mixture of potentially toxic heavy metals and native bacteria adapted to the environment may be more successful in driving removal of heavy metals via MICP.

Depositional and diagenetic variability within the Cambrian Mount Simon Sandstone: Implications for carbon dioxide sequestration

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bowen, B.B.; Ochoa, R.I.; Wilkens, N.D.; Brophy, J.; Lovell, T.R.; Fischietto, N.; Medina, C.R.; Rupp, J.A.

2011-01-01

The Cambrian Mount Simon Sandstone is the major target reservoir for ongoing geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration demonstrations throughout the midwest United States. The potential CO2 reservoir capacity, reactivity, and ultimate fate of injected CO2 depend on textural and compositional properties determined by depositional and diagenetic histories that vary vertically and laterally across the formation. Effective and efficient prediction and use of the available pore space requires detailed knowledge of the depositional and diagenetic textures and mineralogy, how these variables control the petrophysical character of the reservoir, and how they vary spatially. Here, we summarize the reservoir characteristics of the Mount Simon Sandstone based on examination of geophysical logs, cores, cuttings, and analysis of more than 150 thin sections. These samples represent different parts of the formation and depth ranges of more than 9000 ft (>2743 m) across the Illinois Basin and surrounding areas. This work demonstrates that overall reservoir quality and, specifically, porosity do not exhibit a simple relationship with depth, but vary both laterally and with depth because of changes in the primary depositional facies, framework composition (i.e., feldspar concentration), and diverse diagenetic modifications. Diagenetic processes that have been significant in modifying the reservoir include formation of iron oxide grain coatings, chemical compaction, feldspar precipitation and dissolution, multiple generations of quartz overgrowth cementation, clay mineral precipitation, and iron oxide cementation. These variables provide important inputs for calculating CO2 capacity potential, modeling reactivity, and are also an important baseline for comparisons after CO2 injection. Copyright ??2011. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists/Division of Environmental Geosciences. All rights reserved.

Low-temperature carbon monoxide oxidation over zirconia-supported CuO-CeO2 catalysts: Effect of zirconia support properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moretti, Elisa; Molina, Antonia Infantes; Sponchia, Gabriele; Talon, Aldo; Frattini, Romana; Rodriguez-Castellon, Enrique; Storaro, Loretta

2017-05-01

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of the preparation route of ZrO2 in CuO-CeO2/ZrO2 catalysts for the oxidation of carbon monoxide at low temperature (COX). Four ZrO2 supports were synthetized via either type sol-gel methodology or precipitation. The final Cu-Ce-Zr oxide catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness co-impregnation with copper and cerium solutions (with a loading of 6 wt% of CuO and 20 wt% of CeO2). The catalyst crystalline phases, texture and active species reducibility were determined by XRD, N2 physisorption at -196 °C and H2-TPR, respectively; meanwhile the surface composition and copper-cerium electronic states were studied by XPS. The catalytic activity was evaluated in the oxidation of CO to CO2, in the 40-215 °C temperature range. Catalytic results evidenced that the samples prepared by a sol-gel methodology showed, after the impregnation, a severe decrease of specific surface area and pore volume attributable to a wide degree of pore blockage caused by the presence of metal oxide particles and a collapse of the structure partially burying the active sites. A simple co-impregnation of a zirconia support, obtained through facile and fast precipitation, provided instead a catalyst with very good redox properties and high dispersion of the active phases, which completely oxidizes CO in the range 115-215 °C with T50 of 65 °C. This higher observed activity was ascribed to the formation of a larger fraction of highly dispersed and easily reducible Cu species and ceria nanocrystallites, mainly present as Ce(IV), with an average size of 5 nm.

A New Method for Evaluating the Carbon Isotope Characteristics of Carbonate Formed Under Cryogenic Conditions Analogous to Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Niles, P. B.; Socki, R. A.; Hredzak, P. L.

2007-01-01

The two upcoming robotic missions to Mars, Phoenix and MSL, will both have the capability of measuring the carbon isotopic composition of CO2 in the martian atmosphere, as well as possible CO2 trapped in carbonate minerals in the Martian soil. Results from orbital and landed missions now clearly indicate that no large scale deposits of carbonate materials exist at the surface. However, some results from orbital remote sensing have been interpreted to indicate that carbonate minerals are present as fine particles interspersed at low concentrations (approx. 2%) in the martian dust. One likely mechanism for the production of these carbonates is during the freezing of transient water near the surface. Large deposits of near surface ice and photographic evidence for flowing water on the surface suggest that transient melting and refreezing of H2O is an active process on Mars. Any exposure of these fluids to the CO2 rich atmosphere should al-low the production of HCO3- solutions. Carbonates are likely precipitates from these solutions during freezing as extensive CO2 degassing, driven by the fluid s decreasing volume, drives CO2 out. This rapid CO2 degassing increases the pH of the solution and drives carbonate precipitation. It has been shown in previous studies that this rapid CO2 degassing also results in a kinetic isotopic fractionation where the CO2 gas has a much lighter isotopic composition causing a large isotope enrichment of C-13 in the precipitated carbonate. This kinetic isotope enrichment may be very common in the current martian environment, and may be a very important factor in understanding the very high deltaC-13 values of carbonates found in the martian meteorites. However, while previous studies have succeeded in generally quantifying the magnitude of this effect, detailed studies of the consistency of this effect, and the freezing rates needed to produce it are needed to understand any carbon isotope analyses from carbonate minerals in the martian soil or dust. This study demonstrates an innovative new method for measuring the isotopic composition of gas evolved from the freezing of carbonate solutions in real time, which allows for a much clearer view of the chemical processes involved. This method now sets the stage for detailed analysis of the chemical and isotopic mechanisms that produce cryogenic carbonates.

Ferric iron-bearing sediments as a mineral trap for CO2 sequestration: Iron reduction using sulfur-bearing waste gas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Palandri, J.L.; Kharaka, Y.K.

2005-01-01

We present a novel method for geologic sequestration of anthropogenic CO2 in ferrous carbonate, using ferric iron present in widespread redbeds and other sediments. Iron can be reduced by SO2 that is commonly a component of flue gas produced by combustion of fossil fuel, or by adding SO2 or H2S derived from other industrial processes to the injected waste gas stream. Equilibrium and kinetically controlled geochemical simulations at 120 bar and 50 and 100 ??C with SO2 or H2S show that iron can be transformed almost entirely to siderite thereby trapping CO2, and simultaneously, that sulfur can be converted predominantly to dissolved sulfate. If there is an insufficient amount of sulfur-bearing gas relative to CO2 as for typical flue gas, then some of the iron is not reduced, and some of the CO2 is not sequestered. If there is an excess of sulfur-bearing gas, then complete iron reduction is ensured, and some of the iron precipitates as pyrite or other solid iron sulfide, depending on their relative precipitation kinetics. Gas mixtures with insufficient sulfur relative to CO2 can be used in sediments containing Ca, Mg, or other divalent metals capable of precipitating carbonate minerals. For quartz arenite with an initial porosity of 21% and containing 0.25 wt.% Fe2O3, approximately 0.7 g of CO2 is sequestered per kg of rock, and the porosity decrease is less than 0.03%. Sequestration of CO2 using ferric iron has the advantage of disposing of SO2 that may already be present in the combustion gas. ?? 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Evaluation of National Atmospheric Deposition Program measurements for colocated sites CO89 and CO98 at Rocky Mountain National Park, water years 2010–14

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wetherbee, Gregory A.

2016-07-22

Atmospheric wet-deposition monitoring in Rocky Mountain National Park included precipitation depth and aqueous chemical measurements at colocated National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) sites CO89 and CO98 (Loch Vale) during water years 2010–14 (study period). The colocated sites were separated by approximately 6.5 meters horizontally and 0.5 meter in elevation, in accordance with NADP siting criteria. Assessment of the 5-year record of colocated data is intended to inform man-agement decisions pertaining to the achievement of nitrogen deposition reduction goals of the Rocky Mountain National Park Nitrogen Deposition Reduction Plan.The data at site CO98 met NADP completeness criteria for the first time in 29 years of operation in 2011 and then again in 2012. During the study period, data at site CO89 met completeness criteria in 2012. Median weekly relative precipitation-depth differences between sites CO89 and CO98 ranged from 0 to 0.25 millimeter during the study period. Median weekly absolute percent differences in sample volume ranged from 5 to 10 percent. Median relative concentration differences for weekly ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) concentrations were near the NADP Central Analytical Laboratory’s method detection limits and thus were considered small. Absolute percent differences for water-year 2010–14 precipitation-weighted mean concentrations of NH4+, NO3-, and inorganic nitrogen (Ninorg) ranged from 0.0 to 25.7 percent. Absolute percent differences for water-year 2010–14 NH4+, NO3-, and Ninorg deposition ranged from 2.1 to 18.9 percent, 3.3 to 24.5 percent, and 0.3 to 17.4 percent, respectively.

Small-angle neutron scattering investigations of Co-doped iron oxide nanoparticles. Preliminary results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Creanga, Dorina; Balasoiu, Maria; Soloviov, Dmitro; Balasoiu-Gaina, Alexandra-Maria; Puscasu, Emil; Lupu, Nicoleta; Stan, Cristina

2018-03-01

Preliminary small-angle neutron scattering investigations on aqueous suspensions of several cobalt doped ferrites (CoxFe3-xO4, x=0; 0.5; 1) nanoparticles prepared by chemical co-precipitation method, are reported. The measurements were accomplished at the YuMO instrument in function at the IBR-2 reactor. Results of intermediary data treatment are presented and discussed.

F-T process using an iron on mixed zirconia-titania supported catalyst

DOEpatents

Dyer, Paul N.; Nordquist, Andrew F.; Pierantozzi, Ronald

1987-01-01

A Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising iron co-deposited with or deposited on particles comprising a mixture of zirconia and titania, preferably formed by co-precipitation of compounds convertible to zirconia and titania, such as zirconium and titanium alkoxide. The invention also comprises the method of making this catalyst and an improved Fischer-Tropsch reaction process in which the catalyst is utilized.

Simple approximation of total emissivity of CO2-H2O mixture used in the zonal method of calculation of heat transfer by radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lisienko, V. G.; Malikov, G. K.; Titaev, A. A.

2014-12-01

The paper presents a new simple-to-use expression to calculate the total emissivity of a mixture of gases CO2 and H2O used for modeling heat transfer by radiation in industrial furnaces. The accuracy of this expression is evaluated using the exponential wide band model. It is found that the time taken to calculate the total emissivity in this expression is 1.5 times less than in other approximation methods.

A simple and rapid approach to evaluate the in vitro in vivo role of release controlling agent ethyl cellulose ether derivative polymer.

PubMed

Akhlaq, Muhammad; Khan, Gul Majid; Jan, Syed Umer; Wahab, Abdul; Hussain, Abid; Nawaz, Asif; Abdelkader, Hamdy

2014-11-01

Diclofenac sodium (DCL-Na) conventional oral tablets exhibit serious side effects when given for a longer period leading to noncompliance. Controlled release matrix tablets of diclofenac sodium were formulated using simple blending (F-1), solvent evaporation (F-2) and co-precipitation techniques (F-3). Ethocel® Standard 7 FP Premium Polymer (15%) was used as a release controlling agent. Drug release study was conducted in 7.4 pH phosphate buffer solutions as dissolution medium in vitro. Pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated using albino rabbits. Solvent evaporation technique was found to be the best release controlling technique thereby prolonging the release rate up to 24 hours. Accelerated stability studies of the optimized test formulation (F-2) did not show any significant change (p<0.05) in the physicochemical characteristics and release rate when stored for six months. A simple and rapid method was developed for DCL-Na active moiety using HPLC-UV at 276nm. The optimized test tablets (F-2) significantly (p<0.05) exhibited peaks plasma concentration (cmax=237.66±1.98) and extended the peak time (tmax=4.63±0.24). Good in-vitro in vivo correlation was found (R(2)=0.9883) against drug absorption and drug release. The study showed that once-daily controlled release matrix tablets of DCL-Na were successfully developed using Ethocel® Standard 7 FP Premium.

Synthesis and characterization of CaF2:Dy nanophosphor for dosimetric application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhadane, Mahesh S.; Patil, B. J.; Dahiwale, S. S.; Kulkarni, M. S.; Bhatt, B. C.; Bhoraskar, V. N.; Dhole, S. D.

2015-06-01

In this work, nanoparticles (NPs) of dysprosium doped calcium fluoride (CaF2:Dy) 1 mol % has been prepared using simple chemical co-precipitation method and its thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetric properties were studied. The synthesized nanoparticle sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the particle size of face centered cubic phase NPs was found around 30 nm. The shape, morphology and size were also observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). From gamma irradiated CaF2:Dy TL curves, it was observed that the total areas of all the glow peak intensities are dramatically changed with increase in annealing temperature. Further, TL glow curve of the CaF2:Dy at 183 °C annealed at 400 °C, showed very sharp linear response in the dose range from 1 Gy to 750 Gy. This linear response of CaF2:Dy nanophosphor as a function of gamma dose is very useful from radiation dosimetric point of view.

Tailoring the structure of biphasic calcium phosphate via synthesis procedure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mansour, S. F.; El-dek, S. I.; Ahmed, M. K.

2017-12-01

Nano calcium phosphate ceramics (CaPC) were synthesized using simple co-precipitation method at different preparation conditions. The selected Ca/P ratio with a variation of pH value lead to formation of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) at pH 5 and 6 while, hydroxyapatite (HAP) nano particles were formed at pH 9 and 12 at room temperature. The crystallite size was in the range of 15-55 nm depending on the obtained crystalline phase. The study displayed variation of decomposition depending on the annealing temperature. The significant note is the different transformation trend of each phase depending on the starting pH value. The HRTEM illustrated that the DCPD phase was formed as fibers with diameter around 4-6 nm, while HAP was formed in rod shape. The aspect ratio decreased from 6.6 at pH 9 to 4 at pH 12 which refer to the great influence of pH value on the morphology of calcium phosphates.

Native defects in silver orthophosphate and their effects on photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sulaeman, Uyi; Hermawan, Dadan; Andreas, Roy; Abdullah, Ahmad Zuhairi; Yin, Shu

2018-01-01

Native defects in silver orthophosphate could be generated by simple co-precipitation method under ethanol-aqueous solution using AgNO3 and Na2HPO4.12H2O. AgNO3 ethanol-aqueous solution with the ethanol contents of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90% and 100% was reacted with Na2HPO4 aqueous solution. The produced catalysts were characterized using XRD, DRS, FE-SEM, BET specific surface area and XPS. The increase of ethanol content in the synthesis process decreased the Ag/P atomic ratio of Ag3PO4. The native defects of silver vacancy might be generated on the surface of Ag3PO4. The activity of Ag3PO4 for Rhodamine B degradation dramatically increased by 5.8 times higher compared to that of the pristine Ag3PO4. The defect states of Ag vacancies enhanced the separation of electron-hole pairs, leading to the improvement of photocatalytic activity.

Ultrasonic Monitoring of CO2 Uptake and Release from Sand Packs*

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toffelmier, D. A.; Dufrane, W. L.; Bonner, B. P.; Viani, B. E.; Berge, P. A.

2002-12-01

Sequestration of atmospheric CO2 occurs naturally during the formation of calcite cement in sedimentary rock. Acceleration of this process has been proposed as a means of reducing the atmospheric concentration of CO2, which is a major cause of global warming. Calcite may also be precipitated when highly alkaline waste fluid is introduced into the vadose zone from leaking storage tanks. Seismic methods have potential for monitoring these processes. We devised an experiment, guided by geochemical modeling, to determine how the formation of calcite cement in unsaturated sand affects wave propagation. We used the ultrasonic pulse transmission method to measure compressional (P) and shear (S) wave velocities at ultrasonic frequencies (100-500 kHz) through packs of Ottawa sand containing chemically active pore fluids. The samples were saturated with water containing 0.1mol/L of Ca(OH)2 and 0.1mol/L of NaCl and then drained by flowing water saturated, CO2 free N2 gas, to a residual saturation of ~5%, so that the remaining pore fluid resides mainly in pendular spaces between the sand grains. Ambient air saturated with water and containing atmospheric concentration of CO2 was then passed through the sample to effect the precipitation of calcite. Finally, pure water saturated CO2, was flushed through the sample to dissolve most of the precipitated calcite. Over a three day period, measurable changes in Vp and Vs were observed following water saturation, desaturation, calcite precipitation, and calcite dissolution treatments. Changes in the contents of the pore space require waveforms to be recorded before and after each stage of the experiment so both the short and long range effects can be seen. Wave velocities were slow, as is typical for unconsolidated materials, for the dry sand, with values of 365m/s for Vp and 163m/s for Vs. Compressional velocities increased upon desaturation (443m/s), and again following calcite precipitation (460m/s). The compressional velocity measured following the CO2 flush to dissolve the calcite decreased (451m/s). The shear velocities varied similarly to the compressional velocities except that the dry sand shear velocity was faster than the other shear velocities. These preliminary results suggest that ultrasonics could provide a tool to locate the path of certain types of waste fluid in the vadose zone. *This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by the University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract number W-7405-ENG-48 and was supported specifically by the Environmental Management Science Program of the Office of Environmental Management and the Office of Energy Research.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Szcześ, Aleksandra, E-mail: aszczes@poczta.umcs.lublin.pl; Czemierska, Magdalena; Jarosz-Wilkołazka, Anna

Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) extracted from Rhodococcus opacus bacterial strain was used as a matrix for calcium carbonate precipitation using the vapour diffusion method. The total exopolymer and water-soluble exopolymer fraction of different concentrations were spread on the mica surface by the spin-coating method. The obtained layers were characterized using the atomic force microscopy measurement and XPS analysis. The effects of polymer concentration, initial pH of calcium chloride solution and precipitation time on the obtained crystals properties were investigated. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the precipitated minerals. It was found that the type of precipitatedmore » CaCO{sub 3} polymorph and the crystal size depend on the kind of EPS fraction. The obtained results indicates that the water soluble fraction favours vaterite dissolution and calcite growth, whereas the total EPS stabilizes vaterite and this effect is stronger at basic pH. It seems to be due to different contents of the functional group of EPS fractions. - Highlights: • CaCO{sub 3} crystal size and polymorph can be controlled by EPS substance obtained from R. opacus. • The water soluble fraction favours vaterite dissolution and calcite growth. • The total EPS stabilizes vaterite. • This effect is stronger at basic pH.« less

Blue water tradeoffs with ecosystems in a CO2-enriched climate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mankin, J. S.; Smerdon, J. E.; Cook, B. I.; Williams, A. P.; Seager, R.

2017-12-01

Present and future freshwater availability and drought risks are physically tied to the competing responses of surface vegetation to increasing CO2, which includes radiative and plant physiological forcing, as well as their consequences for plant phenology, water use efficiency, and CO2 fertilization. Because Earth system models (ESMs) have increased their sophistication in representing the coupling among biogeochemical and biogeophysical processes at the land surface, projected linkages among ecosystem responses to CO2 and blue water (runoff) can be explored. A detailed analysis of the Western US demonstrates that CO2- and radiatively-induced vegetation growth drives projected decreases in soil moisture and runoff in the NCAR CESM LENS, creating a curious pattern of colocated 'greening' and 'drying.' Here we explore these responses at the global-scale and the consequences of such vegetation-driven drying on blue water availability for people. We present a simple metric that quantifies the tradeoff that occurs between ecosystems and blue water and link their occurrence to changes in daily-scale precipitation extremes, plant functional types, and changes in leaf areas. These results have implications for blue water availability for people and raise important questions about model representations of vegetation-water responses to high CO2.

Effect of Mineral Dissolution/Precipitation and CO2 Exsolution on CO2 transport in Geological Carbon Storage.

PubMed

Xu, Ruina; Li, Rong; Ma, Jin; He, Di; Jiang, Peixue

2017-09-19

Geological carbon sequestration (GCS) in deep saline aquifers is an effective means for storing carbon dioxide to address global climate change. As the time after injection increases, the safety of storage increases as the CO 2 transforms from a separate phase to CO 2 (aq) and HCO 3 - by dissolution and then to carbonates by mineral dissolution. However, subsequent depressurization could lead to dissolved CO 2 (aq) escaping from the formation water and creating a new separate phase which may reduce the GCS system safety. The mineral dissolution and the CO 2 exsolution and mineral precipitation during depressurization change the morphology, porosity, and permeability of the porous rock medium, which then affects the two-phase flow of the CO 2 and formation water. A better understanding of these effects on the CO 2 -water two-phase flow will improve predictions of the long-term CO 2 storage reliability, especially the impact of depressurization on the long-term stability. In this Account, we summarize our recent work on the effect of CO 2 exsolution and mineral dissolution/precipitation on CO 2 transport in GCS reservoirs. We place emphasis on understanding the behavior and transformation of the carbon components in the reservoir, including CO 2 (sc/g), CO 2 (aq), HCO 3 - , and carbonate minerals (calcite and dolomite), highlight their transport and mobility by coupled geochemical and two-phase flow processes, and consider the implications of these transport mechanisms on estimates of the long-term safety of GCS. We describe experimental and numerical pore- and core-scale methods used in our lab in conjunction with industrial and international partners to investigate these effects. Experimental results show how mineral dissolution affects permeability, capillary pressure, and relative permeability, which are important phenomena affecting the input parameters for reservoir flow modeling. The porosity and the absolute permeability increase when CO 2 dissolved water is continuously injected through the core. The MRI results indicate dissolution of the carbonates during the experiments since the porosity has been increased after the core-flooding experiments. The mineral dissolution changes the pore structure by enlarging the throat diameters and decreasing the pore specific surface areas, resulting in lower CO 2 /water capillary pressures and changes in the relative permeability. When the reservoir pressure decreases, the CO 2 exsolution occurs due to the reduction of solubility. The CO 2 bubbles preferentially grow toward the larger pores instead of toward the throats or the finer pores during the depressurization. After exsolution, the exsolved CO 2 phase shows low mobility due to the highly dispersed pore-scale morphology, and the well dispersed small bubbles tend to merge without interface contact driven by the Ostwald ripening mechanism. During depressurization, the dissolved carbonate could also precipitate as a result of increasing pH. There is increasing formation water flow resistance and low mobility of the CO 2 in the presence of CO 2 exsolution and carbonate precipitation. These effects produce a self-sealing mechanism that may reduce unfavorable CO 2 migration even in the presence of sudden reservoir depressurization.

Variations of net ecosystem production due to seasonal precipitation differences in a tropical dry forest of northwest Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verduzco, Vivian S.; Garatuza-Payán, Jaime; Yépez, Enrico A.; Watts, Christopher J.; Rodríguez, Julio C.; Robles-Morua, Agustin; Vivoni, Enrique R.

2015-10-01

Due to their large extent and high primary productivity, tropical dry forests (TDF) are important contributors to atmospheric carbon exchanges in subtropical and tropical regions. In northwest Mexico, a bimodal precipitation regime that includes winter precipitation derived from Pacific storms and summer precipitation from the North American monsoon (NAM) couples water availability with ecosystem processes. We investigated the net ecosystem production of a TDF ecosystem using a 4.5 year record of water and carbon fluxes obtained from the eddy covariance method complemented with remotely sensed data. We identified a large CO2 efflux at the start of the summer season that is strongly related to the preceding winter precipitation and greenness. Since this CO2 efflux occurs prior to vegetation green-up, we infer that respiration is mainly due to decomposition of soil organic matter accumulated from the prior growing season. Overall, ecosystem respiration has an important effect on the net ecosystem production but can be overwhelmed by the strength of the primary productivity during the NAM. Precipitation characteristics during NAM have significant controls on sustaining carbon fixation in the TDF into the fall season. We identified that a threshold of ~350 to 400 mm of monsoon precipitation leads to a switch in the annual carbon balance in the TDF ecosystem from a net source (+102 g C/m2/yr) to a net sink (-249 g C/m2/yr). This monsoonal precipitation threshold is typically exceeded one out of every 2 years. The close coupling of winter and summer periods with respect to carbon fluxes suggests that the annual carbon balance is dependent on precipitation amounts in both seasons in TDF ecosystems.

Can bias correction and statistical downscaling methods improve the skill of seasonal precipitation forecasts?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manzanas, R.; Lucero, A.; Weisheimer, A.; Gutiérrez, J. M.

2018-02-01

Statistical downscaling methods are popular post-processing tools which are widely used in many sectors to adapt the coarse-resolution biased outputs from global climate simulations to the regional-to-local scale typically required by users. They range from simple and pragmatic Bias Correction (BC) methods, which directly adjust the model outputs of interest (e.g. precipitation) according to the available local observations, to more complex Perfect Prognosis (PP) ones, which indirectly derive local predictions (e.g. precipitation) from appropriate upper-air large-scale model variables (predictors). Statistical downscaling methods have been extensively used and critically assessed in climate change applications; however, their advantages and limitations in seasonal forecasting are not well understood yet. In particular, a key problem in this context is whether they serve to improve the forecast quality/skill of raw model outputs beyond the adjustment of their systematic biases. In this paper we analyze this issue by applying two state-of-the-art BC and two PP methods to downscale precipitation from a multimodel seasonal hindcast in a challenging tropical region, the Philippines. To properly assess the potential added value beyond the reduction of model biases, we consider two validation scores which are not sensitive to changes in the mean (correlation and reliability categories). Our results show that, whereas BC methods maintain or worsen the skill of the raw model forecasts, PP methods can yield significant skill improvement (worsening) in cases for which the large-scale predictor variables considered are better (worse) predicted by the model than precipitation. For instance, PP methods are found to increase (decrease) model reliability in nearly 40% of the stations considered in boreal summer (autumn). Therefore, the choice of a convenient downscaling approach (either BC or PP) depends on the region and the season.

Estimating the Response of Mid-latitude Orographic Precipitation to Global Warming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Xiaoming

The possible change in orographic precipitation in response to global warming is a rising concern under climate change, which could potentially cause significant societal impact. A general circulation model was employed to simulate the climate on an aquaplanet which has idealized mountains at its mid-latitudes. It was found that orographic precipitation at northern mid-latitudes could increase by rates faster than the Clausius-Clapeyron scaling, ˜7%/K of surface warming, in doubling CO2 simulations, while at southern mid-latitudes orographic precipitation decreased. The frequency of extreme events increased at all latitudes of the idealized mountains. Through a simple diagnostic model it was revealed that the changes in the climatological means of orographic precipitation rates were mostly determined by the changes in three variables: the speed of the wind component perpendicular to a mountain, the vertical displacement of saturated parcels, and the moist adiabatic lapse rate of saturation specific humidity. The last variable had relatively uniform contribution to the total changes in orographic precipitation across different latitudes, about 4 -- 5%/K. But contributions from the changes in wind speed and saturated vertical displacement were found to have strong north-south asymmetry, which were linked to the poleward shift of storm tracks. The changes in wind speed had positive contributions in general, with larger contributions at higher mid-latitudes. While the changes in saturated vertical displacement had negative contributions at all latitudes, but larger negative contributions were located at lower mid-latitudes. Although the poleward shift of storm tracks greatly affects regional precipitation, following the poleward shift of storm tracks the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of precipitation at the latitudes of maximum precipitation in the control simulation is very similar to that in the warm climate simulation, except that precipitation intensity was positively shifted by a constant factor --- mainly due to changes in the moist adiabatic lapse rate of saturation specific humidity.

A simple method for enzymatic synthesis of unlabeled and radiolabeled Hydroxycinnamate-CoA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rautergarten, Carsten; Baidoo, Edward; Keasling, Jay

Hydroxycinnamate coenzyme A (CoA) thioesters are substrates for biosynthesis of lignin and hydroxycinna- mate esters of polysaccharides and other polymers. Hence, a supply of these substrates is essential for investigation of cell wall biosynthesis. In this study, three recombinant enzymes, caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase, 4-coumarate- CoA ligase 1, and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase 5, were cloned from wheat, tobacco, and Arabidopsis, respectively, and were used to synthesize {sup 14}C-feruloyl-CoA, caffeoyl-CoA, p-coumaroyl-CoA, feruloyl-CoA, and sinapoyl-CoA. The corresponding hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA thioesters were high-performance liquid chromatography purified, the only extraction/purification step necessary, with total yields between 88-95%. Radiolabeled {sup 14}C-feruloyl-CoA was generated from caffeic acid and S-adenosyl-{supmore » 14}C-methionine under the combined action of caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase 1. About 70% of {sup 14}C-methyl groups from S-adenosyl methionine were incorporated into the final product. The methods presented are simple, fast, and efficient for the preparation of the hydroxycinnamate thioesters.« less

Rainfall assimilation in RAMS by means of the Kuo parameterisation inversion: method and preliminary results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orlandi, A.; Ortolani, A.; Meneguzzo, F.; Levizzani, V.; Torricella, F.; Turk, F. J.

2004-03-01

In order to improve high-resolution forecasts, a specific method for assimilating rainfall rates into the Regional Atmospheric Modelling System model has been developed. It is based on the inversion of the Kuo convective parameterisation scheme. A nudging technique is applied to 'gently' increase with time the weight of the estimated precipitation in the assimilation process. A rough but manageable technique is explained to estimate the partition of convective precipitation from stratiform one, without requiring any ancillary measurement. The method is general purpose, but it is tuned for geostationary satellite rainfall estimation assimilation. Preliminary results are presented and discussed, both through totally simulated experiments and through experiments assimilating real satellite-based precipitation observations. For every case study, Rainfall data are computed with a rapid update satellite precipitation estimation algorithm based on IR and MW satellite observations. This research was carried out in the framework of the EURAINSAT project (an EC research project co-funded by the Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development Programme within the topic 'Development of generic Earth observation technologies', Contract number EVG1-2000-00030).

Pulsed laser deposition of functionalized Mg-Al layered double hydroxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vlad, A.; Birjega, R.; Tirca, I.; Matei, A.; Mardare, C. C.; Hassel, A. W.; Nedelcea, A.; Dinescu, M.; Zavoianu, R.

2018-02-01

In this paper, magnesium-aluminium layered double hydroxide (LDH) has been functionalized with sodium dodecyl sulfate (DS) and deposited as thin film by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Mg, Al-LDH powders were prepared by co-precipitation and used as reference material. Intercalation of DS as an anionic surfactant into the LDHs host layers has been prepared in two ways: co-precipitation (P) and reconstruction (R). DS intercalation occurred in LDH powder via both preparation methods. The films deposited via PLD, in particular at 532 and 1064 nm, preserve the organic intercalated layered structure of the targets prepared from these powders. The results reveal the ability of proposed deposition technique to produce functional composite organo-modified LDHs thin films.

Conversion of radioactive ferrocyanide compounds to immobile glasses

DOEpatents

Schulz, W.W.; Dressen, A.L.

1975-11-21

A method is described for converting complex radioactive ferrocyanide compounds of /sup 134/Cs and /sup 137/Cs to immobile glass that is resistant to leaching by water. The /sup 134/Cs and /sup 137/Cs are separated from nuclear waste solutions by precipitation from alkaline solutions by the addition of a soluble Ni/sup 2 +/, Zn/sup 2 +/, Cu/sup 2 +/, Co/sup 2 +/, UO/sub 2//sup 2 +/, or Mn/sup 2 +/ and K/sub 4/Fe(CN)/sub 6/. The dried, finely ground precipitate is mixed with Na/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ and a mixture of (a) basalt and B/sub 2/O/sub 3/ or (b) SiO/sub 2/ and CaO, melted, and allowed to solidify. (BLM)

Structural and optical properties of co-precipitated copper doped zinc oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandey, Devendra K.; Modi, Anchit; Pandey, Padmini; Gaur, N. K.

2018-05-01

We have synthesized pure and copper doped zinc oxide Zn1-xO:Cux (x = 0, 0.03) powder by wet chemical co-precipitation method followed by sintering of the co-precipitated amorphous phase powder at 450°C for 4 hours. The experiment is performed to recognize the effect of nominal doping of transition metal over the structural, morphological and optical properties. The structural parameters are observed by using Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data which clearly represents that Cu ion is perfectly incorporated at the Zn site with minimal distortions within the lattice. The crystallite size is estimated by Debye-Scherrer and Hall-Williamson formulation. The particle morphology and size is determined with scanning electron microscopic (SEM) technique. The band gap and optical measurements are carried out with UV-visible absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopic technique, respectively. Enhanced PL spectral response is observed for ZnO:Cu along with non-radiative transitions from conduction band to valence band. The energy levels near the conduction band that are commonly involved in the optoelectronic transitions in the UV-region are traced by using absorption and luminescence spectral graphs.

Site-specific incorporation of uranyl carbonate species at the calcite surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reeder, Richard J.; Elzinga, Evert J.; Tait, C. Drew; Rector, K. D.; Donohoe, Robert J.; Morris, David E.

2004-12-01

Spatially resolved luminescence spectra from U(VI) co-precipitated at the (101¯4) growth surface of synthetic calcite single crystals confirm heterogeneous incorporation corresponding to the distribution of structurally non-equivalent steps composing the vicinal surfaces of spiral growth hillocks. Spectral structure from U(VI) luminescence at the "-" vicinal regions and featureless, weak luminescence at the "+" vicinal regions are consistent with previously reported observations of enrichment at the former sites during calcite growth. Luminescence spectra differ between the non-equivalent regions of the crystal, with the spectral features from the "-" vicinal region corresponding to those observed in bulk calcite samples. Subtle spectral shifts are observed from U(VI) co-precipitated with microcrystalline calcite synthesized by a different method, and all of the U(VI)-calcite sample spectra differ significantly from that of U(VI) co-precipitated with aragonite. The step-selective incorporation of U(VI) can be explained by a proposed model in which the allowed orientation for adsorption of the dominant calcium uranyl triscarbonate species is controlled by the atomic arrangement at step edges. Differences in the tilt angles of carbonate groups between non-equivalent growth steps favor adsorption of the calcium uranyl triscarbonate species at "-" steps, as observed in experiments.

The chemical evolution of a travertine-depositing stream: Geochemical processes and mass transfer reactions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lorah, Michelle M.; Herman, Janet S.

1988-01-01

This field study focuses on quantitatively defining the chemical changes occurring in Falling Spring Creek, a travertine-depositing stream located in Alleghany County, Virginia. The processes of CO2outgassing and calcite precipitation or dissolution control the chemical evolution of the stream. The observed chemical composition of the water was used with the computerized geochemical model WATEQF to calculate aqueous speciation, saturation indices, and CO2 partial pressure values. Mass balance calculations were performed to obtain mass transfers of CO2 and calcite. Reaction times, estimated from stream discharge, were used with the mass transfer results to calculate rates of CO2, outgassing and calcite precipitation between consecutive sampling points. The stream, which is fed by a carbonate spring, is supersaturated with respect to CO2 along the entire 5.2-km flow path. Outgassing of CO2 drives the solution to high degrees of supersaturation with respect to calcite. Metabolic uptake of CO2 by photosynthetic plants is insignificant, because the high supply rate of dissolved carbon dioxide and the extreme agitation of the stream at waterfalls and rapids causes a much greater amount of inorganic CO2 outgassing to occur. Calcite precipitation is kinetically inhibited until near the crest of a 20-m vertical waterfall. Calcite precipitation rates then reach a maximum at the waterfall where greater water turbulence allows the most rapid escape of CO2. Physical evidence for calcite precipitation exists in the travertine deposits which are first observed immediately above the waterfall and extend for at least 1.0 km below the falls. Net calcite precipitation occurs at all times of the year but is greatest during low-flow conditions in the summer and early fall.

Quantification of ikaite in Antarctic sea ice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fischer, M.; Thomas, D. N.; Krell, A.; Nehrke, G.; Göttlicher, J.; Norman, L.; Riaux-Gobin, C.; Dieckmann, G. S.

2012-02-01

Calcium carbonate precipitation in sea ice can increase pCO2 during precipitation in winter and decrease pCO2 during dissolution in spring. CaCO3 precipitation in sea ice is thought to potentially drive significant CO2 uptake by the ocean. However, little is known about the quantitative spatial and temporal distribution of CaCO3 within sea ice. This is the first quantitative study of hydrous calcium carbonate, as ikaite, in sea ice and discusses its potential significance for the carbon cycle in polar oceans. Ice cores and brine samples were collected from pack and land fast sea ice between September and December 2007 during an expedition in the East Antarctic and another off Terre Adélie, Antarctica. Samples were analysed for CaCO3, Salinity, DOC, DON, Phosphate, and total alkalinity. A relationship between the measured parameters and CaCO3 precipitation could not be observed. We found calcium carbonate, as ikaite, mostly in the top layer of sea ice with values up to 126 mg ikaite per liter melted sea ice. This potentially represents a contribution between 0.12 and 9 Tg C to the annual carbon flux in polar oceans. The horizontal distribution of ikaite in sea ice was heterogenous. We also found the precipitate in the snow on top of the sea ice.

Carbon dioxide released from subduction zones by fluid-mediated reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ague, Jay J.; Nicolescu, Stefan

2014-05-01

The balance between the subduction of carbonate mineral-bearing rocks into Earth's mantle and the return of CO2 to the atmosphere by volcanic and metamorphic degassing is critical to the carbon cycle. Carbon is thought to be released from subducted rocks mostly by simple devolatilization reactions. However, these reactions will also retain large amounts of carbon within the subducting slab and have difficulty in accounting for the mass of CO2 emitted from volcanic arcs. Carbon release may therefore occur via fluid-induced dissolution of calcium carbonate. Here we use carbonate δ18O and δ13C systematics, combined with analyses of rock and fluid inclusion mineralogy and geochemistry, to investigate the alteration of the exhumed Eocene Cycladic subduction complex on the Syros and Tinos islands, Greece. We find that in marble rocks adjacent to two fluid conduits that were active during subduction, the abundance of calcium carbonate drastically decreases approaching the conduits, whereas silicate minerals increase. Up to 60-90% of the CO2 was released from the rocks--far greater than expected via simple devolatilization reactions. The δ18O of the carbonate minerals is 5-10 lighter than is typical for metamorphosed carbonate rocks, implying that isotopically light oxygen was transported by fluid infiltration from the surroundings. We suggest that fluid-mediated carbonate mineral removal, accompanied by silicate mineral precipitation, provides a mechanism for the release of enormous amounts of CO2 from subduction zones.

Formation and Release of Cobalt(II) Sorption and Precipitation Products in Aging Kaolinite-Water Slurries.

PubMed

Thompson; Parks; Brown

2000-02-15

The uptake and release behavior of cobalt(II) was studied over thousands of hours in CO(2)-free aqueous suspensions of kaolinite under three pairs of total cobalt concentration (Co(T)) and near-neutral pH (7.5-7.8) conditions. Dissolved cobalt, aluminum, and silicon concentrations were monitored by ICPMS, and cobalt-containing products were identified by EXAFS spectroscopy. In each uptake experiment, cobalt sorbed to kaolinite as a mixture of surface-adsorbed monomers or polymers and hydrotalcite-like precipitates of the approximate composition Co(x)Al(OH)(2x+2)(A(n-))(1/n), where 2

Dissolution-precipitation reactions and permeability evolution from reactions of CO2-rich aqueous solutions with fractured basalt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wells, R. K.; Xiong, W.; Bae, Y.; Sesti, E.; Skemer, P. A.; Giammar, D.; Conradi, M.; Ellis, B. R.; Hayes, S. E.

2015-12-01

The injection of CO2 into fractured basalts is one of several possible solutions to mitigate global climate change; however, research on carbonation in natural basalts in relation to carbon sequestration is limited, which impedes our understanding of the processes that may influence the viability of this strategy. We are conducting bench-scale experiments to characterize the mineral dissolution and precipitation and the evolution of permeability in synthetic and natural basalts exposed to CO2-rich fluids. Analytical methods include optical and electron microscopy, electron microprobe, Raman spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and micro X-ray computed tomography (μCT) with variable flow rates. Reactive rock and mineral samples consist of 1) packed powders of olivine or natural basalt, and 2) sintered cores of olivine or a synthetic basalt mixture. Each sample was reacted in a batch reactor at 100 °C, and 100 bars CO2. Magnesite is detected within one day in olivine packed beds, and within 15 days in olivine sintered cores. Forsterite and synthetic basalt sinters were also reacted in an NMR apparatus at 102 °C and 65 bars CO2. Carbonate signatures are observed within 72 days of reaction. Longer reaction times are needed for carbonate precipitation in natural basalt samples. Cores from the Columbia River flood basalt flows that contain Mg-rich olivine and a serpentinized basalt from Colorado were cut lengthwise, the interface mechanically roughened or milled, and edges sealed with epoxy to simulate a fractured interface. The cores were reacted in a batch reactor at 50-150 °C and 100 bars CO2. At lower temperatures, calcite precipitation is rare within the fracture after 4 weeks. At higher temperatures, numerous calcite and aragonite crystals are observed within 1 mm of the fracture entrance along the roughened fracture surface. In flow-through experiments, permeability decreased along the fracture paths within a few hours to several days of flow.

