Treatment of saline produced water through photocatalysis using rGO-TiO 2 nanocomposites

Graphene like-TiO2 nanocomposites (rGO-TiO2) are prepared via hydrothermal route by following different synthetic protocols. The as-prepared nanostructured materials exhibit higher photocatalytic activity than bare TiO2 in the treatment of synthetic produced water containing high salinity levels and different compositions of recalcitrant dissolved organic matter. The effect of the preparation method on the physico-chemical properties is assessed by performing a wide characterization combining different analyses, such as nitrogen physic-adsorption (BET), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), UV-VIS Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRUV) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). The effect of several operative variables (i.e., TiO2/rGO weight ratios, and addition of hydrogen peroxide) on the photocatalytic activity is also critically evaluated. The highest photocatalytic activity is obtained for a rGO/TiO2 weight ratio of about 10%, for which a good compromise between uniformity of dispersion of the TiO2 particles on the rGO layers and covering degree of the titania photoactive surface is achieved. This study can contribute to open new perspectives in the design of high performance graphene like-based TiO2 photocatalysts for removing hydrophobic bio-recalcitrant pollutants from saline water.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Pd/TiO2-WO3 photocatalysts for hydrogen generation from water-methanol mixtures

Solar light is inexhaustible, and therefore to take advantage of this energy it is necessary to develop materials capable of absorbing energy in the widest range of the solar spectra. Although TiO2 is one of the most studied photocatalysts, it only absorbs in the UV range. With the aim of increasing this light absorption towards the visible range, in this study Pd and WO3 were supported on bare TiO2 to determine their photocatalytic properties for generating hydrogen from water-methanol mixtures under UVA and solar irradiation. Several parameters for the hydrogen production, such as the amount of Pd and the catalyst as well as the influence of the water matrix were studied. These catalytic materials were characterized by means of inductively coupled plasma with an optical emission spectrophotometer, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction, high resolution – transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopy. The hydrogen evolution was monitored by online gas chromatography. The incorporation of a small amount of Pd (lower than 0.01¿wt%) produced a large increase in the hydrogen production. Furthermore, adding WO3 on the bare titania also increased hydrogen generation. The highest quantum efficiency obtained in this work under solar radiation was 7.7% by the catalyst based on palladium supported on nanotubes of titanium dioxide and tungsten trioxide (Pd/NT-WO3) using an aqueous solution of methanol (50vol%).Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water-methanol and -glycerol mixtures using Pd/TiO2(-WO3) catalysts and validation in a solar pilot plant

This paper is focused on the photocatalytic hydrogen production on Pd/TiO2(-WO3) catalysts from water-methanol and water-glycerol mixtures under UVA and solar irradiation. The photodeposition method for Pd was studied varying conditions such as Pd amount, catalyst concentration and methanol concentration. The catalysts were tested at lab scale under simulated solar light and UVA radiation and also at large scale (25 L) under solar energy using a pilot-scale solar Compound Parabolic Collector (CPC). The catalysts characterization was performed by means of ICP-OES, N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, XRD, HR-TEM, XPS and DR–UV–Vis spectroscopy. Hydrogen evolution was monitored by on-line gas chromatography.From results it was found the Pd photodeposition method plays a key role to increase the hydrogen evolution, affecting parameters like the Pd amount deposited, the Pd nanoparticles size and dispersion. The highest quantum efficiency (¿) obtained in this study was 11.8% and 41.2% under simulated solar and UVA irradiation, respectively, using Pd(0.24 wt%)/P25 in an aqueous solution of methanol (50 vol%). In the pilot-scale solar CPC, for Pd(0.24 wt%)//P25 catalysts in 5 vol% of methanol or glycerol as sacrificial agents, the quantum yield were 2.1 and 2.2%, respectively. When the concentration of the sacrificial agents decreased to 0.37 vol%, the quantum yields were 1.3 and 2.4% for methanol and glycerol, respectively. Compared to literature, the low noble metal content of these catalysts (0.25 wt%) seems to be a competitive factor considering their high price.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Estudio de mercado para la planeación de la producción de hortalizas en el departamento de San Miguel. Año 2006

El propósito de la investigación fue realizar un análisis de demanda que arrojara datos acerca de las necesidades de los productos hortícolas, ingreso de la población, preferencia y aceptación de los bienes hortícolas y con base a ello poder determinar un pronostico de consumo futuro en la región, porque es aquí donde esta la piedra angular de toda empresa o sector productivo. Además se realizó un análisis de oferta, en la que se encontró el número de productores, su localización, la capacidad utilizada actual y precios de venta obteniendo así la capacidad total de producción, un dato muy importante para adoptar el potencial productivo al requerimiento del mercado. Por último, la comercialización, un eslabón muy importante en la cadena agroproductiva, ya que es el encargado de llevar el producto al consumidor final, en donde se analizaron los canales de distribución, los tipos de intermediarios, cobertura de mercado de los distribuidores y los medios de transporte utilizados para el traslado de los productos. En base a esto, se obtuvo como resultado la disponibilidad que existe en el mercado de productos hortícolas al momento en que los consumidores lo requieran, ya que esto influye mucho a la satisfacción que ellos experimentan con las hortalizas nacionales, haciendo a un lado a los productos extranjeros. La investigación tenía un alcance de lugar en la Zona Oriental, en los treinta y cinco cantones donde existen productores en los cuatro departamentos pero por razones de recursos solo se limitó al departamento de San Miguel. El tiempo de duración estipulado era de tres meses necesarios para llevar a cabo el estudio; y el contexto teórico es la relacionada a la producción, mercadotecnia y evaluación de proyecto, lo que se encuentra mejor detallado en el apartado de delimitaciones del capitulo uno. El objetivo general que se perseguía es realizar un Estudio de Mercado, y con base a ello, hacer la planeación de producción y lo cual se logro parcialmente, ya que como se dijo anteriormente, se limitó al departamento de San Miguel trayendo grandes beneficios para los productores locales. Luego de hacer la descripción de los resultados del estudio de mercado, se cuenta con información importante que permita plantear algunas conclusiones en el orden de la presentación. Debido a la falta de recursos necesarios, se limitó el estudio únicamente al departamento de San Miguel incluyendo los municipios y sus respectivos cantones. El potencial de áreas productivas no es muy aprovechado por parte de los productores en cuanto a sacar mayor beneficio para sembrar hortalizas en épocas de mayor o menor demanda, para obtener rendimientos económicos, dado que la tenencia de la tierra es propia generalmente, lo cual contribuye a disminuir los costo

