Electro-Fenton treatment of synthetic organic dyes: Influence of operational parameters and kinetic study

This work investigates oxidative decolorization of two different dyes, Methylene blue and Titan yellow in aqueous solution using an environmentally friendly advanced electro-chemical oxidation (electro-Fenton) process. The effect of operating conditions like H₂O₂ concentration, current density, initial dye concentration was studied in a batch stirred cell. Individual decolorization decay kinetics for both dyes was investigated. The second-order absolute rate constants (L mol^?1 s^?1) between hydroxyl radical and dye have been calculated from experimental data by fitting it to the decolorization model. The apparent kinetic constants, k _app (s^?1) for Methylene blue and Titan yellow dye decolorization were also determined. The experimental data showed a good fit to the theoretical model, which can predict data in a wide range of % dye decolorization. This process also reduces COD of the dye solution, and the unit energy demand (UED) in kWh/kg COD removed for different electrical current has been reported.     

Lentiform fork sign: Uremia alone or multifactorial causation?

Neurological complications are common in patients with acute or chronic renal failure, especially when there is marked reduction in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). One such clinical syndrome, uremic encephalopathy (UE), occurs due to widespread dysfunction of central nervous system (CNS). It manifests with myriad clinical features and usually is suggested by bedside elicitation of asterixis (flapping tremor). Symptomatic involvement of the basal ganglia manifesting as choreoathetosis and clinical and radiological resolution with hemodialysis has been reported in the medical literature, but only rarely. The present report details such a case.     

Removal of lead from contaminated water bodies using sea nodule as an adsorbent

Adsorption of water soluble lead on polymetallic sea nodule has been studied in detail. Complete decontamination of lead is possible by appropriate sea nodule dosing. Adsorption is also dependent on pH and best adsorption is achieved at pH 6. Beyond pH 6, the desorption of lead from sea nodule surface is practically zero. Residual metal concentrations in the filtrate after adsorption is negligible. Both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms may reasonably explain adsorption of lead on sea nodule. Chemically bound moisture plays a very crucial role in lead adsorption. Lead adsorptive capability of sea nodule is practically destroyed when calcined at a temperature of 900 degrees C. Lead loading capacity of sea nodule has been estimated at 440 mg of lead per gram of sea nodule. The performance of sea nodule as a lead adsorbent has been successfully tested over six simulated lead contaminated water systems. Lead loading capacity of sea nodule compares favorably with other adsorbents like activated carbon, ion exchange resin, anionic clay, granulated blast furnace slag and natural and treated zeolites.     

An investigation of normal and submerged condition on microstructural and tribological properties of friction stir processed AZ91-D magnesium alloy

A comparative study of micro-structural transformations and tribological properties of the friction stir processed AZ91-D magnesium (Mg) alloy in normal friction stir processing (NFSP) and submerged friction stir processing (SFSP) conditions was carried out. The optimum parameters used for processing were tool rotational speed of 1000?rpm/min, 50?mm/min of transverse speed and 6 numbers of passes. A significant reduction in grain size (28.7% and 13.1%) and increase in micro-hardness (14.55% and 8.92%) along depth and width of stir zone (SZ) of SFSPed specimen has been achieved as compared to NFSPed specimens. This change can be attributed to the dynamic recrystallisation and removal of excess frictional heat leading to inhibited post-grain growth in the processed alloy. Pin-on-disc sliding wear testing was conducted to compare the wear performance of NFSPed and SFSPed specimens. The SFSPed specimen has shown an improved wear resistance as compared to NFSPed specimens. The major prevailing wear mechanisms were abrasion, delamination, oxidation and mild plastic deformation.     

Design and development of guided four beam cantilever type MEMS based piezoelectric energy harvester

Microsystem Technologies - MEMS devices have found applicability in remote area of operation such as temperature monitoring in extreme climates, structural health monitoring, and car tire pressure...     

Optical properties of tropospheric aerosols determined by lidar and spectrophotometric measurements (Photochemical Activity and Solar Ultraviolet Radiation campaign)

We present the results of the aerosol measurements carried out over the Aegean Sea during the Photochemical Activity and Solar Ultraviolet Radiation campaign held in Greece during June 1996. Simultaneous observations performed with a lidar and a double-monochromator spectrophotometer allowed us to retrieve the optical depth, the Angstr?m coefficient, and the backscatter-to-extinction ratio. The Sun photometric data can be used to improve quantitative aerosol measurements by lidar in the Planetary Boundary Layer. Systematic errors could arise otherwise, because the value of the backscatter-to-extinction ratio has to be supplied. Instead this ratio can be retrieved experimentally by use of an iterative solution of the lidar equation.     

Synthesis,characterization and surface modification of ZnCrFeO4 nanoparticles

The aim of this research was to investigate zinc chromium ferrite (ZnCrFeO₄) nanoparticles, synthesized using the sol gel technique with nanoparticle size controlled through a two-stage annealing process. Stage one was a low temperature firing which produced low quality nanocrystals with an average size of 15 nm. This was followed by a second firing stage at high temperature which enhanced the crystal quality. The nanoparticles were then coated with a bio-compatible shell to form a stable suspension in the ferrofluid carrier. The resulting nanoparticles were found by electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction studies to have excellent crystal quality. The average size was 8.5 nm. Preliminary cell culture studies indicated the ZnCrFeO₄ nanoparticles were non-toxic. The relatively high measured value of the relaxivity r₂ showed that the nanoparticle coating was effective in substantially reducing aggregation and enhancing the properties of the nanoparticles associated with contrast enhancement in MRI.     

Low-Mass WIMP Sensitivity and Statistical Discrimination of Electron and Nuclear Recoils by Varying Luke-Neganov Phonon Gain in Semiconductor Detectors

Amplifying the phonon signal in a semiconductor dark matter detector can be accomplished by operating at high voltage bias and converting the electrostatic potential energy into Luke-Neganov phonons. This amplification method has been validated at up to |E|=40 V/cm without producing leakage in CDMS?II Ge detectors, allowing sensitivity to a benchmark WIMP with mass M _χ =8 GeV/c² and σ=1.8×10^?42 cm² (with significant sensitivity for M _χ >2 GeV/c²) assuming flat electronic recoil backgrounds near threshold. Furthermore, for the first time we show that differences in Luke-Neganov gain for nuclear and electronic recoils can be used to discriminate statistically between low-energy background and a hypothetical WIMP signal by operating at two distinct voltage biases. Specifically, 99% of events have p-value <10^?8 for a simulated 20?kg-day experiment with a benchmark WIMP signal with M _χ =8 GeV/c² and σ=3.3×10^?41 cm².     

Effect of Zr on dielectric, ferroelectric and impedance properties of BaTiO3 ceramic

A polycrystalline sample of Zr-doped barium titanate (BaTiO₃) was prepared by conventional solid state reaction method. The effect of Zr (0·15) on the structural and microstructural properties of BaTiO₃ was investigated by XRD and SEM. The electrical properties (dielectric, ferroelectric and impedance spectroscopy) were measured in wide range of frequency and temperature. With substitutions of Zr, the structure of BaTiO₃ changes from tetragonal to rhombohedral. Lattice parameters were found to increase with substitution. The room temperature dielectric constant increases from ～ 1675 to ～ 10586 and peak dielectric constant value increases from ～ 13626 to ～ 21023 with diffuse phase transition. Impedance spectroscopy reveals the formation of grain and grain boundary in the material and found to decrease with increase in temperature.