Uptake Capacity (uptake + capacity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Sorption of copper by a highly mineralized peat in batch and packed-bed systems

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Marta Izquierdo
Abstract BACKGROUND: The performance of peat for copper sorption was investigated in batch and fixed-bed experiments. The effect of pH was evaluated in batch experiments and the experimental data were fitted to an equilibrium model including pH dependence. Hydrodynamic axial dispersion was estimated by tracing experiments using LiCl as a tracer. Six fixed-bed experiments were carried out at copper concentrations between 1 and 60 mg dm,3 and the adsorption isotherm in dynamic mode was obtained. A mass transport model including convection,dispersion and sorption processes was applied for breakthrough curve modelling. RESULTS: Maximum uptake capacities in batch mode were 22.0, 36.4, and 43.7 mg g,1 for pH values of 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0, respectively. Uptake capacities in continuous flow systems varied from 36.5 to 43.4 mg g,1 for copper concentrations between 1 and 60 mg dm,3. Dynamic and batch isotherms showed different shapes but a similar maximum uptake capacity. Sorbent regeneration was successfully performed with HCl. A potential relationship between dispersion coefficient and velocity was obtained with dispersion coefficients between 5.00 × 10,8 and 2.95 × 10,6 m2 s,1 for water velocities ranging between 0.56 × 10,4 and 5.03 × 10,4 m s,1. The mass transport model predicted both the breakpoints and the shape of the breakthrough curves. CONCLUSIONS: High retention capacities indicate that peat can be used as an effective sorbent for the treatment of wastewater containing copper ions. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Achieving High Density of Adsorbed Hydrogen in Microporous Metal Organic Frameworks,

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 22 2005
Y. Lee
Two microporous metal organic framework structures are shown to possess hydrogen uptake capacities reaching 1.74 and 1.98,wt.-% at 77,K (1, 2, see Figure). These give the highest adsorbed H2 density reported thus far for metal-organic-based porous materials. The estimated pore volumes are 0.33 and 0.38,cm3,g,1 for 1 and 2. [source]


Sorption of copper by a highly mineralized peat in batch and packed-bed systems

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Marta Izquierdo
Abstract BACKGROUND: The performance of peat for copper sorption was investigated in batch and fixed-bed experiments. The effect of pH was evaluated in batch experiments and the experimental data were fitted to an equilibrium model including pH dependence. Hydrodynamic axial dispersion was estimated by tracing experiments using LiCl as a tracer. Six fixed-bed experiments were carried out at copper concentrations between 1 and 60 mg dm,3 and the adsorption isotherm in dynamic mode was obtained. A mass transport model including convection,dispersion and sorption processes was applied for breakthrough curve modelling. RESULTS: Maximum uptake capacities in batch mode were 22.0, 36.4, and 43.7 mg g,1 for pH values of 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0, respectively. Uptake capacities in continuous flow systems varied from 36.5 to 43.4 mg g,1 for copper concentrations between 1 and 60 mg dm,3. Dynamic and batch isotherms showed different shapes but a similar maximum uptake capacity. Sorbent regeneration was successfully performed with HCl. A potential relationship between dispersion coefficient and velocity was obtained with dispersion coefficients between 5.00 × 10,8 and 2.95 × 10,6 m2 s,1 for water velocities ranging between 0.56 × 10,4 and 5.03 × 10,4 m s,1. The mass transport model predicted both the breakpoints and the shape of the breakthrough curves. CONCLUSIONS: High retention capacities indicate that peat can be used as an effective sorbent for the treatment of wastewater containing copper ions. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


OCTN2 is associated with carnitine transport capacity of rat skeletal muscles

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 1 2010
Y. Furuichi
Abstract Aim:, Carnitine plays an essential role in fat oxidation in skeletal muscles; therefore carnitine influx could be crucial for muscle metabolism. OCTN2, a sodium-dependent solute carrier, is assumed to transport carnitine into various organs. However, OCTN2 protein expression and the functional importance of carnitine transport for muscle metabolism have not been studied. We tested the hypothesis that OCTN2 is expressed at higher levels in oxidative muscles than in other muscles, and that the carnitine uptake capacity of skeletal muscles depends on the amount of OCTN2. Methods:, Rat hindlimb muscles (soleus, plantaris, and the surface and deep portions of gastrocnemius) were used for Western blotting to detect OCTN2. Tissue carnitine uptake was examined by an integration plot analysis using l -[3H]carnitine as a tracer. Tissue carnitine content was determined by enzymatic cycling methods. The percentage of type I fibres was determined by histochemical analysis. Results:, OCTN2 was detected in all skeletal muscles although the amount was lower than that in the kidney. OCTN2 expression was significantly higher in soleus than in the other skeletal muscles. The amount of OCTN2 was positively correlated with the percentage of type I fibres in hindlimb muscles. The integration plot analysis revealed a positive correlation between the uptake clearance of l -[3H]carnitine and the amount of OCTN2 in skeletal muscles. However, the carnitine content in soleus was lower than that in other skeletal muscles. Conclusion:, OCTN2 is functionally expressed in skeletal muscles and is involved in the import of carnitine for fatty acid oxidation, especially in highly oxidative muscles. [source]


Is insulin resistance caused by defects in insulin's target cells or by a stressed mind?

DIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 6 2005
Jonas Burén
Abstract The importance of understanding insulin action is emphasized by the increasing prevalence of insulin resistance in various populations and by the fact that it plays an important pathophysiological role in many common disorders, for example, diabetes, obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia. The primary factors responsible for the development of insulin resistance are so far unknown, although both genetic and environmental factors are involved. The genetic defects responsible for the common forms of insulin resistance, for example, in type 2 diabetes, are largely unidentified. Some studies from our group as well as by other investigators suggest that cellular insulin resistance is reversible and that it may be secondary to factors in the in vivo environment. These may include insulin-antagonistic action of hormones like catecholamines, glucocorticoids, sex steroids and adipokines as well as dysregulation of autonomic nervous activity and they could contribute to the early development of insulin resistance. Some of these factors can directly impair glucose uptake capacity and this might be due to alterations in key proteins involved in insulin's intracellular signaling pathways. This article briefly summarizes proposed mechanisms behind cellular and whole-body insulin resistance. In particular, we question the role of intrinsic defects in insulin's target cells as primary mechanisms in the development of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes and we suggest that metabolic and neurohormonal factors instead are the main culprits. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Forest age, wood and nutrient dynamics in headwater streams of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, NH

EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 8 2007
Dana R. Warren
Abstract Instream processing may substantially alter nutrient export from forested watersheds. This study tested how instream uptake of N and P were affected by successional differences in the accumulation of large wood and debris dams in a 66-year chronosequence formed by five watersheds within the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), NH. Nutrient enrichment releases in summer 1998 were used to measure the uptake velocities of phosphate, nitrate and ammonium for five streams within HBEF, and results indicated that uptake of PO43, was closely associated with forest age. In 2004, we quantified volume and abundance of large wood in each stream to test whether large wood abundance could be linked to nitrate uptake as well as phosphate. The volume of instream wood increased with forest age, at an apparent rate of 0·03 m3 (100 m),1 per year for these early to mid-successional forests (r2 = 0.95); however, debris dam frequency did not. Instead, debris dam frequency, when controlled for stream size, followed a U-shaped distribution, with high dam frequency in very young forests, low frequency in forests around 20,30 years of age and increasing dam frequency again as forests matured. Phosphate uptake velocity increased strongly with both forest age and large wood volume (r2 = 0·99; p < 0·001 in both cases); however, nitrate and ammonium uptake were not related to either factor. We attribute the positive relationship between phosphate uptake velocity and forest age/large wood volume to increased abiotic adsorption of phosphate by the inorganic sediments retained by wood. Nitrogen uptake in these streams is primarily biologically driven and did not vary predictably with these structural features of channels. We expect wood abundance to increase in HBEF streams as the forest matures, with a subsequent increase in stream phosphate uptake capacity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Occurrence of yeasts in municipal wastes and their behaviour in presence of cadmium, copper and zinc

JOURNAL OF BASIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2003
Luz Balsalobre
Seven yeasts strains have been isolated from sewage sludge. Also six samples of compost with different sieving, composting times and origins, have been analysed. Apparently, composting processes negatively affect the viability of yeasts, as none could be isolated from the compost samples. The margins of tolerance of the yeasts to Cd, Cu and Zn have been determined. The physiological response to metals was similar in all the species studied, and in general, kinetic parameters (, and lag) were affected. Metal uptake ability was also studied and inter- and intra-specific heterogeneity was detected, thus indicating that both the tolerance to metals and the capacity of the uptake were dependent on ionic metal and yeast species. The effect of the presence of multi-metal ions on the uptake capacity of each individual metal was assayed for two selected yeasts, Pichia guilliermondii and Torulaspora delbrueckii. The uptake of each individual metal varied with the combination assayed, and when both strains were compared different results were also found. [source]


Sorption of copper by a highly mineralized peat in batch and packed-bed systems

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Marta Izquierdo
Abstract BACKGROUND: The performance of peat for copper sorption was investigated in batch and fixed-bed experiments. The effect of pH was evaluated in batch experiments and the experimental data were fitted to an equilibrium model including pH dependence. Hydrodynamic axial dispersion was estimated by tracing experiments using LiCl as a tracer. Six fixed-bed experiments were carried out at copper concentrations between 1 and 60 mg dm,3 and the adsorption isotherm in dynamic mode was obtained. A mass transport model including convection,dispersion and sorption processes was applied for breakthrough curve modelling. RESULTS: Maximum uptake capacities in batch mode were 22.0, 36.4, and 43.7 mg g,1 for pH values of 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0, respectively. Uptake capacities in continuous flow systems varied from 36.5 to 43.4 mg g,1 for copper concentrations between 1 and 60 mg dm,3. Dynamic and batch isotherms showed different shapes but a similar maximum uptake capacity. Sorbent regeneration was successfully performed with HCl. A potential relationship between dispersion coefficient and velocity was obtained with dispersion coefficients between 5.00 × 10,8 and 2.95 × 10,6 m2 s,1 for water velocities ranging between 0.56 × 10,4 and 5.03 × 10,4 m s,1. The mass transport model predicted both the breakpoints and the shape of the breakthrough curves. CONCLUSIONS: High retention capacities indicate that peat can be used as an effective sorbent for the treatment of wastewater containing copper ions. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Effects of chronic paroxetine treatment on dialysate serotonin in 5-HT1B receptor knockout mice

JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2003
A. M. Gardier
Abstract The role of serotonin (5-HT)1B receptors in the mechanism of action of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) was studied by using intracerebral in vivo microdialysis in conscious, freely moving wild-type and 5-HT1B receptor knockout (KO 5-HT1B) mice in order to compare the effects of chronic administration of paroxetine via osmotic minipumps (1 mg per kg per day for 14 days) on extracellular 5-HT levels ([5-HT]ext) in the medial prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus. Basal [5-HT]ext values in the medial prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus, ,,20 h after removing the minipump, were not altered by chronic paroxetine treatment in both genotypes. On day 15, in the ventral hippocampus, an acute paroxetine challenge (1 mg/kg i.p.) induced a larger increase in [5-HT]ext in saline-pretreated mutant than in wild-type mice. This difference between the two genotypes in the effect of the paroxetine challenge persisted following chronic paroxetine treatment. Conversely, in the medial prefrontal cortex, the paroxetine challenge increased [5-HT]ext similarly in saline-pretreated mice of both genotypes. Such a challenge produced a further increase in cortical [5-HT]ext compared with that in saline-pretreated groups of both genotypes, but no differences were found between genotypes following chronic treatment. To avoid the interaction with raphe 5-HT1A autoreceptors, 1 µm paroxetine was perfused locally through the dialysis probe implanted in the ventral hippocampus; similar increases in hippocampal [5-HT]ext were found in acutely or chronically treated wild-type mice. Systemic administration of the mixed 5-HT1B/1D receptor antagonist GR 127935 (4 mg/kg) in chronically treated wild-type mice potentiated the effect of a paroxetine challenge dose on [5-HT]ext in the ventral hippocampus, whereas systemic administration of the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY 100635 did not. By using the zero net flux method of quantitative microdialysis in the medial prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus of wild-type and KO 5-HT1B mice, we found that basal [5-HT]ext and the extraction fraction of 5-HT were similar in the medial prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus of both genotypes, suggesting that no compensatory response to the constitutive deletion of the 5-HT1B receptor involving changes in 5-HT uptake capacity occurred in vivo. As steady-state brain concentrations of paroxetine at day 14 were similar in both genotypes, it is unlikely that differences in the effects of a paroxetine challenge on hippocampal [5-HT]ext are due to alterations of the drug's pharmacokinetic properties in mutants. These data suggest that there are differences between the ventral hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex in activation of terminal 5-HT1B autoreceptors and their role in regulating dialysate 5-HT levels. These presynaptic receptors retain their capacity to limit 5-HT release mainly in the ventral hippocampus following chronic paroxetine treatment in mice. [source]


Pyrazole functionalized organo-ceramic hybrids for noble metal separations

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 10 2005
Jun S. Lee
Abstract A series of pyrazole-functional adsorbents is synthesized by sol,gel processing technology and used to study the extraction characteristics for palladium, platinum, and gold chlorides from leaching solutions. An organosilicon compound, N-(trimethoxysilylpropyl)-pyrazole, is synthesized as the functional precursor for these adsorbents. Hydrothermal treatments for the gelled materials alter pore characteristics without chemical property changes. To study adsorptive extraction of Pd(II), Pt(IV), and Au(III) chlorides, the hydrothermally treated adsorbent is used. The experimental results show that this adsorbent has high Pd(II) uptake capacity (1.41 mmol/g), strong selectivity for Pd(II) chloride over Pt(IV) and Au(III) chlorides, and no reactivity for Cu(II) and Fe(II) in 2.0 M HCl solutions. The material also has sustainable stability over repeated metal loading and stripping in a short column. In addition to the experimental studies, the adsorption processes in batch and packed column systems are successfully modeled by using a pore diffusion model and presented. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005 [source]


Prediction of human pharmacokinetics , renal metabolic and excretion clearance

JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 11 2007
Urban Fagerholm
The kidneys have the capability to both excrete and metabolise drugs. An understanding of mechanisms that determine these processes is required for the prediction of pharmacokinetics, exposures, doses and interactions of candidate drugs. This is particularly important for compounds predicted to have low or negligible non-renal clearance (CL). Clinically significant interactions in drug transport occur mostly in the kidneys. The main objective was to evaluate methods for prediction of excretion and metabolic renal CL (CLR) in humans. CLR is difficult to predict because of the involvement of bi-directional passive and active tubular transport, differences in uptake capacity, pH and residence time on luminal and blood sides of tubular cells, and limited knowledge about regional tubular residence time, permeability (Pe) and metabolic capacity. Allometry provides poor predictions of excretion CLR because of species differences in unbound fraction, urine pH and active transport. The correlation between fraction excreted unchanged in urine (fe) in humans and animals is also poor, except for compounds with high passive Pe (extensive/complete tubular reabsorption; zero/negligible fe) and/or high non-renal CL. Physiologically based in-vitro/in-vivo methods could potentially be useful for predicting CLR. Filtration could easily be predicted. Prediction of tubular secretion CL requires an in-vitro transport model and establishment of an in-vitro/in-vivo relationship, and does not appear to have been attempted. The relationship between passive Pe and tubular fraction reabsorbed (freabs) for compounds with and without apparent secretion has recently been established and useful equations and limits for prediction were developed. The suggestion that reabsorption has a lipophilicity cut-off does not seem to hold. Instead, compounds with passive Pe that is less than or equal to that of atenolol are expected to have negligible passive freabs. Compounds with passive Pe that is equal to or higher than that of carbamazepine are expected to have complete freabs. For compounds with intermediate Pe the relationship is irregular and freabs is difficult to predict. Tubular cells are comparably impermeable (for passive diffusion), and show regional differences in enzymatic and transporter activities. This limits the usefulness of microsome data and makes microsome-based predictions of metabolic CLR questionable. Renal concentrations and activities of CYP450s are comparably low, suggesting that CYP450 substrates have negligible metabolic CLR. The metabolic CLR of high-Pe UDP-glucuronyltransferase substrates could contribute to the total CL. [source]


Evaluation of the Effect of Ethanol's Toxic Metabolite Acetaldehyde on the Gastrointestinal Oligopeptide Transporter, PEPT1: In Vitro and in Vivo Studies

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 1 2008
Scott J. Fisher
Background:, The effects of alcohol consumption and its subsequent metabolism on drug transport, absorption and pharmacokinetics are poorly understood. This study examines the effects of the ethanol metabolite, acetaldehyde, on the clinically relevant drug transporter, PEPT1. The metabolism of ethanol and the following acetaldehyde formation is thought to modulate the uptake capacity of PEPT1 within the gastrointestinal tract for a variety of clinically important peptidomimetic drug compounds. Methods:, Glycylsarcosine ([3H]-GlySar), a nonhydrolysable PEPT1 specific substrate was used in our studies. In vitro uptake studies were performed in the Caco-2 and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-hPEPT1 cell models, measuring cellular uptake of labeled compound against increasing levels of unlabeled compound in the presence of acetaldehyde. In vivo absorption of [3H]-GlySar was measured in male Sprague,Dawley rats that were treated with oral dose of ethanol/disulfiram (5 g/kg / 100 mg/kg) for 6 days. These results were compared to control rats treated with saline, ethanol alone or disulfiram alone. Results:, In vitro uptake of [3H]-GlySar in CHO-hPEPT1 cells treated with 1 mM acetaldehyde was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) as compared to untreated controls. The uptake of [3H]-GlySar in Caco-2 cell monolayers treated with 1 mM acetaldehyde was also significantly decreased as compared to the untreated control cells. In vivo absorption of [3H]-GlySar in ethanol treated rats, as measured by AUC0,12 hours were decreased by approximately 50% versus the control rat group. Conclusion:, The effects of acetaldehyde due to consumption of ethanol on the uptake and bioavailability of therapeutic drug compounds transported by the PEPT1 oligopeptide transporter have not been documented. In the present studies, we demonstrate that acetaldehyde significantly modulates PEPT1 function and, thereby, affects drug bioavailability. To our best knowledge, this is the first report on the effects of an ethanol metabolite on substrate absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, rather than interactions in the liver, which is an under-represented area of research in alcohol pathophysiology. [source]


Earliest rooting system and root : shoot ratio from a new Zosterophyllum plant

NEW PHYTOLOGIST, Issue 1 2010
Shougang Hao
Summary ,,The enhanced chemical weathering by rooted vascular plants during the Silurian,Devonian period played a crucial role in altering global biogeochemical cycles and atmospheric environments; however, the documentation of early root morphology and physiology is scarce because the existing fossils are mostly incomplete. ,,Here, we report an entire, uprooted specimen of a new Zosterophyllum Penhallow, named as Z. shengfengense, from the Early Devonian Xitun Formation (Lochkovian, c. 413 Myr old) of Yunnan, south China. This plant has the most ancient known record of a rooting system. ,,The plant consists of aerial axes of 98 mm in height, showing a tufted habit, and a rhizome bearing a fibrous-like rooting system, c. 20 mm in length. The rhizome shows masses of branchings, which produce upwardly directed aerial axes and downwardly directed root-like axes. ,,The completeness of Z. shengfengense made it possible to estimate the biomass allocation and root : shoot ratio. The root : shoot ratio of this early plant is estimated at a mean value of 0.028, and the root-like axes constitute only c. 3% of the total biomass. Zosterophyllum shengfengense was probably a semi-aquatic plant with efficient water use or a strong uptake capacity of the root-like axes. [source]


Interactions between atmospheric CO2 concentration and phosphorus nutrition on the formation of proteoid roots in white lupin (Lupinus albus L.)

PLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 8 2002
C. D. Campbell
Abstract Atmospheric [CO2] affects photosynthesis and therefore should affect the supply of carbon to roots. To evaluate interactions between carbon supply and nutrient acquisition, the [CO2] effects on root growth, proteoid root formation and phosphorus (P) uptake capacity were studied in white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) grown hydroponically at 200, 410 and 750 µmol mol,1 CO2, under sufficient (0·25 mm P) and deficient (0·69 µm P) phosphorus. Plant size increased with increasing [CO2] only at high P. Both P deficiency and increasing [CO2] increased the production of proteoid clusters; the increase in response to increased [CO2] was proportionally greater from low to ambient [CO2] than from ambient to high. The activity of phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase in the proteoid root, the exudation of organic acids from the roots, and the specific uptake of P increased with P deficiency, but were unaffected by [CO2]. Increasing [CO2] from Pleistocene levels to those predicted for the next century increased plant size and allocation to proteoid roots, but did not change the specific P uptake capacity per unit root mass. Hence, rising [CO2] should promote nutrient uptake by allowing lupins to mine greater volumes of soil. [source]


Biosorption of heavy metal using brown seaweed in a regenerable continuous column

ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2008
N. Rajamohan
Abstract This paper deals with the experimental investigation on removal of cadmium [Cd(II)] ions from an aqueous solution using a marine alga, Sargassum tenerrimum, in a fixed-bed column. The effects of the inlet flow rate and the sorbent bed height on the biosorption of Cd(II) ions were studied. The dynamics of column biosorption was modeled by the bed depth service time (BDST) model and the Thomas model. The BDST model was used to study the dynamic sorption behavior at different bed heights, whereas the Thomas model was used to fit the column biosorption data at different flow rates. The uptake capacity and the breakthrough time increase with an increase in the bed height. The sorption capacities of the bed per unit volume and the rate constant Ka were found to be 3819.42 mg/l and 0.0353 mg/h respectively. In flow rate experiments, the results confirmed that the metal uptake capacity and the metal removal efficiency of S. tenerrimum decreased with increasing flow rate. The Thomas model was used to fit the column biosorption data at different flow rates and model constants were evaluated. After five sorption,desorption cycles, the selected marine alga exhibited a high cadmium uptake of 63.43 mg/g. Copyright © 2008 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Der globale Kohlenstoffkreislauf im Anthropozän.

