Effect of hydrogen charging on the stability of SAE 10B22 steel surface in alkaline solutions

The influence of hydrogen charging into a quenched and tempered boron steel membrane electrode (SAE 10B22) was studied using borate buffer (pH 8.4) and NaOH solutions (pH 12.7), with or without the addition of 0.01 M EDTA. At the hydrogen input side, hydrogen charging influenced cyclic voltammograms increasing the anodic charge of iron(II) hydroxide formation, and decreasing the donor density of passive films. These results suggest that the hydrogen ingress caused instability of metallic surface, increasing the surface area activity. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Liquid crystalline formulations containing modified surface TiO2 nanoparticles obtained by sol-gel process

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

Surface structure and electronic properties of Pt-Fe/C nanocatalysts and their relation with catalytic activity for oxygen reduction

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

Speciation of butyltin derivatives in surface sediments of three southern Brazilian harbors

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determination of free glycerol in biodiesel at a platinum oxide surface using potential cycling technique

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Voltammetric sensing of the fuel dye marker Solvent Blue 14 by screen-printed electrodes

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

Evaluation of the photoelectrocatalytic method for oxidizing chloride and simultaneous removal of microcystin toxins in surface waters

The production of chlorine was investigated in the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of a chloride-containing solution using a TiO(2) thin-film electrode biased at current density from 5 to 50 mA cm(-2) and illuminated by UV light. Such parameters as chloride concentrations from 0.001 to 0.10 mol L(-1), pH 2-12, and interfering salts were varied in this study in order to determine their effect on this oxidation process. At an optimum condition this photoelectrocatalytic method can produce active chlorine at levels compatible to water disinfections processes using a chloride concentration higher than 0.010 mol L(-1) at a pH of 4 and a current density of 30 mA cm(-2). The method was successfully applied to treat surface water collected from a Brazilian river. After 150 min of photoelectrocatalytic oxidation, we obtained a 90% reduction in total organic carbon removal, a 100% removal of turbidity, a 93% decrease in colour and a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of around 96% (N=3). The proposed technology based on photoelectrocatalytic oxidation was also tested in treating 250 mL of a solution containing 0.05 mol L(-1) NaCl and 50 mu g L(-1) of Microcystin aeruginosa. The bacteria is completely removed after 5 min of photoelectrocatalysis following an initial rate constant removal of -0.260 min(-1), suggesting that the present method could be considered as a promising alternative to chlorine-based disinfections. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Architecture and relevance of several strongly adhered biofilms over a polyester imide (PEI) surface

Um estudo microscópico foi considerado para analisar a eventual adesão de fungos sobre uma superfície de poliéster-imida presente em fios de cobre esmaltados. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura, permitiu observar nestes biofilmes aderidos, uma alta quantidade de pigmentos, hifas e um arsenal enzimático possivelmente atuando na superfície desta macromolécula. Devido a natureza altamente aromática deste material e traços de derivados fenólicos usados como solventes - que se fazem ainda presentes no polímero já reticulado, uma certa atividade anti-fúngica poderia ser esperada, todavia não foram observadas alterações no crescimento dos microrganismos, bem como no processo de adesão dos fungos. Adicionalmente a este fato, os fios esmaltados revelaram total descaracterização de suas propriedades isolantes. Os estudos visam compreender e avaliar o grande potencial demonstrado pelos fungos que poderia em caráter vindouro, explorado em processos de biodeterioração e biodegradação

Distribuição da biomassa e minerais em família de bananeira 'prata-anã' adubada com zinco via broto desbastado

O Norte de Minas Gerais cultiva basicamente bananeira 'Prata-Anã', cultivar especialmente exigente em zinco. A possibilidade de fornecimento de Zn, sem que esse entre em contato com o solo, é importante para a região, uma vez que vários fatores levam à baixa disponibilidade do elemento fornecido via solo, como: elevado teor de matéria orgânica na camada superficial (resultante de resíduos culturais); manutenção de elevado pH do solo - acima de 6,00 - como estratégia contrária à proliferação do agente causal do mal- do-panamá; adubações frequentes com potássio e magnésio, que além de basificar o meio, diminuem a participação do Zn no equilíbrio cátion-ânion do solo, dificultando a absorção deste micronutriente pela planta. Para determinar a distribuição de biomassa e minerais na bananeira Prata-Anã, cultivada sob irrigação no norte de Minas Gerais, quando o zinco é fornecido via broto desbastado, foi conduzido um experimento no Perímetro Irrigado de Jaíba. As plantas foram adubadas com 0,00; 1,66 e 3,33 g.família-1 de Zn (0; 25 e 50 g.família-1.ano-1 de sulfato de Zn), via muda desbastada. Um mês após as adubações de outubro de 2007 e junho de 2008, avaliaram-se a produção de massa fresca (MF) e massa seca (MS), os teores e conteúdos de minerais em todos os órgãos de uma ''família'' de bananeira composta por planta-mãe com cacho + planta-filha alta + planta-neta. As doses de Zn não influíram na produção de MF e MS das plantas na primeira avaliação, enquanto na segunda avaliação observou-se efeito positivo do tratamento apenas para MF acumulada nas folhas inferiores, nas porções do terço médio e inferior do pseudocaule, e no rizoma da planta-mãe. Tanto o teor quanto o acúmulo de nutrientes nas plantas-mãe apresentaram a seguinte ordem decrescente: K > N > Ca > Mg > P > S > Fe > Zn > B > Cu. Os teores de Zn foram afetados pela dose desse micronutriente na maioria das situações estudadas. O Zn fornecido via broto desbastado ascendeu na planta-mãe, e daí se redistribuiu na ''família'' da bananeira.

DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE SUBSTRATOS NAS COLÔNIAS DE Atta laevigata (F. Smith, 1858) (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Surface morphology and optical characterization of OC1 OC6-PPV films

We report optical and morphological properties of poly(2-methoxy-5-hexyloxy-p-phenylenevinylene) (OC1OC6-PPV) films processed by casting, spin-coating (SC) and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) techniques. The absorption spectra are practically the same, with an absorption maximum at approximately at 500 nm. For the photoluminescence (PL) spectra at low temperature (T=10K), a small but significant difference was noted in the cast film, in comparison with the LB and SC films. The zero-phonon transition shifted from 609 nm for the LB film to 615 and 621 nm for the SC and cast films, respectively. At room temperature, the PL spectra are similar for all films, and blue shifted by ca. 25 nm in comparison with the spectra at low temperature due to thermal disorder. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) we inferred that the distinctive behavior of the cast film, probably associated with structural defects, is related to the large thickness of this film. The surface roughness, which was surprisingly higher for the LB film, apparently played no role in the emission properties of OC1OC6-PPV films.

Extraction and clean-up procedure for analysis of organochlorine pesticide residues in ethoxylated lanolin

In the present study an evaluation was made of a method for the determination of organochlorine pesticide residues in ethoxylated lanolin. Samples were homogenized with Celite, transferred to chromatographic columns, prepacked with silica gel deactivated to 10%. The pesticide elution was processed with n-hexane-dichloromethane and the concentrated eluate was analyzed using gas-liquid chromatography (GC) with electron capture detection (ECD). The composition of the elution solvent was a significant factor for the recovery of the pesticides. Mean recoveries obtained for fortified samples ranged from 87 to 94% for p,p'-DDE, dieldrin, endrin, p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDT. Optimization of the experimental conditions resulted in a small-scale method that combines extraction and cleanup in a single step. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. S.A. All rights reserved.

Surface effects on vortex dynamics in thin type-II superconducting stripes with random pinning

We analyze the dynamics of a driven vortex lattice moving in a thin Superconducting stripe. The two dimensional stripe is assumed to be finite in the longitudinal direction, where we take into account the Surface effects, and infinite in the transversal direction. The numerical simulations are performed using the Langevin dynamics, including the vortex-vortex interaction, interaction of vortices with the surface current, vortex images, transport current and randomly distributed pinning centers. We show results for the differential resistivity and the vortex trajectories as a function of the external force. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The (CH3OH)-C-13 optically pumped far-infrared laser: New lines and frequency measurements

We report 18 new laser lines from (CH3OH)-C-13 generated in an optically pumped far-infrared laser; the laser lines are in the range of 54.2-420 mu m and are all characterized in wavelength, polarization relative to the pumping CO2 radiation, and pump offset relative to the CO2 center frequency, the frequencies of seven of these new lines along with 10 previously reported lines were measured by an accurate heterodyne technique, mixing them in a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) point contact diode, with another laser line of known frequency.

The role of branchial and orobranchial O-2 chemoreceptors in the control of aquatic surface respiration in the neotropical fish tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum): progressive responses to prolonged hypoxia

The present study examined the role of branchial and orobranchial O-2 chemoreceptors in the cardiorespiratory responses, aquatic surface respiration (ASR), and the development of inferior lip swelling in tambaqui during prolonged (6 h) exposure to hypoxia. Intact fish (control) and three groups of denervated fish (bilateral denervation of cranial nerves IX+X (to the gills), of cranial nerves V+VII (to the orobranchial cavity) or of cranial nerves V alone), were exposed to severe hypoxia (Pw(O2) = 10 mmHg) for 360 min. Respiratory frequency (fR) and heart rate (fH) were recorded simultaneously with ASR. Intact (control) fish increased fR, ventilation amplitude (V-AMP) and developed hypoxic bradycardia in the first 60 min of hypoxia. The bradycardia, however, abated progressively and had returned to normoxic levels by the last hour of exposure to hypoxia. The changes in respiratory frequency and the hypoxic bradycardia were eliminated by denervation of cranial nerves IX and X but were not affected by denervation of cranial nerves V or V+VII. The VAMP was not abolished by the various denervation protocols. The fH in fish with denervation of cranial nerves V or V+VII, however, did not recover to control values as in intact fish. After 360 min of exposure to hypoxia only the intact and IX+X denervated fish performed ASR. Denervation of cranial nerve V abolished the ASR behavior. However, all (control and denervated (IX+X, V and V+VII) fish developed inferior lip swelling. These results indicate that ASR is triggered by O-2 chemoreceptors innervated by cranial nerve V but that other mechanisms, such as a direct effect of hypoxia on the lip tissue, trigger lip swelling.