The formation kinetics and control of biofilms by three dominant fungi species isolated from groundwater

Filamentous fungi can enter drinking water supply systems in various ways,and exist in suspended or sessile states which threatens the health of individuals by posing a high risk of invasive infections.In this study,the biofilms formation kinetics of the three genera of fungal spores,Aspergillus niger(A.niger),Penicillium polonicum(P.polonicum)and Trichoderma harzianum(T.harzianum)isolated fromthe groundwater were reported,as well as the effects of water quality parameters were evaluated.In addition,the efficiency of low-concentrations of chlorine-based disinfectants(chlorine,chlorine dioxide and chloramine)on controlling the formation of fungal biofilms was assessed.The results showed that the biofilms formation of the three genera of fungi could be divided into the following four phases:induction,exponential,stationary and sloughing off.The optimum conditions for fungal biofilms formation were found to be neutral or weakly acidic at 28°C with rich nutrition.In fact,A.niger,P.polonicum,and T.harzianum were not observed to form mature biofilms in actual groundwater within 120 hr.Carbon was found to have the maximum effect on the fungal biofilms formation in actual groundwater,followed by nitrogen and phosphorus.The resistance of fungal species to disinfectants during the formation of biofilms decreased in the order:A.niger>T.harzianum>P.polonicum.Chlorine dioxide was observed to control the biofilms formation with maximum efficiency,followed by chlorine and chloramine.Consequently,the results of this study will provide a beneficial understanding for the formation and control of fungal biofilms.

Formation and characterization of cerium conversion coatings on magnesium alloy

Chemical conversion treatment by rare earth metal salt solution was considered as an alternative to chromium chemical conversion treatment to improve the corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys. In this study, cerium conversion coatings formed on AZ31 magnesium alloy were characterized and the formation mechanism was discussed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） analysis showed that cerium conversion coating consisted of cerium hydroxides/oxides, in which both tetravalent cerium Ce（Ⅳ） and trivalent cerium Ce（Ⅲ） species co-existed. Cerium conversion coating was a two-layer structure. Atomic force microscopy （AFM） images revealed that the morphology of the inside layer was different from that of the outside one, which was responsible for the inherent adhesive weakness of the coating. Corrosion potential （Ecorr） measurements indicated that poor adhesion limited the improvement of the corrosion resistance of the coating. During the treating process, the increased pH value of the cerium salt solution led to the precipitation of cerium hydroxides/oxides. The formation kinetics of the coating followed a parabolic curve.

Mineral transition and formation mechanism of calcium aluminate compounds in CaO-Al2O3-Na2O system during high-temperature sintering

The mineral transition and formation mechanism of calcium aluminate compounds in CaO-Al2O3-Na2O system during the hightemperature sintering process were systematically investigated using DSC-TG,XRD,SEM-EDS,FTIR,and Raman spectra,and the crystal structure of Na4Ca3(AlO2)10 was also simulated by Material Studio software.The results indicated that the minerals formed during the sintering process included Na4Ca3(AlO2)10,CaO·Al2O3,and 12 CaO·7 Al2O3,and the content of Na4Ca3(AlO2)10 could reach 92 wt%when sintered at 1200°C for 30 min.The main formation stage of Na4Ca3(AlO2)10 occurred at temperatures from 970 to 1100°C,and the content could reach82 wt%when the reaction temperature increased to 1100°C.The crystal system of Na4Ca3(AlO2)10 was tetragonal,and the cells preferred to grow along crystal planes(110)and(210).The formation of Na4Ca3(AlO2)10 was an exothermic reaction that followed a secondary reaction model,and its activation energy was 223.97 kJ/mol.

STUDY ON AUSTENITE-FERRITE TRANSFORMATION WITHIN CRITICAL TEMPERATURE REGION

his paper deals with the phase trans formation of austenite to ferrite within the critical temperature region(between Ac1 and Ac3).The results show that the volume fraction of trans formation of ferrite formed isothermally from austenite is mainly varied with the austenitizing temperature.The higher the austenitizing temperature,the more volume fraction of the ferrite formed isothermally from austenite.Besides,the phase trans formation of austenite to ferrite within the critical temperature region was checked by austenitizing isothermal time.The volume fraction of ferrite formed isothermally from austenite within the critical temperature region for different isothermal time has heen examined experimen tally.The lglg(l-fv)-1 vs lgt relation does not follow the Avrami equation strictly and consists of two straight lines.

