23 research outputs found
Demulsification mechanism of asphaltene-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions by a polymeric ethylene oxide-propylene oxide demulsifier
The demulsification mechanism of asphaltene-stabilized water-in-toluene emulsions by an ethylene-oxide-propylene oxide (EO-PO) based polymeric demulsifier was studied. Demulsification efficiency was determined by bottle tests and correlated to the physicochemical properties of asphaltene interfacial films after demulsifier addition. From bottle tests and droplet coalescence experiments, the demulsifier showed an optimal performance at 2.3 ppm (mass basis) in toluene. At high concentrations, the demulsification performance deteriorated due to the intrinsic stabilizing capacity of the demulsifier, which was attributed to steric repulsion between water droplets. Addition of demulsifier was shown to soften the asphaltene film (i.e., reduce the viscoelastic moduli of asphaltene films) under both shear and compressional interfacial deformations. Study of the macrostructures and the chemical composition of asphaltene film at the toluene-water interface after demulsifier addition demonstrated gradual penetration of the demulsifier into the asphaltene film. Demulsifier penetration in the asphaltene film changed the asphaltene interfacial mobility and morphology, as probed with Brewster angle and atomic force microscopy
Effect of Water Chemistry and Aging on IronîžMica Interaction Forces: Implications for Iron Particle Transport
The transport of particles through groundwater systems
is governed
by a complex interplay of mechanical and chemical forces that are
ultimately responsible for binding to geological substrates. To understand
these forces in the context of zero valent iron particles used in
the remediation of groundwater, atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based
force spectroscopy was employed to characterize the interactions between
AFM tips modified with either carbonyl iron particles (CIP) or electrodeposited
Fe as a function of counterion valency, temperature, particle morphology,
and age. The measured interaction forces were always attractive for
both fresh and aged CIP and electrodeposited iron, except in 100 mM
NaCl, as a consequence of electrostatic attraction between the negatively
charged mica and positively charged iron. In 100 mM NaCl, repulsive
hydration forces appeared to dominate. Good agreement was found between
the experimental data and predictions based on the extended DLVO (XDLVO)
theory. The effect of aging on iron particle composition and morphology
was assessed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron
microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) revealing
that the aged particles comprising a zero valent iron core passivated
by a mixture of iron oxides and hydroxides. Force spectroscopy showed
that aging caused variations in the adhesive force due to the changes
in particle morphology and contact area
Forces of Interactions between Bare and Polymer-Coated Iron and Silica: Effect of pH, Ionic Strength, and Humic Acids
The interactions between a silica substrate and iron
particles
were investigated using atomic force microscopy-based force spectroscopy
(AFM). The micrometer- and nanosized iron particles employed were
either bare or coated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), a polymer
utilized to stabilize iron particle suspensions. The effect of water
chemistry on the forces of interaction was probed by varying ionic
strength (with 100 mM NaCl and 100 mM CaCl<sub>2</sub>) or pH (4,
5.5, and 8) or by introducing 10 mg/L of humic acids (HA). When particles
were uncoated, the forces upon approach between silica and iron were
attractive at pH 4 and 5.5 and in 100 mM CaCl<sub>2</sub> at pH 8,
but they were negligible in 100 mM NaCl buffered to pH 8 and repulsive
in water buffered to pH 8 and in HA solutions. HA produced electrosteric
repulsion between iron particles and silica, likely due to its sorption
to iron particles. HA sorption to silica was excluded on the basis
of experiments conducted with a quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation
monitoring. Repulsion with CMC-coated iron was attributed to electrosteric
forces, which were damped at high ionic strength. An extended DLVO
model and a modified version of Ohshimaâs theory were successfully
utilized to model AFM data
Phospholipid Self-Assembly in Cocoa Butter Provides a Crystallizing Surface for Seeding the Form V Polymorph in Chocolate
The Prosocial Driver of Ecological Behavior: The Need for an Integrated Approach to Prosocial and Environmental Education
Although both altruistic and ecological behaviors can be considered prosocially driven be-haviors, our psychological understanding of what motivates action in either the human or ecological domains is still in its infancy. We aimed to assess connection to nature and connection to humans as mediators of the relationship between prosocial propensity and prosocial behaviors in both the ecological and human domains. This study used empathy as an indicator of an individualâs prosocial propensity. The data for the study was collected through surveys in Russian (841 participants) and Spanish (418 participants). The study demonstrated that an individualâs prosocial propensity can be actioned into ecological (nature-related) behavior through connection to nature. Similarly, an individualâs prosocial propensity can be actioned into altruistic (human-related) behavior through connection to humans. However, the present study also demonstrates that an individualâs prosocial propensity can be directed to humans through a connection to nature. Thus, altruistic and ecological behaviors are two related classes of behavior, driven by the same prosocial propensity of the individual. This study is an important step towards generating scientific support for the claim that traditionally separate teaching of prosocial and environmental subjects should be combined into a single educational approach. An integrated approach will contribute to a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary effort to create a society that is both ecologically and socially sustainable. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland
Assessment of Homonymous Recurrent Inhibition during Voluntary Contraction by Conditioning Nerve Stimulation
International audienceIn humans, the amount of spinal homonymous recurrent inhibition during voluntary contraction is usually assessed by using a peripheral nerve stimulation paradigm. This method consists of conditioning the maximal M-wave (SM stimulus) with prior reflex stimulation (S1), with 10 ms inter-stimulus interval (ISI). The decrease observed between unconditioned (S1 only) and conditioned (S1+ SM) reflex size is then attributed to recurrent inhibition. However, during a voluntary contraction, a superimposed SM stimulation leads to a maximal M-wave followed by a voluntary (V) wave at similar latency than the H-reflex. This wave can therefore interfere with the conditioned H-reflex when two different stimulation intensities are used (S1 and SM), leading to misinterpretation of the data. The aim of the present study was to assess if conditioning V-wave response instead of H-reflex, by applying SM for both stimuli (test and conditioning), can be used as an index of recurrent inhibition. Conditioned and unconditioned responses of soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscles were recorded in twelve subjects at 25% and at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction at the usual ISI of 10 ms and an optimal inter-stimulus of 15 ms determined upon M-and V-wave latencies. Conditioned H-reflex (obtained with S1+ SM paradigm) was significantly lower than the unconditioned by similar to 30% on average, meaning that the amount of inhibition was 70%. This amount of recurrent inhibition was significantly lower at higher force level with both methods. Regardless of the level of force or the conditioning ISI, results obtained with V-wave conditioning (SM+ SM) were similar at both force levels, linearly correlated and proportional to those obtained with H conditioning. Then, V-wave conditioning appears to be a reliable index of homonymous recurrent inhibition during voluntary contraction