Effect of Saline Water on Soil Acidity, Alkalinity and Nutrients Leaching in Sandy Loamy Soil in Rwamagana Bella Flower Farm, Rwanda

The necessity to saline and sodic waters is sometimes used for irrigating agricultural activities under certain circumstances, but it is important to note that the use of these waters comes with specific considerations and limitations. One way to decrease undesirable effects of sodic waters on the physical and chemical properties of soils is to apply organic and chemical amendments within the soil. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of saline water on soil acidity, alkalinity and nutrients leaching in sandy loamy soil at Bella flower farm, in Rwamagana District, Rwanda. The water used was from the Muhazi Lake which is classified as Class I (Saline water quality). Column leaching experiments using treated soils were then conducted under saturated conditions. The soil under experimental was first analyzed for its textural classification, soil properties and is classified as sandy loamy soil. The t-test was taken at 1%, 5% and 10% levels of statistical significance compared to control soil. The results indicated that the application of saline water to soils caused an increase in some soil nutrients like increase of Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Sulphur (S), CN ratio and Sodium (Na+) and decreased soil texture, physical and chemical properties and remained soil nutrients. Consequently, the intensive addition of saline water leachates to soil in PVC pipes led to decreased of soil EC through leaching and a raiser Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP). The rate of saline water application affected the increase accumulation of SAR and Na% in the top soil layers. The study indicated that saline water is an inefficient amendment for sandy soil with saline water irrigation. The study recommends further studies with similar topic with saline water irrigation, as it accentuated the alkalinity levels.

Effects of Exogenous Abscisic Acid and Water Stress on the Growth Response of Subterranean Clover of Different Genotypes

The response of subterranean clover ( Trifolium subterraneum L.) to different abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations (10 -6 , 10 -5 , 10 -4 mol/L) in nutrient solution and to water stress were studied in growth room. Six cultivars of contrasting yield capacity were compared. Plants remained growing in Hoagland solution or pots until at least four full_developed leaves appeared. The ABA was then applied and the fresh weight, leaf number and length of the largest root were measured at 1, 4, 7 and 11 d after ABA treatment. The above parameters were also measured at 15 d under water stress. In all the tested genotypes ABA caused similar reduction in these growth parameters, as well as a significant decrease of leaf water potential which was dependent on ABA concentration. The average growth reduction after 11 d under 10 -4 mol/L ABA coincided with the range of these crops under water stress in pot experiments. On average of the different genotypes, leaf number, area of full_developed leaf and the dry weight per plant decreased by about 50% whereas the root/shoot ratio increased by 80%.The genotype variation and ranking for this treatment were rather similar to the same genotypes in pot experiments. The genotypes, Clare, Nuba and Seaton Park, showed the best results under both control and ABA treated conditions and water stress conditions. The similarity between the response to ABA in nutrient solution and to water stress opens the possibility to use this approach as a way to quantify the drought resistance of subterranean clover genotypes.

Extraction of molybdenum and nickel from roasted Ni-Mo ore by hydrochloric acid leaching, sulphation roasting and water leaching

To extract molybdenum and nickel from the roasted Ni-Mo ore, a process of hydrochloric acid leaching, sulphation roasting and water leaching was investigated. The results showed that this process could get a high leaching rate of Mo and Ni. Under the optimum conditions of hydrochloric acid leaching （roasted Ni-Mo ore leached with 0.219 mL/g hydrochloric acid addition at 65 ℃ for 30 min with a L/S ratio of 3 mL/g）, sulphation roasting （51.9% sulfiaric acid addition, roasting temperature 240 ℃ for 1 h）, followed by leaching with the first stage hydrochloric acid leaching solution at 95 ℃ for 2 h, the leaching rates of Mo and Ni reached 95.8% and 91.3%, respectively.

