An Atomic Force Microscopy study of the growth of calcite in the presence of sodium sulfate

In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to compare the growth of pure calcite and the growth of calcite in the presence of sulfate ions from aqueous solutions at a constant value of supersaturation (S.I. = 0.89) with respect to calcite. The effect of sulfate ions on calcite growth rates is determined and a potential incorporation of sulfate ions is identified in the calcite during growth. Solutions supersaturated with respect to calcite with solution concentration ratio of one and a constant pH of 10.2, were prepared and sulfate was added as Na₂SO₄ aqueous solution. The solution composition was readjusted in order to keep the supersaturation and pH constant. PHREEQC was used to determine relevant solution concentrations. In situ AFM experiments of calcite growth were performed using a fluid cell and flowing solutions passed over a freshly cleaved calcite surface. Growth rates were determined from the closure of the rhombohedral etch pits induced by initial dissolution with pure water. The spreading rate of 2-dimensional nuclei was also measured. At low concentrations of sulfate (≤ 0.5 mM), no effect on the growth rate of the calcite was observed. At higher concentrations (2 to 3 mM) of sulfate, the growth rate increased, possibly because a higher concentration of calcium and carbonate was necessary to maintain the supersaturation constant. At much higher concentrations of additional sulfate (up to 60 mM) the growth rate of the calcite was substantially decreased, despite the fact that a further increase of calcium and carbonate was required. The morphology of 2-dimensional growth nuclei became increasingly elongated with increasing sulfate content. Measurements of step height showed that newly grown steps were approximately 1 Å higher when grown in high sulfate concentrations, compared to steps grown in sulfate-free solutions. At sulfate concentrations above 5 mM the growth mechanism changes from layer growth to surface roughening. These observations suggest that the new growth has incorporated sulfate into the calcite surface.     

Application of Atomic Force Microscopy to Observation of Marine Bacteria

The atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a recently developed, bench-top instrument that can image the surface structures of biological specimens at high resolution with simultaneous measurement of their size. This paper describes the application of AFM to marine bacteria. Both natural and cultured bacteria were retained on a filter or placed on glass, washed, air-dried and observed by AFM. The instrumental condition, the choice of suitable filter, effect of fixation and filtration, comparison with epifluorescent microscopic (EFM) count, and the size and shape of bacterial cells were investigated. An Isopore filter was best for concentration and subsequent observation because of its surface flatness. Cross section images showed that both rod and coccoid cells were flattened, the former usually having a two-humped shape. Bacterial cells were differentiated from non-living particles based on their cross section shape and size. Bacterial counts by AFM and EFM showed good agreement. Although size measurement is easily done by the instrument, AFM tends to overestimate the size of microspheres. More work is thus needed on the size measurement of living organisms. Because AFM easily provides images of natural bacterial cells at high magnification, it can be used as a new tool to study the fine structures of marine bacteria. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pore structure and heterogeneity of shale gas reservoirs and its effect on gas storage capacity in the Qiongzhusi Formation

Fine characterization of pore systems and heterogeneity of shale reservoirs are significant contents of shale gas reservoir physical property research.The research on micro-control factors of low productivity in the Qiongzhusi Formation(Fm.)is still controversial.The lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi Fm.in the Qujing,Yunnan was taken as the object to investigate the influence of mineral compositions on the phys-ical properties of the reservoir and the heterogeneity of shale,using the algorithm to improve the char-acterization ability of Atomic Force Microscopy(AFM).The results showed that:(1)The pores are mainly wedge-shaped pores and V-shaped pores.The pore diameter of the main pore segment ranges from 5 to 10 nm.Mesopores are mainly developed in the Qiongzhusi Fm.shale in Well QD1,with the average pore diameter of 6.08 nm.(2)Microscopic pore structure and shale surface properties show strong hetero-geneity,which complicates the micro-migration of shale gas and increases the difficulty of identifying high-quality reservoirs.(3)The increase of clay mineral content intensifies the compaction and then destroys the pores.Conversely,brittle minerals can protect pores.The support and protection of brittle minerals to pores space depend on their content,mechanical properties and diagenesis.(4)Compression damage to pores,large microscopic roughness and surface fluctuations and strong pore structure heterogeneity are the reasons for the poor gas storage capacity of the Qiongzhusi Fm.,which will lead to poor productivity in the Qiongzhusi Fm.     

蒙脱石酸处理产物的表面结构变化

本文对广东和平蒙脱石及其酸处理产物进行了化学分析、Ｘ射线粉末衍射分析、红外吸收光谱分析、原子力显微镜及魔角旋转核磁共振等研究。结果表明,酸处理浓度对蒙脱石的表面结构有很大的影响。当酸处理浓度达到２０％时,蒙脱石硅氧四面体中的Ｑ＾３Ｓｉ环境发生结构重组,有部分转变为畸变的Ｑ＾３Ｓｉ环境和Ｑ４Ｓｉ环境,而Ａ１的结构状态则没有发生任何变化,这与原子力显微阄的观察结果相一致。     

Ecotoxicity of Musa paradisiaca leaf extract-coated ZnO nanoparticles to the freshwater microcrustacean Ceriodaphnia cornuta

