Thorough removal of inorganic and organic mercury from aqueous solutions by adsorption on Lemna minor powder

The adsorption ability of duckweed (Lemna minor) powders for removing inorganic and organic mercury (methyl and ethyl mercury) has been studied using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimal adsorption conditions were: (a) the pH value of the solution 7.0 for inorganic and ethyl mercury, 9.0 for methyl mercury, and (b) equilibrium adsorption time 10, 20, and 40 min for inorganic mercury, methyl mercury, and ethyl mercury, respectively. After adsorption by L. minor powder for 40 min, when the initial concentrations of inorganic and organic mercury were under 12.0 μg L⁻¹ and 50.0 μg L⁻¹, respectively, the residual concentrations of mercury could meet the criterion of drinking water (1.0 μg L⁻¹) and the permitted discharge limit of wastewater (10.0 μg L⁻¹) set by China and USEPA, respectively. Thorough removal of both inorganic and organic mercury from aqueous solutions was reported for the first time. The significant adsorption sites were C–O–P and phosphate groups by the surface electrostatic interactions with aqueous inorganic and organic mercury cations, and then the selective adsorption was resulted from the strong chelating interaction between amine groups and mercury on the surface of L. minor cells.     

A method of measuring the concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and ethyl mercaptan in their mixture in air

A method of measuring the concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and ethyl mercaptan in their mixture in air using a modified gas-analyzer system based on an MOS-sensor, which operates on the basis of the difference in the temperatures at which these gases burn, is considered. The use of these gas analyzers to monitor the odor level and to detect leakages of domestic gas is proposed. __________ Translated from Izmeritel’naya Tekhnika, No. 5, pp. 61–62, May, 2007.     

Synthesis of high quality TiO2 membranes on alumina supports and their photocatalytic activity

This study describes the synthesis of TiO₂ membranes on alumina supports by the spin-coating technique using the sol-gel method with water-soluble chitosan (WSC) as an additive. After calcining the sample at 500 °C, the WSC was completely decomposed, and the remaining membrane consisted mainly of anatase. Controlling the amount of WSC in the TiO₂ sol to within a range of 0.1 wt.%-0.3 wt.% resulted in TiO₂ membranes on alumina supports with enhanced structural and catalytic properties. These properties included a high surface area (164 m²/g-116 m²/g) and porosity (47.3%-52.2%), homogeneity without cracks and pinholes, thinness (0.8 μm), as well as high degradation of methyl orange (61.2%-49.2%).     

High-pressure mass spectrometric investigations of ion-molecule reactions in hydrogen sulfide and ammonia mixtures

The positive ion-molecule reactions in the mixtures of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia have been examined by means of quadrupole mass spectrometer with high-pressure ion source. The concentration of hydrogen sulfide in mixtures ranged from 10% to 90% with 10% increment. Mainly observed primary ions: NH₂⁺ (m/q=16), NH₃⁺ (m/q=17), S⁺ (m/q=32) and H₂S⁺ (m/q=34) were formed as the result of ionization and dissociative ionization by electrons with energy of 300 eV. For each mixture, major bimolecular ion-molecule reactions have been identified at total pressure from 0.5 to 33.3 Pa. The main secondary ions: NH₄⁺ (m/q=18), H₃S⁺ (m/q=35) and NH₃S⁺ (m/q=49) were observed.Relative intensities of ion currents for observed ions were determined as a function of total gas pressure inside ion source collision chamber, repeller potential and concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the mixture.     

Hydrogen atom density in a solar plasma reactor

A density of neutral hydrogen atoms was systematically measured in the MESOX solar plasma reactor at different MW powers and flow rates. The H-atom density was measured by a gold fibre optics catalytic probe. The H-atom density was in general increasing with increasing MW power. At a pressure of 40 Pa and a power of 500 W it was about 3.5 × 10²¹ m⁻³ and at a power of 1000 W it was about 4.1 × 10²¹ m⁻³. A degree of dissociation of hydrogen molecules was between 3% and 20% depending on pressure and power. A maximum degree of dissociation was obtained at a pressure of 40 Pa and 1000 W, while the lowest one at 130 Pa and 500 W.     

Synthesis of higher surface area mayenite by hydrothermal method

Mayenite (Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃) is an important material, being used as a transparent conductive oxide (TCO), catalysts for VOCs cleaning and ionic conductor. Unfortunately, the material has a very low BET surface area, generally below 10 m²/g and requires higher calcination temperature for the formation of mayenite phase. In this study, a new synthesis method, namely hydrothermal method, was employed for the synthesis of mayenite with higher BET surface area of about 70 m²/g, and also the calcination temperature decreased from over 1000 to just 400 °C. It was found that mayenite from different method shows different shapes.     

Effect of increasing nitrobenzene loading rates on the performance of anaerobic migrating blanket reactor and sequential anaerobic migrating blanket reactor/completely stirred tank reactor system

A laboratory scale anaerobic migrating blanket reactor (AMBR) reactor was operated at nitrobenzene (NB) loading rates increasing from 3.33 to 66.67 g NB/m³ day and at a constant hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6 days to observe the effects of increasing NB concentrations on chemical oxygen demand (COD), NB removal efficiencies, bicarbonate alkalinity, volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation and methane gas percentage. Moreover, the effect of an aerobic completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR) reactor, following the anaerobic reactor, on treatment efficiencies was also investigated. Approximately 91–94% COD removal efficiencies were observed up to a NB loading rate of 30.00 g/m³ day in the AMBR reactor. The COD removal efficiencies decreased from 91% to 85% at a NB loading rate of 66.67 g/m³ day. NB removal efficiencies were approximately 100% at all NB loading rates. The maximum total gas, methane gas productions and methane percentage were found to be 4.1, 2.6 l/day and 59%, respectively, at a NB loading rate of 30.00 g/m³ day. The optimum pH values were found to be between 7.2 and 8.4 for maximum methanogenesis. The total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentrations in the effluent were 110 and 70 mg/l in the first and second compartments at NB loading rates as high as 66.67 and 6.67 g/m³ day, respectively, while they were measured as zero in the effluent of the AMBR reactor. In this study, from 180 mg/l NB 66 mg/l aniline was produced in the anaerobic reactor while aniline was completely removed and transformed to 2 mg/l of cathechol in the aerobic CSTR reactor. Overall COD removal efficiencies were found to be 95% and 99% for NB loading rates of 3.33 and 66.67 g/m³ day in the sequential anaerobic AMBR/aerobic CSTR reactor system, respectively. The toxicity tests performed with Photobacterium phosphoreum (LCK 480, LUMIStox) and Daphnia magna showed that the toxicity decreased with anaerobic/aerobic sequential reactor system from the influent, anaerobic and to aerobic effluents.     

Microhardness studies on calcium hydrogen phosphate (brushite) crystals

Vicker's and Knoop microhardness studies were carried out on grown calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO₄·2H₂O) crystals over a load range of 10-50 g. The Vickers (H_V) and Knoop (H_K) microhardness numbers for the above loads were found to be in the range of 94-170 kg/mm² and 28-35 kg/mm² respectively. It was also found that these numbers increased with increase in load. The Mayer's index (n) was found to be greater than 1.6 showing soft-material characteristics. The fracture toughness values (K_c), determined from measurements of crack length, were estimated to be 6 ± 0.5 × 10³ kg m^−3/2 and 4.5 ± 0.5 × 10³ kg m^−3/2 at 25 g and 50 g respectively. The brittleness indices (B_i) were found as 2.3 ± 0.1 × 10⁴ m^−1/2 for 25 g and 3.7 ± 0.1 × 10⁴ m^−1/2 for 50 g. Using Wooster's empirical relation, the elastic stiffness coefficient (c₁₁) has been calculated from Vicker's hardness values as 4.8 ± 0.5 × 10¹⁵ Pa for 10 g, 9.7 ± 0.5 × 10¹⁵ Pa for 25 g and 13.3 ± 0.5 × 10¹⁵ Pa for 50 g. The Young's modulus was calculated as 1.5 ± 0.1 × 10¹⁰ N m⁻² from Knoop microhardness values.     

