International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Inductively coupled plasma etching of InGaP, AlInP and AlGaP in BI_3 or BBr_3 discharges was investigated as a function of source power, dc chuck bias and plasma composition. InGaP etches at the fastest rates (>6000 Angstrom min"-"1) in both chemistries, followed by AlGaP. It is found that AlInP provides an excellent etch stop for the other two materials in both mixtures. The InGaP surface morphology improves with increasing BI_3 or BBr_3 content, and with increasing dc chuck bias. The etched features for this material are highly anisotropic. Etch selectivities for InGaP over SiO_2 and SiN_x of #>=#8 are obtained in both plasma chemistries, and there is no etch incubation time with either mixture, indicating that both can scavenge the native oxide on InGaP, AlGaP and AlInP. copyright 1998 American Vacuum Society.

CERN Document Server

A cost effectively method to fabricate nanopores in silicon by only using the conventional wet-etching technique is developed in this research. The main concept of the proposed method is a two-step etching process, including a premier double-sided wet etching and a succeeding track-etching. A special fixture is designed to hold the pre-etched silicon wafer inside it such that the track-etching can be effectively carried out. An electrochemical system is employed to detect and record the ion diffusion current once the pre-etched cavities are etched into a through nanopore. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method can cost effectively fabricate nanopores in silicon.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We investigated the effects of additives to the etching solution of 1 M hydrochloric acid on the electrochemical etching behavior for aluminum electrolytic capacitors, using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and AC impedance spectroscopy. For the addition of 1 M sulfuric acid or 5% ethylene glycol to the hydrochloric acid solution, the distribution of etch tunnels was more uniform with high density of etch pits compared with that without addition. The highest specific surface area was obtained from the electrolyte with 5% ethylene glycol additive. The correlation of internal morphologies of etched foils with impedance parameters was interpreted by impedance techniques.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pattern formation on GaAs by Ga"+ focused-ion-beam (FIB) irradiation and subsequent Cl_2 gas etching was carried out. A higher etch rate at the FIB-irradiated area compared with that not irradiated under Cl_2 gas allows pattern construction without a mask process. The degree of residual crystal damage was evaluated using photoluminescence (PL) intensity measurements. The PL intensity in the etched region was one order of magnitude stronger than that of FIB sputtering, and was several times stronger than that of Ga"+ FIB-assisted Cl_2 etching. Etch depths of the order of 100 nm, which is five times deeper than that obtained by FIB sputtering, were efficiently performed using moderate Ga"+-ion doses.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The read/write characteristics for perpendicular magnetic recording media of focused-ion-beam (FIB)-etched recording heads were investigated. It was found that the trailing edge of an FIB-etched head produces a higher gradient in the magnetic field perpendicular to the medium than a head which has not been etched. The signal-to-noise ratio of the medium increased with the FIB-etched write gap. A high-Bs and thin pole increased the magnetic field's gradient in the perpendicular direction, resulting in excellent read/write characteristics.

Science.gov (United States)

Inductively coupled fluorocarbon (CF4/Ar and C4F8/Ar) plasmas were used to etch HfO2, which is a promising high-dielectric-constant material for the gate of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor devices. The etch rates of HfO2 in CF4/Ar plasmas exceeded those in C4F8/Ar plasmas. The tendency for etch rates to become higher in fluorine-rich (high F/C ratio) conditions indicates that HfO2 can be chemically etched by fluorine-containing species. In C4F8/Ar plasmas with a high Ar dilution ratio, the etch rate of HfO2 increased with increasing bias power. The etch rate of Si, however, decreasd with bias power, suggesting that the deposition of carbon-containing species increased with increasing the power and inhibited the etching of Si. The HfO2/Si selectivity monotonically increased with increasing power, then became more than 5 at the highest ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the present study, the type and densities of defects in AlN crystals grown on 6H-SiC seeds by the sublimation-recombination method were assessed. The positions of the defects in AlN were first identified by defect selective etching (DSE) in molten NaOH-KOH at 400 C for 2 minutes. Etching produced pits of three different sizes: 1.77 m, 2.35 m , and 2.86 m. The etch pits were either aligned together forming a sub-grain boundary or randomly distributed. The smaller etch pits were either isolated or associated with larger etch pits. After preparing crosssections of the pits by the focused ion beam (FIB) technique, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed to determine which dislocation type (edge, mixed or screw) produced a specific etch pit sizes. Preliminary TEM bright field and dark field study using different zone axes and diffraction vectors ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The composition and thickness of etch residues on the base of submicrometer via holes cannot be surmized from data on larger features. Auger sputter depth profiles were used to compare etch residues in 0.55 {mu}m via holes produced by different etch processes and remaining after different cleans. These residues varied significantly in composition and thickness with the processing history of the sample and from those on larger features. A focused ion beam (FIB) sample preparation was developed to expose the bases of via holes and to help reduce sample charging. (author).

Wastenet

baked goods Miscellaneous Dry Shelf ...baked goods Miscellaneous Dry Shelf ...shrink sleeves Microwaveable

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We have fabricated nanometer-spaced electrodes on electron-transparent silicon nitride membranes. A thin Cr/Au layer is evaporated on the backside of the membrane which serves as a gate electrode. Using these devices, we have performed three-terminal electron transport measurements on gold nano-particles at liquid helium temperature. Coulomb Blockade features have been observed and the capacitance to the gate has been extracted. After transport measurements, the Cr/Au back gate is removed and the devices are inspected with a transmission-electron microscope (TEM). TEM inspection reveals the presence of a few nano-particles in the nanogap, which is in agreement with the transport measurements. In addition, the nano-particle size as observed by TEM coincides with the one estimated from the gate capacitance value.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Solar drier does not degrade any more the dried products with the manner of the products dried at the natural sun. The drying unit is composed mainly of a solar air collector and an enclosure of drying. The transformation of the solar radiation into heat is done thanks to the solar collector whose effectiveness is increased by the addition of suitable baffles in the mobile air vein. The efficiency of the collector reaches then 80. The hot air on the outlet side of the collector arrives in the enclosure of drying where the heat transfer with the product to be dried is done by convection. The kinetics drying study shows that in addition to the dependence of the temperature and air velocity of drying, the speed of drying also depends on fragmentation on the product to dry, and ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The reliability of outdoor radon concentration measurements using the track-etch technique is affected by the environmental conditions. Studies have been made to improve stability of nuclear tracks in detector material and to achieve a stable dosemeter response. A dosemeter was developed utilizing chemically etched MA-ND/alpha (CR-39) detector which is thermally insulated and protected against solar irradiation. The calibration showed that its response amounts to 0.21 {plus minus} 0.03 tracks m{sup -2}/Bqm{sup -3} day and was found to be in good agreement with theoretical prediction. (author).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

It is discussed here how trustworthy predictions of etched track parameters in nuclear track detection technique can be made? Problems involved in doing so are described along with discussion about their possible solutions. Arguments are presented using 5.2 MeV alpha particle track etching experiments with CR-39 detector and corresponding calculations using computer programs TRACK{sub V}ISION and TRACK{sub T}EST. Experimental and computational results in the present paper are useful for further basic research and technology applications of solid state nuclear track detection technique.

International Science & Technology Center (ISTC)

Behavior of Nuclear Reactor Fuel Assembly Materials during Their Long-Term Dry Storage

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Production of porous membranes using heavy ion bombardment and subsequent chemical etching of poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) films has been reported several years ago. However, porous membranes with pore diameter in the nanometer scale requires a better understanding of the chemical etching mechanism. In this work PVDF foils irradiated with Sn ions (2.85 MeV per nucleon) were exposed to several etching conditions which involved permanganate oxidation in different alkaline environments. The solution of KOH 9 mol L{sup -1} and saturated in KMnO{sub 4} was the best etching reactant for PVDF. Functional groups created in the alkaline and oxidative attack by permanganate were studied by FT-IR and UV-vis spectroscopy. The spectroscopic data reveals that the formation of pores occurs by a two-step mechanism: (i) double bonds as a result of dehydrofluorination induced by alkaline media and (ii) oxidation of ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The etching method developed made it possible to observe under the microscope the finest components of the anatomical structure of coal-forming plants. The dependence of the effectiveness of etching of tissues on the concentrations of geopolymers (protocellulose and protolignin) in them was found. The study of tissues of this kind by the methods of local analysis (for example, X-ray microanalysis) allowed us to obtain the characteristics of the above geopolymers and to use them for the identification of the primary biochemical composition of fossil organic matter.

Science.gov (United States)

Near-ideal Schottky barrier contacts to n-type Al0.22Ga0.78N have been developed by a two-step surface treatment technique. Plasma etching of the AlxGa1-xN surface prior to Schottky metal deposition, combined with sequential chemical treatment of the etched surface, holds promise for developing high quality low-leakage Schottky contacts for low noise applications and for recessed gate high electron mobility transistors. In this work, the effect of postetch chemical treatment of the n-type Al0.22Ga0.78N surface on the performance of the Ni/Au based Schottky contact has been investigated. Three different types of chemical treatment: viz, reactive ion etching, reactive ion etching plus dipping in hot aqua regia, and reactive ion etching plus dipping in hot KOH, are studied. Detailed current-voltage studies of three different surface treated diodes and a comparison with as-deposited ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

It has often been proposed that track diameter in etched detectors can be used for energy spectrometry. To test this proposition, the relationship between track diameter and energy of alpha particles, in the range 0.1-5.5 MeV, incident on CR-39 was studied. Two sets of detectors were irradiated by a collimated normally-incident beam of {alpha}-particles of different energies, using an Am-241 source. Different foils of the first set were etched for variable lengths of time in such a way that, in each case, the etchant reached the end of the latent track. Foils in the second set were etched for a fixed 'short' time of 2 h, for all {alpha}-energies. The linear rate of energy loss as well as the residual range of {alpha}-particles was determined by using Henke and Benton's computer program. It is found that, for 'short' etching times, the track diameter mimics ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A gelcasting composition has improved drying behavior, machinability and shelf life in the dried and unfired state. The composition includes an inorganic powder, solvent, monomer system soluble in the solvent, an initiator system for polymerizing the monomer system, and a plasticizer soluble in the solvent. Dispersants and other processing aides to control slurry properties can be added. The plasticizer imparts an ability to dry thick section parts, to store samples in the dried state without cracking under conditions of varying relative humidity, and to machine dry gelcast parts without cracking or chipping. A method of making gelcast parts is also disclosed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Geometrical shapes and diameter of nuclear tracks changes continuously during the process of etching for various incident angles. Besides, there is also a marked difference amongst their profiles, as evidenced by the SEM analysis, when the incoming particles fall on the detector at different angles of incidence. This work outlines this aspect of fission fragment tracks in a glass detector and has set out a few empirical relationships between the mean track diameter, d-bar and the etching time, t, within experimental limits. This study, therefore, sheds some light in the follow up the origins and characteristics of heavy ions in some terrestrial and extra-terrestrial materials and also in studying the collimation accuracy of heavy ion bombardments. The implications of the results in discerning the measurements of incident angles of various types of ions are described in detail in the paper.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The currently available methods for the diagnosis of dry eye are still far from being perfect for a variety of reasons. This review attempts to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of both traditional...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This document provides the detailed design requirements for the Spent Nuclear Fuel Project Cold Vacuum Drying Facility. Process, safety, and quality assurance requirements and interfaces are specified.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We demonstrate rapid fabrication of submicrometer-diameter pores in borosilicate glass using femtosecond laser machining and subsequent wet-etch techniques. This approach allows direct and repeatable...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the resin-dentin interfacial morphology and shear bond strength of several new and experimental dentin bonding systems classified as single-bottle/total etch, multi-step/total etch, and self-etching. Class 1 and 5 cavities were prepared from freshly extracted permanent molars and restored with composite resin. Each bonded sample was cross sectioned and one-half was completely demineralized and deproteinized, while the other half was polished along the cut surface to permit measurement of the thickness of resin-infiltrated dentin layer (RIDL) within intertubular dentin (iRIDL) and around the peritubular walls (pRIDL) of resin tags by SEM. Shear bond strength was measured for all the systems 2 minutes after photocuring. SEM showed iRIDL and resin tags of different morphology depending on material and dentin location. The iRIDL was thinner in superficial dentin and thicker in deep ...

