Environmental aspects of metals removal from waters and gold recovery

Mining and metals processing are not invisible activities and are heavy industries, which require energy, water, chemicals, and land area. Recently more emphasis is given to environmental and societal aspects in mining and processing. Development of good practices with improved resource efficiency, new recovery methods and sustainability thinking are increasingly required. This work shows pH titration method for acid mine drainage (AMD) water incorporated with aqueous thermodynamic model for selective metals precipitation from complex solution. Also two examples on gold recovery methods from aqueous streams are shown: biosorption using fungal matter and solvent extraction using a task‐specific ionic liquid. By understanding chemical thermodynamics and natural phenomena, there is a better chance of developing solutions for environmental problems and new industrial processes. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2739–2748, 2015     

Durability studies of surface-modified coir geotextiles

Coir (Cocos nucifera) is a natural fibre known to retain its strength and resist biodegradation far better than other industrial natural fibres. However, systematic studies in this discipline are scarce. Geotextiles are usually exposed to diverse pH, salinity, moisture, and microbial association conditions. In the present work, specific surface modifications of coir geotextiles using a natural agent (cashew nut shell liquid) have been carried out to enhance their long-term performance depending on the end applications. The modified and unmodified geotextiles were subjected to acidic, alkaline, and neutral pH conditions, saline conditions, alternate wetting and drying cycles, and thermal cycles for the assessment of their durability, measured in terms of tensile strength. In situ soil burial studies in a tropical climate were conducted in specially prepared soil to follow the biodegradation behaviour of geotextiles at various depths. The surface-modified geotextiles were found to resist adverse chemical, physical, and biological conditions much better than the unmodified geotextiles. Alkaline conditions marginally accelerated the degradation rates when compared to acidic environments. The saline conditions, as well as alternate wetting and drying conditions, resulted in marginal loss of tensile strength (<7%). The surface-modified geotextiles buried within lower depths of soil under field conditions retained 70–80% of their initial tensile strength after 12 months, whereas the unmodified geotextiles lost 88% strength in four months. The positive impact of surface modification on durability is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results indicate the excellent potential of suitably surface-modified coir geotextiles for long-term use in adverse conditions.     

Solderability and its measurement

The ease with which molten solder wets and spreads on the appropriate metallic surfaces of electronic component assemblies during the manufacturing process is referred to broadly as the solderability of the component or printed circuit board. Two needs are evident: a traceable solderability measurement method giving reproducible data that predict process performance, and an agreed level of solderability which, for a given manufacturing process, will deliver an acceptably robust solder joint. This paper describes briefly present understanding of the mechanisms that govern solderability and the measurement methods most likely to prove acceptable to the electronics assembly industry     

Electropolymerization of poly(2-vinylpyridine) films on zinc

The electroreductive polymerization on a zinc substrate of 2-vinylpyridine in aqueous solution produces thin films. Various electropolymerization conditions have been studied. The deposits have been characterized structurally and compositionally. The best films were obtained at 50°C by potentiostatic polymerization at –1.26 V vs NHE for 15 min.     

Removal of volatile flavour constituents from foods prior to analysis by gas-liquid chromatography

Volatile aroma constituents were removed from cooked chicken by vacuum distillation at 35°, followed by extraction of the aqueous distillate with ethyl chloride and concentration into a small volume of isooctane, to facilitate their analysis by gas-liquid chromatography. In an alternative procedure the meat, powdered in liquid nitrogen, was extracted with ethyl chloride, and the volatiles were separated from the lipid extract by vacuum distillation and similarly concentrated for application to the column. The second method gave the better extraction, particularly for components of higher boiling point. Optimum sensitivity and reproducibility were achieved by transfer of the whole of a concentrated extract of the volatiles from e.g. 100 g meat in 1–3 ml of solvent on to a column previously cooled to -60° to -70°, followed by rapid heating to 31° and subsequent temperature programming to 200° in the usual way. Compounds of chain length C₄ to C₁₅ (at least) could be quantitatively transferred to the column and determined by this procedure.     

Changes in central steroid receptor expression, steroid synthesis, and dopaminergic activity related to the reproductive cycle of the ring dove

This review examines possible neural mechanisms involved in the expression of parental behavior in the ring dove, Streptopelia risoria. This avian species has proved an excellent animal model for studies concerning endocrine-behavior interactions for many years. Studies were performed to localize the expression of central androgen and progesterone receptor in both sexes. Expression of androgen receptor (androgen receptor immunoreactivity, AR-ir) was widespread but increased, similarly in both sexes, with increasing day-length. Progesterone receptor-immunoreactivity (PR-ir) was more localized in several discrete areas of the hypothalamus. Similarly, no sex differences were observed in PR-ir, and expression increased in birds maintained on long days. AR-ir demonstrated dramatic changes over the breeding cycle, being greatest in courting birds and almost undetectable in parenting birds of both sexes brooding their young. PR-ir showed a differential expression over the breeding cycle relative to its hypothalamic localization. PR-ir decreased in the tuberal hypothalamic area in brooding birds of both sexes; whereas in the preoptic area, PR-ir was maintained. Significant increases in dopaminergic activity during the parenting phase of the breeding cycle occurred in specific neural regions including the PVM and DMA. Studies demonstrated the ability of the diencephalon of both sexes of the ring dove brain to synthesize progesterone, with indications that in the male brooding dove, synthesis is increased. Finally, a model is presented that proposes a mechanism whereby these central systems may interact to result in the expression of full parental behavior in both sexes of the ring dove.     

Recent advances in autonomic communications [Guest Editorial]

The nine papers in this special issue focus on recent advances in autonomic communications. This issue addresses four areas in which autonomics play a central role: network architectures, traffic management, monitoring, and resource management.     

Plasma surface modification and characterization of collagen‐based artificial cornea for enhanced epithelialization

Argon plasma treatment enhanced the attachment of epithelial cells to a collagen‐based artificial cornea crosslinked using glutaraldehyde (GA) and glutaraldehyde‐polyethylene oxide dialdehyde (GA‐PEODA) systems. The epithelialization of untreated and treated surfaces was evaluated by the seeding and growth of human corneal epithelial cells. Characterization of polymer surface properties such as surface hydrophilicity and roughness was also made by contact angle measurement and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Contact angle analysis revealed that the surface hydrophilicity significantly increased after the treatment. In addition, AFM characterization showed an increase in surface roughness through argon plasma treatment. Based on the biological and surface analysis, argon plasma treatment displays promising potential for biocompatibility enhancement of collagen‐based artificial corneas. It was also found that the cell attachment to artificial cornea surfaces was influenced by the combined effects of surface chemistry (i.e., surface energy), polymer surface morphology (i.e., surface roughness), and polar interactions between functional groups at the polymer surface and cell membrane proteins. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007