Effects of fulvic acid and humic acid on aluminum speciation in drinking water

This article focused on the influences of fulvic acid and humic acid on aluminum speciation in drinking water. Factors including the concentration of residual chlorine and pH value had been concerned. Aluminum species investigated in the experiments included inorganic mononuclear, organic mononuclear, mononuclear, polymer, soluble, and suspended forms. It was found that the effects of fulvic acid and humic acid on aluminum speciation depended mainly on their molecular weight. Fulvic acid with molecular weight less than 5000 Dalton had little influence on aluminum speciation; while fulvic acid with molecular weight larger than 5000 Dalton and humic acid would increase the concentration of soluble aluminum significantly even at concentration below 0.5 mg/L （calculated as TOC）. Aluminum species, in the present of fulvic acid with molecular weight larger than 5000 Dalton and humic acid, were more stable than that in the present of fluvic acid with molecular mass less than 5000 Dalton, and varied little with reaction time. Within pH range 6.5-7.5, soluble aluminum increased notably in water with organic matter. As the concentration of residual chlorine increased, the effects of fulvic acid and humic acid became weak. The reactions between humic acid, fulvic acid with large molecular weight, and aluminum were considered to be a multi-dentate coordination process. With the consideration of aluminum bioavailability, reducing the concentration of fulvic acid and humic acid and keeping the pH value among 6.5-7.5 were recommended during drinking water treatment.

Preparation and Catalytic Application of Novel Water Tolerant Solid Acid Catalysts of Zirconium Sulfate/HZSM-5

Esterification of acrylic acid（AA） to produce AA esters has widespread application in the chemical industry. A series of water tolerant solid acid catalysts was prepared, and characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption, TGA-DTA, XPS, and ammonia adsorption FTIR. The effects of Si/Al ratio, zirconium sulfate（ZS） loading on HZSM-5 and calcination temperature on the esterification were investigated. When 20% （mass fraction） ZS is loaded on HZSM-5, the conversion of AA reaches 100%. XRD analysis indicates that ZS is highly dispersed on HZSM-5 because no crystalline structure assigned to ZS is found. Catalytic activity and hydrophobicity of ZS supported on HZSM-5 are higher compared with those of parent ZS or HZSM-5. Results show that this kind of novel catalysts is an efficient water tolerant solid acid catalyst for esterification reactions.

Occurrence of Haloacetic Acids in Drinking Water in Certain Cities of China

Objective Since haloacetic acids (HAAs), which are nonvolatile and of high carcinogenic risk, are common species of chlorinated disinfection by-products(DBPs) in drinking water, and little has been known in China, it is necessary to make a survey about the kinds and levels of HAAs in drinking water of the nation. Method HAAs were analyzed using gas chromatography with electron capture detector(GC/ECD) and relatively complex pretreatment process of sample was applied. Five main cities in different areas of China were chosen in the survey. Results Studies showed that the main species of HAAs in drinking water in China were DCAA and TCAA, ranging from 0.4 礸/L to 12.85 礸/L and from 0.56 礸/L to 10.98 礸/L, respectively. MBAA and DBAA were also detected in one city, ranging from 2.20 礸/L to 4.95 礸/L and 1.10 礸/L to 2.81 礸/L, respectively. Therefore, the contents of HAAs varied, usually no more than 25 礸/L. Based on the acquired data to date, it is known that the concentrations of HAAs in drinking water in China were surely under the limits of Sanitary Standard for Drinking Water Quality (China, 2001). Conclusion A wider survey of HAAs in drinking water should be conducted throughout the nation to get adequate data and information, the ultimate aim of which is to control HAAs pollution and keep the balance between microbiological safety insurance and chemical risk control, minimize the formation of DBPs and ensure the safety of water supply at the same time.

Highly efficient synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones catalyzed by heteropoly acids in water

Heteropoly acids efficiently catalyzed the cyclocondensation reaction of anthranilamide with aldehydes in water at ambient temperature and afforded the corresponding 2,3-dihydro-4（1H）-quinazolinones compounds in good to excellent yields.This method provides mild reaction conditions and clean reaction profiles,using a small quantity of catalyst and a simple workup procedure.

