Low Chloride Concentrations Research Articles

The Effect of Micro-Impulse Current on the Morphology of Tin Electrodeposited from Chloride Solutions

A flexible and efficient process of tin electrorefining has been devised, using aqueous solutions of relatively low HCl and tin chloride concentrations. Any additives have been avoided, which enhances purity but also incurs the difficulty of obtaining compact cathode deposits. This feature is however assisted by the natural inhibition in complexing chloride solutions and the modulation of the current. Due to the rough dendritic crystal growth, special provisions are required to avoid short circuiting. Using short pulses in the 50-250 μs range of periodically reversed or interrupted currents, the lengths of the usually large dendrites can be moderated. The periodic current with extremely short cycle times and special electrode arrangement can be utilized for averting short circuits and for achieving better coverage of the cathode surface. This technique can be applied efficiently to obtain pure tin from soldering waste materials.

Renin‐Angiotensin‐Aldosterone System and Hypothalamic‐Pituitary‐Adrenal Axis in Hospitalized Newborn Foals

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) and their interactions during illness and hypoperfusion are important to maintain organ function. HPAA dysfunction and relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) are common in septic foals. Information is lacking on the RAAS and mineralocorticoid response in the context of RAI in newborn sick foals. To investigate the RAAS, as well as HPAA factors that interact with the RAAS, in hospitalized foals, and to determine their association with clinical findings. We hypothesized that critical illness in newborn foals results in RAAS activation, and that inappropriately low aldosterone concentrations are part of the RAI syndrome of critically ill foals. A total of 167 foals ≤3days of age: 133 hospitalized (74 septic, 59 sick nonseptic) and 34 healthy foals. Prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study. Blood samples were collected on admission. Plasma renin activity (PRA) and angiotensin-II (ANG-II), aldosterone, ACTH, and cortisol concentrations were measured in all foals. ANG-II, aldosterone, ACTH, and cortisol concentrations as well as ACTH/aldosterone and ACTH/cortisol ratios were higher in septic foals compared with healthy foals (P<.05). No difference in PRA between groups was found. High serum potassium and low serum chloride concentrations were associated with hyperaldosteronemia in septic foals. RAAS activation in critically ill foals is characterized by increased ANG-II and aldosterone concentrations. Inappropriately low cortisol and aldosterone concentrations defined as high ACTH/cortisol and ACTH/aldosterone ratios in septic foals suggest that RAI is not restricted to the zona fasciculata in critically ill newborn foals.

Mechanism of corrosion due to unalloyed copper inclusion in ancient bronzes

Ancient bronze objects buried in the soil for a long time corrode because of various environmental conditions. This can also cause different corrosion morphologies. One of the features of ancient bronzes is the presence of unalloyed copper with copper inclusions (UCI); when in the alloying process, the copper–tin alloy did not form properly. Because of the phenomenon of preferential corrosion, the tin content decreases in an environment with low oxygen and high chloride and sulphide content. The results are various corrosion products. A decorative plaque belonging to the National Museum of Iran has been investigated by X-ray diffraction, SEM-EDX and reflected polarised light optical microscopy. The investigations showed that the UCI effect appeared as type B, i.e. with copper sulphide in the metallic core. The presence of UCI (type B) in ancient bronzes proves that the objects corroded after deposition in the soil.

Effects of Recharge and Discharge on δ2H and δ18O Composition and Chloride Concentration of High Arsenic/Fluoride Groundwater from the Datong Basin, Northern China

