Fabrication of nano-sized oxide composite coatings and photo-electric conversion/electron storage characteristics

Titanium dioxide TiO₂ can be used as a photo-anode to give generated electrons to the metal substrate under illumination. The transition metal oxide such as iron oxide Fe₂O₃ can be used to store electrons generated by the photo-electric conversion function of TiO₂ under the illuminated situation while the electrons are discharged from the transition metal oxide to the metal substrate in the dark. In this paper, coatings of nano-sized composite of TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ were fabricated by the Warm Spray process, in which the feedstock powder is accelerated by a supersonic gas jet with speed above 1.0 km s^- 1 and temperature between 800 and 2500 K, and then impacted onto the target substrate continuously to form coatings. The coatings of TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ nano-composite fabricated by Warm Spray showed no thermal deterioration such as phase transformation and particle growth of the feedstock during the spray process. The coatings fabricated by the Warm Spray had larger photo-current and the electron charge/discharge capacity than that by a conventional HVOF process. In addition, these characteristics were improved by decreasing the primary particle size of TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃.     

Preparation of phosphoric acid resins with large cation exchange capacities from macroreticular poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-divinylbenzene) beads and their behavior in uptake of metal ions

In order to prepare phosphoric acid resins (RGPs) with large cation exchange capacities, effects of porosity and cross-linking of the precursory poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-divinylbenzene) beads on their functionalization with phosphoric acid were studied. Two series of precursory copolymers were prepared: one was prepared by changing the amount of divinylbenzene (1–25 mol %) but by fixing that of isobutyl acetate (porogen) at 140 vol % per monomer mixture; the other by changing the amount of the porogen (40–160 vol %) but by fixing that of the cross-linker at 10 mol %. It was clarified that porosity of the precursors plays an important role in the functionalization. Highly porous precursors were functionalized with high efficiency; for example, even the precursors containing 10 mol % of divinylbenzene resulted in RGPs having cation exchange capacities as large as 6–7 meq/g, so long as BET specific surface areas of the precursors were greater than ca. 30 m²/g. The selectivity study has revealed that RGP exhibits the characteristic metal ion selectivity. Lithium ion was adsorbed in preference to sodium and potassium ions; and so-called hard Lewis acid cations, such as uranyl, ferric, and aluminum ions, are adsorbed even from strongly acidic media (1 < pH < 2). Among common divalent metal ions, in addition, the resin exhibits the highest selectivity toward lead ion. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 63: 1327–1334, 1997     

Current distribution calculation for a superconducting multi-layered power cable

The calculation method for the current distributions within a coaxial multi-layered power cable consisting of helically wound long superconducting tape conductors have been studied. The analytical expressions for the self- and mutual inductances of the coaxial helical long thin arch-shaped tapes are analytically and numerically compared with straight arch-shaped and flat tapes. It is confirmed that these expressions are consistent with each other. The current distributions within a coaxial 3-layered cable are calculated, using the self- and mutual inductances obtained due to the thin approximation. The effect of the non-uniform gaps between tapes in a coaxial multi-layered power cable is studied.     

Characterization of denitrifying phosphate-accumulating organisms cultivated under different electron acceptor conditions using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis assay

To investigate the characteristics and the microbial diversity of denitrifying phosphate-accumulating organisms (DNPAOs) that are capable of conducting enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) using nitrate as electron acceptor, three sequencing batch reactors were operated under three different electron acceptor conditions, i.e., only oxygen, oxygen together with nitrate and only nitrate. Based on the chemical analysis concerning the biochemical transformation of each reactor, it was found that phosphate-accumulating organisms responsible for EBPR consisted of at least three populations including DNPAOs, and that the microbial community structure was changed according to the electron acceptor conditions. Also, the sludge cultivated with oxygen together with nitrate showed a drastic increase in the amount of phosphorus uptake under anoxic conditions, which suggested that a proportion of DNPAOs capable of utilizing nitrate under aerobic conditions were present. On the other hand, the change in microbial community structure depending on the type of electron acceptor was demonstrated by the analysis of the results of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16S ribosomal DNA fragments. It was found that the bacteria commonly contained in all the reactors were Rhodocyclus sp. (96% identity) and Dechlorimonas sp. (97% identity) that belonged to the beta subclass of Proteobacteria on the basis of the analysis of the sequence excised from DGGE bands and the determination of phylogenetic affiliation. However, only the presence of Rhodocyclus sp. in all the reactors was demonstrated by fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis.     

Contributions of genotoxic precursors from tributary rivers and sewage effluents to the Yodo River in Japan

The cause of water pollution in the Yodo River was examined regarding the mutagenic potentials formed by chlorination of river waters and sewage effluents along the river. Mutagenicity of the extracts from chlorinated waters was measured by Ames test using S. typhimurium TA100 strain without metabolic activation. Mutagenic formation potentials of sewage effluents were 4-5 times higher than those of the three tributary river waters, the Kizu, Uji and Katsura Rivers. The contribution rates of the pollution loads from the three river waters and total of four sewage effluents to the Yodo River were revealed to be 10.2%, 42.2%, 22.1% and 25.5%, respectively. The rate of the sewage effluents occupied one-fourth and exceeded the rates of the Kizu and Katsura Rivers. The contribution rate of the two sewage effluents to the Katsura River was 46.3%. It could be confirmed that the relationship between COD and MFP in river waters and sewage effluents was very high with a correlation coefficient. These results indicated that the waters inflowing to the Yodo River were contaminated with numerous organic compounds, and the sewage effluents especially contribute to the formation of genotoxicity by the interaction between chlorine and organic components as genotoxic precursors in the purification plants.     

A Comprehensive Approach for Estimating Hydraulic Quantities in a Multi-branched Estuarine System

Despite many previous investigations, there is no theoretically justifiable equation to determine the freshwater discharge, tidal velocity, and salinity in a complex estuary that contains several branches. In this study, the longitudinal distributions of freshwater and salinity concentration in multi-branched estuaries are investigated using a mathematical model, considering the energy balance by frictional head loss and the salt balance by diffusion and advection in a one-dimensional steady-state condition. We attempt to obtain the time-mean freshwater discharge rate quantitatively at a junction where the main flow separates into two branches. The salinity distribution along each branch is calculated by following the dispersion coefficient equation previously proposed for a single estuary. The salinity field is divided into the near-coast region and the upstream region, because in each segment the inland velocity varies according to the tidal flux. For computing the tidal velocity, we propose the Burgers equation and the Hoph-Cole transformation. The theoretical results obtained by these equations were found to be in good agreement with a set of observed data in the Red River estuary system.     

Sources and leaching of manganese and iron in the Saigon River Basin, Vietnam

High concentrations of manganese and iron in the Saigon River are major problems for the water supply in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Viet Nam. To identify their sources and leaching processes, we surveyed water quality along the Saigon River and ran batch leaching tests using soil and sediment samples. Two important leaching processes were identified: acidic leaching from acid sulfate soil (ASS) in the middle reaches of the river, and Mn dissolution and Fe reduction from sediments in the downstream reaches. Low pH caused the concurrent release of Fe and Mn from the ASS. In contrast, anoxia caused the release of Fe but not Mn from the sediments, whereas low pH facilitated Mn dissolution. Sediments are a more important source of Mn because of their higher Mn contents (10 times) and release rates (14 times) than those from ASS.     

Adaptation to climate change and conservation of biodiversity using green infrastructure

In recent years, we have experienced mega‐flood disasters in Japan due to climate change. In the last century, we have been building disaster prevention infrastructure (artificial levees and dams, referred to as “grey infrastructure”) to protect human lives and assets from floods, but these hard protective measures will not function against mega‐floods. Moreover, in a drastically depopulating society such as that in Japan, farmland abandonment prevails, and it will be more difficult to maintain grey infrastructure with a limited tax income. In this study, we propose the introduction of green infrastructure (GI) as an adaptation strategy for climate change. If we can use abandoned farmlands as GI, they may function to reduce disaster risks and provide habitats for various organisms that are adapted to wetland environments. First, we present a conceptual framework for disaster prevention using a hybrid of GI and conventional grey infrastructure. In this combination, the fundamental GI, composed of forests and wetlands in the catchment (GI‐1) and additional multilevel GIs such as flood control basins that function when floodwater exceeds the planning level (GI‐2) are introduced. We evaluated the flood attenuation function (GI‐1) of the Kushiro Wetland using a hydrological model and developed a methodology for selecting suitable locations of GI‐2, considering flood risk, biodiversity and the distribution of abandoned farmlands, which represent social and economic costs. The results indicated that the Kushiro Wetland acts as a large natural reservoir that attenuates the hydrological peak discharge during floods and suitable locations for introducing GI‐2 are concentrated in floodplain areas developing in the downstream reaches of large rivers. Finally, we discussed the network structure of GI‐1 as a hub and GI‐2 as a dispersal site for conservation of the Red‐crowned Crane, one of the symbolic species of Japan.     

Reduction of return current noise by energy‐compensating active control

A newly proposed energy‐compensating active control is implemented to reduce the return current noise which is caused by inverter‐driven electric car systems. The energy‐compensating active control detects the energy charged at the filter capacitor, and reduces the energy and current of the noise frequency component by simple feedback loop incorporated with the conventional motor torque controller. No additional sensors or circuit arrangements are necessary; therefore, the return current can be attenuated effectively without any further cost. The return current with an inverter system is measured using a current probe and an FFT analyzer, and it is shown that the 25‐Hz noise current is reduced by up to 10 dB with the control. The results reveal that the low‐frequency return current noise can be attenuated with the simple control scheme, which would expectedly reduce the size of filter reactors and capacitors to meet the current limit level of the signaling system's track relays. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 165(4): 84–91, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20615