Modeling of the Sorption Dynamics in Multicomponent Ion-Exchange Systems with Consideration of Complexation Reactions on the Basis of the Surface Complexation Theory

The sorption dynamics in multicomponent ion-exchange systems with consideration of complexation reactions in solution is theoretically described by solving (on a computer) nonlinear material balance equations and kinetic equations of internal diffusion. Equilibria in multicomponent ion-exchange systems are characterized using the surface complexation theory. According to this theory, fixed groups of an ion exchanger and counterions form complexes located in different layers (Stern layers) at different distances from the surface. These layers constitute a circuit of series-connected capacitors. The fundamental advantage of such an approach is the fact that equilibria in multicomponent systems can be described in terms of a set of parameters obtained for binary systems. Additional account is taken of complexation reactions in the solution in the space between sorbent grains in an ion-exchange column. The H⁺–A–B three-component metal-ion exchange in various systems (A, B = Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Na⁺) is studied. Comparison is made between the results of numerical calculations of the characteristics of the H⁺–A ^{n +}–B ^{n +} ion exchange in multicomponent systems containing metal ions with and without consideration of chemical reactions.     

Screw Machines with Longitudinal Circulating Liquid. Communication 1. Pressure-Flow Rate Characteristics

The possibility of organizing longitudinal circulation of polymeric fluids along the channels of screw machines is demonstrated; it levels out the concentrations of additives, required because of the imprecise operation of metering systems in time, and averaging of the temperature of the fluid along the length of the screw. The pressure-flow rate characteristics of screw machines with longitudinal fluid circulation are investigated and the operating conditions in the presence and absence of longitudinal circulation are determined. The region of geometric screw dimensions where longitudinal circulation of polymeric fluid cannot be organized is determined.     

Boundary instability of a two-dimensional electron fluid

It was shown previously that the current-carrying state of a Field Effect Transistor with asymmetric source and drain boundary conditions may become unstable against spontaneous generation of plasma waves [1]. By extending the analysis to the two-dimensional case we find that the dominant instability modes correspond to waves propagating in the direction perpendicular to the current and localized near the boundaries. This new type of instability should result in plasma turbulence with a broad frequency spectrum. More generally, it is shown that a similar instability might exist, when a strong enough current goes through a single boundary between the gated and ungated regions. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

An NMR magnetometer with frequency modulation

An NMR tracking magnetometer, in which the frequency modulation is used instead of the traditional magnetic modulation, is described. Owing to the proposed digital compensation of modulation shifts, the tracking error is negligibly small and does not exceed the corresponding error for NMR magnetometers with magnetic modulation. The absence of the modulation rings decreases the sizes of the sensors to the utmost and excludes their effect on the surrounding systems. 50%-deuteron saturated solution of lithium chloride in water of 50% deuterons, which is used as a sensor substance, allows one to measure magnetic fields of 0.0625 to 15.3 T with a 10^?7 relative error at the most.     

The CORSET time-of-flight spectrometer for measuring binary products of nuclear reactions

The CORSET time-of-flight spectrometer has been developed at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (Dubna, Russia) for investigating binary products of nuclear reactions. The spectrometer has been used to study the dynamics of fusion-fission and quasi-fission of superheavy elements. The design and the main characteristics of the spectrometer, as well as the algorithms for deducing the mass-energy distributions of fragments and the cross sections of nuclear reactions, are presented. The spectrometer contains two time-of-flight arms based on microchannel-plate detectors and three telescopes, each of which is composed of two microchannel-plate detectors and one semiconductor detector. A system of four semiconductor detectors is used to obtain the absolute value of a cross section. The time resolution of the time-of-flight arms is 150 ps, which allows the time-of-flight distances to be set at 10–20 cm, thus providing a mass resolution of 3 amu and an angular resolution of 0.3°. Owing to these characteristics, the spectrometer can be used as a trigger in multidetector setups for measuring light charged particles, neutrons, and γ rays in coincidence with reaction fragments.     

Aluminium content of Spanish infant formula

Levels of aluminium in 82 different infant formulae from nine different manufacturers in Spain were determined by acid-microwave digestion and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The influence of aluminium content in tap water in reconstituted powder formulae was examined and an estimate was made of the theoretical toxic aluminium intake in comparison with the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). Possible interactions between aluminium and certain essential trace elements added to infant formulations have been studied according to the type or main protein-based infant formula. In general, the infant formulae contained a higher aluminium content than that found in human milk, especially in the case of soya, preterm or hydrolysed casein-based formulae. Standard formulae gave lower aluminium intakes amounting to about 4% PTWI. Specialized and preterm formulae resulted in a moderate intake (11-12 and 8-10% PTWI, respectively) and soya formulae contributed the highest intake (15% PTWI). Aluminium exposure from drinking water used for powder formula reconstitution was not considered a potential risk. In accordance with the present state of knowledge about aluminium toxicity, it seems prudent to call for continued efforts to standardize routine quality control and reduce aluminium levels in infant formula as well as to keep the aluminium concentration under 300 μg l^-1 for all infant formulae, most specifically those formulae for premature and low birth neonates.     

Biofilm adaptation to sulfate reduction in anaerobic immobilized biomass reactors sujected to different COD/sulfate ratios.

Various aspects of biofilm adaptation to sulfate reduction in horizontal-flow anaerobic immobilized biomass (HAIB) reactors subjected to increasing sulfate concentrations and different COD/sulfate ratios are presented and discussed. Four bench-scale HAIB reactors filled with vegetal carbon (R1 and R2) and polyurethane foam matrices (R3 and R4) were utilized. Influent sulfate concentrations ranging from 500 to 3000 mg/L were applied at COD/sulfate ratios ranging from 5.0 to 1.7. Reactors R1 and R4 were operated with higher sulfate loads than those applied to R2 and R3. For the same COD/sulfate ratio, the highest sulfate reduction efficiency (approximately 80%) was displayed by the vegetal carbon reactor (R2) subjected to low sulfate loads. According to the results of our molecular biology analyses, the different support materials provided different biomass colonization conditions. The lowest diversity of sulfate-reducing bacteria was found in the HAIB filled with polyurethane foam matrices operating with high sulfate loads.     

Optical DQPSK Receiver With Enhanced Dispersion Tolerance

We propose and analyze a novel differential quadrature phase-shift-keying (DQPSK) receiver architecture based on optical frequency discriminator filtering and direct detection. Our simulations show that such a receiver provides significantly enhanced tolerance to chromatic dispersion compared with the conventional delay-interferometer-based receiver. Preliminary measurement results demonstrate the novel DQPSK demodulator concept at 20 Gb/s.     

Synthesis of reagents for inhibiting the growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria in petroleum production

Quaternary ammonium salts were synthesized on the basis of hexamethylenetetramine and piperylene hydrochloride. Conditions for the synthesis of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetraalkenylhexamethylenetetrammonium chlorides in aqueous solutions were optimized. The main physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized compounds were determined and the structures were established. The suppression of the growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria was studied.