Formation of nano-crystalline corrosion products on Zn-Al alloy coating exposed to seawater

Hot dip Zn-Al alloy coating performs better than hot dip galvanized coating and 55% Al-Zn-Si coating as well with regard to general seawater corrosion protection. A characterization of the corrosion products on Zn-Al alloy coating immersed in dynamic aerated seawater has been performed mainly based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for morphological analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique for crystalline phase identification. The XRD and TEM analyses showed that the corrosion products mainly were typical nanometer Zn4CO3(OH)(6).H2O, Zn-5(OH)(8)Cl-2 and Zn6Al2CO3(OH)(16). 4H(2)O microcrystals. This probably is connected to the co-precipitation of Zn2+ and Al3+ ions caused by adsorption. Zn-Al alloy coating being suffered seawater attacks, AI(OH)(3) gel was first produced on the coating surface. Zn and Al hydroxides would co-precipitate and form double-hydroxide when the concentration of adsorbed Zn2+ ions by the newly produced gel exceeded the critical degree of supersaturation of the interphase nucleation. However, because the growth of the crystals was too low to keep in step with the nucleation, a layer of nano-crystalline corrosion products were produced on the surface of the coating finally. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

中国北方中新世风尘物质来源及古气候的地球化学指示

The most prominent tectonic and environmental events during the Cenozoic in Asia are the uplift of the Himalaya-Tibetan plateau, aridification in the Asian interior, and onset of the Asian monsoons. These caused more humid conditions in southeastern China and the formation of inland deserts in northwestern China. The 22 Ma eolian deposits in northern China provide an excellent terrestrial record relative to the above environmental events. Up to date, many studies have focused on the geochemical characters of the late Mio-Pleistocene eolian deposits, however, the geochemical characteristics of the Miocene loess and soils is still much less known. In this study, the elemental and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of the eolian deposits from the Qinan (from 22.0 to 6.2 Ma) and the Xifeng (from 3.5 Ma until now) loess-soil sections were analyzed to examine the grain size effects on the element concentrations and the implications about the dust origin and climate. The main results are as follows: 1. The contents of Si, Na, Zr and Sr are higher in the coarser fractions while Ti and Nb have the highest contents in the 2-8 μm fractions. Al, Fe, Mg, K, Mn, Rb, Cu, Ga, Zn, V, Cr, Ni, LOI have clear relationships with grain-size, more abundant in the fine fraction while non significant relationship is observed for Y. Based on these features, we suggest that K2O/Al2O3 ratio can be used to address the dust provenance, and that VR (Vogt ratio = (Al2O3+K2O)/(MgO+CaO+Na2O)) can be used as a chemical weathering proxy for the Miocene eolian deposits because of their relative independence on the grain size. Meanwhile, SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio is a best geochemical indicator of original eolian grain size, as suggested in earlier studies. 2. Analyses on the Sr and Nd isotope composition of the last glacial loess samples (L1) and comparison with the data from the deserts in northern China suggest that that Taklimakan desert is unlikely to be the main source region of the eolian dust. In contrast, these data suggest greater contributions of the Tengger, Badain Jaran and Qaidam deserts to the eolian dust during the last glacial cycle. Since the geochemical compositions (major, trace, REE and Sr, Nd isotope) of loess samples for the past 22 Ma are broadly similar with the samples from L1, these data trend to suggest relatively stable and insignificant changes of dust sources over the past 22 Ma. 3. Chemical weathering is stronger for Miocene paleosol samples than for the Plio-Pleistocene ones, showing warmer/more humid climatic conditions with a stronger summer monsoon in the Miocene. However, chemical weathering is typical of Ca-Na removal stage, suggesting a climate range from semiarid to subhumid conditions. These support the notion about the formation of a semi-arid to semi-humid monsoonal regime by the early Miocene, as is consistent with earlier studies.