Accelerated methane storage in clathrate hydrates using surfactantstabilized suspension with graphite nanoparticles

In this study,enhanced kinetics of methane hydrate formation in the sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS)solution with different concentrations of suspended graphite nanoparticles(GNPs)were investigated at 6.1-9.0 MPa and 274.15 K.The GNPs with rough surfaces and excellent thermal conductivity not only provided a considerable number of microsites for hydrate nucleation but also facilitated the fast hydrate heat transfer in the suspension system.At a relatively low pressure of 6.1 MPa,the suspension with 0.4 wt%of GNPs exhibited the minimum induction time of 22 min and maximum methane uptake of 126.1 cm3·cm-3.However,the methane storage performances of the suspensions with higher and lower concentrations of GNPs were not satisfactory.At the applied pressure,the temperature increase arising from the hydrate heat in the suspension system with the optimized concentration(0.4 wt%)of GNPs was more significant than that in the traditional SDS solution.Furthermore,compared with those of the system without GNPs,enhanced hydration rate and storage capacity were achieved in the suspensions with GNPs,and the storage capacities were increased by 3.9%-17.0%.The promotion effect of GNPs on gas hydrate formation at low pressure is much more obvious than that at high pressure.

Structural-Energy Characteristics of Tribotechnical Contact in Unsteady Operational Modes

The current tribological research is intended to achieve maximum wear resistance under the structural adaptability of tribocoupling elements, which requires application of means to reduce the activation of the metal surface layers, decrease in frictional work, regulation of passivation and temperature control. The aim of this study is to identify the patterns that influence the kinetics formation of the boundary layers of lubricating mineral gear oil on activated friction contact surfaces, and the increment of the friction specific work on wear-resistant steel 42Cr4 and 100Cr6 in frequent start and stop operation mode. Due to the activation of surface layers of metal in the non-stationary operating conditions of the contact surfaces, the gradual forming of the boundary lubricant adsorption layers with increased effective viscosity in contact occurs, exhibiting high adaptation ability, and the boundary layer thickness is from 0.2 to 4 microns. This research analyzed the lubricating ability of oil at the starting maximum torque of friction, showing that the thickness of the oil layer formed in contact had a dual nature—boundary and hydrodynamic. The pure rolling conditions promote localization of shear in the lubricating layers, and the high frictional properties of the transmission oil have been identified regardless of the hardness of the investigated surfaces.

Effects of Vanadium on Structure and Tensile Properties of Tempcore Steel Bars

Thermomechanical processing is a metallurgical operation to produce high-strength steel bars (rebars), through combining plastic deformation with thermal processes like heat treatment, water quenching, heating, and cooling at various rates into a single process. Ribbed reinforcing steel bars (rebars) are used for the reinforcement of concrete structures. Tempcore is a unique process to produce high-yield-strength rebars from mild steel without addition of a high weight percentage of costly alloying elements. The strength of rebar originates from the formation of a surface layer consisting of quenched and tempered martensite that surrounds a core composed of ferrite and pearlite. The economic advantages of this process are significant in comparison to those processes requiring alloying elements or further metal working to improve the mechanical properties. However, when there is a limitation in the water-cooling capacity, the required volume fraction of the martensite layer can’t be accomplished particularly when rolling bigger diameters of 32 mm - 40 mm at a higher rolling speed to maintain high productivity. Accordingly, a small addition of microalloying elements vanadium or niobium could be used in combination with Tempcore process to obtain high-strength steel rebars. In this contribution, 0.06 weight percentage of vanadium is added to the Tempcore treated rebars to satisfy ASTM A 706 Standard of Rebar Grade 80 PSI [550 MPa]. In order to decrease the trials in the steel plant floor, thermodynamics equilibrium calculations are predicted by Thermo-Calc, CCT, TTT diagrams are calculated by JMat Pro and the kinetics evolution of the vanadium carbonitrides precipitates are predicted by the computational database Mat Calc. High yield strength and tensile strength are obtained due to the effect of fine dispersions of nanometer-scale vanadium carbonitrides precipitates inspected by transmission electron microscope.