Effects of the Incorporation of Distinct Cations in Titanate Nanotubes on the Catalytic Activity in NOx Conversion

Effects of the incorporation of Cr, Ni, Co, Ag, Al, Ni and Pt cations in titanate nanotubes (NTs) were examined on the NOx conversion. The structural and morphological characterizations evidenced that the ion-exchange reaction of Cr, Co, Ni and Al ions with the NTs produced catalysts with metals included in the interlayer regions of the trititanate NTs whereas an assembly of Ag and Pt nanoparticles were either on the nanotubes surface or inner diameters through an impregnation process. Understanding the role of the different metal cations intercalated or supported on the nanotubes, the optimal selective catalytic reduction of NOx by CO reaction (SCR) conditions was investigated by carrying out variations in the reaction temperature, SO2 and H2O poisoning and long-term stability runs. Pt nanoparticles on the NTs exhibited superior activity compared to the Cr, Co and Al intercalated in the nanotubes and even to the Ag and Ni counterparts. Resistance against SO2 poisoning was low on NiNT due to the trititanate phase transformation into TiO2 and also to sulfur deposits on Ni sites. However, the interaction between Pt2+ from PtOx and Ti4+ in the NTs favored the adsorption of both NOx and CO enhancing the catalytic performance.

Not Mining Sterilization of Explored Mineral Resources. The Example of Native Sulfur Deposits in Poland Case History

The sterilization of mineral resources makes considerable amounts inaccessible for future use and may be a barrier to the free supply of commodities. During the exploitation of mineral deposits, some parts of their resources become sterilized as inaccessible because of natural hazards or unfavorable economic conditions. Not mining land use and the social opposition against mining is the purpose of sterilization of considerable demonstrated mineral resources of deposits not yet engaged in exploitation. The native sulfur deposits in Poland are a good example of such “not mining” sterilization, which makes a considerable part of known resources inaccessible. On the northern border of the Carpathian Foredeep within the Miocene gypsum formation, the systematic exploration had demonstrated about 1 billion tons of sulfur resources located in the deposits of varied dimensions. The sulfur opencast mining and underground melting (the modified Frasch method) flourished from 1958 up to 1993. The increasing sulfur supply, recoverable from hydrocarbons, caused the closing down of sulfur mines, leaving a place with considerable untouched resources. About 67% of sulfur resources left by closed mines and of other explored but not exploited deposits are sterilized by the advancement of settlements, industrial plants, road construction, and by social opposition against mining.

Trace Elements and Minerals in Fumarolic Sulfur: The Case of Ebeko Volcano, Kuriles

Native sulfur deposits on fumarolic fields at Ebeko volcano (Northern Kuriles, Russia) are enriched in chalcophile elements (As-Sb-Se-Te-Hg-Cu) and contain rare heavy metal sulfides (Ag2S, HgS, and CuS), native metal alloys (Au2Pd), and some other low-solubility minerals (CaWO4, BaSO4). Sulfur incrustations are impregnated with numerous particles of fresh and altered andesite groundmass and phenocrysts (pyroxene, magnetite) as well as secondary minerals, such as opal, alunite, and abundant octahedral pyrite crystals. The comparison of elemental abundances in sulfur and unaltered rocks (andesite) demonstrated that rock-forming elements (Ca, K, Fe, Mn, and Ti) and other lithophile and chalcophile elements are mainly transported by fumarolic gas as aerosol particles, whereas semimetals (As, Sb, Se, and Te), halogens (Br and I), and Hg are likely transported as volatile species, even at temperatures slightly above 100°C. The presence of rare sulfides (Ag2S, CuS, and HgS) together with abundant FeS2 in low-temperature fumarolic environments can be explained by the hydrochloric leaching of rock particles followed by the precipitation of low-solubility sulfides induced by the reaction of acid solutions with H2S at ambient temperatures. The elemental composition of native sulfur can be used to qualitatively estimate elemental abundances in low-temperature fumarolic gases.

Environmental hazard of Novoyavorivsk municipal landfill

Novoyavorivsk is located near large sulfur deposits in a transborder with Poland. The existing sanitation system in Novoyavorivsk is imperfect. Municipal wastes are stored in cloughs, ravines, river valleys. This causes an environmental hazard, as polluted wastewater is discharged to the water bodies. The aim of the work is environmental hazard assessment of Novoyavorivsk landfill. The tasks of the research are as follows: determination of chlorides and sulfates content in the landfill edaphotopes; measurement of power of equivalent dose of photon radiation. Determination of chlorides and sulfates was carried out by quantitative and qualitative methods. The equivalent dose of photon radiation was measured by dosimeter by SOEKS USA, LLC. In different sites of the landfill chlorides and sulfates content differs. The most polluted areas are at the distance of 10 m and 50 m from the foot. At a distance of 100 m from the landfill, the concentration of chlorides reduces to 0.001% (5 cm) and 0.1% (10 cm and 20 cm). High sulfate content is observed at 10 m from the foot of the landfill (1% in the 10 cm and 20 cm horizons). The power of the equivalent dose at a height of 10 m from the south side exceeds the pollution standard of 0.3 μSv/h and equals 0.32 μSv/h.