贵州喀斯特山区植物营养元素含量特征

贵州喀斯特山区是我国乃至世界喀斯特分布面积最大的片区之一，由于其生态系统的脆弱性，加之人类活动的干扰，使得该区的植被退化较为严重。文章选择该区的12 种主要植物作为研究对象，对其营养元素进行了研究。结果表明：>1 000μg·g-1 的元素有N、P、K、Ca、Mg、S，100~1 000 μg·g-1 的元素有Fe、Mn、Al，10~100 μg·g-1 的元素有Zn、Sr，<10 μg·g-1的元素为Cu、Mo，其中Mo 含量最低，仅为0.17 μg·g-1。这些元素中，Ca、P、K 元素高于所报道的陆生植物的含量范围。元素含量特点是Ca>K>Mg 型。N、P、K、Mg 元素的频数分布为正态分布，Ca、Al、Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn、Sr、S 元素为对数正态分布。变异系数大于100%的元素有Al、Fe、Mn、Sr，变异系数小于60%的元素有N、P、K、Ca、Mg、S、Cu，其中Ca 的变异系数最小，仅为11.8%。不同生境下相同植物的营养元素含量有较大的差异，石灰土上植物的N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Al、Cu、Mo 元素含量要高于黄壤上植物的。元素间的相关分析表明：P 和K、P 和Cu、Al 和Fe、Al 和Zn、Fe 和Zn 元素具有显著相关关系；N 和P、P 和Mg、K 和Al、K 和Cu、Ca 和Sr、S 和Mo 元素具有一般相关关系。

贵州喀斯特山区植物营养元素和碳、氮、硫同位素组成研究--以贵阳花溪杨中流域为例

喀斯特的面积分布很广，占全球总面积的10%。我国喀斯特面积占国土面积的13%，主要集中在我国的南方。而贵州喀斯特山区位于西南喀斯特地貌最集中成片分布的中心区，是我国乃至世界热带、亚热带喀斯特地貌连续分布面积最大、发育最强烈的高原山区。和非喀斯特地区相比，贵州喀斯特山区由于碳酸盐岩的特殊理化特性，造成土层浅薄、土被不连续、岩石裸露率高、持水量低，适生树种少、群落结构单一、植被生长极其缓慢，生态环境十分的脆弱。加之人类不合理的活动，使得喀斯特山区植被退化非常严重。因此，开展贵州喀斯特山区植物的营养元素和碳、氮、硫同位素的研究是为了更好的了解该区植被的营养元素状况、生理生态特性以及营养元素的生物地球化学循环，更好地为该区森林、植被的治理、恢复以及生态系统的保护等提供决策依据。本研究选择典型喀斯特山区作为研究点，并以非喀斯特山区为对照。研究喀斯特山区植物的营养元素含量水平、分布状态、变异特征以及营养元素之间的相互关系和碳、氮、硫的同位素组成的种间差异、生境差异特征以及时空变化特征进行了研究。主要得到以下几点认识： 1、植物的N、P、K、Ca、Mg、S的平均含量大于1000 μg∙g-1； Fe、Mn、Al的平均含量在100 μg∙g¬-1～1000 μg∙g¬-1之间；Zn、Sr的平均含量为10 μg∙g¬-1～100 μg∙g¬-1之间；Cu和Mo的含量小于10 μg∙g¬-1，Mo最低(仅为0.17 μg∙g¬-1)。Ca、P、K、 Fe、Mn、S、Sr高于所报道的陆生植物元素的含量；Mg低于陆生植物的元素含量；其它元素在元素含量范围内。植物营养元素的特点为Ca>K>Mg型，和我国其它地区相比，喀斯特山区植被具有高钙的特征。 2、N、P、K、Mg为正态分布；Ca、Al、Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn、Sr、Mo、S为对数正态分布。Al、Fe、Mn、Sr的变异系数大于100%；N、P、K、Ca、Mg、S、Cu的变异系数小于60%。其中，Ca的变异系数最小(为11.8%)。P和K、P和Cu、Al和Fe、Al和Zn、Fe和Zn之间具有极显著的相关关系；N和P、P和Mg、K和Al、K和Cu、Ca和Sr、S和Mo之间具有显著的相关关系。 3、不同的生境下植物营养元素存在差异，差异在2倍范围内。其中，Mn、Al、Sr元素差异较大，分别达到2.1、1.5、1.4倍。 4、植物δ13C、δ15N、δ34S值的分布范围分别为-26.98‰～-29.15‰、-4.08‰～-0.79‰、-8.69‰～-6.04‰；平均值分别为-28.14‰、-2.41‰、-7.53‰。δ13C除了高于我国热带雨林区植物外，均低于其它地区，且变化范围较窄；不同地区之间植物的δ15N、δ34S值存在较大差异。 5、不同植物种之间的δ13C、δ15N、δ34S值存在较大的差异，不同生境条件下植物的δ13C、δ15N、δ34S值也存在差异。植物的δ13C值从生长初期到末期有降低的趋势；δ15N、δ34S则无一定的变化规律，不同的植物种的季节变化不同。植物的δ13C、δ34S随海拔的升高而增大，但δ15N随海拔的升高而降低。