Suppressing the cytotoxicity of CuO nanoparticles by uptake of curcumin/BSA particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Wenjing; Jiang, Pengfei; Chen, Ying; Luo, Peihua; Li, Guanqun; Zheng, Botuo; Chen, Wei; Mao, Zhengwei; Gao, Changyou

2016-05-01

The adverse effects of metal-based nanoparticles on human beings and the environment have received extensive attention recently. It is urgently required to develop a simple and effective method to suppress the toxicity of metal-based nanomaterials. In this study, a hydrophobic antioxidant and a chelation agent curcumin (CUR) were encapsulated into bovine serum albumin (BSA) particles by a simple co-precipitation method, and followed by glutaraldehyde cross-linking. The CUR/BSA particles had an average size of 300 nm in diameter with a negatively charged surface and sustained curcumin release properties. The cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of CUR/BSA particles were followed on A549 cells, HepG2 cells and RAW264.7 cells. The CUR/BSA particles had higher intracellular accumulation and lower cytotoxicity compared with the free curcumin at the same drug concentration. The CUR/BSA particles could suppress the cytotoxicity generated by CuO nanoparticles as a result of decrease of both the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and Cu2+ concentration, while the free curcumin did not show any obvious detoxicating effect. The detoxicating effects of CUR/BSA particles were further studied in an intratracheal instillation model in vivo, demonstrating significant reduction of toxicity and inflammatory response in rat lungs induced by CuO nanoparticles. The concept-proving study demonstrates the potential of the CUR/BSA particles in suppressing cytotoxicity of metal-based nanomaterials, which is a paramount requirement for the safe application of nanotechnology.

Statistical bias correction method applied on CMIP5 datasets over the Indian region during the summer monsoon season for climate change applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasanna, V.

2018-01-01

This study makes use of temperature and precipitation from CMIP5 climate model output for climate change application studies over the Indian region during the summer monsoon season (JJAS). Bias correction of temperature and precipitation from CMIP5 GCM simulation results with respect to observation is discussed in detail. The non-linear statistical bias correction is a suitable bias correction method for climate change data because it is simple and does not add up artificial uncertainties to the impact assessment of climate change scenarios for climate change application studies (agricultural production changes) in the future. The simple statistical bias correction uses observational constraints on the GCM baseline, and the projected results are scaled with respect to the changing magnitude in future scenarios, varying from one model to the other. Two types of bias correction techniques are shown here: (1) a simple bias correction using a percentile-based quantile-mapping algorithm and (2) a simple but improved bias correction method, a cumulative distribution function (CDF; Weibull distribution function)-based quantile-mapping algorithm. This study shows that the percentile-based quantile mapping method gives results similar to the CDF (Weibull)-based quantile mapping method, and both the methods are comparable. The bias correction is applied on temperature and precipitation variables for present climate and future projected data to make use of it in a simple statistical model to understand the future changes in crop production over the Indian region during the summer monsoon season. In total, 12 CMIP5 models are used for Historical (1901-2005), RCP4.5 (2005-2100), and RCP8.5 (2005-2100) scenarios. The climate index from each CMIP5 model and the observed agricultural yield index over the Indian region are used in a regression model to project the changes in the agricultural yield over India from RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The results revealed a better convergence of model projections in the bias corrected data compared to the uncorrected data. The study can be extended to localized regional domains aimed at understanding the changes in the agricultural productivity in the future with an agro-economy or a simple statistical model. The statistical model indicated that the total food grain yield is going to increase over the Indian region in the future, the increase in the total food grain yield is approximately 50 kg/ ha for the RCP4.5 scenario from 2001 until the end of 2100, and the increase in the total food grain yield is approximately 90 kg/ha for the RCP8.5 scenario from 2001 until the end of 2100. There are many studies using bias correction techniques, but this study applies the bias correction technique to future climate scenario data from CMIP5 models and applied it to crop statistics to find future crop yield changes over the Indian region.

Vector Analysis of Ionic Collision on CaCO3 Precipitation Based on Vibration Time History

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mangestiyono, W.; Muryanto, S.; Jamari, J.; Bayuseno, A. P.

2017-05-01

Vibration effects on the piping system can result from the internal factor of fluid or the external factor of the mechanical equipment operation. As the pipe vibrated, the precipitation process of CaCO3 on the inner pipe could be affected. In the previous research, the effect of vibration on CaCO3 precipitation in piping system was clearly verified. This increased the deposition rate and decreased the induction time. However, the mechanism of vibration control in CaCO3 precipitation process as the presence of vibration has not been recognized yet. In the present research, the mechanism of vibration affecting the CaCO3 precipitation was investigated through vector analysis of ionic collision. The ionic vector force was calculated based on the amount of the activation energy and the vibration force was calculated based on the vibration sensor data. The vector resultant of ionic collision based on the vibration time history was analyzed to prove that vibration brings ionic collision randomly to the planar horizontal direction and its collision model was suspected as the cause of the increasing deposition rate.

A First Approach to Global Runoff Simulation using Satellite Rainfall Estimation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hong, Yang; Adler, Robert F.; Hossain, Faisal; Curtis, Scott; Huffman, George J.

2007-01-01

Many hydrological models have been introduced in the hydrological literature to predict runoff but few of these have become common planning or decision-making tools, either because the data requirements are substantial or because the modeling processes are too complicated for operational application. On the other hand, progress in regional or global rainfall-runoff simulation has been constrained by the difficulty of measuring spatiotemporal variability of the primary causative factor, i.e. rainfall fluxes, continuously over space and time. Building on progress in remote sensing technology, researchers have improved the accuracy, coverage, and resolution of rainfall estimates by combining imagery from infrared, passive microwave, and space-borne radar sensors. Motivated by the recent increasing availability of global remote sensing data for estimating precipitation and describing land surface characteristics, this note reports a ballpark assessment of quasi-global runoff computed by incorporating satellite rainfall data and other remote sensing products in a relatively simple rainfall-runoff simulation approach: the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) runoff Curve Number (CN) method. Using an Antecedent Precipitation Index (API) as a proxy of antecedent moisture conditions, this note estimates time-varying NRCS-CN values determined by the 5-day normalized API. Driven by multi-year (1998-2006) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis, quasi-global runoff was retrospectively simulated with the NRCS-CN method and compared to Global Runoff Data Centre data at global and catchment scales. Results demonstrated the potential for using this simple method when diagnosing runoff values from satellite rainfall for the globe and for medium to large river basins. This work was done with the simple NRCS-CN method as a first-cut approach to understanding the challenges that lie ahead in advancing the satellite-based inference of global runoff. We expect that the successes and limitations revealed in this study will lay the basis for applying more advanced methods to capture the dynamic variability of the global hydrologic process for global runoff monltongin real time. The essential ingredient in this work is the use of global satellite-based rainfall estimation.

Simultaneous determination of ten antiepileptic drugs in human plasma by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry with positive/negative ion-switching electrospray ionization and its application in therapeutic drug monitoring.

PubMed

Yin, Lei; Wang, Tingting; Shi, Meiyun; Zhang, Ying; Zhao, Xiaojun; Yang, Yan; Gu, Jingkai

2016-03-01

A simple, rapid, and high-throughput liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantitation of ten antiepileptic drugs in human plasma has been developed and validated. The method required only 10 μL of plasma. After simple protein precipitation using acetonitrile, the analytes and internal standard diphenhydramine were separated on a Zorbax SB-C18 column (50 × 4.6 mm, 2.7 μm) using acetonitrile/water as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min. The total run time was 6 min for each sample. The validation results of specificity, matrix effects, recovery, linearity, precision, and accuracy were satisfactory. The lower limit of quantification was 0.04 μg/mL for carbamazepine, 0.02 μg/mL for lamotrigine, 0.01 μg/mL for oxcarbazepine, 0.4 μg/mL for 10-hydroxycarbazepine, 0.1 μg/mL for carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, 0.15 μg/mL for levetiracetam, 0.06 μg/mL for phenytoin, 0.3 μg/mL for valproic acid, 0.03 μg/mL for topiramate, and 0.15 μg/mL for phenobarbital. The intraday precision and interday precision were less than 7.6%, with the accuracy ranging between -8.1 and 7.9%. The method was successfully applied to therapeutic drug monitoring of 1237 patients with epilepsy after administration of standard antiepileptic drugs. The method has been proved to meet the high-throughput requirements in therapeutic drug monitoring. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Thermodynamic Simulation of Carbonate Cements-Water-Carbon Dioxide Equilibrium in Sandstone for Prediction of Precipitation/Dissolution of Carbonate Cements

PubMed Central

Zhong, Xinyan; Shang, Ruishu; Huang, Lihong

2016-01-01

Carbonate cements, such as calcite, dolomite, ferrocalcite and ankerite, play important roles in the formation of pores in sandstones: precipitation of carbonate cements modifies pores and inhibits compaction, while dissolution creates secondary pores. This work proposed a precipitation-dissolution model for carbonate cements-CO2-H2O system by means of ion equilibrium concentration ([M2+], M = Ca, Mg, Fe or Mn) with different factors, such as temperature, depth, pH, PCO2, variable rock composition and overpressure. Precipitation-dissolution reaction routes were also analyzed by minimization of the total Gibbs free energy (ΔG). Δ[M2+], the variation of [Ca2+], [Fe2+], [Mg2+] or [Mn2+] for every 100 m of burial depths, is used to predict precipitation or dissolution. The calculation results indicate that the increasing temperature results in decrease of equilibrium constant of reactions, while the increasing pressure results in a relatively smaller increase of equilibrium constant; As a result, with increasing burial depth, which brings about increase of both temperature and pressure, carbonate cements dissolve firstly and produces the maximal dissolved amounts, and then precipitation happens with further increasing depth; For example, calcite is dissolving from 0.0 km to 3.0 km with a maximal value of [Ca2+] at depth of 0.8 km, and then precipitates with depth deeper than 3.0 km. Meanwhile, with an increasing CO2 mole fraction in the gaseous phase from 0.1% to 10.0% in carbonate systems, the aqueous concentration of metal ions increases, e.g., dissolved amount of CaFe0.7Mg0.3(CO3)2 increases and reaches maximum of 1.78 mmol·L-1 and 8.26 mmol·L-1 at burial depth of 0.7 km with CO2 mole fraction of 0.1% and 10.0%, respectively. For the influence of overpressure in the calcite system, with overpressure ranging from 36 MPa to 83 MPa, pH reaches a minimum of 6.8 at overpressure of 51 MPa; meanwhile, Δ[Ca2+] increases slightly from -2.24 mmol·L-1 to -2.17 mmol·L-1 and remains negative, indicating it is also a precipitation process at burial depth of 3.9 km where overpressure generated. The method used in this study can be applied in assessing burial precipitation-dissolution processes and predicting possible pores in reservoirs with carbonate cement-water-carbon dioxide. PMID:27907043

Thermodynamic Simulation of Carbonate Cements-Water-Carbon Dioxide Equilibrium in Sandstone for Prediction of Precipitation/Dissolution of Carbonate Cements.

PubMed

Duan, Yiping; Feng, Mingshi; Zhong, Xinyan; Shang, Ruishu; Huang, Lihong

2016-01-01

Carbonate cements, such as calcite, dolomite, ferrocalcite and ankerite, play important roles in the formation of pores in sandstones: precipitation of carbonate cements modifies pores and inhibits compaction, while dissolution creates secondary pores. This work proposed a precipitation-dissolution model for carbonate cements-CO2-H2O system by means of ion equilibrium concentration ([M2+], M = Ca, Mg, Fe or Mn) with different factors, such as temperature, depth, pH, [Formula: see text], variable rock composition and overpressure. Precipitation-dissolution reaction routes were also analyzed by minimization of the total Gibbs free energy (ΔG). Δ[M2+], the variation of [Ca2+], [Fe2+], [Mg2+] or [Mn2+] for every 100 m of burial depths, is used to predict precipitation or dissolution. The calculation results indicate that the increasing temperature results in decrease of equilibrium constant of reactions, while the increasing pressure results in a relatively smaller increase of equilibrium constant; As a result, with increasing burial depth, which brings about increase of both temperature and pressure, carbonate cements dissolve firstly and produces the maximal dissolved amounts, and then precipitation happens with further increasing depth; For example, calcite is dissolving from 0.0 km to 3.0 km with a maximal value of [Ca2+] at depth of 0.8 km, and then precipitates with depth deeper than 3.0 km. Meanwhile, with an increasing CO2 mole fraction in the gaseous phase from 0.1% to 10.0% in carbonate systems, the aqueous concentration of metal ions increases, e.g., dissolved amount of CaFe0.7Mg0.3(CO3)2 increases and reaches maximum of 1.78 mmol·L-1 and 8.26 mmol·L-1 at burial depth of 0.7 km with CO2 mole fraction of 0.1% and 10.0%, respectively. For the influence of overpressure in the calcite system, with overpressure ranging from 36 MPa to 83 MPa, pH reaches a minimum of 6.8 at overpressure of 51 MPa; meanwhile, Δ[Ca2+] increases slightly from -2.24 mmol·L-1 to -2.17 mmol·L-1 and remains negative, indicating it is also a precipitation process at burial depth of 3.9 km where overpressure generated. The method used in this study can be applied in assessing burial precipitation-dissolution processes and predicting possible pores in reservoirs with carbonate cement-water-carbon dioxide.

Determination of (210)Pb and (210)Po in water using the extractive scintillation cocktail Polex™.

PubMed

Landstetter, Claudia; Hiegesberger, Bernd; Sinojmeri, Merita; Katzlberger, Christian

2014-11-01

Method validation was performed to achieve the accreditation for our determination method of (210)Pb and (210)Po in water. A Pb(NO3)2 carrier is added to the sample and lead is precipitated with Na2SxH2O. (210)Po is co-precipitated and the extractive scintillation cocktail Polex(™) is used to determine (210)Po and (210)Pb. Uranium is also extracted by Polex(™). It can be removed by washing the precipitate with 1% HNO3. The ingrowth of (210)Pb from (222)Rn during transportation time must be calculated. It has to be subtracted from the original (210)Pb in the sample and taken into account for the calculation of the lower limit of detection. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Methods for making a supported iron-copper catalyst

DOEpatents

Dyer, Paul N.; Pierantozzi, Ronald

1986-01-01

A catalyst is described for the synthesis of hydrocarbons from CO+H.sub.2 utilizing a porous Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 support impregnated with iron and copper and optionally promoted with an alkali metal. The use of an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 support results in the suppression of heavy waxes (C.sub.26 + hydrocarbons), particularly in slurry phase operation, when compared to unsupported or co-precipitated catalysts.

In vitro simulation studies of silica deposition induced by lignin from rice*

PubMed Central

Fang, Jiang-Yu; Ma, Xue-Long

2006-01-01

To reveal the possible mechanism of silica deposition in higher plants, lignin was isolated from rice straw following a modified method to conduct a simulation experiment in vitro. UV and infrared absorption spectra showed that the substance had the unique characteristics of pure lignin. The presence of silicon in the precipitation was revealed by TEM (transmission electron microscopy) with EDXA (energy dispersive X-ray analysis) device. It was found that in the borax solution where lignin precipitation occurred silica-lignin co-precipitation was produced but not in the DMSO solution where lignin was broken into its composition compounds and did not precipitate. This means that it is macromolecular lignin itself but not its compounds that could induce silica deposition in higher plants. PMID:16532527

Chemical and electrochemical recycling of the nickel, cobalt, zinc and manganese from the positives electrodes of spent Ni-MH batteries from mobile phones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santos, V. E. O.; Celante, V. G.; Lelis, M. F. F.; Freitas, M. B. J. G.

2012-11-01

Chemical and electrochemical recycling methods for the Ni, Co, Zn and Mn from the positives electrodes of spent Ni-MH batteries were developed. The materials recycled by chemical precipitation have the composition β-Ni(OH)2, Co(OH)2, Zn(OH)2 and Mn3O4. The powder retains sulphate, nitrate and carbonate anions from the mother solution as well as adsorbed water. Studies using cyclic voltammetry show that the current density decreases for scan rates greater than 10 mV s-1 because of the formation of hydroxide films. The amounts of Ni2+, Co2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+ were obtained by analysis of the solution using the inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectroscopy technique, which demonstrated that the electrodeposition method exhibits anomalous behaviour. The amount of deposited nickel ions is related to the composition of the sulfamate bath. The presence of manganese in the electrodeposits is due to the precipitation of Mn(OH)2, and Zn(OH)42- does not undergo reduction in the investigated potential range. The electrodeposited material contains Ni, Co, CoO, Co(OH)2, and Mn3O4. A charge efficiency of 83.7% was attained for the electrodeposits formed by the application of -1.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl at a charge density of -90 C cm-2. The dissolution of the electrodeposits depends on the applied potential.

K3Na(SO4)2 : Eu nanoparticles for high dose of ionizing radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahare, P. D.; Ranjan, Ranju; Salah, Numan; Lochab, S. P.

2007-02-01

K3Na(SO4)2 : Eu nanocrystalline powder was synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method. The x-ray diffraction pattern of the nanomaterials shows a hexagonal structure for its crystals having grain size of ~28 nm. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the K3Na(SO4)2 : Eu nanoparticles are single crystals with almost a uniform shape and size. Thermoluminescence (TL) was taken after irradiating the samples at various exposures of γ-rays from a 60Co source. A prominent TL glow peak is observed at 423 K along with three small peaks/shoulders at around 382, 460 and 509 K. The observed TL sensitivity of the prepared nanocrystalline powder is around 4 times more than that of LiF : Mg,Ti (TLD-100) phosphor. The 423 K peak of the nanomaterial phosphor eventually shows a near linear response with exposures increasing up to very high values (as high as 70 kGy), where all the other TLD phosphors saturate. This property along with its other desired properties such as high sensitivity, relatively simple glow curve structure and low fading makes the nanocrystalline phosphor a suitable dosimeter to estimate low as well as high exposures of γ-rays. TL analysis using the glow curve deconvolution technique was also done for determining different trapping parameters.

Simple synthesis of highly catalytic carbon-free MnCo2O4@Ni as an oxygen electrode for rechargeable Li–O2 batteries with long-term stability

PubMed Central

Kalubarme, Ramchandra S.; Jadhav, Harsharaj S.; Ngo, Duc Tung; Park, Ga-Eun; Fisher, John G.; Choi, Yun-Il; Ryu, Won-Hee; Park, Chan-Jin

2015-01-01

An effective integrated design with a free standing and carbon-free architecture of spinel MnCo2O4 oxide prepared using facile and cost effective hydrothermal method as the oxygen electrode for the Li–O2 battery, is introduced to avoid the parasitic reactions of carbon and binder with discharge products and reaction intermediates, respectively. The highly porous structure of the electrode allows the electrolyte and oxygen to diffuse effectively into the catalytically active sites and hence improve the cell performance. The amorphous Li2O2 will then precipitate and decompose on the surface of free-standing catalyst nanorods. Electrochemical examination demonstrates that the free-standing electrode without carbon support gives the highest specific capacity and the minimum capacity fading among the rechargeable Li–O2 batteries tested. The Li-O2 cell has demonstrated a cyclability of 119 cycles while maintaining a moderate specific capacity of 1000 mAh g−1. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of the fast kinetics of electron transport provided by the free-standing structure and the high electro-catalytic activity of the spinel oxide enables excellent performance of the oxygen electrode for Li-O2 cells. PMID:26292965

Radar-derived quantitative precipitation estimation in complex terrain over the eastern Tibetan Plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gou, Yabin; Ma, Yingzhao; Chen, Haonan; Wen, Yixin

2018-05-01

Quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) is one of the important applications of weather radars. However, in complex terrain such as Tibetan Plateau, it is a challenging task to obtain an optimal Z-R relation due to the complex spatial and temporal variability in precipitation microphysics. This paper develops two radar QPE schemes respectively based on Reflectivity Threshold (RT) and Storm Cell Identification and Tracking (SCIT) algorithms using observations from 11 Doppler weather radars and 3264 rain gauges over the Eastern Tibetan Plateau (ETP). These two QPE methodologies are evaluated extensively using four precipitation events that are characterized by different meteorological features. Precipitation characteristics of independent storm cells associated with these four events, as well as the storm-scale differences, are investigated using short-term vertical profile of reflectivity (VPR) clusters. Evaluation results show that the SCIT-based rainfall approach performs better than the simple RT-based method for all precipitation events in terms of score comparison using validation gauge measurements as references. It is also found that the SCIT-based approach can effectively mitigate the local error of radar QPE and represent the precipitation spatiotemporal variability better than the RT-based scheme.

Synthesis of strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles prepared using co-precipitation method and microemulsion processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drmota, A.; Žnidaršič, A.; Košak, A.

2010-01-01

Strontium hexaferrite (SrFe12O19) nanoparticles have been prepared with co-precipitation in aqueous solutions and precipitation in microemulsion system water/SDS/n-butanol/cyclohexane, using iron and strontium nitrates in different molar rations as a starting materials. The mixed Sr2+, Fe3+ hydroxide precursors obtained during the reaction between corresponding metal nitrates and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), which served as a precipitating reagent, were calcined in a wide temperature range, from 350 °C to 1000 °C in a static air atmosphere. The influence of the Sr2+/Fe3+ molar ratio and the calcination temperature to the chemistry of the product formation, its crystallite size, morphology and magnetic properties were investigated. It was found that the formation of single phase SrFe12O19 with relatively high specific magnetization (54 Am2/kg) was achieved at the Sr2+/Fe3+ molar ration of 6.4 and calcination at 800 °C for 3h with heating/cooling rate 5 °C/min. The prepared powders were characterized using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and specific surface area measurements (BET). The specific magnetization (DSM-10, magneto-susceptometer) of the prepared samples was measured.

Synthesis and magnetic properties of superparamagnetic CoAs nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desai, P.; Ashokaan, N.; Masud, J.; Pariti, A.; Nath, M.

2015-03-01

This article provides a comprehensive guide on the synthesis and characterization of superparamagnetic CoAs nanoparticles and elongated nanostructures with high blocking temperature, (TB), via hot-injection precipitation and solvothermal methods. Cobalt arsenides constitute an important family of magnetically active solids that find a variety of applications ranging from magnetic semiconductors to biomedical imaging. While the higher temperature hot-injection precipitation technique (300 °C) yields pure CoAs nanostructures, the lower temperature solvothermal method (200 °C) yields a mixture of CoAs nanoparticles along with other Co-based impurity phases. The synthesis in all these cases involved usage of triphenylarsine ((C6H5)3As) as the As precursor which reacts with solid Co2(CO)8 by ligand displacement to yield a single source precursor. The surfactant, hexadecylamine (HDA) further assists in controlling the morphology of the nanostructures. HDA also provides a basic medium and molten flux-like conditions for the redox chemistry to occur between Co and As at elevated temperatures. The influence of the length of reaction time was investigated by studying the evolution of product morphology over time. It was observed that while spontaneous nucleation at higher temperature followed by controlled growth led to the predominant formation of short nanorods, with longer reaction time, the nanorods were further converted to nanoparticles. The size of the nanoparticles obtained, was mostly in the range of 10-15 nm. The key finding of this work is exceptionally high coercivity in CoAs nanostructures for the first time. Coercivity observed was as high as 0.1 T (1000 Oe) at 2 K. These kinds of magnetic nanostructures find multiple applications in spintronics, whereas the superparamagnetic nanoparticles are viable for use in magnetic storage, ferrofluids and as contrast enhancing agents in MRI.

Study of structural phase transformation and hysteresis behavior of inverse-spinel α-ferrite nanoparticles synthesized by co-precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dabagh, Shadab; Chaudhary, Kashif; Haider, Zuhaib; Ali, Jalil

2018-03-01

Substitution of cobalt (Co2+) ions in cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) with copper (Cu2+) and aluminum (Al3+) ions allows variations in their electric and magnetic properties which can be optimized for specific applications. In this article, synthesis of inverse-spinel Co1-xCuxFe2-xAlxO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) nanoparticles by substituting Cu2+ and Al3+ ions in CoFe2O4 via co-precipitation method is reported. By controlling copper and aluminum (Cu-Al) substituent ratio, the magnetic moment and coercivity of synthesized cobalt ferrite nanoparticles is optimized. The role of substituents on the structure, particle size, morphology, and magnetic properties of nano-crystalline ferrite is investigated. The Co1-xCuxFe2-xAlxO4 (0.0 ≤ x≤ 0.8) nanoparticles with crystallite size in the range of 23.1-26.5 nm are observed, 26.5 nm for x = 0.0-23.1 nm for x = 0.8. The inverse-spinel structure of synthesized Co1-xCuxFe2-xAlxO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) nano-particles is confirmed by characteristic vibrational bands at tetrahedral and octahedral sites using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A decreases in coercive field and magnetic moment is observed as Cu-Al contents are increased (x = 0.0-0.8). The positive anisotropy of synthesized particles Co1-xCuxFe2-xAlxO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) is obtained in the range 1.96 × 105 J/m3 for x = 0.0 to 0.29 × 105 J/m3 for x = 0.8.

Oxygen isotope systematics in the aragonite-CO2-H2O-NaCl system up to 0.7 mol/kg ionic strength at 25 °C

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kim, Sang-Tae; Gebbinck, Christa Klein; Mucci, Alfonso; Coplen, Tyler B.

2014-01-01

To investigate the oxygen isotope systematics in the aragonite-CO2-H2O-NaCl system, witherite (BaCO3) was precipitated quasi-instantaneously and quantitatively from Na-Cl-Ba-CO2 solutions of seawater-like ionic strength (I = 0.7 mol/kg) at two pH values (~7.9 and ~10.6) at 25 °C. The oxygen isotope composition of the witherite and the dissolved inorganic carbon speciation in the starting solution were used to estimate the oxygen isotope fractionations between HCO3¯ and H2O as well as between CO3 2 and H2O. Given the analytical error on the oxygen isotope composition of the witherite and uncertainties of the parent solution pH and speciation, oxygen isotope fractionation between NaHCO3° and HCO3¯, as well as between NaCO3¯ and CO3 2, is negligible under the experimental conditions investigated. The influence of dissolved NaCl concentration on the oxygen isotope fractionation in the aragonite-CO2-H2O-NaCl system also was investigated at 25 °C. Aragonite was precipitated from Na-Cl-Ca-Mg-(B)-CO2 solutions of seawater-like ionic strength using passive CO2 degassing or constant addition methods. Based upon our new experimental observations and published experimental data from lower ionic strength solutions by Kim et al. (2007b), the equilibrium aragonite-water oxygen isotope fractionation factor is independent of the ionic strength of the parent solution up to 0.7 mol/kg. Hence, our study also suggests that the aragonite precipitation mechanism is not affected by the presence of sodium and chloride ions in the parent solution over the range of concentrations investigated.

Effect of Co2+ and Y3+ ions insertion on the microstructure development and magnetic properties of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 powders synthesized using Co-precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rashad, M. M.; Rayan, D. A.; Turky, A. O.; Hessien, M. M.

2015-01-01

Nanocrystalline Ni0.5Zn0.5-xCoxFe2-zYzO4 powders (x=0-0.3 and z from 0 to 0.3) have been synthesized via a facile co-precipitation technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) are utilized in order to study the effect of variation of cobalt and yttrium substitutions and its impact on crystalline size, lattice parameter, X-ray density, microstructure and magnetic properties of the formed powders. X-ray diffraction data indicated that, after doping, all samples consisted of the main spinel phase for the formed precursors precipitated at pH 10 annealed at 1000 oC for 2 h. The lattice parameter and the unit cell were decreased linearly with increasing Co content whereas they were increased with increasing the Y incorporation. Additionally, the porosity was increased with increasing Co concentration while it was decreased with increasing the Y insertion. The mean ionic radii and hopping and bond lengths was decreased with the value of Co2+ and they were increased with the value of Y3+ ion as well as both of Y3+ and Co2+ ions. The microstructures of the produced powders were found to be cubic like structure. The addition of Y3+ ion suppressed the grain size whereas addition of Co2+ ion enhanced the grain growth availably. An examination of the magnetic properties revealed an increase in saturation magnetization with increasing Co and Y concentrations incorporation up to x=0.3. Meanwhile, the formed powders exhibited superparamagnetic characteristics. A high saturation magnetization (77.0 emu/g) was achieved for Ni0.5Zn0.2Co0.3Fe2O4 sample annealed at 1000 oC for 2 h.

Long-term variability and changes of the precipitation regime in Pakistan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussain, Mian Sabir; Lee, Seungho

2014-05-01

This paper presents an examination of precipitation amounts in Pakistan. For this purpose, the annual precipitation and the annual number of precipitation days have been calculated, and a study aimed at investigating precipitation intensity and decadal changes was conducted. Precipitation trends have been calculated using a simple linear regression method and Kendall's tau-based test. To assess stability and differences, a 10-year span was determined for each precipitation region for the period of 1951-2010. This study focused on the three CLINO (Climatological Normal) periods, namely 1961-1990, 1971-2000, and 1981-2010 (the latest global standard normal period). Results confirm the gradual increase of annual precipitation in southwestern coastal areas of Pakistan and Cholistan desert. With regard to annual number of precipitation days, in the central part of the country negative trends were evident for wet days (with precipitation ≧ 0.1 mm), while the number of rainy days (with precipitation ≧ 1 mm) displayed a prominent positive trend. The series of the precipitation intensity gives evidence of a minor decrease in the Baluchistan Plateau, sub-Himalayas, and Potwar Plateau during the study period. Examination of secular trends evidenced that the Murree hills, the upper Indus plain, and the northwestern Baluchistan plateau have had shifts in their precipitation regime towards drier conditions, while the central plain, the northwestern mountains, and the southern part of the country are shifting in their precipitation regime towards wetter conditions. Description among the means of precipitation amounts suggests that "normal" precipitation data for various national projects should be calculated for the last 30 years.

Controlling the size and magnetic properties of nano CoFe2O4 by microwave assisted co-precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prabhakaran, T.; Mangalaraja, R. V.; Denardin, Juliano C.

2018-02-01

In this report, cobalt ferrite nanoparticles synthesized using microwave assisted co-precipitation method was reported. Efforts have been made to control the particles size, distribution, morphology and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles by varying the concentration of NaOH solution and microwave irradiation time. It was observed that the rate of nucleation and crystal growth was influenced by the tuning parameters. In that way, the average crystallite size of single phase cobalt ferrite nanoparticles was controlled within 9-11 and 10-12 nm with an increase of base concentration and microwave irradiation time, respectively. A narrow size distribution of nearly spherical nanoparticles was achieved through the present procedure. A soft ferromagnetism at room temperature with the considerable saturation magnetization of 58.4 emu g-1 and coercivity of 262.7 Oe was obtained for the cobalt ferrites synthesized with 2.25 M of NaOH solution for 3 and 7 min of microwave irradiation time, respectively. The cobalt ferrite nanoparticles synthesized with a shorter reaction time of 3-7 min was found to be advantageous over other methods that involved conventional heating procedures and longer reaction time to achieve the better magnetic properties for the technological applications.

Enhancing visible light photocatalytic and photocharge separation of (BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3} plate via dramatic I{sup −} ions doping effect

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liang, Lei; Cao, Jing; Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Functional Composite, Huaibei, 235000, Anhui

Highlights: • Novel I-(BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3} was prepared by a facile chemical precipitation method. • I{sup −} ions impurity level located on the top of valence band of (BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3}. • I{sup −} ions doping largely improved photocatalytic activity of I-(BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3}. • I-(BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3} displayed excellent photocharge separation efficiency. - Abstract: Novel I{sup −} ions doped (BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3} (I-(BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3}) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized via a facile chemical precipitation method. Under visible light (λ > 400 nm), I-(BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3} displayed much higher activity for rhodamine B and dichlorophenol degradation than the undoped (BiO){submore » 2}CO{sub 3}. The pseudo-first-order rate constant k{sub app} of RhB degradation over 15.0% I-(BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3} was 0.54 h{sup −1}, which is 11.3 times higher than that of (BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3}. The doped I{sup −} ions formed an impurity level on the top of valence band of (BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3} and induced much more visible light to be absorbed. The enhanced photocurrent and surface photovoltage properties were detected, which strongly ensures the efficient separation of electrons and holes in I-(BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3} system under visible light. It provides a facile way to improve the photocatalytic activity of the wide-band-gap (BiO){sub 2}CO{sub 3} via intense doping effect of I{sup −} ions.« less

[Determination of americium-241 in urine].

PubMed

Shvydko, N S; Mikhaĭlova, O A; Popov, D K

1988-01-01

A technique has been developed for the determination of americium 241 in urine by a radiochemical purification of the nuclide from uranium (upon co-precipitation of americium 241 with calcium and lanthanum), plutonium, thorium, and polonium 210 (upon co-precipitation of these radionuclides with zirconium iodate). alpha-Radioactivity was measured either in a thick layer of the americium 241 precipitate with a nonisotope carrier or in thin-layer preparations after electrolytic precipitation of americium 241 on a cathode.

Precipitation behavior of AlxCoCrFeNi high entropy alloys under ion irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Tengfei; Xia, Songqin; Liu, Shi; Wang, Chenxu; Liu, Shaoshuai; Fang, Yuan; Zhang, Yong; Xue, Jianming; Yan, Sha; Wang, Yugang

2016-08-01

Materials performance is central to the satisfactory operation of current and future nuclear energy systems due to the severe irradiation environment in reactors. Searching for structural materials with excellent irradiation tolerance is crucial for developing the next generation nuclear reactors. Here, we report the irradiation responses of a novel multi-component alloy system, high entropy alloy (HEA) AlxCoCrFeNi (x = 0.1, 0.75 and 1.5), focusing on their precipitation behavior. It is found that the single phase system, Al0.1CoCrFeNi, exhibits a great phase stability against ion irradiation. No precipitate is observed even at the highest fluence. In contrast, numerous coherent precipitates are present in both multi-phase HEAs. Based on the irradiation-induced/enhanced precipitation theory, the excellent structural stability against precipitation of Al0.1CoCrFeNi is attributed to the high configurational entropy and low atomic diffusion, which reduces the thermodynamic driving force and kinetically restrains the formation of precipitate, respectively. For the multiphase HEAs, the phase separations and formation of ordered phases reduce the system configurational entropy, resulting in the similar precipitation behavior with corresponding binary or ternary conventional alloys. This study demonstrates the structural stability of single-phase HEAs under irradiation and provides important implications for searching for HEAs with higher irradiation tolerance.

Isolation of 236U and 239,240Pu from seawater samples and its determination by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry.

PubMed

López-Lora, Mercedes; Chamizo, Elena; Villa-Alfageme, María; Hurtado-Bermúdez, Santiago; Casacuberta, Núria; García-León, Manuel

2018-02-01

In this work we present and evaluate a radiochemical procedure optimised for the analysis of 236 U and 239,240 Pu in seawater samples by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). The method is based on Fe(OH) 3 co-precipitation of actinides and uses TEVA® and UTEVA® extraction chromatography resins in a simplified way for the final U and Pu purification. In order to improve the performance of the method, the radiochemical yields are analysed in 1 to 10L seawater volumes using alpha spectrometry (AS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Robust 80% plutonium recoveries are obtained; however, it is found that Fe(III) concentration in the precipitation solution and sample volume are the two critical and correlated parameters influencing the initial uranium extraction through Fe(OH) 3 co-precipitation. Therefore, we propose an expression that optimises the sample volume and Fe(III) amounts according to both the 236 U and 239,240 Pu concentrations in the samples and the performance parameters of the AMS facility. The method is validated for the current setup of the 1MV AMS system (CNA, Sevilla, Spain), where He gas is used as a stripper, by analysing a set of intercomparison seawater samples, together with the Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics (ETH, Zürich, Switzerland). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Data Centred Method to Estimate and Map Changes in the Full Distribution of Daily Precipitation and Its Exceedances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chapman, S. C.; Stainforth, D. A.; Watkins, N. W.

2014-12-01

Estimates of how our climate is changing are needed locally in order to inform adaptation planning decisions. This requires quantifying the geographical patterns in changes at specific quantiles or thresholds in distributions of variables such as daily temperature or precipitation. We develop a method[1] for analysing local climatic timeseries to assess which quantiles of the local climatic distribution show the greatest and most robust changes, to specifically address the challenges presented by 'heavy tailed' distributed variables such as daily precipitation. We extract from the data quantities that characterize the changes in time of the likelihood of daily precipitation above a threshold and of the relative amount of precipitation in those extreme precipitation days. Our method is a simple mathematical deconstruction of how the difference between two observations from two different time periods can be assigned to the combination of natural statistical variability and/or the consequences of secular climate change. This deconstruction facilitates an assessment of how fast different quantiles of precipitation distributions are changing. This involves both determining which quantiles and geographical locations show the greatest change but also, those at which any change is highly uncertain. We demonstrate this approach using E-OBS gridded data[2] timeseries of local daily precipitation from specific locations across Europe over the last 60 years. We treat geographical location and precipitation as independent variables and thus obtain as outputs the pattern of change at a given threshold of precipitation and with geographical location. This is model- independent, thus providing data of direct value in model calibration and assessment. Our results identify regionally consistent patterns which, dependent on location, show systematic increase in precipitation on the wettest days, shifts in precipitation patterns to less moderate days and more heavy days, and drying across all days which is of potential value in adaptation planning. [1] S C Chapman, D A Stainforth, N W Watkins, 2013 Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A, 371 20120287; D. A. Stainforth, S. C. Chapman, N. W. Watkins, 2013 Environ. Res. Lett. 8, 034031 [2] Haylock et al. 2008 J. Geophys. Res (Atmospheres), 113, D20119

Facile synthesis and characterization of erythrocyte-like Y-doped PbWO{sub 4} mesocrystals and their photocatalytic activity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xiong, Ying; Wang, Bing; Hu, Wenyuan

2015-07-15

Novel erythrocyte-like Y-doped PbWO{sub 4} mesocrystals with average diameter and thickness of 1.5 and 0.7 μm are fabricated via a facile co-precipitation route at room temperature in the ethylene glycol (EG)-water mixed solvent. Time-dependent samples centrifuged at different times are carefully characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Raman spectrum. The possible formation mechanism for the novel erythrocyte-like mesocrystals is proposed on the basis of these observations. The photocatalytic activity of the Y-doped PbWO{sub 4} mesocrystals is further investigated in terms of the degradation of the acid orange II undermore » UV irradiation. This simple and environment-friendly strategy presented here offers promising route for the synthesis of other inorganic materials with unique morphologies and interesting properties. - Graphical abstract: Display Omitted - Highlights: • Novel erythrocyte-like Y-doped PbWO{sub 4} mesocrystals are firstly synthesized via a facile co-precipitation route. • The mesocrystals are assembled by small nanoparticles a common crystallographic fashion. • The erythrocyte-like mesocrystals exhibit well photocatalytic activity. • A recrystallization-growth-oriented attachment formation mechanism is proposed.« less

Temperature is better than precipitation as a predictor of plant community assembly across a dryland region

USGS Publications Warehouse

Butterfield, Bradley J.; Munson, Seth M.

2016-01-01

QuestionHow closely do plant communities track climate? Research suggests that plant species converge toward similar environmental tolerances relative to the environments that they experience. Whether these patterns apply to severe environments or scale up to plant community-level patterns of relative climatic tolerances is poorly understood. Using estimates of species' climatic tolerances acquired from occurrence records, we determined the contributions of individual species' climatic niche breadths and environmental filtering to the relationships between community-average climatic tolerances and the local climates experienced by those communities.LocationSouthwestern United States drylands.MethodsInterspecific variation in niche breadth was assessed as a function of species' climatic optima (median climatic niche value). The relationships between climatic optima and tolerances were used as null expectations for the relationship between abundance-weighted mean climatic tolerances of communities and the local climate of that community. Deviations from this null expectation indicate that species with greater or lesser climatic tolerances are favoured relative to co-occurring species. The intensity of environmental filtering was estimated by comparing the range of climatic tolerances within each community to a null distribution generated from a random assembly algorithm.ResultsThe temperature niches of species were consistently symmetrical and of similar breadths, regardless of their temperature optima. In contrast, precipitation niches were skewed toward wetter conditions, and niche breadth increased with increasing precipitation optima. At the community level, relationships with climate were much stronger for temperature than for precipitation. Furthermore, cold and heat were stronger assembly filters than drought or precipitation, with the intensity of environmental filtering increasing at both ends of climatic gradients. Community-average climatic tolerances did deviate significantly from null expectations, indicating that species with higher or lower relative climatic tolerances were favoured under certain conditions.ConclusionsDespite strong water limitation of plant performance in dryland ecosystems, communities tracked variation in temperature much more closely, intimating strong responses to anticipated temperature increases. Furthermore, abundance distributions were biased toward species with higher or lower relative climatic tolerances under different climatic conditions, but predictably so, indicating the need for assembly models that include processes other than simple environmental filtering.

The effect to the water stress to soil CO2 efflux in the Siberian boreal forest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makhnykina, A. V.; Prokishkin, A. S.; Verkhovets, S. V.; Koshurnikova, N. N.

