Far infrared absorption by acoustic phonons in titanium dioxide nanopowders

We report spectral features of far infrared electromagnetic radiation absorption in anatase TiO2 nanopowders which we attribute to absorption by acoustic phonon modes of nanoparticles. The frequency of peak excess absorption above the background level corresponds to the predicted frequency of the dipolar acoustic phonon from continuum elastic theory. The intensity of the absorption cannot be accounted for in a continuum elastic dielectric description of the nanoparticle material. Quantum mechanical scale dependent effects must be considered. The absorption cross section is estimated from a simple mechanical phenomenological model. The results are in plausible agreement with the absorption being due to a sparse layer of charge on the nanoparticle surface.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Journal of Nanoelectronics and Optoelectronic

Inelastic neutron scattering due to acoustic vibrations confined in nanoparticles: theory and experiment

The inelastic scattering of neutrons by nanoparticles due to acoustic vibrational modes (energy below 10 meV) confined in nanoparticles is calculated using the Zemach-Glauber formalism. Such vibrational modes are commonly observed by light scattering techniques (Brillouin or low-frequency Raman scattering). We also report high resolution inelastic neutron scattering measurements for anatase TiO2 nanoparticles in a loose powder. Factors enabling the observation of such vibrations are discussed. These include a narrow nanoparticle size distribution which minimizes inhomogeneous broadening of the spectrum and the presence of hydrogen atoms oscillating with the nanoparticle surfaces which enhances the number of scattered neutrons.Comment: 3 figures, 1 tabl

Relación cartográfica entre variables hidrológicas y de degradación por pérdida de suelo superficial: sitio piloto A° Estacas, Entre Ríos

El aumento del área agrícola en el norte de la provincia de Entre Ríos resulta de la pérdida del bosque nativo. Este cambio del uso del suelo impacta los servicios ecosistémicos que brindan las cuencas hidrográficas, e incrementa el riesgo de degradación y pérdida de suelo por erosión. Actualmente el límite de pérdida de suelo utilizado para diseñar prácticas de sistematización de tierras es 15 Mg.ha-1.año-1, valor tres veces mayor al umbral para una producción sustentable. Este trabajo relaciona la cartografía de variables hidro­lógicas y pérdida de suelos para localizar y caracterizar áreas vulnerables a la erosión hídrica, como herra­mientas de ordenamiento territorial de cuencas. Se usaron los parámetros de curva número (CN), índice to­pográfico (TCI) y la ecuación USLE. Se trabajó en un entorno SIG en la cuenca del A° Estacas, con resolución espacial de 30 metros. Las imágenes fueron referenciadas al sistema POSGAR 2007 – FAJA 5. Como datos de entrada se utilizó: MDE ALOS PALSAR, carta de suelos de la provincia a escala 1:100.000, precipitación media anual, e imágenes Landsat 8. Se realizaron estadísticas por composición de mapas, gráficos de densidad por Kernel y ajuste por estimadores de máxima verosimilitud. Se observó que la pérdida de suelo se incrementa directamente con la generación de escurrimiento (CN), e inversamente con la probabilidad de encharcamiento (TCI). La cartografía generada verificó que reducir el umbral de pérdida de suelo a 3 Mg.ha-1.año-1 es factible como límite para una producción sustentable en la cuenca, independientemente del uso de suelo. Se definieron sectores que requieren una rápida acción correctiva, donde las pérdidas de suelo superan las 15 Mg.ha-1.año-1. Además, se identificaron áreas vulnerables entre 5 y 15 Mg.ha-1.año-1, tanto bajo uso agrícola como ganadero, donde se necesita revisar la intervención.Expansion of agricultural land use in the north of Entre Ríos province diminishes land occupied by native forests. At watershed scale, this change in land use impacts the provision of ecosystem services and increases soil´s degradation and water erosion. Current limit of soil loss for design of terraces is 15 Mg.ha-1. yr-1, three times larger than FAO threshold for sustainable agricultural production. In this work the mapping of hydrological variables and soil loss is combined to determine and characterize vulnerable areas to soil water erosion, as tools for watershed land use planning. The parameters of curve number (CN), topographic index (TCI) and the USLE equation were used. Work was carried out in a GIS environment in the A° Estacas watershed, with a spatial resolution of 30 meters. The images were referenced to the POSGAR 2007 - FAJA 5 system. The input data used were: ALOS PALSAR DEM, soil map of the province at a scale of 1:100,000, average annual precipitation, and Landsat 8 images. Statistical methods included univariate analyses, Kernel density distribution, and máximum likelihood. Soil loss increased directly with runoff generation (CN), and inversely with the probability of waterlogging (TCI). The generated mapping verified that regardless of land use, it is feasible to reduce the soil loss threshold for sustainable production in the basin to 3 Mg.ha-1. yr-1. The proposed mapping defined areas requiring rapid corrective actions, where estimated soil losses exceeded 15 Mg.ha-1.yr-1. In addition, the mapping allowed to localize vulnerable areas within the watershed, with soil loss between 5 and 15 Mg.ha-1.yr-1, under agricultural and livestock use, where their intervention should be reviewed.EEA ParanáFil: Pighini, Ramiro Joaquin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Wingeyer, Ana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Leticia B. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hídricas. Centro de Estudios Hidro-ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Wilson, Marcelo G. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Gabioud, Emmanuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Van Opstal, Natalia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentin

Assessing the life cycle environmental impacts of titania nanoparticle production by continuous flow solvo/hydrothermal synthesis

Continuous-flow hydrothermal and solvothermal syntheses offer substantial advantages over conventional processes, producing high quality materials from a wide range of precursors. In this study, we evaluate the “cradle-to-gate” life cycle environmental impacts of alternative titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticle production parameters, considering a range of operational conditions, precursors, material properties and production capacities. A detailed characterisation of the nano-TiO₂ products allows us, for the first time, to link key nanoparticle characteristics to production parameters and environmental impacts, providing a useful foundation for future studies evaluating nano-TiO₂ applications. Five different titanium precursors are considered, ranging from simple inorganic precursors, like titanium oxysulphate (TiOS), to complex organic precursors such as titanium bis(ammonium-lactato)dihydroxide (TiBALD). Synthesis at the laboratory scale is used to determine the yield, size distribution, crystallinity and phase of the nanoparticles. The specifications and operating experience of a full scale plant (>1000 t per year) are used to estimate the mass and energy inputs of industrial scale production for the life cycle assessment. Overall, higher process temperatures are linked to larger, more crystalline nanoparticles and higher conversion rates. Precursor selection also influences nano-TiO₂ properties: production from TiOS results in the largest particle sizes, while TiBALD achieves the smallest particles and narrowest size distribution. Precursor selection is the main factor in determining cradle-to-gate environmental impacts (>80% in some cases), due to the production impact of complex organic precursors. Nano-TiO2 production from TiOS shows the lowest global warming potential (GWP) (<12 kg CO₂-eq. per kg TiO₂) and cumulative energy demand (CED) (<149 MJ kg¯¹ TiO₂) due to the low environmental impact of the precursor, the use of water as a solvent and its high yield even at lower temperatures. Conversely, the TiBALD precursor shows the highest impact (86 kg CO₂-eq. per kg TiO₂ and 1952 MJ kg¯¹ TiO₂) due to the need for additional post-synthesis steps and complexity of precursor manufacturing. The main purpose of this study is not a direct comparison of the environmental impacts of TiO₂ nanoparticles manufactured utilizing various precursors under different conditions, but to provide an essential foundation for future work evaluating potential applications of nano-TiO₂ and their life cycle environmental impacts