Electrochemical investigation of the iron-containing and no iron-containing AB5-type negative electrodes

The electrochemical behaviour of LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.75−xFe_x (x = 0, 0.15, 0.55, 0.75) intermetallic compounds has been studied and presented [C. Khaldi, H. Mathlouthi, J. Lamloumi, A. Percheron-Guégan, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 29 (2004) 307–311; C. Khaldi, H. Mathlouthi, J. Lamloumi, A. Percheron-Guégan, J. Alloys Compd. 360 (2003) 266–271; C. Khaldi, H. Mathlouthi, J. Lamloumi, A. Percheron-Guégan, J. Alloys Compd. 384 (2004) 249–253]. It has been deduced that the LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.4Fe_0.35 compound has interesting electrochemical properties. In this paper we present the electrochemical study of LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.4Fe_0.35 compound properties compared with the parent LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.75 compound. Several techniques, such as, the chronopotentiometry, the constant potential discharge (CPD), the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and the linear polarization (LP) were applied to characterize these electrochemical properties. The electrochemical discharge capacity of the LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.75 alloy increases to reach 294 mAh g⁻¹ after few cycles only (five cycles). However, the activation of the LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.4Fe_0.35 alloy takes more than 20 cycles to be achieved and the obtained maximum discharge capacity is 194 mAh g⁻¹. The hydrogen diffusion coefficient D_H was determined by constant potential discharge and cyclic voltammetry techniques. The obtained values of the LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.75 and LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.4Fe_0.35 compounds are 6.29 × 10⁻¹¹ and 7.62 × 10⁻¹¹, and 2 × 10⁻⁸ and 7.5 × 10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹ by CPD and CV techniques, respectively. The exchange current density values, determined by a linear polarization technique, are 44 and 27 mA g⁻¹, respectively, for LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.75 and LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.4Fe_0.35 alloys.     

Unexploited Thapsia garganica,Orlaya maritima,and Retama raetam Seeds: Potential Sources of Unsaturated Fatty Acid and Natural Antioxidants

Total lipid contents, fatty acid compositions, phenolic profiles and antioxidants activities of seeds from Thapsia garganica, Orlaya maritima, and Retama raetam were investigated. The oil values were more than 26 %, except seeds of R. raetam (ca. 3 %). Unsaturated fatty acids accounted for the majority of the fatty acids (more than 75 %). Oleic and linoleic acid were the predominant fatty acids. Total phenolic compounds (24–104 mg GAE g^?1 DR), total flavonoids (4–102 mg QE g^?1g DR), total tannins (28–85 mg GAE g^?1 DR) and condensed tannins (0.62–131 mg CE g^?1 DR) were also determined. The antioxidant activities using different assays were evaluated. The predominant detected classes were the phenolic acids (42–85 %) and the flavonoids (11–48 %). The major phenolic acids were caffeic, trans‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxycinnamic, p‐coumaric, and gallic acid. The predominant flavonoids were quercetin, luteolin, naringin, apigenin, and kaempferol. This study brings attention to the medicinal importance of these species as a source of oil and antioxidant molecules.     

Electrochemical properties of the LaNi3.55Mn0.4Al0.3Co0.4Fe0.35 hydrogen storage alloy

The electrochemical properties of LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.4Fe_0.35 hydrogen storage alloy have been studied through chronopotentiometric, chronoamperometric and cyclic voltammogram measurements. The maximum capacity value obtained was 265 mAh g⁻¹ at rate C/6 and the capacity decrease was recorded by 1.5% after 30 cycles. The values of the hydrogen diffusion coefficient D_H obtained through cyclic volammogram and chronoamperometric techniques were, respectively, 7.01 × 10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹ and 4.23 × 10⁻¹¹ cm² s⁻¹.     

Microbiological characterization of winery effluents: an inventory of the sites for different treatment systems.

In a more and more regulated and socially pressured environment, the durable management of winery effluents must take into account their characteristics and their potential impact on their natural setting. The object of this exploratory study is to establish an inventory of the microbiological composition of winery effluents coming from different treatment systems. We have observed that winery effluents are charged with micro-organisms, by a factor that ranges from 10(5) to 10(8) UFC/ml, and that the level of "microbiological pollution" is independent of the type of system. The composition of the flora is closely tied to the time of year and therefore to winery activities, so certain micro-organisms will be favoured in certain periods and others will have a tendency to decrease. We have seen that from one year to another our observations remain identical; the flora equilibrium therefore occurs systematically and naturally. Faecal germs are found in very small quantities in winery effluent treatment systems. They represent minor sanitary risks. Good correlations were observed between some micro-organisms and some physical-chemical parameters (COD). It is, however, difficult to use these "easy-to-measure" parameters as reliable markers of certain microbial populations.     