To better understand the effects of recharge and discharge on the hydrogeochemistry of high levels of arsenic (As) and fluoride (F) in groundwater, environmental isotopic composition (delta2H and delta18O) and chloride (Cl) concentrations were analyzed in 29 groundwater samples collected from the Datong Basin. High arsenic groundwater samples (As > 50 micog/L) were found to be enriched in lighter isotopic composition that ranged from -92 to -78 per thousand for deuterium (delta2H) and from -12.5 to -9.9 per thousand for oxygen-18 (delta18O). High F-containing groundwater (F > 1 mg/L) was relatively enriched in heavier isotopic composition and varied from -90 to -57 per thousand and from -12.2 to -6.7 per thousand for delta2H and delta18O, respectively. High chloride concentrations and delta18O values were primarily measured in groundwater samples from the northern and southwestern portions of the study area, indicating the effect of evaporation on groundwater. The observation of relatively homogenized and low delta18O values and chloride concentrations in groundwater samples from central part of the Datong Basin might be a result of fast recharge by irrigation returns, which suggests that irrigation using arsenic-contaminated groundwater affected the occurrence of high arsenic-containing groundwater in the basin.

塩化物飛来大気腐食環境における鋼の耐候性に及ぼす Cr 添加の影響

The role of chromium contents on atmospheric corrosion of steel in the environment containing chloride ion was studied by exposure test and electrochemical experiments. It was found that corrosion resistance of 1% chromium steel was lower than that of the steel without chromium in the environment whose concentration of chloride ion was very high by the exposure test. On the other hand, containing chromium increases corrosion resistance in the environment with low chloride concentration. In neutral chloride solution corrosion rate of 1% chromium steel was lower than that of the steel without chromium, but was high in low pH chloride solution. The pH dependence of corrosion resistance of 1% chromium steel corresponded with the corrosion resistance by the exposure test.

Preliminary Study of the Nutritional Status of Pistachio in Aegina, Greece

Pistachio trees have been cultivated on the island of Aegina, Greece, since 1860. The dominant variety Aegina is one of the finest pistachio varieties in the world. The aim of the study was to collect some information on the inorganic nutrition of pistachio in the area for fertilization recommendations to be more appropriate. Additionally, the causes of two types of symptoms observed in some orchards during summer have been investigated. The first one concerned severe burning or scorching on the tips or edges of the leaves, and the other concerned small, narrow leaves bunched together at the tips of the shoots. Thus, in the first days of August, fully expanded subterminal leaflets from nonfruiting branches from 41 commercial orchards, consisting of pistachio trees var. Aegina grafted onto Pistacia terebinthus cv. Tsikoudia, were collected and chemically analyzed. The results showed that 54% of pistachio orchards presented leaf nitrogen concentration below the critical value; the percentages were 20% in the case of phosphorus and 22% in the case of potassium. Calcium level was within the normal range in all orchards, whereas leaf chlorine was excessive in some cases. With regard to micronutrients iron, manganese and boron, levels were within the normal ranges, 30–50 ppm, 20–80 ppm, and 100–200 ppm, respectively, but zinc was below the critical value in 51% of the orchards tested. As for the symptoms observed, the first type of symptoms should be related to low potassium and/or excessive chloride concentration, whereas the second one should be related to zinc deficiency.

Studies of Corrosion of Al Thin Films using Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy

ABSTRACTA fundamental understanding of the processes that occur during early stages of corrosion is traditionally limited by the dearth of techniques that probe the liquid-solid interface with both high spatial resolution and microstructural detail such as grain size and orientation. Here, we demonstrate that with a microfluidic liquid flow cell holder, we can track the progress of corrosion in situ in Al thin films with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To mitigate the loss of resolution caused by imaging through liquid, we developed a method in which the liquid is temporarily de-wetted from the entire windowed area by switching the liquid stream from pure water to a mixture of ethanol and water. In the de-wetted region, we then collected images of the film microstructure with high spatial resolution over regular intervals while maintaining a low electron flux over the imaged area to minimize beam-induced effects. For as-deposited films, we find that the corrosion progresses in a fractal manner, consistent with reported behavior for films studied in water with low iron and chloride concentrations. For films that were subjected to rapid thermal annealing, we observe a higher density of pitting events, which we attribute to defects created by thermal stress in the oxide film. Furthermore, we observe that the pits can form at multiple locations in a single grain and are not confined to grain boundaries.

