Gas diffusion and air-filled porosity: Effect of some oversize fragments in growing media

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Caron ◽  
Louis-Marie Rivière ◽  
Gilles Guillemain
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Growing Media ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Gas Diffusivity ◽  
Water Pore ◽  
Large Particles ◽  
Porosity Effect ◽  
Effectiveness Coefficient

Large particles are often added to growing media to improve air-filled porosity, an often-reported growth-limiting factor. Previous studies have shown that large fragments can leave air-filled porosity unchanged and actually decrease the air exchange characteristics in peat:bark and pure peat media, with an adverse effect on plant growth. Thirteen different growing mixes composed of perlite, bark, peat, sand, rockwool, wood and coco fibre, in which the size of the larger fractions was varied, were tested. Air-filled porosity, easily available water, pore effectiveness coefficient, and diffusivity were examined in these mixes. Air-filled porosity was found to be the highest in mixes where the largest fraction was composed of coarser particles. Pore effectiveness coefficient was found to decrease with the increasing coarseness of the largest fractions. Gas diffusivity was found to be highest when intermediate (2–4 mm) fragments were used as the largest fraction of the mixes. These findings applied to impermeable, disk- or spherically shaped, coarse fragments (perlite, coco hulls, bark), but did not apply to threadlike coarse material (wood fibres). Gas diffusivity values (at a water potential of −0.75 kPa) obtained for rockwool, the peat:bark mix containing 2- to 4-mm bark particles, the peat:medium wood fibre mix, the peat:fine perlite (0.8–2 mm) mix and the pure fine coconut medium were not statistically different one from another. Air-filled porosity was negatively correlated to the fractions less than 1 mm, between 0 and 0.2 mm and between 0.2 and 0.8 mm. Easily available water, pore effectiveness coefficient and gas diffusivity were not correlated to particle size distribution, indicating that these properties cannot be estimated based on particle size and must instead be measured directly. Key words: Aetion, peat substrates, perlite, bark, available water

scholarly journals Carbon-supported Platinum Electrocatalysts probed in a Gas Diffusion Setup with Alkaline Environment: how Particle Size and Mesoscopic Environment influence the Degradation Mechanism

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shima Alinejad ◽  
Jonathan Quinson ◽  
Johanna Schröder ◽  
Jacob J. K. Kirkensgaard ◽  
Matthias Arenz
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Degradation Mechanism ◽  
Active Phase ◽  
Active Surface ◽  
Carbon Support ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Active Surface Area ◽  
Electrochemical Cells ◽  
Co Stripping ◽  
Large Particles

In this work, we investigate the stability of four different types of Pt/C fuel cell catalysts upon applying accelerated degradation tests (ADTs) in a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setup equipped with an anion exchange membrane (AEM). In contrast to previous investigations exposing the catalysts to liquid electrolyte, the GDE setup provides a realistic three-phase boundary of the reactant gas, catalyst and ionomer which enables reactant transport rates close to real fuel cells. Therefore, the GDE setup mimics the degradation of the catalyst under more realistic reaction conditions as compared to conventional electrochemical cells. Combining the determination of the loss in electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of the Pt/C catalysts via CO stripping measurements with the change in particle size distribution determined by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, we demonstrate that i) the degradation mechanism depends on the investigated Pt/C catalyst and might indeed be different to the one observed in conventional electrochemical cells, ii) degradation is increased in an oxygen gas atmosphere (as compared to an inert atmosphere), and iii) the observed degradation mechanism depends on the mesoscopic environment of the active phase. The measurements indicate an increased particle growth if small and large particles are immobilized next to each other on the same carbon support flakes as compared to a simple mix of two catalysts with small and large particles, respectively.

