Removal of Copper,Nickel and Zinc Ions from Aqueous Solution by Chitosan‐8‐Hydroxyquinoline Beads

In this work, 8‐hydroxyquinoline is used as the active sites in cross‐linked chitosan beads with epichlorohydrin (CT‐8HQ). The CT‐8HQ material was shaped in bead form and used for heavy metal removal from aqueous solution. The study was carried out at pH 5.0 with both batch and column methods and the maximum adsorption capacity of metal ions by the CT‐8HQ was attained in 4 h in the batch experiment. The adsorption capacity order was: Cu²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Zn²⁺ for both mono‐ and multi‐component systems with batch conditions. From breakthrough curves with column conditions, the adsorption capacity followed the order Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Ni²⁺ for both mono‐ and multi‐component systems. The CT‐8HQ beads maintained good metal adsorption capacity for all five cycles with absorbent restoration achieved with the use of 1.0 mol L^–1 HCl solution, with 90% regeneration.     

Impact of constitutive models on the numerical analysis of underground constructions

The constitutive model frequently used in numerical calculations of tunnel excavation is linear-elastic perfectly plastic with a Mohr–Coulomb (MC) failure criterion. Generally, this leads to shallower and wider surface settlement troughs than those observed experimentally. It is therefore necessary to use adapted constitutive models for the design of underground works. In this paper, three constitutive models are implemented in a two-dimensional simulation of an underground excavation in plane strain: a linear-elastic perfectly plastic model (the MC model), an elastoplastic model with isotropic hardening [the hardening soil (HS) model, Schanz et al., Beyond 2000 in computational geotechnics, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 281–290, 1999] and an extension of this model which implies an evolution of the stiffness modulus in the small-strain range according to the strain level (the HS model with small-strain stiffness “HS-Small”, Benz, Small-strain stiffness of soils and its numerical consequences. Ph.D. thesis, Universitat Stuttgart, 189 pp., 2007). The study is based on the results of drained triaxial compression tests representing an overconsolidated clay (Gasparre, Advanced laboratory characterisation of London clay. Ph.D. thesis, Imperial College London, 598 pp., 2005); and is then applied to a shallow tunnel. The impact of the constitutive model is highlighted as well as the limits of the simplest constitutive model.     

Geochemistry of a sediment push-core from the Lucky Strike hydrothermal field,Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Hydrothermal sediment mineralogy and geochemistry can provide insights into seafloor mineralization processes and changes through time. We report a geochemical investigation of a short (22 cm) near-vent hydrothermal metalliferous sediment core from the Lucky Strike site (LS), on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). The sediment was collected from the base of an active white smoker vent and comprises pure hydrothermal precipitates, mainly chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrite and barite, with negligible detrital and biogenic inputs. Geochemically, the core is enriched in elements derived from high-temperature hydrothermalism (Fe, Cu, Zn and Ba) and depleted in elements derived from low-temperature hydrothermalism (Mn), and metasomatism (Mg). The U/Fe content ratio is elevated, particularly in the deeper parts of the core, consistent with uptake from seawater associated with sulphide alteration. Rare earth elements (REE) concentrations are low and chondrite-normalized patterns are characteristic of high-temperature vent fluids with an enrichment in light REE and a pronounced positive Eu anomaly. A stronger positive Eu anomaly associated with higher La_n/Sm_n at the core top is controlled by barite precipitation. The hydrothermal influence on the REE decreases downcore with some evidence for a stronger seawater influence at depth. Nd isotopes also exhibit an increased detrital/seawater influence downcore. Pb isotope ratios are uniform and plot on the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line in a small domain defined by LS basalts and exhibit no detrital or seawater influence. Lucky Strike sediments are derived from high-temperature mineralization and are overprinted by a weak seawater–sediment interaction when compared with other Atlantic hydrothermal sites such as TAG. The larger seawater input and/or a larger detrital contribution in deeper layers can be explained by variable hydrothermal activity during sediment formation, suggesting different pulses in activity of the LS hydrothermal system.     

Sources of organic carbon in the Portuguese continental shelf sediments during the Holocene period

Organic C (OC) and total N (TN) concentrations, and stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C) in muddy deposit sediments of the Northern and Southern Portuguese continental shelf were used to identify sources of fine-sized organic matter (<63 μm) during the Holocene period. Sedimentary columns off the Guadiana (core CRIDA 05), Tagus (core MD 992332) and Douro (core KSGX 57) estuaries are characterised by elemental and isotopic values that reflect distinct sources of organic matter (OC/TN and δ¹³C ranging, respectively, from 8.5 to 21 and from −22.4‰ to −27‰). Intense supplies to the Guadiana continental shelf of fine terrigenous particles during the Younger-Dryas Event are closely linked with higher OC/TN values and lower δ¹³C ratios. During the postglacial transgression phase, an increasing contribution of marine supplies (up to 80%) occurred. Higher δ¹³C (up to −22.4‰) values and low OC/TN ratios (down to 8.5) are found as the sea level approaches the current one. The Upper Holocene records emphasize the return to enhanced terrestrial supplies except for the Little Climatic Optimum between the 11th and 15th centuries AD. This climatic event is especially obvious in the three cores as a return to marine production and a decrease in terrestrial sediment supply to the continental shelf. The return to a cooling event, the Little Ice Age, between the 15th and 19th centuries AD, is mirrored by decreased terrigenous supplies in core KSGX 57. Gradually increasing sedimentation in estuaries, as well as formation of coastal dune fields, have been hypothesized on the basis of increasing δ¹³C and decreasing OC, TN and OC/TN values.     

