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Low Water Content (low + water_content)
Selected AbstractsEarthworm toxicity during chemical oxidation of diesel-contaminated sandENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2005Kyung-Hee Shin Abstract An ecotoxicity test with Eisenia fetida was performed to monitor the removal of diesel and toxicity variation during the ozonation process. The three-dimensional (3-D) cell test was introduced for the monitoring of the ozonation process, and the removal rate based on total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) mass was about 95% near the ozone inlet ports. This high removal rate might be caused by the low soil organic matter (SOM) content and low water content of sand. The use of a fiber-optic transflection dip probe (FOTDP) demonstrated that more than half of the injected ozone was consumed by reactions with diesel or natural ozone-consuming materials. The earthworm toxicity test using Eisenia fetida demonstrated that diesel concentrations in soil exceeding 10,000 mg/kg caused a dose-dependent weight loss in earthworms and increased mortality. Toxic effects were reduced greatly or eliminated after ozonation, and the degradation products of the ozonation were not toxic to the earthworms at the concentrations tested. One specific result was that the sublethal test on the earthworm might be more sensitive for the evaluation of the quality of contaminated soil, for some samples, which did not result in mortality and produced an adverse effect on weight. [source] Endogenous microflora in turbid virgin olive oils and the physicochemical characteristics of these oilsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Anastasios Koidis Abstract Cloudy olive oil, the fresh olive juice, is an intermediate form before full precipitation of freshly produced olive oil. Some consumers prefer it because they consider it as more natural and less processed. The cloudy form can persist for several months. The oil is a sort of dispersion/suspension system which can be also described as a micro-emulsion/suspension. Water micro-droplets were found to have a size ranging from 1 to 5,µm. Cloudiness is due to the low water content and the presence of natural emulsifiers in the oil. The suspension is formed by solid particles (5,60,µm) deriving from the olive fruit. They are present in small amounts (12,460,mg/kg oil). In the newly produced olive oil, containing 0.17,0.49% water, a number of microorganisms of different types (bacteria, yeasts, moulds) were found to survive, but at very low concentrations (<3,log,cfu/mL oil). They originate from the exterior of the fruit (epiphytic microflora) and their presence is considered natural. Their enzyme activities do not seem to affect the quality of the final product. [source] The effect of water content on proton transport in polymer electrolyte membranesFUEL CELLS, Issue 3-4 2002P. Commer Abstract We investigate proton transport in a polymer electrolyte membrane using continuum theory and molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations. Specifically our goal is to understand the possible molecular origin of the effect of water content on the activation energy (AE) and pre-exponential factor of proton conductivity, in comparison with experimental observations reported for Nafion, where a decrease of AE with increasing water content has been observed. We study proton diffusion in a single pore, using a slab-like model. We find that although the average proton diffusion coefficient is several times smaller in a narrow pore than in a wide water-rich pore, its AE is almost unaffected by the pore width. This contradicts an earlier proposed conjecture that the sizable Coulomb potential energy barriers near the lattice of immobile point-like SO3, groups increase the AE in a narrow pore. Here we show that these barriers become smeared out by thermal motion of SO3, groups and by the spatial charge distribution over their atoms. This effect strongly diminishes the variation of the AE with pore width, which is also found in MD simulations. The pre-exponential factor for the diffusion process, however, decreases, indicating a limited number of pathways for proton transfer and the freezing out of degrees of freedom that contribute to the effective frequency of transfer. Decreasing the pore size diminishes bulk-like water regions in the pore, with only less mobile surface water molecules remaining. This hampers proton transfer. The increase of AE takes place only if the thermal motion of the SO3, head groups freezes out simultaneously with decreasing water content, but the effect is not profound. The stronger effect observed experimentally may thus be associated with some other rate-determining consecutive process, concerned with polymer dynamics, such as opening and closing of connections (bridges) between aqueous domains in the membrane under low water content. [source] Responses of shoot growth and survival to water stress gradient in diploid and tetraploid populations of Lolium multiflorum and L. perenneGRASSLAND SCIENCE, Issue 4 2006Shu-ichi Sugiyama Abstract Drought stress is one of the critical environmental factors in determining growth and survival of herbage grasses. In this study, by using a hydroponic culture system including different amounts of polyethylene glycol (PEG), responses of plant shoots to water stress in four different intensities (0 Mpa, ,0.6 Mpa, ,1.2 Mpa and ,1.8 Mpa) were examined in diploid and tetraploid cultivars of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and perennial ryegrass (L. perenne). Since freezing injury is caused by cell dehydration, freezing tolerance was also examined for six subzero temperatures (,11, ,12, ,14, ,16, ,18 and ,20°C) in both species. L. multiflorum had a larger shoot biomass at all stress intensities and a lower survival rate under severe water stress and freezing stress conditions than L. perenne. Thus, there was a trade-off (negative correlation) between potential growth under a stress-free condition and survival under a severe stress condition in diploid and tetraploid cultivars of both species. This trade-off was mediated by tissue water content. High water content led to a high growth rate through increasing specific leaf area, while low water content resulted in a high tissue osmotic potential that could confer high cell dehydration tolerance. [source] Forces between Surfactant-Coated ZnS Nanoparticles in Dodecane: Effect of Water,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 16 2006Alig, R. Godfrey Abstract The forces between mica surfaces confining solutions of spherical and rod-shaped ZnS nanoparticles (diameter ca. 5,nm) coated with hexadecylamine or octadecylamine surfactant in dodecane have been measured in the absence and after the introduction of trace amounts of water. Initially, or at very low water content, the water molecules cause the nanoparticles to aggregate and adsorb on the hydrophilic mica surfaces, resulting in a long-range exponentially decaying repulsive force between the surfaces. After longer times (>,20,h), water bridges nucleate and grow between the nanoparticles and mica surfaces, and attractive capillary forces then cause a long-range attraction and a strong (short-range) adhesion. It is found, as has previously been observed in nonaqueous bulk colloidal systems, that even trace amounts of water have a profound effect on the interactions and structure of nanoparticle assemblies in thin films, which in turn affect their physical properties. These effects should be considered in the design of thin-film processing methodologies. [source] Structural changes and shrinkage of potato during fryingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Rui M. Costa Summary Light microscopy was used to study changes in cell size, blister formation and crust evolution during potato frying. Frying experiments with both French fries and crisps of different thickness (1,5 mm) were performed at temperatures of 140 and 180 °C. Thickness, volume and density changes were also measured. The formation of crust in French fries starts after the potato surface reached approximately 103 °C, and then the crust thickness increased linearly with the square root of frying time, this increase being faster at 180 °C. The potato volume decreased during frying, although in the late stages the volume may increase because of oil uptake and cell separation caused by entrapped water vapour. Shrinkage was adequately described by the Weibull model with a residual value, with shrinkage rate increasing with temperature and decreasing with potato thickness. The residual volume was not affected by temperature (65% for French fries and 59,30 for crisps, depending on thickness). Volume appeared to decrease mainly as the result of water loss, except for very low water content, and thus potato density changes were very small. [source] Glass Transition and Food Technology: A Critical AppraisalJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 7 2002M. Le Meste ABSTRACT: Most low water content or frozen food products are partly or fully amorphous. This review will discuss the extent to which it is possible to understand and predict their behavior during processing and storage, on the basis of glass transition temperature values (Tg) and phenomena related to glass transition. Two main conclusions are provisionally proposed. Firstly, glass transition cannot be considered as an absolute threshold for molecular mobility. Transport of water and other small molecules takes place even in the glassy state at a significant rate, resulting in effective exchange of water in multi-domains foods or sensitivity to oxidation of encapsulated materials. Texture properties (crispness) also appear to be greatly affected by sub-Tg relaxations and aging below Tg. Secondly, glass transition is only one among the various factors controlling the kinetics of evolution of products during storage and processing. For processes such as collapse, caking, crystallization, and operations like drying, extrusion, flaking, Tg data and WLF kinetics have good predictive value as regards the effects of temperature and water content. On the contrary, chemical/biochemical reactions are frequently observed at temperature below Tg, albeit at a reduced rate, and WLF kinetics may be obscured by other factors. [source] NITROGEN ENRICHMENT OF PORPHYRA PERFORATA THROUGH HIGH DOSE PULSE FERTILIZATIONJOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2001Article first published online: 24 SEP 200 Zertuche-González, J. A1., Chanes-Miranda L2., Carmona, R3., Kraemer G4., Chopin T.5 & Yarish, C3 1Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanologicas, PO Box #453, C.P. 22830, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. 