Application of Mossbauer spectroscopy to the study of corrosion resistance in NaCl solution of plasma nitrided AISI 316L stainless steel

Corrosion research in steels is one of the areas in which Mossbauer spectroscopy has become a required analytical technique, since it is a powerful tool for both identifying and quantifying distinctive phases (which contain Fe) with accuracy. In this manuscript, this technique was used to the study of corrosion resistance of plasma nitrided AISI 316L samples in the presence of chloride anions. Plasma nitriding has been carried out using dc glow-discharge, nitriding treatments, in medium of 80 vol.% H-2 and 20 vol.% N-2, at 673 K, and at different time intervals: 2, 4, and 7 h. Treated samples were characterized by means of phase composition and morphological analysis, and electrochemical tests in NaCl aerated solution in order to investigate the influence of treatment time on the microstructure and the corrosion resistance, proved by conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy (CEMS), glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and potentiodynamic polarization. A modified layer of about 8 gin was observed for all the nitrided samples, independently of the nitriding time. A metastable phase, S phase or gamma(N), was produced. It seems to be correlated with gamma`-Fe-4 N phase. If the gamma(N) fraction decreases, the gamma` fraction increases. The gamma(N) magnetic nature was analyzed. When the nitriding time increases, the results indicate that there is a significant reduction in the relative fraction of the magnetic gamma(N) (in) phase. In contrast, the paramagnetic gamma(N) (p) phase increases. The GAXRD analysis confirms the Mossbauer results, and it also indicates CrN traces for the sample nitrided for 7 h. Corrosion results demonstrate that time in the plasma nitriding treatment plays an important role for the corrosion resistance. The sample treated for 4 h showed the best result of corrosion resistance. It seems that the epsilon/gamma` fraction ratio plays an important role in thin corrosion resistance since this sample shows the maximum value for this ratio. (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Cannabinoid CB1 receptor mediates glucocorticoid effects on hormone secretion induced by volume and osmotic changes

1. The present study provides the first in vivo evidence that the cannabinoid CB1 receptor mediates the effects of dexamethasone on hormone release induced by changes in circulating volume and osmolality. Male adult rats were administered with the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant (10 mg/Kg, p.o.), followed or not in 1 hour by dexamethasone (1 mg/Kg, i.p.). Extracellular volume expansion (EVE, 2 mL/100 g of body weight, i.v.) was performed 2 hours after dexamethasone or vehicle treatment using either isotonic (I-EVE, 0.15 mol/L) or hypertonic (H-EVE, 0.30 mol/L) NaCl solution. Five minutes after EVE, animals were decapitated and trunk blood was collected for all plasma measurements. 2. Rimonabant potentiated oxytocin (OT) secretion induced by H-EVE and completely reversed the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone in response to the same stimulus. These data suggest that glucocorticoid modulation of OT release is mediated by the CB1 receptor. 3. Although dexamethasone did not affect vasopressin (AVP) secretion induced by H-EVE, the administration of rimonabant potentiated AVP release in response to the same stimulus, supporting the hypothesis that the CB1 receptor regulates AVP secretion independently of glucocorticoid-mediated signalling. 4. Dexamethasone alone did not affect atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release stimulated by I-EVE or H-EVE. However, pretreatment with rimonabant potentiated ANP secretion induced by H-EVE, suggesting a possible role for the CB1 receptor in the control of peripheral factors that modulate cardiovascular function. 5. Rimonabant also reversed the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone on H-EVE-induced corticosterone secretion, reinforcing the hypothesis that the CB1 receptor may be involved in the negative feedback exerted by glucocorticoids on the activity of the hypothalamicpituitaryadrenal axis. 6. Collectively, the results of the present study indicate that the CB1 receptor modulates neurohypophyseal hormone secretion and systemic factors, such as corticosterone and ANP, thus participating in homeostatic responses to altered extracellular volume and plasma tonicity.

Layer-by-Layer assembled cobalt ferrite nanoparticles for chemical sensing

Ultra-thin (thicknesses of 50-90 nm) nanocomposite films of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (np-CoFe2O4, 18 nm in diameter) and polyelectrolytes (doped polyaniline-PANI, poly-3,4-ethylenedioxy thiophene: polystyrene sulfonic acid-PEDOT:PSS, and sulfonated lignin-SL) are assembled layer-by-layer onto interdigitated microelectrodes aiming at to create novel nanostructured sensoactive materials for liquid media chemical sensors. The nanocomposites display a distinctive globular morphology with nanoparticles densely-packed while surrounded by polyelectrolytes. Due to the presence of np-CoFe2O4 the nanocomposites display low electrical conductivity according to impedance data. On the other hand, this apparent shortcoming turns such nanocomposites much more sensitive to the presence of ions in solution than films made exclusively of conducting polyelectrolytes. For example, the electrical resistance of np-CoFe2O4/PEDOT:PSS and PANI/SL/np-CoFe2O4/SL architectures has a 10-fold decrease when they are immersed in 20 mmol. L-1 NaCl solution. Impedance spectra fitted with the response of an equivalent circuit model suggest that the interface created between nanoparticles and polyelectrolytes plays a major role on the nanocomposites electrical/dielectrical behavior. Since charge transport is sensitive to nanoparticle-polyelectrolyte interfaces as well as to the physicochemical conditions of the environment, the np-CoFe2O4-based nanocomposites can be used as sensing elements in chemical sensors operated under ac regime and room temperature.

Unexpected toxicity decrease during photoelectrochemical degradation of atrazine with NaCl

This report shows an unexpected toxicity decrease during atrazine photoelectrodegradation in the presence of NaCl. Atrazine is a pesticide classified as endocrine disruptor occurring in industrial effluents and agricultural wastewaters. We therefore studied the effects of the degradation method, electrochemical and electrochemical photo-assisted, and of the supporting electrolyte, NaCl and Na2SO4, on the residual toxicity of treated atrazine solutions. We also studied the toxicity of treated atrazine solutions using Results show that at initial concentration of 20 mg L-1, atrazine was completely removed in up to 30 min using 10 mA cm(-2) electrolysis in NaCl medium, regardless of the electrochemical method used. The total organic carbon removal by the photo-assisted method was 82% with NaCl and 95% with Na2SO4. The solution toxicity increased during sole electrochemical treatment in NaCl, as expected. However, the toxicity unexpectedly decreased using the photo-assisted method. This finding is a major discovery because electrochemical treatment with NaCl usually leads to the formation of toxic chlorine-containing organic degradation by-products.