Control of methane flame properties by hydrogen fuel addition: Application to power plant combustion chamber

This study presents a numerical investigation of the effects of mixing methane/hydrogen on turbulent combustion processes taking place in a burner similar to that integrated in gas turbine power plants. Thereby, in comparison to the reference case where the burner is fuelled by 100% of methane, the variations of the axial velocity field, temperature field and mass fraction of carbon monoxide field are examined for different percentages of hydrogen fuel injection. The computed results, obtained by using the software Fluent-CFD, are compared and validated against experimental reference data. Results show that the hydrogen addition to the methane has an impact on all physical and chemical parameters of the reactive system.     

Temperature and liquid crystal concentration effect on thermal conductivity of poly(styrene) dispersed 5CB liquid crystal

In the present work, we study the thermal behavior of Polymer (Polystyrene) dispersed (4‐cyano‐4′‐pentylbiphenyl) 5CB liquid crystal film composite. A photopyroelectric device was used to study thermal conductivity at homeotropic and planar aligned of 4‐cyano‐4′‐pentylbiphenyl (5CB) liquid crystal. Thermal conductivity of polystyrene (PS) has been determined and calculated from experimental applied data reported in the literature. Thermal conductivity characteristics of the PDLC films were investigated with three prediction models as a function of both temperature and liquid crystal concentration in the polymer matrix. We particularly show the behavior of this thermal conductivity in the ON and OFF state. It was found that the difference in the film thermal conductivity ranges between 3 and 21%, depending on the ON and OFF state and the liquid crystal volume concentration. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 481–486, 2003     

Zinc-Blende MnTe Under Pressure: Structural,Mechanical, and Optical Properties from Ab Initio Calculation

We present first-principles studies of structural, mechanical, and optical properties of zinc blende MnTe using the pseudopotential plane-wave method within the local density approximation. The effect of hydrostatic pressure on investigated properties has been examined and discussed. At zero pressure, our results are found to agree reasonably well with those reported in the literature. The generalized elastic stability criteria showed that the material of interest is mechanically stable in all the studied pressure ranges. Applied pressure is found to shift all optical spectra under consideration, giving new optical parameters.     

The effect of the discharge rate on the electrochemical properties of AB3-type hydrogen storage alloy as anode in nickel–metal hydride batteries

In this work, the ternary CeY₂Ni₉ alloy was prepared and served as anode materials in the Ni–MH battery system. The effect of the discharge rate on the electrochemical proprieties of CeY₂Ni₉, such as activation capability, polarization, discharge capacities, hydrogen atomic diffusion capability and redox parameters, were also investigated systematically during activation and long cycling. Charge–discharge measurement showed that this alloy is characterized by fast activation and requires only three cycles to be activated regardless of the discharge rate, the maximum discharge capacity was obtained for the medium discharge rate (C/10). An important correlation was observed between the evolution of the electrochemical parameters and that of the kinetic parameters, such as the hydrogen atomic diffusion capability and the exchange current density.The total substitution of La by Ce in LaY₂Ni₉ parent alloy enhanced its activation, polarization and stability despite the decrease of its discharge capacities, especially at high rates.     

About the influence of temperature and environmental relative humidity on the longitudinal and transverse mechanical properties of elementary alfa fibers

Composites reinforced with plant-based fibers present a high potential for valorization in new industrial applications due to their good specific mechanical characteristics, renewability, and recyclability. In order to accelerate their wide industry adoption, it is critical to assess their behavior and durability in heat and humid environments. This article aims at investigating the effects of temperature and relative humidity (RH) on the longitudinal and transverse mechanical properties of the lignocellulosic fibers extracted from alfa plant (Stipa tenacissima L). For this purpose, tensile and nanoindentation tests were performed on elementary alfa fibers subjected to a thermal cycle of 200°C. The fibers were held at various periods of 15, 30, 60 and 120 min. The test results showed that the longitudinal and transverse Young's moduli are moderately affected by short thermal cycles having duration of 15–30 min. However, for longer thermal cycle (i.e., 2 hr), a degradation of 21% for the transverse modulus was recorded. This degradation doubled for the longitudinal modulus (43 vs. 21%). A similar trend was observed for the breaking strength. This study also showed that the RH strongly affects the mechanical performances of alfa fibers.     

On the similarity between gravity and magneto-gravity convection within a non-electroconducting fluid in a differentially heated rectangular cavity

The magneto-gravity convection induced by a vertical magnetic field gradient applied to a non-electroconducting paramagnetic liquid in a differentially heated rectangular cavity is investigated numerically and experimentally. Due to the magnetic susceptibility temperature dependence of the fluid, the magnetic body force drives a thermoconvective motion in the cavity. Depending on the sign of the magnetic gradient, the vertical magnetic force in the liquid can be parallel or antiparallel to gravity. Hence, buoyancy convection in the cavity results of the combination of the vertical magnetic force and of gravity.Expressed in terms of Nu versus Ra, the experimental and numerical results are compared to the correlation obtained by Catton without magnetic field. Agreement between the two curves clearly points out the similarity between gravity induced convection and magneto-gravity convection.