Larger Aggregates (larger + aggregate)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Controlling particle size during anatase precipitation

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 9 2001
Sekhar Sathyamoorthy
Titanium dioxide particles in the form of anatase are precipitated from concentrated titanyl sulfate solution in the sulfate process, which are then recovered by a filtration process downstream of the precipitation stage. A previous study by Sathyamoorthy et al. showed that the final anatase particles are aggregates (1-2 ,m) consisting of numerous crystals (7,8 nm) arranged in primary agglomerates (60,100 nm). Pigment quality is determined by crystal and primary agglomerate size. One way of improving filtration rate is by the formation of larger aggregates, while maintaining the crystal and primary agglomerate size at optimum values. In a new seeding procedure proposed, the controlled inoculation of seeds used in industry is combined with a new type of seed (Large Seeds). The new seeding procedure has the potential to increase downstream filtration efficiency by increasing aggregate size, while maintaining crystal and primary agglomerate sizes close to the values correctly obtained in industry. High yield in the precipitation process is also maintained. [source]


147 Controlling Harmful Algal Blooms Through Clay Flocculation

JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2003
M. R. Sengco
The potential use of clays to control harmful algal blooms (HABs) has been explored in East Asia, Australia, the United States, and Sweden. In Japan and South Korea, minerals such as montmorillonite, kaolinite, and yellow loess, have already been used in the field effectively, to protect fish mariculture from Cochlodinium spp. and other blooms. Cell removal occurs through the flocculation of algal and mineral particles, leading to the formation of larger aggregates (i.e. marine snow), which rapidly settle and further entrain cells during their descent. In the U.S., several clays and clay-rich sediments have shown high removal abilities (e.g. >80% cell removal efficiency) against Karenia brevis, Heterosigma akashiwo, Pfiesteria piscicida and Aureococcus anophagefferens. In some cases, the removal ability of certain clays was further enhanced with chemical flocculants, such as polyaluminum chloride (PAC), to increase their adhesiveness. However, cell removal was also affected by bloom concentration, salinity, and mixing. Cell mortality was observed after clay addition, and increased with increasing clay concentration, and prolonged exposure to clays in the settled layer. Mesocosm, field enclosure, and flume experiments were also conducted to address cell removal with increasing scale and flow, water-column impacts, and the possible benthic effects from clay addition. Results from these studies will be presented, especially those in regards to water quality, seawater chemistry, bottom erodibility and faunal impacts in the benthos. At this time, clay dispersal continues to be a promising method for controlling HABs and mitigating their impacts based on existing information and experimental data. [source]


Transition of nuclear proteins and chromatin structure in spermiogenesis of Sepia officinalis,

MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2007
F. MartÍnez-Soler
Abstract During spermiogenesis of Sepia officinalis histones are directly substituted by a molecule of precursor protamine, which is later transformed into the protamine through a deletion of the amino terminal end. In the present work, it is shown that the pattern of spermiogenic chromatin condensation consists of a phase of "patterning" and a phase of "condensation." In the phase of patterning, three structural remodelings are produced in the chromatin structure: [somatic-like chromatin,,,18 nm granules,,,25 nm fibers,,,44 nm fibers]. The first remodeling of the chromatin into granules of 18 nm takes place without the entrance of specific proteins in the spermiogenic nuclei. The second remodeling [granules of 18 nm,,,fibers of 25 nm] is due to the entrance of the precursor protamine and its interaction with the DNA,histone complex. The third remodeling [fibers of 25 nm,,,fibers of 44 nm] occurs simultaneously with the disappearance of histones from the chromatin. In the phase of condensation, the fibers of 44 nm coalesce among themselves to form progressively larger aggregates of chromatin. In this phase there are no substantial variations in the nuclear proteins, so that the condensation of the chromatin must respond to posttranscriptional changes of the precursor protamine (dephosphorylation, deletion of the amino-terminal end). Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Mutagenic analysis of the nucleation propensity of oxidized Alzheimer's ,-amyloid peptide

PROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 8 2005
Tony Christopeit
Abstract The formation of polypeptide aggregates represents a nucleated polymerization reaction in which an initial nucleation event (lag phase) is followed by the extension of newly formed nuclei into larger aggregates, including fibrils (growth phase). The efficiencies of these reactions relate to the lag time (lag phase) and to the rate of aggregation (growth phase), which can be determined from experimental aggregation curves. Here we present a mutagenic analysis in which we replace valine 18 of the Alzheimer's A, (1,40) peptide with 17 different amino acids and determine its effect on the lag time, and therefore, on the propensity of nucleation. Comparison with various physico-chemical properties shows that nucleation is affected in a predictable manner depending on the ,-sheet propensity and hydrophobicity of residue 18. In addition, we observe a direct proportionality between the lag time and the rate of aggregation. These data imply that the two reactions, nucleation and polymerization, are governed by very similar physicochemical principles and that they involve the formation of the same types of noncovalent interactions. [source]