571 research outputs found

    Sub-micrometer distribution of Fe oxides and organic matter in Podzol horizons

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    The spatial distribution of soil constituents at the micrometer scale is of great importance to understand processes controlling the formation of micro-aggregates and the stabilization of organic carbon. Here, the spatial distribution of organic and mineral constituents in Podzol horizons is studied by concerted measurements of (i) the content of various forms of Fe, Al, Si and C determined by selective extraction in the fine earth fraction of soil (f < 2 mm); (ii) the elemental composition of the clay fraction (f < 2 um) with lateral resolution using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and with surface selectivity using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); (iii) the specific surface area (SSA) of fine earth and clay fractions by krypton physisorption. The SSA of the fine earth in illuvial horizons is predominantly due to finely divided Fe oxides, including goethite, characterized by an equivalent particle size of about 10 mu m. Kaolinite platelets of about 2 gm size account for a large volume proportion in the clay fraction but have a minor contribution to SSA. Fe oxides and organic matter (OM) are intimately associated. Heterogeneity at the um scale is created by local variations in the relative amounts of kaolinite and Fe-OM associations. These two kinds of physical entities are in random mixture. Moreover, variation of C/Fe atomic ratios reveals sub-mu m scale heterogeneity. The latter is due to variation in the relative proportion of organic compounds and Fe oxides, indicating that aggregation of nanoparticles, and not only mere adsorption or pore filling, plays a role in these associations. In this regard, our results highlight that OM associated with Fe protects Fe oxides against physical displacement and that part of this associated OM is oxidizable by NaOCl treatment. These findings demonstrate that the concept of OM stabilization through association with Fe must be revisited when considering the sub-mu m scale level because fine Fe oxide particles can be easily dispersed during oxidation of associated carbon. Combination of physical fractionation and microanalysis (e.g. SEM-EDS, vibrational spectroscopy) offer promising perspectives to clarify the relationship between chemical composition and sub-inn scale architecture, and to better understand soil processes

    La réaction inverse du gaz à l'eau en tant qu'étape intermédiaire de la production de carburant synthétique pour avion : une étude de dimensionnement de réacteur à deux échelles différentes

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    editorial reviewedIn the context of the energy transition and the growing imperative to develop decarbonised solutions for the transportation sector, our team is investigating the conversion of CO2 to kerosene via a Power-to-kerosene process. Given the high stability of the CO2 molecule, an activation step is essential to convert it into more complex molecules. The reverse water-gas shift (rWGS) reaction is a promising solution to achieve this conversion. A primary objective of this project is to design and construct a small pilot facility that synthesises kerosene from CO2 and H2, calibrated to an available electrolysis capacity of 1.5 Nm³/h. This study focuses on the sizing of the rWGS section for this scale and further compares it to a larger system with an electrolysis capacity 1,000 times greater

    Influence of electrical properties on the evaluation of the surface hydrophobicity of Bacillus subtilis

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    The surface hydrophobicity of nine Bacillus subtilis strains in different states (spores, vegetative cells, and dead cells) was assessed by water contact angle measurements, hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) and bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbon (BATH). Electrokinetic properties of B, subtilis strains were characterized by zeta potential measurements and found to differ appreciably according to the strain, Correlations between HIC data, BATH data and zeta potential showed that HIC and RATH are influenced by electrostatic interactions. Water contact angle measurements thus provide a better estimate of cell surface hydrophobicity. The water contact angle of B. subtilis varied according to the strain and the state, the spores tending to be more hydrophobic than vegetative cells. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

    Characterization of eukaryotic cell surfaces prior to and after serum protein adsorption by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy - Fibroblasts, HELA epithelial, and smooth muscle cells

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    Elemental surface concentration ratios N/C, O/C, and P/C of fibroblasts, HELA epithelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, prior to and after washing in the absence or presence of serum proteins, were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cell surfaces appeared to adsorb hardly any serum proteins, and the relatively high P/C, as compared to N/C and O/C, elemental surface concentration ratio indicated that the cell surfaces consisted mainly of the phospholipid bilayer, with little or no proteins present. The lack of adsorption of serum proteins to the cell surfaces seems at odds with the common notion that cells require adhesive proteins in order to adhere and spread. However, the adsorption behavior of cellularly produced proteins may be completely different, particularly since they seem to be able to displace adsorbed serum proteins from biomaterials surfaces. Interestingly, only HELA epithelial cells (a tumor cell line) appeared to adsorb a very small amount of proteins.</p
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