Seasonal and interannual variability of elemental carbon in the snowpack of Storglaciären, northern Sweden

AbstractWe studied the variability of elemental carbon (EC) over 3 years (2009–11) in the winter snowpack of Storglaciären, Sweden. The goal of this study was to relate the seasonal variation in EC to specific snow accumulation events in order to improve understanding of how different atmospheric circulation patterns control the deposition of EC. Specifically, we related meteorological parameters (e.g. wind direction, precipitation) to snow physical properties, EC content, stable-isotope δ18O ratios and anion concentrations in the snowpack. The distribution of EC in the snowpack varied between years. Low EC contents corresponded to a predominance of weather systems originating in the northwest, i.e. North Atlantic. Analysis of single layers within the snowpacks showed that snow layers enriched in heavy isotopes coincided predominantly with low EC contents but high chloride and sulfate concentration. Based on this isotopic and geochemical evidence, snow deposited during these events had a strong oceanic, i.e. North Atlantic, imprint. In contrast, snow layers with high EC content coincided with snow layers depleted in heavy isotopes but high anion concentrations, indicating a more continental source of air masses and origin of EC from industrial emissions.

Immunolocalization of cation-chloride cotransporters in the developing and mature spinal cord of opossums, Monodelphis domestica.

Spinal inhibition is required to generate coordinated outputs between antagonistic muscles during locomotion. It relies on low neuronal chloride concentration set by two cation-chloride cotransporters, NKCC1 and KCC2 which, respectively, pumps Cl− in or out of neurons. It is generally accepted that NKCC1 is gradually inactivated during development, while KCC2 is upregulated and activated, resulting in low intracellular [Cl−]. Newborn opossums are very immature but perform rhythmic and alternate movements of the forelimbs to crawl on the mother's belly and attach to a teat. Their hindlimbs are immobile. The alternation of the forelimbs suggests that mechanisms allowing spinal inhibition are present at birth. We studied the anatomical basis of inhibition in the spinal enlargements of postnatal opossums by immunolocalizing NKCC1 and KCC2. In some specimens, motoneurons and sensory afferents were labeled with TRDA prior to immunolabeling. At birth, both NKCC1 and KCC2 are detected in the presumptive gray and white matter of the ventral and the intermediolateral cord of both enlargements, but are sparse in the dorsal horn, where KCC2 is mostly seen on a small bundle of dendrites along primary afferents. KCC2 labeling is bright and has a mesh-like appearance in the gray matter and a radial appearance in the white matter, whereas NKCC1 is pale and diffuse. The subsequent expression of the cotransporters follows general ventrodorsal and mediolateral gradients, with the lumbar segments slightly lagging the cervical segments, until the mature pattern is observed around the 5th week. At all ages studied, KCC2 labeling is strong in the periphery of neurons. NKCC1 labeling decreases and becomes more uniformly distributed in the cells with age. Despite the significant anatomical and motor differences between the forelimbs and the hindlimbs of neonatal opossums, the maturation of KCC2 and NKCC1 is quite similar in both enlargements.

Determinação espectrofotométrica de cloreto em cimento após preparo de amostra por piroidrólise

A method based on pyrohydrolysis was proposed for cement sample preparation and further chloride determination by spectrophotometry using flow injection analysis. Analytical parameters were evaluated and, under the selected conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.2 to 10.0 µg mL-1 with r2 = 0.998. The limit of detection was5 µg g-1 of chloride and the relative standard deviation was less than 7%. The proposed pyrohydrolysis method is relatively simple and can be used for sample preparation for further spectrophotometric determination of low concentrations of chloride in cement.

Activation of 5-HT2A receptors upregulates the function of the neuronal K-Cl cotransporter KCC2.