Science.gov (United States)

High microwave power (1,000 W) electron cyclotron resonance CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2}/Ar discharges produce etch rates for In{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 0.5}P, Al{sub 0.5}In{sub 0.5}P{sub 0.5}, and Al{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 0.5}P of {approximately} 2,000 {angstrom}/min at moderate RF power levels (150 W) and low pressure (1.5 mTorr). This is approximately a factor of five faster than for conventional reactive ion etching conditions where much higher ion energies are necessary. The etched surfaces are smooth over a wide range of CH{sub 4}-to-H{sub 2} ratios and microwave powers. AlInP is more resistant to preferential loss of P from the near-surface during etching than is InGaP. While the etching is ion-driven, pure Ar discharges produce rough surfaces and the CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2} is necessary in the achievement of acceptable morphologies. The InGaAlP/GaAs heterostructure is being increasingly utilized in diode ...

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Udgivelsesdato: May 2009

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Drying fine coal by microwaves is now being considered as a viable option by some coal producers. The interest in microwaves is due to problems encountered with current thermal or hot-air drying methods. The technical feasibility of drying minus 5mm coal fines by microwaves was demonstrated using pilot-scale continuous processing system. Results showed that water absorbs microwave energy significantly; but coal does not. Secondly, microwave energy heats only the water, unlike existing drying methods, which heat both water and coal. Finally, the method was found to be energy efficient and minimised the generation of dust.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The introduction of live insects into human food is rare in developed countries. However, we report, for the first time, an emerging risk that exists from dried fruit in Central Europe. Recently, massive and frequent infestation of dried fruit imported from the Mediterranean region by the mite, Carpoglpyhus lactis L. (Acarina: Carpoglyphidae), has been found. In 180 samples taken from supermarkets, 13% were contaminated; the contamination levels ranged from 0 to 660 mites per g of dried fruit. The contamination was found in dried apricots, figs, plums and raisins. To estimate the risks and food preferences of C. lactis, its growth rate was examined under laboratory conditions. Starting with a hypothetical population of 10 mites per g of dried fruit, the risk level of 1000 mites per g of dr...

Science.gov (United States)

Two plasma chemistries, i.e., CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2}/Ar and Cl{sub 2}/Ar, were compared for the etching of InGaP, AlInP, and AlGaP under inductively coupled plasma (ICP) conditions. While the etching with CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2}/Ar discharges appears to be ion driven, Cl{sub 2}/Ar discharges showed an additional strong chemical enhancement. The highest etch rate ({approximately}1 {mu}m/min) for InGaP was achieved at high ICP source power ({ge}750 W) with the Cl{sub 2}/Ar chemistry. Cl{sub 2}/Ar discharges provided very smooth surfaces in all three materials with root-mean-square roughness measured by atomic force microscopy around 2 nm. This result may be due to the efficient ion-assisted product desorption in this chemistry. The etched near-surface region of InGaP ({approximately}100 {Angstrom}) with Cl{sub 2}/Ar maintained almost the same stoichiometry as that of the unetched control. By contrast, the CH{sub ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Performance of SRF cavities are limited by non-linear localized effects. The variation of local material characters between "hot" and "cold" spots is thus of intense interest. Such locations were identified in a BCP-etched large-grain single-cell cavity and removed for examination by high resolution electron microscopy (SEM), electron-back scattering diffraction microscopy (EBSD), optical microscopy, and 3D profilometry. Pits with clearly discernable crystal facets were observed in both "hotspot" and "coldspot" specimens. The pits were found in-grain, at bi-crystal boundaries, and on tri-crystal junctions. They are interpreted as etch pits induced by surface crystal defects (e.g. dislocations). All "coldspots" examined had qualitatively low density of etching pits or very shallow tri-crystal boundary junction. EBSD revealed the crystal structure surrounding the pits via crystal phase orientation mapping, while 3D ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Microfabrication processes for Y-Ba-Cu-O films have been investigated, using ion-beam techniques. High-T_c superconducting lines as narrow as 0.8 #mu#m have been fabricated from epitaxial YBa_2Cu_3O_7 _- _y films by Ar ion-beam etching (IBE), combined with focused ion-beam (FIB) lithography. The resulting lines, 1.3 #mu#m wide and 2 mm long, showed a zero resistance temperature of 81 K and a critical current density of 1.9 x 10"4 A/cm"2 at 77.3 K. Maskless etching was carried out using 130-keV au"+ focused ion-beam (FIB) with a 0.1-#mu#m-diameter beam. A 50-nm-thick film was patterned into 0.3-#mu#m-wide lines at a dose of 5 x "1"6 ions/cm"2. In comparison with Ar IBE, Cl_2 reactive ion-beam etching (RIBE) exhibited an enhancement effect in sputtering yield. Ion implantation with 300-keV Si"+ "+ FIB also indicated the possibility to produce submicrometer patterns by selectively modifying film properties from superconductive ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Focused ion beam (FIB) processes have been developed for Y--Ba--Cu--O superconductor films. A Y--Cu liquid metal ion source has been fabricated, using a Y_6_7 --Cu_3_3 eutectic alloy as the ion source. As-sputtered Y--Ba--Cu--O film etch rate ratios to GaAs(100) and Si(100) substrates are 0.28 and 1.4 for 130-keV Au"+ FIB ion etching, respectively. Y--Ba--Cu--O submicron patterns have been demonstrated by using FIB lithography and Cl_2 reactive ion beam etching. Moreover, a Y--Ba--Cu--O superconducting line with 4-#mu#m linewidth has been fabricated by annealing an as-sputtered Y--Ba--Cu--O line pattern. T/sub c/ control of Y--Ba--Cu--O film has been achieved by 200-keV Ne"+, using conventional ion implantation and 300 keV Si"+"+ FIB ion implantation.

Science.gov (United States)

This appendix provides a listing of the BNW-I optimization code, MFCIRI, for a metal finned tube dry-cooled heat rejection system for power plants. (LCL)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A process and apparatus for solidifying radioactive waste liquid containing dissolved and/or suspended solids is disclosed. The process includes chemically treating for pH adjustement and precipitation of solids, concentrating solids with a thin-film evaporator to provide liquid concentrate containing about 50% solids, and drying the concentrate with heated mixing apparatus. The heated mixing apparatus includes a heated wall and working means for shearing dried concentrate from internal surfaces and subdividing dry concentrate into dry, powdery particles. The working means includes a rotor and helical means for positively advancing the concentrate and resulting dry particles from inlet to outlet of the mixing apparatus. The dry particles may also be encapsulated in a matrix material. Entrained particles in the vapor stream from the evaporator and mixer are ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In support of a new clinical trial designed to compare the effects of crushed fresh garlic and two types of garlic supplement tablets (enteric-coated dried fresh garlic and dried aged garlic...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

The negative consequences of baling hay before it is adequately dried are widely known to producers. Frequently, these problems are created by uncooperative weather conditions that prevent forages from drying (rapidly) to moisture levels that allow safe and stable storage of harvested forages. When ...

International Science & Technology Center (ISTC)

Safe Transference of Spent Fuel Assemblies from Near-Reactor Storage Pools to Long-term "Dry" Storage

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No abstract prepared.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Multicrystalline silicon is a very interesting material for terrestrial solar cells. Its low cost and respectable energy conversion efficiency (12-15%) makes it arguably the most cost competitive material for large-volume solar power generation. However, the solar cell efficiency of this material is severely degraded by regions of high minority carrier recombination which have been shown to possess both dislocations and microdefects. These structural defects are known to increase in recombination activity with transition metal decoration. Therefore, gettering of metal impurities from the material would be expected to greatly enhance solar cell performance. Contrary to this rationale, experiments using frontside phosphorus and/or backside aluminum treatments have been found to improve regions with low recombination activity while having little or no effect on the high recombination regions and in turn only slightly improving the overall cell performance. The goal of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ag, Cu, and Ni metallizations were inkjet printed with near vacuum deposition quality. The approach developed can be easily extended to other conductors such as Pt, Pd, Au, etc. Thick highly conducting lines of Ag and Cu demonstrating good adhesion to glass, Si, and printed circuit board (PCB) have been printed at 100-200 deg C in air and N2 respectively. Ag grids were inkjet-printed on Si solar cells and fired through the silicon nitride AR layer at 850 deg C, resulting in 8% cells. Next generation inks, including an ink that etches silicon nitride, have now been developed. Multi-layer inkjet printing of the etching ink followed by Ag ink produced contacts under milder conditions and gave solar cells with efficiencies as high as 12%.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

ABSTRACT Purpose: The aim of this two-center study was to evaluate screw-type titanium implants with a chemically modified, sandblasted and acid-etched surface when placed in the posterior maxilla or mandible, and loaded 21 days after placement. Material and Methods: All 56 patients met strict inclusion criteria and provided informed consent. Each patient displayed either a single-tooth gap, an extended edentulous space, or a distal extension situation in the posterior mandible or maxilla. Eighty-nine dental implants (SLActive, Institut Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland) were inserted according to an established nonsubmerged protocol and underwent undisturbed healing for a period of 21 days. Where appropriate, the implants were loaded after 21 days of healing with provisional restorations i...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Conventional, recirculating, and intermittent type peanut dryers were compared in a three-year study. Comparisons indicate that partial recirculation of peanut drying air may reduce energy consumption per unit of water removed by approximately 25% while also reducing required drying time and maintaining high quality.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Summary There are many active functional compounds in citrus peels, such as flavonoid and phenolic acid. Scientists tried to obtain more bioactive components from citrus peels by various methods. This research investigated the effects of different drying temperatures (50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100-C) on changes in the flavonoid, phenolic acid and antioxidative activities of citrus fruit (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) peels. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of drying treated orange peels were decreased by lower drying temperature (50 and 60-C) and increased by higher drying temperature (70, 80, 90 and 100-C). Amounts of phenolic compounds in the 100-C treated sample extract were significantly higher than the amounts in the samples heated at other temperatures (P-50 values of orange pee...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Preparation and electrocatalytic reactions of nano porous materials in biodegradable fluids were studied. Electrochemical etching was conducted to selectively extract metallic elements from alloys to form porous structures. Electrocatalytic properties of the porous electrodes were characterized. Comparative studies on the electrochemical activities of the nano porous metallic electrodes with bulk metallic wire catalysts were performed. It is found that the current density at the nano porous electrode is three times higher than that of the bulk electrode

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Due to the high investment and operation costs incurred by dryers up to 50% of the proceeds from the cultivation of medicinal plants have to be spent on drying. This study was conducted in order to determine whether these costs can be lowered when solar energy is used. As little is known about the drying behaviour of medicinal plants even today one selected sage and camomile in order to study the influence of temperature, relative humidity, and drying air velocity on drying time and drug quality. Laboratory results were used as a basis for developing a solar hothouse dryer for medicinal plants which uses the whole roof surface as solar collectors with a batch dryer set up within the hothouse. In contrast to dryers of this type used up to now a foil green house with a gable roof was used. Installation of a central heating system helps to avoid bottlenecks, allows drying at night and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

During a hypothetical severe incident in a nuclear power plant with core meltdown a large part of radioactive material is present as aerosol particles in the reactor containment. In current severe accident containment codes the potential influences of hydrogen combustions on the behaviour of aerosols are not considered. Among other effects dry resuspension can increase the aerosol concentration in the atmosphere. Already deposited aerosol material can be re-released into the containment atmosphere by atmospheric currents induced by hydrogen deflagrations or by other phenomena like steam explosions. The objective is to assess the possible influence of this dry resuspension effect on the radioactive source term. (author)