Carbon-supported Platinum Electrocatalysts probed in a Gas Diffusion Setup with Alkaline Environment: how Particle Size and Mesoscopic Environment influence the Degradation Mechanism

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shima Alinejad ◽  
Jonathan Quinson ◽  
Johanna Schröder ◽  
Jacob J. K. Kirkensgaard ◽  
Matthias Arenz
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Degradation Mechanism ◽  
Active Phase ◽  
Active Surface ◽  
Carbon Support ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Active Surface Area ◽  
Electrochemical Cells ◽  
Co Stripping ◽  
Large Particles

In this work, we investigate the stability of four different types of Pt/C fuel cell catalysts upon applying accelerated degradation tests (ADTs) in a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setup equipped with an anion exchange membrane (AEM). In contrast to previous investigations exposing the catalysts to liquid electrolyte, the GDE setup provides a realistic three-phase boundary of the reactant gas, catalyst and ionomer which enables reactant transport rates close to real fuel cells. Therefore, the GDE setup mimics the degradation of the catalyst under more realistic reaction conditions as compared to conventional electrochemical cells. Combining the determination of the loss in electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of the Pt/C catalysts via CO stripping measurements with the change in particle size distribution determined by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, we demonstrate that i) the degradation mechanism depends on the investigated Pt/C catalyst and might indeed be different to the one observed in conventional electrochemical cells, ii) degradation is increased in an oxygen gas atmosphere (as compared to an inert atmosphere), and iii) the observed degradation mechanism depends on the mesoscopic environment of the active phase. The measurements indicate an increased particle growth if small and large particles are immobilized next to each other on the same carbon support flakes as compared to a simple mix of two catalysts with small and large particles, respectively.

Carbon-supported Platinum Electrocatalysts probed in a Gas Diffusion Setup with Alkaline Environment: how Particle Size and Mesoscopic Environment influence the Degradation Mechanism

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shima Alinejad ◽  
Jonathan Quinson ◽  
Johanna Schröder ◽  
Jacob J. K. Kirkensgaard ◽  
Matthias Arenz
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Degradation Mechanism ◽  
Active Phase ◽  
Active Surface ◽  
Carbon Support ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Active Surface Area ◽  
Electrochemical Cells ◽  
Co Stripping ◽  
Large Particles

In this work, we investigate the stability of four different types of Pt/C fuel cell catalysts upon applying accelerated degradation tests (ADTs) in a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setup equipped with an anion exchange membrane (AEM). In contrast to previous investigations exposing the catalysts to liquid electrolyte, the GDE setup provides a realistic three-phase boundary of the reactant gas, catalyst and ionomer which enables reactant transport rates close to real fuel cells. Therefore, the GDE setup mimics the degradation of the catalyst under more realistic reaction conditions as compared to conventional electrochemical cells. Combining the determination of the loss in electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of the Pt/C catalysts via CO stripping measurements with the change in particle size distribution determined by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, we demonstrate that i) the degradation mechanism depends on the investigated Pt/C catalyst and might indeed be different to the one observed in conventional electrochemical cells, ii) degradation is increased in an oxygen gas atmosphere (as compared to an inert atmosphere), and iii) the observed degradation mechanism depends on the mesoscopic environment of the active phase. The measurements indicate an increased particle growth if small and large particles are immobilized next to each other on the same carbon support flakes as compared to a simple mix of two catalysts with small and large particles, respectively.

scholarly journals Optimizing hydroponic culture media and NO3−/NH4+ ratio for improving essential oil compositions of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Ahmadi ◽  
Abbas Samadi ◽  
Ebrahim Sepehr ◽  
Amir Rahimi ◽  
Sergey Shabala
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Essential Oil ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Echinacea Purpurea ◽  
Peat Moss ◽  
Root Weight ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Growing Media