中国一些河流离子组分初步研究

　　研究人类活动、全球变化对河流水质、离子化学特征及分布的影响具有重要意义。河流离子化学组成可以反映水系的区域岩性，物理化学风化特征。而对于控制河流离子化学自然因素的研究则有助于判别人类活动如农业灌溉施肥、矿山开采、工业生产等对河流的影响。同时，河流组分如NO3-、SO42-、As、Cd等的组成特征可以反映人类活动污染物输入程度。因此，河流水化学特征可以从一定程度上反映人类活动对水环境的影响。同时，研究河水离子化学特征及其分布规律也可以获得化学元素的生物地球化学循环、风化侵蚀及其在陆地—河流—海洋系统循环过程中的重要信息。此外，还有助于评价不同经济因素如人口密度等对河流离子的影响；有助于合理有效的利用河水的自净容量和环境效应，保护水资源；为水资源的开发利用、污染控制提供科学依据。 　　本文以中国南北方代表性流域—西江流域、长江中游（主要为汉水和乌江水系）、淮河上游及黄河下游流域河水为研究对象，通过对河水主要及微量金属离子的考察，结合基本水质理化参数，初步研究了我国南北方一些河流的离子化学特征及影响因素。通过此次研究，得出以下几点认识： 　　1. 西江流域河流pH均值为7.40，长江中游为8.11，黄河下游为8.34，淮河上游为7.95。西江流域河流DO含量均值为7.51 mg/l，低于黄河下游干流的8.27 mg/l；黄河下游支流DO含量显著低于干流。西江流域TDS经向分异显著，随经度增加逐渐降低。西江流域TDS平均值为152.78 mg/l，低于长江、黄河水系。 　　2. 西江流域、长江中游、淮河上游及黄河下游阴离子均以HCO3-平为主，各水系阴离子平均含量顺序均为HCO3- > SO42 -> Cl- > NO3-。研究区域水系中HCO3-平均含量以淮河上游为最高，西江流域最低；SO42 -、Cl-及NO3-平均含量则以黄河下游为最高，长江中游最低。研究区域水系阳离子均以Ca2+为主，西江流域及长江中游阳离子平均含量顺序为Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+，而淮河上游、黄河下游阳离子平均含量顺序则为Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+。 　　从长江中游到淮河上游、黄河下游，区域岩石风化是控制离子组成的主要因素，但蒸发结晶因素的贡献逐渐加强。其中，介于长江和黄河流域之间的淮河上游水系离子组成的过渡特征显著。研究区域水系中NO3-主要源于污染物排放，黄河干流污染较西江干流污染重。 　　3. 西江流域河流溶解态微量金属平均含量Zn>Cr>Cu>As>Al>Pb>Cd，其中Zn平均含量为37.72μg/l，Cd平均含量则仅为0.24μg/l。长江中游溶解态微量金属平均含量Zn>Cr>Pb>As>Cu=Al>Cd。淮河上游溶解态微量金属平均含量Zn>Cr>As>Pb>Al>Cu>Cd。黄河下游溶解态微量金属平均含量Zn>Cr>Cu>As >Al>Pb>Cd。研究区域河流中，西江流域溶解态Cu、Cr的平均含量分别为6.12μg/l和7.61μg/l，高于长江中游、淮河上游及黄河下游。长江中游溶解态Pb和Cd平均含量则高于西江流域、淮河上游及黄河下游。而研究区域中，黄河下游溶解态Al含量最高，达12.7 μg/l，淮河流域则体现出了Zn和Al的高含量特征。 　　化学风化过程在一定程度上导致了水体与风化壳之间不同化学元素的分异，使河水中溶解态Al和As相对于其它微量金属元素强烈富集，而Pb、Zn、Cu及Cr则相对亏损。河流溶解态As和Al除来源于矿物岩石风化外，也受外源输入—人类活动的影响。 　　4. 自然条件的区域差异是形成河流离子化学分异的主要因素，但人类活动对其影响逐步加深。工农业污染物输入在一定程度上改变了天然河流的离子化学组成，使河流组分NO3-、SO42-、As、Al等呈现富集趋势。化学元素在河流这一循环过程中间体中的地球化学行为越来越多地受人类活动影响。

Programa de análise de qualidade de laboratórios de fertilidade (PAQLF) que usam o método Embrapa: desempenho dos participantes em 2000.

No ano de 2000, o desempenho dos laboratorios participantes do Programa de Analise de Qualidade de Laboratorios de Fertilidade (PAQLF) foi avaliado atraves dos resultados analiticos de 8 amostras de terra. Os participantes analisaram, obrigatoriamente, P e K (Mehlich-1); ph (agua; Ca, Mg e Al (KCl); H+Al (acetato de Ca ou SMP); e, facultativamente, materia organica (colorimetrico ou Walkey-Black) e os micronutrientes B (agua quente), Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn (Mehlich-1). Os resultados foram avaliados quanto a exatidao (acerto) e precisao (repeticao) e, entao, se calculou o Indice de Excelencia, atribuindo-se conceitos. Dos 79 laboratorios avaliados, 63% apresentaram conceitos A ou B ( 10 destes obtiveram conceito A), sendo habilitados ao uso do selo de qualidade. Foram apresentados os coeficientes de variacao dos parametros analisados e os resultados discrepantes das 8 amostras, no ano, pelos 79 participantes. De modo geral, os parametros que apresentaram resultados mais variaveis foram P, Al, Ca, Mg e K. Materia organica e A+Al foram intermediarios e as menores variacoes foram observadas para pH. Para os micronutrientes, as menores variacoes ocorrem nas determinacoes de Zn.

Four-decade responses of soil trace elements to an aggrading old-field forest: B, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Fe.

In the ancient and acidic Ultisol soils of the Southern Piedmont, USA, we studied changes in trace element biogeochemistry over four decades, a period during which formerly cultivated cotton fields were planted with pine seedlings that grew into mature forest stands. In 16 permanent plots, we estimated 40-year accumulations of trace elements in forest biomass and O horizons (between 1957 and 1997), and changes in bioavailable soil fractions indexed by extractions of 0.05 mol/L HCl and 0.2 mol/L acid ammonium oxalate (AAO). Element accumulations in 40-year tree biomass plus O horizons totaled 0.9, 2.9, 4.8, 49.6, and 501.3 kg/ha for Cu, B, Zn, Mn, and Fe, respectively. In response to this forest development, samples of the upper 0.6-m of mineral soil archived in 1962 and 1997 followed one of three patterns. (1) Extractable B and Mn were significantly depleted, by -4.1 and -57.7 kg/ha with AAO, depletions comparable to accumulations in biomass plus O horizons, 2.9 and 49.6 kg/ha, respectively. Tree uptake of B and Mn from mineral soil greatly outpaced resupplies from atmospheric deposition, mineral weathering, and deep-root uptake. (2) Extractable Zn and Cu changed little during forest growth, indicating that nutrient resupplies kept pace with accumulations by the aggrading forest. (3) Oxalate-extractable Fe increased substantially during forest growth, by 275.8 kg/ha, about 10-fold more than accumulations in tree biomass (28.7 kg/ha). The large increases in AAO-extractable Fe in surficial 0.35-m mineral soils were accompanied by substantial accretions of Fe in the forest's O horizon, by 473 kg/ha, amounts that dwarfed inputs via litterfall and canopy throughfall, indicating that forest Fe cycling is qualitatively different from that of other macro- and micronutrients. Bioturbation of surficial forest soil layers cannot account for these fractions and transformations of Fe, and we hypothesize that the secondary forest's large inputs of organic additions over four decades has fundamentally altered soil Fe oxides, potentially altering the bioavailability and retention of macro- and micronutrients, contaminants, and organic matter itself. The wide range of responses among the ecosystem's trace elements illustrates the great dynamics of the soil system over time scales of decades.

Biosorption of toxic chromium from aqueous phase by lignin: mechanism, effect of other metal ions and salts

Surface reaction methodology was implicated in the optimization of hexavalent chromium removal onto lignin with respect to the process parameters. The influence of altering the conditions for removal of chromium(VI), for instance; solution pH, ionic strength, initial concentration, the dose of biosorbent, presence of other metals (Zn and Cu), presence of salts and biosorption-desorption studies, were investigated. It was found that the biosorption capacity of lignin depends on solution pH, with a maximum biosorption capacity for chromium at pH 2. Experimental equilibrium data were fitted to five different isotherm models by non-linear regression method, however, the biosorption equilibrium data were well interpreted by the Freundlich isotherm. The maximum biosorption capacities (q(max)) obtained using Dubinin-Radushkevich and Khan isotherms for Cr(VI) biosorption are 31.6 and 29.1 mg/g. respectively. Biosorption showed pseudo second order rate kinetics at different initial concentrations of Cr(VI). The intraparticle diffusion study indicated that film diffusion may be involved in the current study. The percentage removal of chromium on lignin decreased significantly in the presence of NaHCO3 and K2P2O7 salts. Desorption data revealed that nearly 70% of the Cr(VI) adsorbed on lignin could be desorbed using 0.1 M NaOH. It was evident that the biosorption mechanism involves the attraction of both hexavalent chromium (anionic) and trivalent chromium (cationic) onto the surface of lignin. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Availability and transfer to grain of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in a barley agri-system: Impact of biochar, organic and mineral fertilizers

With biochar becoming an emerging soil amendment and a tool to mitigate climate change, there are only a few studies documenting its effects on trace element cycling in agriculture. Zn and Cu are deficient in many human diets, whilst exposures to As, Pb and Cd need to be decreased. Biochar has been shown to affect many of them mainly at a bench or greenhouse scale, but field research is not available. In our experiment we studied the impact of biochar, as well as its interactions with organic (compost and sewage sludge) and mineral fertilisers (NPK and nitrosulfate), on trace element mobility in a Mediterranean agricultural field (east of Madrid, Spain) cropped with barley. At harvesting time, we analysed the soluble fraction, the available fraction (assessed with the diffusive gradients in thin gels technique, DGT) and the concentration of trace elements in barley grain. No treatment was able to significantly increase Zn, Cu or Ni concentration in barley grain, limiting the application for cereal fortification. Biochar helped to reduce Cd and Pb in grain, whereas As concentration slightly increased. Overall biochar amendments demonstrated a potential to decrease Cd uptake in cereals, a substantial pathway of exposure in the Spanish population, whereas mineral fertilisation and sewage sludge increased grain Cd and Pb. In the soil, biochar helped to stabilise Pb and Cd, while marginally increasing As release/mobilisation. Some of the fertilisation practises or treatments increased toxic metals and As solubility in soil, but never to an extent high enough to be considered an environmental risk. Future research may try to fortify Zn, Cu and Ni using other combinations of organic amendments and different parent biomass to produce enriched biochars.

Cartografia geoquímica da ilha de Santiago com uma densidade de amostragem média/baixa

A ilha de Santiago é a maior do arquipélago de Cabo Verde, apresenta uma área de 991 km2, com um comprimento e largura máximos de 54,9 km e 29 km, respectivamente, e 1392 m de maior altitude. As condições climáticas e a erosão são alguns dos problemas naturais do arquipélago de Cabo Verde. Além disso, a intervenção humana no ambiente superficial revela-se muitas vezes inadequada e com forte impacto. A construção em solos com aptidão agrícola ou florestal, as actividades industriais, a deposição de materiais sólidos ou líquidos de forma inadequada, as práticas agrícolas incorrectas e intensivas, o uso abusivo de pesticidas e fertilizantes, a rega com água contaminada, a sobreexploração de aquíferos que levam muitas vezes à salinização, etc. têm enorme impacto em termos de contaminação de solos, águas superficiais e subterrâneas nas áreas envolventes. Por conseguinte, o conhecimento da variabilidade geoquímica natural é fundamental para a resolução de questões de índole económica, ambiental e de ordenamento do território, médica, e jurídica. A necessidade de construir uma base de dados de geoquímica georeferenciada que caracterize o ambiente superficial da ilha de Santiago foi a principal motivação para a realização deste estudo. Realizou-se um levantamento geoquímico de 337 amostras de sedimentos de corrente e 249 amostras de solos na ilha de Santiago, tendo sido seguidas as recomendações do Projecto Internacional IGCP 259 não só na fase de amostragem, mas também nas fases seguintes de preparação, análise, tratamento dos dados e elaboração de mapas. Determinaram-se os teores, na fracção < 2 mm, para 36 elementos – 9 elementos maiores (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Ti) e 27 elementos vestigiais (Ag, As, Au, B, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Hg, La, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V, W, Zn). Efectuou-se ainda a análise textural e estudou-se a composição mineralógica de cerca de 25% das amostras. Analisaram-se, também, 103 amostras de rochas, colhidas nas várias formações da ilha de Santiago, tendo sido determinados os teores de K2O, Na2O, Fe2O3(T), MnO, Sc, Cr, Co, Zn, Ga, As, Br, Rb, Zr, Sb, Cs, Ba, Hf, Ta, W, Th e U e REE, a fim de se fazer uma comparação com os teores destes elementos encontrados nos solos e sedimentos de corrente, averiguando se a sua variação é ou não essencialmente condicionada pela geoquímica da rocha-mãe. Os padrões geoquímicos obtidos através dos mapas de distribuição espacial foram correlacionados com a natureza da rocha mãe, o tipo de solo, e ainda com algumas fontes de contaminação. A interpretação dos resultados foi realizada não só pela observação dos mapas geoquímicos, mas também após análise estatística dos conjuntos de dados obtidos, e apoiada em informação diversa disponível. A utilização da Análise de Componentes Principais permitiu distinguir associações entre elementos químicos, quer de origem geogénica quer antropogénica. Foram ainda elaborados mapas de distribuição espacial de vários índices multielementares de importância ambiental, como o Índice de Acidificação Al/(Ca+Mg+K), Índice de Combi, Índice de Avaliação de Risco Ambiental e Índices de Enriquecimento/Contaminação para vários grupos de elementos considerados como “primary pollutant metals”.

Severe plastic deformation of Al–Zn alloys

In this work, the R&D work mainly focused on the mechanical and microstructural analysis of severe plastic deformation (SPD) of Al–Zn alloys and the development of microstructure–based models to explain the observed behaviors is presented. Evolution of the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–30wt% Zn alloy after the SPD by the high–pressure torsion (HPT) has been investigated in detail regarding the increasing amount of deformation. SPD leads to the gradual grain refinement and decomposition of the Al–based supersaturated solid solution. The initial microstructure of the Al–30wt% Zn alloy contains Al and Zn phases with grains sizes respectively of 15 and 1 micron. The SPD in compression leads to a gradual decrease of the Al and Zn phase grain sizes down to 4 microns and 252 nm, respectively, until a plastic strain of 0.25 is reached. At the same time, the average size of the Zn particles in the bulk of the Al grains increases from 20 to 60 nm and that of the Zn precipitates near or at the grain boundaries increases as well. This microstructure transformation is accompanied at the macroscopic scale by a marked softening of the alloy. The SPD produced by HPT is conducted up to a shear strain of 314. The final Al and Zn grains refine down to the nanoscale with sizes of 370 nm and 170 nm, respectively. As a result of HPT, the Zn–rich (Al) supersaturated solid solution decomposes completely and reaches the equilibrium state corresponding to room temperature and its leads to the material softening. A new microstructure–based model is proposed to describe the softening process occurring during the compression of the supersaturated Al–30wt% Zn alloy. The model successfully describes the above–mentioned phenomena based on a new evolution law expressing the dislocation mean free path as a function of the plastic strain. The softening of the material behavior during HPT process is captured very well by the proposed model that takes into consideration the effects of solid solution hardening and its decomposition, Orowan looping and dislocation density evolution. In particular, it is demonstrated that the softening process that occurs during HPT can be attributed mainly to the decomposition of the supersaturated solid solution and, in a lesser extent, to the evolution of the dislocation mean free path with plastic strain.

Urban Grass and Grass-Leaf Litter Mixtures as Source for Bioenergy Recovery

Städtische Biomassen der Grünflächen bilden eine potentielle, bisher weitgehend ungenutzte Ressource für Bioenergie. Kommunen pflegen die Grünflächen, lassen das Material aber verrotten oder führen es Deponien oder Müllverbrennungsanlagen zu. Diese Praxis ist kostenintensiv ohne für die Verwaltungen finanziellen Ausgleich bereitzustellen. Stattdessen könnte das Material energetisch verwertet werden. Zwei mögliche Techniken, um Bioenergie zu gewinnen, wurden mit krautigem Material des städtischen Straßenbegleitgrüns untersucht i) direkte anaerobe Fermentation (4 Schnitte im Jahr) und ii) „Integrierte Festbrennstoff- und Biogasproduktion aus Biomasse“ (IFBB), die Biomasse durch Maischen und mechanisches Entwässern in einen Presssaft und einen Presskuchen trennt (2 Schnitte im Jahr). Als Referenz wurde die aktuelle Pflege ohne Verwertungsoption mitgeführt (8faches Mulchen). Zusätzlich wurde die Eignung von Gras-Laub-Mischungen im IFBB-Verfahren untersucht. Der mittlere Biomasseertrag war 3.24, 3.33 und 5.68 t Trockenmasse ha-1 jeweils für die Pflegeintensitäten Mulchen, 4-Schnitt- und 2-Schnittnutzung. Obwohl die Faserkonzentration in der Biomasse der 2-Schnittnutzung höher war als im Material der 4-Schnittnutzung, unterschieden sich die Methanausbeuten nicht signifikant. Der Presskuchen aus dem krautigen Material des Straßenbegleitgrüns hatte einen Heizwert von 16 MJ kg-1 Trockenmasse, während der Heizwert des Presskuchens der Gras-Laub-Mischung in Abhängigkeit vom Aschegehalt zwischen 15 und 17 MJ kg-1 Trockenmasse lag. Der Aschegehalt der Mischungen war höher als der Grenzwert nach DIN EN 14961-6:2012 (für nicht-holzige Brennstoffe), was auf erhöhte Bodenanhaftung auf Grund der Erntemethoden zurückzuführen sein könnte. Der Aschegehalt des krautigen Materials vom Straßenrand hielt die Norm jedoch ein. Die Elementkonzentration (Ca, Cl, K, Mg, N, Na, P, S, Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Si, Zn) im krautigen Material war generell ähnlich zu Landwirtschafts- oder Naturschutzgrünland. In den Mischungen nahm die Elementkonzentration (Al, Cl, K, N, Na, P, S, Si) mit zunehmendem Laubanteil ab. Die Konzentration von Ca, Mg und der Neutral-Detergenz-Fasern stieg hingegen an. Die IFBB-Technik reduzierte die Konzentrationen der in der Verbrennung besonders schädlichen Elemente Cl, K und N zuverlässig. Außer den potentiell hohen Aschegehalten, wurde während der Untersuchungen kein technischer Grund entdeckt, der einer energetischen Verwertung des getesteten urbanen Materials entgegenstehen würde. Ökonomische, soziale und ökologische Auswirkungen einer Umsetzung müssen beachtet werden. Eine oberflächliche Betrachtung auf Basis des bisherigen Wissens lässt hoffen, dass eine bioenergetische Verwertung städtischen Materials auf allen Ebenen nachhaltig sein könnte.

Elemental analysis of nuts and seeds by axially viewed ICP OES

A method for the multi-elemental determination of metals (Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Sr and Zn), metalloids (B and Si), and non-metals (Cl, P and 5) in the babassu nut and mesocarp, sapucaia nut, coconut pulp, cupuassu pulp and seed, and cashew nut by axially viewed inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry is presented. A diluted oxidant mixture (2 ml HNO(3) + 1 ml H(2)O(2) + 3 ml H(2)O) was used to achieve the complete decomposition of the organic matrix in a closed-vessel microwave oven. The accuracy of the entire proposed method was confirmed by standard reference material analysis (peach leaves-NIST SRM1547). The certified values showed a good agreement at a 95% confidence limit (Student`s t-test). The average RSD for repeatability of calibration solutions measurements were in the range of 1.1-6.7%. Limits of quantification (LOQ = 10 x LOD) were in the level of 0.00072-0.0532 mg/l. The macro and micronutrient ranges in the different nuts and seeds did not exceed the dietary reference intake (DRI), except for Mn in the babassu nut. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Al-based anodic oxide films structure observation using field emission gun scanning electron microscopy

In the present work, the anodic oxide films of Al, Al-Cu 4.5% and Al-Si 6.5% alloys are formed using direct and pulse current. In the case of Al-Cu and Al-Si alloys, the electrolyte used contains sulfuric acid and oxalic acid, meanwhile for Al the electrolyte contains sulfuric acid only. Al-Cu alloy was submitted to a heat treatment in order to decrease the effect of inter metallic phase theta upon the anodic film structure. Fractured samples were observed using a field emission gun scanning electron microscope JSM-6330F at (LME)/Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), Campinas, SP, Brazil. The oxide film images enable evaluation of the pore size and form with a resolution similar to the transmission electron microscope (TEM) resolution. It is also observed that the anodizing process using pulse current produces an irregular structure of pore walls, and by direct cur-rent it is produced a rectilinear pore wall. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bioaccumulation of metals in aquatic insects of streams located in areas with sugar cane cultivation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)