2017-12-01

The boreal forests in Siberia covered more than 70% area of this region. Due to the climate change this ecosystems represent a very sensitive and significant source of carbon. In forests, total ecosystem respiration tends to be dominated by soil respiration, which accounts for approximately 69% of this large flux (Janssens et al., 2001). Dynamic global vegetation models predict that soil respiration will increase more than total net primary productivity in response to warmer temperatures and increase in precipitation, the terrestrial carbon sink is expected to decline significantly (Bonan et al., 2003). The aim of the present study was to identify the response of the soil CO2 efflux to the different amount of water input for two highly differentiated years by the precipitation conditions in the middle taiga forests in Central Siberia. The study was conducted in the pine forests in Central Siberia (60°N, 90°E), Russia. We used the automated soil CO2 flux system LI-8100 for measuring the soil efflux. Soil temperature was measured with Soil Temperature Probe Type E in three depths 5, 10, 15 cm. Volumetric soil moisture was measured with Theta Probe Model ML2. We constructed the field experiment based on the addition of different amount of water (0%, 25%, 50% and 100% sites) after each rain event during the growing season. We found that the amount of precipitation have a huge impact to the value of soil CO2 efflux. For the more precipitated year (2015) the fluxes were almost twice higher compared to less precipitated year (2016). The max fluxes during the season in 2015 observed at the site without any water input there and the min one - for the 100% precipitation site (natural rain conditions). In 2016 we identified the opposite response: the max soil efflux demonstrated the site with 100% precipitation conditions (Fig. 1). We also detected the high dependence between the soil temperature and soil CO2 efflux for the site with 0% additional water input in more precipitated year (with excluding the precipitation factor). These findings confirmed that the increase of precipitation in the boreal forests will enhance soil CO2 efflux.

Cobalt doped CuMnOx catalysts for the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dey, Subhashish; Dhal, Ganesh Chandra; Mohan, Devendra; Prasad, Ram; Gupta, Rajeev Nayan

2018-05-01

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas, recognized as a silent killer for the 21st century. It is produced from the partial oxidation of carbon containing compounds. The catalytic oxidation of CO receives a huge attention due to its applications in different fields. In the present work, hopcalite (CuMnOx) catalysts were synthesized using a co-precipitation method for CO oxidation purposes. Also, it was doped with the cobalt by varying concentration from 1 to 5wt%. It was observed that the addition of cobalt into the CuMnOx catalyst (by the deposition-precipitation method) improved the catalytic performance for the low-temperature CO oxidation. CuMnOx catalyst doped with 3wt% of cobalt exhibited most active performance and showed the highest activity than other cobalt concentrations. Different analytical tools (i.e. XRD, FTIR, BET, XPS and SEM-EDX) were used to characterize the as-synthesized catalysts. It was expected that the introduction of cobalt will introduce new active sites into the CuMnOx catalyst that are associated with the cobalt nano-particles. The order of calcination strategies based on the activity for cobalt doped CuMnOx catalysts was observed as: Reactive calcinations (RC) > flowing air > stagnant air. Therefore, RC (4.5% CO in air) route can be recommended for the synthesis of highly active catalysts. The catalytic activity of doped CuMnOx catalysts toward CO oxidation shows a correlation among average oxidation number of Mn and the position and the nature of the doped cobalt cation.

Spatial interpolation schemes of daily precipitation for hydrologic modeling

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hwang, Y.; Clark, M.R.; Rajagopalan, B.; Leavesley, G.

2012-01-01

Distributed hydrologic models typically require spatial estimates of precipitation interpolated from sparsely located observational points to the specific grid points. We compare and contrast the performance of regression-based statistical methods for the spatial estimation of precipitation in two hydrologically different basins and confirmed that widely used regression-based estimation schemes fail to describe the realistic spatial variability of daily precipitation field. The methods assessed are: (1) inverse distance weighted average; (2) multiple linear regression (MLR); (3) climatological MLR; and (4) locally weighted polynomial regression (LWP). In order to improve the performance of the interpolations, the authors propose a two-step regression technique for effective daily precipitation estimation. In this simple two-step estimation process, precipitation occurrence is first generated via a logistic regression model before estimate the amount of precipitation separately on wet days. This process generated the precipitation occurrence, amount, and spatial correlation effectively. A distributed hydrologic model (PRMS) was used for the impact analysis in daily time step simulation. Multiple simulations suggested noticeable differences between the input alternatives generated by three different interpolation schemes. Differences are shown in overall simulation error against the observations, degree of explained variability, and seasonal volumes. Simulated streamflows also showed different characteristics in mean, maximum, minimum, and peak flows. Given the same parameter optimization technique, LWP input showed least streamflow error in Alapaha basin and CMLR input showed least error (still very close to LWP) in Animas basin. All of the two-step interpolation inputs resulted in lower streamflow error compared to the directly interpolated inputs. ?? 2011 Springer-Verlag.

A data centred method to estimate and map how the local distribution of daily precipitation is changing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chapman, Sandra; Stainforth, David; Watkins, Nick

2014-05-01

Estimates of how our climate is changing are needed locally in order to inform adaptation planning decisions. This requires quantifying the geographical patterns in changes at specific quantiles in distributions of variables such as daily temperature or precipitation. Here we focus on these local changes and on a method to transform daily observations of precipitation into patterns of local climate change. We develop a method[1] for analysing local climatic timeseries to assess which quantiles of the local climatic distribution show the greatest and most robust changes, to specifically address the challenges presented by daily precipitation data. We extract from the data quantities that characterize the changes in time of the likelihood of daily precipitation above a threshold and of the relative amount of precipitation in those days. Our method is a simple mathematical deconstruction of how the difference between two observations from two different time periods can be assigned to the combination of natural statistical variability and/or the consequences of secular climate change. This deconstruction facilitates an assessment of how fast different quantiles of precipitation distributions are changing. This involves both determining which quantiles and geographical locations show the greatest change but also, those at which any change is highly uncertain. We demonstrate this approach using E-OBS gridded data[2] timeseries of local daily precipitation from specific locations across Europe over the last 60 years. We treat geographical location and precipitation as independent variables and thus obtain as outputs the pattern of change at a given threshold of precipitation and with geographical location. This is model- independent, thus providing data of direct value in model calibration and assessment. Our results show regionally consistent patterns of systematic increase in precipitation on the wettest days, and of drying across all days which is of potential value in adaptation planning. [1] S C Chapman, D A Stainforth, N W Watkins, 2013, On Estimating Local Long Term Climate Trends, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A, 371 20120287; D. A. Stainforth, 2013, S. C. Chapman, N. W. Watkins, Mapping climate change in European temperature distributions, Environ. Res. Lett. 8, 034031 [2] Haylock, M.R., N. Hofstra, A.M.G. Klein Tank, E.J. Klok, P.D. Jones and M. New. 2008: A European daily high-resolution gridded dataset of surface temperature and precipitation. J. Geophys. Res (Atmospheres), 113, D20119

Kinetics and mechanism of dye adsorption on WO3 nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adhikari, Sangeeta; Mandal, Sandip; Sarkar, Debasish; Kim, Do-Heyoung; Madras, Giridhar

2017-10-01

Monoclinic WO3 nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple acid catalyzed co-precipitation reaction. Spherical particles with average size ∼55 nm were confirmed from electron microscopy followed by functional, structural and optical characterizations. The adsorption of methylene blue was examined by using WO3 nanoparticles and the capacity was higher than most of the reported studies. The effect of pH and material loading on adsorption was determined. The mechanism of adsorption was examined by XPS and a detailed explanation of surface phenomena was proposed. Regeneration study was carried and a high stability of heat treated WO3 towards adsorption of methylene blue was observed.

Direct gas injection method: A simple modification to an elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometer for stable isotope analysis of N and C from N2O and CO2 gases in nanomolar concentrations

EPA Science Inventory

A simple modification to the Elemental Analyzer coupled to Isotope Ratio Mass-Spectrometer (EA-IRMS) setup is described. This modification allows the users to measure nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) by injecting the gases directly into an online injector placed befor...

Correction of Excessive Precipitation over Steep and High Mountains in a GCM: A Simple Method of Parameterizing the Thermal Effects of Subgrid Topographic Variation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chao, Winston C.

2015-01-01

The excessive precipitation over steep and high mountains (EPSM) in GCMs and meso-scale models is due to a lack of parameterization of the thermal effects of the subgrid-scale topographic variation. These thermal effects drive subgrid-scale heated slope induced vertical circulations (SHVC). SHVC provide a ventilation effect of removing heat from the boundary layer of resolvable-scale mountain slopes and depositing it higher up. The lack of SHVC parameterization is the cause of EPSM. The author has previously proposed a method of parameterizing SHVC, here termed SHVC.1. Although this has been successful in avoiding EPSM, the drawback of SHVC.1 is that it suppresses convective type precipitation in the regions where it is applied. In this article we propose a new method of parameterizing SHVC, here termed SHVC.2. In SHVC.2 the potential temperature and mixing ratio of the boundary layer are changed when used as input to the cumulus parameterization scheme over mountainous regions. This allows the cumulus parameterization to assume the additional function of SHVC parameterization. SHVC.2 has been tested in NASA Goddard's GEOS-5 GCM. It achieves the primary goal of avoiding EPSM while also avoiding the suppression of convective-type precipitation in regions where it is applied.

Mineralogical, crystallographic, and isotopic constraints on the precipitation of aragonite and calcite at Shiqiang and other hot springs in Yunnan Province, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Brian; Peng, Xiaotong

2016-11-01

Two active spring vent pools at Shiqiang (Yunnan Province, China) are characterized by a complex array of precipitates that coat the wall around the pool and the narrow ledges that surround the vent pool. These precipitates include arrays of aragonite crystals, calcite cone-dendrites, red spar calcite, unattached dodecahedral and rhombohedral calcite crystals, and late stage calcite that commonly coats and disguises the earlier formed precipitates. Some of the microbial mats that grow on the ledges around the pools have been partly mineralized by microspheres that are formed of Si and minor amounts of Fe. The calcite and aragonite that are interspersed with each other at all scales are both primary precipitates. Some laminae, for example, change laterally from aragonite to calcite over distances of only a few millimetres. The precipitates at Shiqiang are similar to precipitates found in and around the vent pools of other springs found in Yunnan Province, including those at Gongxiaoshe, Zhuyuan, Eryuan, and Jifei. In all cases, the δDwater and δ18Owater indicate that the spring water is of meteoric origin. These are thermogene springs with the carrier CO2 being derived largely from the mantle and reaction of the waters with bedrock. Variations in the δ13Ctravertine values indicate that the waters in these springs were mixed, to varying degrees, with cold groundwater and its soil-derived CO2. Calcite and aragonite precipitation took place once the spring waters had become supersaturated with respect to CaCO3, probably as a result of rapid CO2 degassing. These precipitates, which were not in isotopic equilibrium with the spring water, are characterized by their unusual crystal morphologies. The precipitation of calcite and aragonite, seemingly together, can probably be attributed to microscale variations in the saturation levels that are, in turn, attributable to microscale variations in the rate of CO2 degassing.

Changes and Attribution of Extreme Precipitation in Climate Models: Subdaily and Daily Scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, W.; Villarini, G.; Scoccimarro, E.; Vecchi, G. A.

2017-12-01

Extreme precipitation events are responsible for numerous hazards, including flooding, soil erosion, and landslides. Because of their significant socio-economic impacts, the attribution and projection of these events is of crucial importance to improve our response, mitigation and adaptation strategies. Here we present results from our ongoing work.In terms of attribution, we use idealized experiments [pre-industrial control experiment (PI) and 1% per year increase (1%CO2) in atmospheric CO2] from ten general circulation models produced under the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and the fraction of attributable risk to examine the CO2 effects on extreme precipitation at the sub-daily and daily scales. We find that the increased CO2 concentration substantially increases the odds of the occurrence of sub-daily precipitation extremes compared to the daily scale in most areas of the world, with the exception of some regions in the sub-tropics, likely in relation to the subsidence of the Hadley Cell. These results point to the large role that atmospheric CO2 plays in extreme precipitation under an idealized framework. Furthermore, we investigate the changes in extreme precipitation events with the Community Earth System Model (CESM) climate experiments using the scenarios consistent with the 1.5°C and 2°C temperature targets. We find that the frequency of annual extreme precipitation at a global scale increases in both 1.5°C and 2°C scenarios until around 2070, after which the magnitudes of the trend become much weaker or even negative. Overall, the frequency of global annual extreme precipitation is similar between 1.5°C and 2°C for the period 2006-2035, and the changes in extreme precipitation in individual seasons are consistent with those for the entire year. The frequency of extreme precipitation in the 2°C experiments is higher than for the 1.5°C experiment after the late 2030s, particularly for the period 2071-2100.

Synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles via a robust ``solvent-deficient'' method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Stacey J.; Huang, Baiyu; Liu, Shengfeng; Liu, Qingyuan; Olsen, Rebecca E.; Boerio-Goates, Juliana; Woodfield, Brian F.

2014-11-01

We report an efficient, general methodology for producing high-surface area metal oxide nanomaterials for a vast range of metal oxides, including at least one metal oxide nanomaterial from nearly every transition metal and semi-metal group in the periodic table (groups 3-4 and 6-15) as well as several from the lanthanide group (see Table 1). The method requires only 2-3 simple steps; a hydrated metal salt (usually a nitrate or chloride salt) is ground with bicarbonate (usually NH4HCO3) for 10-30 minutes to form a precursor that is then either untreated or rinsed before being calcined at relatively low temperatures (220-550 °C) for 1-3 hours. The method is thus similar to surfactant-free aqueous methods such as co-precipitation but is unique in that no solvents are added. The resulting ``solvent-deficient'' environment has interesting and unique consequences, including increased crystallinity of the products over other aqueous methods and a mesoporous nature in the inevitable agglomerates. The products are chemically pure and phase pure with crystallites generally 3-30 nm in average size that aggregate into high surface area, mesoporous agglomerates 50-300 nm in size that would be useful for catalyst and gas sensing applications. The versatility of products and efficiency of the method lend its unique potential for improving the industrial viability of a broad family of useful metal oxide nanomaterials. In this paper, we outline the methodology of the solvent-deficient method using our understanding of its mechanism, and we describe the range and quality of nanomaterials it has produced thus far.We report an efficient, general methodology for producing high-surface area metal oxide nanomaterials for a vast range of metal oxides, including at least one metal oxide nanomaterial from nearly every transition metal and semi-metal group in the periodic table (groups 3-4 and 6-15) as well as several from the lanthanide group (see Table 1). The method requires only 2-3 simple steps; a hydrated metal salt (usually a nitrate or chloride salt) is ground with bicarbonate (usually NH4HCO3) for 10-30 minutes to form a precursor that is then either untreated or rinsed before being calcined at relatively low temperatures (220-550 °C) for 1-3 hours. The method is thus similar to surfactant-free aqueous methods such as co-precipitation but is unique in that no solvents are added. The resulting ``solvent-deficient'' environment has interesting and unique consequences, including increased crystallinity of the products over other aqueous methods and a mesoporous nature in the inevitable agglomerates. The products are chemically pure and phase pure with crystallites generally 3-30 nm in average size that aggregate into high surface area, mesoporous agglomerates 50-300 nm in size that would be useful for catalyst and gas sensing applications. The versatility of products and efficiency of the method lend its unique potential for improving the industrial viability of a broad family of useful metal oxide nanomaterials. In this paper, we outline the methodology of the solvent-deficient method using our understanding of its mechanism, and we describe the range and quality of nanomaterials it has produced thus far. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: (1) Preliminary Netzsch milling results for Al2O3 and CeO2, (2) XRD patterns/analyses of the dried and rinsed precursors plotted with the ICDD standard patterns of the materials they contain, (3) all TG/DTA-MS data. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr04964k

Methods for estimating 2D cloud size distributions from 1D observations

DOE PAGES

Romps, David M.; Vogelmann, Andrew M.

2017-08-04

The two-dimensional (2D) size distribution of clouds in the horizontal plane plays a central role in the calculation of cloud cover, cloud radiative forcing, convective entrainment rates, and the likelihood of precipitation. Here, a simple method is proposed for calculating the area-weighted mean cloud size and for approximating the 2D size distribution from the 1D cloud chord lengths measured by aircraft and vertically pointing lidar and radar. This simple method (which is exact for square clouds) compares favorably against the inverse Abel transform (which is exact for circular clouds) in the context of theoretical size distributions. Both methods also performmore » well when used to predict the size distribution of real clouds from a Landsat scene. When applied to a large number of Landsat scenes, the simple method is able to accurately estimate the mean cloud size. Finally, as a demonstration, the methods are applied to aircraft measurements of shallow cumuli during the RACORO campaign, which then allow for an estimate of the true area-weighted mean cloud size.« less

Methods for estimating 2D cloud size distributions from 1D observations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Romps, David M.; Vogelmann, Andrew M.

The two-dimensional (2D) size distribution of clouds in the horizontal plane plays a central role in the calculation of cloud cover, cloud radiative forcing, convective entrainment rates, and the likelihood of precipitation. Here, a simple method is proposed for calculating the area-weighted mean cloud size and for approximating the 2D size distribution from the 1D cloud chord lengths measured by aircraft and vertically pointing lidar and radar. This simple method (which is exact for square clouds) compares favorably against the inverse Abel transform (which is exact for circular clouds) in the context of theoretical size distributions. Both methods also performmore » well when used to predict the size distribution of real clouds from a Landsat scene. When applied to a large number of Landsat scenes, the simple method is able to accurately estimate the mean cloud size. Finally, as a demonstration, the methods are applied to aircraft measurements of shallow cumuli during the RACORO campaign, which then allow for an estimate of the true area-weighted mean cloud size.« less

Dryland Flood-Irrigation and its Impact on CO2 Production and the Accumulation of Pedogenic Carbonate in West Texas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortiz, A. C.; Jin, L.

2016-12-01

Agricultural fields in drylands are intensively irrigated. Indeed, pecan orchards at the El Paso, TX region are flooded with over one meter of water per growing season. The waters are usually oversaturated in calcite (CaCO3) and continuous evapotranspiration drives CaCO3 precipitation, releasing CO2. As such, the loading of CaCO3 through flood irrigation in drylands impacts Ca and C cycles greatly. We characterized soil, soil gas and soil water samples to quantify rates of pedogenic carbonate accumulation and CO2 release, identify the sources of C and Ca in pedogenic carbonates, and investigate kinetic and environmental controls of CaCO3 formation. Simple calculations show that up to 112000kg/km2/yr of Ca is loaded onto the fields by irrigation, evidenced by high water-soluble and acid-leachable Ca in soils, especially in clayey soils. We used 87Sr/86Sr ratios to quantify the relative importance of different Ca end-members including flood irrigation. Data show that water-soluble soil leachates have similar 87Sr/86Sr ratios as irrigation waters at depth, but lighter signatures at surface, probably due dust and fertilizer inputs. We measured daily soil-atmosphere CO2 efflux, δ13CCO2 and concentrations of CO2 gas samples at different soil depths between two irrigation events and at two sites with sandy versus clayey soils. These data help determine if sources of soil CO2 change with depth, irrigation event and if CO2 transport is controlled by texture. Correlations of δ13CCO2 and soil CO2 concentrations indicate mixing of organically respired, atmospheric and CaCO3-derived CO2. We found co-variation of δ13CCO2 and soil CO2 with time, where soil CO2 became heavier in carbon isotopes and more abundant in concentrations, illustrating shifts from soil respired CO2, characterized by lighter C, to increased proportions of CaCO3-derived CO2 with heavier C. Efflux data show peak values as soils dried, indicating supersaturation of soil waters and precipitation of pedogenic calcite. This efflux is also controlled by soil texture, as sandy soils emitted more CO2 than clayey soils, even if fine-textured soils contained more CaCO3. These findings can significantly impact CO2 modeling and can aid in extrapolating to larger scales.

Creep resistant, precipitation-dispersion-strengthened, martensitic stainless steel and method thereof

DOEpatents

Buck, R.F.

1994-05-10

An iron-based, corrosion-resistant, precipitation strengthened, martensitic steel essentially free of delta ferrite for use at high temperatures has a nominal composition of 0.05--0.1 C, 8--12 Cr, 1--5 Co, 0.5--2.0 Ni, 0.41--1.0 Mo, 0.1--0.5 Ti, and the balance iron. This steel is different from other corrosion-resistant martensitic steels because its microstructure consists of a uniform dispersion of fine particles, which are very closely spaced, and which do not coarsen at high temperatures. Thus at high temperatures this steel combines the excellent creep strength of dispersion-strengthened steels, with the ease of fabricability afforded by precipitation hardenable steels. 2 figures.

Creep resistant, precipitation-dispersion-strengthened, martensitic stainless steel and method thereof

DOEpatents

Buck, Robert F.

1994-01-01

An iron-based, corrosion-resistant, precipitation strengthened, martensitic steel essentially free of delta ferrite for use at high temperatures has a nominal composition of 0.05-0.1 C, 8-12 Cr, 1-5 Co, 0.5-2.0 Ni, 0.41-1.0 Mo, 0.1-0.5 Ti, and the balance iron. This steel is different from other corrosion-resistant martensitic steels because its microstructure consists of a uniform dispersion of fine particles, which are very closely spaced, and which do not coarsen at high temperatures. Thus at high temperatures this steel combines the excellent creep strength of dispersion-strengthened steels, with the ease of fabricability afforded by precipitation hardenable steels.

Hydrometallurgical recovery of metal values from sulfuric acid leaching liquor of spent lithium-ion batteries.

PubMed

Chen, Xiangping; Chen, Yongbin; Zhou, Tao; Liu, Depei; Hu, Hang; Fan, Shaoyun

2015-04-01

Environmentally hazardous substances contained in spent Li-ion batteries, such as heavy metals and nocuous organics, will pose a threat to the environment and human health. On the other hand, the sustainable recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries may bring about environmental and economic benefits. In this study, a hydrometallurgical process was adopted for the comprehensive recovery of nickel, manganese, cobalt and lithium from sulfuric acid leaching liquor from waste cathode materials of spent lithium-ion batteries. First, nickel ions were selectively precipitated and recovered using dimethylglyoxime reagent. Recycled dimethylglyoxime could be re-used as precipitant for nickel and revealed similar precipitation performance compared with fresh dimethylglyoxime. Then the separation of manganese and cobalt was conducted by solvent extraction method using cobalt loaded D2EHPA. And McCabe-Thiele isotherm was employed for the prediction of the degree of separation and the number of extraction stages needed at specific experimental conditions. Finally, cobalt and lithium were sequentially precipitated and recovered as CoC2O4 ⋅ 2H2O and Li2CO3 using ammonium oxalate solution and saturated sodium carbonate solution, respectively. Recovery efficiencies could be attained as follows: 98.7% for Ni; 97.1% for Mn, 98.2% for Co and 81.0% for Li under optimized experimental conditions. This hydrometallurgical process may promise a candidate for the effective separation and recovery of metal values from the sulfuric acid leaching liquor. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hierarchical La0.7Ce0.3FeO3/halloysite nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiazhang; Zhu, Wei; Yan, Xiangyu; Lu, Xiaowang; Yao, Chao; Ni, Chaoying

2016-08-01

The hierarchical La0.7Ce0.3FeO3/halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) composites have been successfully prepared via sol-gel method. XRD and TEM characterizations indicated that the sheet-like La0.7Ce0.3FeO3 coupled with the co-precipitated CeO2 were evenly deposited onto the surface of halloysite. The photocatalytic degradation of chlortetracycline under visible light irradiation using La0.7Ce0.3FeO3/HNTs as catalyst was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography, which exhibited remarkable photocatalytic activity with the removal rate up to 99 % in 90 min, due to the formation of "solid solution/co-precipitation" heterostructure as well as the excellent adsorptive capability of halloysite for antibiotics.

Precipitation Nowcast using Deep Recurrent Neural Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akbari Asanjan, A.; Yang, T.; Gao, X.; Hsu, K. L.; Sorooshian, S.

2016-12-01

An accurate precipitation nowcast (0-6 hours) with a fine temporal and spatial resolution has always been an important prerequisite for flood warning, streamflow prediction and risk management. Most of the popular approaches used for forecasting precipitation can be categorized into two groups. One type of precipitation forecast relies on numerical modeling of the physical dynamics of atmosphere and another is based on empirical and statistical regression models derived by local hydrologists or meteorologists. Given the recent advances in artificial intelligence, in this study a powerful Deep Recurrent Neural Network, termed as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model, is creatively used to extract the patterns and forecast the spatial and temporal variability of Cloud Top Brightness Temperature (CTBT) observed from GOES satellite. Then, a 0-6 hours precipitation nowcast is produced using a Precipitation Estimation from Remote Sensing Information using Artificial Neural Network (PERSIANN) algorithm, in which the CTBT nowcast is used as the PERSIANN algorithm's raw inputs. Two case studies over the continental U.S. have been conducted that demonstrate the improvement of proposed approach as compared to a classical Feed Forward Neural Network and a couple simple regression models. The advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method are summarized with regard to its capability of pattern recognition through time, handling of vanishing gradient during model learning, and working with sparse data. The studies show that the LSTM model performs better than other methods, and it is able to learn the temporal evolution of the precipitation events through over 1000 time lags. The uniqueness of PERSIANN's algorithm enables an alternative precipitation nowcast approach as demonstrated in this study, in which the CTBT prediction is produced and used as the inputs for generating precipitation nowcast.

Synthesis of high capacity cathodes for lithium-ion batteries by morphology-tailored hydroxide co-precipitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dapeng; Belharouak, Ilias; Ortega, Luis H.; Zhang, Xiaofeng; Xu, Rui; Zhou, Dehua; Zhou, Guangwen; Amine, Khalil

2015-01-01

Nickel manganese hydroxide co-precipitation inside a continuous stirred tank reactor was studied with sodium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide as the precipitation agents. The ammonium hydroxide concentration had an effect on the primary and secondary particle evolution. The two-step precipitation mechanism proposed earlier was experimentally confirmed. In cell tests, Li- and Mn-rich composite cathode materials based on the hydroxide precursors demonstrated good electrochemical performance in terms of cycle life over a wide range of lithium content.

Calcium carbonate precipitation by heterotrophic bacteria isolated from biofilms formed on deteriorated ignimbrite stones: influence of calcium on EPS production and biofilm formation by these isolates.

PubMed

López-Moreno, Angélica; Sepúlveda-Sánchez, José David; Mercedes Alonso Guzmán, Elia Mercedes; Le Borgne, Sylvie

2014-01-01

Heterotrophic CaCO3-precipitating bacteria were isolated from biofilms on deteriorated ignimbrites, siliceous acidic rocks, from Morelia Cathedral (Mexico) and identified as Enterobacter cancerogenus (22e), Bacillus sp. (32a) and Bacillus subtilis (52g). In solid medium, 22e and 32a precipitated calcite and vaterite while 52g produced calcite. Urease activity was detected in these isolates and CaCO3 precipitation increased in the presence of urea in the liquid medium. In the presence of calcium, EPS production decreased in 22e and 32a and increased in 52g. Under laboratory conditions, ignimbrite colonization by these isolates only occurred in the presence of calcium and no CaCO3 was precipitated. Calcium may therefore be important for biofilm formation on stones. The importance of the type of stone, here a siliceous stone, on biological colonization is emphasized. This calcium effect has not been reported on calcareous materials. The importance of the effect of calcium on EPS production and biofilm formation is discussed in relation to other applications of CaCO3 precipitation by bacteria.

Improved CO sub 2 enhanced oil recovery -- Mobility control by in-situ chemical precipitation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ameri, S.; Aminian, K.; Wasson, J.A.

1991-06-01

The overall objective of this study has been to evaluate the feasibility of chemical precipitation to improve CO{sub 2} sweep efficiency and mobility control. The laboratory experiments have indicated that carbonate precipitation can alter the permeability of the core samples under reservoir conditions. Furthermore, the relative permeability measurements have revealed that precipitation reduces the gas permeability in favor of liquid permeability. This indicates that precipitation is occurring preferentially in the larger pores. Additional experimental work with a series of connected cores have indicated that the permeability profile can be successfully modified. However, Ph control plays a critical role in propagationmore » of the chemical precipitation reaction. A numerical reservoir model has been utilized to evaluate the effects of permeability heterogeneity and permeability modification on the CO{sub 2} sweep efficiency. The computer simulation results indicate that the permeability profile modification can significantly enhance CO{sub 2} vertical and horizontal sweep efficiencies. The scoping studies with the model have further revealed that only a fraction of high permeability zones need to be altered to achieve sweep efficiency enhancement. 64 refs., 30 figs., 16 tabs.« less

A General and Mild Approach to Controllable Preparation of Manganese-Based Micro- and Nanostructured Bars for High Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

PubMed

Ma, Guo; Li, Sheng; Zhang, Weixin; Yang, Zeheng; Liu, Shulin; Fan, Xiaoming; Chen, Fei; Tian, Yuan; Zhang, Weibo; Yang, Shihe; Li, Mei

2016-03-07

One-dimensional (1D) micro- and nanostructured electrode materials with controllable phase and composition are appealing materials for use in lithium-ion batteries with high energy and power densities, but they are challenging to prepare. Herein, a novel ethanol-water mediated co-precipitation method by a chimie douce route (synthesis conducted under mild conditions) has been exploited to selectively prepare an extensive series of manganese-based electrode materials, manifesting the considerable generalizability and efficacy of the method. Moreover, by simply tuning the mixed solvent and reagents, transition metal oxide bars with differing aspect ratios and compositions were prepared with an unprecedented uniformity. Application prospects are demonstrated by Li-rich 0.5 Li2 MnO3 ⋅0.5 LiNi1/3 Co1/3 Mn1/3 O2 bars, which demonstrate excellent reversible capacity and rate capability thanks to the steerable nature of the synthesis and material quality. This work opens a new route to 1D micro- and nanostructured materials by customizing the precipitating solvent to orchestrate the crystallization process. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Acoustic Monitoring of Gravity-Driven Controls on CaCO3 Precipitates in a Fracture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Z.; Sheets, J.; Zhang, L.; Kim, D.; Kneafsey, T. J.; Cole, D. R.; Jun, Y. S.; Pyrak-Nolte, L. J.

2017-12-01

Sealing fractures by mineral precipitation is an important process for improving caprock integrity in subsurface reservoirs. In this study, the ability to monitor precipitate distribution in fractures with buoyant fluids was examined. Fractures with uniform aperture distributions of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mm were created from acrylic plates to enable direct imaging of precipitate formation over time. CaCO3 precipitation was induced in a fracture from invasion of 1M CaCl2 and 0.3M Na2CO3 solutions. During chemical invasion, a fracture plane was oriented either parallel or perpendicular to gravity. Acoustic (P) wave transmission ( 1 MHz) and optical imaging were used to monitor the sample prior to, during and after fluid injection. Complementary X-ray computed tomography was performed throughout the experiments on vertical fractures and post injection for the horizontal fractures. Precipitate particle sizes during formation were determined using SAXS and WAXS. In both horizontal and vertical fractures, the density contrast between the two solutions affected the spatial distribution of precipitation. In vertical fractures, the denser CaCl2 solution almost completely displaced the NaCO3 solution, causing strong localization of precipitates. However, in the horizontal fractures, flow stratification occurred in the 2 mm aperture fractures, with the less dense Na2CO3 flowing over the CaCl2 solution, resulting in a more even distribution of precipitates cross the fracture plane. P-wave amplitudes increased up to 8% and the arrival time decreased with precipitate accumulation in the horizontal fracture. This is consistent with a three-layered approach as the seismic impedance inside the fracture increases. The initial contact between the two was observed as a decrease in the P-wave amplitude. As precipitates accumulated, the amplitude recovered and increased, with greater increases observed along the mixing flow path. Fractures in the subsurface may seal differently depending on the orientation thus affecting the ability of a fracture to self-heal if oriented vertically. This work was supported by the Center for Nanoscale Controls on Geologic CO (NCGC), an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences under Award # DE-AC02-05CH11231

Forest response to rising CO 2 drives zonally asymmetric rainfall change over tropical land

DOE PAGES

Kooperman, Gabriel J.; Chen, Yang; Hoffman, Forrest M.; ...

2018-04-27

Understanding how anthropogenic CO 2 emissions will influence future precipitation is critical for sustainably managing ecosystems, particularly for drought-sensitive tropical forests. Although tropical precipitation change remains uncertain, nearly all models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 predict a strengthening zonal precipitation asymmetry by 2100, with relative increases over Asian and African tropical forests and decreases over South American forests. Here we show that the plant physiological response to increasing CO 2 is a primary mechanism responsible for this pattern. Applying a simulation design in the Community Earth System Model in which CO 2 increases are isolated over individualmore » continents, we demonstrate that different circulation, moisture and stability changes arise over each continent due to declines in stomatal conductance and transpiration. The sum of local atmospheric responses over individual continents explains the pan-tropical precipitation asymmetry. Our analysis suggests that South American forests may be more vulnerable to rising CO 2 than Asian or African forests.« less

Forest response to rising CO2 drives zonally asymmetric rainfall change over tropical land

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kooperman, Gabriel J.; Chen, Yang; Hoffman, Forrest M.; Koven, Charles D.; Lindsay, Keith; Pritchard, Michael S.; Swann, Abigail L. S.; Randerson, James T.

2018-05-01

Understanding how anthropogenic CO2 emissions will influence future precipitation is critical for sustainably managing ecosystems, particularly for drought-sensitive tropical forests. Although tropical precipitation change remains uncertain, nearly all models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 predict a strengthening zonal precipitation asymmetry by 2100, with relative increases over Asian and African tropical forests and decreases over South American forests. Here we show that the plant physiological response to increasing CO2 is a primary mechanism responsible for this pattern. Applying a simulation design in the Community Earth System Model in which CO2 increases are isolated over individual continents, we demonstrate that different circulation, moisture and stability changes arise over each continent due to declines in stomatal conductance and transpiration. The sum of local atmospheric responses over individual continents explains the pan-tropical precipitation asymmetry. Our analysis suggests that South American forests may be more vulnerable to rising CO2 than Asian or African forests.

Sensitivity of agricultural runoff loads to rising levels of CO2 and climate change in the San Joaquin Valley watershed of California.

PubMed

Ficklin, Darren L; Luo, Yuzhou; Luedeling, Eike; Gatzke, Sarah E; Zhang, Minghua

2010-01-01

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to assess the impact of climate change on sediment, nitrate, phosphorus and pesticide (diazinon and chlorpyrifos) runoff in the San Joaquin watershed in California. This study used modeling techniques that include variations of CO(2), temperature, and precipitation to quantify these responses. Precipitation had a greater impact on agricultural runoff compared to changes in either CO(2) concentration or temperature. Increase of precipitation by +/-10% and +/-20% generally changed agricultural runoff proportionally. Solely increasing CO(2) concentration resulted in an increase in nitrate, phosphorus, and chlorpyrifos yield by 4.2, 7.8, and 6.4%, respectively, and a decrease in sediment and diazinon yield by 6.3 and 5.3%, respectively, in comparison to the present-day reference scenario. Only increasing temperature reduced yields of all agricultural runoff components. The results suggest that agricultural runoff in the San Joaquin watershed is sensitive to precipitation, temperature, and CO(2) concentration changes.

Removal of dissolved humic acid from water by photocatalytic oxidation using a silver orthophosphate semiconductor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hatakeyama, Keisuke, E-mail: hatakeyamak@pref.tottori.jp; Okuda, Masukazu; Kuki, Takahiro

2012-12-15

Graphical abstract: Display Omitted Highlights: ► The photocatalytic property of a silver orthophosphate (Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}) was investigated for humic acid degradation. ► The Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} shows high photocatalytic activity under visible light. ► The photocatalytic activity was greatly improved by employing the precipitation method. -- Abstract: In order to remove dissolved organic matter such as humic acid from water, a silver orthophosphate (Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}) was newly employed as a heterogeneous photocatalyst. Here, Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} was prepared by simple ion-exchange and precipitation methods, and the physico-chemical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanningmore » electron microscopy, particle distribution measurements and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The degradation of humic acid was faster over Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} catalyst than over conventional TiO{sub 2} (P-25). The total photocatalytic properties were improved by employing not an ion-exchange method but a precipitation method; humic acid degradation was performed with a removal ratio of dissolved organic carbon of 75% under visible light (λ = 451 nm) for 2-h irradiation.« less

The Effects of Secondary Oxides on Copper‐Based Catalysts for Green Methanol Synthesis

PubMed Central

Hayward, James S.; Smith, Paul J.; Kondrat, Simon A.; Bowker, Michael

2017-01-01

Abstract Catalysts for methanol synthesis from CO2 and H2 have been produced by two main methods: co‐precipitation and supercritical anti‐solvent (SAS) precipitation. These two methods are compared, along with the behaviour of copper supported on Zn, Mg, Mn, and Ce oxides. Although the SAS method produces initially active material with high Cu specific surface area, they appear to be unstable during reaction losing significant amounts of surface area and hence activity. The CuZn catalysts prepared by co‐precipitation, however, showed much greater thermal and reactive stability than the other materials. There appeared to be the usual near‐linear dependence of activity upon Cu specific area, though the initial performance relationship was different from that post‐reaction, after some loss of surface area. The formation of the malachite precursor, as reported before, is important for good activity and stability, whereas if copper oxides are formed during the synthesis and ageing process, then a detrimental effect on these properties is seen. PMID:28706570

Sigma phases in an 11%Cr ferritic/martensitic steel with the normalized and tempered condition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shen, Yinzhong, E-mail: shenyz@sjtu.edu.cn

At the present time 9–12% Cr ferritic/martensitic (F/M) steels with target operating temperatures up to 650 °C and higher are being developed in order to further increase thermal efficiency so as to reduce coal consumption and air pollution. An 11% Cr F/M steel was prepared by reference to the nominal chemical composition of SAVE12 steel with an expected maximum use temperature of 650 °C. The precipitate phases of the 11% Cr F/M steel normalized at 1050 °C for 0.5 h and tempered at 780 °C for 1.5 h were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Except for Cr-/Cr-Fe-Co-rich M{sub 23}C{sub 6},more » Nb-/V-/Ta-Nb-/Nd-rich MX, Fe-rich M{sub 5}C{sub 2}, Co-rich M{sub 3}C and Fe-Co-rich M{sub 6}C phases previously identified in the steel, two types of sigma phases consisting of σ-FeCr and σ-FeCrW were found to be also present in the normalized and tempered steel. Identified σ-FeCr and σ-FeCrW phases have a simple tetragonal crystal structure with estimated lattice parameters a/c = 0.8713/0.4986 and 0.9119/0.5053 nm, respectively. The compositions in atomic pct of the observed sigma phases were determined to be approximately 50Fe-50Cr for the σ-FeCr, and 30Fe-55Cr-10W in addition to a small amount of Ta, Co and Mn for the σ-FeCrW. The sigma phases in the steel exhibit various blocky morphologies, and appear to have a smaller amount compared with the dominant phases Cr-rich M{sub 23}C{sub 6} and Nb-/V-/Ta-Nb-rich MX of the steel. The σ-FeCr phase in the steel was found to precipitate at δ-ferrite/martensite boundaries, suggesting that δ-ferrite may rapidly induce the formation of sigma phase at δ-ferrite/martensite boundaries in high Cr F/M steels containing δ-ferrite. The formation mechanism of sigma phases in the steel is also discussed in terms of the presence of δ-ferrite, M{sub 23}C{sub 6} precipitation, precipitation/dissolution of M{sub 2}X, and steel composition. - Highlights: •Precipitate phases in normalized and tempered 11%Cr F/M steel are presented in detail. • σ-FeCr phase, 50Fe50Cr (in at.%), was identified in normalized and tempered 11%Cr F/M steel. • σ-FeCrW phase, 30Fe55Cr10W (in at.%), was identified in normalized and tempered 11%Cr F/M steel. • Sigma phase in the 11%Cr F/M steel was found to precipitate at δ-ferrite/martensite boundaries. • δ-ferrite may rapidly induce the sigma phase formation at δ-ferrite/martensite boundaries.« less

Recycling of cobalt from spent Li-ion batteries as β-Co(OH)2 and the application of Co3O4 as a pseudocapacitor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barbieri, E. M. S.; Lima, E. P. C.; Lelis, M. F. F.; Freitas, M. B. J. G.

