On weak spreadability of distributed-parameter systems and its achievement via linear--quadratic control techniques

In this paper, the concept of weak spreadability is introduced.It constitutes an extension of the idea developed by El Jai& Kassara. In the case of linear distributed systems weconsider quadratic control techniques with a conveniently penalizedcriterion which makes the system weakly spreadable. The approachis outlined for a convection—diffusion system, and theresults of a numerical study are also included to illustratethe main features of the considered problem.     

In situ spectroscopic study of the oxidation and reduction of Pd(111)

Using a photoemission spectroscometer that operates close to ambient conditions of pressure and temperature we have determined the Pd-O phase diagram and the kinetic parameters of phase transformations. We found that on the (111) surface oxidation proceeds by formation of stable and metastable structures. As the chemical potential of O2 increases chemisorbed oxygen forms followed by a thin surface oxide. Bulk oxidation is a two-step process that starts with the metastable growth of the surface oxide into the bulk, followed by a first-order transformation to PdO.     

The ternary system H2O–Fe(NO3)3–Co(NO3)2 isotherms 0 and 15 °C

The solid–liquid equilibria of the ternary system H₂O–Fe(NO₃)₃–Co(NO₃)₂ were studied by using a synthetic method based on conductivity measurements.

Two isotherms were established at 0 and 15 °C, and the stable solid phases which appear are the iron nitrate nonahydrate (Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O), the iron nitrate hexahydrate (Fe(NO₃)₃·6H₂O), the cobalt nitrate hexahydrate (Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O) and the cobalt nitrate trihydrate (Co(NO₃)₂·3H₂O).     

Novel enantioselective strong cation exchangers based on sulfodipeptide selectors: evaluation for enantiomer separation of chiral bases by nonaqueous capillary electrochromatography

Strong cation exchange (SCX)-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs) based on beta-amino sulfonic acid-terminated dipeptide derivatives as chiral selectors, immobilized on thiol-modified silica particles (3.5 microm), were synthesized and applied to enantiomer separations of chiral bases by nonaqueous capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The effect of structural variations of the sulfodipeptide selectors on the separation factors alpha was investigated. These studies included variation of the acid-terminal amino sulfonic acid residue, variation of the configurations, i.e., comparison of the diastereomeric (S,S)- and (R,S)-configurations of the sulfodipeptides, and finally comparison of sulfodipeptide selectors with corresponding beta-amino sulfonic acid analogs. In general, the capillary columns (100 microm ID) packed with the new SCX-type CSPs showed enantioselectivity for an elaborated set of chiral basic drugs in CEC acting by an enantioselective cation-exchange retention mechanism. N-[N-(4-Allyloxy-3,5-dichlorobenzoyl)-leucyl]-2-amino-3,3-dimethylbutane sulfonic acid, in particular with (R,S)-configuration, turned out to be a more effective SCX-type selector than a more rigid analog based on N-[N-(4-Allyloxy-3,5-dichlorobenzoyl)-leucyl]-2-pyrrolidinemethane sulfonic acid. Both of the former diastereomers were capable to baseline-resolve the enantiomers of ca. 40% of the tested basic chiral solutes including sympathomimetics and beta-blockers, while for the latter SCX-type CSPs only 10-20% of the selected solutes afforded resolutions > 1.5.     

Ornamental Plant Efficiency for Heavy Metals Phytoextraction from Contaminated Soils Amended with Organic Materials

Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) by ornamental plants (OPs) from contaminated agriculture soils is a unique technique that can efficiently reduce the metal load in the food chain. Amaranthus tricolor L. has attractive characteristics acquiring a higher growth rate and large biomass when grown at heavy metal contaminated soils. Site-specific detailed information is not available on the use of A. tricolor plant in metal phytoremediation from the polluted sites. The study aimed to enhance the uptake of HMs (Pb, Zn, and Cu) via amending poultry litter extract (PLE), vinasse sugarcane (VSC), and humic acid (HA) as natural mobilized organic materials compared to ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), as a common mobilized chemical agent by A. tricolor plant. The studied soils collected from Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar (Cairo Governorate), Arab El-Madabeg (Assiut Governorate), Egypt, and study have been conducted under pot condition. Our results revealed all organic materials in all studied soils, except EDTA in EL-Gabal El-Asfar soil, significantly increased the dry weight of the A. tricolor plant compared to the control treatment. The uptake of Pb and Zn significantly (p > 0.05) increased due to applying all organic materials to the studied soils. HA application caused the highest uptake as shown in Pb concentration by more than 5 times in Helwan soil and EDTA by 65% in El-Gabal El-Asfar soil while VSC increased it by 110% in El-Madabeg soil. Also, an increase in Zn concentration due to EDTA application was 58, 42, and 56% for Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar, and El-Madabeg soil, respectively. In all studied soils, the application of organic materials increased the remediation factor (RF) than the control. El-Madabeg soil treated with vinasse sugarcane gave the highest RF values; 6.40, 3.26, and 4.02% for Pb, Zn, and Cu, respectively, than the control. Thus, we identified A. tricolor as a successful ornamental candidate that, along with organic mobilization amendments, most efficiently develop soil health, reduce metal toxicity, and recommend remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. Additionally, long-term application of organic mobilization amendments and continued growth of A. tricolor under field conditions could be recommended for future directions to confirm the results.