In healthy adults, activation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)(A) and glycine receptors inhibits neurons as a result of low intracellular chloride concentration ([Cl(-)](i)), which is maintained by the potassium-chloride cotransporter KCC2. A reduction of KCC2 expression or function is implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders, including spasticity and chronic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI). Given the critical role of KCC2 in regulating the strength and robustness of inhibition, identifying tools that may increase KCC2 function and, hence, restore endogenous inhibition in pathological conditions is of particular importance. We show that activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) type 2A receptors to serotonin hyperpolarizes the reversal potential of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs), E(IPSP), in spinal motoneurons, increases the cell membrane expression of KCC2 and both restores endogenous inhibition and reduces spasticity after SCI in rats. Up-regulation of KCC2 function by targeting 5-HT(2A) receptors, therefore, has therapeutic potential in the treatment of neurological disorders involving altered chloride homeostasis. However, these receptors have been implicated in several psychiatric disorders, and their effects on pain processing are controversial, highlighting the need to further investigate the potential systemic effects of specific 5-HT(2A)R agonists, such as (4-bromo-3,6-dimethoxybenzocyclobuten-1-yl)methylamine hydrobromide (TCB-2).

Highly Conductive Carbon Nanotube Matrix Accelerates Developmental Chloride Extrusion in Central Nervous System Neurons by Increased Expression of Chloride Transporter KCC2

Exceptional mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT) have attracted neuroscientists and neural tissue engineers aiming to develop novel devices that interface with nervous tissues. In the central nervous system (CNS), the perinatal chloride shift represents a dynamic change that forms the basis for physiological actions of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, a process of fundamental relevance for normal functioning of the CNS. Low intra-neuronal chloride concentrations are maintained by a chloride-extruding transporter, potassium chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2). KCC2's increasing developmental expression underlies the chloride shift. In neural injury, repressed KCC2 expression plays a co-contributory role by corrupting inhibitory neurotransmission. Mechanisms of Kcc2 up-regulation are thus pertinent because of their medical relevance, yet they remain elusive. Here, it is shown that primary CNS neurons originating from the cerebral cortex, cultured on highly-conductive few-walled-CNT (fwCNT) have a strikingly accelerated chloride shift caused by increased KCC2 expression. KCC2 upregulation is dependent on neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) and, furthermore, on calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II, which is linked to VGCC-mediated calcium-influx. It is also demonstrated that accelerated Kcc2 transcription in brain-slices prepared from genetically-engineered reporter mice, in which Kcc2 promoter drives luciferase, when the cerebral cortex of these mice is exposed to fwCNT-coated devices. Based on these findings, whether fwCNT can enhance neural engineering devices for the benefit of neural injury conditions associated with elevated neuronal intracellular chloride concentration-such as pain, epilepsy, traumatic neural injury and ischemia-can now be addressed. Taken together, our novel insights illustrate how fwCNTs can promote low neuronal chloride in individual neurons and thus inhibitory transmission in neural circuits.

Oscillatory passive active transition during the corrosion in nickel chromium layer systems

The electrochemical corrosion of the porous layer system nickel/chromium was investigated combining classical open circuit measurements, cyclic voltammetry, and zero-resistance Ammeter experiments. Under moderate conditions as there are low chloride concentration, pH 6, and high oxygen content the nickel layer acts as sacrificial anode, whereas at the chromium top layer oxygen reduction takes place. Under conditions of limited access of oxygen into pores potential oscillations occur which indicates a change of corrosion mechanism. Thereby the anode reaction changes between nickel and chromium dissolution. The respective cathode reaction is oxygen reduction or hydrogen evolution. The modeling of the potential oscillation reveals the character of the potential-dependent Flade potential as function of the proton concentration.