2014-12-01

This work has investigated recycling cobalt from the cathodes of spent Li-ion batteries as β-Co(OH)2, obtaining Co3O4. β-Co(OH)2 with a hexagonal structure by using chemical precipitation (CP) or electrochemical precipitation (EP). In addition, the study has investigated whether the charge density applied directly affects the β-Co(OH)2 morphology. Co3O4 is formed by heat-treating β-Co(OH)2 at 450 °C for 3 h (h) in an air atmosphere. After calcining, the Co3O4 shows a cubic structure and satisfactory purity grade, regardless of the route used for preparation via which it was obtained. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is then used for electrochemical characterization of the Co3O4 composite electrodes. In the cathodic process, CoO2 undergoes reduction to CoOOH, which undergoes further reduction to Co3O4. In the anodic process, Co3O4 undergoes oxidation to CoOOH, which simultaneously undergoes further oxidation to CoO2. The composite electrodes containing Co3O4, carbon black, and epoxy resin show great reversibility, charge efficiency, and a specific capacitance of 13.0 F g-1 (1.0 mV s-1). The synthesis method of Co(OH)2 influences the charge efficiency of Co3O4 composite electrodes at a scan rate of 10.0 mV s-1. Therefore, in addition to presenting an alternative use for exhausted batteries, Co3O4 composites exhibit favorable characteristics for use as pseudocapacitors.

Behaviour of calcium carbonate in sea water

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cloud, P.E.

1962-01-01

Anomalies in the behaviour of calcium carbonate in natural solutions diminish when considered in context. Best values found by traditional oceanographie methods for the apparent solubility product constant K'CaCO3 in sea water at atmospheric pressure are consistent mineralogically-at 36 parts per thousand salinity and T-25??C, K'aragonlte is estimated as 1.12 ?? 10-6 and K'calcite as 0.61 ?? 10-6. At 30??C the corresponding values are 0.98 ?? 10-6 for aragonite and 0.53 ?? 10-6 for calcite. Because the K' computations do not compensate for ionic activity, however, they cannot give thermodynamically satisfactory results. It is of interest, therefore, that approximate methods and information now available permit the estimation from the same basic data of an activity product constant KCaCO3 close to that found in solutions to which Debye-Hu??ckel theory applies. Such methods indicate approximate Karagonite 7.8 ?? 10-9 for surface sea water at 29??C; Kcalcite would be proportionately lower. Field data and experimental results indicate that the mineralogy of precipitated CaCO3 depends primarily on degree of supersaturation, thus also on kinetic or biologic factors that facilitate or inhibit a high degree of supersaturation. The shallow, generally hypersaline bank waters west of Andros Island yield aragonitic sediments with O18 O16 ratios that imply precipitation mainly during the warmer months, when the combination of a high rate of evaporation, increasing salinity (and ionic strength), maximal temperatures and photosynthetic removal of CO2 result in high apparent supersaturation. The usual precipitate from solutions of low ionic strength is calcite, except where the aragonite level of supersaturation is reached as a result of diffusion phenomena (e.g. dripstones), gradual and marked evaporation, or biologic intervention. Published data also suggest the possibility of distinct chemical milieus for crystallographic variations in skeletal calcium carbonate. It appears that in nature aragonite precipitates from solutions that are supersaturated with respect to both calcite and aragonite and calcite between saturation levels for the two species. Such a relation is consistent with Ostwald's rule of successive reactions. Aragonitc of marine origin persists in contact with supersaturated interstitial solutions at ordinary temperature and pressure. Conversion to calcite follows transfer to solutions undersaturated with respect to aragonite or upon exposure to the moist atmosphere. ?? 1962.

CO2 fertilization and enhanced drought resistance in Greek firs from Cephalonia Island, Greece.

PubMed

Koutavas, Athanasios

2013-02-01

Growth-climate relationships were investigated in Greek firs from Ainos Mountain on the island of Cephalonia in western Greece, using dendrochronology. The goal was to test whether tree growth is sensitive to moisture stress, whether such sensitivity has been stable through time, and whether changes in growth-moisture relationships support an influence of atmospheric CO2 on growth. Regressions of tree-ring indices (ad 1820-2007) with instrumental temperature, precipitation, and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) indicate that growth is fundamentally limited by growing-season moisture in late spring/early summer, most critically during June. However, this simple picture obscures a pattern of sharply evolving growth-climate relationships during the 20th century. Correlations between growth and June temperature, precipitation, and PDSI were significantly greater in the early 20th century but later degraded and disappeared. By the late 20th-early 21st century, there remains no statistically significant relationship between moisture and growth implying markedly enhanced resistance to drought. Moreover, growth experienced a net increase over the last half-century culminating with a sharp spike in ad 1988-1990. This recent growth acceleration is evident in the raw ring-width data prior to standardization, ruling out artifacts from statistical detrending. The vanishing relationship with moisture and parallel enhancement of growth are all the more notable because they occurred against a climatic backdrop of increasing aridity. The results are most consistent with a significant CO2 fertilization effect operating through restricted stomatal conductance and improved water-use efficiency. If this interpretation is correct, atmospheric CO2 is now overcompensating for growth declines anticipated from drier climate, suggesting its effect is unusually strong and likely to be detectable in other up-to-date tree-ring chronologies from the Mediterranean. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Thermodynamic stability of CoOOH and its coprecipitation with manganese

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hem, J.D.; Roberson, C.E.; Lind, Carol J.

1985-01-01

A precipitate of cobalt oxyhydroxides formed by bubbling oxygen through a dilute solution of Co(NO3)2 held at pH 9.0 and 25??C was aged for 23 months in contact with the original solution, with access to atmospheric oxygen. Co3O4 and CoOOH were identified in the precipitate by X-ray diffraction. Chemical equilibria involving these solids were evaluated by measurements of solution pH and Co2+ activities and by redox potential measurements and gave a ??GcoOOH0 of -92.3 ?? 0.5 kcal/mole. This value and other thermodynamic data show relative feasibility of hypothetical reaction steps and changes in reaction paths during automated coprecipitation titrations and subsequent aging of a precipitate that finally contained ??MnOOH, MnO2 (birnessite) and CoOOH. ?? 1985.

Co-precipitation of dissolved organic matter by calcium carbonate in Pyramid Lake, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Leenheer, Jerry A.; Reddy, Michael M.

2008-01-01

Our previous research has demonstrated that dissolved organic matter (DOM) influences calcium carbonate mineral formation in surface and ground water. To better understand DOM mediation of carbonate precipitation and DOM co-precipitation and/or incorporation with carbonate minerals, we characterized the content and speciation of DOM in carbonate minerals and in the lake water of Pyramid Lake, Nevada, USA. A 400-gram block of precipitated calcium carbonate from the Pyramid Lake shore was dissolved in 8 liters of 10% acetic acid. Particulate matter not dissolved by acetic acid was removed by centrifugation. DOM from the carbonate rock was fractionated into nine portions using evaporation, dialysis, resin adsorption, and selective precipitations to remove acetic acid and inorganic constituents. The calcium carbonate rock contained 0.23% DOM by weight. This DOM was enriched in polycarboxylic proteinaceous acids and hydroxy-acids in comparison with the present lake water. DOM in lake water was composed of aliphatic, alicyclic polycarboxylic acids. These compound classes were found in previous studies to inhibit calcium carbonate precipitation. DOM fractions from the carbonate rock were 14C-age dated at about 3,100 to 3,500 years before present. The mechanism of DOM co-precipitation and/or physical incorporation in the calcium carbonate is believed to be due to formation of insoluble calcium complexes with polycarboxylic proteinaceous acids and hydroxy-acids that have moderately large stability constants at the alkaline pH of the lake. DOM co-precipitation with calcium carbonate and incorporation in precipitated carbonate minerals removes proteinaceous DOM, but nearly equivalent concentrations of neutral and acidic forms of organic nitrogen in DOM remain in solution. Calcium carbonate precipitation during lime softening pretreatment of drinking water may have practical applications for removal of proteinaceous disinfection by-product precursors.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Viklund, H.I.; Kennedy, R.H.

Uranium precipitates obtained from Congo leach liquors by an ion exchange process contained more than 0.1% chloride. Attempts were made to reduce the chloride content of typical precipitates by calcination of dried precipitate, releaching of dried precipitate with water, and washing of wet precipitate with water. Washing of wet precipitate with an aqueous solution of 0.25% Na/sub 2/SO/ sub 4/, to prevent peptization, provided a simple solution to the problem. Precipitation tests on Congo ion exchange eluates showed a marked advantage in subsequent thickening and filtration operations for precipitation from hot solution. (auth)

Choice of precipitant and calcination temperature of precursor for synthesis of NiCo2O4 for control of CO-CH4 emissions from CNG vehicles.

PubMed

Trivedi, Suverna; Prasad, Ram

2018-03-01

Compressed natural gas (CNG) is most appropriate an alternative of conventional fuel for automobiles. However, emissions of carbon-monoxide and methane from such vehicles adversely affect human health and environment. Consequently, to abate emissions from CNG vehicles, development of highly efficient and inexpensive catalysts is necessary. Thus, the present work attempts to scan the effects of precipitants (Na 2 CO 3 , KOH and urea) for nickel cobaltite (NiCo 2 O 4 ) catalysts prepared by co-precipitation from nitrate solutions and calcined in a lean CO-air mixture at 400°C. The catalysts were used for oxidation of a mixture of CO and CH 4 (1:1). The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface-area, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; temperature programmed reduction and Scanning electron microscopy coupled with Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy. The Na 2 CO 3 was adjudged as the best precipitant for production of catalyst, which completely oxidized CO-CH 4 mixture at the lowest temperature (T 100 =350°C). Whereas, for catalyst prepared using urea, T 100 =362°C. On the other hand the conversion of CO-CH 4 mixture over the catalyst synthesized by KOH limited to 97% even beyond 400°C. Further, the effect of higher calcination temperatures of 500 and 600°C was examined for the best catalyst. The total oxidation of the mixture was attained at higher temperatures of 375 and 410°C over catalysts calcined at 500 and 600°C respectively. Thus, the best precipitant established was Na 2 CO 3 and the optimum calcination temperature of 400°C was found to synthesize the NiCo 2 O 4 catalyst for the best performance in CO-CH 4 oxidation. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Seasonality of Groundwater Recharge in the Basin and Range Province, Western North America

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neff, K. L.; Meixner, T.; Ajami, H.; De La Cruz, L.

2015-12-01

For water-scarce communities in the western U.S., it is critical to understand groundwater recharge regimes and how those regimes might shift in the face of climate change and impact groundwater resources. Watersheds in the Basin and Range Geological Province are characterized by a variable precipitation regime of wet winters and variable summer precipitation. The relative contributions to groundwater recharge by summer and winter precipitation vary throughout the province, with winter precipitation recharge dominant in the northern parts of the region, and recharge from summer monsoonal precipitation playing a more significant role in the south, where the North American Monsoon (NAM) extends its influence. Stable water isotope data of groundwater and seasonal precipitation from sites in Sonora, Mexico and the U.S. states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas were examined to estimate and compare groundwater recharge seasonality throughout the region. Contributions of winter precipitation to annual recharge vary from 69% ± 41% in the southernmost Río San Miguel Basin in Sonora, Mexico, to 100% ± 36% in the westernmost Mojave Desert of California. The Normalized Seasonal Wetness Index (NSWI), a simple water budget method for estimating recharge seasonality from climatic data, was shown to approximate recharge seasonality well in several winter precipitation-dominated systems, but less well in basins with significant summer precipitation.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kooperman, Gabriel J.; Chen, Yang; Hoffman, Forrest M.

Understanding how anthropogenic CO 2 emissions will influence future precipitation is critical for sustainably managing ecosystems, particularly for drought-sensitive tropical forests. Although tropical precipitation change remains uncertain, nearly all models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 predict a strengthening zonal precipitation asymmetry by 2100, with relative increases over Asian and African tropical forests and decreases over South American forests. Here we show that the plant physiological response to increasing CO 2 is a primary mechanism responsible for this pattern. Applying a simulation design in the Community Earth System Model in which CO 2 increases are isolated over individualmore » continents, we demonstrate that different circulation, moisture and stability changes arise over each continent due to declines in stomatal conductance and transpiration. The sum of local atmospheric responses over individual continents explains the pan-tropical precipitation asymmetry. Our analysis suggests that South American forests may be more vulnerable to rising CO 2 than Asian or African forests.« less

Modelling the sensitivity of soil mercury storage to climate-induced changes in soil carbon pools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hararuk, O.; Obrist, D.; Luo, Y.

2013-04-01

Substantial amounts of mercury (Hg) in the terrestrial environment reside in soils and are associated with soil organic carbon (C) pools, where they accumulated due to increased atmospheric deposition resulting from anthropogenic activities. The purpose of this study was to examine potential sensitivity of surface soil Hg pools to global change variables, particularly affected by predicted changes in soil C pools, in the contiguous US. To investigate, we included a soil Hg component in the Community Land Model based on empirical statistical relationships between soil Hg / C ratios and precipitation, latitude, and clay; and subsequently explored the sensitivity of soil C and soil Hg densities (i.e., areal-mass) to climate scenarios in which we altered annual precipitation, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and temperature. Our model simulations showed that current sequestration of Hg in the contiguous US accounted for 15 230 metric tons of Hg in the top 0-40 cm of soils, or for over 300 000 metric tons when extrapolated globally. In the simulations, US soil Hg pools were most sensitive to changes in precipitation because of strong effects on soil C pools, plus a direct effect of precipitation on soil Hg / C ratios. Soil Hg pools were predicted to increase beyond present-day values following an increase in precipitation amounts and decrease following a reduction in precipitation. We found pronounced regional differences in sensitivity of soil Hg to precipitation, which were particularly high along high-precipitation areas along the West and East Coasts. Modelled increases in CO2 concentrations to 700 ppm stimulated soil C and Hg accrual, while increased air temperatures had small negative effects on soil C and Hg densities. The combined effects of increased CO2, increased temperature and increased or decreased precipitation were strongly governed by precipitation and CO2 showing pronounced regional patterns. Based on these results, we conclude that the combination of precipitation and CO2 should be emphasised when assessing how climate-induced changes in soil C may affect sequestration of Hg in soils.

Predicting mineral precipitation in fractures: The influence of local heterogeneity on the feedback between precipitation and permeability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, T.; Detwiler, R. L.

2016-12-01

Long-term subsurface energy production and contaminant storage strategies often rely on induced-mineralization to control the transport of dissolved ions. In low-permeability rocks, precipitation is most likely to occur in fractures that act as leakage pathways for fluids that are in chemical disequilibrium with the formation minerals. These fractures are commonly idealized as parallel-plate channels with uniform surface mineralogy, and as a result, our predictions often suggest that precipitation leads to fast permeability reduction. However, natural fractures contain both heterogeneous mineralogy and three-dimensional surface roughness, and our understanding of how precipitation affects local permeability in these environments is limited. To examine the impacts of local heterogeneity on the feedback between mineral precipitation and permeability, we performed two long-term experiments in transparent analog fractures: (i) uniform-aperture and (ii) variable-aperture. We controlled the initial heterogeneous surface mineralogy in both experiments by seeding the bottom borosilicate fracture surfaces with randomly distributed clusters of CaCO3 crystals. Continuous flow ISCO pumps injected a well-mixed CaCl2-NaHCO3 solution, log(ΩCaCO3) = 1.44, into the fracture at 0.5 ml/min and transmitted-light techniques provided high-resolution (83 x 83 µm), direct measurements of aperture and fluid transport across the fracture. In experiment (i), precipitation decreased local aperture at discrete CaCO3 reaction sites near the fracture inlet, but transport variations across the fracture remained relatively small due to the initial lack of aperture heterogeneity. In contrast, the feedback between precipitation and aperture in experiment (ii) focused flow into large-aperture, preferential flow paths that contained significantly less CaCO3 area than the fracture scale average. Precipitation-induced aperture reduction in (ii) reduced dissolved ion transport into small-aperture regions of the fracture that were abundant with CaCO3 and led to a 72% decrease in measured precipitation rate. These results suggest that incorporating the effects of local heterogeneity may dramatically improve our ability to predict precipitation-induced permeability alterations in fractured rocks.

The Effect of fluid buoyancy and fracture orientation on CaCO3 Formation in a Fracture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Z.; Li, Q.; Sheets, J.; Kneafsey, T. J.; Jun, Y. S.; Cole, D. R.; Pyrak-Nolte, L. J.

2016-12-01

Sealing fractures through mineral precipitation is a potential way for improving caprock integrity in subsurface reservoirs. We investigated the effect of buoyancy and fracture orientation on the amount and spatial distribution of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitates in a fracture. To monitor mineral precipitation during reactive flow, transparent acrylic casts of an induced fracture in Austin chalk were used. To trigger CaCO3 precipitates, 1M CaCl2 with either 0.6M NaHCO3 solution (for surface adhering precipitation), or 0.3M Na2CO3 solution (for pore filling precipitation) were injected simultaneously into a saturated fracture. Experiments were performed with the fracture plane oriented either parallel or perpendicular to gravity. Acoustic wave transmission (compressional wave, 1 MHz) and optical imaging were used to monitor the sample prior to, during and after fluid injection. Complementary X-ray computed tomography was performed throughout the experiments on vertical fractures and post injection for the horizontal fractures. For the vertical fractures, the denser CaCl2 almost completely displaced the carbonate solution in the fracture and caused strong localization of the precipitates. The width of the precipitated region grew slowly over time. The horizontal fracture caused the less dense carbonate to flow over the CaCl2 solution thus resulting in more mixing and a more even distribution of precipitates throughout the fracture. The acoustic signatures depended on the type of precipitation that occurred. For pore filling experiments, the compressional wave amplitude increased by 5-20% and the velocity increased for both the vertical and horizontal fractures. However, the acoustic responses differed between the vertical and horizontal fractures for surface adhering experiments. Based on the acoustic response, surface adhering precipitation increased fracture specific stiffness more in the horizontal fracture than in the vertical fracture. The horizontal fracture enabled more mixing of the two solutions within the fracture than the vertical fracture. This work was supported by the Center for Nanoscale Controls on Geologic CO (NCGC), an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences under Award # DE-AC02-05CH11231

Desalination and hydrogen, chlorine, and sodium hydroxide production via electrophoretic ion exchange and precipitation.

PubMed

Shkolnikov, Viktor; Bahga, Supreet S; Santiago, Juan G

2012-08-28

We demonstrate and analyze a novel desalination method which works by electrophoretically replacing sodium and chloride in feed salt water with a pair of ions, calcium and carbonate, that react and precipitate out. The resulting calcium carbonate precipitate is benign to health, and can be filtered or settled out, yielding low ionic strength product water. The ion exchange and precipitation employs self-sharpening interfaces induced by movement of multiple ions in an electric field to prevent contamination of the product water. Simultaneously, the electrolysis associated with the electromigration produces hydrogen gas, chlorine gas, and sodium hydroxide. We conducted an experimental study of this method's basic efficacy to desalinate salt water from 100 to 600 mol m(-3) sodium chloride. We also present physicochemical models of the process, and analyze replacement reagents consumption, permeate recovery ratio, and energy consumption. We hypothesize that the precipitate can be recycled back to replacement reagents using the well-known, commercially implemented Solvay process. We show that the method's permeate recovery ratio is 58% to 46%, which is on par with that of reverse osmosis. We show that the method's energy consumption requirement over and above that necessary to generate electrolysis is 3 to 10 W h l(-1), which is on par with the energy consumed by state-of-the-art desalination methods. Furthermore, the method operates at ambient temperature and pressure, and uses no specialized membranes. The process may be feasible as a part of a desalination-co-generation facility: generating fresh water, hydrogen and chlorine gas, and sodium hydroxide.

Moderate solar geoengineering greatly reduces the largest changes in climate whilst modestly increasing the changes in climate over a small fraction of the Earth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irvine, P. J.; Keith, D.; He, J.; Vecchi, G.; Horowitz, L. W.

2017-12-01

Whilst solar geoengineering reduces global temperature it cannot perfectly offset the climate effects of elevated CO2 concentrations. Solar geoengineering has been shown to have a greater effect on the global hydrological cycle than CO2 and substantial differences in regional precipitation relative to a scenario without elevated CO2­ concentrations have been noted. In this study we evaluate a moderate scenario of solar geoengineering, one which offsets 50% of the forcing from elevated CO2 concentrations, using a 25 Km resolution global climate model and verify these results using the Geoengineering model Intercomparison project ensemble. We calculate the fraction of regions that would be better or worse off after solar geoengineering deployment, defining those which see greater absolute change as worse off and vice versa. We find that 51% of the land area would be statistically significantly better off for precipitation, 33% for Precipitation minus evaporation (P-E), and that less than 3% would be worse off for precipitation, and 1% for P-E. We find that the fraction of the land area experiencing the largest changes in climate, defined as the upper quartile of the CO2 minus control anomaly, is greatly reduced for precipitation, P-E and 5-day maximum precipitation, and eliminated for mean and max annual temperature. The regions which are made worse off in precipitation or P-E by solar geoengineering typically saw relatively little to no CO2 induced climate change and see relatively little to moderate change in the solar geoengineering scenario. There is little overlap between the regions made worse off in terms of precipitation and P-E. In fact, whilst precipitation is reduced in almost all regions made worse off by solar geoengineering, P-E is increased in the majority of regions made worse off. Overall, we find that for each variable considered solar geoengineering greatly reduces the fraction of the world experiencing relatively large change and that those regions made worse off by solar geoengineering are still, relatively speaking, much better off than those regions which fare badly under a climate change scenario.

A new precipitation-based method of baseflow separation and event identification for small watersheds (<50 km2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koskelo, Antti I.; Fisher, Thomas R.; Utz, Ryan M.; Jordan, Thomas E.

2012-07-01

SummaryBaseflow separation methods are often impractical, require expensive materials and time-consuming methods, and/or are not designed for individual events in small watersheds. To provide a simple baseflow separation method for small watersheds, we describe a new precipitation-based technique known as the Sliding Average with Rain Record (SARR). The SARR uses rainfall data to justify each separation of the hydrograph. SARR has several advantages such as: it shows better consistency with the precipitation and discharge records, it is easier and more practical to implement, and it includes a method of event identification based on precipitation and quickflow response. SARR was derived from the United Kingdom Institute of Hydrology (UKIH) method with several key modifications to adapt it for small watersheds (<50 km2). We tested SARR on watersheds in the Choptank Basin on the Delmarva Peninsula (US Mid-Atlantic region) and compared the results with the UKIH method at the annual scale and the hydrochemical method at the individual event scale. Annually, SARR calculated a baseflow index that was ˜10% higher than the UKIH method due to the finer time step of SARR (1 d) compared to UKIH (5 d). At the watershed scale, hydric soils were an important driver of the annual baseflow index likely due to increased groundwater retention in hydric areas. At the event scale, SARR calculated less baseflow than the hydrochemical method, again because of the differences in time step (hourly for hydrochemical) and different definitions of baseflow. Both SARR and hydrochemical baseflow increased with event size, suggesting that baseflow contributions are more important during larger storms. To make SARR easy to implement, we have written a MatLab program to automate the calculations which requires only daily rainfall and daily flow data as inputs.

CO[subscript 2] Rebreathing: An Undergraduate Laboratory to Study the Chemical Control of Breathing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Domnik, N. J.; Turcotte, S. E.; Yuen, N. Y.; Iscoe, S.; Fisher, J. T.

2013-01-01

The Read CO[subscript]2 rebreathing method (Read DJ. "A clinical method for assessing the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide." "Australas Ann Med" 16: 20-32, 1967) provides a simple and reproducible approach for studying the chemical control of breathing. It has been widely used since the modifications made by Duffin and…

Development of spray-dried co-precipitate of amorphous celecoxib containing storage and compression stabilizers.

PubMed

Dhumal, Ravindra S; Shimpi, Shamkant L; Paradkar, Anant R

2007-09-01

The purpose of this study was to obtain an amorphous system with minimum unit operations that will prevent recrystallization of amorphous drugs since preparation, during processing (compression) and further storage. Amorphous celecoxib, solid dispersion (SD) of celecoxib with polyvinyl pyrrollidone (PVP) and co-precipitate with PVP and carrageenan (CAR) in different ratios were prepared by the spray drying technique and compressed into tablets. Saturation solubility and dissolution studies were performed to differentiate performance after processing. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder difraction revealed the amorphous form of celecoxib, whereas infrared spectroscopy revealed hydrogen bonding between celecoxib and PVP. The dissolution profile of the solid dispersion and co-precipitate improved compared to celecoxib and amorphous celecoxib. Amorphous celecoxib was not stable on storage whereas the solid dispersion and co-precipitate powders were stable for 3 months. Tablets of the solid dispersion of celecoxib with PVP and physical mixture with PVP and carrageenan showed better resistance to recrystallization than amorphous celecoxib during compression but recrystallized on storage. However, tablets of co-precipitate with PVP and carageenan showed no evidence of crystallinity during stability studies with comparable dissolution profiles. This extraordinary stability of spray-dried co-precipitate tablets may be attributed to the cushioning action provided by the viscoelastic polymer CAR and hydrogen bonding interaction between celecoxib and PVP. The present study demonstrates the synergistic effect of combining two types of stabilizers, PVP and CAR, on the stability of amorphous drug during compression and storage as compared to their effect when used alone.

Efficient MgO-based mesoporous CO2 trapper and its performance at high temperature.

PubMed

Han, Kun Kun; Zhou, Yu; Chun, Yuan; Zhu, Jian Hua

2012-02-15

A novel MgO-based porous adsorbent has been synthesized in a facile co-precipitation method for the first time, in order to provide a candidate for trapping CO(2) in flue gas at high temperature. The resulting composite exhibits a mesoporous structure with a wide pore size distribution, due to the even dispersion and distribution of microcrystalline MgO in the framework of alumina to form a concrete-like structure. These sorbents can capture CO(2) at high temperature (150-400°C), possessing high reactivity and stability in cyclic adsorption-desorption processes, providing competitive candidates to control CO(2) emission. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Methods for estimating litter decomposition. Chapter 8

Treesearch

Noah J. Karberg; Neal A. Scott; Christian P. Giardina

2008-01-01

Litterfall in terrestrial ecosystems represents the primary pathway for nutrient return to soil. Heterotrophic metabolism, facilitated through comminution by small insects and leaching during precipitation events, results in the release of plant litter carbon as CO2 into the atmosphere. The balance between litter inputs and heterotrophic litter...

Preparation and characterization of zinc and copper co-doped WO3 nanoparticles: Application in photocatalysis and photobiology.

PubMed

Mohammadi, Sanaz; Sohrabi, Maryam; Golikand, Ahmad Nozad; Fakhri, Ali

2016-08-01

In this study, pure, Zn, Cu, Zn,Cu co-doped WO3 nanoparticles samples were prepared by precipitation and co-precipitation methods. These nanoparticles were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV-visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The synthesized pure, Zn, Cu, Zn,Cu co-doped WO3 nanoparticles have smart optical properties and average sizes with 3.2, 3.12, 3.08 and 2.97eV of band-gap, 18.1, 23.2, 25.7 and 30.2nm, respectively. Photocatalytic activity of four nanoparticles was studying towards degradation of gentamicin antibiotic under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation. The result showed that Zn,Cu co-doped WO3 possessed high photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity of WO3 nanoparticles could be remarkably increased by doping the Zn and Cu impurity. This can be attributed to the fact that the red shift of absorption edge and the trapping effect of the mono and co-doped WO3 nanoparticles. The research result presents a general and effective way to prepare different photocatalysts with enhanced visible and UV light-driven photocatalytic performance. Antibacterial activity of four different WO3 nanoparticles against Escherichia coli bacterium has been assessed by the agar disc method under light irradiation and dark medium. It is concluded from the present findings that WO3 nanoparticles can be used as an efficient antibacterial agent. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrochemical performance of Li[Ni0.7Co0.1Mn0.2]O2 cathode materials using a co-precipitation method.

PubMed

Kim, Jeong-Min; Jin, Bong-Soo; Koo, Hoe-Jin; Choi, Jae-Man; Kim, Hyun-Soo

2013-05-01

The Li[Ni0.7Co0.1Mn0.2]O2 cathode material synthesized using a co-precipitation method was investigated as a function of various pH level in terms of its microstructure and electrochemical properties. From the XRD pattern analysis, the Li[Ni0.7Co0.1Mn0.2]O2 cathode material prepared in this study are found to well coincide with typically hexagonal alpha-NaFeO2 structure. The primary particle size was about 100-300 nm at all compositions while secondary particle size increased as pH level increased from 10.34 microm (pH 10.3) to 14 microm (pH 12.5). The initial discharge capacity increased up to 165 mAh/g (0.1 C) at pH 11, and then decreased down to 144 mAh/g with further increasing pH level. The capacity retention of the cathode (pH 11) showed 90% at 0.2 C and 15% at 5 C respectively compared with the discharge capacity at 0.1 C. The capacity retention of the cathode (pH 10.3) performed 94% of the initial capacity after 22 cycles at 0.5 C charge/discharge test. Therefore, it is thought to be that pH 10.3 is optimized condition of the Li[Ni0.7Co0.1Mn0.2]O2 cathode material in this study because pH 10.3 shows better cycle performance than other conditions.

Comparison of conventional and bio-treated methods as dust suppressants.

PubMed

Naeimi, Maryam; Chu, Jian

2017-10-01

Dust is an environmental, geotechnical, health, and economical hazard. Fugitive dust emanating along transportation systems such as roads, railways, and airports especially can have significant impacts on health, safety, material loss, cost of maintenance, and interfere with the facilities. Quantitative studies on the effectiveness of the proper dust palliatives and their environmental impact have been studied with a number of biological and chemical methods. The objective of this study was to establish a method for using the microbial Induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) approach to reduce the percent of mass loss against erosive force of wind regarding to the concentration and characteristics of aggregate used, climate, and traffic amounts. The results of this study showed that the required precipitation for dust control of sand by 70% is less than 15 g CaCO 3 /m 2 between sand grains in bio-treated sand. The wind tunnel test results of this study also indicate that the effectiveness of the bio-treatment method for dust control depends on many variables, such as the percent of precipitated calcium carbonate and tensile strength.

CO 2 Absorption and Magnesium Carbonate Precipitation in MgCl 2–NH 3–NH 4Cl Solutions: Implications for Carbon Capture and Storage

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhu, Chen; Wang, Han; Li, Gen

CO 2 absorption and carbonate precipitation are the two core processes controlling the reaction rate and path of CO 2 mineral sequestration. Whereas previous studies have focused on testing reactive crystallization and precipitation kinetics, much less attention has been paid to absorption, the key process determining the removal efficiency of CO 2. In this study, adopting a novel wetted wall column reactor, we systematically explore the rates and mechanisms of carbon transformation from CO 2 gas to carbonates in MgCl 2–NH 3–NH 4Cl solutions. We find that reactive diffusion in liquid film of the wetted wall column is the rate-limitingmore » step of CO 2 absorption when proceeding chiefly through interactions between CO 2(aq) and NH 3(aq). We further quantified the reaction kinetic constant of the CO 2–NH 3 reaction. Our results indicate that higher initial concentration of NH 4Cl ( ≥2mol∙L -1) leads to the precipitation of roguinite [(NH 4) 2Mg(CO 3) 2∙4H 2O], while nesquehonite appears to be the dominant Mg-carbonate without NH 4Cl addition. We also noticed dypingite formation via phase transformation in hot water. This study provides new insight into the reaction kinetics of CO 2 mineral carbonation that indicates the potential of this technique for future application to industrial-scale CO 2 sequestration.« less

CO 2 Absorption and Magnesium Carbonate Precipitation in MgCl 2–NH 3–NH 4Cl Solutions: Implications for Carbon Capture and Storage

DOE PAGES

Zhu, Chen; Wang, Han; Li, Gen; ...

2017-09-19

CO 2 absorption and carbonate precipitation are the two core processes controlling the reaction rate and path of CO 2 mineral sequestration. Whereas previous studies have focused on testing reactive crystallization and precipitation kinetics, much less attention has been paid to absorption, the key process determining the removal efficiency of CO 2. In this study, adopting a novel wetted wall column reactor, we systematically explore the rates and mechanisms of carbon transformation from CO 2 gas to carbonates in MgCl 2–NH 3–NH 4Cl solutions. We find that reactive diffusion in liquid film of the wetted wall column is the rate-limitingmore » step of CO 2 absorption when proceeding chiefly through interactions between CO 2(aq) and NH 3(aq). We further quantified the reaction kinetic constant of the CO 2–NH 3 reaction. Our results indicate that higher initial concentration of NH 4Cl ( ≥2mol∙L -1) leads to the precipitation of roguinite [(NH 4) 2Mg(CO 3) 2∙4H 2O], while nesquehonite appears to be the dominant Mg-carbonate without NH 4Cl addition. We also noticed dypingite formation via phase transformation in hot water. This study provides new insight into the reaction kinetics of CO 2 mineral carbonation that indicates the potential of this technique for future application to industrial-scale CO 2 sequestration.« less

Characterizing 3-D flow velocity in evolving pore networks driven by CaCO3 precipitation and dissolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chojnicki, K. N.; Yoon, H.; Martinez, M. J.

2015-12-01

Understanding reactive flow in geomaterials is important for optimizing geologic carbon storage practices, such as using pore space efficiently. Flow paths can be complex in large degrees of geologic heterogeneities across scales. In addition, local heterogeneity can evolve as reactive transport processes alter the pore-scale morphology. For example, dissolved carbon dioxide may react with minerals in fractured rocks, confined aquifers, or faults, resulting in heterogeneous cementation (and/or dissolution) and evolving flow conditions. Both path and flow complexities are important and poorly characterized, making it difficult to determine their evolution with traditional 2-D transport models. Here we characterize the development of 3-D pore-scale flow with an evolving pore configuration due to calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation and dissolution. A simple pattern of a microfluidic pore network is used initially and pore structures will become more complex due to precipitation and dissolution processes. At several stages of precipitation and dissolution, we directly visualize 3-D velocity vectors using micro particle image velocimetry and a laser scanning confocal microscope. Measured 3-D velocity vectors are then compared to 3-D simulated flow fields which will be used to simulate reactive transport. Our findings will highlight the importance of the 3-D flow dynamics and its impact on estimating reactive surface area over time. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. This material is based upon work supported as part of the Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences under Award Number DE-SC0001114.

A simple, sensitive determination of ganciclovir in infant plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

PubMed

Yoshida, Terumitsu; Takahashi, Ryohei; Imai, Koichi; Uchida, Hiroshi; Arai, Yasutoshi; Oh-ishi, Tsutomu

2010-03-01

This study developed a simple and sensitive method using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for ganciclovir (GCV) plasma concentrations in cytomegalovirus infectious infants with hearing loss. The method involves a simple protein precipitation procedure that uses no solid-phase or liquid-liquid extraction. The HPLC separation was carried out on a Cadenza CD-C(18) column (3 microm, 4.6 mm x 150 mm) with phosphate buffer (pH 2.5, 25 mM) containing 1% methanol-acetonitrile mixture (4:3, v/v) as a mobile phase at a 0.7 mL/min flow rate. GCV was detected using a fluorescence detection (lambdaex/em: 265/380 nm). The quantification limit was 0.025 microg/mL for 100 microL of plasma sample at which good intra- and inter-assay coefficient of variation values (< 4.96%) and recoveries (94.9-96.5%) were established.

Optimization principles for preparation methods and properties of fine ferrite materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borisova, N. M.; Golubenko, Z. V.; Kuz'micheva, T. G.; Ol'khovik, L. P.; Shabatin, V. P.

1992-08-01

The paper is devoted to the problems of development of fine materials based on Ba-ferrite for vertical magnetic recording in particular. Taking an analogue — BaFe 12-2 xCo xTe xO 19 — we have optimized the melt co-precipitation method and shown a new opportunity to provide chemical homogeneity of microcrystallites by means of cryotechnology. Magnetic characteristics of the magnetic tape experimental sample for digital video recording are presented. A series of principles of consistent control of ferrite powder properties are formulated and illustrated with specific developments.

Generation of multicellular tumor spheroids by the hanging-drop method.

PubMed

Timmins, Nicholas E; Nielsen, Lars K

2007-01-01

Owing to their in vivo-like characteristics, three-dimensional (3D) multicellular tumor spheroid (MCTS) cultures are gaining increasing popularity as an in vitro model of tumors. A straightforward and simple approach to the cultivation of these MCTS is the hanging-drop method. Cells are suspended in droplets of medium, where they develop into coherent 3D aggregates and are readily accessed for analysis. In addition to being simple, the method eliminates surface interactions with an underlying substratum (e.g., polystyrene plastic or agarose), requires only a low number of starting cells, and is highly reproducible. This method has also been applied to the co-cultivation of mixed cell populations, including the co-cultivation of endothelial cells and tumor cells as a model of early tumor angiogenesis.

Repeated and random components in Oklahoma's monthly precipitation record

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Precipitation across Oklahoma exhibits a high degree of spatial and temporal variability and creates numerous water resources management challenges. The monthly precipitation record of the Central Oklahoma climate division was evaluated in a proof-of-concept to establish whether a simple monthly pre...

Sexing the Sciuridae: a simple and accurate set of molecular methods to determine sex in tree squirrels, ground squirrels and marmots.

PubMed

Gorrell, Jamieson C; Boutin, Stan; Raveh, Shirley; Neuhaus, Peter; Côté, Steeve D; Coltman, David W

2012-09-01

We determined the sequence of the male-specific minor histocompatibility complex antigen (Smcy) from the Y chromosome of seven squirrel species (Sciuridae, Rodentia). Based on conserved regions inside the Smcy intron sequence, we designed PCR primers for sex determination in these species that can be co-amplified with nuclear loci as controls. PCR co-amplification yields two products for males and one for females that are easily visualized as bands by agarose gel electrophoresis. Our method provides simple and reliable sex determination across a wide range of squirrel species. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

A simple method for estimating basin-scale groundwater discharge by vegetation in the basin and range province of Arizona using remote sensing information and geographic information systems

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tillman, F.D.; Callegary, J.B.; Nagler, P.L.; Glenn, E.P.

2012-01-01

Groundwater is a vital water resource in the arid to semi-arid southwestern United States. Accurate accounting of inflows to and outflows from the groundwater system is necessary to effectively manage this shared resource, including the important outflow component of groundwater discharge by vegetation. A simple method for estimating basin-scale groundwater discharge by vegetation is presented that uses remote sensing data from satellites, geographic information systems (GIS) land cover and stream location information, and a regression equation developed within the Southern Arizona study area relating the Enhanced Vegetation Index from the MODIS sensors on the Terra satellite to measured evapotranspiration. Results computed for 16-day composited satellite passes over the study area during the 2000 through 2007 time period demonstrate a sinusoidal pattern of annual groundwater discharge by vegetation with median values ranging from around 0.3 mm per day in the cooler winter months to around 1.5 mm per day during summer. Maximum estimated annual volume of groundwater discharge by vegetation was between 1.4 and 1.9 billion m3 per year with an annual average of 1.6 billion m3. A simplified accounting of the contribution of precipitation to vegetation greenness was developed whereby monthly precipitation data were subtracted from computed vegetation discharge values, resulting in estimates of minimum groundwater discharge by vegetation. Basin-scale estimates of minimum and maximum groundwater discharge by vegetation produced by this simple method are useful bounding values for groundwater budgets and groundwater flow models, and the method may be applicable to other areas with similar vegetation types.

γ' Precipitation Study of a Co-Ni-Based Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Locq, D.; Martin, M.; Ramusat, C.; Fossard, F.; Perrut, M.

2018-05-01

A Co-Ni-based alloy strengthened by γ'-(L12) precipitates was utilized to investigate the precipitation evolution after various cooling rates and several aging conditions. In this study, the precipitate size and volume fraction have been studied via scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The influence of the precipitation evolution was measured via microhardness tests. The cooling rate study shows a more sluggish γ' precipitation reaction compared to that observed in a Ni-based superalloy. Following a rapid cooling rate, the application of appropriate double aging treatments allows for the increase of the γ' volume fraction as well as the control of the size and distribution of the precipitates. The highest hardness values reach those measured on supersolvus cast and wrought Ni-based superalloys. The observed γ' precipitation behavior should have implications for the production, the heat treatment, the welding, or the additive manufacturing of this new class of high-temperature materials.

Characterization and immobilization of arylsulfatase on modified magnetic nanoparticles for desulfation of agar.

PubMed

Xiao, Qiong; Yin, Qin; Ni, Hui; Cai, Huinong; Wu, Changzheng; Xiao, Anfeng

2017-01-01

Carboxyl functioned magnetic nanoparticles (CMNPs) were prepared by a simple co-precipitation method and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spedtroscopy and scanning electron microscope. The prepared CMNPs were used for covalent immobilization of the arylsulfatase which could be applied in desulfation of agar. The optimal immobilizaion conditions were obtained as follows: glutaraldehyde concentration 1.0% (v/v), cross-linking time 3h, immobilization time 3h, immobilization temperature 5°C and enzyme dose 0.62U. Increase in properties of the arylsulfatase such as optimum temperature and pH was observed after immobilization. Immobilization led to increased tolerance of enzyme to some metal ions, inhibitors and detergents. The K m and k cat of the immobilized enzyme for hydrolysis of p-NPS at pH 7.5 and at 50°C were determined to be 0.89mmol/L and 256.91s -1 , respectively. The relative desulfuration rates of immobilized arylsulfatase maintained 61.7% of its initial desulfuration rates after seven cycles. After the reaction of agar with immobilized arylsulfatase for 90min at 50°C, 46% of the sulfate in the agar was removed. These results showed that the immobilization of arylsulfatase onto CMNPs is an efficient and simple way for preparation of stable arylsulfatase and have a great potential for application in enzymatic desulfation of agar. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An exploratory study on seawater-catalysed urine phosphorus recovery (SUPR).