Performance measurements from LYSO scintillators coupled to a CMOS position sensitive SSPM detector

We have designed a 5×5 mm² position sensitive solid-state photomultiplier (PS-SSPM) using a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process that provides imaging capability on the micro-pixel level. The PS-SSPM has 11,664 micro-pixels total, with each having an active area and micro-pixel pitch of 30×30 μm² and 44.3 μm, respectively. The PS-SSPM was then examined for its performance characteristics such as its energy and spatial resolution, and LYSO scintillator array imaging capabilities. When coupled to 5×5×3 mm³ LYSO, the energy resolution at 511 keV (²²Na) was measured as a function of bias, and corrected for the PS-SSPM non-linear output. The resolution is 14% (FWHM) at 511 keV with 30 V bias. The LYSO coincidence timing resolution was 9.4 ns (FWHM) at 511 keV. Spatial resolution studies were conducted using a focused (∼30 μm beam spot diameter) pulsed 635 nm diode laser. Scintillator array imaging studies were conducted at 511 keV using a 6×6 LYSO array, having 500 μm pixels (530 μm pitch) and 5 mm tall.     

Layer-by-layer self-assembly of multilayer films of polyelectrolyte/Ag nanoparticles for enzymeless hydrogen peroxide detection

In the paper, we report on the layer-by-layer self-assembly of multilayer films of polyelectrolyte/Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs). The films were constructed by the alternate adsorption of the oppositely charged poly [(2-ethyldimethylammonioethyl methacrylate ethyl sulfate)-co-(1-vinylpyrrolidone)] (PQ11) and negatively charged citrate-stabilized AgNPs on solid substrates. The multilayer film growth process on quartz slides was monitored by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The resulting films exhibit good catalytic activity toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The enzymeless H₂O₂ sensor based on such films exhibits a fast amperometric response time of less than 5 s. The linear detection range is estimated to be from 100 μM to 110 mM (R² = 0.996), and the detection limit is estimated to be 78 μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3.     

Enhancement of photocatalytic H2 evolution on hexagonal CdS by a simple calcination method under visible light irradiation

An easy-handling calcination method has been used to eliminate the trap energy levels of hexagonal cadmium sulfide (CdS). The treated CdS exhibited extremely high photocatalytic activity for H₂ production under visible light irradiation. The rate of photocatalytic H₂ evolution has been dramatically enhanced by 55.8 times to 118 μmol h⁻¹ and further improved by 6.3 times to 749 μmol h⁻¹ after loading with 0.2 wt% Pt co-catalyst.     

Effect of various single metallic seed-layers on the magnetic properties of Co/Pd multilayers

We studied the effects of Pd, Ru, and Ta seed-layers on the perpendicular magnetic properties of Co/Pd multilayers, promising materials for high-density magnetic recording media. Among the various seeds, the Ta seed-layer demonstrated a large coercivity and most highly promoted fcc (111) preferred orientation of the Co/Pd multilayer. We also patterned films into island arrays with sizes of 2 × 2 μm², 5 × 5 μm², and 10 × 10 μm² to investigate the effect of size on the magnetic properties. The coercivity increased as the island size decreased. The 2 × 2 μm² patterned Co/Pd multilayer with the Ta seed-layer showed a coercivity about six times greater than that of the un-patterned film. This increase can be explained by a change in the magnetization reversal mechanism from domain wall propagation to domain rotation.     