Science.gov (United States)

... pr h-±rmt of im- mersion isotherme of VIMCH and VYHH which are film formers of v,,yl chloride-acetate co-r~polyrers. VMCH has excelleut r.Lr-dry ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Microbial cells are routinely dried and ground before they are used in metal biosorption studies. In this work, a metal biosorbent was prepared by drying biomass of the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis in an oven at 70C for 24-h followed by grinding. Two forms of the prepared biosorbent particles, washed and unwashed, were examined for their ability to remove lead from solution. It was found that the unwashed biosorbent exhibited higher lead uptake than the washed biosorbent. Analysis of the supernatant of washed cells incubated in water and that of unwashed cells incubated in lead solution revealed the presence of protein, carbohydrates, organic acids and inorganic phosphate. Overall, the washed and unwashed cells leached, respectively, 14.5 and 13.4% of their initial dry weight (100-m...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A dry interim storage facility has been constructed at the Wolsung power plant in Korea. This dry storage facility has seven separated modules. There are 40 long slender cylinders in one module. In one cylinder, ten baskets where sixty CANDU spent fuel bundles are loaded are stacked and stored. For this dry storage facility, analyses and tests for hypothetical accident conditions that might occur while moving and storing the baskets into a cylinder were performed. In a demonstration test, one of test basket models did not satisfy one of the safety-related requirements. Thus, the revised basket designs were generated using a structural evaluation based on finite element analyses and specimen tests. Among these revised designs, one design was chosen as a final revised basket design. The fina...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Stearic acid (C{sub 1}8H{sub 36}O{sub 2}) was treated into Ar and Ar-O{sub 2}(10%) pulsed DC discharge created by a cathode-anode confined system. The samples were placed at the floating potential. The results show that the mass variation of the stearic acid samples after Ar-O{sub 2} plasma exposure is more important than the pure Ar plasma treatments. This comportment demonstrate that the oxygen actives species (O and O{sub 2} in all states) strongly enhance the etching process with regards to A{sup *} species, regardless of their concentration. After treatment by Ar and Ar-O{sub 2} plasma, analyses by X-ray diffraction show a significant structural modification of the samples surface, utilizing Ar-O{sub 2} plasma the modification was more pronounced. The chemical composition evolution shows that the acid function is etched preferentially in the beginning of the treatment (about 5 min) and that after 10 min the carbonic chains seems to be ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We investigate a new texturization technique for crystalline silicon solar cells with sodium carbonate (Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3}) solutions. We show the dependence of the hemispherical surface reflectance on solution temperature, the etching time and the Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} concentration. Furthermore, we investigate what element in Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} solution influences the texturing for reducing the texturing time. As a result of experiments, we find it possible to get low reflectance in a shorter texturing time by the addition of NaHCO{sub 3}. The size of texture becomes smaller by the addition of NaHCO{sub 3} but the etching rate does not change. We conclude carbonic ion and/or its compound seems to play an important role as the initiator of pyramidal structure. This texturing method is cost effective because there is no need of expensive IPA, and the surface reflectance is reduced sufficiently in a short time. This method is promising for a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Careful sample preparation and secondary ion mass spectroscopy have been used to characterize arsenic dose loss to the silicon-oxide interface. Using high resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for microprofiling, we have directly observed the pileup of arsenic at the silicon dioxide-silicon interface. At least half of the pileup is shown to be on the silicon side of the interface in the first monolayer of silicon. Monolayer chemical oxidation and etching are successfully used to profile this pileup in silicon. This pileup contains most of the arsenic dose loss that occurs during transient enhanced diffusion. This result is crucial to correctly model the dose loss and provides physical justification for using a trap/detrap model at the interface, which is necessary to account for the fact that the arsenic surface concentration remains constant during an anneal and the fact that the dose loss is partially reversible. Finally, we have found that normal ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Advanced techniques for focused-ion-beam (FIB) device modification have been developed for complex, multistep modifications to circuitry on planar chip technology. Applying gas-assisted etching (GAE) techniques for high-aspect-ratio milling and the selective milling of both conductive and insulating films enhances process latitude. Localized ion-beam-induced deposition of an insulating film provides reconstructive capability in previously modified areas. The application of both techniques for complex device modification on VSLI devices fabricated with CMOS process technology is reviewed. (UK).

Science.gov (United States)

With the help of self-assembly, thermal sintering, selective etching techniques and sol-gel process, the non-close packed (ncp) face-centered cubic (fcc) photonic crystals of titanium dioxide (TiO2) hollow spheres connected by TiO2 cylindrical tubes have been fabricated using silica template. The photonic bandgap calculations indicate that the ncp structure of TiO2 hollow spheres was easier to open the pseudogaps than close packed system at the lowest energy. PMID:17097102

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This letter describes a new simple fabrication process, developed recently for blue response'' improvement in low-cost polycrystalline silicon solar cells. A selective emitter is created by heavily doping the emitter, followed by a wet etching-back of the cell area between the fingers. An improvement up to 17 mV in {ital V}{sub oc}, 1.5 mA/cm{sup 2} in {ital J}{sub sc}, and 1% (absolute value) in {eta} is obtained. Effective phosphorus gettering, self-alignment, and application in a low-cost full screenprinting technology are the main advantages of the proposed process.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Steel is one of the most versatile materials known to mankind. It is used in a variety of applications. In many of these applications, it is exposed to the atmosphere, leading to rust formation, which weakens structures made using steel. Hence, protection is important. The popular methods to prevent corrosion are painting, galvanizing, electroplating etc. The widely used Chrome etching process is very effective in corrosion inhibition as well as in hardening the steel. But, Chromium and its compounds are highly placed among the toxic chemicals listed under pollution prevention initiatives of the EPA. Hence, it was decided to find alternatives to this process.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this work, we investigate the interstitial injection into the silicon lattice due to high-dose, low-energy arsenic implantation. The approach consists in monitoring the diffusion of the arsenic profile as well as of the boron profile in buried #delta#-doped layers, when amounts of the as-implanted arsenic profile are removed by low-temperature wet silicon etching. The experimental results indicate that the contribution of the implantation damage to the transient enhanced diffusion of boron, and thus the interstitial injection, is not the main one. On the contrary, interstitial generation due to arsenic clustering seems to be more important for the present conditions.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The use of a selective epitaxial growth technique for fabricating YBCO thin-film microstructures is described. No film post-deposition processing is required; hence damage to the structure is minimized. The technique is compatible with a passivation process to protect the structure without exposure to air. The microbridges, Josephson junctions and rf SQUIDs protected by an amorphous YBCO passivation have long lifetime even after severe accelerated aging tests. Rf SQUIDs fabricated by this technique show a significant reduction of low-frequency noise when operating in weak magnetic fields compared with SQUIDs fabricated by the conventional ion beam etching technique. (author)

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Microfabrication processes for Y-Ba-Cu-O films have been investigated, using ion-beam techniques. High-{Tc} superconducting lines as narrow as 0.8 {mu}m have been fabricated from epitaxial YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7 {minus} {ital y}} films by Ar ion-beam etching (IBE), combined with focused ion-beam (FIB) lithography. The resulting lines, 1.3 {mu}m wide and 2 mm long, showed a zero resistance temperature of 81 K and a critical current density of 1.9 {times} 10{sup 4} A/cm{sup 2} at 77.3 K. Maskless etching was carried out using 130-keV au{sup +} focused ion-beam (FIB) with a 0.1-{mu}m-diameter beam. A 50-nm-thick film was patterned into 0.3-{mu}m-wide lines at a dose of 5 {times} {sup 16} ions/cm{sup 2}. In comparison with Ar IBE, Cl{sub 2} reactive ion-beam etching (RIBE) exhibited an enhancement effect in sputtering yield. Ion implantation with 300-keV Si{sup + +} FIB also indicated the possibility to produce ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A new semi-empirical algorithm for the radial distribution of dose is compared with available data. The algorithm is used to calculate the inactivation cross section for dry enzymes and viruses using an extended target model of a 1-hit detector. Agreement with data is at about the 15% level, approximating the precision of the data itself. (author).

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The results of a time-resolved study of the avalanche and streamer formation phases leading to breakdown in atmospheric nitrogen and dry air. Results of experiments and two-dimensional simulations are presented. It is shown what processes are responsible for the formation of a streamer. The trends of externally measured quantities correspond with those predicted by our model. 3 figs., 5 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The two favourable dry storage concepts being under consideration in the Federal Republic of Germany are presented and the physical behaviour or natural convection cooling with air is explained. With the three examples cask store, vault storage horizontally and vertically arranged the main thermodynamical design parameters and their influence on the efficiency of the cooling system and on the temperature distribution inside the store and of the stored material are discussed. Moreover, the importance of the fulfilment and the harmony of all safety criteria and the difficulties while to do so are carried out especially with the vault store.

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The Technical Safety Requirements (TSRs) for the Cold Vacuum Drying Facility define acceptable conditions, safe boundaries, bases thereof, and management or administrative controls required to ensure safe operation. Controls required for public safety, significant defense-in-depth, significant worker safety, and for maintaining radiological and toxicological consequences below risk evaluation guidelines are included.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Studies were made on different types of packaging materials used for packing dried fish in the Philippines with a view to finding a suitable packaging material for irradiated dried fish. Among these packaging materials (polyethylene, cello/polyethylene, polyester/polyethylene, Kraft paper, polypropylene and interwoven polypropylene sacks), polyester/polyethylene laminate was the most resistant material against penetration by Dermestes carnivorous. No insect damage occurred on the dried fish packed in interwoven polypropylene lined with polyester/polyethylene laminate. The cost per sack of such packaging material having a capacity of 50-80 kg is US$ 0.50. The sack lined with polyester/polyethylene proved to be durable for surface transportation from Bacolod City to Manila (approx. 360 miles). Radiation treatment at 225 krad was effective against bacterial contamination but not effective in inhibiting mould growth. Raw fish ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A dense Pd-Ag membrane reactor (MR) with 100% hydrogen selectivity packed with either Rh/La2O3 or Rh/La2O3-SiO2 as catalysts was used to carry out the dry reforming of methane. The membrane reactor simulation was performed using a well-known reactor model. For this purpose, we employed the equations derived from complete kinetic studies of the dry reforming of methane reaction in connection with both catalysts. In addition, we developed the kinetic equation for the reverse water gas shift reaction (RWGS). The combination of detailed kinetic studies with the measured permeation flux for the Pd-Ag membrane allowed a complete comparison between experimental and simulated operation variables. The variables studied for both catalysts were methane conversion and hydrogen permeation as a function...

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Main driver of the operation costs of agricultural biogas plants are substrate costs. The assessment of the biogas potential of different crops is carried out after ensiling and related to the DM content of the silage. This is insufficient for practical economic calculation due to prior dry mass losses during ensiling and aerobic deterioration. By the use of balancing trials process related dry mass losses can be estimated. In dependence of the deterioration time methane losses of 7,2 - 25,9% were evaluated. The methane losses match with the dry mass losses calculated according to Honig. (orig.)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The effects of time of seed maturation and dry seed storage and of light and temperature requirements during seed incubation on final germination percentage and germination rate were assessed for the invasive shrub Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) D.C., grown under desert environmental conditions of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Seeds were collected from Fujira on the northern coast of the UAE at different times during the growing seasons (autumn, winter and spring) and were germinated immediately and after 8 months of dry storage under room temperature (20+-3degreeC). Seeds were germinated at three temperatures (15, 25 and 40degreeC) in both continuous light and darkness. The results showed significant effects for time of seed collection, seed storage, light and temperature of seed incubation a...

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ABSTRACT Drought is an important seedling mortality agent in dry and moist tropical forests, and more severe and frequent droughts are predicted in the future. The effect of drought on leaf gas exchange and seedling survival was tested in a dry-down experiment with four tree species from dry and moist forests in Bolivia. Seedlings were droughted and wilting stage and gas exchange were monitored. Drought led to a gradual reduction of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance over time, whereas respiration and photosynthetic water-use efficiency initially increased with drought and then declined. Seedlings gradually went through the different wilting stages, until they eventually died, but the trajectory differed for the four species. The strong relationship between wilting stage and photosynt...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Bacterial cellulose produced by the gram-negative bacterium Gluconacetobacter xylinum was found to be an excellent native starting material for preparing shaped ultra-lightweight cellulose aerogels. The procedure comprises thorough washing and sterilization of the aquogel, quantitative solvent exchange and subsequent drying with supercritical carbon dioxide at 40 degreeC and 100 bar. The average density of the obtained dry cellulose aerogels is only about 8 mg cm-3 which is comparable to the most lightweight silica aerogels and distinctly lower than all values for cellulosic aerogels obtained from plant cellulose so far. SEM, ESEM and nitrogen adsorption experiments at 77 K reveal an open-porous network structure that consists of a comparatively high percentage of large mesopores and small...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

This report describes a case of toxic myopathy in a two year old sheltie dog with clinical signs of profound weakness, myoglobinuria, and muscle enzyme elevations. The clinical signs were likely related...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There are 4 CANDU reactors at Wolsung site together with a spent fuel dry storage associated with unit 1. These CANDU reactors, classified as On-Load Reactor (OLR) for Safeguards application, change 16- 24 fuel bundles with fresh fuel in everyday. Especially, the spent fuel bundles are transferred from spent fuel bays to dry storage throughout a year because of the insufficient capacity of spent fuel pond. Safeguards inspectors verify the spent fuel transfer to meet safeguards purposes according to the safeguards criteria by means of inspector's presence during the transfer campaign. For the verification, 60-80 person-days of inspection (PDIs) are needed during approximately 3 months for each unit. In order to reduce the inspection effort and operators' burden, an Unattended Monitoring System (UMS) was designed and developed by the IAEA for the verification of spent fuel bundles transfers from wet storage to ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A combined approach based on the use of ATR-FT/IR and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy allowed to shed light on the effects of the additive methoxypolyethylene glycol (MePEG) on the hydration,...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

A thin-film evaporator requires only a short heating time to concentrate a solution since it has a high thermal efficiency and has a small capacity. Thus, the chemical industry often uses this type of evaporator for concentrating materials that are subjec...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Elemental composition and distribution of the mineral reserves in the endosperm and embryo tissues of Ricinus communis cultivars Hale and Zanzibarensis were investigated. Energy dispersive...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Tendon reconstruction using grafts often results in adhesions that limit joint flexion. These adhesions are precipitated by inflammation, fibrosis, and paucity of tendon differentiation signals...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

The financial evaluation of capital and operating cost estimates for a dry coke quenching facility installation indicates a marginal return on investment if the evaluation is based exclusively on steam credits. However, the potential improvements in environmental emissions and reported, but unverified, blast furnace operations may justify the expenditure. The Russian and Japanese claim of 2 to 4% reduction in blast furnace coke usage with up to 4% increase in iron production has not been demonstrated in the domestic steel industry and, therefore, is not included in the financial analysis. A 2% coke reduction represents a savings of approximately $0.81 per ton of hot metal produced or an additional annual credit of $1,800,000 for dry coke quenching, exclusive of productivity gains. Additional credit of this magnitude would increase the estimated discounted cash flow return from 10% to approximately 16% for the estimated capital expenditure of ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Details of ion transporting abnormalities in cystic fibrosis airway epithelium are now known. The central hypothesis, that excessive drying of the airway surfaces is a primary event that leads to all...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In China, Korea, and Japan, a decoction of the dried root without bark of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. has been used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus,...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The paper describes uptake of gaseous lodine-131 on silver impregnated organic resin, Amberlite IR-120, available at the Secondary Steam Generator (S.S.G.) Opening at T.A.P.S. in comparison with activated charcoal. The experiments are conducted in dry and wet conditions by soaking the impregnated resin and activated charcoal in distilled water for wet condition. The paper also describes the iodine sampler specially designed and fabricated for these experiments.

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A detailed examination of the aging processes that may take place in solid-dielectric extruded-type high voltage transmission cables under dry conditions is presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the aging process as affected by the separate and simultaneous action of four main aging factors, namely the electrical, mechanical and thermal stresses, and the physical and chemical environment. A number of pertinent aging models are considered and their validity and applicability to accelerated aging tests on solid-type transmission cables are discussed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A preliminary investigation was completed on the characterization and decontamination of coral samples from Johnston Island. These samples were found to contain individual particles (2 to 0.25 mm) of contaminated coral as well as a piece of contaminated magnetic metal. They ranged in activity from about 70 to 811 nCi Am-241. The decontamination methods investigated were froth flotation, ferrite treatment, attrition scrubbing, ultrasonic treatment and dry sieving. Dry sieving, the more effective technique, separated about 42 wt % of the coral into a decontaminated fraction. This fraction (>4 mm) contained about 0.5% of the total activity. 7 refs., 3 tabs.

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A novel envelope-type radon monitor has been used for short-term (as little as 1 week) radon concentration measurements in a workplace environment. The commercially available LR-115 type II damage track detector was used in this study and the chemically etched sheets were spark counted. The measurements were made over a period of 1 year in a workplace consisting of three adjacent rooms situated in the lower ground level of multistorey office building in Rome, Italy. The variations of the radon concentration are from [approx] 20 to [approx] 300 Bq m[sup -3] with averages of 130,81 and 73 Bq m[sup -3] for the three different rooms resulting in annual doses of [approx] 3.8, [approx] 2.4 and [approx] 2.2 mSv, respectively. (author) 2 figs., 9 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Environmental radon monitoring activities at the DOE Fernald Environmental Management Project (FEMP) have been conducted extensively since the early 1980`s. Monitoring has been conducted at ambient concentration levels (< 1 pCi/L Rn-222), inside buildings, and at significantly elevated levels (hundreds of thousands pCi/L Rn-222) within the K-65 silo that store concentrated radium bearing wastes. The purpose of this paper/presentation is to present and discuss some of the difficulties encountered/solutions (e.g. reliability, detection limits, affects of environmental factors, data transfer, etc.) that have been discovered while taking measurements using both alpha track-etch passive integrating detectors and alpha scintillation real-time detectors. A short summary and conclusion section is provided following each topic presented.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A concentric reducer tube, which was a part of the top exit roughing hydraulic descaler in a hot strip mill failed prematurely under working pressure. A detailed metallurgical investigation comprising physical examination, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis was carried out to find out the genesis of the failure. Physical examination revealed cracks located symmetrically around the circumference of the tube that ran along its full length, up to the weld beads at both ends. Optical microscopy of etched samples revealed a banded ferrite-pearlite structure and the existence of forging folds near the change-in-section(160? fillets). Cracks were found to initiate from these forging folds. No structural abnormalities were found in the weld beads and...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Intergranular corrosion (IGC) resistance of types 304LN and 316LN stainless steels (SS) thermally aged at 823, 873, and 923 K for various durations was assessed by ASTM A262 practice A test (electrolytic etch test) and electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation (EPR) test. The results indicated that the type 316LN SS has significantly improved IGC resistance compared to 304LN SS. Based on the results of these tests, time-temperature-sensitization (TTS) diagrams were developed for both alloys. The secondary precipitates formed during thermal aging treatments were electrochemically extracted and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the types of precipitates formed during the aging treatments. The results indicated that the precipitates were mostly of M_2_3C_6 carbides.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A passive dosemeter, based on a Makrofol ED track detector covered with aluminized Mylar, enclosed in diffusion chamber, has been used for radon concentration studies. Detectors have been irradiated, using a "2"4"1Am source, at different energies and fluences in order to obtain the electrochemical etching conditions that allow the optimum registration of alpha particles having energies over 3 MeV. Thirty dosemeters have been sent to the UK National Radiation Protection Board (NRPB) Radon Environmental Chamber for calibration. The sensitivity of the dosemeter has been calculated. Several dosemeters have also been exposed in houses and dwellings in the Barcelona and Madrid areas for monitoring. Values for radon concentration in the areas under study are presented. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Focussed ion beam (FIB) processing has been applied to the fabrication of novel InP-based cleaved coupled cavity (CCC) quantum cascade lasers (QCL). Gas assisted etching using XeF_2 has been shown to significantly reduce the redeposition of sputtered material onto the mirror surfaces during final milling. For the unprocessed laser a broad spread of lasing peaks are observed between 9.72#mu#m to 9.78#mu#m at a current of 380mA (1kA/cm"-"2). After FIB processing, substantial side mode suppression is observed on applying a current of 20mA (100A/cm"-"2) to the short section and the main lasing peak is observed at 9.77#mu#m.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To suit the needs of development for manufacture VLSI, we started to investigate liquid metal ion sources (LMIS) and focused ion beam (FIB) in 1984. Many kinds of emitters viz. neddle type, co-axial type and capillary type of Ga and Au LMIS and three kinds of eutectic alloys LMIS (Au-Si, Au-Si-Be, Pd-Ni-Si-Be-B) have been tested. A program which can calculate focused ion guns has been written. Four kinds of foused ion guns have been operated, a fine beam with diametic 0.1 #mu#m is obtained. Using the FIB a scanning ion microscope has been constructed. Some tests of etching and self-developing of nitrocellulose are described. (author).

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A deep band of {l_brace}311{r_brace} defects was created 520 nm below the silicon surface with a 350 keV Si implant followed by a cluster-forming rapid thermal anneal (800 C, 1000 s). Chemical etching was used to vary the depth to the surface of the {l_brace}311{r_brace}-defect band. Afterwards, the defect dissolution was investigated at 750 C for different times. Varying the depth in this fashion assures that only the depth and no other feature of the cluster distribution is changed. The {l_brace}311{r_brace} defects were analyzed by plan-view, transmission electron microscopy. We show that the dissolution time of the {l_brace}311{r_brace}-defect band varies linearly with depth, confirming that surface recombination controls the dissolution and is consistent with analogous observations of transient enhanced diffusion.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This essay reviews key controversies in the history of the Darwinian research tradition: the Wilberforce-Huxley debate in 1860, early twentieth-century debates about the heritability of acquired characteristics and the consistency of Mendelian genetics with natural selection; the 1925 Scopes trial about teaching evolution; tensions about race, culture, and eugenics at the 1959 centenary celebration Darwin?s Origin of Species; adaptationism and its critics in the Sociobiology debate of 1970s and, more recently, Evolutionary Psychology; and current disputes about Intelligent Design. These controversies, I argue, are etched into public memory because they occur at the emotionally charged boundaries between public-political, technical-scientific, and personal-religious spheres of discourse. Ov...