Amino Acids Production from Fish Proteins Hydrolysis in Subcritical Water

The hydrolysis technology and reaction kinetics for amino acids production from fish proteins in subcritical water reactor without catalysts were investigated in a reactor with volume of 400 ml under the conditions of reaction temperature from 180-320℃, pressure from 5-26 MPa, and time from 5-60 rain. The quality and quantity of amino acids in hydrolysate were determined by bioLiquid chromatography, and 17 kinds of amino acids were obtained. For the important 8 amino acids, the experiments were conducted to examine the effects of reaction temperature, pressure and time on amino acids yield. The optimum conditions for high yield are obtained from the experimental results. It is found that the nitrogen and carbon dioxide atmosphere should be used for leucine, isoleucine and histidine production while the air atmosphere might be used for other amino acids. The reaction time of 30 rain and the experimental temperature of 220℃, 240℃ and 260℃ were adopted for reaction kinetic research. The total yield of amino acids versus reaction time have been examined experimentally. According to these experimental data and under the condition of water excess, the macroscopic reaction kinetic equation of fish proteins hydrolysis was obtained with the hydrolysis reaction order of 1.615 and the rate constants being 0.0017, 0.0045 and 0.0097 at 220℃, 240℃ and 260℃ respectively. The activation energy is 145.1 kJ·mol^- 1.

Researches on Formation of Haloacetic Acids in Chlorination of Drinking Water by a Novel Technique

Haloacetic acids(HAAs) are formed during the chlorination of drinking water,which are harmful to people′s health due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. In the present study,a detection method combining methyl tert -butyl ether(MtBE) extraction with acid catalysis and gas chromatography coupled with an electron capture detector(GC/ECD) was developed for determining HAAs. The detection limit of this method(MDL) and relative standard deviation(RSD) were below 0.37 μg/L and 6.2%,respectively. The laboratory chlorination experiments were conducted with the purpose of investigating the influences of reaction time,temperature,UV_ 254 ,bromide and ammonia-nitrogen on the formation of HAAs. The results show that the formation amount of HAAs increases with increasing reaction time and temperature,respectively;and there exists a linear relationship between the formation of HAAs and UV_ 254 . The formation amount of HAAs decreases first and then increases as the bromide ion concentration increases,and adding NH +_4 is a possible way to control the formation of HAAs.

Behaviour of Tributylamine as Entrainer for the Separation of Water and Acetic Acid with Reactive Extractive Distillation

A new separation method, reactive extractive distillation, was put forward for separating water and acetic acid. The separation mechanism was analyzed through infrared spectra technique. Isobaric vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data at 101.33 kPa for the binary or ternary systems consisting of water, acetic acid and tributylamine were measured. The activity coefficients were correlated by using Wilson, NRTL, and UNIQUAC Equations.The VLE experiment showed that tributylamine could enhance the relative volatility of water to acetic acid. An extractive distillation experiment was carried out and proved that tributylamine was a good extractive solvent.

Recent progress of precious-metal-free electrocatalysts for efficient water oxidation in acidic media

The realization of efficient oxygen evolution reaction(OER) is critical to the development of multiple sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies, especially hydrogen production via water electrolysis. To achieve the massive application of hydrogen energy and mass-scale hydrogen production from water splitting drives the pursuit of competent precious-metal-free electrocatalysts in acidic media, where the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) is more facilitated. However, the development of high-efficient and acid-stable OER electrocatalysts, which are robust to function stably at high oxidation potentials in the acidic electrolyte, remains a great challenge. This article contributes a focused, perceptive review of the up-to-date approaches toward this emerging research field. The OER reaction mechanism and fundamental requirements for oxygen evolution electrocatalysts in acid are introduced. Then the progress and new discoveries of precious-metal-free active materials and design concepts with regard to the improvement of the intrinsic OER activity are discussed. Finally, the existing scientific challenges and the outlooks for future research directions to the fabrication of emerging, earth-abundant OER electrocatalysts in acid are pointed out.

Preparation and photocatalytic properties of ilmenite NiTiO_3 powders for degradation of humic acid in water

The powders of ilmenite structure NiTiO3 were prepared by a modified Pechini process using tetrabutyl titanate and nickel acetate as raw materials, and using citric acid and ethanol as a chelating agent and a solvent respectively. The powder samples were characterized by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis （TG-DTA） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The photocatalytic activity of NiTiO3 under the irradiation of ultraviolet rays （UV） light was evaluated by degrading hurnic acid （HA） in water as a probe reaction. The possible photodegra- dation mechanism was studied by the examination of active species .OH, .O2, and holes （h＋） through adding scavengers. The TG-DTA and XRD results indicated that the good crystal structure of ilmenite phase NiTiO3 could be obtained when the Ni-Ti citrate complex was cal- cined at 600℃. The photocatalytic activity experiments indicated that NiTiO3 had favourable photocatalytic activity under the irradiation of UV light, and the photocatalytic degradation rate of HA reached 95.3% after a 2.5 h reaction with the photocatalyst calcined at 600℃ and a photocatalyst dosage of 0.4 g/L. The possible photocatalytic mechanism was deduced that holes （h＋） and .OH radicals are the major reactive active species in the photocatalytic reaction, and dissolved oxygen plays a weak role in the degradation of HA.

Solubilities of Isophthalic Acid in Acetic Acid ＋ Water Solvent Mixtures

The solubilities of isophthalic acid （1） in binary acetic acid （2） ＋ water （3） solvent mixtures were determined in a pressurized vessel. The temperature range was from 373.2 to 473.2K and the range of the mole fraction of acetic acid in the solvent mixtures was from x2 = 0 to 1. A new method to measure the solubility was developed, which solved the problem of sampling at high temperature. The experimental results indicated that within the temperature range studied, the solubilities of isophthalic acid in all mixtures showed an increasing trend with increasing tem- perature. The expe^mental solubilities were co .rrelated by the Buchowski equation, and the calculate results showed good agreement with the experimental solubilities. Furthermore, the mixed solvent systems were found to exhibit a maximum solubility effect on the solubility, which may be attributed to the intermolecular association between the solute and the solvent mixture： The maximum solubility effect was well modeled by the modified Wilson equation.

Evaluation of trans-ferulic acid degradation by dielectric barrier discharge plasma combined with ozone in wastewater with different water quality conditions

In this study, dielectric barrier discharge plasma and ozone(O_3) were combined to synergistically degrade trans-ferulic acid(FA), and the effect of water quality on FA degradation was studied. The results showed that 96.9% of FA was degraded after 40 min treatment by the plasma/O_3 process. FA degradation efficiency increased with the p H values. The presence of suspended solid and humic acid inhibited FA degradation. FA degradation efficiency increased as the water temperature increased to 30 °C. However, the further increase in water temperature was adverse for FA degradation. Effects of common inorganic ions on FA degradation were also investigated. The addition of Cl^- inhibited the FA degradation, whileCO_3^(2-) had both negative and positive influences on FA degradation.NO_3^- andSO_4^(2-) did not have significant effect on FA degradation. Fe^(3+)and Cu^(2+)benefited FA degradation through the Fenton-like and catalytic ozonation reactions.

The Condensation of Aromatic Aldehydes with Acidic Methylene Compounds in Water

The condensation of aromatic aldehydes with acidic methylene compounds such as malononitrile, methyl cyanoacetate, cyanoacetamide, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione, bartbituric acid and 2-thiobarbituric acid proceeded very efficiently in water in the presence of triethylbenzylammonium chloride (TEBA) and the products were isolated simply by filtration.

Effect of Humic Acid, Mycorrhiza Inoculation, and Biochar on Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Flax under Newly Reclaimed Sandy Soil

In order to examine the application of different soil and foliar organic fertilizers as well as biofertilizing flax under sandy soil conditions, two field experiments were carried out at the Research and Production Station of the National Research Centre (NRC), Al Nubaria district, El-Behaira Governorate, Egypt during 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 winter seasons. The trials aimed to study the effect of humic acid (HA) as low cost natural fertilizer, inoculation with mycorrhiza, and biocharcoal on on yield, quality and water use efficiency of flax variety (Amon) under newly reclaimed sandy soil. The treatments consisted of HA (25 kg/feddan), inoculation with mycorrhiza (1 kg/ feddan), and biochar (4 tons/feddan) and all the combinations among the treatments. Results showed that the treatment combination of (humic acid + mycorrhiza + biochar) was significantly superior compared to all the other treatments in number of capsules/plant, biological yield/plant (g), seed yield/plant (g), seed yield (kg/feddan), straw yield (tons/feddan), oil percent (%), and oil yield (kg/feddan). However, it gave the highest fruiting zone length (cm) but not significantly different from (mycorrhiza + biochar) and (humic acid + biochar), also it gave the highest seed index (g) but not significantly different from humic acid and (humic acid + mycorrhiza). The treatment combination of (humic acid + biochar) gave the highest plant height (cm), technical stem length (cm), and number of branches/plant.

Influence of Water Stress on the Citric Acid Metabolism Related Gene Expression in the Ponkan Fruits

To explore the influence of water stress on fruit quality and gene expression related to citrate metabolism of ponkan. The test were conducted from May 15 to December 24 in 2013 using six-year-old ponkan (C. blanco cv. Ponkan) trees with 40% soil water conditions by taken regular watering as control. The content of acids in fruit were determined by HPLC, and relative expression of related genes of citric acid metabolic were determined by relative fluorescence quantitative PCR. The results showed that the content of citric acid, malic acid, quinic acid and total organic acids per gram sarcocarp were extremely increased by 285.2%, 320%, 480% and 299.1%, and the content of per-fruit organic acid were 77.39%, 89.64%, 117.24% and 75.9% respectively compared to those control in the fruit mature stage. Relative expression of CitCS1, CitCS2 were higher than control, and relative expression of CitAco1, CitAco2, CitAco3 had a certain increase in the late fruit development, were lower in mature stage. Three relative expression of CitIDH gene were higher than control in mature stage. Low CitGAD4 relative expression and undetectable in mature stage, the relative expression of CitGAD5 gene had a role in promoting under water stress. Furthermore, the relative expression of CitCS1, CitCS2, CitACO1, CitACO3, CitIDH1, CitIDH2, CitIDH3, CitGAD4 and CitGAD5 were influenced by water stress through the correlation analysis. Water stress caused the accumulation of citric acid, declined fruit quality, leaded to change of the genetic rela- tive expression about citric acid synthesis and degradation. The down-regulation of CitACO1, CitGAD4 and up-regulation of CitCS1, CitCS2 might be one of the reasons that promoted to the accumulation of citric acid.

Cocos nucifera L.water as green corrosion inhibitor for acid corrosion of aluminium in HCl solution

The ability of Cocos nucifera L.water（CW） as non-toxic corrosion inhibitor for acid corrosion of aluminium in 0.5 mol/L HCl has been studied using chemical technique.CW shows significant inhibition as corrosion inhibitor,with 93%efficiency at the highest concentration of the inhibitor.The inhibitive action is attributed to the adsorption of the inhibitor molecules on metal surface following Langmuir adsorption isotherm.

Behaviour of Haloacetic Acids in Drinking Water Distribution Systems

To guarantee the safety of drinking water quality after chlorination, the formation, distribution and factors influencing the concentrations of haloacetic acids (HAAs) in a water distribution system (WDS) were investigated both on a full-scale WDS (FWDS) and pilot-scale WDS (PWDS) within a city in northern China. The results of both investigations showed that trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) and dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) were the dominating types of HAAs. In the FWDS, variations in the HAA content showed negative correlations with total residual chlorine, pH and non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC) and positive correlations with temperature and UV254. In the PWDS, the concentration of HAAs after rechlorination followed the rule of ‘first rise and then fall’; therefore, locating an appropriate rechlorination point and lowering the single chlorine dosage could be used as effective measures to control the HAA content in WDSs. © 2016, Tianjin University and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Electrokinetic chemical characteristics of humic and dannic acids effecting on the natural water and its coagulation

Taking streaming current(SC)as the electrokinetic parameter,this paper demon- strated the electrokinetic chemical characteristics of humic and dannic acids(HA and DA)in sus- pensions including turbid water,coagulated water and HA or DA contained water.Accordingly, the studies were carried out for determining the relationship between streaming current and zeta po- tential ζ(expressed by eleetrophoretie mobility EM)in above water conditions.In addition,the mechanisms of HA effecting on streaming current within or after coagulant addition and the elec- trokinetic detection principles for HA or DA were also investigated on experiments and theoretical analysis.The results indicated that the change of SC like ζ presented meaningful information con- cerning the degree for destabilization of a particulate suspension,and HA or DA in water could re- markably decrease the effect of inorganic coagulant upon streaming current,which is in accordance with their influence on coagulation.