Studies of the wetting characteristics of liquid iron on dense alumina by the X-ray sessile drop technique

In the present work, the reaction between a molten iron drop and dense alumina was studied using the X-ray sessile-drop method under different oxygen partial pressures in the gas atmosphere. The changes in contact angles between the iron drop and the alumina substrate were followed as functions of temperature and varying partial pressures of oxygen in the temperature range 1823 to 1873 K both in static and dynamic modes. The results of the contact angle measurements with pure iron in contact with dense alumina in extremely well-purified argon as well as under different oxygen partial pressures in the gas atmosphere showed good agreement with earlier measurements reported in the literature. In the dynamic mode, when argon was replaced by a CO-CO2-Ar mixture with a well-defined PO, in the gas, the contact angle showed an initial decrease followed by a period of nearly constant contact angle. At the end of this period, the length of which was a function of the P-O2 imposed, a further steep decrease in the contact angle was noticed. An intermediate layer of FeAl2O4 was detected in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of the reacted substrates. An interesting observation in the present experiments is that the iron drop moved away from the site of the reaction once the product layer covered the interface. The results are analyzed on the basis of the various forces acting on the drop.

Rule-based modelling of iron homeostasis in tuberculosis

To establish itself within the host system, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has formulated various means of attacking the host system. One such crucial strategy is the exploitation of the iron resources of the host system. Obtaining and maintaining the required concentration of iron becomes a matter of contest between the host and the pathogen, both trying to achieve this through complex molecular networks. The extent of complexity makes it important to obtain a systems perspective of the interplay between the host and the pathogen with respect to iron homeostasis. We have reconstructed a systems model comprising 92 components and 85 protein-protein or protein-metabolite interactions, which have been captured as a set of 194 rules. Apart from the interactions, these rules also account for protein synthesis and decay, RBC circulation and bacterial production and death rates. We have used a rule-based modelling approach, Kappa, to simulate the system separately under infection and non-infection conditions. Various perturbations including knock-outs and dual perturbation were also carried out to monitor the behavioral change of important proteins and metabolites. From this, key components as well as the required controlling factors in the model that are critical for maintaining iron homeostasis were identified. The model is able to re-establish the importance of iron-dependent regulator (ideR) in Mtb and transferrin (Tf) in the host. Perturbations, where iron storage is increased, appear to enhance nutritional immunity and the analysis indicates how they can be harmful for the host. Instead, decreasing the rate of iron uptake by Tf may prove to be helpful. Simulation and perturbation studies help in identifying Tf as a possible drug target. Regulating the mycobactin (myB) concentration was also identified as a possible strategy to control bacterial growth. The simulations thus provide significant insight into iron homeostasis and also for identifying possible drug targets for tuberculosis.

Form, Content, and Magnetism in Iron Oxide Nanocrystals

Monodisperse iron oxide nanocrystals with spherical and cubic morphologies, of comparable dimensions, have been prepared by the thermal decomposition of FeOOH. The lattice spacings of both forms agree with that of magnetite, Fe(3)O(4). The two, however, exhibit very different blocking temperatures. Nanocrystals of cubic morphology are superparamagnetic above 190 K while the spherical nanocrystals at a lower temperature, 142 K. The higher blocking temperatures in particles of cubic morphology are shown to be a consequence of exchange bias fields. We show that in the present iron oxide nanocrystals the exchange bias fields originate from the presence of trace amounts of wustite, FeO. A Reitveld refinement analysis of the X-ray diffraction patterns shows that nanocrystals of cubic morphology have a higher FeO content. The higher FeO content is responsible for the larger exchange bias fields that in turn lead to a higher blocking temperature for nanocrystals with cubic morphology.

Threshold-like features in the magnetic response of iron-filled multi-walled carbon nanotube and polymer composite

The magnetic properties of iron-filled multi-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed in polystyrene (Fe-MWNT/PS) have been investigated as a function of Fe-MWNT concentration (0.1-15 wt%) from 300 to 10 K. Electron microscopy studies indicate that Fe nanorods (aspect ratio similar to 5) remain trapped at various lengths of MWNT and are thus, prevented from oxidation as well as aggregation. The magnetization versus applied field (M-H loop) data of 0.1 wt% of Fe-MWNTs in PS show an anomalous narrowing at low temperatures which is due to the significant contribution from shape anisotropy of Fe nanorods. The remanence shows a threshold feature at 1 wt%. The enhanced coercivity shows a maximum at 1 wt% due to the dominant dipolar interactions among Fe nanorods. Also the squareness ratio shows a maximum at 1 wt%.

Electrochemical measurement of the oxygen potential of the system iron+alumina+ hercynite in the temperature range 750 to 1600oC

Solid oxide galvanic cells using CaO-ZrO2 and CaO-ZrO2 in combination with YO1.5-ThO2 as electrolyte were used to determine the free energy of formation of hercynite from 750–1600°C. The formation reaction is 2Fe(s,1) + O2(g) + Al2O3(α) = 2FeO.Al2O3(s)for which ΔG° = − 139,790 + 32.83T (±300) cals. (750–1536°C) ΔG° = − 146,390 + 36.48T (±300) cals. (1536–1700°C)These measurements can be used to resolve the discrepancies that exist in published thermochemical data, and provide an accurate oxygen potential standard for calibrating and assessing the performance of oxygen probes under steelmaking conditions.