Currently, nanotechnology has gained much interest due to the unique properties of nanomaterials in science and technology. Different types of metallic nanoparticles are routinely synthesized. However, their release into the aquatic environments is a major ecotoxicological concern. In this scenario, it is important to study the potential impact of engineered nanoparticle in aquatic organisms especially freshwater microcrustaceans, such as Ceriodaphnia cornuta. In this study, ZnO NPs were synthesized using the aqueous leaf extracts of Musa paradisiaca and physico-chemically characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra red (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). UV–Vis spectroscopy recorded the absorbance peak of ZnO NPs at 338 nm. XRD analysis showed the various Bragg’s reflection peaks at 100, 002, 101, 102, 110, 103, 200, 112, 201, 004 and 202 lattice planes. FTIR spectroscopy outlined sharp intense peaks at 3416 cm⁻¹, 1388 and 1416 cm⁻¹. SEM showed the spherical shape of ZnO NPs with mean particle size of 23.3 nm. AFM confirmed the spherical shape, nanosize and 3D topography of NPs. The ecotoxicity of ZnO NPs was tested on the freshwater crustacean C. cornuta. ZnO NPs were comparatively less toxic than zinc acetate. ZnO NPs caused 42% mortality of C. cornuta at 50 μg mL⁻¹. However, 80% mortality was observed at 50 μg mL⁻¹ of zinc acetate after 24 h. Light and confocal laser scanning microscopic images evidenced the uptake and accumulation of ZnO NPs in the gut of C. cornuta at 50 μg mL⁻¹ after 24 h. Structural deformities were observed on C. cornuta after treatment with 50 μg mL⁻¹ of ZnO NPs. Overall, this study describes the potential impact of the biologically synthesized ZnO NPs in comparison with zinc acetate in the freshwater crustacean C. cornuta.     

淡水珍珠中文石球粒的发现与成珠机制探讨

长期以来,珍珠的成因理论很少涉及在超显微镜结构研究基础上的具体的珍珠形成机制。珍珠与贝壳珍珠层具有较多的相似性,但也存在很多不同。本文在对AFM下首次观察到的淡水珍珠表面纳米级的六方最紧密堆积文石球粒的研究基础上,结合XRD分析对珍珠内部矿物成分差异的研究,试图在贝壳珍珠层成因理论的基础上探讨淡水珍珠的成珠机制。本文将珍珠的形成过程初步归纳为碳酸钙凝胶的形成,碳酸钙球粒的形成,矿物相的转变和后继生长四个阶段。     

微藻矿化去除Pb2+的研究

藻类作为水体中的初级生产力,通过生物积累、生物矿化等生理功能与环境中的重金属相互作用、对重金属地球生 物化学循环起到关键作用。为了探讨藻类生物矿化去除水体中重金属的现象,文中研究了淡水微藻FZUL-321对Pb2+的去除 及矿化。结果表明：微藻FZUL-321对Pb2+有较强的去除能力,且是一个快速去除的过程。随着Pb2+浓度增大,该微藻对Pb2+ 的去除效果也增大。在弱酸性条件下（pH5.0）,其去除Pb2+的效果较好。如在Pb2+初始浓度为100mg/L,pH5.0,去除时间 为40min,此时Pb2+的去除量为423.2×10-3干重。原子力显微镜（AFM）对细胞表面的形貌进行观察,发现微藻FZUL-321与 Pb2+作用后,细胞形貌和尺寸变化较大,如细胞褶皱并塌陷,细胞表面变得粗糙等。傅里叶红外光谱（FT-IR）结果表明藻 细胞表面的羧基、氨基和磷酸基团等官能团参与前期Pb2+的吸附沉淀。最终,通过一系列生化作用,微藻FZUL-321将离子 态的Pb2+矿化,X射线衍射（XRD）分析显示,矿化产物为Pb5(PO4)3OH。     

Surface selection,adhesion, and retention behavior of marine bacteria on synthetic organic surfaces using self-assembled monolayers and atomic force microscopy

Adhesion of two marine bacteria Shewanella sp. strain T1 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. strain T8, on differently terminated alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers on gold was investigated. The selected model surfaces—terminated by CH₃, OH, NH₂, COOH, OH-terminated oligo(ethylene glycol), and methyl-terminated oligo(ethylene glycol)—are characterized by contact angle measurement using water, methylene iodide, 1-bromonaphthalene, and formamide. Surface free energies were calculated. Cell counting of the two bacterial strains on the model surfaces after different times revealed differences between the two strains by at least one order of magnitude. For the different surfaces, the bacteria showed comparably small selectivity. Atomic force microscopy images of adhered bacteria showed very different fingerprints on the different surfaces. Electronic supplementary material  Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible to authorized users.     

球形棕囊藻溶血毒素对兔红细胞作用的AFM观察

溶血性毒素是有毒藻类分泌较多的一类毒素,具有溶血活性。运用光学显微镜和原子力显微镜(AFM)观察了球形棕囊藻Phaeocystis globosa溶血毒素对兔红细胞的溶血现象。结果显示,经毒素处理后的兔血红细胞边缘凹凸不平,只剩下一小部分残骸。该毒素可能由于其双亲性质与血红细胞膜表面的膜脂连接,产生脂溶效应,使细胞膜破坏。     

Morphological Characteristics of （K, Na）-Rectorite from Zhongxiang Rectorite Deposit, Hubei, Central China

The morphological characteristics of the Zhongxiang (钟祥) rectorite have been studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The structural formula of the Zhongxiang rectorite is: interstratification of (K, Na)-mica and Ca-montmorillouite. SEM observations show that Zhongxiang rectorite occurs as platy and fold-shaped crystals, and mainly as extremely thin plates with thickness ranging from 0.4 to 0.05 μm and a smooth (001) surface. There are well-developed polygonal steps on the surfaces of some thick crystals, suggesting a layer-by-layer growth mechanism. AFM observations show a series of steps with a height of 2 nm on the platy particles, suggesting the stacking of 20 nm fundamental particles. Club-like or fiber-shaped halloysite is included in the platy crystals with their elongated dimension paralleling (001) of the platy crystals or crossing the (001) surface of the platy rectorite, indicating multi-stage crystallization and involvement of hydrothermal fluids. The Zhongxiang rectorite was generated by both layer-by-layer growth mechanism and dissolution and crystallization growth mechanism with multistages.