Dehydrogenation characteristics of LiAlH4 improved by in-situ formed catalysts

The hydrogen storage properties and catalytic mechanism of FeCl-doped LiAlHwere investigated in minute details. LiAlH-2 mol% FeClsamples start to release hydrogen at 76 °C, which is 64 °C lower than that of as-received LiAlH. Isothermal desorption measurements show that the 2 mol% FeCl-doped sample releases 7.0 wt% of hydrogen within 17 min at 250 °C. At lower temperatures of 110 °C and 80 °C, the sample can release 4.4 wt% and 3 wt% of hydrogen, respectively. The apparent activation energy of LiAlH-2 mol% FeClsamples for R2 is 105.02 k J/mol, which is 67 k J/mol lower than that of pure LiAlH. The reaction between LiAlHand FeClduring ball milling was found by analyzing the X-ray diffraction results,and Fe-Al particles formed in-situ from the reaction act as the real catalyst for the dehydrogenation of LiAlH.

Application of gas wettability alteration to improve methane drainage performance:A case study

Hydraulic fracturing technique is widely used for methane drainage and has achieved good effects in numerous coal mines,but negative effects may occur as the fracturing fluids are absorbed into the coal seam.Gas wettability alteration(GWA)technology can be used as it can enhance the gas and water mobility during dewatering process as a result of capillary pressure change.However,there have been few reported field tests in coal mines using GWA technology.This paper describes a pilot-scale field test in Xinjing coal mine,Yangquan,China.The fluorocarbon surfactants perfluorooctyl methacrylate monomer-containing polymethacrylate(PMP)was used to alter the wettability of coal seam to strong gas-wetness during the hydraulic fracturing process.The study focuses on the comparison of two boreholes(Boreholes#9 and#10)and one other borehole(Borehole#8)with and without using GWA approach.A well-defined monitoring program was established by measuring the dewatering volume of the fracturing fluid and the drainage volume of methane as well as the concentration.The field test results showed that the average methane drainage rates of Boreholes#9(39.28 m^(3)/d)and#10(51.04 m^(3)/d)with GWA treatment exceeded that of Borehole#8(21.09 m^(3)/d)without GWA treatment,with an increase of 86.3%and 142.1%,respectively.The average methane concentrations of Boreholes#9(4.05%)and#10(6.18%)were 64.6%and 151.2%higher than that of Borehole#8(2.46%),respectively.On the other hand,the dewatering ratio of Boreholes#9(4.36%)and#10(3.11%)was almost 19 times and 13 times greater than that of Borehole#8(0.22%).These field test results were in agreement with the experimental data.The significant increase in both methane concentration and dewatering ratio demonstrated that GWA technology could be applied for enhanced methane drainage in coal mines.Important lessons learned at Xinjing coal mine might be applied to other coal mines in China and elsewhere.

Selenium-oxidizing Agrobacterium sp.T3F4 decreases arsenic uptake by Brassica rapa L.under a native polluted soil

Toxic arsenic(As)and trace element selenium(Se)are transformed by microorganisms but their complex interactions in soil-plant systems have not been fully understood.An Asand Se-oxidizing bacterium,Agrobacterium sp.T3F4,was applied to a native seleniferous As-polluted soil to investigate As/Se uptake by the vegetable Brassica rapa L.and As-Se interaction as mediated by strain T3F4.The Se content in the aboveground plants was significantly enhanced by 34.1%,but the As content was significantly decreased by 20.5% in the T3F4-inoculated pot culture compared to the control(P<0.05).Similar result was shown in treatment with additional 5 mg/kg of Se(IV)in soil.In addition,the As contents in roots were significantly decreased by more than 35% under T3F4 or Se(IV)treatments(P<0.05).Analysis of As-Se-bacterium interaction in a soil simulation experiment showed that the bioavailability of Se significantly increased and As was immobilized with the addition of the T3F4strain(P<0.05).Furthermore,an As/Se co-exposure hydroponic experiment demonstrated that As uptake and accumulation in plants was reduced by increasing Se(IV)concentrations.The 50% growth inhibition concentration(IC50)values for As in plants were increased about one-fold and two-fold under co-exposure with 5 and 10μmol/L Se(IV),respectively.In conclusion,strain T3F4 improves Se uptake but decreases As uptake by plants via oxidation of As and Se,resulting in decrease of soil As bioavailability and As/Se competitive absorption by plants.This provides a potential bioremediation strategy for Se biofortification and As immobilization in As-polluted soil.