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Solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) are widely used for radon measurements and CR-39 is one of the most popular SSNTD. In this work it was determined the calibration factor for radon concentration measurements through the passive method with CR-39 detectors. The detectors were put in a proper device (an adapted Lucas cell) and exposed to the standard radon concentration through the Pylon Model RN-150 flow through radon gas source. After exposure, the detectors were etched for 5.5 hours in a KOH solution at 80 deg C in a bath at a constant temperature. The track density was read in an Axiolab-Zeiss optical microscope, with nominal magnification of X10 connected to a video camera and to a personal computer. The calibration factor was obtained through the relation between standard radon concentration, track density and exposure time. (author)

Science.gov (United States)

The use of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) combined with in situ sputter etching for revealing the metallurgy of the metal-semiconductor interface is presented. The physical basis, measurement techniques, and data interpretation for Auger analysis of thin-film structures are briefly reviewed. Results of a detailed study of an alloyed multilayered contact (Ni/Au-Ge) on n-type epitaxial GaAs are summarized to illustrate how electrical and metallurgical contact properties can be correlated using AES. In addition, the results of a study of the growth kinetics and chemical phase identification of palladium silicide on single-crystal Si is given, as well as the initial results of a study of aluminum-palladium silicide interaction at elevated temperature. (auth)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Composite nitrides (such as BN, TiN) are widely used in various industrial applications because of their extreme wear and corrosion resistance, thermal and electrical properties. in order to obtain composite materials with these optimal properties, it is important to elucidate whether any chemical reactions occur at nitride/metal interfaces, e.g., those involving BN-Ti/TiN. Materials of interest include the deposition by PVD of Ti and TiN on BN substrates. Some of these systems were then subjected to varying degrees of physical and thermal alteration. Detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has therefore been rendered of these interfaces using cross-sectional display and sputter etching. Resulting structural and morphological features have been investigated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Diffusion of the nitridation, oxynitride formation and interfacial growth are of general interest.

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Several materials, lenses, dry bearings and cables were exposed to a tritiated moisture environment to study the behavior of tritium contamination on candidate materials for ITER remote handling equipment. To optimize the tritium removal procedure, decontamination experiments using a gas purge with three different moisture concentrations were also performed. The surface tritium concentrations of CeO{sub 2} containing alkaline barium glass (NB), CeO{sub 2} containing lead glass (LX) and synthetic quartz (Quartz) after the exposure experiments were 7.80, 10.94 and 0.67 Bq/cm{sup 2}, respectively. It was found that the tritium concentration was influenced by the compositions of the materials. The concentrations of tritium on type 831 (solid lubrication material: graphite) and type 237 (solid lubrication material: tungsten disulfate) dry bearings after the exposure experiments were 89.80 and 31.78 Bq/cm{sup 2}, respectively. The tritium ...

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This report investigates methods to utilize existing bulk tobacco kilns for curing (drying) of shelled corn, peanuts, and baled hay. In recent years Ontario tobacco producers have had to reduce production levels due to a declining demand for flue-cured tobacco. Many tobacco producers are currently diversifying into other crops. Some of these crops require curing and/or storage. Because of high capital costs to purchase conventional curing and/or storage facilities, tobacco producers wish to reduce their initial diversification costs by modifying their existing tobacco kilns (tobacco drying structures) and/or tobacco storage barns for this purpose. The investigation included high profile and low profile downdraft stick kilns, bulk kilns, and tobacco storage (pack) barns. Corn, peanuts, and hay were considered in relation to bulk kiln specifications and modifications, handling, drying and storage methods, energy requirements, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Scanning ion microscopy with polarization analysis (SIMPA) is used to study the spin-resolved surface magnetic structure of nano-sized magnetic systems. SIMPA is utilized for in situ topographic and spin-resolved magnetic domain imaging as well as for focused ion beam (FIB) etching of desired structures in magnetic or non-magnetic systems. Ultra-thin Co films are deposited on surfaces of Si(1 0 0) substrates, and ultra-thin, tri-layered, bct Fe(1 0 0)/Mn/bct Fe(1 0 0) wedged magnetic structures are deposited on fcc Pd(1 0 0) substrates. SIMPA experiments clearly show that ion-induced electrons emitted from magnetic surfaces exhibit non-zero electron spin polarization (ESP), whereas electrons emitted from non-magnetic surfaces such as Si and Pd exhibit zero ESP, which can be used to calibrate sputtering rates in situ. We report on new, spin-resolved magnetic microstructures, such as magnetic 'C' states and magnetic vortices, found at surfaces of FIB patterned ...

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The purpose of this report is to determine if it is feasible to utilize the hot exhaust gas discharged from gas turbines in direct applications. This report illustrates the technical feasibility and economic viability of using gas turbines in drying applications. The size of turbines in this investigation ranges from 2 MW to 10 MW. In addition, an implementation strategy has been developed to employ this new system. The method used to structure the scope of this undertaking is as follows: Step 1. Collecting information by contacting dryer manufacturer and companies drying different products. Information was also gathered by literature studies and the internet. Thomas register is a great tool when it comes to company and market searches. Step 2. Looking into if it is technically possible to use the exhaust gas directly into dryers. The parameters needed for these calculations were gathered in step 1, and some of the more important are ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A pair of bundles is placed in a shuttle tube, which is enclosed by a carriage tube kept inside the Shuttle Transfer Station (STS). It takes about 90 minutes for the spent fuel bundles to travel from the reactor channel to Transfer Magazine (TM). Subsequently, the dry transfer operation takes about 4 minutes. An emergency air cooling flow rate of 600 m3/hr is supplied to cool the spent fuel bundles after they reach the STS, following lapse of 4 minutes of spent fuel dry transfer, in case the bundles are not submerged in the light water in STS. A thermal and hydraulic safety analysis has been done to estimate the maximum sheath temperature, if the spent fuel bundles are stuck at a location of 30 mm below the normal location aligned to the TM port. This position of the spent fuel will have least cooling from the emergency cooling airflow. At the same time, the shuttle tube carrying the spent fuel bundle is just above the water. From the analysis ...

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TSS (thermal swing sublimation) method was studied which uses vaporization heat and sensible heat of LNG for solidification and separation of CO2 gas in waste gases of LNG-fired combined cycle power generation system. In experiment, the mixed gas composed of CO2, H2O and N2 was used for simulating waste gas of LNG-fired combined cycle power generation systems, and the growth behavior of ice and dry ice was studied for developing dry ice making technology under low-temperature condition. As the experimental result, the following were clarified: various crystal structures depending on cooling temperature, the effect of gas flow rate on peeling of surface precipitated solids, and solidification characteristics of H2O/CO2 mixed gas. The growth rate of precipitated solid film thickness decreased with an increase in gas flow rate, while increased with CO2 concentration. The shape of a dry ice sublimator similar to that of a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Three agricultural applications in a specially designed greenhouse solar system functioning as a multi-purpose solar air collector for crop production and curing/drying processes are examined. An automated hydroponic crop production system is proposed for the greenhouse solar system. Design criteria of the proposed system and its utilization of solar energy for root-zone warming are presented and discussed. Based upon limited testing of the hydroponic system considered, hydroponic production of greenhouse crops is believed reasonable to complement the year-round use of the greenhouse solar system. The hardware/software design features of a microcomputer-based control system applied in the greenhouse solar barn are presented and discussed. On-line management and utilization of incident solar energy by the microcomputer system are investigated for both the greenhouse and tobacco curing/drying modes of operation. The design approach considered for ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Vertical thin film evaporators have been used to concentrate and dry solutions because their rotating swing blades prevent scale from being deposited on the heated surfaces. Powdering capacity of the vertical thin film evaporator was examined experimentally for drying applications of radioactive liquid waste generated from nuclear power plants. As a result, it was found that the powdering capacity increased with the blade rotation, changing significantly in the low ratational region and scarcely in the high rotational region. The powdering capacity in the high rotational region was restricted by the lack of heat flux which was theoretically evaluated for the concentrating process. As the critical factor in the low rotational region was not clear, a visual test apparatus was made to observe flow patterns in the evaporator, and a powdering model was obtained. This model showed that powdering process was obstructed when the liquid film lost its ...

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In response to the need for a comprehensive and consistent approach to the complex issue of mixed waste management, a generalized methodology for remediation of a mixed waste site has been developed. The methodology is based on requirements set forth in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and incorporates ``lessons learned`` from process design, remediation methodologies, and remediation projects. The methodology is applied to the treatment of 32,000 drums of mixed waste sludge at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site. Process technology options are developed and evaluated, first with regard to meeting system requirements and then with regard to CERCLA performance criteria. The following process technology options are investigated: (1) no action, (2) separation of hazardous and radioactive species, (3) dewatering, (4) drying, and (5) solidification/stabilization. The first two ...

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In this 150-day study, chicken manure, kenaf, and white rot fungus were added to soil microcosms in an attempt to enhance the degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls. The soil was contaminated with commercial PCB mixtures. Dishes were ammended with 5% dry weight chicken manure, 1% dry weight kenaf, and 1% dry weight kenaf plus Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculant. PCB concentrations were determined at 30 day intervals by soxhlet extraction and gas chromatography analyses. Preliminary results of microbial populations and PCB degradation are presented. At 90 days, the microcosms amended with chicken manure had significantly higher populations of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. However, at 120 days, these soils underwent great reductions in actinomycete and bacterial populations. Through 60 days, the concentration of the PCBs Aroclor 1242 and 1248 had its greatest reduction in the kenaf amended soils. The concentration ...

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A cost study is described which compared the economics of four dry/wet cooling systems to use at the existing Raft River Geothermal Plant. The results apply only at this site and should not be generalized without due consideration of the complete geothermal cycle. These systems are: the Binary Cooling Tower, evaporative condenser, Combin-aire, and a metal fin-tube dry cooling tower with deluge augmentation. The systems were evaluated using cooled, treated geothermal fluid instead of ground or surface water in the cooling loops. All comparisons were performed on the basis of a common plant site - the Raft River 5 MWe geothermal plant in Idaho. The Binary Cooling Tower and the Combin-aire cooling system were designed assuming the use of the isobutane/water surface condenser currently installed at the Raft River Plant. The other two systems had the isobutane ducted to the evaporative condensers. Capital credit was not given to the system employing ...

Science.gov (United States)

An analytical method was developed for the determination of eleven agrochemicals [abamectin (as B1a), bifenazate, bifenthrin, carfentrazone-ethyl, cymoxanil, hexythiazox, imidacloprid, mefenoxam, pymetrozine, quinoxyfen, and trifloxystrobin] in dried hops. The method utilized polymeric and NH2 solid phase extraction (SPE) column cleanups and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Method validation and concurrent recoveries from untreated dried hops ranged from 71 to 126% for all compounds over three levels of fortification (0.10, 1.0, and 10.0 ppm). Commercially grown hop samples collected from several field sites had detectable residues of bifenazate, bifenthrin, hexythiazox, and quinoxyfen. The control sample used was free of contamination below the 0.050 ppm level for all agrochemicals of interest. The limit of quantitation and limit of detection for all compounds were 0.10 and 0.050 ppm, respectively. PMID:18593182