Production of Reactive Oxygen Species in the Rhizosphere of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spartina-</Emphasis>Dominated Salt Marsh Systems

This paper reports the presence of a metastable mixture of Fe(II), O₂, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in sediment pore water in organic carbon-rich sediments in Spartina alterniflora-dominated salt marsh systems. Field measurements at two different estuarine sites in South Carolina (one heavily urbanized and a protected research reserve) showed a broad region of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production more than 15 cm below the sediment surface within and immediately adjacent to the rhizospheres of S. alterniflora. Dissolved Fe(II) was positively correlated with hydrogen peroxide indicating a possible abiotic pathway to ROS production (r ² = 0.94). The null hypothesis was tested that Fe(II) inventories were maintained by protective ligands and thus unreactive with respect to O₂ consumption and ROS production. The addition of an Fe-binding ligand, DTPA, resulted in rapid decline of ROS in pore water, indicating that Fe(II) was labile. The half-life of superoxide under the measured solution conditions was calculated and found to be less than a second. The combination of high lability and persistent ROS was interpreted to indicate a high rate of Fe(II) and O₂ supply to the pore water. The ²²⁴Ra/²²⁸Th disequilibrium was measured to determine the potential for advective mass transfer of dissolved oxygen via pore water exchange. The estimated pore water exchange of 54 L m^?2 day^?1 was significant but could not support the measured production of ROS alone, the direct exchange of O₂ from the S. alterniflora root system may have contributed significantly to ROS production in the sediments.     

Sediment distribution patterns on the Galicia-Minho continental shelf

A sedimentological and bathymetric study of the Minho-Galicia Shelf shows a strong contrast between a southern shelf region with a thin partially relict cover of sands and gravel, and a northern region where fine-grained sediments predominate. This contrast is explained through differences in the sediment supply, the oceanographic environment (storms and ocean currents) and the morphology of the shelf which results from its underlying tectonic framework.Most sediment is supplied to the Galicia-Minho Shelf by river discharges onto the Minho Shelf, particularly that from the Douro River. In the northern part of the shelf the Galician Rías act as sediment traps rather than sediment suppliers. The bulk of the sediment washes out of the rivers during episodic storm events. While most of the coarse sediments remain deposited close to the coast, the fine-grained material is exported to the outer areas of the shelf. Subsequently, coarse sediments close to the coast are transported southwards by the littoral drift. Whereas the fine-grained material is frequently resuspended through the action of the large swells who influence reaches deep into the water. This frequent resuspension has a long-term sorting effect on the sediments. Furthermore, resuspended sediments on the middle and outer regions of the shelf are transported northwards by a poleward flowing bottom current.As a consequence of the differential transport of coarse sediments to the south, and of the fine-grained sediments to the north, the outer reaches of the Minho Shelf are relatively poor in recent sediments. In many areas relict sediments as well as features associated with ancient coastlines and river mouths, still appear as seabed features. In contrast, the northern regions of the shelf are covered by a thin veneer of fine-grained material that smooth other most of these fossil features.The fine-grained sediment fractions (mostly very fine sands to coarse silts) are deposited in two large mud patches, the Douro and the Galicia Mud Patches, which are situated at water depths of around 100–120 m. These two mud patches are both controlled by the local hydrodynamics and morphology. The Beiral de Viana, to the west of the Douro Mud Patch is a plateau, up to 20 m high lying parallel to the shelf-break and is a morphological expression of an underlying horst system. This plateau acts as a barrier that prevents the drift of some of the fine-grained material to the west, out over the shelf-break and the continental slope. The Galicia Mud Patch is situated on the eastern part of the Galician Shelf to the north of the Douro Mud Patch. It is situated near the extension of the Porto–Tomar fault, which results in the shelf being usually steep in this region, down to a depth of about 100 m. West of this area the slope is much more gentle. Northward transport of the sediment is strongly reduced by the E–W trending outcrops of plutonic and metamorphic rocks.     

Transverse and longitudinal fluid flow modelling in fractured porous media with non‐matching meshes

A new discrete fracture model is introduced to simulate the steady‐state fluid flow in discontinuous porous media. The formulation uses a multi‐layered approach to capture the effect of both longitudinal and transverse permeability of the discontinuities in the pressure distribution. The formulation allows the independent discretisation of mesh and discontinuities, which do not need to conform. Given that the formulation is developed at the element level, no additional degrees of freedom or special integration procedures are required for coupling the non‐conforming meshes. The proposed model is shown to be reliable regardless of the permeability of the discontinuity being higher or lower than the surrounding domain. Four numerical examples of increasing complexity are solved to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the new technique when compared with results available in the literature. Results show that the proposed method can simulate the fluid pressure distribution in fractured porous media. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis demonstrated the stability regarding the condition number for wide range values of the coupling parameter.     

Families of first kind periodic solutions of the spatial and planar elliptic restricted three-body problem with collision

We consider a restricted three-body problem where the primaries are moving in an elliptic collision orbit and the infinitesimal mass moves in a three dimensional space. This paper is devoted to prove analytically the existence of several families of symmetric periodic solutions as continuation of Keplerian circular orbits. In our approach the perturbing parameter is related with the energy of the primaries.