AbstractMedicinal plants represent a valuable commodity due to beneficial effects of their natural products on human health, prompting a need for finding a way to optimize/increase their production. In this study, a novel growing media with various perlite particle size and its mixture with peat moss was tested for hydroponic-based production of Echinacea purpurea medicinal plant under greenhouse conditions. The plant growth parameters such as plant height, total fresh leave weight, fresh root weight, total biomass, total chlorophyll, leaf area, and essential oil compositions were assessed. Perlite particle size in the growing media was varied from very coarse (more than 2 mm) to very fine (less than 0.5 mm), and the ratio between perlite and peat moss varied from 50:50 v/v to 30:70 v/v. In addition, two nitrate (NO3−) to ammonium (NH4+) ratios (90:10 and 70:30) were tested for each growing media. The medium containing very fine-grade perlite and 50:50 v/v perlite to peat moss ratio was found to be most optimal and beneficial for E. purpurea performance, resulting in maximal plant height, fresh and dry weight, leaf surface area, and chlorophyll content. It was also found that an increase in NO3−/NH4+ ratio caused a significant increase in plant growth parameters and increase the plant essential oil content. The major terpene hydrocarbons found in extract of E. purpurea with the best growth parameters were germacrene D (51%), myrcene (15%), α-pinene (12%), β-caryophyllene (11%), and 1-Pentadecene (4.4%), respectively. The percentages of these terpene hydrocarbons were increased by increasing of NO3−/NH4+ ratio. It can be concluded that decreasing the perlite particle size and increasing the NO3−/NH4+ ratio increased the plant growth parameters and essential oil compositions in E. purpurea.

Biosorption of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution by biomass of brown algae Laminaria japonica

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Y. Lee ◽  
K. W. Kim ◽  
Y. J. Baek ◽  
D. Y. Chung ◽  
E. H. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Brown Algae ◽  
Activated Carbons ◽  
Laminaria Japonica ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Stable Operation ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Process ◽  
Radioactive Wastewater ◽  
Ionic Diffusivity

The uranium(VI) adsorption efficiency of non-living biomass of brown algae was evaluated in various adsorption experimental conditions. Several different sizes of biomass were prepared using pretreatment and surface-modification steps. The kinetics of uranium uptake were mainly dependent on the particle size of the prepared Laminaria japonica biosorbent. The optimal particle size, contact time, and injection amount for the stable operation of the wastewater treatment process were determined. Spectroscopic analyses showed that uranium was adsorbed in the porous inside structure of the biosorbent. The ionic diffusivity in the biomass was the dominant rate-limiting factor; therefore, the adsorption rate was significantly increased with decrease of particle size. From the results of comparative experiments using the biosorbents and other chemical adsorbents/precipitants, such as activated carbons, zeolites, and limes, it was demonstrated that the brown algae biosorbent could replace the conventional chemicals for uranium removal. As a post-treatment for the final solid waste reduction, the ignition treatment could significantly reduce the weight of waste biosorbents. In conclusion, the brown algae biosorbent is shown to be a favorable adsorbent for uranium(VI) removal from radioactive wastewater.

Investigation on the arc erosion behavior of new silver matrix composites: Part I. Reinforced by particles

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 804-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shou-Yi Chang ◽  
Chia-Jung Hsu ◽  
Cher-Hao Hsu ◽  
Su-Jien Lin
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Erosion Resistance ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Matrix Composites ◽  
Particle Content ◽  
Arc Erosion ◽  
Erosion Behavior ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Large Particles ◽  
Silver Matrix

Static-gap, single-spark tests were used to investigate the arc erosion behavior of newly developed silicon carbide and alumina particle reinforced silver matrix composites (SiCp/Ag, Al2O3p/Ag). Craters and hills exist on the surfaces of eroded silver matrix composites, and their depths and sizes decrease as the particle content increases and the particle size decreases. Obvious melting, flow, severe splash of molten silver, and the segregation of particles are present on the surfaces of eroded composites containing low volume percents of large particles. Easier silver flow results in smooth surfaces and reduces the total surface areas of the eroded composites containing large particles. The flow and splash of silver decreased with increasing particle content and decreasing particle size, exhibiting a better erosion resistance to single-spark tests. The static-gap, single-spark erosion behavior of silver matrix composites is dominated by the flow and splash of molten composites. A high viscosity of the liquids provides the composites a good arc erosion resistance.

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