19 research outputs found

    Development of ion-imprinted polymers for the selective extraction of Cu(II) ions in environmental waters

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    Several ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) were synthesized via bulk polymerization with Cu(II) as template ion, methacrylic acid as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinking agent, and azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator in acetonitrile or methanol as porogen solvent. Non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) were similarly synthesized but without Cu(II). After grounding and sieving, the template ions were removed from IIPs particles through several cycles of elimination in 3 M HCl. All NIPs were equally subjected to this acid treatment with the exception of one NIP, called unwashed NIP. The resulting IIP/NIP particles were packed in solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges for characterization. The SPE protocol was designed by optimizing a washing step following the sample percolation to eliminate potential interfering ions prior to the elution of Cu(II), all fractions analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The best IIP showed a high specificity (recovery of Cu(II) vs. interfering ions) and a good selectivity (retention on IIP vs. NIP). Its adsorption capacity was determined to be 63 μg g−1. Then, a volume of 50 mL was percolated with 30 mg of IIP, thus giving rise to an enrichment factor of 24. Finally, applications to real samples (mineral and sea waters) were successfully performed. In addition, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analyses showed that the surface area of the washed NIP was almost double that of the unwashed one (140.70 vs. 74.49 m2 g−1), demonstrating for the first time that the post-treatment of a NIP after its synthesis may have a significant impact on its porous structure, and thus need to be more precisely detailed by authors in the future papers

    Macroplastic and microplastic contamination assessment of a tropical river (Saigon River, Vietnam) transversed by a developing megacity.

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    International audienceBoth macroplastic and microplastic contamination levels were assessed for the first time in a tropical river estuary system, i.e. the Saigon River, that traverses a developing South East Asian megacity, i.e. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The analysis of floating debris collected daily on the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal by the municipal waste management service shows that the plastic mass percentage represents 11-43%, and the land-based plastic debris entering the river was estimated from 0.96 to 19.91 g inhabitant-1d-1, namely 350 to 7270 g inhabitant-1yr-1. Microplastics were assessed in the Saigon River and in four urban canals by sampling bulk water for anthropogenic fiber analysis and 300 μm mesh size plankton net exposition for fragment analysis. Fibers and fragments are highly concentrated in this system, respectively 172,000 to 519,000 items m-3and 10 to 223 items m-3. They were found in various colors and shapes with smallest size and surface classes being predominant. The macroplastics and fragments were mainly made of polyethylene and polypropylene while the anthropogenic fibers were mainly made of polyester. The relation between macroplastic and microplastic concentrations, waste management, population density and water treatment are further discussed

    Comparison between microparticles and nanostructured particles of FeSn2 as anode materials for Li-ion batteries

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    The performances and mechanisms of two types of anodes formed by FeSn2 microparticles and nanostructured FeSn2, respectively, were studied by Mossbauer spectroscopy and electrochemical testing. The specific capacity, which is within the range 400-600 mAh g(-1) even at high C-rate, did not vary with cycle number over 50-60 cycles for the microparticles but progressively decreased for the nanostructured material. In the two cases, the first discharge consists in the irreversible transformation of FeSn2 into Fe/Li7Sn2 nanocomposite. The capacity fade is attributed to the growth and/or coalescence of the particles during cycling. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

    Harmonization in the Joint European Research Infrastructure Network for Coastal Observatories -JERICO

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    The JERICO European research infrastructure (RI) is integrating diverse platform types such as fixed buoys, piles, moorings, drifters, FerryBoxes, gliders, HF radars, coastal cable observatories and the associated technologies dedicated to observe and monitor coastal European seas. The first steps of setting up, coordination and harmonization were done during 2011 to 2015 in the framework of FP7-JERICO (www.jerico-fp7.eu), a 4-year long infrastructure project co-funded by the European Commission with 27 partners from 17 European countries under the coordination of IFREMER. Next steps are driven in the H2020-JERICO-NEXT European project until 2019, involving 33 partners. The main objective of the JERICO consortium is to establish a Pan European approach for a European coastal marine observatory network. This is a dynamic activity going beyond a project’s lifetime including continuous efforts towards harmonization in terms of design, operation, and maintenance, the evolution and extension of the current systems as well as the delivery of data and products to the users. Our scope here is to present the work done towards the harmonization of operation and maintenance methods, in FP7-JERICO and the next steps in JERICO-NEXT. As a starting point of harmonization assessment, the priority was given to the most pressing issues like calibration and biofouling, while it is the first time that a Best Practice report on all phases of the system from first installation to operation and maintenance is attempted adopting a platform based approach

    Proteinaceous secretion of bioadhesive produced during crawling and settlement of Crassostrea gigas larvae

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    Abstract Bioadhesion of marine organisms has been intensively studied over the last decade because of their ability to attach in various wet environmental conditions and the potential this offers for biotechnology applications. Many marine mollusc species are characterized by a two-phase life history: pelagic larvae settle prior to metamorphosis to a benthic stage. The oyster Crassostrea gigas has been extensively studied for its economic and ecological importance. However, the bioadhesive produced by ready to settle larvae of this species has been little studied. The pediveliger stage of oysters is characterized by the genesis of a specific organ essential for adhesion, the foot. Our scanning electron microscopy and histology analysis revealed that in C. gigas the adhesive is produced by several foot glands. This adhesive is composed of numerous fibres of differing structure, suggesting differences in chemical composition and function. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy indicated a mainly proteinaceous composition. Proteomic analysis of footprints was able to identify 42 proteins, among which, one uncharacterized protein was selected on the basis of its pediveliger transcriptome specificity and then located by mRNA in situ hybridization, revealing its potential role during substrate exploration before oyster larva settlement

    Toward Chalcogenide Platform Infrared Sensor Dedicated to the In Situ Detection of Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Natural Waters via an Attenuated Total Reflection Spectroscopy Study

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    he objective of this study is to demonstrate the successful functionalization of the surface of a chalcogenide infrared waveguide with the ultimate goal of developing an infrared micro-sensor device. First, a polyisobutylene coating was selected by testing its physico-chemical compatibility with a Ge-Sb-Se selenide surface. To simulate the chalcogenide platform infrared sensor, the detection of benzene, toluene, and ortho-, meta- and para-xylenes was efficaciously performed using a polyisobutylene layer spin-coated on 1 and 2.5 µm co-sputtered selenide films of Ge28Sb12Se60 composition deposited on a zinc selenide prism used for attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. The thickness of the polymer coating was optimized by attenuated total reflection spectroscopy to achieve the highest possible attenuation of water absorption while maintaining the diffusion rate of the pollutant through the polymer film compatible with the targeted in situ analysis. Then, natural water, i.e., groundwater, wastewater, and seawater, was sampled for detection measurement by means of attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. This study is a valuable contribution concerning the functionalization by a hydrophobic polymer compatible with a chalcogenide optical sensor designed to operate in the mid-infrared spectral range to detect in situ organic molecules in natural water

    Biofouling protection by electro-chlorination on optical windows for oceanographic sensors and imaging devices

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    Oceans environmental monitoring and seafloor exploitation need in situ sensors and optical devices (cameras, lights) in various locations and on various carriers in order to initiate and to calibrate environmental models or to operate underwater industrial process supervision. For more than 10 years Ifremer deploys in situ monitoring systems for various seawater parameters and in situ observation systems based on lights and HD Cameras. To be economically operational, these systems must be equipped with a biofouling protection dedicated to the sensors and optical devices used in situ. Indeed, biofouling, in less than 15 days [1] will modify the transducing interfaces of the sensors and causes unacceptable bias on the measurements provided by the in situ monitoring system. In the same way biofouling will decrease the optical properties of windows and thus altering the lighting and the quality fot he images recorded by the camera
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