A novel kind of porous carbon nitride using H-magadiite as the template

A novel kind of porous carbon nitride was prepared by pyrolysis of polymerized ethylenediamine using H-magadiite as the template. This material was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, and nitrogen sorption at 77 K. The BET surface area, pore volume and the median pore width are 436 m²/g, 0.69 cm³/g and 0.84 nm, respectively, based on the N₂ sorption. Using glass carbon electrodes modified by this material, an excellent linear determination range (0.05-0.99 μM) with a low detected concentration limit of 6.9 × 10^− 3 μM could be obtained on the determination of differential pulse voltammetries of dopamine in the presence of 400-fold excess of ascorbic acid.     

Performance of a biofilter for the removal of high concentrations of styrene under steady and non-steady state conditions

The performance of a laboratory scale perlite biofilter inoculated with a mixed culture was evaluated for gas phase styrene removal under various operating conditions. Experiments were carried out by subjecting the biofilter to different flow rates (0.15–0.9 m³ h⁻¹) and concentrations (0.03–17.3 g m⁻³), corresponding to inlet loading rates varying from as low as 3 g m⁻³ h⁻¹ to as high as 1390 g m⁻³ h⁻¹. A maximum elimination capacity (EC) of 382 g m⁻³ h⁻¹ was achieved at an inlet loading rate of 464 g m⁻³ h⁻¹ with a removal efficiency of 82%. The high elimination capacity reached with this system could have been due to the dominant presence of filamentous fungi among others. The impact of relative humidity (RH) (30%, 60% and >92%) on the biofilter performance was evaluated at two constant loading rates, viz., 80 and 260 g m⁻³ h⁻¹, showing that inhibitory effects were only significant when combining the highest loads with the lowest relative humidities. Biomass distribution, moisture content and concentration profiles along the bed height were significantly dependent on the relative humidity of the inlet air and on the loading rate. The dynamic behaviour of the biofilter through vigorous short and long-term shock loads was tested at different process conditions. The biofilter was found to respond apace to rapid changes in loading conditions. The stability of the biomass within the reactor was apparent from the fast response of the biofilter to recuperate and handle intermittent shutdown and restart operations, either with or without nutrient addition.     

Structure, growth and magnetic property of hard magnetic CoPtP nanowires synthesized by electrochemical deposition

This paper reports the electrochemical synthesis and characterization of one dimensional hard magnetic CoPtP nanowires. Three electrode potentiostatic electrochemical technique was used to deposit nanowires into a nanoporous track-etched polycarbonate membrane with a nominal pore diameter 50 nm and thickness around 6-9 μm. The room temperature electrolyte used for the deposition of nanowires consists of 60 g/lt CoSO₄7H₂O, 4.1 g/lt H₂PtCl₆, 4.5 g/lt NaHPO₂ and 25 g/lt B(OH)₃. The structural morphology was observed by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The magnetic property of the nanowires was measured by vibrating sample magnetometer before removing the template. The coercive fields were measured to be 143 kA m^− 1 and 103 kA m^− 1 for parallel (H_║) and perpendicular to the nanowire axis, respectively. The higher coercivity value for H_║ indicating nanowires' easy magnetization direction lies along the nanowires' axis. The average composition of the CoPtP nanowires was determined by electron dispersive spectroscopy and the crystallinity was measured by X-ray diffractometer.     

New leak element using sintered stainless steel filter for in-situ calibration of ionization gauges and quadrupole mass spectrometers

A new leak element using a sintered stainless steel filter with a pore size of less than 1 μm has been developed for in-situ calibrations of ionization gauges (IGs) and quadruple mass spectrometers (QMSs). The gas flow through this leak element realizes molecular flow at an upstream pressure of less than 10⁴ Pa. This new leak element, which is a kind of open-type standard leak, has four advantages. (1) Calibrations for various gas species are available only with this single leak element because the conductance is easily compensated for gas species by molecular mass. (2) Calibrations with multiple pressure points are easily available because the conductance is constant against changing upstream pressure. (3) Calibrations for a gas mixture are available because the interference effect between gas molecules in a gas mixture is negligible. (4) The dependence of flow rate on temperature is small and is compensated theoretically. These advantages were experimentally demonstrated. The stability and uncertainty of the leak element were also evaluated. The changes in the conductance of this leak element were less than 3% over one year. Since the conductance is typically 10⁻¹⁰ · m³/s, the reference gas flow in the range from 10⁻⁸ Pa · m³/s to 10⁻⁶ Pa m³ is obtained by changing the upstream pressure from 10² Pa to 10⁴ Pa with an uncertainty of approximately 6%.     