Pulp mill wastewater sediment reveals novel methanogenic and cellulolytic populations

Pulp mill wastewater generated from wheat straw is characterized as high alkalinity and very high COD pollution load. A naturally developed microbial community in a pulp mill wastewater storage pool that had been disused were investigated in this study. Owing to natural evaporation and a huge amount of lignocellulose's deposition, the wastewater sediment contains high concentrations of organic matters and sodium ions, but low concentrations of chloride and carbonate. The microbiota inhabiting especially anaerobic community, including methanogenic arhcaea and cellulolytic species, was studied. All archaeal sequences fall into 2 clusters of family Halobacteriaceae and methanogenic archaeon in the phylum Euryarchaeota. In the methanogenic community, phylogenetic analysis of methyl coenzyme M reductase A (mcrA) genes targeted to novel species in genus Methanoculleus or novel genus of order Methanomicrobiales. The predominance of Methanomicrobiales suggests that methanogenesis in this system might be driven by the hydrogenotrophic pathway. As the important primary fermenter for methane production, the cellulolytic community of enzyme GHF48 was found to be dominated by narrower breadth of novel clostridial cellulase genes. Novel anoxic functional members in such extreme sediment provide the possibility of enhancing the efficiency of anoxic treatment of saline and alkaline wastewaters, as well as benefiting to the biomass transformation and biofuel production processes.

In situ study the dependence of electrochemical migration of tin on chloride

The dependence of electrochemical migration (ECM) of tin on chloride was investigated using in situ electrochemical and optical techniques. An interesting phenomenon is first found that tin dendrite grows not only in the electrolyte layer with low chloride concentration but also in the electrolyte layer with high chloride concentration, although it is generally suggested that the growth of tin dendrite through ECM is not available in solution with high chloride concentration. Mechanisms have been proposed to explain the ECM of tin in the electrolyte layer with various chloride concentrations.

The role of recharge and evapotranspiration as hydraulic drivers of ion concentrations in shallow groundwater on Everglades tree islands, Florida (USA)

Recently, evapotranspiration has been hypothesized to promote the secondary formation of calcium carbonate year-round on tree islands in the Everglades by influencing groundwater ions concentrations. However, the role of recharge and evapotranspiration as drivers of shallow groundwater ion accumulation has not been investigated. The goal of this study is to develop a hydrologic model that predicts the chloride concentrations of shallow tree island groundwater and to determine the influence of overlying biomass and underlying geologic material on these concentrations. Groundwater and surface water levels and chloride concentrations were monitored on eight constructed tree islands at the Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA) from 2007 to 2010. The tree islands at LILA were constructed predominately of peat, or of peat and limestone, and were planted with saplings of native tree species in 2006 and 2007. The model predicted low shallow groundwater chloride concentrations when inputs of regional groundwater and evapotranspiration-to-recharge rates were elevated, while low evapotranspiration-to-recharge rates resulted in a substantial increase of the chloride concentrations of the shallow groundwater. Modeling results indicated that evapotranspiration typically exceeded recharge on the older tree islands and those with a limestone lithology, which resulted in greater inputs of regional groundwater. A sensitivity analysis indicated the shallow groundwater chloride concentrations were most sensitive to alterations in specific yield during the wet season and hydraulic conductivity in the dry season. In conclusion, the inputs of rainfall, underlying hydrologic properties of tree islands sediments and forest structure may explain the variation in ion concentration seen across Everglades tree islands. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Radioprotective effect on HepG2 cells of low concentrations of cobalt chloride: induction of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha and clearance of reactive oxygen species