CHEMIE IN UNSERER ZEIT (CHIUZ), Issue 2 2010
Betrachtung aus meereschemischer Perspektive
Abstract Durch die Verbrennung fossiler Brennstoffe werden durch die Menschheit jährlich über 8 Milliarden Tonnen Kohlenstoff (Gt C) in Form von CO2 in die Atmosphäre emittiert. Die kumulativen Emissionen seit Beginn der industriellen Revolution haben zu einem Anstieg der atmosphärischen CO2 -Konzentration geführt, die einen zusätzlichen anthropogenen Treibhauseffekt zur Folge hat. Von den drei auf der Zeitskala von Jahrhunderten austauschenden Kohlenstoffreservoiren Atmosphäre, terrestrische Biosphäre und Ozean ist der Ozean bei weitem das größte. Das CO2 -System des Meerwassers umfasst die chemischen Spezies HCO3,, CO32, und CO2(aq). Daraus resultiert die pH-puffernde Eigenschaft des Meerwassers sowie seine hohe Aufnahmekapazität für anthropogenes CO2. Mit Hilfe von vier chemischen Messgrößen kann das marine CO2 -System analytisch sehr präzise beschrieben werden. Diese Messgrößen dienen als sensitive "Sensoren" für physikalische, chemische und biologische Vorgänge im Meer. Im marinen Kohlenstoffkreislauf sind größere natürliche Prozesse aktiv, die Kohlenstoff mit der Atmosphäre austauschen und im Innern der Ozeans umverteilen. Diese Prozesse werden auch als "Pumpen" bezeichnet und sowohl durch physikalische als auch biologische Faktoren angetrieben. Während die "physikalische Pumpe" unmittelbar durch die Aufnahme von anthropogenem CO2 aus der Atmosphäre verstärkt wird, ist dieses für die beiden "biologischen Pumpen" bisher ungeklärt. Eine Vielzahl von potenziellen Konsequenzen des globalen Wandels (Temperaturanstieg, marine CO2 -Aufnahme, Ozeanversauerung) auf marine Ökosysteme sind identifiziert worden. Diese werden gegenwärtig intensiv hinsichtlich ihrer Klimasensitivität sowie ihres Rückkopplungspotenzials auf das Klima untersucht. Es ist jedoch kaum vorstellbar, dass die "biologischen Pumpen" sich unter dem Einfluss des globalen Wandels nicht verändern werden. By burning of fossil fuels humankind emits more than 8 billion tons of carbon (Gt C) in the form of CO2 to the atmosphere. Since the onset of the industrial revolution the cumulative emissions have led to an increase of the atmospheric CO2 concentration which corresponds to an additional radiative forcing in the atmosphere. Of the three reservoirs which exchange carbon on the time scale of centuries , atmosphere, terrestrial biosphere, and ocean , the ocean is by far the largest. The marine CO2 system comprises the chemical species HCO3,, CO32,, and CO2(aq). This gives rise to the pH-buffering nature of seawater as well as its high uptake capacity for anthropogenic CO2. Four measurement parameters of the marine CO2 system are available for an accurate analytical characterization. These parameters also provide a means of sensing the role of physical, chemical, and biological drivers for the marine carbon cycle. The marine carbon cycle features major natural processes that exchange carbon with the atmosphere and re-distribute it throughout the ocean. These are known as "pumps" and driven by physical and biological factors. While the "physical pump" is inevitably enhanced by the oceanic uptake of anthropogenic CO2, even the sign of the response is currently not clear for the "biological pumps". A host of potential consequences of global change (temperature rise, ocean carbonation, ocean acidification) have been identified. These are currently studied intensively with respect to their climate sensitivity as well as the climate feedback potential. [source]


New Microporous Materials for Acetylene Storage and C2H2/CO2 Separation: Insights from Molecular Simulations

CHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 10 2010
Michael Fischer
Abstract Force-field based grand-canonical Monte Carlo simulations are used to investigate the acetylene and carbon dioxide uptake capacity, as well as the C2H2/CO2 adsorption selectivity of three novel microporous materials: Magnesium formate, Cu3(btc)2, and cucurbit[6]uril. Because no comparable computational studies of acetylene adsorption have been reported so far, the study focuses on systems for which experimental data are available to permit a thorough validation of the simulation results. The results for magnesium formate are in excellent agreement with experiment. The simulation predicts a high selectivity for acetylene over CO2, which can be understood from a detailed analysis of the structural features that determine the affinity of Mg-formate towards C2H2. For Cu3(btc)2, preliminary calculations reveal the necessity to include the interaction of the sorbate molecules with the unsaturated metal sites, which is done by means of a parameter adjustment based on ab-initio calculations. In spite of the high C2H2 storage capacity, the C2H2/CO2 selectivity of this material is very modest. The simulation results for the porous organic crystal cucurbit[6]uril show that the adsorption characteristics that have been observed experimentally, particularly the very high isosteric heat of adsorption, cannot be understood when an ideal structure is assumed. It is postulated that structural imperfections play a key role in determining the C2H2 adsorption behavior of this material, and this proposition is supported by additional calculations. [source]