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) allows the examination of hydrated and dried specimens without a conductive metal coating which could be advantageous in the imaging of biological and medical objects. The aim of this study was to assess the performance and benefits of wet-mode and low vacuum ESEM in comparison to high vacuum scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using the choroid plexus of chicken embryos as a model, an organ of the brain involved in the formation of cerebrospinal fluid in vertebrates. Specimens were fixed with or without heavy metals and examined directly or after critical point drying with or without metal coating. For wet mode ESEM freshly excised specimens without any pre-treatment were also examined. Conventional high vacuum SEM revealed the characterist...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Improved radionuclide generator include a substantially insoluble salt of a radioactive parent which may be directly packed in column for subsequent elution of the daughter radionuclide. An improved 188Re generator was prepared by reacting a radioactive tungsten (188W) as parent radionuclide incorporated with aluminum chloride to obtain an insoluble radioactive aluminum tungstate matrix. The investigated matrix was characterized on the basis of the chemical composition, IR, thermal analysis and mechanical stabilities. The factors affecting the elution performance were studied such as influence of pH, molar ratio and drying temperature. From the obtained data, the molar ratio W:Al was 1.5:1 at pH?=?4, the matrix dried at 105??C for 2 h. Chromatographic and multichannel analysis has been cur...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors consider the dynamics of interacting elastic disks in the plane. This is an experimentally realizable two-dimensional model of dry granular flow where the stresses can be visualized using the photoelastic effect. As the elastic disks move in a vacuum, they interact through collisions with each other and with the surrounding geometry. Because of the finite propagation speed of deformations inside each grain it can be difficult to capture computationally even simple experiments involving just a few interacting grains. The goal of this project is to improve our ability to simulate dense granular flow in complex geometry. They begin this process by reviewing some past work, how they can improve upon previous work. the focus of this project is on capturing the elastic dynamics of each grain in an approximate, computationally tractable, model that can be coupled to a molecular dynamics scheme.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Laboratory studies have been carried out to determine the toxicity of methiocarb pellets to wild trapped wood mice in order to provide some background data prior to any further evaluation of hazard in the field. In this study, wood mice were exposed to dry and to dampened methiocarb pellets in order to reproduce field trial application conditions. Field observations of methiocarb pellets indicate that the physical character changes under dry and wet weather conditions. This may affect their relative attractiveness and potential toxicity to wood mice. The laboratory assessment of exposed wood mice included measurement of brain esterase activities, methiocarb residues in selected mouse tissue, carcasses, and histological evaluation of kidney, liver and lungs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Visits were made to selected manufacturing units with 25 or more employees. Information was gathered on energy consumption and advice was given on the opportunities available for improving the efficiency of energy use. Potential energy savings are estimated and recommendations are made on the action that should be taken to improve the efficiency of energy use. In the footwear industry space heating controls, improvements in boiler plant and steam services along with building insulation provide most of the savings potential. In the leather industries major energy saving opportunities can be found in low-temperature drying, and heat recovery, where the use of heat pumps could contribute substantial savings in drying and process water heating. Boiler controls and good housekeeping are areas where firms can make worthwhile savings at very little capital cost. (MCW)

Science.gov (United States)

The 575-mile Statpipe gas transportation system entails 191 miles of wet-gas line running from the Statfjord field across the Norwegian trench to the Karsto, Norway, conditioning plant and 384 miles of dry-gas line from Karsto, again across the trench, to the Heindal and Sleipner fields for final connection at Ekofisk with the Norpipe system for transport to Emden, West Germany. Special construction considerations include the 1000-ft-deep trench crossings, the rocky shore approach and departure, and the subsea tie-ins required at depths of up to 500 ft. The system has an initial annual design capacity of 186 billion CF of wet gas and 260 billion CF through the dry-gas line to Emden.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Droughts in Moldova were evaluated using meteorological data since 1955 and a long time series (1891?2009). In addition, yields for corn (Zea mays L.), a crop widely grown in Moldova, were used to demonstrate drought impact. The main aim is to propose use of the S i (S i-a and S i-m) drought index while discussing its potential use in studying the evolution of drought severity in Moldova. Also, a new multi-scalar drought index, the standardized precipitation?evapotranspiration index (SPEI), is tested for the first time in identifying drought variability in Moldova while comparing it with the commonly used standardized precipitation index (SPI). S i-m, SPI, SPEI, and S i-a indices show an increasing tendency toward more intensive and prolonged severely dry and extremely dry summer months. D...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Short rotation trials using cuttings poplar (Populus x rasumowskyana) in Southern Finland investigated the establishment of poplar plantations and the effects of spacing and application of nitrogen fertilizer on biomass production over a period of 6 years. Thicker cuttings grew better whilst those of less than 1 cm diameter grew only moderately. Nitrogen fertilization improved height and diameter growth and above-ground dry mass yield. Woody biomass production was 4.2 dry tons/ha per year, at 300 kg/ha nitrogen. A spacing of 15 000 stems/ha gave the best yield after 4 years, but 5000 stems/ha was more productive spacing in the next 2 years. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cooling water is sprayed on the outer surface of an upper portion of a container, and a pool is formed by the cooling water flowing down while cooling the container. Further, the cooling water stored in the cooling water pool is recycled by a pump for spraying the cooling water on the outer surface of the upper portion of the container. Sufficient amount of cooling water is supplied for spraying the cooling water to the outer surface of the upper portion of the container so that the outer surface of the container is free from drying and a liquid membrane is formed on the entire surface. The amount of the cooling water is made greater than that of the cooling water evaporated when the entire amount of the heat generate in the reactor core of the reactor is transferred to the cooling water. Since the liquid membrane is formed on the entire surface of the container with no drying of the outer surface, the area of cooling surface of the container ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A particle-laden turbulent reacting flow model is described and applied to in-furnace, dry SO_2 control in boilers. Sulfur capture by calcium-based sorbents is represented by a shrinking core model which accounts for surface areas loss and product layer diffusion. Sorbent particle trajectories and dispersion are followed with cloud statistics in a Lagrangian framework. The turbulent fluid mechanics and chemical reactions are coupled, and solutions obtained for mean and fluctuating velocity, composition, and particle position. Comparisons are made with data from an US EPA laboratory reactor. Practical implications for SO_2 control are examined including the effects of jet velocity, sorbent injection location, boiler load and thermal profiles.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We have employed Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis to study the microstructural evolution of acrylic latex stabilised with a novel polysaccharide derived from agricultural waste. The analysis revealed that the micro structure of the latex in the 'wet' state consists of individual particles and clusters. Upon evaporation a discontinuous film is formed, with voids present within its structure, which is inconsistent with the conventional descriptions of film formation. Further ESEM examination of 'dry' specimens revealed that aging resulted in the formation of dendritic structures on the surfaces of the latex films, which EDX analysis confirmed to have been formed via crystallisation of salt. The experimental evidence suggests that the clusters, which are part of the structure of the latex, may act as nucleation centres that would allow the dendrites to form.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This project is concerned with a basic scientific question concerning the properties of coal--to what extent is the ability of coal to hold moisture a manifestation of the well-known ability of coal to swell, when exposed to good solvents The question implies that the long-held belief that coal holds a significant portion of its moisture by classical capillary condensation processes, is possibly in error. It is likely that a sound approach to permanent drying would involve highly crosslinking the coal at mild drying conditions. The crosslinked coal could not swell sufficiently to hold much water. It is identifying processes to achieve this goal, that constitute the objective of the second phase of this work. 25 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Experiments on the depth dependence of transient enhanced diffusion (TED) of boron during rapid thermal annealing of Ge-preamorphized layers reveal a linear decrease in the diffusion enhancement between the end-of-range (EOR) defect band and the surface. This behavior, which indicates a quasi-steady-state distribution of excess interstitials, emitted from the EOR band and absorbed at the surface, is observed for annealing times as short as 1 s at 900 deg. C. Using an etching procedure we vary the distance x{sub EOR} from the EOR band to the surface in the range 80-175 nm, and observe how this influences the interstitial supersaturation, s(x). The supersaturations at the EOR band and the surface remain unchanged, while the gradient ds/dx, and thus the flux to the surface, varies inversely with x{sub EOR}. This confirms the validity of earlier modelling of EOR defect evolution in terms of Ostwald ripening, and provides conclusive evidence that the surface is the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nanoimprinting is a fast-growing technique for nanoscale patterning. One of the remaining issues in nanoimprinting is the removal of the residual layer after nanoimprinting. Traditionally the residual layer is removed by an oxygen reactive-ion etching (RIE) step. The need for a vacuum environment and dedicated equipment in this step lowers the throughput and increases the cost of the nanoimprinting process. It also prevents the possibility of patterning isolated functional polymers because oxygen RIE destroys the functional materials. In this work, novel nanoimprinting schemes are developed to nondestructively remove the residual layer in thermal nanoimprinting by solvent developing and dewetting. Combined with a transfer-bonding technique, three-dimensional polymer scaffolds are achieved. The techniques developed here eliminate the RIE step in thermal nanoimprinting and are compatible with roller nanoimprinting for large-scale patterning of polymer micro- or ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The influence of chemical composition and heat treatment on a low-carbon steel, chromium steel and high speed steel has been examined by polarisation curves and electrochemical parameters deduced from the Tafel plots. The electrochemical corrosion resistance, which is small between the as-received steels become greater after heat treatment, following the order: carbon steel < chromium steel #approx# high speed steel. To explain these differences, the nano- and microstructure of the steels has been characterized by the ex situ techniques of atomic force microscopy and optical microscopy, before and after surface etching with Nital (a solution of 5% HNO_3 in ethanol). This causes preferential attack of the ferrite phases showing the carbide phases more clearly. From these nanostructural studies it was possible to better understand why the passive films formed on chromium steel and high speed steel have superior protective properties to those formed on carbon ...

CERN Document Server

Surface compositional changes in GaAs due to RF plasmas of different gases have been investigated by XPS and etch rates were measured using AFM. Angular Resolved XPS (ARXPS) was also employed for depth analysis of the composition of the surface layers. An important role in this study was determination of oxide thickness using XPS data. The study of surface - plasma interaction was undertaken by correlating results of surface analysis with plasma diagnosis. Different experiments were designed to accurately measure the BEs associated with the Ga 3d, Ga 2p sub 3 sub / sub 2 and LMM peaks using XPS analysis and propose identification in terms of the oxides of GaAs. Along with GaAs wafers, some reference compounds such as metallic Ga and Ga sub 2 O sub 3 powder were used. A separate study aiming the identification of the GaAs surface oxides formed on the GaAs surface during and after plasma processing was undertaken. Surface compositional changes after plasma treatment, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were modified with poly(hexamethylene adipamide) (also known as Nylon 66) via a controlled polymer solution crystallization method. A 'nanohybrid shish kebab' (NHSK) structure was found wherein the MWNT resembled the shish while Nylon 66 lamellar crystals formed the kebabs. These Nylon 66-functionalized MWNTs were used as precursors to prepare polymer/MWNT nanocomposites. Excellent dispersion was revealed by optical and electron microscopies. Nitric acid etching of the nanocomposites showed that MWNT formed a robust network in Nylon 66. Non-isothermal DSC results showed multiple melting peaks, which can be attributed to lamellar thickness changes upon heating. The crystallite sizes L{sub 100} and L{sup 010} of Nylon 66, determined by WAXD, decreased with increasing MWNT contents. Isothermal DSC results showed that crystallization kinetics increased first and then decreased with increasing MWNT contents in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Inhalation of radon and its daughter products makes the major contribution to the total exposure of the population to natural radiations. In implementing a complex ecological survey, concentrations of radon and its daughter products were measured in different regions of Russia, namely, in the St. Petersburg Region, the Central Territories and the Altay Territory. Two suitable low price versions of the dosemeters for measuring environmental radon concentrations based on track-etch and activated-charcoal detectors were used. The radon daughter product activity and the effective dose equivalents were calculated with an equilibrium factor of 0.5 and a recommended effective dose equivalent factor of 0.061 mSv (Bq m{sup -3}){sup -1}. Indoor measurements were taken in more than 1000 dwellings and public and industrial buildings of 21 towns and villages. The track chambers were exposed for about 2-3 months and the charcoal detectors for 6-10 days, mainly during the summer. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Radon concentration measurements were carried out using solid-state nuclear track-etch detectors (SSNTDs) type CA 80-15 cellulose nitrate films, in a Pleistocenic cave at Petralona, in Halkidiki, Northern Greece, at 55 km from the city of Thessaloniki. Radon levels as high as 88 kBqxm"-"3 (2.38 nCi x l"-"1) have been recorded inside the cave equivalent to 11.90 WL in terms of occupational exposure to radon and its decay products. Absorbed dose rates were performed using TL dosimeters, type TLD-200 (CaF_2-Dy) in a continuous monitoring program (integrated measurements). Dose rate levels as high as 110 nGy x h"-"1 were recorded inside the cave. In interpreting the high levels of radiation doses, radioactivity measurements regarding the naturally occurring "2"3"8U, "2"3"2Th and "4"0K radionuclides were carried out in various speleothems found at different sites in the cave. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Beneath the harsh deserts of Saudi Arabia lie dark chambers and complex mazes filled with strange shapes and wondrous beauty. Radon concentration measurements have been carried out in the desert caves of Al-Somman Plateau in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Passive radon dosimeters, based on alpha particle etch track detectors with an inlet filter, were used in this study. A total of 59 dosimeters were placed in five caves for a period of six months. Out of 59 dosimeters, 37 could be collected for analysis. Measurements showed significant variations in radon concentrations in caves depending upon their natural ventilation. The results of the study show that the average radon concentration in the different caves ranges from 74 up to 451Bqm"-"3. The average radon concentration in four of the caves was low in the range 74-114Bqm"-"3. However, one cave showed an average radon concentration of 451Bqm"-"3. Radon is not a problem for tourists in the majority of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The United States Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), as part of an energy conservation programme in the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, has collected over 36,000 residential radon concentration measurements. Data were collected between 1983 and 1989 with ambient {alpha} etched track dosemeters. Based on the linear risk coefficient from the BEIR IV report for lifetime lung cancer in smokers and non-smokers, numbers of lung cancer cases attributable to radon exposure were predicted. Numbers of baseline lung cancer cases and numbers of these that were preventable by remediation were also estimated. Remediation to 10 pCi.1{sup -1}, to 4 pCi.1{sup -1}, and to outdoor levels were considered. With vital statistics data, results were extrapolated to populations in the states represented by the BPA data. Costs of remediation were estimated. Results were evaluated in terms of cost per cancer saved and per cent reduction in fatal lung cancer ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The formation of porous structures of nanometre size (nanoporous structures) on germanium (Ge) surfaces by focused ion beam (FIB) irradiations was investigated using various FIB conditions such as ion species, irradiation energies, total fluences, fluence rates, and incident angles. FIB-irradiated regions were observed using a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope. It is found that, using a focused Ga ion beam (Ga FIB) at an energy of 100 keV, the irradiated Ge surface swelled up to ion fluence of 2 x 10"1"7 cm"-"2 with nanoporous structures and then was etched for larger fluences. The shape of swollen nanoporous structures depended on the fluence rate and the incident angle of the Ga FIB. However, such porous structures were observed neither for low-energy (15-30 keV) FIB irradiations using Si and Au ions nor for high-energy (200 keV), heavy ion (Au) irradiation. These observations might be helpful in discussing the formation mechanisms of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Coded imaging techniques using thick, micro-Fresnel zone plates as coded apertures have been used to image x-ray emission (2--20 keV) and 3.5 MeV Alpha particle emissions from laser driven micro-implosions. Image resolution in these experiments was 3--8 ..mu..m. Extension of this coded imaging capability to higher energy x rays (approx.100 KeV) and more penetrating charged particles (e.g., approx.15 MeV protons) requires the fabrication of very thick (50--200 ..mu..m), high aspect ratio (10:1), gold Fresnel zone plates with narrow linewidths (5--25 ..mu..m) for use as coded apertures. A reactive ion etch technique in oxygen has been used to produce thick zone plate patterns in polymer films. The polymer patterns serve as electroplating molds for the subsequent fabrication of the free-standing gold zone plate structures.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the present paper, the chemical composition of passive films formed on both phases of two types of duplex stainless steels (UNS S31803 and UNS S32304) is determined at the micro-scale using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Samples were either mechanically polished (down to diamond pastes) or electrochemically etched in acidic solutions. The micro-electrochemical behavior of samples was then determined in sodium chloride media by means of the electrochemical micro-cell technique (capillary diameters of 30 {mu}m). The results obtained were analyzed considering the passive film chemical composition. Quantitative relationships between electrochemical parameters and the distribution of chromium and iron in the oxide layer were found. Due to differences in mechanical properties between ferrite and austenite, a heterogeneous stress distribution is generated in both phases. A method based on thermal-mechanical simulation was used to quantify surface stress gradients ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Silicon nitride based ceramics have attracted considerable attention as good candidates for structural applications due to their excellent mechanical properties including strength, hardness, fracture toughness, and high temperature strength. These properties are strongly influenced by grain size and morphology, and by the degree of crystallinity and chemistry of grain boundary phases. In this work, the microstructure of Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} densified with Nd{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} sintering additives was studied. Sintered samples were polished and plasma etched for microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscope. Quantitative evaluation of materials microstructure was accomplished using Quantikov software. Fracture toughness was measured by Vickers indentation method. The observed microstructure is typical of silicon nitride based materials and is characterized by high aspect ratio.-Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} grains embedded into a ...

Science.gov (United States)

A modified epitaxial design leads to straightforward implementation of short (1{lambda}) optical cavities and the use of C as the sole {ital p}-type dopant in AlGaInP/AlGaAs red vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). Red VCSELs fabricated into simple etched air posts operate continuous wave at room temperature at wavelengths between 670 and 690 nm, with a peak output power as high as 2.4 mW at 690 nm, threshold voltage of 2.2 V, and peak wallplug efficiency of 9%. These values are all significant improvements over previous results achieved in the same geometry with an extended optical cavity epitaxial design. The improved performance is due primarily to reduced optical losses and improved current constriction and dopant stability. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.

CERN Document Server

Increasing the speed and complexity of semiconductor integrated circuits requires advanced processes that put extreme constraints on the level of metal contamination allowed on the surfaces of silicon wafers. Such contamination degrades the performance of the ultrathin SiO sub 2 gate dielectrics that form the heart of the individual transistors. Ultimately, reliability and yield are reduced to levels that must be improved before new processes can be put into production. It should be noted that much of this metal contamination occurs during the wet chemical etching and rinsing steps required for the manufacture of integrated circuits and industry is actively developing new processes that have already brought the metal contamination to levels beyond the measurement capabilities of conventional analytical techniques. The measurement of these extremely low contamination levels has required the use of synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence (SR-TXRF) ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We used light confinement in optical microcavities to achieve a strong enhancement and a precise wavelength tunability of the electrical photoconductance of nanostructured porous silicon (PS). The devices consist of a periodic array of alternating PS layers, electrochemically etched to have high and low porosities - and therefore distinct dielectric functions. A central layer having a doubled thickness breaks up the symmetry of the one-dimensional photonic structure, producing a resonance in the photonic band gap that is clearly observed in the reflectance spectrum. The devices were transferred to a glass coated with a transparent SnO{sub 2} electrode, while an Al contact was evaporated on its back side. The electrical conductance was measured as a function of the photon energy. A strong enhancement of the conductance is obtained in a narrow (17nm FWHM) band peaking at the resonance. We present experimental results of the angular dependence of this photoconductance ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The effects of focused-ion-beam (FIB) irradiation on writer performance were examined on a perpendicular recording system. The entire top pole was irradiated by FIB with ion doses from 0 to 300 pC/#mu#m"2. PW_5_0 and signal to noise ratio (SNR) were characterized using a spin stand before and after FIB irradiation. It was found that there is degradation of PW_5_0 and SNR due to FIB irradiation. At the maximum dose (300 pC/#mu#m"2), PW_5_0 increased by 33 nm (>30%) and SNR decreased by 5 dB (>25%). The degradation was attributed to the physical pole tip recession and the formation of a magnetic dead layer. The thickness of the magnetic dead layer was estimated by analyzing the write spacing loss. Using atomic force microscopy and stage current change monitored during FIB process, it was found that the entire 4-nm protective carbon layer was etched away with a dose of 25 pC/#mu#m"2. This result implies that the degradation with ion doses <25 pC/#mu#m"2 is ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The US Department of Energy (DOE) sponsors an extensive research program to improve the methods, dosimeters, and instruments available to DOE facilities for measuring neutron dose and assessing its effects on the work force. The Total Dose Meter was recently developed for measuring in real time the adsorbed dose of mixed neutron and gamma radiation and for calculating the dose equivalent. The Field Neutron Spectrometer was developed to provide a portable instrument for determining neutron spectra in the workplace for flux-to-dose equivalent conversion and quality factor calculation. The Combination Thermoluminescence/Track Etch Dosimeter (TLD/TED) was developed to extend the effective neutron energy range of the conventional TLDs to improve detection of fast-energy neutrons. An Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeter is presently being developed for application to gamma, neutron, and beta radiation. An Effective Dose Equivalent System is being developed to ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Using standard microfabrication techniques, it is now possible to construct devices that appear to reliably manipulate electrons one at a time. These devices have potential use as building blocks in quantum computing devices, or as a standard of electrical current derived only from a frequency and the fundamental charge. To date, the error rate in semiconductor 'tuneable-barrier' pump devices, those which show most promise for high-frequency operation, have not been tested in detail. We present high-accuracy measurements of the current from an etched GaAs quantum dot pump, operated at zero source-drain bias voltage with a single ac-modulated gate at 340 MHz driving the pump cycle. By comparison with a reference current derived from primary standards, we show that the electron transfer accuracy is better than 15 parts per million. High-resolution studies of the dependence of the pump current on the quantum dot tuning parameters also reveal possible deviations from a ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Low-energy focused ion beam (FIB) is a useful tool for shallow doping, gas-assisted etching, and other uses to minimize substrate damage in semiconductor device fabrication. The possibility to form a finely FIB of low energy under 1 keV was suggested in the investigations on the retarding mode in electron optical systems. The abilities of the simplest type of retarding mode FIB column are examined here. The optical properties are calculated for the corresponding model and some images are observed with Ga"+ ion beams <0.3 #mu#m in diameter for beam energies, 10, 5, and 1 keV, using a retarding mode one-lens FIB system. 1-keV and 100-eV Ga"+ FIB was implanted to Ga/As substrate, and the defects are analyzed by deep-level transient spectroscopy. The defect concentration for 100 eV was < (1)/(5) that for 1000 keV.

Science.gov (United States)

Thermal models are constructed and analyses are performed of aluminum-based spent nuclear fuel (Al-SNF) in interim dry storage and geologic disposal configurations. Two models are developed, referred to as the interim storage model and the codisposal waste package (WP) model. Time-dependent source terms of Al-SNF forms and the defense high-level waste (DHLW) canisters are also developed for thermal performance analysis of the geologic codisposal WP.The interim storage model is a three-dimensional conduction-convection conjugate model to investigate the natural convection cooling of a sealed dry storage canister with vertical orientation in a dry storage vault. The analysis is made for various decay heat sources (equivalent to 25 to 35 kW/m{sup 3}) using various boundary conditions around the canister wall and with backfilled nitrogen or helium gas. Based on the data obtained from the Savannah River Site experimental work ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In-situ compaction method is an alternative technology for the construction of a buffer at HLW final disposal. Understanding of the compaction characteristics of the proposed material is important for this method of construction. In this report, paying attention to the relation between compaction energy and the achieved maximum dry density, dynamic compaction characteristic of bentonite and silica sand mixture material is examined. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Radiometric X-ray fluorescence analysis was used for the determination of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb in wastewater and sludges from three wastewater treatment plants in Bratislava (SR). Metals were determined in wastewaters after preconcentration by 8-hydroxyquinoline and in sludges by drying and pressing to pellets. "2"3"8Pu and "1"0"9Cd was used for excitation of fluorescence radiation. (author).