2CBTIS-41, Km 115 Carretera Transpeninsular, Ensenada, BC Mexico. 3University of Connecticut, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 1 University Place, Stamford, CT, 06901-2315, USA. 4State University of New York, Purchase College, Div. of Nat. Sciences, Purchase, NY, 10577, USA. 5University of New Brunswick, Centre for Coastal Studies and Aquaculture and Centre for Environmental and Molecular Algal Research, P.O. Box 5050, Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L 4L5, Canada Porphyra perforata is a highly preferred seaweed used as fodder in abalone culturing due to its relatively high nutritional value. High growth rates of abalone, particularly in the early stages, are suspected to be due the high protein-aminoacid and low water content of the Porphyra. Also, high NO3 content may be important to improve the bacterial flora in the animals, which in turn may favor more efficient digestion. Changes in the composition of Porphyra, however, can occur rapidly due to environmental conditions decreasing the nutritional value of the plant. Short term N pulse fertilization were performed on P. perforata in order to evaluate the feasibility to increase its nutritional value. Enrichment was performed under low light conditions (<5 ,E m -2 s -1) to inhibit growth and promote higher N enrichment per unit of biomass. Tissue N in the form of NO3, NH4 and total organic N were measured, after 3,6,12 and 24 hrs, in tissue exposed to 500 ,M of N. Results indicated a rapid N tissue enrichment particularly in the form of NO3. Nitrate accumulation occurs continuously, up to 24 hrs. Total organic N is maximum after 12 hrs and tends to decrease after that. Fertilization with NH4 promotes NO3 accumulation. These results suggest the feasibility to improve the nutritional value of P. perforata by short-term pulse fertilization. The capacity of this species to uptake NH4 under low light conditions (similar to those use in abalone culturing) makes it also ideal for integrated aquaculture. [source] Proton transportation in an organic,inorganic hybrid polymer electrolyte based on a polysiloxane/poly(allylamine) networkJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 15 2005Ping-Lin Kuo Abstract A new class of proton-conducting polymer was developed via the sol,gel process from amino-containing organic,inorganic hybrids by the treatment of poly(allylamine) with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane doped with ortho -phosphoric acid. The polymer matrix contains many hydrophilic sites and consists of a double-crosslinked framework of polysiloxane and amine/epoxide. Differential scanning calorimetry results suggest that hydrogen bonding or electrostatic forces are present between H3PO4 and the amine nitrogen, resulting in an increase in the glass-transition temperature of the poly(allylamine) chain with an increasing P/N ratio. The 31P magic-angle spinning NMR spectra indicate that three types of phosphate species are involved in the proton conduction, and the motional freedom of H3PO4 is increased with increasing P/N ratios. The conductivity above 80 °C does not drop off but increases instead. Under a dry atmosphere, a high conductivity of 10,3 S/cm at temperatures up to 130 °C has been achieved. The maximum activation energy obtained at P/N = 0.5 suggests that a transition of proton-conducting behavior exits between Grotthus- and vehicle-type mechanisms. The dependence of conductivity on relative humidity (RH) above 50% is smaller for H3PO4 -doped membranes compared with H3PO4 -free ones. These hybrid polymers have characteristics of low water content (23 wt %) and high conductivity (10,2 S/cm at 95% RH), making them promising candidates as electrolytes for fuel cells. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3359,3367, 2005 [source] Thermal Degradation Kinetics of Nylon 66: Experimental Study and Comparison with Model PredictionsMACROMOLECULAR REACTION ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2007Mark A. Schaffer Abstract An experimental investigation of nonoxidative thermal degradation kinetics of nylon 66 melt under high temperature (280,300,°C) and low water content (0.02,0.14 wt.-%) conditions is presented. Experimental data for the time evolution of polymer end-group concentrations and degradation-product generation rates were compared with the predictions of the only published kinetic model. The omitted influence of water content is a plausible partial explanation for the considerable discrepancy between model predictions and some data. Several previously unreported or unquantified degradation products were identified and measured. Potential additional reactions to account for these results in future kinetic models are proposed. [source] Lipid bilayers: an essential environment for the understanding of membrane proteinsMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY, Issue S1 2007Richard C. Page Abstract Membrane protein structure and function is critically dependent on the surrounding environment. Consequently, utilizing a membrane mimetic that adequately models the native membrane environment is essential. A range of membrane mimetics are available but none generates a better model of native aqueous, interfacial, and hydrocarbon core environments than synthetic lipid bilayers. Transmembrane ,-helices are very stable in lipid bilayers because of the low water content and low dielectric environment within the bilayer hydrocarbon core that strengthens intrahelical hydrogen bonds and hinders structural rearrangements within the transmembrane helices. Recent evidence from solid-state NMR spectroscopy illustrates that transmembrane ,-helices, both in peptides and full-length proteins, appear to be highly uniform based on the observation of resonance patterns in PISEMA spectra. Here, we quantitate for the first time through simulations what we mean by highly uniform structures. Indeed, helices in transmembrane peptides appear to have backbone torsion angles that are uniform within ± 4° . While individual helices can be structurally stable due to intrahelical hydrogen bonds, interhelical interactions within helical bundles can be weak and nonspecific, resulting in multiple packing arrangements. Some helical bundles have the capacity through their amino acid composition for hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions to stabilize the interhelical conformations and solid-state NMR data is shown here for both of these situations. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is unique among the techniques capable of determining three-dimensional structures of proteins in that it provides the ability to characterize structurally the membrane proteins at very high resolution in liquid crystalline lipid bilayers. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Kinetic Reaction Models for the Selective Reduction of NO by Methane over Multifunctional Zeolite-based Redox CatalystsCHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 12 2004T. Sowade Abstract Kinetic measurements of the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by methane were performed over CeO2/H-ZSM-5, In-ZSM-5, and CeO2/In-ZSM-5 catalysts. The parameter space covered NO, CH4, and O2 concentrations varying from 250 to 1000 ppm, from 500 to 2000 ppm, and from 0.5 to 10,vol.-%, respectively, space velocities between 5000 and 90000 h,1 and temperatures between 573 and 873 K depending on the catalyst activities. With CeO2/In-ZSM-5 an additional series of measurements was performed with moistened feed gas (0.5,10,vol.-% H2O). On the basis of a pseudo-homogeneous, one-dimensional fixed-bed reactor model, the data were fitted to a kinetic model that includes power rate laws for the reduction of NO and for the unselective total oxidation of methane. From analyses of isothermal data sets, almost all reaction orders were found to vary significantly with changing temperature, which indicates that the simple kinetic model cannot reflect the complex reaction mechanism correctly. Nevertheless, the data measured with In-ZSM-5 could be modeled with good accuracy over a wide range of reaction temperatures (150 K) while the accuracy was less satisfactory with the remaining data sets, in particular for data with the moist feed over CeO2/In-ZSM-5. With the latter catalyst it was not possible to represent the data measured in dry and in moist feed in a single model even upon confinement to fixed reaction temperatures. A comparison of the separate models established showed strong changes in the reaction orders in the presence of water, which occur apparently already at a very low water content (,,0.5,vol.-%). The kinetic parameters found are in agreement with earlier conclusions about the reaction mechanisms. With In-ZSM-5, both reaction orders and the activation energy show a rate-limiting influence of NO oxidation on the NO reduction path which is removed by the presence of the CeO2 promoter. A difference in the reaction mechanism over CeO2/In-ZSM-5 and CeO2/H-ZSM-5 is reflected in different kinetic parameters. The differences of the kinetic parameters between dry-feed and moist-feed models for CeO2/In-ZSM-5 reflect adsorption competition between the reactants and water. [source] Structure and conditioning effect on mechanical behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol)/calcium lactate biocompositesPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 8 2009Vladimír Sedlarik The structural and mechanical characteristics of polymeric biocomposites based on calcium lactate (CL) and either partially (88 mol%) or fully (98 mol%) hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were studied using optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy equipped with attenuated total reflectance accessory, water content determination, and differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, the moisture absorption effect on the mechanical properties of the biocomposites was tested in this work. The results reveal that CL is a suitable modifier for both types of PVA. However, a more efficient enhancement of uniform shape and size distribution of CL particles within the PVA matrix was noticed in fully hydrolyzed matrix at low water contents. It is in agreement with glass transition temperature's observations. The samples conditioned at 50% of relative humidity (RH) showed decrease in E modulus and tensile strength in comparison with the material stored below 20% RH. Nevertheless, the enhancement of tensile properties, because of the modification with CL, was still noticeable especially for the partially hydrolyzed PVA-based biocomposites. The optimum concentration of the modifier was estimated on the basis of the obtained results. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] | ||||||||||||||||