PubMed

Dai, Ji; Tang, Wen-Tao; Zheng, Yi-Se; Mackey, Hamish R; Chui, Ho Kwong; van Loosdrecht, Mark C M; Chen, Guang-Hao

2014-12-01

Phosphorus (P) is a crucial and non-renewable resource, while it is excessively discharged via sewage, significant amounts originating from human urine. Recovery of P from source-separated urine presents an opportunity not only to recover this precious resource but also to improve downstream sewage treatment works. This paper proposes a simple and economic method to recover urine derived P by using seawater as a low-cost precipitant to form struvite, as Hong Kong has practised seawater toilet flushing as an alternative water resource since 1958. Chemical reactions, process conditions and precipitate composition for P precipitation in urine have been investigated to develop this new urine P recovery approach. This study concluded that ureolysis extent in a urine-seawater mixture determines the reaction pH that in turn influences the P recovery efficiency significantly; 98% of urine P can precipitate with seawater within 10 min when 40-75% of the urea in urine is ureolysed; the urine to seawater ratio alters the composition of the precipitates. The P content in the precipitates was found to be more than 9% when the urine fraction was 40% or higher. Magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) was confirmed to be the predominant component of the precipitates. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Radar-derived Quantitative Precipitation Estimation in Complex Terrain over the Eastern Tibetan Plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gou, Y.

2017-12-01

Quantitative Precipitation Estimation (QPE) is one of the important applications of weather radars. However, in complex terrain such as Tibetan Plateau, it is a challenging task to obtain an optimal Z-R relation due to the complex space time variability in precipitation microphysics. This paper develops two radar QPE schemes respectively based on Reflectivity Threshold (RT) and Storm Cell Identification and Tracking (SCIT) algorithms using observations from 11 Doppler weather radars and 3294 rain gauges over the Eastern Tibetan Plateau (ETP). These two QPE methodologies are evaluated extensively using four precipitation events that are characterized by different meteorological features. Precipitation characteristics of independent storm cells associated with these four events, as well as the storm-scale differences, are investigated using short-term vertical profiles of reflectivity clusters. Evaluation results show that the SCIT-based rainfall approach performs better than the simple RT-based method in all precipitation events in terms of score comparison using validation gauge measurements as references, with higher correlation (than 75.74%), lower mean absolute error (than 82.38%) and root-mean-square error (than 89.04%) of all the comparative frames. It is also found that the SCIT-based approach can effectively mitigate the radar QPE local error and represent precipitation spatiotemporal variability better than RT-based scheme.

Controlled Synthesis of Co3O4 Nanopolyhedrons and Nanosheets at Low Temperature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liang, H.; Zhang, L.; Raitano, J.M.

2009-12-28

Cobalt oxide (Co{sub 3}O{sub 4}) nanopolyhedrons and nanosheets were controlled synthesized at the low temperature of 80 C via a novel, simple, aqueous method; the obtained nanosheets are only 2-3 nm thick.

Effects of Gd-Substitutions on the Microstructure, Electrical and Electromagnetic Behavior of M-Type Hexagonal Ferrites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Ishtiaq; Ahmad, Mahmood; Ali, Ihsan; Kanwal, M.; Awan, M. S.; Mustafa, Ghulam; Ahmad, Mukhtar

2015-07-01

A series of Gd-substituted Ba-Co-based (M-type) hexaferrites having the chemical compositions of Ba0.5Co0.5Gd x Fe12- x O19 ( x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) were prepared by co-precipitation method. The pellets formed by co-precipitated powder were calcined at a temperature of 1200°C for 20 h. Final sintering was done at 1320°C for 4 h. From the x-ray diffraction analysis, it was revealed that all the samples showed M-type hexagonal structure as a major phase. The scanning electron microscope was used to examine the morphology of the sintered ferrites. The average grain size estimated by the line intercept method was found to be in the range of 2.8-1.0 μm. The room temperature DC resistivity increases with increasing Gd-contents to make these ferrites useful for high frequency applications and microwave devices. Lower values of coercivity ( H c) and higher saturation magnetization ( M s) may be suitable to enhance the permeability of these ferrites, which is favorable for impedance matching in microwave absorption. In addition, reflection coefficients for a sample was also measured from a frequency of 1 MHz to 3 GHz and a reflection peak was observed at about 2.2 GHz.

A decision tree algorithm for investigation of model biases related to dynamical cores and physical parameterizations: CESM/CAM EVALUATION BY DECISION TREES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Soner Yorgun, M.; Rood, Richard B.

An object-based evaluation method using a pattern recognition algorithm (i.e., classification trees) is applied to the simulated orographic precipitation for idealized experimental setups using the National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) with the finite volume (FV) and the Eulerian spectral transform dynamical cores with varying resolutions. Daily simulations were analyzed and three different types of precipitation features were identified by the classification tree algorithm. The statistical characteristics of these features (i.e., maximum value, mean value, and variance) were calculated to quantify the difference between the dynamical cores and changing resolutions. Even with the simple and smoothmore » topography in the idealized setups, complexity in the precipitation fields simulated by the models develops quickly. The classification tree algorithm using objective thresholding successfully detected different types of precipitation features even as the complexity of the precipitation field increased. The results show that the complexity and the bias introduced in small-scale phenomena due to the spectral transform method of CAM Eulerian spectral dynamical core is prominent, and is an important reason for its dissimilarity from the FV dynamical core. The resolvable scales, both in horizontal and vertical dimensions, have significant effect on the simulation of precipitation. The results of this study also suggest that an efficient and informative study about the biases produced by GCMs should involve daily (or even hourly) output (rather than monthly mean) analysis over local scales.« less

A decision tree algorithm for investigation of model biases related to dynamical cores and physical parameterizations: CESM/CAM EVALUATION BY DECISION TREES

DOE PAGES

Soner Yorgun, M.; Rood, Richard B.

2016-11-11

An object-based evaluation method using a pattern recognition algorithm (i.e., classification trees) is applied to the simulated orographic precipitation for idealized experimental setups using the National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) with the finite volume (FV) and the Eulerian spectral transform dynamical cores with varying resolutions. Daily simulations were analyzed and three different types of precipitation features were identified by the classification tree algorithm. The statistical characteristics of these features (i.e., maximum value, mean value, and variance) were calculated to quantify the difference between the dynamical cores and changing resolutions. Even with the simple and smoothmore » topography in the idealized setups, complexity in the precipitation fields simulated by the models develops quickly. The classification tree algorithm using objective thresholding successfully detected different types of precipitation features even as the complexity of the precipitation field increased. The results show that the complexity and the bias introduced in small-scale phenomena due to the spectral transform method of CAM Eulerian spectral dynamical core is prominent, and is an important reason for its dissimilarity from the FV dynamical core. The resolvable scales, both in horizontal and vertical dimensions, have significant effect on the simulation of precipitation. The results of this study also suggest that an efficient and informative study about the biases produced by GCMs should involve daily (or even hourly) output (rather than monthly mean) analysis over local scales.« less

A proteinaceous organic matrix regulates carbonate mineral production in the marine teleost intestine

PubMed Central

Schauer, Kevin L.; LeMoine, Christophe M. R.; Pelin, Adrian; Corradi, Nicolas; Warren, Wesley C.; Grosell, Martin

2016-01-01

Marine teleost fish produce CaCO3 in their intestine as part of their osmoregulatory strategy. This precipitation is critical for rehydration and survival of the largest vertebrate group on earth, yet the molecular mechanisms that regulate this reaction are unknown. Here, we isolate and characterize an organic matrix associated with the intestinal precipitates produced by Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta). Toadfish precipitates were purified using two different methods, and the associated organic matrix was extracted. Greater than 150 proteins were identified in the isolated matrix by mass spectrometry and subsequent database searching using an O. beta transcriptomic sequence library produced here. Many of the identified proteins were enriched in the matrix compared to the intestinal fluid, and three showed no substantial homology to any previously characterized protein in the NCBI database. To test the functionality of the isolated matrix, a micro-modified in vitro calcification assay was designed, which revealed that low concentrations of isolated matrix substantially promoted CaCO3 production, where high concentrations showed an inhibitory effect. High concentrations of matrix also decreased the incorporation of magnesium into the forming mineral, potentially providing an explanation for the variability in magnesium content observed in precipitates produced by different fish species. PMID:27694946

Long– and short-term precipitation effects on soil CO2 efflux and total belowground carbon allocation

Treesearch

Chelcy R. Ford; Jason McGee; Francesca Scandellari; Erik A. Hobbie; Robert J. Mitchell

2012-01-01

Soil CO2 efflux (Esoil), the main pathway of C movement from the biosphere to the atmosphere, is critical to the terrestrial C cycle but how precipitation and soil moisture influence Esoil remains poorly understood. Here, we irrigated a longleaf pine wiregrass savanna for six years; this increased soil moisture by 41.2%. We tested how an altered precipitation regime...

The effect of CO2 at low temperature and pressure on solutions supersaturated with silica in the presence of limestone and dolomite

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lovering, T.G.; Patten, L.E.

1962-01-01

The effect of 1 atm of CO2 over initially neutral solutions supersaturated with silica, at room temperature, as contrasted with 1 atm of air was determined over a period of 5 months, together with changes brought about by the introduction of calcite and dolomite to these solutions in the form of either chips or finely ground powder. In the absence of CO2 all solutions quickly reached equilibrium and no silica precipitated. In the presence of CO2 approximately two-thirds of the silica precipitated as silica gel within the first 2 months; the amount of silica precipitated was not affected by the presence of limestone or dolomite. Silica gel precipitated as a fine powder in the presence of finely ground calcite and dolomite, but as a cloudy gelatinous mass in the presence of coarse chips of dolomite and calcite, and in the absence of either calcite or dolomite. Preferential leaching of calcium from dolomite took place, both in the presence of air and in the presence of CO2, but was more pronounced in the presence of air. There was no evidence of physical replacement of either limestone or dolomite by precipitated silica. ?? 1962.

Using Extreme Tropical Precipitation Statistics to Constrain Future Climate States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Igel, M.; Biello, J. A.

2017-12-01

Tropical precipitation is characterized by a rapid growth in mean intensity as the column humidity increases. This behavior is examined in both a cloud resolving model and with high-resolution observations of precipitation and column humidity from CloudSat and AIRS, respectively. The model and the observations exhibit remarkable consistency and suggest a new paradigm for extreme precipitation. We show that the total precipitation can be decomposed into a product of contributions from a mean intensity, a probability of precipitation, and a global PDF of column humidity values. We use the modeling and observational results to suggest simple, analytic forms for each of these functions. The analytic representations are then used to construct a simple expression for the global accumulated precipitation as a function of the parameters of each of the component functions. As the climate warms, extreme precipitation intensity and global precipitation are expected to increase, though at different rates. When these predictions are incorporated into the new analytic expression for total precipitation, predictions for changes due to global warming to the probability of precipitation and the PDF of column humidity can be made. We show that strong constraints can be imposed on the future shape of the PDF of column humidity but that only weak constraints can be set on the probability of precipitation. These are largely imposed by the intensification of extreme precipitation. This result suggests that understanding precisely how extreme precipitation responds to climate warming is critical to predicting other impactful properties of global hydrology. The new framework can also be used to confirm and discount existing theories for shifting precipitation.

Mass spectrometric identification of water-soluble gold nanocluster fractions from sequential size-selective precipitation.

PubMed

Yang, Xiupei; Su, Yan; Paau, Man Chin; Choi, Martin M F

2012-02-07

This paper presents a simple and convenient methodology to separate and characterize water-soluble gold nanocluster stabilized with penicillamine ligands (AuNC-SR) in aqueous medium by sequential size-selective precipitation (SSSP) and mass spectrometry (MS). The highly polydisperse crude AuNC-SR product with an average core diameter of 2.1 nm was initially synthesized by a one-phase solution method. AuNCs were then precipitated and separated successively from larger to smaller ones by progressively increasing the concentration of acetone in the aqueous AuNCs solution. The SSSP fractions were analyzed by UV-vis spectroscopy, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight-MS, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The MS and TGA data confirmed that the fractions precipitated from 36, 54, 72, and 90% v/v acetone (F(36%), F(54%), F(72%), and F(90%)) comprised families of close core size AuNCs with average molecular formulas of Au(38)(SR)(18), Au(28)(SR)(15), Au(18)(SR)(12), and Au(11)(SR)(8), respectively. In addition, F(36%), F(54%), F(72%), and F(90%) contained also the typical magic-sized gold nanoparticles of Au(38), Au(25), Au(18), and Au(11), respectively, together with some other AuNCs. This study shed light on the potential use of SSSP for simple and large-scale preliminary separation of polydisperse water-soluble AuNCs into different fractions with a relatively narrower size distribution. © 2012 American Chemical Society

Assessing potential impacts of phosphate precipitation on nitrous oxide emissions and the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants.

PubMed

Kosse, Pascal; Lübken, Manfred; Schmidt, Torsten C; Lange, Ruben-Laurids; Wichern, Marc

2018-02-15

Metal salts are widely used for the precipitation of phosphorus during wastewater treatment transforming soluble orthophosphate to an insoluble salt. In practice, more complex reactions are taking place including a reduction of the chemical solubility of dissolved greenhouse gases, such as nitrous oxide, present in the wastewater stream. In this respect, it was postulated that phosphorous precipitation will lead to artificial N 2 O stripping and hence to an increased carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants. From lab-scale experiments utilizing N 2 O-saturated synthetic sewage solutions, it was evidenced that metal salt addition leads to N 2 O stripping with 20.8 g N 2 O per liter for a FeCl 2 -based precipitant to 26.4 g N 2 O per liter for a Al n (OH) m Cl3 n-m -based precipitant. Taking this maximum potential stripping effect into account for a carbon footprint analysis, a potential contribution of 16.11 kg CO 2,eq ·PE -1 ·a -1 was calculated in a case study, where FeCl 3 was considered. With respect to the defined system boundary conditions, the overall on-site and off-site CO 2 emissions were raised by 34% from 46.87 kg CO 2,eq ·PE -1 ·a -1 to 62.97 kg CO 2,eq ·PE -1 ·a -1 through CO 2,eq coming from phosphorous precipitation.

Purification and biochemical characterization of polygalacturonase produced by Penicillium expansum during postharvest decay of ‘Anjou’ pear

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A polygalacturonase (PG) was extracted and purified from decayed tissue of ‘Anjou’ pear fruit inoculated with Penicillium expansum. Ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration and cation exchange chromatography were used to purify the enzyme. Both chromatographic methods revealed a single peak co...

Study of lithium extraction from brine water, Bledug Kuwu, Indonesia by the precipitation series of oxalic acid and carbonate sodium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sulistiyono, Eko; Lalasari, Latifa Hanum; Mayangsari, W.; Prasetyo, A. B.

2018-05-01

Lithium is one of the key elements in the development of batteries for electric car applications. Currently, the resources of the world's lithium are derived from brine water and lithium mineral based on spodumene rock. Indonesia which is located in the area of the ring of fire, has potential brine water resources in some area, such as brine water from Bledug Kuwu, Central Java that used in this research. The purposes of this research are to characterize brine water, Bledug Kuwu and to investigate the influence of chemical solvents on Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Al, B ion precipitation from brine water. This research was done with 2 times the process of chemical precipitation that runs series as follows: 5 liters of brine water were chemically precipitated using 400 ml of 12.43 N oxalic acid and followed by chemical precipitation using 400 mL of 7.07 N sodium carbonate solutions. Evaporation and filtration processes were also done twice in an effort to separate white precipitate and filtrate. The filtrate was analyzed by ICP-OES and white precipitates (salts) were analyzed by SEM, XRD, and XRF. The result shows that oxalate precipitation process extracted 32.24% Al, 23.42% B, 22.43% Ca, 14.26% Fe, 3.21 % K, 9.86% Na and 14.26% Li, the following process by carbonate precipitation process extracted 98.86% Mg, 73% Ca, 22.53% Li, 82.04% Al, 14.38% B, 12.50% K, 2.27% Na. There is 63.21% lithium is not extracted from the series process. The SEM analysis shows that the structure of granules on the precipitated salts by oxalic acid form gentle cubic-shaped solid. In the other hand, oxalate precipitation followed by sodium carbonate has various particle sizes and the shape of crystals is fragments, prism and cube look like magnesium carbonate, calcium chloride, and calcite's crystal respectively. This is in accordance with XRD analysis that phases of whewellite (CaC2O4.H2O), disodium oxalate (Na2C2O4), magnesite (MgCO3), calcium lithium aluminum (Al1.19 Ca1Li0.81), dolomite (CaCO3.MgCO3) appear in salt precipitated by oxalic acid. For salt precipitated by oxalic acid and sodium carbonate look peaks of dolomite and calcite (CaCO3) as main components. Lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) also are described with high peak intensity in this precipitation. A series of precipitation process shows that lithium is precipitated together with calcium, aluminum, and carbonate.

Process parameters and morphology in puerarin, phospholipids and their complex microparticles generation by supercritical antisolvent precipitation.

PubMed

Li, Ying; Yang, Da-Jian; Chen, Shi-Lin; Chen, Si-Bao; Chan, Albert Sun-Chi

2008-07-09

The aim of the study was to develop and evaluate a new method for the production of puerarin phospholipids complex (PPC) microparticles. The advanced particle formation method, solution enhanced dispersion by supercritical fluids (SEDS), was used for the preparation of puerarin (Pur), phospholipids (PC) and their complex particles for the first time. Evaluation of the processing variables on PPC particle characteristics was also conducted. The processing variables included temperature, pressure, solution concentration, the flow rate of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and the relative flow rate of drug solution to CO2. The morphology, particle size and size distribution of the particles were determined. Meanwhile Pur and phospholipids were separately prepared by gas antisolvent precipitation (GAS) method and solid characterization of particles by the two supercritical methods was also compared. Pur formed by GAS was more orderly, purer crystal, whereas amorphous Pur particles between 0.5 and 1microm were formed by SEDS. The complex was successfully obtained by SEDS exhibiting amorphous, partially agglomerated spheres comprised of particles sized only about 1microm. SEDS method may be useful for the processing of other pharmaceutical preparations besides phospholipids complex particles. Furthermore adopting a GAS process to recrystallize pharmaceuticals will provide a highly versatile methodology to generate new polymorphs of drugs in addition to conventional techniques.

Water and nitrogen availability co-control ecosystem CO2 exchange in a semiarid temperate steppe.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaolin; Tan, Yulian; Li, Ang; Ren, Tingting; Chen, Shiping; Wang, Lixin; Huang, Jianhui

2015-10-23

Both water and nitrogen (N) availability have significant effects on ecosystem CO2 exchange (ECE), which includes net ecosystem productivity (NEP), ecosystem respiration (ER) and gross ecosystem photosynthesis (GEP). How water and N availability influence ECE in arid and semiarid grasslands is still uncertain. A manipulative experiment with additions of rainfall, snow and N was conducted to test their effects on ECE in a semiarid temperate steppe of northern China for three consecutive years with contrasting natural precipitation. ECE increased with annual precipitation but approached peak values at different precipitation amount. Water addition, especially summer water addition, had significantly positive effects on ECE in years when the natural precipitation was normal or below normal, but showed trivial effect on GEP when the natural precipitation was above normal as effects on ER and NEP offset one another. Nitrogen addition exerted non-significant or negative effects on ECE when precipitation was low but switched to a positive effect when precipitation was high, indicating N effect triggered by water availability. Our results indicate that both water and N availability control ECE and the effects of future precipitation changes and increasing N deposition will depend on how they can change collaboratively in this semiarid steppe ecosystem.

Integrated Experimental and Modeling Studies of Mineral Carbonation as a Mechanism for Permanent Carbon Sequestration in Mafic/Ultramafic Rocks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Zhengrong; Qiu, Lin; Zhang, Shuang

2014-09-30

A program of laboratory experiments, modeling and fieldwork was carried out at Yale University, University of Maryland, and University of Hawai‘i, under a DOE Award (DE-FE0004375) to study mineral carbonation as a practical method of geologic carbon sequestration. Mineral carbonation, also called carbon mineralization, is the conversion of (fluid) carbon dioxide into (solid) carbonate minerals in rocks, by way of naturally occurring chemical reactions. Mafic and ultramafic rocks, such as volcanic basalt, are natural candidates for carbonation, because the magnesium and iron silicate minerals in these rocks react with brines of dissolved carbon dioxide to form carbonate minerals. By trappingmore » carbon dioxide (CO 2) underground as a constituent of solid rock, carbonation of natural basalt formations would be a secure method of sequestering CO 2 captured at power plants in efforts to mitigate climate change. Geochemical laboratory experiments at Yale, carried out in a batch reactor at 200°C and 150 bar (15 MPa), studied carbonation of the olivine mineral forsterite (Mg 2SiO 4) reacting with CO 2 brines in the form of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3) solutions. The main carbonation product in these reactions is the carbonate mineral magnesite (MgCO 3). A series of 32 runs varied the reaction time, the reactive surface area of olivine grains and powders, the concentration of the reacting fluid, and the starting ratio of fluid to olivine mass. These experiments were the first to study the rate of olivine carbonation under passive conditions approaching equilibrium. The results show that, in a simple batch reaction, olivine carbonation is fastest during the first 24 hours and then slows significantly and even reverses. A natural measure of the extent of carbonation is a quantity called the carbonation fraction, which compares the amount of carbon removed from solution, during a run, to the maximum amount that could have been removed if the olivine initially present had fully dissolved and the cations released had subsequently precipitated in carbonate minerals. The carbonation fractions observed in batch experiments with olivine grains and powders varied significantly, from less than 0.01 (1%) to more than 0.5 (50%). Over time, the carbonation fractions reached an upper limit after about 24 to 72 hours of reaction, then stayed constant or decreased. The peak Final Scientific/Technical Report DE-FE0004275 | Mineral Carbonation | 4 coincided with the appearance of secondary magnesium-bearing silicate minerals, whose formation competes for magnesium ions in solution and can even promote conditions that dissolve magnesite. The highest carbonation fractions resulted from experiments with low ratios of concentrated solution to olivine, during which amorphous silica spheres or meshes formed, instead of secondary silicate minerals. The highest carbonation fractions appear to result from competing effects. Precipitation of silica layers on olivine reduces the reactive surface area and, thus, the rate of olivine dissolution (which ultimately limits the carbonation rate), but these same silica layers can also inhibit the formation of secondary silicate minerals that consume magnesite formed in earlier stages of carbonation. Simulation of these experiments with simple geochemical models using the software program EQ3/6 reproduces the general trends observed—especially the results for the carbonation fraction in short-run experiments. Although further experimentation and better models are needed, this study nevertheless provides a framework for understanding the optimal conditions for sequestering carbon dioxide by reacting CO 2-bearing fluids with rocks containing olivine minerals. A series of experiments at the Rock Physics Laboratory at the University of Maryland studied the carbonation process during deformation of thermally cracked olivine-rich rock samples (dunite) saturated with CO 2 brines of varying compositions. A goal of these geomechanical experiments was to see if flow and deformation processes, which accompany natural carbonation reactions in underground settings, work to enhance or inhibit the reactions. The experiments involved hydrostatic compaction, followed by deformation at a constant rate of strain. Sample permeability was monitored during the reactions. Comparison of the samples’ volume changes to their axial strains (shortening) during deformation indicates that samples reacted with CO 2-saturated brines accommodate more axial compaction, before the onset of dilation (a swelling that precedes rock failure), than samples reacted with distilled water. Analyses of the reacted samples with scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicate, first, that dissolution of olivine occurring in the initial stages of carbonation can provide pathways to fluid flow that sustain the reaction, and, second, that carbonate minerals precipitated along existing fractures in the rocks may serve as asperities, or roughness on a crack’s surface that restricts its closure. Final Scientific/Technical Report DE-FE0004275 | Mineral Carbonation | 5 In a related study undertaken by one of the principal investigators as a spin-off of the main project, a simple model of (magnesite) crystal growth in the pore space of basalts undergoing carbonation was developed. The model suggests that, under a carefully controlled program of CO 2 injection, carbonate mineral growth can harden the rock formation against earthquakes that might otherwise be induced by the injection of large fluid volumes (Yarushina and Bercovici, 2013). The overall conclusion of the research project is that mineral carbonation of underground mafic and ultramafic rock formations is a viable candidate for long-term sequestration of man-made carbon dioxide. No results obtained during the project indicate that the method is inherently intractable in its implementation; moreover, enormous volumes of basalt near Earth’s surface are candidate locations for large-scale injection programs. The geochemical experiments do indicate, however, that there will be significant engineering challenges in maintaining high rates of carbonation, by delaying the onset of chemical conditions that promote formation of secondary silicate minerals and, therefore, slow down, or even reverse, the carbonation process. It remains an open question as to whether carbonation processes can be sustained for many years in an engineered system operating on a large scale—a scale capable of accommodating millions of tons of CO 2 annually. The development of realistic theoretical models that can systematically describe the combined effects of reactive flow, precipitation and geomechanical deformation is a major barrier to further understanding of the practical viability of mineral carbonation as large-scale method of carbon sequestration.« less

Potential for U sequestration with select minerals and sediments via base treatment.

PubMed

Emerson, Hilary P; Di Pietro, Silvina; Katsenovich, Yelena; Szecsody, Jim

2018-06-13

Temporary base treatment is a potential remediation technique for heavy metals through adsorption, precipitation, and co-precipitation with minerals. Manipulation of pH with ammonia gas injection may be especially useful for vadose zone environments as it does not require addition of liquids that would increase the flux towards groundwater. In this research, we conducted laboratory batch experiments to evaluate the changes in uranium mobility and mineral dissolution with base treatments including sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, and ammonia gas. Our data show that partitioning of uranium to the solid phase increases by several orders of magnitude following base treatment in the presence of different minerals and natural sediments from the Hanford site. The presence of dissolved calcium and carbonate play an important role in precipitation and co-precipitation of uranium at elevated pH. In addition, significant incongruent dissolution of bulk mineral phases occurs and likely leads to precipitation of secondary mineral phases. These secondary phases may remove uranium via adsorption, precipitation, and co-precipitation processes and may coat uranium phases with low solubility minerals as the pH returns to natural conditions. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Developing precipitation hardenable high entropy alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gwalani, Bharat

High entropy alloys (HEAs) is a concept wherein alloys are constructed with five or more elements mixed in equal proportions; these are also known as multi-principle elements (MPEs) or complex concentrated alloys (CCAs). This PhD thesis dissertation presents research conducted to develop precipitation-hardenable high entropy alloys using a much-studied fcc-based equi-atomic quaternary alloy (CoCrFeNi). Minor additions of aluminium make the alloy amenable for precipitating ordered intermetallic phases in an fcc matrix. Aluminum also affects grain growth kinetics and Hall-Petch hardenability. The use of a combinatorial approach for assessing composition-microstructure-property relationships in high entropy alloys, or more broadly in complex concentrated alloys; using laser deposited compositionally graded AlxCrCuFeNi 2 (0 < x < 1.5) complex concentrated alloys as a candidate system. The composition gradient has been achieved from CrCuFeNi2 to Al 1.5CrCuFeNi2 over a length of ˜25 mm, deposited using the laser engineered net shaping process from a blend of elemental powders. With increasing Al content, there was a gradual change from an fcc-based microstructure (including the ordered L12 phase) to a bcc-based microstructure (including the ordered B2 phase), accompanied with a progressive increase in microhardness. Based on this combinatorial assessment, two promising fcc-based precipitation strengthened systems have been identified; Al0.3CuCrFeNi2 and Al0.3CoCrFeNi, and both compositions were subsequently thermo-mechanically processed via conventional techniques. The phase stability and mechanical properties of these alloys have been investigated and will be presented. Additionally, the activation energy for grain growth as a function of Al content in these complex alloys has also been investigated. Change in fcc grain growth kinetic was studied as a function of aluminum; the apparent activation energy for grain growth increases by about three times going from Al0.1CoCrFeNi (3% Al (at%)) to Al0.3CoCrFeNi. (7% Al (at%)). Furthermore, Al addition leads to the precipitation of highly refined ordered L12 (gamma') and B2 precipitates in Al0.3CoCrFeNi. A detailed investigation of precipitation of the ordered phases in Al0.3CoCrFeNi and their thermal stability is done using atom probe tomography (APT), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Synchrotron X-ray in situ and ex situ analyses. The alloy strengthened via grain boundary strengthening following the Hall-Petch relationship offers a large increment of strength with small variation in grain size. Tensile strength of the Al0.3CoFeNi is increased by 50% on precipitation fine-scale gamma' precipitates. Furthermore, precipitation of bcc based ordered phase B2 in Al0.3CoCrFeNi can further strengthen the alloy. Fine-tuning the microstructure by thermo-mechanical treatments achieved a wide range of mechanical properties in the same alloy. The Al0.3CoCrFeNi HEA exhibited ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of ˜250 MPa and ductility of ˜65%; a UTS of ˜1100 MPa and ductility of ˜30%; and a UTS of 1850 MPa and a ductility of 5% after various thermo-mechanical treatments. Grain sizes, precipitates type and size scales manipulated in the alloy result in different strength ductility combinations. Henceforth, the alloy presents a fertile ground for development by grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening, and offers very high activation energy of grain growth aptly suitable for high-temperature applications.

Improvement of sulfur resistance of Pd/Ce-Zr-Al-O catalysts for CO oxidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Haebin; Baek, Minsung; Ro, Youngsoo; Song, Changyeol; Lee, Kwan-Young; Song, In Kyu

2018-01-01

Two kinds of mesoporous ceria-zirconia-alumina supports were prepared by a single-step epoxide-driven sol-gel method (SGCZA) and by a co-precipitation method (PCZA). Palladium catalysts supported on these materials were then prepared by a wet impregnation method (Pd/SGCZA and Pd/PCZA). The prepared catalysts were applied to the CO oxidation reaction before and after sulfur aging. XRD and N2 adsorption-desorption analyses revealed that these two catalysts retained different physicochemical properties. Pd/SGCZA had higher surface area and larger pore volume than Pd/PCZA before and after sulfur aging. TPR (Temperature-programmed reduction), CO chemisorption, FT-IR, and XPS analyses showed that the catalysts were differently influenced by sulfur species. Pd/SGCZA formed less sulfate and retained higher palladium dispersion than Pd/PCZA after sulfur aging. In the CO oxidation, Pd/PCZA showed better activity than Pd/SGCZA before sulfur aging. However, Pd/SGCZA showed higher CO conversion than Pd/PCZA after sulfur aging. We concluded that Pd/SGCZA was less poisoned by sulfur species than Pd/PCZA.

Climate reconstruction from pollen and δ13C records using inverse vegetation modeling - Implication for past and future climates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatté, C.; Rousseau, D.-D.; Guiot, J.

2009-04-01

An improved inverse vegetation model has been designed to better specify both temperature and precipitation estimates from vegetation descriptions. It is based on the BIOME4 vegetation model and uses both vegetation δ13C and biome as constraints. Previous inverse models based on only one of the two proxies were already improvements over standard reconstruction methods such as the modern analog since these did not take into account some external forcings, for example CO2 concentration. This new approach makes it possible to describe a potential "isotopic niche" defined by analogy with the "climatic niche" theory. Boreal and temperate biomes simulated by BIOME4 are considered in this study. We demonstrate the impact of CO2 concentration on biome existence domains by replacing a "most likely biome" with another with increased CO2 concentration. Additionally, the climate imprint on δ13C between and within biomes is shown: the colder the biome, the lighter its potential isotopic niche; and the higher the precipitation, the lighter the δ13C. For paleoclimate purposes, previous inverse models based on either biome or δ13C did not allow informative paleoclimatic reconstructions of both precipitation and temperature. Application of the new approach to the Eemian of La Grande Pile palynological and geochemical records reduces the range in precipitation values by more than 50% reduces the range in temperatures by about 15% compared to previous inverse modeling approaches. This shows evidence of climate instabilities during Eemian period that can be correlated with independent continental and marine records.

Climate reconstruction from pollen and δ13C using inverse vegetation modeling. Implication for past and future climates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatté, C.; Rousseau, D.-D.; Guiot, J.

2009-01-01

An improved inverse vegetation model has been designed to better specify both temperature and precipitation estimates from vegetation descriptions. It is based on the BIOME4 vegetation model and uses both vegetation δ13C and biome as constraints. Previous inverse models based on only one of the two proxies were already improvements over standard reconstruction methods such as the modern analog since these did not take into account some external forcings, for example CO2 concentration. This new approach makes it possible to describe a potential "isotopic niche" defined by analogy with the "climatic niche" theory. Boreal and temperate biomes simulated by BIOME4 are considered in this study. We demonstrate the impact of CO2 concentration on biome existence domains by replacing a "most likely biome" with another with increased CO2 concentration. Additionally, the climate imprint on δ13C between and within biomes is shown: the colder the biome, the lighter its potential isotopic niche; and the higher the precipitation, the lighter the δ13C. For paleoclimate purposes, previous inverse models based on either biome or δ13C did not allow informative paleoclimatic reconstructions of both precipitation and temperature. Application of the new approach to the Eemian of La Grande Pile palynological and geochemical records reduces the range in precipitation values by more than 50% reduces the range in temperatures by about 15% compared to previous inverse modeling approaches. This shows evidence of climate instabilities during Eemian period that can be correlated with independent continental and marine records.

Climatic response of annual tree-rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ageev, Boris G.; Gruzdev, Aleksandr N.; Ponomarev, Yurii N.; Sapozhnikova, Valeria A.

2014-11-01

Extensive literature devoted to investigations into the influence of environmental conditions on the plant respiration and respiration rate. It is generally accepted that the respired CO2 generated in a stem completely diffuses into the atmosphere. Results obtained from explorations into the CO2 content in disc tree rings by the method proposed in this work shows that a major part of CO2 remains in tree stems and exhibits inter-annual variability. Different methods are used to describe of CO2 and H2O distributions in disc tree rings. The relation of CO2 and H2O variations in a Siberian stone pine disc to meteorological parameters are analyzed with use of wavelet, spectral and cross-spectral techniques. According to a multiple linear regression model, the time evolution of the width of Siberian stone pine rings can be partly explained by a combined influence of air temperature, precipitation, cloudiness and solar activity. Conclusions are made regarding the response of the CO2 and H2O content in coniferous tree disc rings to various climatic factors. Suggested method of CO2, (CO2+H2O) detection can be used for studying of a stem respiration in ecological risk areas.

Evaluation of the ORCHIDEE ecosystem model over Africa against 25 years of satellite-based water and carbon measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Traore, Abdoul Khadre; Ciais, Philippe; Vuichard, Nicolas; Poulter, Benjamin; Viovy, Nicolas; Guimberteau, Matthieu; Jung, Martin; Myneni, Ranga; Fisher, Joshua B.

2014-08-01

Few studies have evaluated land surface models for African ecosystems. Here we evaluate the Organizing Carbon and Hydrology in Dynamic Ecosystems (ORCHIDEE) process-based model for the interannual variability (IAV) of the fraction of absorbed active radiation, the gross primary productivity (GPP), soil moisture, and evapotranspiration (ET). Two ORCHIDEE versions are tested, which differ by their soil hydrology parameterization, one with a two-layer simple bucket and the other a more complex 11-layer soil-water diffusion. In addition, we evaluate the sensitivity of climate forcing data, atmospheric CO2, and soil depth. Beside a very generic vegetation parameterization, ORCHIDEE simulates rather well the IAV of GPP and ET (0.5 < r < 0.9 interannual correlation) over Africa except in forestlands. The ORCHIDEE 11-layer version outperforms the two-layer version for simulating IAV of soil moisture, whereas both versions have similar performance of GPP and ET. Effects of CO2 trends, and of variable soil depth on the IAV of GPP, ET, and soil moisture are small, although these drivers influence the trends of these variables. The meteorological forcing data appear to be quite important for faithfully reproducing the IAV of simulated variables, suggesting that in regions with sparse weather station data, the model uncertainty is strongly related to uncertain meteorological forcing. Simulated variables are positively and strongly correlated with precipitation but negatively and weakly correlated with temperature and solar radiation. Model-derived and observation-based sensitivities are in agreement for the driving role of precipitation. However, the modeled GPP is too sensitive to precipitation, suggesting that processes such as increased water use efficiency during drought need to be incorporated in ORCHIDEE.

Forecasting and modelling ice layer formation on the snowpack due to freezing precipitations in the Pyrenees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quéno, Louis; Vionnet, Vincent; Cabot, Frédéric; Vrécourt, Dominique; Dombrowski-Etchevers, Ingrid

2017-04-01

In the Pyrenees, freezing precipitations in altitude occur at least once per winter, leading to the formation of a pure ice layer on the surface of the snowpack. It may lead to accidents and fatalities among mountaineers and skiers, with sometimes a higher human toll than avalanches. Such events are not predicted by the current operational systems for snow and avalanche hazard forecasting. A crowd-sourced database of surface ice layer occurrences is first built up, using reports from Internet mountaineering and ski-touring communities, to mitigate the lack of observations from conventional observation networks. A simple diagnostic of freezing precipitation is then developed, based on the cloud water content and screen temperature forecast by the Numerical Weather Prediction model AROME, operating at 2.5-km resolution. The performance of this diagnostic is assessed for the event of 5-6 January 2012, with a good representation of altitudinal and spatial distributions of the ice layer. An evaluation of the diagnostic for major events over five winters gives good skills of detection compared to the occurrences reported in the observation database. A new modelling of ice formation on the surface of the snowpack due to impinging supercooled water is added to the detailed snowpack model Crocus. It is combined to the atmospheric diagnostic of freezing precipitations and resulting snowpack simulations over a winter season capture well the formation of the main ice layers. Their influence on the snowpack stratigraphy is also realistically simulated. These simple methods enable to forecast the occurrence of surface ice layer formations with good confidence and to simulate their evolution within the snowpack, even if an accurate estimation of freezing precipitation amounts remains the main challenge.

Structure and properties of hybrid biopolymer particles fabricated by co-precipitation cross-linking dissolution procedure.

PubMed

Xiong, Yu; Georgieva, Radostina; Steffen, Axel; Smuda, Kathrin; Bäumler, Hans

2018-03-15

The Co-precipitation Crosslinking Dissolution technique (CCD-technique) allows a few-steps fabrication of particles composed of different biopolymers and bioactive agents under mild conditions. Morphology and properties of the fabricated biopolymer particles depend on the fabrication conditions, the nature of the biopolymers and additives, but also on the choice of the inorganic templates for co-precipitation. Here, we investigate the influence of an acidic biopolymer, hyaluronic acid (HA), on the formation of particles from bovine hemoglobin and bovine serum albumin applying co-precipitation with CaCO 3 and MnCO 3 . CaCO 3 templated biopolymer particles are almost spherical with particle size from 2 to 20 µm and protein entrapment efficiency from 13 to 77%. Presence of HA causes significant structural changes of the particles and decreasing protein entrapment efficiency. In contrast, MnCO 3 templated particles exhibit uniform peanut shape and submicron size with remarkably high protein entrapment efficiency of nearly 100%. Addition of HA has no influence on the protein entrapment efficiency or on morphology and size of the particles. These effects can be attributed to the strong interaction of Mn 2+ with proteins and much weaker interaction with HA. Therefore, entrapment efficiency, size and structure of biopolymer particles can be optimized by varying the mineral templates and additives. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Au-MWCNTs) via deposition precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zulikifli, Farah Wahida Ahmad; Yazid, Hanani; Halim, Muhammad Zikri Budiman Abdul; Jani, Abdul Mutalib Md

2017-09-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received impressive consideration as support materials of noble metal catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis due to their good mechanical strength, large surface area and good durability under harsh conditions. The interaction between CNTs and noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) gives an unusual unique microstructure properties and or modification of the electron density of the noble metal clusters, and enhances the catalytic activity. In this study, the MWCNTs were first treated with a mixture of concentrated sulfuric and nitric acid by sonication to improve its dispersibility and to introduce the carboxylic (-COOH) groups on CNTs surfaces. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized by the deposition precipitation (DP) method as this method is simpler, low cost, and excellent method. Then, the effect of reducing agent (NaBH4) on gold distribution on the support of MWCNTs was also studied. Dispersion test, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) are all used to characterize the functionalized MWCNTs (fCNTs) and the Au NPs-fCNTs catalyst. There are three important peaks in functionalized MWCNTs which correspond to C=O, O-H, and C-O absorption peaks, as a result of the oxidation of COOH groups on the surface of CNTs. The absorption band at 1717 cm-1 is corresponded to C=O stretching of COOH, while the absorption bands at 3384 cm-1 and 1011cm-1 are associated with O-H bending and C-O stretching, respectively. Surface morphology of Au NPs-fCNTs R4 and Au NPs- fCNTs WR catalyst by FESEM showed that the Au NPs of 19.22 ± 2.33 nm and 23.05 ± 2.57 nm size were successfully deposited on CNTs, respectively.

[Study on the determination of trace Cu and Mn in foodstuff preconcentration by precipitate flotation and FAAS].

PubMed

Li, Chun-xiang; Chen, Ting-yu; Yan, Yong-sheng

2007-10-01

In the present paper, the use of 8-hydroxyquinoline(oxine, HQ) complexs in precipitate flotation to separate and preconcentrate Cu and Mn, using SDBS as collector, followed by AAS spectrophotometric determination is proposed. The optimum conditions of precipitate flotation were studied. The effects of several parameters of flotation processes condition on single metal ions precipitation-flotation and multi-metal ions coprecipitation-flotation of Cu and Mn at pH 9 were investigated. The experimental results show that the flotation rate of Cu is supreme with pH 9. Under the condition of pH 9 and changing the ratio of concentration, when Mn/Cu> or =8, the recovery rate of Cu is less than 90%. This method is simple, rapid, accurate, sensitive and precise and avoids using the virulent organic solvent. The linear range of Cu is 0.5-5.0 microg x mL(-1) with the correlative coefficient of 0.9996, detection limit of this method was found to be 1.59 x 10(-3) microg x mL(-1), the linear range of Mn is 0.5-5.0 microg x mL(-1) with the correlative coefficient of 0.9987, and the detection limit of this method was found to be 3.52 x 10(-3) microg x mL(-1). The method was applied to the determination of Cu and Mn in foodstuff, and the recovery is 87.6%-100.7%. The result was satisfactory.

Self-limiting advection caused by the development of a dissolution/precipitation zone and implications for the fate of leaky wells in CO2 sequestration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huerta, N. J.; Hesse, M. A.; Bryant, S. L.; Strazisar, B. R.

2013-12-01

Leaking wells that penetrate a geologic CO2 sequestration site provide a potential direct pathway for the escape of CO2 to an overlying aquifer or even back into the atmosphere. Leakage is a highly coupled system, involving transport of CO2-saturated brine and reaction of carbonic acid with the cement that encases wells. Carbonic acid attacks cement phases to dissolve calcium rich components and raise the fluid pH. Our experiments show that total dissolution of the cement matrix, which would lead to self-enhancing leakage, is prevented by an amorphous aluminosilicate phase that remains after dissolution to constrain fluid flux. Conversely, self-limiting behavior develops in a zone where pH is sufficiently high for carbonate minerals to become insoluble and precipitate. Extrapolation of these bench-scale observations indicates that a barrier of carbonate precipitation would develop as more CO2-saturated brine leaks along a well. The process of sealing of the pathway and the timescale of sealing are critical for any risk assessment of the sequestration operation. Using numerical models to interpret the experiments, we find a lag in self-limiting behavior which is controlled by the saturation state of carbonate phases. Sufficient residence time is crucial for the development of the precipitation zone. Precipitation need not seal uniformly across an entire fracture, only in dominant flow paths. Simply growing the width of a zone of precipitation is insufficient to capture the self-limiting behavior we observe in experiments. To seal, the precipitating material must also accumulate and grow into the open fracture space and close the aperture. Closure rate is a function of the initial leak path conductivity, pressure differential (which controls fluid flux), leak path length, and CO2-saturation in the brine. Combining these results with risk assessment tools that incorporate the well development history will give stakeholders a tool to quantitatively predict well leakage for candidate sites.

Silver-doped manganese dioxide and trioxide nanoparticles inhibit both gram positive and gram negative pathogenic bacteria.

PubMed

Kunkalekar, R K; Prabhu, M S; Naik, M M; Salker, A V

2014-01-01

Palladium, ruthenium and silver-doped MnO2 and silver doped Mn2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized by simple co-precipitation technique. SEM-TEM analysis revealed the nano-size of these synthesized samples. XPS data illustrates that Mn is present in 4+ and 3+ oxidation states in MnO2 and Mn2O3 respectively. Thermal analysis gave significant evidence for the phase changes with increasing temperature. Antibacterial activity of these synthesized nanoparticles on three Gram positive bacterial cultures (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Streptococcus epidermis ATCC 12228, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633) and three Gram negative cultures (Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Salmonella abony NCTC 6017 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 1003) was investigated using a disc diffusion method and live/dead assay. Only Ag-doped MnO2 and Ag-doped Mn2O3 nanoparticles showed antibacterial property against all six-test bacteria but Ag-doped MnO2 was found to be more effective than Ag-doped Mn2O3. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pure and Mg-doped self-assembled ZnO nano-particles for the enhanced photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol.

PubMed

Selvam, N Clament Sagaya; Narayanan, S; Kennedy, L John; Vijaya, J Judith

2013-10-01

A novel self-assembled pure and Mg doped ZnO nano-particles (NPs) were successfully synthesized by a simple low temperature co-precipitation method. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, high resolution scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results indicated that the prepared photocatalysts showed high crystallinity with a uniform size distribution of the NPs. The degradation of cholorphenols is highly mandatory in today's scenario as they are affecting the environment adversely. Thus, the photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), a potent endocrine disrupting chemical in aqueous medium was investigated by both pure and Mg-doped ZnO NPs under UV-light irradiation in the present study. The influence of the Mg content on the structure, morphology, PL character and photocatalytic activity of ZnO NPs were investigated systematically. Furthermore,the effect of different parameters such as 4-CP concentration, photocatalyst amount, pH and UV-light wavelength on the resulting photocatalytic activity was investigated.

Enhanced photoelectrochemical and optical performance of ZnO films tuned by Cr doping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salem, M.; Akir, S.; Massoudi, I.; Litaiem, Y.; Gaidi, M.; Khirouni, K.

2017-04-01

In this paper, pure and Cr-doped nanostructured Zinc oxide thin films were synthesized by simple and low cost co-precipitation and spin-coating method with Cr concentration varying between 0.5 and 5 at.%. Crystalline structure of the prepared films was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy techniques. XRD analysis indicated that the films were indexed as the hexagonal phase of wurtzite-type structure and demonstrated a decrease in the crystallite size with increasing Cr doping content. Cr doping revealed a significant effect on the optical measurements such as transmission and photoluminescence properties. The optical measurements indicated that Cr doping decreases the optical band gap and it has been shifted from 3.41 eV for pure ZnO film to 3.31 eV for 5 at.% Cr-doped one. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing characteristics of Cr-doped ZnO layers were investigated. Amongst all photo-anodes with different Cr dopant concentration, the 2 at.% Cr incorporated ZnO films exhibited fast response and higher photoconduction sensitivity.

A new in vitro lipid digestion - in vivo absorption model to evaluate the mechanisms of drug absorption from lipid-based formulations.

PubMed

Crum, Matthew F; Trevaskis, Natalie L; Williams, Hywel D; Pouton, Colin W; Porter, Christopher J H

2016-04-01

In vitro lipid digestion models are commonly used to screen lipid-based formulations (LBF), but in vitro-in vivo correlations are in some cases unsuccessful. Here we enhance the scope of the lipid digestion test by incorporating an absorption 'sink' into the experimental model. An in vitro model of lipid digestion was coupled directly to a single pass in situ intestinal perfusion experiment in an anaesthetised rat. The model allowed simultaneous real-time analysis of the digestion and absorption of LBFs of fenofibrate and was employed to evaluate the influence of formulation digestion, supersaturation and precipitation on drug absorption. Formulations containing higher quantities of co-solvent and surfactant resulted in higher supersaturation and more rapid drug precipitation in vitro when compared to those containing higher quantities of lipid. In contrast, when the same formulations were examined using the coupled in vitro lipid digestion - in vivo absorption model, drug flux into the mesenteric vein was similar regardless of in vitro formulation performance. For some drugs, simple in vitro lipid digestion models may underestimate the potential for absorption from LBFs. Consistent with recent in vivo studies, drug absorption for rapidly absorbed drugs such as fenofibrate may occur even when drug precipitation is apparent during in vitro digestion.

An experimental study of basaltic glass-H2O-CO2 interaction at 22 and 50 °C: Implications for subsurface storage of CO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galeczka, Iwona; Wolff-Boenisch, Domenik; Oelkers, Eric H.; Gislason, Sigurdur R.

2014-02-01

A novel high pressure column flow reactor was used to investigate the evolution of solute chemistry along a 2.3 m flow path during pure water- and CO2-charged water-basaltic glass interaction experiments at 22 and 50 °C and 10-5.7 to 22 bars partial pressure of CO2. Experimental results and geochemical modelling showed the pH of injected pure water evolved rapidly from 6.7 to 9-9.5 and most of the iron released to the fluid phase was subsequently consumed by secondary minerals, similar to natural meteoric water-basalt systems. In contrast to natural systems, however, the aqueous aluminium concentration remained relatively high along the entire flow path. The aqueous fluid was undersaturated with respect to basaltic glass and carbonate minerals, but supersaturated with respect to zeolites, clays, and Fe hydroxides. As CO2-charged water replaced the alkaline fluid within the column, the fluid briefly became supersaturated with respect to siderite. Basaltic glass dissolution in the column reactor, however, was insufficient to overcome the pH buffer capacity of CO2-charged water. The pH of this CO2-charged water rose from an initial 3.4 to only 4.5 in the column reactor. This acidic reactive fluid was undersaturated with respect to carbonate minerals but supersaturated with respect to clays and Fe hydroxides at 22 °C, and with respect to clays and Al hydroxides at 50 °C. Basaltic glass dissolution in the CO2-charged water was closer to stoichiometry than in pure water. The mobility and aqueous concentration of several metals increased significantly with the addition of CO2 to the inlet fluid, and some metals, including Mn, Cr, Al, and As exceeded the allowable drinking water limits. Iron became mobile and the aqueous Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio increased along the flow path. Although carbonate minerals did not precipitate in the column reactor in response to CO2-charged water-basaltic glass interaction, once this fluid exited the reactor, carbonates precipitated as the fluid degassed at the outlet. Substantial differences were found between the results of geochemical modelling calculations and the observed chemical evolution of the fluids during the experiments. These differences underscore the need to improve the models before they can be used to predict with confidence the fate and consequences of carbon dioxide injected into the subsurface. The pH increase from 3.4 to 4.5 of the CO2-rich inlet fluid does not immobilize toxic elements at ambient temperature but immobilizes Al and Cr at 50 °C. This indicates that further neutralization of CO2-charged water is required for decreased toxic element mobility. The CO2-charged water injection enhances the mobility of redox sensitive Fe2+ significantly making it available for the storage of injected carbon as iron carbonate minerals. The precipitation of aluminosilicates likely occurred at a pH of 4.2-4.5 in CO2-charged waters. These secondary phases can (1) fill the available pore space and therefore clog the host rock in the vicinity of the injection well, and (2) incorporate some divalent cations limiting their availability for carbon storage. The inability of simple reactive transport models to describe accurately the fluid evolution in this well constrained one dimensional flow system suggests that significant improvements need to be made to such models before we can predict with confidence the fate and consequences of injecting carbon dioxide into the subsurface. Column reactors such as that used in this study could be used to facilitate ex situ carbon mineral storage. Carbonate precipitation at the outlet of the reactor suggests that the harvesting of divalent metals from rocks using CO2-charged waters could potentially be upscaled to an industrial carbonation process.

Targeted Control of Permeability Using Carbonate Dissolution/Precipitation Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clarens, A. F.; Tao, Z.; Plattenberger, D.

2016-12-01

Targeted mineral precipitation reactions are a promising approach for controlling fluid flow in the deep subsurface. Here we studied the potential to use calcium and magnesium bearing silicates as cation donors that would react with aqueous phase CO2 under reservoir conditions to form solid carbonate precipitates. Preliminary experiments in high pressure and temperature columns suggest that these reactions can effectively lower the permeability of a porous media. Wollastonite (CaSiO3) was used as the model silicate, injected as solid particles into the pore space of a packed column, which was then subsequently flooded with CO2(aq). The reactions occur spontaneously, leveraging the favorable kinetics that occur at the high temperature and pressure conditions characteristic of the deep subsurface, to form solid phase calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and amorphous silica (SiO2) within the pore space. Both x-ray tomography imaging of reacted columns and electron microscopy imaging of thin sections were used to characterize where dissolution/precipitation occurred within the porous media. The spatial distribution of the products was closely tied to the flow rate and the duration of the experiment. The SiO2 product precipitated in close spatial proximity to the CaSiO3 reactant. The CaCO3 product, which is sensitive to the low pH and high pCO2 brine, precipitated out of solution further down the column as Ca2+ ions moved with the brine. The permeability of the columns decreased by several orders of magnitude after injecting the CaSiO3 particles. Following carbonation, the permeability decreased even further as precipitates filled flow paths within the pore network. A pore network model was developed to help understand the interplay between precipitation kinetics and flow in altering the permeability of the porous media. The effect of particle concentration and size, pore size, reaction time, and pCO2, are explored on pore/fracture aperture and reaction extent. To provide better control of these dynamics and ultimately devise a mechanism to deliver carbonation seed particles into leakage pathways, we are exploring the potential to functionalize the silicate particles using temperature sensitive polymer coatings.

Remote Sensing of Precipitation from Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stocker, Erich Franz

2010-01-01

This slide presentation reviews the use of remote sensing of precipitation from satellite observations. The purpose of the presentation is to introduce the three prime instrument types for measuring precipitation from space, give an overview of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, provides examples of how measurements from space can be used, and provides simple, high level scenarios for how remote sensed precipitation data can be used by planners and managers.

Relating SMMR 37 GHz polarization difference to precipitation and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration - A reappraisal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tucker, C. J.

1992-01-01

The relations of Scanning Multi-channel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) 37 GHz polarization difference to precipitation and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations are reviewed. Annual precipitation data, a surrogate for green leaf vegetation density, are compared with the coincident SMMR 37 GHz polarization difference from arid and semi-arid West Africa for 1982-85. The SMMR 37 GHz polarization difference was found to be poorly correlated with precipitation in arid and semi-arid zones, contrary to previous reports. Coincident SMMR 37 GHz polarization difference and atmospheric CO2 concentration data from July 1981 to June 1983 are also reviewed. Previously suggested relations of the SMMR 37 GHz polarization difference to atmospheric CO2 concentrations were found to be heavily biased by winter conditions in the Northern Hemisphere. The use of the SMMR 37 GHz polarization difference for determining green leaf vegetation density, net primary production, atmospheric CO2 draw-down and related processes is questioned.

Synthesis of porous nanocrystalline NiO with hexagonal sheet-like morphology by homogeneous precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Ravi Kant; Ghose, Ranjana

2015-04-01

Porous nanocrystalline NiO has been synthesized by a simple homogeneous precipitation method in short time at low calcination temperature without using any surfactant, chelating or gelating agents. The porous nanocrystalline NiO with a hexagonal sheet-like morphology were obtained by calcination of Ni(OH)2 nanoflakes at 500 °C. The calcination temperature strongly influences the morphology, crystallite size, specific surface area, pore volume and optical band gap of the samples. The samples were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, surface area measurements, field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The chemical activity of the samples was tested by catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol with NaBH4.

Size dependence of magnetorheological properties of cobalt ferrite ferrofluid

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Radhika, B.; Sahoo, Rasmita; Srinath, S., E-mail: srinath@uohyd.ac.in

2015-06-24

Cobalt Ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized using co-precipitation method at reaction temperatures of 40°C and 80°C. X-Ray diffraction studies confirm cubic phase formation. The average crystallite sizes were found to be ∼30nm and ∼48nm for 40°C sample and 80°C sample respectively. Magnetic properties measured using vibrating sample magnetometer show higher coercivety and magnetization for sample prepared at 80°C. Magnetorheological properties of CoFe2O4 ferrofluids were measured and studied.

Biomineralization of strontianite(SrCO3) by aerobic microorganisms enriched from rhodoliths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, S.; Roh, Y.

2012-12-01

The transport and fate of trace metals and radionuclides in natural environments are controlled by physical, chemical, and microbiological processes. Especially, microbially induced precipitation of carbonates has drawn much attention in recent decades because of its numerous implications such as atmospheric CO2 fixation through mineral carbonation and solid phase capture of inorganic contaminants. The objectives of this study were to investigate the potential for microbially induced precipitation of strontianite (SrCO3) using microorganisms enriched from rhodoliths and to identify mineralogical characteristics of the precipitates of strontianite. Carbonate forming microorganisms were enriched from rhodoliths, which were sampled at Seogwang-ri coast in the western part of Wu Island, Jeju-do, Korea. Microorganisms enriched from rhodoliths were aerobically cultured at 25Ć in D-1 media containing 30 mM Sr-acetate, and the microorganisms were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene DGGE analysis to confirm microbial diversity. Mineralogical characteristics of the carbonate minerals precipitated by the enriched microorganisms were determined by XRD, TEM-EDS, and SEM-EDS analyses. A 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed the enriched microorganisms contained carbonate forming microorganisms such as Proteus mirailis. The enriched microorganisms precipitated carbonate minerals using D-1 media containing 30 mM Sr-acetate and mineralogy of the precipitate was strontianite (SrCO3). SEM/TEM-EDS analyses showed that the strontianite formed by the microorganisms had a spherical shape and consisted of mainly Sr, O and C. TEM-EDS analyses showed that the strontianite formed by the microorganisms had a rhombohedron shape and consisted of mainly Sr, O and C. These results indicate that the microorganisms induce precipitation of strontianite (SrCO3) on the cell walls and EPS via the accumulation of Sr ions on the cells. Therefore, microbial precipitation of carbonate minerals may play one of important roles in immobilization of metals and radionuclides in natural environments.

Effects of small-scale chemical reactions between supercritical CO2 and arkosic sandstone on large-scale permeability fields: An experimental study with implications for geologic carbon sequestration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luhmann, A. J.; Ding, K.; Saar, M. O.; Seyfried, W. E.

2011-12-01

During geologic carbon sequestration, small, pore-scale changes in mineralogy due to dissolution and precipitation reactions can modify bulk porosity. Porosity/permeability relationships are then typically used to infer large-scale permeability field changes. However, these relationships have limited use because they do not account for changes in pore geometry. Therefore, in connection with a DOE sponsored program, involving CO2 sequestration with geothermal energy usage, we constructed a novel hydrothermal flow system that allows simultaneous determination of changes in fluid chemistry and associated changes in permeability at elevated temperatures and high CO2 pressure. Initial experiments were conducted with an arkosic sandstone core of the Eau Claire Formation from southeastern Minnesota. The core was disaggregated and then wet sieved to yield a grain size distribution of 90-120 μm that was used to fill the Teflon sleeve held within the stainless steel pressure vessel. Initial water chemistry consisted of CO2 dissolved in deionized water. Outlet pressure was set to 11 MPa, and confinement pressure was 20 MPa. Flow rates produced inlet pressures between these two extremes, allowing CO2 solubility up to 1.1 mol/kg water. Rates of fluid flow ranged from 0.04 to 1.5 mL/min at a temperature of 21°C over the course of 33 days. Based on these data, the in-situ permeability of ~1E-14 to 9E-14 m2 for the arkosic sandstone was calculated. The reaction cell temperature was then increased to 50°C, and eventually 100°C. Each temperature step was associated with a sharp decrease in permeability, such that at 100°C the permeability had decreased by approximately three orders of magnitude from the starting condition. Fluid samples indicate release of dissolved Na, Ca, Mg, K, Al, SiO2, and Cl from minerals in the core, suggesting dissolution of primary mineral components. Charge balance constraints indicate a pH of approximately 4.2 at the highest temperature run condition, considerably higher than would exist in a simple water-CO2 fluid, underscoring the effectiveness of mineral dissolution/precipitation reactions in buffering pH. Distribution of aqueous species calculations suggests possible secondary phases may include illite, muscovite, kaolinite, and quartz. We speculate that mineral precipitation occurs at the fluid-mineral interface. Thus, potentially small changes in mineralogy may produce a significant change in rock permeability.

Mineral Dissolution and Precipitation due to Carbon Dioxide-Water-Rock Interactions: The Significance of Accessory Minerals in Carbonate Reservoirs (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaszuba, J. P.; Marcon, V.; Chopping, C.

2013-12-01

Accessory minerals in carbonate reservoirs, and in the caprocks that seal these reservoirs, can provide insight into multiphase fluid (CO2 + H2O)-rock interactions and the behavior of CO2 that resides in these water-rock systems. Our program integrates field data, hydrothermal experiments, and geochemical modeling to evaluate CO2-water-rock reactions and processes in a variety of carbonate reservoirs in the Rocky Mountain region of the US. These studies provide insights into a wide range of geologic environments, including natural CO2 reservoirs, geologic carbon sequestration, engineered geothermal systems, enhanced oil and gas recovery, and unconventional hydrocarbon resources. One suite of experiments evaluates the Madison Limestone on the Moxa Arch, Southwest Wyoming, a sulfur-rich natural CO2 reservoir. Mineral textures and geochemical features developed in the experiments suggest that carbonate minerals which constitute the natural reservoir will initially dissolve in response to emplacement of CO2. Euhedral, bladed anhydrite concomitantly precipitates in response to injected CO2. Analogous anhydrite is observed in drill core, suggesting that secondary anhydrite in the natural reservoir may be related to emplacement of CO2 into the Madison Limestone. Carbonate minerals ultimately re-precipitate, and anhydrite dissolves, as the rock buffers the acidity and reasserts geochemical control. Another suite of experiments emulates injection of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery in the Desert Creek Limestone (Paradox Formation), Paradox Basin, Southeast Utah. Euhedral iron oxyhydroxides (hematite) precipitate at pH 4.5 to 5 and low Eh (approximately -0.1 V) as a consequence of water-rock reaction. Injection of CO2 decreases pH to approximately 3.5 and increases Eh by approximately 0.1 V, yielding secondary mineralization of euhedral pyrite instead of iron oxyhydroxides. Carbonate minerals also dissolve and ultimately re-precipitate, as determined by experiments in the Madison Limestone, but pyrite will persist and iron oxyhydroxides will not recrystallize.

The Hydrological Impact of Geoengineering in the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tilmes, S.; Fasullo, John; Lamarque, J.-F.

2013-10-14

Abstract: The hydrologic impact of enhancing Earth’s albedo due to solar radiation management (SRM) is investigated using simulations from 12 models contributing to the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP). An artificial experiment is investigated, where global mean temperature is preserved at pre-industrial conditions, while atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are quadrupled. The associated reduction of downwelling surface solar radiation in a high CO2 environment leads to a reduction of global evaporation of 10% and 4% and precipitation of 6.1% and 6.3% over land and ocean, respectively. An initial reduction of latent heat flux at the surface is largely driven by reducedmore » evapotranspiration over land with instantly increasing CO2 concentrations in both experiments. A warming surface associated with the transient adjustment in the 4xCO2 experiment further generates an increase of global precipitation, with considerable regional changes, such as a significant precipitation reduction of 7% for the North American summer monsoon. Reduced global precipitation persists in the geoengineered experiment where temperatures are stabilized, with considerable regional rainfall deficits. Precipitation reductions that are consistent in sign across models are identified in the geoengineered experiment over monsoonal land regions of East Asia (6%), North America (7%), South America (6%) and South Africa (5%). In contrast to the 4xCO2 experiment, where the frequency of months with heavy precipitation intensity is increased by over 50%, it is reduced by up to 20% in the geoengineering scenario . The reduction in heavy precipitation is more pronounced over land than over the ocean, and accompanies a stronger reduction in evaporation over land. For northern mid-latitudes, maximum precipitation reduction over land ranges from 1 to 16% for individual models. For 45-65°N, the frequency of median to high intensity precipitation in summer is strongly reduced. These changes in precipitation in both total amount and frequency of extremes, point to a considerable weakening of the hydrological cycle in a geoengineered world.« less

Coupling of N2O and CO2 fluxes from agriculture in Michigan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, M.; Tang, J.; Hastings, M. G.; Gelfand, I.; Tao, L.; Sun, K.

2012-12-01

CO2 has been known to cause global warming, and N2O is the largest contributor to the greenhouse gas burden of cropping systems in the United States due to application of fertilizer. In our study, fluxes of N2O and CO2 were measured at two maize fields and one reference grassland from Kellogg Biological Station in Southwest Michigan. Here we compared two measuring systems, traditional GC method and LGR/Li-Cor system. Our initial results show that the two measuring systems are consistent (N2O slope=0.96, R2=0.96; and CO2 slope= 1.03, R2=0.86 measuring from the same chamber). Measurements done in pairs of chambers suggest great spatial variations, despite that the chambers were only 0.5 meter apart. The two systems are still comparable by averaging 8 pairs of chambers distributed within one site. Increase of CO2 fluxes were observed the second day after fertilization, but no significant change of N2O fluxes was shown. After artificial rainfall, boosting N2O fluxes and further increase in CO2 fluxes were demonstrated. Our result indicates that precipitation is necessary before a prominent N2O peak. In our LGR/Li-Cor system, CO was also measured from chambers. Interesting CO fluxes were shown in our experiment. Soil, which is usually considered as a CO sink, emits CO in some chambers during our measurement, which is probably related to the nationwide forest fires and lack of precipitation during the period.

Uncertainty Estimation using Bootstrapped Kriging Predictions for Precipitation Isoscapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, C.; Bowen, G. J.; Vander Zanden, H.; Wunder, M.

2017-12-01

Isoscapes are spatial models representing the distribution of stable isotope values across landscapes. Isoscapes of hydrogen and oxygen in precipitation are now widely used in a diversity of fields, including geology, biology, hydrology, and atmospheric science. To generate isoscapes, geostatistical methods are typically applied to extend predictions from limited data measurements. Kriging is a popular method in isoscape modeling, but quantifying the uncertainty associated with the resulting isoscapes is challenging. Applications that use precipitation isoscapes to determine sample origin require estimation of uncertainty. Here we present a simple bootstrap method (SBM) to estimate the mean and uncertainty of the krigged isoscape and compare these results with a generalized bootstrap method (GBM) applied in previous studies. We used hydrogen isotopic data from IsoMAP to explore these two approaches for estimating uncertainty. We conducted 10 simulations for each bootstrap method and found that SBM results in more kriging predictions (9/10) compared to GBM (4/10). Prediction from SBM was closer to the original prediction generated without bootstrapping and had less variance than GBM. SBM was tested on different datasets from IsoMAP with different numbers of observation sites. We determined that predictions from the datasets with fewer than 40 observation sites using SBM were more variable than the original prediction. The approaches we used for estimating uncertainty will be compiled in an R package that is under development. We expect that these robust estimates of precipitation isoscape uncertainty can be applied in diagnosing the origin of samples ranging from various type of waters to migratory animals, food products, and humans.

Reaction pathways towards the formation of dolomite-analogues at ambient conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pimentel, Carlos; Pina, Carlos M.

2016-04-01

In this paper we present results of a study of the crystallisation behaviour of the dolomite-analogues norsethite and PbMg(CO3)2 at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Whereas precipitation of norsethite was previously obtained by mixing solutions (Hood et al., 1974; Pimentel and Pina, 2014a,b), we report, for the first time, the synthesis of PbMg(CO3)2 by using the same method. The formation of both phases was promoted by ageing slurries for periods of time ranging from a few days (norsethite) up to 6 months (PbMg(CO3)2). The crystallisation of both norsethite and PbMg(CO3)2 occurs by sequences of dissolution-precipitation reactions involving several amorphous and crystalline precursor phases, which were identified and characterised by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Depending on the initial composition and Ba:Mg and Pb:Mg ratios in the slurries, different precursors and reaction kinetics were observed. This demonstrates the existence of different reaction pathways towards the formation of the investigated dolomite-analogues. Our experimental results provide new insights into the possible mechanisms of formation of dolomite and other double carbonates in nature.

Application of thermal model for pan evaporation to the hydrology of a defined medium, the sponge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trenchard, M. H.; Artley, J. A. (Principal Investigator)

1981-01-01

A technique is presented which estimates pan evaporation from the commonly observed values of daily maximum and minimum air temperatures. These two variables are transformed to saturation vapor pressure equivalents which are used in a simple linear regression model. The model provides reasonably accurate estimates of pan evaporation rates over a large geographic area. The derived evaporation algorithm is combined with precipitation to obtain a simple moisture variable. A hypothetical medium with a capacity of 8 inches of water is initialized at 4 inches. The medium behaves like a sponge: it absorbs all incident precipitation, with runoff or drainage occurring only after it is saturated. Water is lost from this simple system through evaporation just as from a Class A pan, but at a rate proportional to its degree of saturation. The contents of the sponge is a moisture index calculated from only the maximum and minium temperatures and precipitation.

Precipitation regimes over central Greenland inferred from 5 years of ICECAPS observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pettersen, Claire; Bennartz, Ralf; Merrelli, Aronne J.; Shupe, Matthew D.; Turner, David D.; Walden, Von P.

2018-04-01

A novel method for classifying Arctic precipitation using ground based remote sensors is presented. Using differences in the spectral variation of microwave absorption and scattering properties of cloud liquid water and ice, this method can distinguish between different types of snowfall events depending on the presence or absence of condensed liquid water in the clouds that generate the precipitation. The classification reveals two distinct, primary regimes of precipitation over the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS): one originating from fully glaciated ice clouds and the other from mixed-phase clouds. Five years of co-located, multi-instrument data from the Integrated Characterization of Energy, Clouds, Atmospheric state, and Precipitation at Summit (ICECAPS) are used to examine cloud and meteorological properties and patterns associated with each precipitation regime. The occurrence and accumulation of the precipitation regimes are identified and quantified. Cloud and precipitation observations from additional ICECAPS instruments illustrate distinct characteristics for each regime. Additionally, reanalysis products and back-trajectory analysis show different synoptic-scale forcings associated with each regime. Precipitation over the central GIS exhibits unique microphysical characteristics due to the high surface elevations as well as connections to specific large-scale flow patterns. Snowfall originating from the ice clouds is coupled to deep, frontal cloud systems advecting up and over the southeast Greenland coast to the central GIS. These events appear to be associated with individual storm systems generated by low pressure over Baffin Bay and Greenland lee cyclogenesis. Snowfall originating from mixed-phase clouds is shallower and has characteristics typical of supercooled cloud liquid water layers, and slowly propagates from the south and southwest of Greenland along a quiescent flow above the GIS.

High-resolution imaging of the supercritical antisolvent process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bell, Philip W.; Stephens, Amendi P.; Roberts, Christopher B.; Duke, Steve R.

2005-06-01

A high-magnification and high-resolution imaging technique was developed for the supercritical fluid antisolvent (SAS) precipitation process. Visualizations of the jet injection, flow patterns, droplets, and particles were obtained in a high-pressure vessel for polylactic acid and budesonide precipitation in supercritical CO2. The results show two regimes for particle production: one where turbulent mixing occurs in gas-like plumes, and another where distinct droplets were observed in the injection. Images are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the method for examining particle formation theories and for understanding the underlying fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and mass transport in the SAS process.

The Response of Extreme Precipitation to Climate Change in the North American Monsoon Region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pascale, S.; Bordoni, S.; Kapnick, S. B.; Delworth, T. L.; Murakami, H.

2017-12-01

Gulf of California moisture surges (GoC surges) transport lower-level moisture in the southwestern United States and can trigger widespread convective bursts during the summertime North American monsoon (NAM). The intensity of such bursts varies over a wide spectrum, going from drier-than-average to extremely intense and persisting events. In this study we use a 50 km-horizontal resolution global coupled model (FLOR) developed at the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and featuring a realistic simulation of the GoC surges. We evaluate the model's ability to reproduce the intensity of precipitation during GoC surge and non-surge periods in present and doubled CO2 climatic conditions. We find that the mean number of GoC surge events per monsoon season (i.e., approximately 15) is not significantly affected by CO2 forcing. Nevertheless, when SST biases are minimized through flux adjustment, FLOR predicts a reduction in monsoonal precipitation over the southwestern United States. Our simulations further suggest that surge-related rainfall adjusts towards lower and higher percentiles, while becoming less important at intermediate values. Convective precipitation not occurring during GoC surges is instead not coherently affected by doubled CO2. Finally, the influence of CO2 forcing on the large-scale drivers of monsoonal precipitation during GoC surge events, such as the position of the monsoonal ridge, is investigated and related to precipitation changes.

The hydrological impact of geoengineering in the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tilmes, Simone; Fasullo, John; Lamarque, Jean-Francois; Marsh, Daniel R.; Mills, Michael; Alterskjær, Kari; Muri, Helene; Kristjánsson, Jón E.; Boucher, Olivier; Schulz, Michael; Cole, Jason N. S.; Curry, Charles L.; Jones, Andy; Haywood, Jim; Irvine, Peter J.; Ji, Duoying; Moore, John C.; Karam, Diana B.; Kravitz, Ben; Rasch, Philip J.; Singh, Balwinder; Yoon, Jin-Ho; Niemeier, Ulrike; Schmidt, Hauke; Robock, Alan; Yang, Shuting; Watanabe, Shingo

2013-10-01

The hydrological impact of enhancing Earth's albedo by solar radiation management is investigated using simulations from 12 Earth System models contributing to the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP). We contrast an idealized experiment, G1, where the global mean radiative forcing is kept at preindustrial conditions by reducing insolation while the CO2 concentration is quadrupled to a 4×CO2 experiment. The reduction of evapotranspiration over land with instantaneously increasing CO2 concentrations in both experiments largely contributes to an initial reduction in evaporation. A warming surface associated with the transient adjustment in 4×CO2 generates an increase of global precipitation by around 6.9% with large zonal and regional changes in both directions, including a precipitation increase of 10% over Asia and a reduction of 7% for the North American summer monsoon. Reduced global evaporation persists in G1 with temperatures close to preindustrial conditions. Global precipitation is reduced by around 4.5%, and significant reductions occur over monsoonal land regions: East Asia (6%), South Africa (5%), North America (7%), and South America (6%). The general precipitation performance in models is discussed in comparison to observations. In contrast to the 4×CO2 experiment, where the frequency of months with heavy precipitation intensity is increased by over 50% in comparison to the control, a reduction of up to 20% is simulated in G1. These changes in precipitation in both total amount and frequency of extremes point to a considerable weakening of the hydrological cycle in a geoengineered world.

An experimental study of the carbonation of serpentinite and partially serpentinised peridotites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lacinska, Alicja M.; Styles, Michael T.; Bateman, Keith; Hall, Matthew; Brown, Paul D.

2017-06-01

In situ sequestration of CO2 in mantle peridotites has been proposed as a method to alleviate the amount of anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere. This study presents the results of eight-month long laboratory fluid-rock experiments on representative mantle rocks from the Oman-United Arab Emirates ophiolite to investigate this process. Small core samples (3 cm long) were reacted in wet supercritical CO2 and CO2-saturated brine at 100 bar and 70°C. The extent of carbonate formation, and hence the degree of carbon sequestration, varied greatly depending on rock type, with serpentinite (lizardite-dominated) exhibiting the highest capacity, manifested by the precipitation of magnesite MgCO3 and ferroan magnesite (Mg,Fe)CO3. The carbonate precipitation occurred predominantly on the surface of the core and subordinately within cross-cutting fractures. The extent of the CO2 reactions appeared to be principally controlled by the chemical and mineralogical composition of the rock, as well as the rock texture, with all these factors influencing the extent and rate of mineral dissolution and release of Mg and Fe for subsequent reaction with the CO2. It was calculated that ≈ 0.7 g of CO2 was captured by reacting ≈ 23 g of serpentinite, determined by the mass of magnesite formed. This equates to ≈ 30 kg CO2 per tonne of host rock, equivalent to ≈ 3% carbonation in half a year. However, recycling of carbonate present in veins within the original rock sample could mean that the overall amount is around 2%. The increased reactivity of serpentinite was associated with preferential dissolution of more reactive types of serpentine minerals and brucite, that were mainly present in the cross-cutting veins. The bulk of the serpentinite rock was little affected. This study, using relatively short term experiments, suggests that serpentinite might be a good host rock for CO2 sequestration, although long term experiments might prove that dunite and harzburgite could be an effective in an engineered system of CCSM. Wet scCO2 proved to be chemically aggressive than CO2-saturated brine and its ingress along fractures and grain boundaries resulted in greater host rock dissolution and subsequent carbonate precipitation.

3-D dumbbell-like LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cathode materials assembled with nano-building blocks for lithium-ion batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryu, Won-Hee; Lim, Sung-Jin; Kim, Won-Keun; Kwon, HyukSang

2014-07-01

Dumbbell-like microsphere carbonate precursors including multi-transition metal components (Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3CO3) assembled with nano-building blocks were synthesized by urea-assisted solvo/hydrothermal method, and layered cathode materials (LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2) were subsequently prepared using the similarly shaped carbonate precursors for Li-ion batteries. For the synthesis of hierarchical microsphere structures, the partial addition of viscous organic solvent (e.g. ethylene glycol) in aqueous solution played a crucial role, not only in suppressing the sudden particle growth but also in regulating the directional crystallization of carbonate particles on the surface. The dumbbell-like LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 assembled with nanocubes prepared via the urea-assisted solvo/hydrothermal method exhibited better electrochemical characteristics, such as initial discharge capacity, cyclic performance, and rate-capability as a cathode material of Li-ion batteries, compared with the LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 materials prepared via the conventional co-precipitation method.

Synthesis, fractionation, and thin film processing of nanoparticles using the tunable solvent properties of carbon dioxide gas expanded liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anand, Madhu

Nanoparticles have received significant attention because of their unusual characteristics including high surface area to volume ratios. Materials built from nanoparticles possess unique chemical, physical, mechanical and optical properties. Due to these properties, they hold potential in application areas such as catalysts, sensors, semiconductors and optics. At the same time, CO 2 in the form of supercritical fluid or CO2 gas-expanded liquid mixtures has gained significant attention in the area of processing nanostructures. This dissertation focuses on the synthesis and processing of nanoparticles using CO2 tunable solvent systems. Nanoparticle properties depend heavily on their size and, as such, the ability to finely control the size and uniformity of nanoparticles is of utmost importance. Solution based nanoparticle formation techniques are attractive due to their simplicity, but they often result in the synthesis of particles with a wide size range. To address this limitation, a post-synthesis technique has been developed in this dissertation to fractionate polydisperse nanoparticles ( s . = 30%) into monodisperse fractions ( s . = 8%) using tunable physicochemical properties of CO 2 expanded liquids, where CO2 is employed as an antisolvent. This work demonstrates that by controlling the addition of CO2 (pressurization) to an organic dispersion of nanoparticles, the ligand stabilized nanoparticles can be size selectively precipitated within a novel high pressure apparatus that confines the particle precipitation to a specified location on a surface. Unlike current techniques, this CO2 expanded liquid approach provides faster and more efficient particle size separation, reduction in organic solvent usage, and pressure tunable size selection in a single process. To improve our fundamental understanding and to further refine the size separation process, a detailed study has been performed to identify the key parameters enabling size separation of various nanoparticle populations. This study details the influence of various factors on the size separation process, such as the types of nanoparticles, ligand type and solvent type as well as the use of recursive fractionation and the time allowed for settling during each fractionation step. This size selective precipitation technique was also applied to fractionate and separate polydisperse dispersions of CdSe/ZnS semiconductor nanocrystals into very distinct size and color fractions based solely on the pressure tunable solvent properties of CO2 expanded liquids. This size selective precipitation of nanoparticles is achieved by finely tuning the solvent strength of the CO2/organic solvent medium by simply adjusting the applied CO2 pressure. These subtle changes affect the balance between osmotic repulsive and van der Waals attractive forces thereby allowing fractionation of the nanocrystals into multiple narrow size populations. Thermodynamic analysis of nanoparticle size selective fractionation was performed to develop a theoretical model based on the thermodynamic properties of gas expanded liquids. We have used the general phenomenon of nanoparticle precipitation with CO2 expanded liquids to create dodecanethiol stabilized gold nanoparticle thin films. This method utilizes CO2 as an anti-solvent for low defect, wide area gold nanoparticle film formation employing monodisperse gold nanoparticles. Dodecanethiol stabilized gold particles are precipitated from hexane by controllably expanding the solution with carbon dioxide. Subsequent addition of carbon dioxide as a dense supercritical fluid then provides for removal of the organic solvent while avoiding the dewetting effects common to evaporating solvents. Unfortunately, the use of carbon dioxide as a neat solvent in nanoparticles synthesis and processing is limited by the very poor solvent strength of dense phase CO2. As a result, most current techniques employed to synthesize and disperse nanoparticles in neat carbon dioxide require the use of environmentally persistent fluorinated compounds as metal precursors and/or stabilizing ligands. This dissertation presents the first report of the simultaneous synthesis and stabilization of metallic nanoparticles in carbon dioxide solvent without the use of any fluorinated compounds thereby further enabling the use of CO 2 as a green solvent medium in nanomaterials synthesis and processing.

Carbonate precipitates and bicarbonate secretion in the intestine of sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax.

PubMed

Faggio, Caterina; Torre, Agata; Lando, Gabriele; Sabatino, Giuseppe; Trischitta, Francesca

2011-05-01

The aim of this paper was to study the chemical composition of the precipitates found in the intestine of Dicentrarchus labrax and the source of HCO(3)(-) secreted into the intestinal lumen. The chemical analysis was performed by employing the potentiometric double titration method and by means of an electron microscope coupled with a spectrometer and X-ray powder diffraction. The results obtained suggest the presence of very insoluble intestinal precipitates, presumably formed by a mixture of CaCO(3) and MgCO(3), with a higher quantity of the former with respect to the latter. HCO(3)(-) secretion rate was investigated with the aid of the pH stat method in isolated tissues mounted in Ussing chamber, where the transepithelial electrical parameters were also measured. When the serosal surface of the intestinal mucosa was bathed in HCO(3)(-)-Ringer bubbled with 1% CO(2) in O(2) while the serosal surface was bathed in HCO(3)(-) free Ringer solution bubbled with pure O(2), bicarbonate secretion proceeded at an almost stable rate of 0.9 ± 0.05 μeq cm(-2) h(-1) for about 3 h while I(sc) maintained a constant value of 38 ± 1.5 μA cm(-2). The carbonic anhydrase inhibitor ethoxyzolamide elicited a progressive reduction of HCO(3)(-) secretion that was about 75% of the initial value after 80 min. When serosal HCO(3)(-)-CO(2) saline was substituted with Hepes-O(2) saline base secretion progressively declined reaching a value of about 20% of the initial value. It was also strongly inhibited when Na(+) was substituted with the impermeant cation choline and when either DIDS or ouabain were added to the basolateral side. These results suggest that most of the bicarbonate secreted is of extracellular source and is probably transported across the basolateral membrane by both Na(+) independent mechanism and Na(+) dependent transporter, presumably a NaHCO(3) cotransport.

Interactive effects of elevated CO2 concentration and irrigation on photosynthetic parameters and yield of maize in Northeast China.

PubMed

Meng, Fanchao; Zhang, Jiahua; Yao, Fengmei; Hao, Cui

2014-01-01

Maize is one of the major cultivated crops of China, having a central role in ensuring the food security of the country. There has been a significant increase in studies of maize under interactive effects of elevated CO2 concentration ([CO2]) and other factors, yet the interactive effects of elevated [CO2] and increasing precipitation on maize has remained unclear. In this study, a manipulative experiment in Jinzhou, Liaoning province, Northeast China was performed so as to obtain reliable results concerning the later effects. The Open Top Chambers (OTCs) experiment was designed to control contrasting [CO2] i.e., 390, 450 and 550 µmol·mol(-1), and the experiment with 15% increasing precipitation levels was also set based on the average monthly precipitation of 5-9 month from 1981 to 2010 and controlled by irrigation. Thus, six treatments, i.e. C550W+15%, C550W0, C450W+15%, C450W0, C390W+15% and C390W0 were included in this study. The results showed that the irrigation under elevated [CO2] levels increased the leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) of maize. Similarly, the stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Tr) decreased with elevated [CO2], but irrigation have a positive effect on increased of them at each [CO2] level, resulting in the water use efficiency (WUE) higher in natural precipitation treatment than irrigation treatment at elevated [CO2] levels. Irradiance-response parameters, e.g., maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pnmax) and light saturation points (LSP) were increased under elevated [CO2] and irrigation, and dark respiration (Rd) was increased as well. The growth characteristics, e.g., plant height, leaf area and aboveground biomass were enhanced, resulting in an improved of yield and ear characteristics except axle diameter. The study concluded by reporting that, future elevated [CO2] may favor to maize when coupled with increasing amount of precipitation in Northeast China.

Interactive Effects of Elevated CO2 Concentration and Irrigation on Photosynthetic Parameters and Yield of Maize in Northeast China

PubMed Central

Meng, Fanchao; Zhang, Jiahua; Yao, Fengmei; Hao, Cui

2014-01-01

Maize is one of the major cultivated crops of China, having a central role in ensuring the food security of the country. There has been a significant increase in studies of maize under interactive effects of elevated CO2 concentration ([CO2]) and other factors, yet the interactive effects of elevated [CO2] and increasing precipitation on maize has remained unclear. In this study, a manipulative experiment in Jinzhou, Liaoning province, Northeast China was performed so as to obtain reliable results concerning the later effects. The Open Top Chambers (OTCs) experiment was designed to control contrasting [CO2] i.e., 390, 450 and 550 µmol·mol−1, and the experiment with 15% increasing precipitation levels was also set based on the average monthly precipitation of 5–9 month from 1981 to 2010 and controlled by irrigation. Thus, six treatments, i.e. C550W+15%, C550W0, C450W+15%, C450W0, C390W+15% and C390W0 were included in this study. The results showed that the irrigation under elevated [CO2] levels increased the leaf net photosynthetic rate (P n) and intercellular CO2 concentration (C i) of maize. Similarly, the stomatal conductance (G s) and transpiration rate (T r) decreased with elevated [CO2], but irrigation have a positive effect on increased of them at each [CO2] level, resulting in the water use efficiency (WUE) higher in natural precipitation treatment than irrigation treatment at elevated [CO2] levels. Irradiance-response parameters, e.g., maximum net photosynthetic rate (P nmax) and light saturation points (LSP) were increased under elevated [CO2] and irrigation, and dark respiration (R d) was increased as well. The growth characteristics, e.g., plant height, leaf area and aboveground biomass were enhanced, resulting in an improved of yield and ear characteristics except axle diameter. The study concluded by reporting that, future elevated [CO2] may favor to maize when coupled with increasing amount of precipitation in Northeast China. PMID:24848097

Facile Synthesis and Characterization of ZrO₂ Nanoparticles via Modified Co-Precipitation Method.

PubMed

Ramachandran, M; Subadevi, R; Liu, Wei-Ren; Sivakumar, M

2018-01-01

The crystalline Zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nano particles were synthesized using optimized content of Zirconium nitrate (Zr(NO3)2·3H2O) with varying KOH concentration (0.5, 1 and 1.5 M) by co-precipitation method. The thermal history of the precursor was carefully analyzed through Thermogravimetric (TG/DTA) measurement. The as prepared samples were characterized to ensure structural, functional, morphological, compositional, chemical composition and band gap by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Laser Raman, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), High resolution Transverse Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS), EDX, Photo luminescence spectroscopy (PL). The monoclinic structure with space group P21/c has been confirmed from XRD (JCPDS 89-9066). The Zr-O stretching vibration and Zr-O2-Zr bending vibrations were confirmed through FTIR analysis. The well dispersed particles with spherical morphology were confirmed through SEM and TEM analysis. The oxidation states of Zr, O and C were confirmed through XPS analysis. The oxygen vacancies and band gap of the particles were investigated through PL analysis.

Microwave resonant and zero-field absorption study of doped magnetite prepared by a co-precipitation method.

PubMed

Aphesteguy, Juan Carlos; Jacobo, Silvia E; Lezama, Luis; Kurlyandskaya, Galina V; Schegoleva, Nina N

2014-06-19

Fe3O4 and ZnxFe3-xO4 pure and doped magnetite magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared in aqueous solution (Series A) or in a water-ethyl alcohol mixture (Series B) by the co-precipitation method. Only one ferromagnetic resonance line was observed in all cases under consideration indicating that the materials are magnetically uniform. The shortfall in the resonance fields from 3.27 kOe (for the frequency of 9.5 GHz) expected for spheres can be understood taking into account the dipolar forces, magnetoelasticity, or magnetocrystalline anisotropy. All samples show non-zero low field absorption. For Series A samples the grain size decreases with an increase of the Zn content. In this case zero field absorption does not correlate with the changes of the grain size. For Series B samples the grain size and zero field absorption behavior correlate with each other. The highest zero-field absorption corresponded to 0.2 zinc concentration in both A and B series. High zero-field absorption of Fe3O4 ferrite magnetic NPs can be interesting for biomedical applications.

Synthesis of zeolite/nickel ferrite/sodium alginate bionanocomposite via a co-precipitation technique for efficient removal of water-soluble methylene blue dye.

PubMed

Bayat, Mahsa; Javanbakht, Vahid; Esmaili, Javad

2018-05-05

In this study, we sought to synthesize magnetic nanocomposite of zeolite/nickel ferrite through co-precipitation method and modify its surface by sodium alginate to enhance its methylene blue adsorption capacity and to prevent its oxidation. Nanocomposite characteristics were investigated by SEM, VSM, XRD and FTIR analyses. The results indicate that nanocomposite synthesis and modification has been completely successful. Adsorption thermodynamics, kinetics, and isotherms were examined and parameters were optimized by Minitab software using experimental design method, response surface methodology and Box-Behnken design. The highest capacity of methylene blue adsorption from the aqueous solution obtained at optimal pH of 5, the initial dye concentration of 10 mg/L and an adsorbent amount of 0.03 g was about 54.05 mg/g. Analyzing kinetic data of adsorption experiments confirmed that adsorption process complies with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Assessing equilibrium isotherm data at different temperatures showed that these data are in good agreement with Langmuir isotherm model. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nano-sized ZnO powders prepared by co-precipitation method with various pH

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Purwaningsih, S. Y., E-mail: sriyanisaputri@gmail.com; Pratapa, S.; Triwikantoro,

2016-04-19

In this work, nano-sized ZnO powders have been synthesized by the co-precipitation method with Zn(CH3COOH)2.2H2O, HCl, and NH3.H2O as raw materials in various pH ranging from 8 to 10. The purity, microstructure, chemical group analysis, morphology of the prepared ZnO powders were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. Rietveld refinement of XRD data showed that ZnO crystallizes in the wurtzite structure with high purity. The obtained powders were nano-sized particles with the average crystallite size about 17.9 ± 2.1 nm synthesized with pH of 9.5, atmore » 85°C, and stirring time of 6 h. The SEM results have visualied the morphology of ZnO nanoparticles with spherical-like shape. The effect of processing conditions on morphology of ZnO was also discussed.« less

Estimation of methanogen biomass via quantitation of coenzyme M

USGS Publications Warehouse

Elias, Dwayne A.; Krumholz, Lee R.; Tanner, Ralph S.; Suflita, Joseph M.

1999-01-01

Determination of the role of methanogenic bacteria in an anaerobic ecosystem often requires quantitation of the organisms. Because of the extreme oxygen sensitivity of these organisms and the inherent limitations of cultural techniques, an accurate biomass value is very difficult to obtain. We standardized a simple method for estimating methanogen biomass in a variety of environmental matrices. In this procedure we used the thiol biomarker coenzyme M (CoM) (2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid), which is known to be present in all methanogenic bacteria. A high-performance liquid chromatography-based method for detecting thiols in pore water (A. Vairavamurthy and M. Mopper, Anal. Chim. Acta 78:363–370, 1990) was modified in order to quantify CoM in pure cultures, sediments, and sewage water samples. The identity of the CoM derivative was verified by using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The assay was linear for CoM amounts ranging from 2 to 2,000 pmol, and the detection limit was 2 pmol of CoM/ml of sample. CoM was not adsorbed to sediments. The methanogens tested contained an average of 19.5 nmol of CoM/mg of protein and 0.39 ± 0.07 fmol of CoM/cell. Environmental samples contained an average of 0.41 ± 0.17 fmol/cell based on most-probable-number estimates. CoM was extracted by using 1% tri-(N)-butylphosphine in isopropanol. More than 90% of the CoM was recovered from pure cultures and environmental samples. We observed no interference from sediments in the CoM recovery process, and the method could be completed aerobically within 3 h. Freezing sediment samples resulted in 46 to 83% decreases in the amounts of detectable CoM, whereas freezing had no effect on the amounts of CoM determined in pure cultures. The method described here provides a quick and relatively simple way to estimate methanogenic biomass.

[Polyketone Reaction in Biosynthetic Pathways of 2, 3, 5, 4'-Tetrahydroxy Stilhene-2-O-β-D-glucoside in Polygonum multiflorum by Biocatalysis].

PubMed

Lei, Lei; Xia, Wan-xia; Shao, Li; Zhao, Shu-jin

2015-10-01

2, 3, 5, 4'-Tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (THSG), the active ingredient of Polygonum multiflorum, its polyketone reaction in the biosynthesis pathways was studied by biocatalysis method. The substrates 4-coumaroyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA were catalyzed in vitro by the crude enzyme extracted from Polygonum multiflorum callus, then the products were verified by HPLC and LC-MS methods. And the crude enzyme was analyzed by ammonium sulfate precipitation method and SDS-PAGE. HPLC chromatogram showed the same retention time of both the product and resveratrol standards; LC-MS spectra showed that the m/z of product was 227, which was consistent with resveratrol standards under the mode of negative ion; Ammonium sulfate (AS) precipitation method showed AS of 40% - 70% had catalytic activity,and 50% - 60% was the optimum; SDS-PAGE showed protein bands were obviously different among different AS concentration between 20% - 80%, the protein band of 42 kDa was found in AS of 50% - 60%, which had the same molecular weight with stilbene synthase. The product of polyketone reaction in the biosynthesis of THSG is resveratrol rather than THSG, so it is speculated that THSG is the conversion product of resveratrol instead of the direct product of the polyketone reaction.

PROCESS OF EXTRACTING URANIUM AND RADIUM FROM ORES

DOEpatents

Sawyer, C.W.; Handley, R.W.

1959-07-14

A process is presented for extracting uranium and radium values from a uranium ore which comprises leaching the ore with a ferric chloride solution at an elevated temperature of above 50 deg C and at a pH less than 4; separating the ore residue from the leaching solution by filtration; precipitating the excess ferric iron present at a pH of less than 5 by adding CaCO/sub 3/ to the filtrate; separating the precipitate by filtration; precipitating the uranium present in the filtrate at a Ph less than 6 by adding BaCO/sub 3/ to the filtrate; separating the precipitate by filtration; and precipitating the radium present in the filtrate by adding H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ to the filtrate.

Mechanism of protein precipitation and stabilization by co-solvents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Timasheff, Serge N.; Arakawa, Tsutomu

1988-07-01

The interactions between proteins and a number of substances which, when present at high concentration, stabilize or precipitate proteins, have been analyzed in terms of the preferential interactions of these co-solvents with proteins. In all cases, stabilization or precipitation was accompanied by preferential exclusion of the co-solvent from the immediate domain of the protein, i.e., preferential hydration of the protein. This means that addition of the co-solvent to the aqueous protein solution increased the chemical potentials of both components. The thermodynamic interaction parameters derived from such data make it possible to calculate the salting out constant, Ks, as well as to construct a phase isotherm for any given solvent mixture which indicates the limiting protein solubility. The salting-out effect can be decomposed into contributions from non-specific preferential exclusion and specific binding of the ligand to the protein, the balance leading to solubilization or precipitation. In reactions, such as denaturation, the effect of co-solvent on the reaction depends on the difference in the preferential interactions of the two end states of the protein. Principal sources of preferential exclusion have been identified as steric exclusion, increase of the surface tension of water by the co-solvent, repulsion by charged loci on the protein and solvophobicity.

Effect of Co-Contaminants Uranium and Nitrate on Iodine Remediation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Szecsody, James E.; Lee, Brady D.; Lawter, Amanda R.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the significance of co-contaminants on the migration and transformation of iodine species in the Hanford subsurface environment. These impacts are relevant because remedies that target individual contaminants like iodine, may not only impact the fate and transport of other contaminants in the subsurface, but also inhibit the effectiveness of a targeted remedy. For example, iodine (as iodate) co-precipitates with calcite, and has been identified as a potential remedy because it immobilizes iodine. Since uranium also co-precipitates with calcite in field sediments, the presence of uranium may also inhibit iodine co-precipitation. Another potentiallymore » significant impact from co-existing contaminants is iodine and nitrate. The presence of nitrate has been shown to promote biogeochemical reduction of iodate to iodide, thereby increasing iodine species subsurface mobility (as iodide exhibits less sorption). Hence, this study reports on both laboratory batch and column experiments that investigated a) the change in iodate uptake mass and rate of uptake into precipitating calcite due to the presence of differing amounts of uranium, b) the amount of change of the iodate bio-reduction rate due to the presence of differing nitrate concentrations, and c) whether nitrite can reduce iodate in the presence of microbes and/or minerals acting as catalysts.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

The objective of the first year of this study was the investigation of two new classes of complex sulfide materials of potential value for ambient and high temperature, high energy rechargeable batteries with lithium anodes. The two new classes were the sulfospinels and simple and mixed layered disulfides of transitional metals of groups IVB and VB. In addition, three simple sulfides, CoS, CoS/sub 2/ and FeS/sub 2/ were also investigated. Studies of the synthesis methods have resulted in the development of the two-zone quartz furnace capable of firing temperatures up to 1000/sup 0/C with controllable sulfur vapor pressures. Optimum synthesismore » methods for preparation of TiS/sub 2/ and substituted disulfides of the type M/sub x/Ti/sub 1-x/S/sub 2/ (M = Co, Cr, Mo, V) as well as for sulfospinels have been established. In the area of mixed disulfides, compounds with 5 mole % molybdenum and 25 mole % chromium or vanadium were found to be superior in electrochemical cell performance to TiS/sub 2/. The higher electrical conductivity of these compounds compared to that of TiS/sub 2/ is the probable reason. The preparation of the Co-substituted disulfide was not successful and resulted in a sulfospinel structure of CoTi/sub 2/S/sub 4/. Among the sulfospinels studied CoCo/sub 2/S/sub 4/ = (Co/sub 3/S/sub 4/) and CoFe/sub 2/S/sub 4/, high capacity densities up to 605 mAH/g have been found with the former showing more electrochemical reversibility. The initial findings in organic electrolyte cells have been confirmed in high temperature tests conducted at Argonne National Laboratory in molten salt cell tests. The simple sulfides have been found to perform in organic electrolyte cells with CoS/sub 2/ showing lower polarization than FeS/sub 2/ or CoS.« less

Study on the mechanism of copper-ammonia complex decomposition in struvite formation process and enhanced ammonia and copper removal.

PubMed

Peng, Cong; Chai, Liyuan; Tang, Chongjian; Min, Xiaobo; Song, Yuxia; Duan, Chengshan; Yu, Cheng

2017-01-01

Heavy metals and ammonia are difficult to remove from wastewater, as they easily combine into refractory complexes. The struvite formation method (SFM) was applied for the complex decomposition and simultaneous removal of heavy metal and ammonia. The results indicated that ammonia deprivation by SFM was the key factor leading to the decomposition of the copper-ammonia complex ion. Ammonia was separated from solution as crystalline struvite, and the copper mainly co-precipitated as copper hydroxide together with struvite. Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic attraction were considered to be the main surface interactions between struvite and copper hydroxide. Hydrogen bonding was concluded to be the key factor leading to the co-precipitation. In addition, incorporation of copper ions into the struvite crystal also occurred during the treatment process. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Synthesis of Zn1-xCdxO Nanoparticles by Co-Precipitation: Structural, Optical and Photodetection Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jacob, Anju Anna; Balakrishnan, L.; Meher, S. R.; Shambavi, K.; Alex, Z. C.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a wide bandgap semiconductor with excellent photoresponse in ultra-violet (UV) regime. Tuning the bandgap of ZnO by alloying with cadmium can shift its absorption cutoff wavelength from UV to visible (Vis) region. Our work aims at synthesis of Zn1-xCdxO nanoparticles by co-precipitation method for the fabrication of photodetector. The properties of nanoparticles were analyzed using X-ray diffractometer, UV-Vis spectrometer, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer. The incorporation of cadmium without altering the wurtzite structure resulted in the red shift in the absorption edge of ZnO. Further, the photoresponse characteristics of Zn1-xCdxO nanopowders were investigated by fabricating photodetectors. It has been found that with Cd alloying the photosensitivity was increased in the UVA-violet as well in the blue region.

Synthesis, Properties and Application of Glucose Coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Prepared by Co-precipitation Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sari, Ayu Y.; Eko, A. S.; Candra, K.; Hasibuan, Denny P.; Ginting, M.; Sebayang, P.; Simamora, P.

2017-07-01

Synthesis of glucose coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles have been successfully prepared with co-precipitation method. Raw material of natural iron-sand was obtained from Buaya River, Deliserdang, Indonesia. The milled iron-sand was dissolved in HCl (37 mole %), and stirred in 300 rpm at 70°C for 90 minutes. Glucose was added to the filtered powder with varied content of 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 mole, and precipitated by NH3 (25 mole%). After drying process, the final product subsequently was glucose coated magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. The characterizations performed were true density measurement, FTIR, VSM, XRD, BET, and adsorbent performance by AAS. The FTIR analysis showed that M-O (bending) with M=Fe (stretching vibration) with υ = 570.92 and 401.19 cm-1. While glucose coated well on nanoparticle Fe3O4, proved by functional groups C=O (stretching), M-O (stretching) and C-H (bending) with υ = 1404.17, 570.92, and 2368.58 cm-1, respectively. Single phase of magnetite (Fe3O4) structure was determined from XRD analysis with cubic spinel structure and lattice parameter of 8.396 Å. The optimum conditions, obtained on the Fe3O4 nanoparticles with 0.01 mole of glucose addition, which has true density value of 4.57 g/cm3, magnetic saturation, M s = 35,41 emu/g, coercivity, H cJ = 83.58 Oe, average particle size = 12.3 nm and surface area = 124.88 m2/g. This type magnetic nanoparticles of glucose-coated Fe3O4 was capable to adsorbed 93.78 % of ion Pb. Therefore, the glucose-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticle is a potential candidate to be used as heavy metal removal from wastewater.

Effect of Long Selenization Time on Co Films under a Low Temperature of 300 °C to Synthesize a Nanostructure CoSe2 and Optical Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Po-Feng; Shi, Jen-Bin; Cheng, Bo-Ci; Wu, Cheng-Han; Lee, Hsuan-Wei; Lin, Hsien-Sheng; Cheng, Fu-Chou; Chen, Kuan-Ping

2018-05-01

This work investigates a simple and non-toxic method to transform pre-deposited amorphous Co film into CoSe2 films at a fixed, low temperature of 300 °C. Single CoSe2-phase films having good crystallinity were obtained at a selenisation time ≧ 24 hours. A nanostructure CoSe2 having two different nano-morphological layers was observed. The CoSe2 films (72 hours) observed a large absorption and a direct band gap.

Empirical High-Temperature Calibration for the Carbonate Clumped Isotopes Paleothermometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kluge, T.; John, C. M.; Jourdan, A.; Davis, S.; Crawshaw, J.

2013-12-01

The clumped isotope paleothermometer is being used in a wide range of applications related to carbonate mineral formation, focusing on temperature and fluid δ18O reconstruction. Whereas the range of typical Earth surface temperatures has been the focus of several studies based on laboratory experiments and biogenic carbonates of known growth temperatures, the clumped isotope-temperature relationship above 70 °C has not been assessed by direct precipitation of carbonates. We investigated the clumped isotope-temperature relationship by precipitating carbonates between 20 and 200°C in the laboratory. The setup consists of a pressurized vessel in which carbonate minerals are precipitated from the mixture of two solutions (CaCl2, NaHCO3). Both solutions are thermally and isotopically equilibrated before injection in the pressure vessel. Minerals precipitated in this setup generally consist of calcite. Samples were reacted with 105% orthophosphoric acid for 10 min at 90°C. The evolved CO2 was continuously collected and subsequently purified with a Porapak trap held at -35°C. Measurements were performed on a MAT 253 using the protocol of Huntington et al. (2009) and Dennis et al. (2011). Clumped isotope values from 20-90°C are consistent with carbonates that were precipitated from a CaCO3 super-saturated solution using the method of McCrea (1950). This demonstrates that the experimental setup does not induce any kinetic fractionation, and can be used for high-temperature carbonate precipitation. The new clumped isotope calibration at high temperature follows the theoretical calculations of Schauble et al. (2006) adjusted for phosphoric acid digestion at 90°C. We gratefully acknowledge funding from Qatar Petroleum, Shell and the Qatar Science and Technology Park.

Carbonate Mineralization of Volcanic Province Basalts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schaef, Herbert T.; McGrail, B. Peter; Owen, Antionette T.

2010-03-31

Flood basalts are receiving increasing attention as possible host formations for geologic sequestration of anthropogenic CO2, with studies underway in the United States, India, Iceland, and Canada. As an extension of our previous experiments with Columbia River basalt, basalts from the eastern United States, India, and South Africa were reacted with aqueous dissolved CO2 and aqueous dissolved CO2-H2S mixtures under supercritical CO2 (scCO2) conditions to study the geochemical reactions resulting from injection of CO2 in such formations. The results of these studies are consistent with cation release behavior measured in our previous experiments (in press) for basalt samples tested inmore » single pass flow through dissolution experiments under dilute solution and mildly acidic conditions. Despite the basalt samples having similar bulk chemistry, mineralogy and apparent dissolution kinetics, long-term static experiments show significant differences in rates of mineralization as well as compositions and morphologies of precipitates that form when the basalts are reacted with CO2-saturated water. For example, basalt from the Newark Basin in the United States was by far the most reactive of any basalt tested to date. Carbonate reaction products for the Newark Basin basalt were globular in form and contained significantly more Fe than the secondary carbonates that precipitated on the other basalt samples. In comparison, the post-reacted samples associated with the Columbia River basalts from the United States contained calcite grains with classic dogtooth spar morphology and trace cation substitution (Mg and Mn). Carbonation of the other basalts produced precipitates with compositions that varied chemically throughout the entire testing period. Examination of polished cross sections of the reacted grains by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy show precipitate overgrowths with varying chemical compositions. Compositional differences in the precipitates suggest changes in fluid chemistry unique to the dissolution behavior of each basalt sample reacted with CO2-saturated water. The Karoo basalt from South Africa appeared the least reactive, with very limited mineralization occurring during the testing with CO2-saturated water. The relative reactivity of different basalt samples were unexpectedly different in the experiments conducted using aqueous dissolved CO2-H2S mixtures versus those reacted with aqueous dissolved CO2 mixtures. For example, the Karoo basalt was highly reactive in the presence of aqueous dissolved CO2-H2S, as evident by small nodules of carbonate coating the basalt grains after 181 days of testing. However the most reactive basalt in CO2-H2O, Newark Basin, formed limited amounts of carbonate precipitates in the presence of aqueous dissolved CO2-H2S mixture. Basalt reactivity in CO2-H2O mixtures appears to be controlled by the composition of the glassy mesostasis, which is the most reactive component in the basalt rock. With the addition of H2S to the CO2-H2O system, basalt reactivity appears to be controlled by precipitation of coatings of insoluble Fe sulfides.« less

Simple Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Assisted Sample Preparation Method for LC-MS-based Proteomic Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhou, Jianying; Dann, Geoffrey P.; Shi, Tujin

2012-03-10

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is one of the most popular laboratory reagents used for highly efficient biological sample extraction; however, SDS presents a significant challenge to LC-MS-based proteomic analyses due to its severe interference with reversed-phase LC separations and electrospray ionization interfaces. This study reports a simple SDS-assisted proteomic sample preparation method facilitated by a novel peptide-level SDS removal protocol. After SDS-assisted protein extraction and digestion, SDS was effectively (>99.9%) removed from peptides through ion substitution-mediated DS- precipitation with potassium chloride (KCl) followed by {approx}10 min centrifugation. Excellent peptide recovery (>95%) was observed for less than 20 {mu}g of peptides.more » Further experiments demonstrated the compatibility of this protocol with LC-MS/MS analyses. The resulting proteome coverage from this SDS-assisted protocol was comparable to or better than those obtained from other standard proteomic preparation methods in both mammalian tissues and bacterial samples. These results suggest that this SDS-assisted protocol is a practical, simple, and broadly applicable proteomic sample processing method, which can be particularly useful when dealing with samples difficult to solubilize by other methods.« less

A simple and efficient method for preparing partially purified phosvitin from egg yolk using ethanol and salts.

PubMed

Ko, K Y; Nam, K C; Jo, C; Lee, E J; Ahn, D U

2011-05-01

The objective of this study was to develop a new protocol that could be used for large-scale separation of phosvitin from egg yolk using ethanol and salts. Yolk granules, which contain phosvitin, were precipitated after diluting egg yolk with 9 volumes of distilled water. The pH of the yolk solution was adjusted to pH 4.0 to 8.0 using 6 N HCl or NaOH, and then yolk granules containing phosvitin was separated by centrifugation at 3,220 × g for 30 min. Lipids and phospholipids were removed from the insoluble yolk granules using 85% ethanol. The optimal volumes and concentration of ethanol in removing lipids from the precipitants were determined. After centrifugation, the lipid-free precipitants were homogenized with 9 volumes of ammonium sulfate [(NH(4))(2)SO(4)] or NaCl to extract phosvitin. The optimal pH and concentration of (NH(4))(2)SO(4) or NaCl for the highest recovery rate and purity for phosvitin in final solution were determined. At pH 6.0, all the phosvitin in diluted egg yolk solution was precipitated. Among the (NH(4))(2)SO(4) and NaCl conditions tested, 10% (NH(4))(2)SO(4) or 10% NaCl at pH 4.0 yielded the greatest phosvitin extraction from the lipid-free precipitants. The recovery rates of phosvitin using (NH(4))(2)SO(4) and NaCl were 72 and 97%, respectively, and their purity was approximately 85%. Salt was removed from the extract using ultrafiltration. The salt-free phosvitin solution was concentrated using ultrafiltration, the impurities were removed by centrifugation, and the resulting solution was freeze-dried. The partially purified phosvitin was suitable for human use because ethanol was the only solvent used to remove lipids, (NH(4))(2)SO(4) or NaCl was used to extract phosvitin, and ultrafiltration was used to remove salt and concentrate the extract. The developed method was simple and suitable for a large-scale preparation of partially purified phosvitin.

Metabolism-Induced CaCO 3 Biomineralization During Reactive Transport in a Micromodel: Implications for Porosity Alteration

DOE PAGES

Singh, Rajveer; Yoon, Hongkyu; Sanford, Robert A.; ...

2015-09-08

We investigated the ability of Pseudomonas stutzeri strain DCP-Ps1 to drive CaCO 3 biomineralization in a microfluidic flowcell (i.e., micromodel) that simulates subsurface porous media. Results indicate that CaCO 3 precipitation occurs during NO 3 – reduction with a maximum saturation index (SI calcite) of ~1.56, but not when NO 3 – was removed, inactive biomass remained, and pH and alkalinity were adjusted to SI calcite ~ 1.56. CaCO 3 precipitation was promoted by metabolically active cultures of strain DCP-Ps1, which at similar values of SIcalcite, have a more negative surface charge than inactive strain DCP-Ps1. A two-stage NO 3more » – reduction (NO 3 – → NO 2 – → N 2) pore-scale reactive transport model was used to evaluate denitrification kinetics, which was observed in the micromodel as upper (NO 3 – reduction) and lower (NO 2 – reduction) horizontal zones of biomass growth with CaCO 3 precipitation exclusively in the lower zone. Our model results are consistent with two biomass growth regions and indicate that precipitation occurred in the lower zone because the largest increase in pH and alkalinity is associated with NO 2 – reduction. CaCO 3 precipitates typically occupied the entire vertical depth of pores and impacted porosity, permeability, and flow. This study provides a framework for incorporating microbial activity in biogeochemistry models, which often base biomineralization only on SI (caused by biotic or abiotic reactions) and, thereby, underpredict the extent of this complex process. Furthermore, these results have wide-ranging implications for understanding reactive transport in relevance to groundwater remediation, CO 2 sequestration, and enhanced oil recovery.« less

Air trichloroethylene oxidation in a corona plasma-catalytic reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masoomi-Godarzi, S.; Ranji-Burachaloo, H.; Khodadadi, A. A.; Vesali-Naseh, M.; Mortazavi, Y.

2014-08-01

The oxidative decomposition of trichloroethylene (TCE; 300 ppm) by non-thermal corona plasma was investigated in dry air at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, both in the absence and presence of catalysts including MnOx, CoOx. The catalysts were synthesized by a co-precipitation method. The morphology and structure of the catalysts were characterized by BET surface area measurement and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) methods. Decomposition of TCE and distribution of products were evaluated by a gas chromatograph (GC) and an FTIR. In the absence of the catalyst, TCE removal is increased with increases in the applied voltage and current intensity. Higher TCE removal and CO2 selectivity is observed in presence of the corona and catalysts, as compared to those with the plasma alone. The results show that MnOx and CoOx catalysts can dissociate the in-plasma produced ozone to oxygen radicals, which enhances the TCE decomposition.

Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO by NH 3 with WO 3-TiO 2 Catalysts: Influence of Catalyst Synthesis Method

DOE PAGES

He, Yuanyuan; Ford, Michael E.; Zhu, Minghui; ...

2016-02-02

A series of supported WO 3/TiO 2 catalysts was prepared by a new synthesis procedure involving co-precipitation of an aqueous TiO(OH) 2 and (NH 4) 10W 12O 41*5H 2O slurry under controlled pH conditions. The morphological properties, molecular structures, surface acidity and surface chemistry of the supported WO 3/TiO 2 catalysts were determined with BET, in situ Raman, in situ IR and temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) spectroscopy, respectively. Isotopic 18O- 16O exchange demonstrated that tungsten oxide was exclusively present as surface WO x species on the TiO 2 support with mono-oxo W=O coordination. In contrast to previous studies employing impregnationmore » synthesis that found only surface one mono-oxo O=WO 4 site on TiO 2, the co-precipitation procedure resulted in the formation of two distinct surface WO x species: mono-oxo O=WO 4 (~1010-1017 cm -1) on low defect density patches of TiO 2 and a second mono-oxo O=WO 4 (~983-986 cm -1) on high defect density patches of TiO 2. The concentration of the second WO x surface species increases as a function of solution pH. Both surface WOx sites, however, exhibited the same NO/NH 3 SCR reactivity. The co-precipitated WO 3-TiO 2 catalysts synthesized in alkaline solutions exhibited enhanced performance for the NO/NH 3 SCR reaction that is ascribed to the greater number of surface defects on the resulting TiO2 support. For the co-precipitated catalyst prepared at pH10, surface NH 4 + species on Br nsted acid sites were found to be more reactive than surface NH 3* species on Lewis acid sites for SCR of NO with NH 3.« less

Ikaite solubility in seawater-derived brines at 1 atm and sub-zero temperatures to 265 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papadimitriou, Stathys; Kennedy, Hilary; Kennedy, Paul; Thomas, David N.

2013-05-01

The concentration-based (stoichiometric) equilibrium solubility product of ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O) in seawater and cryogenic seawater-derived brines was determined at 1 atm total pressure over the temperature range from -1.1 to -7.5 °C and the salinity range from 34 to 124 in temperature-salinity pairs representative of sea ice brines. The solubility measurements were obtained in solutions that were undersaturated and supersaturated with respect to ikaite by equilibration with CO2/N2 gas mixtures of known pCO2 (20-400 μatm). The solutions were then equilibrated with synthetic ikaite (seed) for up to 3 months in a closed system. Arrival of the solid-solution system at a long-term chemical equilibrium was indicated by attainment of constant chemical solution composition with respect to total dissolved calcium, total dissolved inorganic carbon, and total alkalinity. Using these measurements, the stoichiometric equilibrium solubility product of ikaite (Ksp,ikaite∗=[Ca][CO32-], in molkgsolution-2) was determined, with the carbonate ion concentration computed from the measured total alkalinity and total dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations. The computed carbonate ion concentration and, by extension, the Ksp,ikaite∗ are both contingent on solving the system of equations that describe the parameters of the CO2 system in seawater by extrapolation to the experimental salinity and temperature conditions. The results show that the pKsp,ikaite∗=-logKsp,ikaite∗ in seawater of salinity 34 at -1.1 °C was 5.362 ± 0.004 and that the pKsp,ikaite∗ in sea ice at the freezing point of brines of salinity greater than 34 can be described as a function of temperature (T, in K) by the equation, pKsp,ikaite∗=-15489.09608+623443.70216T-1+2355.14596lnT, in the temperature range of 265.15 K < T < 271.15 K (-8 °C < t < -2 °C). Brines of low pCO2 (20 μatm) yielded a much slower (>1 month) approach to chemical equilibrium when incubated without seeding ikaite crystals. Simple modeling indicated that ikaite should not precipitate from sea ice brines evolving under closed system conditions with respect to CO2 exchange. To facilitate ikaite precipitation, brine pCO2 reduction due to photosynthesis or CO2 degassing, or both, is necessary.

Structure and magnetic properties of Alnico ribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ce; Li, Ying; Han, Xu-Hao; Du, Shuai-long; Sun, Ji-bing; Zhang, Ying

2018-04-01

Al-Ni-Co alloy has been widely applied in various industrial fields due to its excellent thermal and magnetic stability. In this paper, new Al-Ni-Co ribbons are prepared by simple processes combining melt-spinning with annealing, and their phase transition, microstructure and magnetic properties are studied. The results show that after as-spun ribbons are annealed, the grain size of ribbons increases from 1.1 ± 0.3 μm to 4.8 ± 0.8 μm, but still much smaller than that of the bulk Al-Ni-Co alloy manufactured by traditional technologies. In addition, some rod-like Al70Co20Ni10-type, Al9Co2-type and Fe2Nb-type phases are precipitated at grain boundaries; simultaneously, the distinct spinodal decomposition microstructure with periodic ingredient variation is thoroughly formed in all grains by the reaction of α → α1 + α2. Furthermore, the α1 and α2 distribute alternately like a maze, the Fe-Co-rich α1 phase holds 35.9-47.3 vol%, while the Al-Ni-rich α2 phase occupies the rest. Finally, the coercivity of annealed ribbons can reach to 485.3 ± 76.6 Oe. If the annealed ribbons are further aged at 560 °C, their Hc even increases to 738.1 ± 81.0 Oe. The coercivity mechanism is discussed by the combination of microstructure and domain structure.

Simple purification method for a recombinantly expressed native His-tag-free aminopeptidase A from Lactobacillus delbrueckii.

PubMed

Stressler, Timo; Tanzer, Coralie; Ewert, Jacob; Claaßen, Wolfgang; Fischer, Lutz

2017-03-01

The aminopeptidase A (PepA; EC 3.4.11.7) is an intracellular exopeptidase present in lactic acid bacteria. The PepA cleaves glutamyl/aspartyl residues from the N-terminal end of peptides and can, therefore, be applied for the production of protein hydrolysates with an increased amount of these amino acids, which results in a savory taste (umami). The first PepA from a lactobacilli strain was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli in a recently published study and harbored a C-terminal His 6 -tag for easier purification. Due to the fact that a His-tag might influence the properties of an enzyme, a simple purification method for the non-His-tagged PepA was required. Surprisingly, the PepA precipitated at a very low ammonium sulfate concentration of 5%. Unusual for a precipitating step, the purity of PepA was over 95% and the obtained activity yield was 110%. The high purity allows biochemical characterization and kinetic investigation. As a result, the optimum pH (6.0-6.5) and temperature (60-65 °C) were comparable to the His 6 -tag harboring PepA; the K M value was at 0.79 mM slightly lower compared to 1.21 mM, respectively. Since PepA is a homo dodecamer, it has a high molecular mass of approximately 480 kDa. Therefore, a subsequent preparative size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) step seemed promising. The PepA after SEC was purified to homogeneity. In summary, the simple two-step purification method presented can be applied to purify high amounts of PepA that will allow the performance of experiments in the future to crystalize PepA for the first time. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Interannual variability of the atmospheric CO2 growth rate: relative contribution from precipitation and temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J.; Zeng, N.; Wang, M. R.

2015-12-01

The interannual variability (IAV) in atmospheric CO2 growth rate (CGR) is closely connected with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. However, sensitivities of CGR to temperature and precipitation remain largely uncertain. This paper analyzed the relationship between Mauna Loa CGR and tropical land climatic elements. We find that Mauna Loa CGR lags precipitation by 4 months with a correlation coefficient of -0.63, leads temperature by 1 month (0.77), and correlates with soil moisture (-0.65) with zero lag. Additionally, precipitation and temperature are highly correlated (-0.66), with precipitation leading by 4-5 months. Regression analysis shows that sensitivities of Mauna Loa CGR to temperature and precipitation are 2.92 ± 0.20 Pg C yr-1 K-1 and -0.46 ± 0.07 Pg C yr-1 100 mm-1, respectively. Unlike some recent suggestions, these empirical relationships favor neither temperature nor precipitation as the dominant factor of CGR IAV. We further analyzed seven terrestrial carbon cycle models, from the TRENDY project, to study the processes underlying CGR IAV. All models capture well the IAV of tropical land-atmosphere carbon flux (CFTA). Sensitivities of the ensemble mean CFTA to temperature and precipitation are 3.18 ± 0.11 Pg C yr-1 K-1 and -0.67 ± 0.04 Pg C yr-1 100 mm-1, close to Mauna Loa CGR. Importantly, the models consistently show the variability in net primary productivity (NPP) dominates CGR, rather than soil respiration. Because NPP is largely driven by precipitation, this suggests a key role of precipitation in CGR IAV despite the higher CGR correlation with temperature. Understanding the relative contribution of CO2 sensitivity to precipitation and temperature has important implications for future carbon-climate feedback using such "emergent constraint".

Contrasting the co-variability of daytime cloud and precipitation over tropical land and ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Daeho; Oreopoulos, Lazaros; Lee, Dongmin; Cho, Nayeong; Tan, Jackson

2018-03-01

The co-variability of cloud and precipitation in the extended tropics (35° N-35° S) is investigated using contemporaneous data sets for a 13-year period. The goal is to quantify potential relationships between cloud type fractions and precipitation events of particular strength. Particular attention is paid to whether the relationships exhibit different characteristics over tropical land and ocean. A primary analysis metric is the correlation coefficient between fractions of individual cloud types and frequencies within precipitation histogram bins that have been matched in time and space. The cloud type fractions are derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) joint histograms of cloud top pressure and cloud optical thickness in 1° grid cells, and the precipitation frequencies come from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) data set aggregated to the same grid.

It is found that the strongest coupling (positive correlation) between clouds and precipitation occurs over ocean for cumulonimbus clouds and the heaviest rainfall. While the same cloud type and rainfall bin are also best correlated over land compared to other combinations, the correlation magnitude is weaker than over ocean. The difference is attributed to the greater size of convective systems over ocean. It is also found that both over ocean and land the anti-correlation of strong precipitation with weak (i.e., thin and/or low) cloud types is of greater absolute strength than positive correlations between weak cloud types and weak precipitation. Cloud type co-occurrence relationships explain some of the cloud-precipitation anti-correlations. Weak correlations between weaker rainfall and clouds indicate poor predictability for precipitation when cloud types are known, and this is even more true over land than over ocean.

The role of ecosystem-atmosphere interactions in simulated Amazonian precipitation decrease and forest dieback under global climate warming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Betts, R. A.; Cox, P. M.; Collins, M.; Harris, P. P.; Huntingford, C.; Jones, C. D.

A suite of simulations with the HadCM3LC coupled climate-carbon cycle model is used to examine the various forcings and feedbacks involved in the simulated precipitation decrease and forest dieback. Rising atmospheric CO2 is found to contribute 20% to the precipitation reduction through the physiological forcing of stomatal closure, with 80% of the reduction being seen when stomatal closure was excluded and only radiative forcing by CO2 was included. The forest dieback exerts two positive feedbacks on the precipitation reduction; a biogeophysical feedback through reduced forest cover suppressing local evaporative water recycling, and a biogeochemical feedback through the release of CO2 contributing to an accelerated global warming. The precipitation reduction is enhanced by 20% by the biogeophysical feedback, and 5% by the carbon cycle feedback from the forest dieback. This analysis helps to explain why the Amazonian precipitation reduction simulated by HadCM3LC is more extreme than that simulated in other GCMs; in the fully-coupled, climate-carbon cycle simulation, approximately half of the precipitation reduction in Amazonia is attributable to a combination of physiological forcing and biogeophysical and global carbon cycle feedbacks, which are generally not included in other GCM simulations of future climate change. The analysis also demonstrates the potential contribution of regional-scale climate and ecosystem change to uncertainties in global CO2 and climate change projections. Moreover, the importance of feedbacks suggests that a human-induced increase in forest vulnerability to climate change may have implications for regional and global scale climate sensitivity.

Carbon dioxide sequestration induced mineral precipitation healing of fractured reservoir seals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Welch, N.; Crawshaw, J.

2017-12-01

Initial experiments and the thermodynaic basis for carbon dioxide sequestration induced mineral precipitation healing of fractures through reservoir seals will be presented. The basis of this work is the potential exists for the dissolution of reservoir host rock formation carbonate minerals in the acidified injection front of CO2 during sequestration or EOR. This enriched brine and the bulk CO2 phase will then flow through the reservoir until contact with the reservoir seal. At this point any fractures present in the reservoir seal will be the preferential flow path for the bulk CO2 phase as well as the acidified brine front. These fractures would currently be filled with non-acidified brine saturated in seal formation brine. When the acidifeid brine from the host formation and the cap rock brine mix there is the potential for minerals to fall out of solution, and for these precipitated minerals to decrease or entirely cut off the fluid flow through the fractures present in a reservoir seal. Initial equilibrium simulations performed using the PHREEQC1 database drived from the PHREEQE2 database are used to show the favorable conditions under which this mineral precipitation can occurs. Bench scale fluid mixing experiments were then performed to determine the kinetics of the mineral precipitation process, and determine the progress of future experiemnts involving fluid flow within fractured anhydrite reservoir seal samples. 1Parkhurst, D.L., and Appelo, C.A.J., 2013, Description of input and examples for PHREEQC version 3—A computer program for speciation, batch-reaction, one-dimensional transport, and inverse geochemical calculations: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 6, chap. A43, 497 p., available only at https://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/06/a43/. 2Parkhurst, David L., Donald C. Thorstenson, and L. Niel Plummer. PHREEQE: a computer program for geochemical calculations. No. 80-96. US Geological Survey, Water Resources Division,, 1980.

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of cobalt, copper, lead and nickel traces in aragonite following flotation and extraction separation.

PubMed

Zendelovska, D; Pavlovska, G; Cundeva, K; Stafilov, T

2001-03-30

A method of determination of Co, Cu, Pb and Ni in nanogram quantities from aragonite is presented. Flotation and extraction of Co, Cu, Pb and Ni is suggested as methods for elimination matrix interferences of calcium. The method of flotation is performed by iron(III) hexamethylenedithiocarbamate, Fe(HMDTC)(3), as a colloid precipitate collector. The liquid-liquid extraction of Co, Cu, Pb and Ni is carried out by sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, NaDDTC, as complexing reagent into methylisobutyl ketone, MIBK. The electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is used for determination of analytes. The detection limits of ETAAS followed by flotation are: 7.8 ng.g(-1) for Co, 17.1 ng.g(-1) for Cu, 7.2 ng.g(-1) for Pb and 9.0 mug.g(-1) for Ni. The detection limits of ETAAS followed by extraction are found to be: 12.0 ng.g(-1) for Co, 51.0 ng.g(-1) for Cu, 24.0 ng.g(-1) for Pb and 21.0 ng.g(-1) for Ni.

Microstructure, magnetic and microwave absorptive behavior of doped W-type hexaferrite nanoparticles prepared by co-precipitation method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gordani, Gholam Reza, E-mail: gordani@gmail.com; Mohseni, Marzieh; Ghasemi, Ali

2016-04-15

Highlights: • High frequency properties of substituted W-type Sr-hexaferrite. • Saturation magnetization of samples is decreased with increasing of dopants content. • The ferrite sample covers about 6 GHz of bandwidth in K{sub u} band. • The optimum substituted samples can be used as a potential magnetic loss material. • Sample contain x = 0.4 of dopants have shown greater than 90% of reflection loss. - Abstract: Substituted W-type hexaferrite nanoparticles of SrZn{sub 2−x}Co{sub x/2}Ni{sub x/2}Fe{sub 16}O{sub 27} were synthesized by a chemical co-precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction results confirmed that W-type ferrite was identified as the main phase inmore » whole samples in the range of x = 0–0.4. According to magnetic hysteresis loops, with increasing of substituted cations, saturation of magnetization increased and coercivity decreased due to crystalline site occupation of Zn with Ni and Co cations. The microwave reflection loss analysis results in the K{sub u} band (12–18 GHz) show that the highest value of reflection loss of samples was −29.11 dB at frequency of 14.57 GHz with an absorption bandwidth of more than 6 GHz by choosing reflection loss value of −10 dB as a reference. The results indicate that, the sample with appropriate amount of substituted cations hold great promise for microwave device applications.« less

Simultaneous detection of morphine and codeine in urine samples of heroin addicts using multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified SnO2-Zn2SnO4 nanocomposites paste electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taei, M.; Hasanpour, F.; Hajhashemi, V.; Movahedi, M.; Baghlani, H.

2016-02-01

The SnO2-Zn2SnO4 nanocomposite was successfully prepared via a simple solid state method. Then, a chemically modified electrode based on incorporating SnO2-Zn2SnO4 into multi-walled carbon nanotube paste matrix (MWCNTs/SnO2-Zn2SnO4/CPE) was prepared for the simultaneous determination of morphine(MO) and codeine (CO). The measurements were carried out by application of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), cyclic voltammetry, and chronoamperometry. The MWCNTs/SnO2-Zn2SnO4/CPE showed an efficient electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of MO and CO. The separation of the oxidation peak potential for MO-CO was about 550 mV. The calibration curves obtained for MO and CO were in the ranges of 0.1-310 μmol L-1 and 0.1-600.0 μmol L-1, respectively. The detection limits (S/N = 3) were 0.009 μmol L-1 for both drugs. The method also successfully employed as a selective, simple, and precise method for the determination of MO and CO in pharmaceutical and biological samples.

A novel multifunctional pharmaceutical excipient: modification of the permeability of starch by processing with magnesium silicate.

PubMed

Rashid, Iyad; Al-Remawi, Mayyas; Leharne, Stephen A; Chowdhry, Babur Z; Badwan, Adnan

2011-06-15

A directly compressible excipient has been developed by co-processing starch with magnesium silicate. The foregoing was achieved either by co-precipitation of magnesium silicate onto different types of starch or by dry granulation of maize starch with magnesium silicate. A variety of techniques (permeability, water retention/swelling, compression analysis, scanning electron microscopy, tensile strength and disintegration/dissolution studies) were used to characterize these systems. The permeability of the formulations produced using the two methods was evaluated experimentally using Darcy's permeability law. Magnesium silicate, as an anti-adhering agent, increases the permeability of both maize and partially pregelatinized starch, resulting in compacts of high mechanical strength, short disintegration time and low lubricant sensitivity. Such advantages are evident when the properties of the physical mixture of maize starch with magnesium silicate are compared with the co-precipitation and dry granulation techniques. Formulation with this novel excipient system, using paracetamol as a model drug, indicated its suitability as a single multifunctional excipient. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cost and energy demand of producing nickel manganese cobalt cathode material for lithium ion batteries

DOE PAGES

Ahmed, Shabbir; Nelson, Paul A.; Gallagher, Kevin G.; ...

2017-01-05

The price of the cathode active materials in lithium ion batteries is a key cost driver and thus significantly impacts consumer adoption of devices that utilize large energy storage contents (e.g. electric vehicles). A process model has been developed and used to study the production process of a common lithium-ion cathode material, lithiated nickel manganese cobalt oxide, using the co-precipitation method. The process was simulated for a plant producing 6500 kg day –1. The results indicate that the process will consume approximately 4 kWh kg NMC –1 of energy, 15 L kg NMC –1 of process water, and cost $23more » to produce a kg of Li-NMC333. The calculations were extended to compare the production cost using two co-precipitation reactions (with Na 2CO 3 and NaOH), and similar cathode active materials such as lithium manganese oxide and lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide. Finally, a combination of cost saving opportunities show the possibility to reduce the cost of the cathode material by 19%.« less

Co7Fe3 and Co7Fe3@SiO2 Nanospheres with Tunable Diameters for High-Performance Electromagnetic Wave Absorption.

PubMed

Chen, Na; Jiang, Jian-Tang; Xu, Cheng-Yan; Yuan, Yong; Gong, Yuan-Xun; Zhen, Liang

2017-07-05

Ferromagnetic metal/alloy nanoparticles have attracted extensive interest for electromagnetic wave-absorbing applications. However, ferromagnetic nanoparticles are prone to oxidization and producing eddy currents, leading to the deterioration of electromagnetic properties. In this work, a simple and scalable liquid-phase reduction method was employed to synthesize uniform Co 7 Fe 3 nanospheres with diameters ranging from 350 to 650 nm for high-performance microwave absorption application. Co 7 Fe 3 @SiO 2 core-shell nanospheres with SiO 2 shell thicknesses of 30 nm were then fabricated via a modified Stöber method. When tested as microwave absorbers, bare Co 7 Fe 3 nanospheres with a diameter of 350 nm have a maximum reflection loss (RL) of 78.4 dB and an effective absorption with RL > 10 dB from 10 to 16.7 GHz at a small thickness of 1.59 mm. Co 7 Fe 3 @SiO 2 nanospheres showed a significantly enhanced microwave absorption capability for an effective absorption bandwidth and a shift toward a lower frequency, which is ascribed to the protection of the SiO 2 shell from direct contact among Co 7 Fe 3 nanospheres, as well as improved crystallinity and decreased defects upon annealing. This work illustrates a simple and effective method to fabricate Co 7 Fe 3 and Co 7 Fe 3 @SiO 2 nanospheres as promising microwave absorbers, and the design concept can also be extended to other ferromagnetic alloy particles.

Radiative and Physiological Effects of Increased CO2: How Does This Interaction Affect Climate?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bounoua, Lahouari

2011-01-01

Several climate models indicate that in a 2xCO2 environment, temperature and precipitation would increase and runoff would increase faster than precipitation. These models, however, did not allow the vegetation to increase its leaf density as a response to the physiological effects of increased CO2 and consequent changes in climate. Other assessments included these interactions but did not account for the vegetation downregulation to reduce plant's photosynthetic activity and as such resulted in a weak vegetation negative response. When we combine these interactions in climate simulations with 2xCO2, the associated increase in precipitation contributes primarily to increase evapotranspiration rather than surface runoff, consistent with observations, and results in an additional cooling effect not fully accounted for in previous 2xCO2 simulations. By accelerating the water cycle, this feedback slows but does not alleviate the projected warming, reducing the land surface warming by 0.6 C. Compared to previous studies, these results imply that long term negative feedback from CO2-induced increases in vegetation density could reduce temperature following a stabilization of CO2 concentration.

Comparison of NEXRAD multisensor precipitation estimates to rain gage observations in and near DuPage County, Illinois, 2002–12

USGS Publications Warehouse

Spies, Ryan R.; Over, Thomas M.; Ortel, Terry W.

2018-05-21

In this report, precipitation data from 2002 to 2012 from the hourly gridded Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD)-based Multisensor Precipitation Estimate (MPE) precipitation product are compared to precipitation data from two rain gage networks—an automated tipping bucket network of 25 rain gages operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and 51 rain gages from the volunteer-operated Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network—in and near DuPage County, Illinois, at a daily time step to test for long-term differences in space, time, and distribution. The NEXRAD–MPE data that are used are from the fifty 2.5-mile grid cells overlying the rain gages from the other networks. Because of the challenges of measuring of frozen precipitation, the analysis period is separated between days with or without the chance of freezing conditions. The NEXRAD–MPE and tipping-bucket rain gage precipitation data are adjusted to account for undercatch by multiplying by a previously determined factor of 1.14. Under nonfreezing conditions, the three precipitation datasets are broadly similar in cumulative depth and distribution of daily values when the data are combined spatially across the networks. However, the NEXRAD–MPE data indicate a significant trend relative to both rain gage networks as a function of distance from the NEXRAD radar just south of the study area. During freezing conditions, of the USGS network rain gages only the heated gages were considered, and these gages indicate substantial mean undercatch of 50 and 61 percent compared to the NEXRAD–MPE and the CoCoRaHS gages, respectively. The heated USGS rain gages also indicate substantially lower quantile values during freezing conditions, except during the most extreme (highest) events. Because NEXRAD precipitation products are continually evolving, the report concludes with a discussion of recent changes in those products and their potential for improved precipitation estimation. An appendix provides an analysis of spatially combined NEXRAD–MPE precipitation data as a function of temperature at an hourly time scale and indicates, among other results, that most precipitation in the study area occurs at moderate temperatures of 30 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit. However, when precipitation does occur, its intensity increases with temperature to about 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Combined Effects of Deforestation and Doubled Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations on the Climate of Amazonia.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Costa, Marcos Heil; Foley, Jonathan A.

2000-01-01

It is generally expected that the Amazon basin will experience at least two major environmental changes during the next few decades and centuries: 1) increasing areas of forest will be converted to pasture and cropland, and 2) concentrations of atmospheric CO2 will continue to rise. In this study, the authors use the National Center for Atmospheric Research GENESIS atmospheric general circulation model, coupled to the Integrated Biosphere Simulator, to determine the combined effects of large-scale deforestation and increased CO2 concentrations (including both physiological and radiative effects) on Amazonian climate.In these simulations, deforestation decreases basin-average precipitation by 0.73 mm day1 over the basin, as a consequence of the general reduction in vertical motion above the deforested area (although there are some small regions with increased vertical motion). The overall effect of doubled CO2 concentrations in Amazonia is an increase in basin-average precipitation of 0.28 mm day1. The combined effect of deforestation and doubled CO2, including the interactions among the processes, is a decrease in the basin-average precipitation of 0.42 mm day1. While the effects of deforestation and increasing CO2 concentrations on precipitation tend to counteract one another, both processes work to warm the Amazon basin. The effect of deforestation and increasing CO2 concentrations both tend to increase surface temperature, mainly because of decreases in evapotranspiration and the radiative effect of CO2. The combined effect of deforestation and doubled CO2, including the interactions among the processes, increases the basin-average temperature by roughly 3.5°C.

P41IDENTIFICATION OF GLIOMA SPECIFIC APTAMER TARGETS

PubMed Central

Arora, Mohit; Alder, Jane; Lawrence, Clare; Davis, Charles; Dawson, Tim; Hall, Greg; Shaw, Lisa

2014-01-01

INTRODUCTION: Aptamers are in vitro generated DNA and RNA sequences which are randomly created as a library, with multiple permutations and combinations. These are then exposed to the target structure against which we want an aptamer ‘selected’ using Sequential Enumeration of Ligands by Exponential enrichment (SELEX). METHOD: Commercially available glioma and glial cell lines and in-house generated primary glioma cultures were used. Modified aptamers based on published sequences against glioma cell lines and newly generated sequences were used in the project to identify their binding targets. Cy3 or biotin- conjugated aptamers were incubated with live glioma cell cultures and imaged using confocal or light microscopy.To determine the target ligand, aptamers were then reacted with glial cell lysate and subjected to precipitation using streptavidin agarose beads and SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Proteins were analysed by mass spectroscopy. RESULTS: Known and unknown aptamer protein ligands were co-precipitated. Ku70, Ku80 were precipitated along with nucleolin and related proteins. CONCLUSION: The aptamer has shown preferential binding to glioma cells and could act as a delivery system for therapeutic payloads. The aptamer targets Ku70 and Ku80, which are known to be over expressed in other forms of cancer but their role in gliomagenesis has not been fully elucidated. Other novel proteins have also been identified. Thus the aptamer co-precipitation technique has identified potential glioma biomarkers that may be of clinical significance.

Silica and carbonate relationships in silcrete-calcrete intergrade duricrusts from the Kalahari of Botswana and Namibia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nash, David J.; Shaw, Paul A.

1998-07-01

Silcrete-calcrete intergrade duricrusts (surface or near-surface chemically precipitated crusts with a cement comprising a mixture of silica and CaCO 3) have been widely identified in the geological, geomorphological and pedological literature, but have not, to date, been systematically described or classified. This paper presents a review of previous definitions of the end members of the silcrete-calcrete spectrum and subsequently identifies the major silica-carbonate relationships within intergrade types are identified on the the Kalahari of Botswana and Namibia. Three main intergrade types are identified on the basis of silica-carbonate associations: duricrusts where secondary silica occurs within a calcareous matrix; varieties where secondary carbonate occurs within a siliceous matrix; and materials where silica and carbonate matrix cements appear to have been precipitated contemporaneously or in close succession. Within each of these three groups, sub-types are identified dependent upon whether secondary materials have replaced or been emplaced within a pre-existing duricrust. Finally, a practical procedure for the simple definition of silcrete-calcrete intergrade duricrusts is suggested based upon a combination of bulk chemical and thin-section analyses.

Are there interactive effects of physiological and radiative forcing produced by increased CO2 concentration on changes of land hydrological cycle?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Jing; Dan, Li; Dong, Wenjie

2014-01-01

Three coupled climate-carbon cycle models including CESM (Community Earth System Model), CanEsm (the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis Earth System Model) and BCC (Beijing Climate Center Climate System Model) were used to estimate whether changes in land hydrological cycle responded to the interactive effects of CO2-physiological forcing and CO2-radiative forcing. No signs could be indicated that the interactive effects of CO2-physiological forcing and CO2-radiative forcing on the hydrological variables (e.g. precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff) were detected at global and regional scales. For each model, increases in precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff (e.g. 0.37, 0.18 and 0.25 mm/year2) were simulated in response to CO2-radiative forcing (experiment M3). Decreases in precipitation and evapotranspiration (about - 0.02 and - 0.09 mm/year2) were captured if the CO2 physiological effect was only accounted for (experiment M2). In this experiment, a reverse sign in runoff (the increase of 0.08 mm/year2) in contrast to M3 is presented. All models simulated the same signs across Eastern Asia in response to the CO2 physiological forcing and radiative forcing: increases in precipitation and evapotranspiration only considering greenhouse effect; reductions in precipitation and evapotranspiration in response to CO2-physiological effect; and enhanced trends in runoff from all experiments. However, there was still a large uncertainty on the magnitude of the effect of transpiration on runoff (decreased transpiration accounting for 8% to 250% of the increased runoff) from the three models. Two models (CanEsm and BCC) attributed most of the increase in runoff to the decrease in transpiration if the CO2-physiological effect was only accounted for, whereas CESM exhibited that the decrease in transpiration could not totally explain the increase in runoff. The attribution of the CO2-physiological forcing to changes in stomatal conductance versus changes in vegetation structure (e.g. increased Leaf Area Index) is an issue to discuss, and among the three models, no agreement appeared.

Downscaling RCP8.5 daily temperatures and precipitation in Ontario using localized ensemble optimal interpolation (EnOI) and bias correction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Ziwang; Liu, Jinliang; Qiu, Xin; Zhou, Xiaolan; Zhu, Huaiping

2017-10-01

A novel method for daily temperature and precipitation downscaling is proposed in this study which combines the Ensemble Optimal Interpolation (EnOI) and bias correction techniques. For downscaling temperature, the day to day seasonal cycle of high resolution temperature of the NCEP climate forecast system reanalysis (CFSR) is used as background state. An enlarged ensemble of daily temperature anomaly relative to this seasonal cycle and information from global climate models (GCMs) are used to construct a gain matrix for each calendar day. Consequently, the relationship between large and local-scale processes represented by the gain matrix will change accordingly. The gain matrix contains information of realistic spatial correlation of temperature between different CFSR grid points, between CFSR grid points and GCM grid points, and between different GCM grid points. Therefore, this downscaling method keeps spatial consistency and reflects the interaction between local geographic and atmospheric conditions. Maximum and minimum temperatures are downscaled using the same method. For precipitation, because of the non-Gaussianity issue, a logarithmic transformation is used to daily total precipitation prior to conducting downscaling. Cross validation and independent data validation are used to evaluate this algorithm. Finally, data from a 29-member ensemble of phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) GCMs are downscaled to CFSR grid points in Ontario for the period from 1981 to 2100. The results show that this method is capable of generating high resolution details without changing large scale characteristics. It results in much lower absolute errors in local scale details at most grid points than simple spatial downscaling methods. Biases in the downscaled data inherited from GCMs are corrected with a linear method for temperatures and distribution mapping for precipitation. The downscaled ensemble projects significant warming with amplitudes of 3.9 and 6.5 °C for 2050s and 2080s relative to 1990s in Ontario, respectively; Cooling degree days and hot days will significantly increase over southern Ontario and heating degree days and cold days will significantly decrease in northern Ontario. Annual total precipitation will increase over Ontario and heavy precipitation events will increase as well. These results are consistent with conclusions in many other studies in the literature.

Validation of a Rapid and Sensitive UPLC–MS-MS Method Coupled with Protein Precipitation for the Simultaneous Determination of Seven Pyrethroids in 100 µL of Rat Plasma by Using Ammonium Adduct as Precursor Ion

PubMed Central

Singh, Sheelendra Pratap; Dwivedi, Nistha; Raju, Kanumuri Siva Rama; Taneja, Isha; Wahajuddin, Mohammad

2016-01-01

United States Environmental Protection Agency has recommended estimating pyrethroids’ risk using cumulative exposure. For cumulative risk assessment, it would be useful to have a bioanalytical method for quantification of one or several pyrethroids simultaneously in a small sample volume to support toxicokinetic studies. Therefore, in the present study, a simple, sensitive and high-throughput ultraperformance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of seven pyrethroids (fenvalerate, fenpropathrin, bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin and deltamethrin) in 100 µL of rat plasma. A simple single-step protein precipitation method was used for the extraction of target compounds. The total chromatographic run time of the method was 5 min. The chromatographic system used a Supelco C18 column and isocratic elution with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and 5 mM ammonium formate in the ratio of 90 : 10 (v/v). Mass spectrometer (API 4000) was operated in multiple reaction monitoring positive-ion mode using the electrospray ionization technique. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 7.8–2,000 ng/mL with correlation coefficients of ≥0.99. All validation parameters such as precision, accuracy, recovery, matrix effect and stability met the acceptance criteria according to the regulatory guidelines. The method was successfully applied to the toxicokinetic study of cypermethrin in rats. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first LC–MS-MS method for the simultaneous analysis of pyrethroids in rat plasma. This validated method with minimal modification can also be utilized for forensic and clinical toxicological applications due to its simplicity, sensitivity and rapidity. PMID:26801239

Synthesis of g-C3N4/Fe3O4 nanocomposites and application as a new sorbent for solid phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples.

PubMed

Wang, Man; Cui, Shihai; Yang, Xiaodi; Bi, Wentao

2015-01-01

An easy preparation of g-C3N4/Fe3O4 nanocomposites by chemical co-precipitation has been demonstrated. The as-prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The high affinity of g-C3N4 toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the magnetic behavior of Fe3O4 were combined to provide an efficient and simple magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE). The adsorption and desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on g-C3N4/Fe3O4 were examined. Different factors affecting the magnetic solid phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were assessed in terms of adsorption, desorption, and recovery. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method showed good limits of detection (LOD, S/N=3) in the range of 0.05-0.1 ng mL(-1) and precision in the range of 1.8-5.3% (RSDs, n=3). This method was also successfully applied to the analysis of real water samples; good spiked recoveries over the range of 80.0-99.8% were obtained. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Liquid crystal based optical platform for the detection of Pb2+ ions using NiFe2O4 nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zehra, Saman; Gul, Iftikhar Hussain; Hussain, Zakir

2018-06-01

A simple, sensitive, selective and real time detection protocol was developed for Pb2+ ions in water using liquid crystals (LCs). In this method, NiFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using chemical co-precipitation method. Crystallite size, morphological, functional groups and magnetization studies were confirmed using X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques, respectively. The nanoparticles were mono dispersed with average particle size of 20 ± 2 nm. The surfactant stabilized magnetic nanoparticles were incubated in liquid crystal based sensor system for the detection of Pb+2 ions. The bright to dark transition of LC was observed through optical microscope. When this system was further immersed with a solution containing Pb2+ ions, it caused homeotropic to planar orientation of LC. This interaction is attributed to the presence of abundant hydroxyl groups in such as M-OH, Fe-OH on the surface of spinel ferrites nanoparticles. These groups interact with metal ions at aqueous interface, causing disruption in LCs orientation giving bright texture. This sensor showed higher selectivity towards Pb2+ ions. The detection limit was estimated to be 100 ppb. The cheap and effective protocol reported here should make promising development of LC based sensor for lead ion detection.

Methods for developing time-series climate surfaces to drive topographically distributed energy- and water-balance models

USGS Publications Warehouse

Susong, D.; Marks, D.; Garen, D.

1999-01-01

Topographically distributed energy- and water-balance models can accurately simulate both the development and melting of a seasonal snowcover in the mountain basins. To do this they require time-series climate surfaces of air temperature, humidity, wind speed, precipitation, and solar and thermal radiation. If data are available, these parameters can be adequately estimated at time steps of one to three hours. Unfortunately, climate monitoring in mountain basins is very limited, and the full range of elevations and exposures that affect climate conditions, snow deposition, and melt is seldom sampled. Detailed time-series climate surfaces have been successfully developed using limited data and relatively simple methods. We present a synopsis of the tools and methods used to combine limited data with simple corrections for the topographic controls to generate high temporal resolution time-series images of these climate parameters. Methods used include simulations, elevational gradients, and detrended kriging. The generated climate surfaces are evaluated at points and spatially to determine if they are reasonable approximations of actual conditions. Recommendations are made for the addition of critical parameters and measurement sites into routine monitoring systems in mountain basins.Topographically distributed energy- and water-balance models can accurately simulate both the development and melting of a seasonal snowcover in the mountain basins. To do this they require time-series climate surfaces of air temperature, humidity, wind speed, precipitation, and solar and thermal radiation. If data are available, these parameters can be adequately estimated at time steps of one to three hours. Unfortunately, climate monitoring in mountain basins is very limited, and the full range of elevations and exposures that affect climate conditions, snow deposition, and melt is seldom sampled. Detailed time-series climate surfaces have been successfully developed using limited data and relatively simple methods. We present a synopsis of the tools and methods used to combine limited data with simple corrections for the topographic controls to generate high temporal resolution time-series images of these climate parameters. Methods used include simulations, elevational gradients, and detrended kriging. The generated climate surfaces are evaluated at points and spatially to determine if they are reasonable approximations of actual conditions. Recommendations are made for the addition of critical parameters and measurement sites into routine monitoring systems in mountain basins.

Interaction Between CO2-Rich Sulfate Solutions and Carbonate Reservoir Rocks from Atmospheric to Supercritical CO2 Conditions: Experiments and Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cama, J.; Garcia-Rios, M.; Luquot, L.; Soler Matamala, J. M.

2014-12-01

A test site for CO2 geological storage is situated in Hontomín (Spain) with a reservoir rock that is mainly composed of limestone. During and after CO2 injection, the resulting CO2-rich acid brine gives rise to the dissolution of carbonate minerals (calcite and dolomite) and gypsum (or anhydrite at depth) may precipitate since the reservoir brine contains sulfate. Experiments using columns filled with crushed limestone or dolostone were conducted under different P-pCO2 conditions (atmospheric: 1-10-3.5 bar; subcritical: 10-10 bar; and supercritical: 150-34 bar), T (25, 40 and 60 ºC) and input solution compositions (gypsum-undersaturated and gypsum-equilibrated solutions). We evaluated the effect of these parameters on the coupled reactions of calcite/dolomite dissolution and gypsum/anhydrite precipitation. The CrunchFlow and PhreeqC (v.3) numerical codes were used to perform reactive transport simulations of the experiments. Under the P-pCO2-T conditions, the volume of precipitated gypsum was smaller than the volume of dissolved carbonate minerals, yielding an increase in porosity (Δporosity up to ≈ 4%). A decrease in T favored limestone dissolution regardless of pCO2 owing to increasing undersaturation with decreasing temperature. However, gypsum precipitation was favored at high T and under atmospheric pCO2 conditions but not at high T and under 10 bar of pCO2 conditions. The increase in limestone dissolution with pCO2 was directly attributed to pH, which was more acidic at higher pCO2. Increasing pCO2, carbonate dissolution occurred along the column whereas it was localized in the very inlet under atmospheric conditions. This was due to the buffer capacity of the carbonic acid, which maintains pH at around 5 and keeps the solution undersaturated with respect to calcite and dolomite along the column. 1D reactive transport simulations reproduced the experimental data (carbonate dissolution and gypsum precipitation for different P-pCO2-T conditions). Drawing on reaction rate laws in the literature, we used the reactive surface area to fit the models to the experimental data. The values of the reactive surface area were much smaller than those calculated of the geometric areas.

A new strategy to design eutectic high-entropy alloys using simple mixture method

DOE PAGES

Jiang, Hui; Han, Kaiming; Gao, Xiaoxia; ...

2018-01-13

Eutectic high entropy alloys (EHEAs) hold promising industrial application potential, but how to design EHEA compositions remains challenging. In the present work, a simple and effective strategy by combining mixing enthalpy and constituent binary eutectic compositions was proposed to design EHEA compositions. This strategy was then applied to a series of (CoCrFeNi)M x (M = Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf) HEAs, leading to the discovery of new EHEAs, namely, CoCrFeNiNb 0.45, CoCrFeNiTa 0.4, CoCrFeNiZr 0.55 and CoCrFeNiHf 0.4. The microstructure of these new EHEAs comprised of FCC and Laves phases in the as-cast state. In conclusion, the experimental result shows thatmore » this new alloy design strategy can be used to locate new EHEAs effectively.« less

A new strategy to design eutectic high-entropy alloys using simple mixture method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiang, Hui; Han, Kaiming; Gao, Xiaoxia

Eutectic high entropy alloys (EHEAs) hold promising industrial application potential, but how to design EHEA compositions remains challenging. In the present work, a simple and effective strategy by combining mixing enthalpy and constituent binary eutectic compositions was proposed to design EHEA compositions. This strategy was then applied to a series of (CoCrFeNi)M x (M = Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf) HEAs, leading to the discovery of new EHEAs, namely, CoCrFeNiNb 0.45, CoCrFeNiTa 0.4, CoCrFeNiZr 0.55 and CoCrFeNiHf 0.4. The microstructure of these new EHEAs comprised of FCC and Laves phases in the as-cast state. In conclusion, the experimental result shows thatmore » this new alloy design strategy can be used to locate new EHEAs effectively.« less

Co-precipitated and collocated carbides and Cu-rich precipitates in a Fe-Cu steel characterized by atom-probe tomography.

PubMed

Kolli, R Prakash; Seidman, David N

2014-12-01

The composition of co-precipitated and collocated NbC carbide precipitates, Fe3C iron carbide (cementite), and Cu-rich precipitates are studied experimentally by atom-probe tomography (APT). The Cu-rich precipitates located at a grain boundary (GB) are also studied. The APT results for the carbides are supplemented with computational thermodynamics predictions of composition at thermodynamic equilibrium. Two types of NbC carbide precipitates are distinguished based on their stoichiometric ratio and size. The Cu-rich precipitates at the periphery of the iron carbide and at the GB are larger than those distributed in the α-Fe (body-centered cubic) matrix, which is attributed to short-circuit diffusion of Cu along the GB. Manganese segregation is not observed at the heterophase interfaces of the Cu-rich precipitates that are located at the periphery of the iron carbide or at the GB, which is unlike those located at the edge of the NbC carbide precipitates or distributed in the α-Fe matrix. This suggests the presence of two populations of NiAl-type (B2 structure) phases at the heterophase interfaces in multicomponent Fe-Cu steels.

Isolation and purification of food-grade C-phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis and its determination in confectionery by HPLC with diode array detection.

PubMed

Kissoudi, Maria; Sarakatsianos, Ioannis; Samanidou, Victoria

2018-02-01

C-Phycocyanin is the major phycobiliprotein in Arthrospira platensis, also known as Spirulina, which is a cyanobacterium used as a dietary supplement because of its powerful effects on body and brain. C-phycocyanin is a blue-colored accessory photosynthetic pigment with multiple applications in food industry as natural dye or additive, and in pharmaceuticals. This study presents a simple protocol for the extraction and purification of food-grade C-phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis. The cell lysis of cyanobacterium was performed by sonication combined with repeated freezing and thawing cycles. The purification of the crude extract of C-phycocyanin was carried out by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by ion exchange chromatography resulting in 2.5 purity. The purity of phycocyanobilin chromophore has been tested by UV-visible spectrophotometry by monitoring the absorption after each stage of purification. A high-performance liquid chromatography method has been developed and validated for the determination of food-grade C-phycocyanin. Intra- and interday precision values less than 5.6% and recovery greater than 91.2% indicated high precision and accuracy of the method for analysis of C-phycocyanin. The method has been applied to commercial confectionery of blue color and to the purified protein obtained in the first stage of the study. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Calcium carbonate precipitation rate as a function of ion ratio in the presence & absence of Sr2+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gebrehiwet, T.; Beig, M. S.; Fujita, Y.; Redden, G. D.; Smith, R. W.

2010-12-01

Tsigabu Gebrehiwet 1*, Mikala Beig 2, Yoshiko Fujita 3, George Redden 3 and Robert W. Smith 1 1University of Idaho, 1776 Science Center Dr, Idaho Falls,ID, 83402 (*tgebrehiwet@uidaho.edu; smithbob@uidaho.edu ) 27963 Grasmere Dr.Boulder, CO 80301(mbeig@alumni.rice.edu) 3Idaho National Laboratory, MS 2208, Idaho Falls, ID 83415 (Yoshiko.Fujita@inl.gov; George.Redden@inl.gov) Engineered in situ precipitation of calcium carbonate is a proposed strategy for remediating toxic or radioactive metals (e.g., Sr2+)in subsurface environments as well as for modifying the physical properties (e.g., stiffness, permeability) of geomedia. Inducing the precipitation reaction will likely involve manipulating the geochemical conditions by adding calcium, (bi)carbonate, or both, and relying on mixing of the two reactants. Under these conditions, the ratio of Ca2+ to CO32- will vary with distance from the mixing interface, and for most or all of the porous medium, a 1:1 stoichiometry between calcium and carbonate is unlikely to be achieved. Indeed, in engineered systems where rapid treatment is an important objective, very steep ion concentration gradients may be generated, which would result in local reactant ratios varying from very small to very large over short distances, depending on the mixing geometry and particular chemical composition of the mixing fluids. This in turn has an impact on the rate of mineral precipitation. Typically, the rate of calcium carbonate precipitation is expressed with an affinity-based rate law of the type: Rate = k(Ω-1)n, where k is a rate constant, Ω is the saturation state for the mineral (e.g., calcite), and n is an empirical reaction order. The saturation state Ω is defined as the ratio of the ion activity product to the mineral solubility product. In this expression, the rate is simply dependent on the value of Ω; the actual activities of the individual ions (Ca2+ and CO32-) do not appear in the expression. In support of the development of engineered calcite precipitation schemes for contaminant immobilization, we have conducted experiments on CaCO3 precipitation kinetics under constant composition conditions where the supersaturation state (Ω) with respect to calcite is held constant at 12.8, but the ion activity ratio (Ca2+:CO32-) is varied. The objective is to examine the effect of the ion ratio on the mineral precipitation rate and on the distribution coefficient for co-precipitated Sr (DexSr). Our results to date indicate that precipitation rates vary by up to a factor of two with the maximum rate occurring at r=0.23, where r is carbonate to calcium ions ratio. In addition, although the extent of variation in the DexSr values is similar to that for the calcite precipitation rate, we have observed low correlation between strontium distribution coefficients and precipitation rates.

Development and validation of a reversed-phase fluorescence HPLC method for determination of bucillamine in human plasma using pre-column derivatization with monobromobimane.

PubMed

Lee, Kang Choon; Chun, Young Goo; Kim, Insoo; Shin, Beom Soo; Park, Eun-Seok; Yoo, Sun Dong; Youn, Yu Seok

2009-07-15

A simple, specific and sensitive derivatization with monobromobimane (mBrB) and the corresponding HPLC-fluorescence quantitation method for the analysis of bucillamine in human plasma was developed and validated. The analytical procedure involves a simple protein precipitation, pre-column fluorescence derivatization, and separation by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The calibration curve showed good linearity over a wide concentration range (50 ng/mL to 10 microg/mL) in human plasma (r(2)=0.9998). The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 50 ng/mL. The average precision and accuracy at LLOQ were within 6.3% and 107.6%, respectively. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of a dose (300 mg) of bucillamine to 20 healthy Korean volunteers.

Uniform manganese hexacyanoferrate hydrate nanocubes featuring superior performance for low-cost supercapacitors and nonenzymatic electrochemical sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pang, Huan; Zhang, Yizhou; Cheng, Tao; Lai, Wen-Yong; Huang, Wei

2015-09-01

Uniform manganese hexacyanoferrate hydrate nanocubes are prepared via a simple chemical precipitation method at room temperature. Due to both micro/mesopores of the Prussian blue analogue and nanocubic structures, the manganese hexacyanoferrate hydrate nanocubes allow the efficient charge transfer and mass transport for electrolyte solution and chemical species. Thus, the manganese hexacyanoferrate hydrate nanocube electrode shows a good rate capability and cycling stability for electrochemical capacitors. Furthermore, electrodes modified with manganese hexacyanoferrate hydrate nanocubes demonstrate a sensitive electrochemical response to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in buffer solutions with a high selectivity.Uniform manganese hexacyanoferrate hydrate nanocubes are prepared via a simple chemical precipitation method at room temperature. Due to both micro/mesopores of the Prussian blue analogue and nanocubic structures, the manganese hexacyanoferrate hydrate nanocubes allow the efficient charge transfer and mass transport for electrolyte solution and chemical species. Thus, the manganese hexacyanoferrate hydrate nanocube electrode shows a good rate capability and cycling stability for electrochemical capacitors. Furthermore, electrodes modified with manganese hexacyanoferrate hydrate nanocubes demonstrate a sensitive electrochemical response to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in buffer solutions with a high selectivity. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr04322k