Alloy/Oxide Equilibria in Iron--Vanadium--Oxygen and Iron--Niobium--Oxygen Systems

An experimental characterization of three-phase equilibria in Fe--V--O and Fe--Nb--O systems at 1823, 1873 and 1923K has been carried out using a solid state cell and by analysis of quenched samples. The oxygen potentials corresponding to these three-phase equilibria were monitored by a solid state cell incorporating Y sub 2 O sub 3 doped ThO sub 2 with Cr + Cr sub 2 O sub 3 as reference electrode. Similar measurements were carried out for Fe--Nb--O alloys in equilibrium with a mixture of FeNb sub 2 O sub 6 and NbO sub 2 . These measurements permit evaluation of interaction parameters (e exp V sub O = --6590/T + 2.892 and e exp Nb sub O = --4066/T + 1.502) and activity coefficients of vanadiun and niobium in dilute solution (ln gamma exp O sub V = --35 320/T + 12.68 and ln gamma sub Nb exp O = --12 386/T + 4.34) in liquid iron. The results obtained in this study resolve a number of discrepancies in thermodynamic data reported in the literature, especially regarding the activity coefficients of V and Nb and the stability ranges for V sub 2 O sub 3 and VO sub 1+x . 18 ref.--AA

Selective biodissolution of calcium and iron from bauxite in the presence of Bacillus polymyxa

A bacterium Bacillus polymyxa was found to be capable of selective removal of calcium and iron from bauxite. The bioleached residue was found to be enriched in its alumina content with insignificant amounts of iron and calcium as impurities. The developed bio- process was found to be capable of producing a bauxite product which meets the specifica- tions as a raw material for the manufacture of alumina based ceramics and refractories. The role of bacterial cells and metabolic products in the selective dissolution of calcium (present as calcite) and iron (present as hematite and goethite) from bauxite was assessed and possi- ble mechanisms illustrated. The effect of different parameters such as sucrose concentra- tion, pH, pulp density and time on selective biodissolution was studied. It was observed that periodic decantation and replenishment of the leach medium was beneficial in improving the dissolution kinetics. Calcium removal involves chelation with bacterial exopolysaccha- tides and acidolysis by organic acid generation. Hematite could be solubilized through a reductive dissolution mechanism.

High Rate Capability Lithium Iron Phosphate Wired by Carbon Nanotubes and Galvanostatic Transformed to Graphitic Carbon

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) electronically wired by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and in-situ transformed graphitic carbon for lithium-ion batteries are discussed here. Presence of MWCNTs up to a maximum of 0.5% in porous LiFePO4 (abbreviated as LFP-CNT) resulted in remarkable reversible cyclability and rate capability compared to LFP coated with highly disordered carbon (abbreviated as LFP-C). In the current range (30-1500) mAg(-1), specific capacity of LFP-CNT (approximate to 150-50 mAhg(-1)) is observed to be always higher compared to LFP-C (approximate to 120-0 mAhg(-1)). At higher currents of 250-1500 mAg(-1) LFP-C performed poorly compared to LFP-CNT. LFP-C showed considerable decay in capacity with increase in cycle number at intermediate high currents (approximate to 250 mAg(-1)) whereas at very high currents (approximate to 750 mAg(-1)) it is nearly zero. The LFP-CNT showed no such detrimental behavior in battery performance. The exemplary performance of the LFP-CNT is attributed to combination of both enhanced LFP structural stability, as revealed by Raman spectra and formation of an efficient percolative network of carbon nanotubes which during the course of galvanostatic cycling gets gradually transformed to graphitic carbon. (C) 2012 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.015204jes] All rights reserved.

Structure and Mechanistic Insights into Novel Iron-mediated Moonlighting Functions of Human J-protein Cochaperone, Dph4

J-proteins are obligate cochaperones of Hsp70s and stimulate their ATPase activity via the J-domain. Although the functions of J-proteins have been well understood in the context of Hsp70s, their additional co-evolved ``physiological functions'' are still elusive. We report here the solution structure and mechanism of novel iron-mediated functional roles of human Dph4, a type III J-protein playing a vital role in diphthamide biosynthesis and normal development. The NMR structure of Dph4 reveals two domains: a conserved J-domain and a CSL-domain connected via a flexible linker-helix. The linker-helix modulates the conformational flexibility between the two domains, regulating thereby the protein function. Dph4 exhibits a unique ability to bind iron in tetrahedral coordination geometry through cysteines of its CSL-domain. The oxidized Fe-Dph4 shows characteristic UV-visible and electron paramagnetic resonance spectral properties similar to rubredoxins. Iron-bound Dph4 (Fe-Dph4) also undergoes oligomerization, thus potentially functioning as a transient ``iron storage protein,'' thereby regulating the intracellular iron homeostasis. Remarkably, Fe-Dph4 exhibits vital redox and electron carrier activity, which is critical for important metabolic reactions, including diphthamide biosynthesis. Further, we observed that Fe-Dph4 is conformationally better poised to perform Hsp70-dependent functions, thus underlining the significance of iron binding in Dph4. Yeast Jjj3, a functional ortholog of human Dph4 also shows a similar iron-binding property, indicating the conserved nature of iron sequestration across species. Taken together, our findings provide invaluable evidence in favor of additional co-evolved specialized functions of J-proteins, previously not well appreciated.