Sputter-epitaxy and electric properties of multiferroic Bim + 1Fem-3Ti3O3m + 3 thin films

Growth conditions suitable for sputter-epitaxy of Bi_m + 1Fe_m-3Ti₃O_3m + 3 (BFTO) thin films with layered structure have been investigated. The amount of oxygen during deposition was found to be specifically essential for obtaining a good-quality thin film of BFTO with a large m. The (001) epitaxial thin films of BFTO with m of nearly 10 which is expected to retain magnetic order up to room temperature have been successfully grown on (001) SrTiO₃ substrates under the determined optimum condition. The film exhibited leakage current as low as order of 10⁻²-10⁻¹ A/m² limited by Schottky emission at the interfaces between the electrodes and the film. In addition, the film showed a ferroelectric polarization curve with Pr = 6 μC/cm² for applied field of 35 MV/m at room temperature though the curve was unsaturated. These indicate that the BFTO (m = 10) thin films are promising as multiferroics at room temperature.     

Synthesis and characterization of calcium hydroxide nanoparticles by hydrogen plasma-metal reaction method

Ca(OH)₂ nanoparticles have been synthesized with high purity and yield using the hydrogen plasma-metal reaction method. They are spherical in shape with a mean particle size of approximately 100 nm. The morphology of nanoparticles is spongy with mesopores, mostly less than 10 nm. The pore volume and surface area of Ca(OH)₂ nanoparticles are 0.084 cm³/g and 28.7 m²/g, respectively. Both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated that these nanoparticles possess poly-nanocrystalline structure with an average grain size of about 10 nm. The formation mechanism of Ca(OH)₂ nanoparticles was discussed in terms of chemical reactions and coalescence during the processing.     

Study on field emission and photoluminescence properties of ZnO/graphene hybrids grown on Si substrates

Zinc oxide/graphene (ZnO/G) hybrids are prepared on n-Si (1 0 0) substrates by electrophoretic deposition and magnetron sputtering technique. The crystal structure, morphology and photoluminescence (PL) properties of the ZnO/G hybrids are analyzed via X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and fluorescence–phosphorescence spectrometer, respectively. The results indicate that the crystal quality of ZnO nanostructure deteriorates after depositing graphene buffer layer. Whereas many three dimensional stacking blowballs form in the ZnO/G hybrid, creating a larger surface area than that of ZnO nanostructure. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the ZnO/G hybrid contains multi-peaks, which are consistent with ZnO nanostructure except for two new peaks at 390 and 618 nm. In addition, field emission measurement reveals that E_to and E_thr decrease from 8.01 V μm⁻¹ and 14.90 V μm⁻¹ of the ZnO nanostructure to 2.72 V μm⁻¹ and 7.70 V μm⁻¹ of the ZnO/G hybrid. ZnO/G hybrid is characteristic of having excellent emitting behavior suitable for application in field emission technology.     

Synthesis and properties of dense bulks for mesoporous silica SBA-15 by a modified hydrothermal method

Dense SBA-15 bulks with mesoporous structure as well as powdered SBA-15 were successfully synthesized by the modified hydrothermal method. These SBA-15 bulks have the higher density of 1.16 to 1.19 g/cm³, compared to green density of 0.68 g/cm³ for the pellet from SBA-15 powder. Obtained SBA-15 bulks possessed extremely high BET surface area of 467 m²/g and mesopore of 4.0 nm in diameter The possibility of densification for SBA-15 bulks using this method was confirmed.