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at 95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE

Combined search for the quarks of a sequential fourth generation

Results are presented from a search for a fourth generation of quarks produced singly or in pairs in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2011. A novel strategy has been developed for a combined search for quarks of the up and down type in decay channels with at least one isolated muon or electron. Limits on the mass of the fourth-generation quarks and the relevant Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements are derived in the context of a simple extension of the standard model with a sequential fourth generation of fermions. The existence of mass-degenerate fourth-generation quarks with masses below 685 GeV is excluded at 95% confidence level for minimal off-diagonal mixing between the third- and the fourth-generation quarks. With a mass difference of 25 GeV between the quark masses, the obtained limit on the masses of the fourth-generation quarks shifts by about +/- 20 GeV. These results significantly reduce the allowed parameter space for a fourth generation of fermions.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Search for a W' boson decaying to a bottom quark and a top quark in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

Results are presented from a search for a W' boson using a dataset corresponding to 5.0 inverse femtobarns of integrated luminosity collected during 2011 by the CMS experiment at the LHC in pp collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV. The W' boson is modeled as a heavy W boson, but different scenarios for the couplings to fermions are considered, involving both left-handed and right-handed chiral projections of the fermions, as well as an arbitrary mixture of the two. The search is performed in the decay channel W' to t b, leading to a final state signature with a single lepton (e, mu), missing transverse energy, and jets, at least one of which is tagged as a b-jet. A W' boson that couples to fermions with the same coupling constant as the W, but to the right-handed rather than left-handed chiral projections, is excluded for masses below 1.85 TeV at the 95% confidence level. For the first time using LHC data, constraints on the W' gauge coupling for a set of left- and right-handed coupling combinations have been placed. These results represent a significant improvement over previously published limits.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters B. Replaced with version publishe

Measurement of the Z/gamma* + b-jet cross section in pp collisions at 7 TeV

The production of b jets in association with a Z/gamma* boson is studied using proton-proton collisions delivered by the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV and recorded by the CMS detector. The inclusive cross section for Z/gamma* + b-jet production is measured in a sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.2 inverse femtobarns. The Z/gamma* + b-jet cross section with Z/gamma* to ll (where ll = ee or mu mu) for events with the invariant mass 60 < M(ll) < 120 GeV, at least one b jet at the hadron level with pT > 25 GeV and abs(eta) < 2.1, and a separation between the leptons and the jets of Delta R > 0.5 is found to be 5.84 +/- 0.08 (stat.) +/- 0.72 (syst.) +(0.25)/-(0.55) (theory) pb. The kinematic properties of the events are also studied and found to be in agreement with the predictions made by the MadGraph event generator with the parton shower and the hadronisation performed by PYTHIA.Comment: Submitted to the Journal of High Energy Physic

Measurement of the t t-bar production cross section in the dilepton channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

The t t-bar production cross section (sigma[t t-bar]) is measured in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV in data collected by the CMS experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 inverse femtobarns. The measurement is performed in events with two leptons (electrons or muons) in the final state, at least two jets identified as jets originating from b quarks, and the presence of an imbalance in transverse momentum. The measured value of sigma[t t-bar] for a top-quark mass of 172.5 GeV is 161.9 +/- 2.5 (stat.) +5.1/-5.0 (syst.) +/- 3.6(lumi.) pb, consistent with the prediction of the standard model.Comment: Replaced with published version. Included journal reference and DO

Search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying into two photons in pp collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV

A search for a Higgs boson decaying into two photons is described. The analysis is performed using a dataset recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC from pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, which corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.8 inverse femtobarns. Limits are set on the cross section of the standard model Higgs boson decaying to two photons. The expected exclusion limit at 95% confidence level is between 1.4 and 2.4 times the standard model cross section in the mass range between 110 and 150 GeV. The analysis of the data excludes, at 95% confidence level, the standard model Higgs boson decaying into two photons in the mass range 128 to 132 GeV. The largest excess of events above the expected standard model background is observed for a Higgs boson mass hypothesis of 124 GeV with a local significance of 3.1 sigma. The global significance of observing an excess with a local significance greater than 3.1 sigma anywhere in the search range 110-150 GeV is estimated to be 1.8 sigma. More data are required to ascertain the origin of this excess.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters