Commercial steel wool for reduction of hexavalent chromium in wastewater: batch kinetic studies and rate model

The present study aims at searching the potential of commercial grade steel wool in reducing hexavalent chromium in aqueous phase under batch mode. About 30 % of the initial hexavalent chromium was found to reduce within 2 h at a pH of 3. However, on testing the combined effects of different process parameters, namely the solution pH, wool loading, etc., the optimum batch parametric condition has been fixed. A moving boundary type kinetic model, which takes into account the effect of passivation along with the direct reduction mechanism to simulate the gross uptake profile of Cr(VI) from the bulk solution is proposed. The effective pore diffusivity of Cr(VI) in commercial steel wool was determined by a suitable global optimization technique. Additionally, the model is also capable to simulate the decline of active external surface area of the wool caused by passivation with time. A good match of the experimental data and model-simulated transient bulk concentration of Cr(VI) (under optimum parametric condition only) establishes the general validity of the proposed model.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nummulites solitarius — Nummulites burdigalensis</Emphasis> lineage in Kutch with remarks on the age of Naredi Formation

Three successive subspecies of Nummulites burdigalensis evolved from N. solitarius. These include N. burdigalensis keupperi, N. burdigalensis burdigalensis and N. burdigalensis cantabricus. The evolving lineage is traced in a borehole drilled through the Naredi Formation of Kutch. The associated taxa include N. solitarius and N. fraasi in the lower part and Assilina laxispira and A. spinosa in the upper part of the formation. The better stratigraphic resolution achieved by subspecies identification and the lately redefined Ilerdien Stage in the background of Early Eocene carbon isotope excursion marker, lead to constrain the age of Naredi Formation as Early Eocene, ranging from shallow-benthic zones SBZ6 to SBZ11.     

Study of precipitation chemistry over an industrial city

The growing trend of industrialization has marked impact on the atmospheric chemistry around the globe. Such impacts are also predicted for developing countries like India. Acid precipitation due to secondary pollutants is one of them. The present investigation was conducted with an aim of studying the precipitation chemistry over Asansol city, India during the monsoon season. The rain water samples, collected on event basis during the period of June to September 2006, were analyzed for HCO₃ ^?, Cl^?, SO₄ ^2?, NO₃ ^?, NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and pH using standard procedures. The study revealed that the precipitation was alkaline in nature with mean pH value of 6.08. Dominant anion in rain water samples was HCO₃ ^? (36 %), whereas Ca²⁺ was highest among the cations (53 %). The observed acidic events, based on pH value, were only 17 %, indicating the alkaline components effectively neutralize rain water over the area. This was also supported by the total alkaline to acid ion ration of 1.05. The ratio of (NO₃-^?+Cl^?) and SO₄ ^2? was >1, indicating that acidic properties were influenced by HNO₃ and HCl. In the ratio between (Ca²++NH₄ ⁺) and (NO₃ ^?+SO₄ ^2?), values >1 were obtained, indicating significant alkaline influence, which effectively prevented acid depositions in the area.     

Composition and adiabatic index of matter at high temperatures

The equation of state and the adiabatic index of thermally dissociated matter composed of nucleons, electrons, positrons, neutrinos, antineutrinos and photons are calculated in the density and temperature ranges, 10⁹q(g cm^–3)10¹³, 2×10¹⁰T K5×10¹¹, respectively. The interaction between nucleons is explicitly included. This leads to a softening of the equation of state. The implications of the results for the problem of supernova collapse are discussed.     

Imprints of late quaternary climatic and sea level changes on East and South Indian coast

Along the coast of East and South India, a slow and minor sea level fall as an immediate response to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) followed by strong aridity and fast retreat of the sea to the outer shelf are indicated by coastal ironstones, traces of channels in nearshore shallow seismic reflectors, and submerged, structureless, multimineral placer sands. Nearshore peat beds and inland beach ridges reflect perturbations during Early to Mid-Holocene sea level rise. The Little Ice Age witnessed shifts in littoral sediment budget, possibly as a result of reduced transport of sediments from the Himalaya to the Bay of Bengal.     

Mineral chemistry of Carlsberg Ridge basalts at 3°35′–3°41′N

Mineral chemical analyses of transitional basalts from the Carlsberg Ridge show plagioclase (An ~ 87 mole %), phenocrysts, and microphenocrysts have a K₂O depletion as compared to the laths (An ~ 79 mole %). Olivine (Fo ~ 91 mole %) are few and rarely zoned. The composition of plagioclase and olivine indicate low pressure equilibrium crystallization. The basalts were probably derived through fractional crystallization at shallow depths under low partial melting conditions. Morphology of plagioclase phenocrysts and bulk rock chemistry suggest magma mixing and fractional crystallization for the origin of these basalts. (Detailed chemical analyses can be obtained from the authors.)     

Nonlinear heave radiation forces on two-dimensional single and twin hulls

A study of nonlinear heave radiation of two-dimensional single and double hulls has been carried out in the time domain. The problem is analyzed by means of a fully nonlinear mathematical model, referred to as the mixed Eulerian–Lagrangian (MEL) model, which is based on an integral relation formulation coupled with time-integration of the nonlinear free-surface boundary conditions. The integral equation solver is based on a cubic-spline boundary-element scheme in which both potential and velocity continuity conditions can be enforced through the intersection points. The body undergoes periodic forced heave oscillation. By implementing effective wave-absorbing beaches at the two ends of the rectangular numerical tank, long-term steady-state force-histories could be achieved consistently in all computations.Results in terms of radiation forces for rectangular and triangular single- and twin-hull geometries are presented and discussed. Linear hydrodynamic forces in terms of added-mass and damping are validated for the rectangular hull. The Fourier-analyzed results reveal the extent of nonlinear (higher-order) components in the force-signals over different parameters which include the amplitudes of oscillation, hull-spacing for the twin-hulls and water depth.     

Precambrian stromatolite and other structures in the Rajpura-Dariba polymetallic ore deposit,Rajasthan, India

Intimate association of 2 billion years old stromatolite with pyritic lead-zinc ores in the Precambrian polymetallic deposit at Rajpura-Dariba in Rajasthan, which hitherto remained unreported, provides an additional documentation of the syn(-dia)-genetic mineralization. The growth form and petrography of the stromatolite structure have been described and an explanation sought regarding the concentration of sulfides along the siliceous and carbonaceous laminations, as well as in the intercolumnar regions. Consideration of the geologic features noted in the mineralized zone and surrounding region suggests that the stratiform ores were deposited in a near-shore shallow marine environment, developed on basement highs and associated with euxinic conditions. Later, the ores were metamorphosed under conditions reaching upto amphibolite facies during a three-stage deformational history of their enclosing rocks. Some salient features of the secondary structures in the ores have been discussed in relation to this deformation history.