Disturbed lands objects use for the formation of technical universities students’ ecological culture (for example quarries sulfur deposits «Vodinskoe» in the Samara Region)

The following article deals with the problem of technical college students ecological culture formation on the example of disturbed lands objects study. The authors describe the features of pedagogical conditions that are necessary for creation of responsible personality attitude to the surrounding environment. The authors also analyze methods allowing to develop and create students valuable relation to the surrounding environment. Vodinsky sulfur pit near the settlement of Novosemeykino of the Krasnoyarsk district of the Samara region was used as an object of the disturbed lands. The uniqueness of this deposit is that the biggest sulfur crystal in the world was found here. Now, besides large sulfur crystals, crystals of other minerals - a tselestin, plaster, calcite, pyrites are also found here. The paper studies the possibility of one of the available fulfilled pits allocation as a standard of a natural mineralogical museum and especially protected natural territory in the region. The paper contains an analysis of fulfilled pits structure and location and their recultivation features. The authors consider the researched territory possible influence on its modern use. This kind of object will allow future engineers to understand a geoecological situation on Earth that will help to expand the knowledge of ecological culture.

GUNUNGAPI BAWAH LAUT KAWIO BARAT, PERAIRAN SANGIHE, SULAWESI UTARA: AKTIVITAS HIDROTERMAL DAN MINERALISASI

Ekspedisi INDEX-SATAL 2010 telah mengungkapkan fenomena aktivitas hidrotermal di bawah perairan barat Kepulauan Sangihe pada Gunungapi Bawah Laut Kawio Barat dengan puncaknya yang berada pada kedalaman laut sekitar 1860 m dan kakinya pada kedalaman sekitar 5400 m. Penyelaman ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) Little Hercules di Gunungapi Kawio Barat yang dipusatkan di sisi baratlaut dari puncak gunung menyapu mulai kedalaman 3000 m hingga menuju ke arah puncak pada kedalaman 1860 m. Kelompok batuan dicirikan oleh bongkahan lava yang sudah pecah ditutupi sedimen halus berwarna abu-abu cerah; sedangkan pada sisi tenggara umumnya ditempati aliran lava bantal. Pada sisi baratdaya, tempat lembah dalam menoreh Gunungapi Kawio Barat dijumpai kepulan asap dari lereng bagian bawah yang akhirnya pada kedalaman sekitar 1890 m dijumpai aktivitas hidrotermal bawah laut yang merupakan suatu fenomena yang pertama kali direkam langsung dari bawahlaut perairan Indonesia. Fenomena yang terekam berupa pemunculan asap (smokers) di sepanjang rekahan (fissures), dicirikan oleh warna asap yang bervariasi dari putih, kuning atau abu-abu cerah yang kemungkinan menunjukkan indikasi perbedaan komposisi kimiawi dari fluida hidrotermal. Selain asap, teramati juga adanya gelembung cairan (panas) atau bubbles dari rekahan. Penemuan baru lainnya adalah adanya fluida hidrotermal muncul ke permukaan dan membentuk suatu cerobong hidrotermal atau chimney di daerah yang secara tektonik dikontrol oleh konvergensi lempeng. Batuan-batuan di sekitar rekahan hidrotermal (hydrothermal vent) umumnya telah terubah dengan dominasi warna putih hingga kelabu. Di sekitar rekahan hidrotermal diendapkan belerang berwarna kuning kehitaman. Mineralisasi kemungkinan terjadi di sekitar cerobong hidrotermal, terakumulasi membentuk endapan mineral yang ditunjukkan oleh warna coklat, abu-abu, dan kemerahan. Hal ini terutama teramati di sekitar cerobong yang sudah tidak mengeluarkan gelembung atau asap, serta dijumpai kehadiran endapan serakan butiran batuan atau mineral berwarna coklat atau hitam. Kata kunci: INDEX-SATAL 2010, aktivitas hidrotermal, ROV, asap hidrotermal, gelembung cairan, cerobong hidrotermal, konvergensi lempeng, mineralisasi INDEX-SATAL Expedition 2010 has revealed the phenomenon of hydrothermal activity in the western part of the Sangihe Waters in Kawio Barat Submarine Volcano with the peak which is located at 1860 m depths and the bottom at about 5400 m depths. A ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) "Little Hercules" dive in Kawio Barat was centered on the northwest side of the mountain began to sweep from the depths of 3000 m toward the top of 1860 m depths. The lithologic unit is characterized by the present of broken lavas covered with fine grey colored sediment whilist in the southeast side is composed of pillows lavas. In the southwest side, in which the deep valleys incise Kawio Barat, a clouds of smoke from the lower slopes are observed; finally at 1890 m depths a submarine hydrothermal activity is noted. This phenomenon represents the first submarine direct record made from the bottom of the Indonesian Waters. Those smokers phenomena are recorded along fissures, characterized by various colors of white, yellow to grey due to different chemical composition of hydrothermal fluids. Besides, the hot bubbles are also arised from the fissures. The other new discovery is the presence of hydrothermal chimney in the area of tectonically controlled by convergence plates. Rocks surrounding the hydrothermal vents are generally altered giving grey to white colors and the presence of dark yellow sulfur deposits. Mineralization may occur and accumulated in hydrothermal chimney and its surrounding to form brown-, grey-, and reddish- color deposits The latter are commonly found in inactive chimneys, indicated by the presence of dispersed brown and black color grains/chips of both sedimentary rocks or minerals as well. Keywords: INDEX-SATAL 2010, hydrothermal activity, ROV, hydrothermal smokers, bubbles, hydrothermal chimney, plate convergence, mineralization