Mineralogical Analysis of Historical Mortars by FTIR

A method for quantitative mineralogical analysis by ATR-FTIR [1] has been used first time for analysis of historical mortars. Mixtures of different minerals and gypsum were used in order to measure the minimum band intensity that must be considered for calculations and the detection limit. In this way, the molar absorptivity coefficient in the Lambert–Beer law and the components of a mixture in mol percentage can be calculated. The GAMS equation modeling environment and the NLP solver CONOPT (©ARKI Consulting and Development) were used to correlate the experimental data in the samples considered. The characterization of the vernacular mortars by FTIR analysis identifies the predominant minerals of the samples, and in conjunction with XRF and XRD, shows the exact composition of historical mortars, which will optimize the restoration and conservation of monuments, preserving our heritage

Piezometric evolution in the aquifer of Aspe (Alicante)

El aprovechamiento de las aguas subterráneas de pequeños acuíferos ha jugado un papel fundamental en el desarrollo local, no siempre bien conocido y valorado. El acuífero de Aspe, en la provincia de Alicante, es un ejemplo en que este aprovechamiento ha estado relacionado históricamente con el crecimiento y desarrollo de la localidad de Aspe. La fuerte presión a la que se vio sometido durante buena parte del s. XX le llevó a una situación de sobreexplotación, de la cual apenas hay información. El abandono de muchas captaciones y la transformación del uso del territorio han permitido un cambio de su situación en las últimas décadas. El principal objetivo del presente trabajo ha sido actualizar el estado de conocimiento que se tiene de él y establecer su situación hidrodinámica. El seguimiento piezométrico ha permitido establecer una sectorización en función del comportamiento de los niveles piezométricos. Así, los sectores de las Fuentes y Tolomó han mostrado un ascenso progresivo, el cual no se corresponde con el comportamiento observado en los sectores de Alcaná y La Ofra. Estas diferencias de comportamiento apuntan a posibles desconexiones piezométricas entre sectores del acuífero.The use of groundwater in small aquifers has played a key role in local development, not always well known and valued. The aquifer of Aspe, in the province of Alicante, is an example in which this exploitation has been historically related to the growth and development of the town of Aspe. The strong pressure to which it was subjected during the twentieth century led to a situation of overexploitation, of which there is scarcely information. The abandonment of many wells and the transformation of land use have allowed a change of its situation in the last decades. The main objective of the present work has been to update the state of knowledge about it and establish its hydrodynamic situation. The piezometric monitoring has allowed to establish a sectorization according to the behaviors of the levels. Thus, the sectors of the Fuentes and Tolomó have shown a progressive piezometric level rise, which does not correspond to the behavior observed in the sectors of Alcaná and La Ofra. These differences in behavior point to possible piezometric disconnections between sectors of the aquifer.Este trabajo se ha realizado dentro del marco del proyecto ALTERACLIM (CGL2015-69773-C2-1) financiado por el Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad

TOI-3235 b: a transiting giant planet around an M4 dwarf star

We present the discovery of TOI-3235 b, a short-period Jupiter orbiting an M-dwarf with a stellar mass close to the critical mass at which stars transition from partially to fully convective. TOI-3235 b was first identified as a candidate from TESS photometry, and confirmed with radial velocities from ESPRESSO, and ground-based photometry from HATSouth, MEarth-South, TRAPPIST-South, LCOGT, and ExTrA. We find that the planet has a mass of $\mathrm{0.665\pm0.025\,M_J}$ and a radius of $\mathrm{1.017\pm0.044\,R_J}$. It orbits close to its host star, with an orbital period of $\mathrm{2.5926\,d}$, but has an equilibrium temperature of $\mathrm{\approx 604 \, K}$, well below the expected threshold for radius inflation of hot Jupiters. The host star has a mass of $\mathrm{0.3939\pm0.0030\,M_\odot}$, a radius of $\mathrm{0.3697\pm0.0018\,R_\odot}$, an effective temperature of $\mathrm{3389 \, K}$, and a J-band magnitude of $\mathrm{11.706\pm0.025}$. Current planet formation models do not predict the existence of gas giants such as TOI-3235 b around such low-mass stars. With a high transmission spectroscopy metric, TOI-3235 b is one of the best-suited giants orbiting M-dwarfs for atmospheric characterization.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in APJ

Curs 0: preparació per als estudis a l’EEBE

Aquest article presenta el desenvolupament i primers resultats d'ús d'un conjunt de cursos virtuals que pretenen proporcionar uns coneixements inicials bàsics de Matemàtiques, Física i !ímica als estudiants que accedeixen a estudis de grau a l'Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE). Els cursos han estat desenvolupats sobre la plataforma Atenea (Moodle). El seu nucli el constitueixen un conjunt de materials per a autoaprenentatge que inclouen documents escrits, vídeos i tests d'autoavaluació. Els documents escrits i els vídeos corresponen tant a explicacions de teoria com a la resolució detallada d'exercicis. En el marc d'una prova pilot, els cursos, de seguiment voluntari durant el període transcorregut entre la matricula (mitjans de juliol) i l'inici de les classes (mitjans de setembre), van ser publicitats a tots els estudiants de nou accés del curs 2021-2022. Encara que la participació va ser més limitada del que s'esperava (únicament el 22% dels estudiants de nou accés es van inscriure), cal destacar que els estudiants que sí que van seguir els cursos van expressar majoritàriament una bona valoració dels mateixos (al respondre un qüestionari de satisfacció). Del desenvolupament dels cursos i de la realització de la prova pilot s'han obtingut unes quantes conclusions que també queden reflectides al final de l'article