It has been found that low doses of certain toxicants might generate a protective response to cellular damage. Previous data have shown that elevated doses of cobalt (Co) induce injury to cells and organisms or result in radiological combined toxicity. Whether low doses of Co generate a protective effect or not, however, remains controversial. In this study, we investigated the effect and mechanism of action of low dose cobalt chloride (CoCl2, 100 μM) on the viability of irradiated cells. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay was used to observe the radio-sensitivity of HepG2 cells under different pretreatments. The alteration of intracellular DNA damage was further measured using micronucleus (MN) assay. Levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression and its target gene, EPO, were monitored by western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content was determined by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) probe staining. Our results show that low dose CoCl2does not influence HepG2 cell viability, but induces the expression of HIF-1α, followed by increased radio-resistance. Additionally, cells treated with HIF-1α siRNA retained a partial refractory response to irradiation concomitant with a marked reduction in intracellular ROS. The change of MN further indicated that the reduction of DNA damage was confirmed with the alteration of ROS. Our results demonstrate that low dose CoCl2may protect cells against irradiative harm by two mechanisms, namely HIF-1α expression and ROS clearance.

Kinetics and mechanism of chlorate-chloride reaction

The kinetics of chlorate-chloride reaction was studied following the formation of ClO2• by UV-Vis spectroscopy. For comparison with other results in the literature, the initial rate was measured after small induction period. The results show a special effect of a saturation profile for the initial chloride concentration, suggesting the formation of the intermediate Cl2O3(2-). At low chloride concentration, the reaction orders for chlorate, chloride and H+ were 1.03 ± 0.05, 1.02 ± 0.03 and 2.80 ± 0.03, respectively. These order values must be considered with care because they were calculated using the maximum rate values after induction period. In fact, the presence of this induction period indicates that the system is complex. Then, a mechanism was proposed to explain the experimental results, and includes the reaction between two ClOClO to form ClO2•. It was able to model the experimental curves at different [H+]0 and at low and high [Cl-]0.

Chloride ions as an agent promoting the oxidation of synthetic dyestuff on BDD electrode

The effect of the presence of chloride ions on anodic oxidation of synthetic dye solution was investigated and compared to other anions (NO3-, HCO3- and SO42-). A boron-doped diamond electrode was used as an anode in bulk electrolysis. Dye degradation was monitored following the relative absorbance removal related to discolouration and aromatic derivates degradation and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The study results showed that not only fast discolouration (k = 76.8) but also dye mineralisation is obtained with addition of chloride thanks to the electrogeneration of active chlorine (HClO/ClO-). The comparison effect using others support electrolytes such as nitrates and hydrogen carbonate revealed strong inhibition for NO3- concerning dye degradation. Average current efficiency and energy consumption (E) were also investigated. An addition of low chloride concentration (0.02 M) in Na2SO4 electrolyte significantly enhances the degradation rate of Cibacron Yellow. An optimised concentration of 0.05M NaCl leads to an increase by 42% of COD removal after 20 min of treatment and decreases the consumption of energy by 333 kWh (kg COD)-1. This result presents Cl- as a promoting agent of the mineralisation of the dye and is very interesting for a subsequent potential industrial application to dyeing waste water treatment for recycling.

Localized Corrosion of Stainless Steel in a Nuclear Waste Cooling Water System—Part 4: Artificial Pit Investigation of Nitrate Inhibition

A nuclear waste cooling water system, constructed from an austenitic stainless steel, is known to be susceptible to localized corrosion because of the combined presence of low concentrations of chloride (Cl−) ions in the water (&amp;lt;10 mg/L) and oxidants produced by water radiolysis. Corrosion propagates in the system as pitting corrosion, and inspections of accessible components indicated that large pit cavities could form. To investigate possible inhibition options, an artificial pit, termed the wire-electrode artificial pit, was developed and shown to be capable of sustaining corrosion under representative conditions. Tests carried out using this artificial pit to investigate the effect of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) added to the bulk water are reported here. The results showed that nitrate (NO3−) was capable of affecting inhibition at 60°C, although large concentrations and long times were required, e.g., inhibition took up to 20 days at 60,000 mg/L NO3−. Complimentary polarization tests were also carried out in a range of artificial pit solutions as a function of nitrate concentration to aid interpretation of the wire-electrode tests. The existence of a threshold molar NO3−/Cl− ratio for passivation to occur was identified but not clearly defined.