Characterization, morphology and composition of biofilm and precipitates from a sulphate-reducing fixed-bed reactor

The characteristics of the biofilm and the solids formed during the operation of a sulphate-reducing fixed-bed reactor, fed with a moderately acidic synthetic effluent containing zinc and iron, are presented. A diverse population of delta-Proteobacteria SRB, affiliated to four distinct genera, colonized the system. The morphology, mineralogy and surface chemistry of the precipitates were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The XRD patterns observed are characteristic of amorphous solid phases. Peaks corresponding to crystalline iron sulphide, marcasite, sphalerite and wurtzite were also identified. SEM-EDX results confirm the predominance of amorphous phases appearing as a cloudy haze. EDX spectra of spots on the surface of these amorphous phases reveal the predominance of iron, zinc and sulphur indicating the formation of iron and zinc sulphides. The predominance of these amorphous phases and the formation of very fine particles, during the operation of the SRB column, are in agreement and can be explained by the formation pathways of metal sulphides at ambient temperature, alkaline pH and reducing conditions. Solids are precipitated either as (i) amorphous phases deposited on the bed material, as well as on surface of crystals, e.g. Mg(3)(PO(4))(2) and (ii) as rod-shaped solids characterized by a rough hazy surface, indicating the encapsulation of bacterial cells by amorphous metal sulphides.     

Effects of Copper on the Hardenability of a Medium-Carbon Steel

Scrap-based steelmaking is gradually increasing the levels of residual copper present in modern steels. End-quench hardenability tests were conducted on medium-carbon steels containing up to 0.4 wt pct copper to evaluate if current methods are still accurate for predicting the ideal critical diameter as residual copper levels rise. The results indicate that copper’s contribution to hardenability, especially at lower concentrations, may be greater than conventional calculation methods indicate.     

Pressure-affected flow properties of powder injection moulding compounds

The effect of pressure and temperature on the flow properties of the materials intended for Powder Injection Moulding (PIM) technology was studied using a single-piston capillary rheometer modified by additional backpressure chamber. The influence of pressure and temperature on shear viscosity has been quantified through pressure and temperature sensitivity coefficients derived from Carreau-Yasuda model. The temperature sensitivity of the 50 vol.% compound based on cemented carbide powder is lower than that of pure polymeric binder, and it varies only slightly with pressure. In contrast, the pressure sensitivity of compounds was found to be higher than that of pure polyolefin binder, and it is decreasing function of temperature. In addition, it is shown that temperature sensitivity of binder, which is considerably enhanced by pressure (in contrast to the PIM demands), cannot be determined as being equal to the properties of particular binder components.     

A high-vacuum multichamber tester for specimens and materials

Conclusion Working principles are described for a high-vacuum multichamber tester that provides four simultaneously operating vacuum chambers in which various thermal operations can be performed: annealing, life test with thermal stabilization, thermal cycling, effects of temperature and residual gases on the corrosion and physical properties of constructional materials, etc. Ongoing observations can be made on the specimen resistance. A feature is that there is a buffer vessel, i.e., a source of high oil-free vacuum, which enables one to maintain a different pressure in each of the chambers with a single pumping system.Translated from Fiziko-Khimicheskaya Mekhanika Materialov, Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 125–127, July–August, 1991.     

Copolymers of aniline and o‐methoxyaniline: Synthesis and characterization

High‐conversion (HC) copolymers of aniline and o‐methoxyaniline (o‐anizidine) were synthesized for the first time by chemical oxidative copolymerization by using various polymerization techniques (simultaneous or consecutive introduction of comonomers into the polymerizing system). Low‐conversion (LC) copolymers have also been synthesized for comparison. The polymers obtained were characterized by using ¹H‐NMR, infrared, and electronic absorption spectroscopy; differential scanning calorimetry; and electrical conductivity measurements. Solubility characteristics and composition of different fractions of the copolymers were also determined. It was shown that, in contrast to the LC copolymers, HC copolymers reveal relatively poor solubility. Electrical conductivity of copolymers and also of o‐methoxyaniline homopolymer is lower as compared to polyaniline, which correlates with notable hypsochromic (blue) shift of the bands in electronic absorption spectra. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 1822–1828, 2005