Application of sewage sludge in the manufacturing of ceramic tile bodies

The substitution of clayey raw materials urban sewage sludge in the production of traditional ceramics could give place to a cost saving due to the utilisation of wastes as secondary raw material. At the same time, it can help to solve the environmental problems associated to such wastes. This research shows the results of the substitution of clay for sewage sludge in different proportions in a ceramic body. The sludge characterisation has been carried out by an analytical protocol. After that, the most suitable products were selected regarding to the chemical composition and the technological characterisation of the resulting ceramic material.Peer reviewe

The Lixiviation of Metals When Amending Agricultural Soil of the Mediterranean Basin with Biosolids: Trials in Leaching Columns

An appropriate handling and use of urban and agricultural biosolids on soils are the best means to protect them from erosion, prevent the loss of nutrients due to runoff and washing, and preserve and restore soil productivity. Heavy metal concentrations in biosolids are one of the decisive factors when using this type of waste on soil, due to potentially being harmful to crops and reaching the human food chain. There is a clear need to study the incidence of these metals in agricultural practices in Mediterranean soils. Research for this article was performed as a controlled study using leaching columns. Three treatments were performed by applying different amounts of biosolids (T50: 50,000 kg ha−1, T90: 90,000 kg ha−1, T130: 130,000 kg ha−1), as well as a blank test or control treatment (T0). The presence of macronutrients (K, Na, Ca and Mg), micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn) and three contaminating heavy metals (Cr, Cd and Ni) in lixiviated water was analyzed. Relevant amounts of metals in the wash water were not found. This indicates that, under the watering conditions used, the contaminants and micronutrients analyzed are not a relevant source of water contamination on a common calcareous soil of the Mediterranean Basin

The use of sewage sludge and marble residues in the manufacture of ceramic tile bodies

The substitution of clayey raw materials for other wastes, in this case urban sewage sludge and marble sludge, in the production of traditional ceramics could be cost effective from the utilisation and recycling of these wastes as a secondary raw material. At the same time, it can be helpful in tempering the environmental problems associated with such wastes. This research shows the results of the addition of marble sludge and urban sewage sludge in different proportions to clay in a ceramic body. The most suitable products were selected regarding the mineralogical composition of the resulting ceramic material and its technological behaviour. To evaluate the ceramic properties of the obtained material, several processing and product properties (linear contraction, water absorption, bending strength) were determined. With regard to the technological properties of the final ceramic bodies, there does not seem to be any clear relation between the linear contraction values and the content of residue. However, the increase in water absorption along with the increase in the residue content is evident. The addition of residue decreased the bending strength. The selection of the adequate content of sludge to be added to the ceramic body will be controlled by the usual standards applied to construction materials. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Estimación de la recarga en el acuífero de Aspe

La recarga natural de los acuíferos no solo depende de los valores de precipitación, sino de cómo ésta se presenta distribuida en el tiempo. Este hecho es especialmente relevante en esta zona semiárida con elevadas ETP y escasas precipitaciones. La alimentación al acuífero de Aspe procede de la infiltración directa del agua de lluvia, del retorno de riego y de entradas laterales ocultas desde las formaciones de borde. La situación actual del regadío en la zona es muy diferente a la que se podía observar en los años de su expansión (décadas de los años 70 y 80 del siglo pasado), reduciéndose su extensión en estos últimos tiempos hasta un tercio de la de entonces; ello significa una merma considerable de las entradas por retorno de riego. Las entradas por infiltración directa de la precipitación obtenidas aplicando el modelo RENATA oscilan entre 0,5 y 0,9 hm3/año, representando alrededor del 50% del valor medio de la recarga anual. Las transferencias ocultas desde los acuíferos de borde (0,55 hm3/año) y los retornos de riego (0,33 hm3/año), completarían el valor de la recarga anual al acuífero de Aspe

The use of a calcium carbonate residue from the stone industry in manufacturing of ceramic tile bodies

The substitution of clayey raw materials for other wastes, in this case sludge rich in calcium carbonate, in the production of traditional ceramics could give rise into cost savings due to the utilisation and recycling of wastes as a secondary raw material. At the same time, it can be helpful for solving environmental problems associated with such wastes. This research shows the results of the addition to a clay of a calcium carbonate residue in different proportions (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35%) in a ceramic body. The most suitable products were selected regarding the mineralogical composition of the resulting ceramic material and its technological behavior. In order to evaluate the ceramic properties of the obtained material, several properties of processing and product (linear contraction, water absorption capacity, bending strength) have been determined. With regard to the technological properties of the final ceramic bodies, there seems not to be any clear relation between the values of linear contraction and the percentage of residue. However, the increase in water absorption with the increase in the residue percentage is evident. The addition of residue gives rise to a decrease in the bending strength. The selection of the adequate percentage of sludge to be added to the ceramic body will be controlled by the usual standards applied to specific construction materials. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved