Physical degradation of soils

Compositions of the equ‘diprated solid-liquid phases in the A1-CUA12, Al-Si and Pb-Sn Systems were exam ined by using Cameca microprobe microanalyser. Ali the solid and liquid phases were found to be uniform for the Systems. The m easured consentraticns of the solid and liquid phases in the A1-CU A12 system, the solid phases in the Al-Si system, the solid Pb and the liquid PbSn phases in the Pb-Sn system were in agreem ent w ith the phases diagram values. However the m easured compositions of the solid Sn phase and liquid Al-Si phases were found to be quite different from the phase diagram values. The difference for the solid Sn phase came from the semaring effect. and the liquid AlSi phase m ight came from the very different obsorbsi- tion coefficient for A lK a and S İK a lines. The corrected consantration of th e Iiquid AlSi phase was also in good agreem ent w ith the phase diagram values.

Investigating time-dependent Zn species over Zn-based catalysts in glycerol carbonylation with urea and their roles in the reaction mechanism

Chapter 3 Surface Interaction between the Soil Solid Phase and the Soil Solution

Fabrication of single domain GdBCO bulk superconductors by a new modified TSIG technique

Molecular dynamics study of melting, diffusion, and sintering of cementite chromia core–shell particles

The plasmon energy of the solid and liquid phases of pure Al, and an Al-Si alloy, was recorded as a function of temperature. For the case of pure Al, the trend in the solid and liquid phases followed the expected behavior based on a free (specific) volume change. Quantitatively, the slope of Ep versus T was −0.5 meV/K in the solid state and −2.2 meV/K in the liquid state. For the case of the Al-Si alloy, the trend in the solid phase was similar to that of pure Al, however, the trend in the liquid Al-Si phase was exactly opposite to what was observed for the pure Al liquid (i.e., +1.9 meV/K). This unexpected result is explained based on the variation, i.e., partitioning, of Si with temperature in the Al-Si alloy.

Single component LB film investigated by five scanning probe microscopy methods

A content of biologically active compounds (BAC) with signified pharmacological activity in distillers grains was proved. It is prospective for applications of these grains as a raw material resource of pharmaceuticals. A composition of BAC distillers grains received from wheat, corn, barley, millet at different spirit enterprises which use hydro fermentative grain processing. Considering polydispersity of distillers grains they were separated on solid and liquid phases preliminary. Physical and chemical characteristics of distillers grains' liquid base were identified. Elementary composition of distillers grains is signified by active accumulation of biogenic elements (phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron) and low content of heavy metals. The solid phase of distillers grains accumulates carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen in high concentration. The liquid phase of distillers grains contains: proteins and amino acids (20-46%), reducing sugars (5,6%-17,5%), galacturonides (0,8-1,4%), ascorbic acid (6,2-11,4 mg%). The solid base of distillers grains contains: galacturonides (3,4-5,3%), fatty oil (8,4-11,1%) with predomination of essential fatty acids, proteins and amino acids (2,1-2,5%), flavonoids (0,4-0,9%), tocopherols (3,4-7,7 mg%). A method of complex processing of distillers grains based on application of membrane filtering of liquid phase and liquid extraction by inorganic and organic solvents of solid phase, which allows almost full extraction of the sum of biologically active compounds (BAC) from liquid phase (Biobardin BM) and solid phase (Biobardin UL). Biobardin BM comprises the following elements: proteins and amino acids (41-69%), reducing sugars (3,5-15,6%), fatty oil (0,2-0,3%), flavonoids (0,2-0,7%), ascorbic acid (17-37 mg%). Biobardin UL includes: oligouronids (16,4-19,5%), proteins and amino acids (11-21%), fatty oil (3,2-4,9%) which includes essential acids; flavonoids (0,6-1,5%), tocopherols (6,6-10,2 mg%), carotinoids (0,13-0,21 mg%). Proteins of Biobardins are inhomogeneous by their molecular mass and solubility in water and salt solutions. Both Biobardins are characterized by the mineral composition identical to the composition of relative distillers grains phase. During the experiments on animals practical nontoxicity and hepatotoxicity absence of Biobardins were established. Using prednisole stomach ulcers of rats as a model a signified gastroprotective influence of Biobardin BM was established. It was shown in a reduction of the number of ulcerative and hemorrhagic blennoses, secretory and proteolytic functions of stomach. Models of electroreduction, peroxide oxidation of lipids (POL) of oleic acid, POL of egg yolk, and rats' hepatitis proved signified antioxidant activity of Biobardin UL which exceeds comparable substances by 8,3-30,1%; absence of fatty degeneration of rats' lever was shown under the influence of Biobardin UL. Composition of Biobardin BM and Biobardin UL pills as rational medicine form was justified and designed. Distillers grains processing allows reduction of industrial waste toxicity index – chemical consumption of oxygen (CCO) by 74%, making distillers grains ecologically-friendly waste water.

We provide a concurrent measurement of the hydrogen and oxygen nuclear kinetic energies in the water molecule across melting at 270K in the solid phase and 276K in the liquid phase. Experimental values are obtained by analyzing the neutron Compton profiles of each atomic species in a deep inelastic neutron scattering experiment. The concurrent measurement of the atom kinetic energy of both hydrogen and oxygen allows the estimate of the total kinetic energy per molecule due to the motion of nuclei, specifically 35.3 ± 0.8 and 34.8 ± 0.8kJ/mol for the solid and liquid phases, respectively. Such a small difference supports results from abinitio simulations and phenomenological models from the literature on the mechanism of competing quantum effects across the phase change. Despite the experimental uncertainties, the results are consistent with the trend from state-of-the-art computer simulations, whereby the atom and molecule kinetic energies in the liquid phase would be slightly lower than in the solid phase. Moreover, the small change of nuclear kinetic energy across melting can be used to simplify the calculation of neutron-related environmental dose in complex locations, such as high altitude or polar neutron radiation research stations where liquid water and ice are both present: for neutron energies between hundreds of meV and tens of keV, the total scattering cross section per molecule in the two phases can be considered the same, with the macroscopic cross section only depending upon the density changes of water near the melting point.

The extent and causes of chemical, physical and biological degradation of soil, and of soil loss, vary greatly in different countries in Western Europe. The objective of this review paper is to examine these issues and also strategies for soil protection and future perspectives for soil quality evaluation, in light of present legislation aimed at soil protection. Agriculture and forestry are the main causes of many of the above problems, especially physical degradation, erosion and organic matter loss. Land take and soil sealing have increased in recent decades, further enhancing the problems. In agricultural land, conservation farming, organic farming and other soil-friendly practices have been seen to have site-specific effects, depending on the soil characteristics and the particular types of land use and land users. No single soil management strategy is suitable for all regions, soil types and soil uses. Except for soil contamination, specific legislation for soil protection is lacking in Western Europe. The Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection in the European Union has produced valuable information and has encouraged the development of networks and databases. However, soil degradation is addressed only indirectly in environmental policies and through the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union, which promotes farming practices that support soil conservation. Despite these efforts, there remains a need for soil monitoring networks and decision-support systems aimed at optimization of soil quality in the region. The pressure on European soils will continue in the future, and a clearly defined regulatory framework is needed.

Liquid-solid phase regulating excited-state intramolecular proton transfer process of HBT-d-NO2: A QM/MM study

Digestate, as bio-degradable agricultural biogas waste may be subject to the direct management as a fertilizer or, after separation of the solid and liquid phase - solid phase may be subjected to thermo-chemical transformation to biochar. Biochar is a carbonization product with high carbon concentration and relatively low decomposition suscepti- bility, obtained from various types of organic waste (International Biochar Initiative). Biomas carbonization takes place in the torrefac- tion process in the temperature from 200oC to 320oC. The chemical composition and utility properties of biochar depend on the substrate type and the process parameters. Biochar obtained from biodegradable waste may be an element of carbon biosequestration and used as biofuel, whereas in agriculture - as soil improver, which decomposes for a long time and which positively influences soil fertility, number of biogenic components and physical and water properties. The paper presents characteristic of the torrefaction process, process products and utility values of biochar from the point of view of energy and the agricultural value. Keywords: biochar torrefaction biofertilizer biosequestration biofuel

Desorption of PAHs from solid phase into liquid phase during co-fermentation of municipal and coke sewage sludge

The structure of a diblock copolymer solution in the vicinity of the transition between micellar liquid and solid phases was investigated using small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). An amphiphilic poly(oxyethylene)–poly(oxybutylene) diblock was studied in water. Static and dynamic light scattering techniques were used to provide an independent measure of micelle dimensions and aggregation number. Dynamic shear rheometry and mobility measurements were used to locate phase transitions. A micellar liquid phase was identified at low concentration and a cubic micellar phase at higher concentration, the transition between the two occurring at higher temperature as the concentration increased. The cubic micellar phase behaves rheologically as a solid and SAXS confirmed a face-centered cubic structure. Intermediate between these two phases, a viscoelastic soft solid was observed, with a finite yield stress but with a much lower dynamic modulus than the crystalline solid. Several distinct suggestions have been put forward for the structure of the solution in this region. In a poly(oxyethylene)–poly(oxypropylene)–poly(oxyethylene) Pluronic triblock, small-angle neutron scattering and rheology provided evidence for a percolation transition between micellar liquid and solid phases [L. Lobry et al., Phys. Rev. E. 60, 7076 (1999)], indicating a fractal structure of micelles aggregated due to attractive interactions. Alternatively, a defective solid phase has been proposed. We analyzed the structure of solutions of our diblock copolymer via detailed model fits to the SAXS data for concentrations spanning the liquid–solid transition. The micellar form factor was modeled as a homogeneous micellar core with attached Gaussian chains; and the intermicellar structure factor could be described using the hard sphere model. Thus there is no evidence for percolation induced by effective attractive interactions between micelles in our system. In contrast SAXS data indicates there is a coexistence region between hard sphere fluid and solid crystal phases, in which small grains of close-packed crystal coexist with fluid. It is apparent that block copolymer micelles acts as model colloidal systems in which it is possible to investigate the influence of attractive and repulsive interactions between spherical particles by varying the copolymer composition.

Sulphur dioxide was treated with magnesite in aqueous suspension. Sulphur dioxide taken from a gas cylinder was passed through the mixture of reactive magnesite, water and iodine solution. The absorbed and unabsorbed amount of sulphur dioxide on solid and liquid phases and the concentration of Ca2 + and Mg2 + ions were determined by means of iodometric titrations and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, respectively. The effects of contact time, the activated temperatures of absorbent and equilibrium pH on the chemical absorption of SO2 were examined. For magnesite the maximum amount of absorbed SO2 in the liquid phase was found to be 15.2 g (activated at 500°C) for 10 g absorbent/250 ml water, and in the solid phase, it was found to be 6.5 g (activated at 800°C). The Differential Thermal Analyses (DTA) technique has been used to follow the reaction products and modifications in the solid phase. As a result it has been found that the sulphur dioxide reacts with the carbonate as well as oxide and hydroxide produced from its calcination and hydration.