An environment-friendly technology for ceramic materials based on the recovery of industrial wastes

A range of ceramic materials with low sintering temperature have been developed using ceramic and glass wastes (up to 70%). Properties of the newly synthesized materials are given, and areas of application and fabrication methods are discussed.__________Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 10, pp. 39 – 41, October, 2004.     

Surface morphology effects of post-implantation annealing in thin amorphous films of the As-Se system

The effects of ion implantation and subsequent annealing on the surface morphology of thin amorphous chalcogenide films of the As-Se system have been studied. Ion implantation of nitrogen (N⁺) with an energy E=100 keV and high doses (typically D=1.10¹⁶ cm⁻²) has been carried out at room temperature. Subsequent thermal annealing treatments near the melting temperature (T_g∼160°C) have been performed leading to changes in the thin-film morphology, which are dependent on the As content and are best expressed for the As₃Se₂ films. Optical microscope photographs reveal details of the rippled surface exhibiting quasi-regular domain-like structure. The parameter λ, describing it, is dependent on the film thickness and grows with its increase. Thermal annealing near T_g also influences the diffuse optical reflectivity—it increases considerably while the interference features tend to disappear with the appearance of the rippled film surface structure and the effect is again greater for the thicker films.     

Effect of brighteners on hydrogen evolution during zinc electroplating from zincate electrolytes

Hydrogen evolution during zinc electrodeposition on a steel substrate from zincate electrolytes containing different additives was studied using various experimental techniques.The hydrogen evolution reaction is limited by the electron transfer step. Hydrogen evolution is most intensive during the first seconds from the beginning of electrodeposition due to the lower overpotential of hydrogen on steel as compared with that on zinc. The evolved hydrogen is dissipated in three ways. Most is dissipated to the atmosphere via gas bubbles at a constant rate. Some is dispersed in the electrolyte some diffuses into the steel substrate, predominantly at the commencement of deposition. The additives affect both the total amount of evolved hydrogen and its distribution. The highest amount of hydrogen is evolved in the presence of the anisaldehyde bisulphite containing composite additive. The highest amount of hydrogen included in the substrate and remaining in the electrolyte corresponds to the use of the Na–N-benzylnicotinate containing additive. In this case blistering is observed.     

Development of the technology for preparing and storing hydrogen with the use of nanostructured materials for an autonomous integrated wind power plant

This paper reports on the results of investigations into the design of an operating prototype of the power plant for the production and accumulation of hydrogen. The objective of this work is to develop technologies of intermediate storage of hydrogen with subsequent generation of an electric power due to the electrochemical processes occurring in fuel cells with an efficiency of no lower than 90%. The power plant is based on the wind power plant, which operates using an integrated software-hardware system for control over the power regime of the entire technological process. New membrane and catalytic materials prepared by the solgel method are used as functional components of fuel cells.     

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of selected microalgae and cyanobacteria

In vitro activity of nine cyanobacterial and ten microalgal newly isolated or culture collection strains against eight significant food‐borne pathogens has been evaluated and compared. Water extracts and culture liquids of Gloeocapsa sp. and Synechocystis sp. demonstrated the widest spectrum of activity with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 1.56 to 12.5 mg mL^?1. Culture liquid of Anabaena sp. had the highest activity (MIC = 0.39 mg mL^?1) but only to Gram‐positive bacteria. Ethanol extracts and fatty acids from all cyanobacteria and microalgae were active against Streptococcus pyogenes and/or Staphylococcus aureus. The fatty acids of Synechocystis sp. inhibited the growth of Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans (MIC values of 2.5–1.25 mg mL^?1, respectively). Exopolysaccharides (EPS) of Gloeocapsa sp. were the sample that exhibited activity against all test pathogens with lowest MIC values (0.125–1 mg mL^?1). High activity with a narrower range of susceptible targets demonstrated the exopolysaccharides of Synechocystis sp. and Rhodella reticulata. Antimicrobial activity was proven for phycobiliproteins isolated from Synechocystis sp., Arthrospira fusiformis, Porphyridium aerugineum and Porphyridium cruentum, respectively. In conclusion Gloeocapsa sp. and Synechocystis sp. and especially their exopolysaccharides showed the most promising potential against the examined food pathogens.     

Effect of hydroxylamine hydrochloride on the bacterium Shigella dysenteriae 1 and antigens isolated from them

A study was made into the functional status of hypophysis, adrenal cortex, ovaries, and thyroid gland in patients with kraurosis and leukoplakia vulvae. The above patients demonstrated profound disturbances in the system hypophysis-ovaries, that attest to the need for applying corrective therapies to treat the disturbed hormonal homeostasis.