Science.gov (United States)

The effects of non-Darcy flow laws are investigated for two geothermal reservoir types: multiphase and Hot Dry Rock (HDR). Long-term thermal behavior is emphasized as short-term pressure transient behavior is addressed in the oil field literature. Comparisons of Darcy and non-Darcy flow laws are made.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the present study 12 diets, each one consisting of a pool of seven day diets, composed by four meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack, adequate in energy and macro nutrients according to the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) recommendations, were elaborated and offered to a group of 12 men (19-42 years). The diets were collected by duplicate portion technique and dried by two different processes: freeze drying and 60 deg C ventilated oven drying. In the total, 24 diets were analyzed. The content of some minerals and trace elements (Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Se and Zn) were determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. The validation of methodology was made by analysis of the reference materials Typical Diet (NIST SRM 1548"a), Orchard Leaves (NIST SRM 1541) and Peach Leaves (NIST SRM 1547). The results observed by two different drying processes used were statistically compared by test T of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The bibliography contains citations concerning industrial uses and design of microwave heating equipment. Included are heating and drying of paper, industrial process heat, vulcanization, textile processing, metallurgical heat for sintering and ceramic manufacturing, food processing, and curing of polymers.(Contains 50-250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.) (Copyright NERAC, Inc. 1995)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The field trial of an unattended monitoring system for SF transfer verification ended in June 2005. The system is aiming to improve the safeguards measures applied during SF transfers and reduce inspection effort currently required by the Operator, NNCA and the IAEA. They were reviewed based on its technical performance and other issues in this paper.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper discusses spectral change in brown coal and bituminous coal as a result of low-temperature drying. The experiment used a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy disposed with an in-situ diffuse reflector as a water content measuring method. The FT-IR spectra of coal showed the existence of two types of adsorbed water. One of the two spectral peaks was thought to have been caused by isolated water molecules which may have been hydrogen bonded to hydrocarbon in the coal molecules and weakly bound. The other peak was thought to have been caused by water which may have been hydrogen bonded to functional groups such as hydroxyl groups in the coal molecules and strongly bound. Drying behavior in brown coal and bituminous coal showed the absorption peak at 3640 cm[sup -1] reducing faster than the absorption peak at 3360cm[sup -1]. Depressurized drying was found to be more effective than flowing nitrogen gas. The ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The composition of alkaline and neutral boric acid containing evaporator concentrates resulting from the treatment of radioactive waste water in nuclear power plants with WWER reactors is described as well as the processing of these concentrates to a product suitable for final disposal. Tests with mock solutions of these evaporator concentrates have been performed at the laboratory and teststand scale to produce a dry residue by continuous thickening, which can be processed into a highly leach resistant product, suitable for final disposal, by cementation. Ca-compounds must be added to the evaporator concentrates prior to the drying in an rotary thin-film evaporator (RTFE). The tests showed that neutral evaporator concentrates can be dried in a RTFE with addition of small amounts of Ca-compounds. The alkaline evaporator concentrates with high boric acid and total salt load require a multiple amount of Ca-compounds and ...

Science.gov (United States)

In this study, an apparatus suitable to photoacoustic (PA) imaging to measure blood-analysis and urinalysis is fabricated and its measurement scheme has been established for the first time. The PA imaging of urinalysis test strip, blood sugar test strip, and cholesterol test strip is performed. A calibration curve of PA measurement is obtained for a urine test strip. The detectivity is better than that obtained by an eye-measurement.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The intention of the research carried out was to develop photovoltaic driven solar heating systems applied for drying of medicinal plants in remote areas. Identification of hybrid photovoltaic - photothermal systems was done and discussion of technical features and applicability of such systems in agriculture is presented. Detail technical specification of PV powered medicinal plants solar dryer and cost effectiveness parameters are given. Operational and economic results obtained during testing of the dryer are promising. (orig.) 4 refs.

Science.gov (United States)

In addition to an executive summary and glossary, the following sections are included: Clean Boiler Fuel Demonstration Plant; Development of Coal Feeders for Coal Gasification Operations; Development of a Continuous Dry Coal Screw Feeder; Coal Feeder Development Program; Engineering and Technical Support; Technical Assistance Services; and Conceptual Design for an Advanced Coal Liquefaction Commercial Plant. (EJH)

Wastenet

...Chapter 11 Aqueous Solutions Chapter 11 Aqueous Solutions Download the entire chapter (PDF-136k) Drilling to China More water than rivers Saving the aquifer Drying with Xeriscapes Everywhere in the house Rainwater and graywater Creating urban watersheds Wastewater equals ...3851 Powered by Intrcomm Technology's SMC ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Various examples of applications of these two techniques are described. A part of them are related to the analysis of adsorbed layers formed during gaz-metal interactions. The others are concerned with the analysis of passive films formed during dry and wet corrosion. Problems related to the calibration of these techniques are discussed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The following paragraphs summarize the progress of each research project funded under the WVU Cooperative Agreement during the third quarter of 1997 (July - September 1997). The projects are arranged according to their 1997 WVU task number. WVU Focus Area 1.0: Subsurface Contaminants, Containment and Remediation Task No. 1.1: Project discontinued. Task No. 1.2: Development of Standard Test Protocols and Barrier Design Models for Desiccation Barriers (K. Amininan & S. Ameri): A number of experiments were preformed this period to evaluate the ability of the dried sand-packs to act as a barrier to liquids. Water infiltration tests were done with a constant head, dispersing 80 ml of water, and by adding water in small increments. Results indicate that when the water is spilled over the sand-pack, it has the tendency to channel through the sand-pack, significantly reducing the capacity of the dried zone to retain liquid contaminants. This ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The VE (ventilation) test carried out at the Mont Terri underground laboratory in Switzerland intended to evaluate in situ the behaviour of a consolidated clay formation when subjected to alternate periods of flow of wet and dry air during several months. For that, a 10-m gallery was excavated in the Opalinus Clay formation and carefully instrumented. Before and after a second ventilation phase boreholes were drilled. Samples were taken from the drill cores and were analysed from mineralogical and geochemical points of view. Also, the retention curves of these samples were determined in the laboratory following drying paths performed under free volume conditions at 20 degree centigrade, what is the content of this report. Although there are not large differences in the WRC of samples taken from different boreholes, at different distances from the gallery wall or before or after ventilation, those samples taken near the gallery wall and after ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper describes an outline of solid fuel production process from brown coal and the investigation results of its elemental techniques. Dried coal is produced by this process which consists of a dewatering of crushed brown coal in oil-based solvent, a solid and liquid separation of slurry, and a remained oil recovery by heating. This process is characterized by the higher thermal efficiency compared with usual drying and the restraint of spontaneous combustion of product coal. It was revealed that solid fuel with low moisture, low ash, low sulfur, and suppressed spontaneous combustion property can be produced from Australian brown coal through this process. From the comparison between kerosene and fuel oil A, it was confirmed that the oil content during dewatering was smaller and the oil recovery by heating was easier by using a solvent with lower boiling point. It was also confirmed that the spontaneous combustion property can be ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The large girth and immense size of the baobab has caused many to speculate about its age. Unfortunately reliable age estimates cannot be determined from growth rates as the girth varies in response to different moisture regimes. In a similar way, ages cannot be determined from ring-width measurements or X-ray densitometry as the absorbent nature of the soft fibrous wood and distortion upon drying prevent the application of these techniques. The Southern Hemisphere bomb radiocarbon curve was used to demonstrate that the rings of a recently-fallen baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) from Kruger National Park appear to be annual. The detrended C isotope values of finely-ground wholewood from another baobab specimen were found to be highly associated with January precipitation (r = 0.72; p < 0.01). This study demonstrates that high resolution information about past climates may be obtained by analysing the C isotope values from baobab samples even if distortion of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Development of coal-water-fuel (CWF) technology has to-date been predicated on the use of high-rank bituminous coal only, and until now the high inherent moisture content of low-rank coal has precluded its use for CWF production. The unique feature of the Alaskan project is the integration of hot-water-drying (HWD) into CWF technology as a beneficiation process. Hot-water-drying is an EERC developed technology unavailable to the competition that allows the range of CWF feedstock to be extended to low-rank coals. The primary objective of the Alaskan Project, is to promote interest in the CWF marketplace by demonstrating the commercial viability of low-rank coal-water-fuel (LRCWF). While commercialization plans cannot be finalized until the implementation and results of the Alaskan LRCWF Project are known and evaluated, this report has been prepared to specifically address issues concerning business objectives for the project, and outline a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper summarizes studies on the water treatment by adsorption, as for the adsorption during water treatment, reactivation of activated charcoal, and clarification of heating process. Reactivation of activated charcoal for the water treatment is carried out through drying in the heating furnace. Basic problems are the recovery degree of adsorption performance of reactivated activated charcoal and the recovery yield. Behavior of the activated charcoal in the heating reactivation furnace is divided into three stages including drying process, heating process, and gasification process. Among these processes, behaviors of organic matters during heating process are described. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) were conducted for activated charcoals adsorbing various organic matters in aqueous solutions. Three types of organic matters were classified from the TGA pattern, i.e., organic matters with relatively low boiling point (type-I), organic ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sodium nitrate waste has been successfully solidified in two types of polymeric materials: polyethylene, a thermoplastic material, and polyester styrene (PES), a thermosetting material. Waste form property evaluation tests such as ANS 16.1 leaching test and compressive strength measurements were performed on the waste forms containing various amounts of sodium nitrate. A single-screw extruder was employed for incorporating dry waste into polyethylene at its melt temperature of 120/sup 0/C to produce a homogenous mixture. Results of the leaching test for polyethylene waste forms containing 30, 50, 60 and 70 wt% sodium nitrate are presented as cumulative fraction leached and leaching indices ranging from 11 to 7.8. Two PES systems are discussed. The first is for solidification of dry salt wastes and the second is a water extendible system that is compatible with wet waste streams. Leaching data for PES and water extendible PES waste forms ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A number of preparations of residual non-living brewery yeast were examined for their ability to remove lead from solution. Those preparations included washed and un-washed intact yeast and washed and un-washed homogenates of the yeast cells. Using biosorption isotherm analysis it was found that the washed and un-washed preparations of intact, non-living yeast exhibited maximum biosorption capacities for lead of 127 and 99 mg/g dry weight biomass, respectively. The washed and un-washed cell homogenates exhibited maximum biosorption capacities of 38 and 139 mg lead/g dry weight biomass, respectively. Since it had previously been shown that these preparations of biomass were capable of removing uranium from solution by combined biosorption and precipitation processes, it was decided to examine removal of lead from solution using a form of equilibrium dialysis in which the biomass was retained within a semi-permeable membrane during contact ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Before the implementation Water Framework directive, it was usual to forget that a good environment protection of the receiving waters needs a correct and coordinated operation of the subsystems of the water cycle, specially sewerage system, WWTP and receiving waters. This explains that most of the countries have focused their efforts in the treatment of dry weather flows forgetting the management of wet weather flows. Actually the idea that a sewerage system or a WWTP can not be planned or managed independently without considering the effects on the receiving waters is commonly accepted because not only each one of these systems must work correctly but also it is required a minimum impact in the receiving waters of the sewerage and WWTP overflows in dry and wet weather. All these links will affect the management strategy of the sewerage system (storm water detection tanks, gates, pumping stations, etc)., the interceptor, the WWTP and the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The leakage behavior of containments beyond design conditions and knowledge of failure modes is required for evaluation of mitigation strategies for severe accidents, risk studies, emergency preparedness planning, and siting. These studies are directed towards assessing the risk and consequences of severe accidents. An accident sequence analysis conducted on a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR), Mark I (MK I), indicated very high temperatures in the dry-well region, which is the location of the majority of electrical penetration assemblies. Because of the high temperatures, it was postulated in the ORNL study that the sealants would fail and all the electrical penetration assemblies would leak before structural failure would occur. Since other containments had similar electrical penetration assemblies, it was concluded that all containments would experience the same type of failure. The results of this study, however, show that this conclusion does not hold for PWRs ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

To resolve the central thermal safety issue for spent fuel dry storage concrete canister design or Wolsung (CANDU) nuclear power plant unit 1, a thermal analysis method has been developed for the complicated geometry of rod bundles and the multi-dimensional and multi-mode heat transfer phenomena. The canister geometry is simplified and combined heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation is considered through effective heat transfer coefficients. Mean temperature distributions of the fuel bundles within the fuel basket are obtained by solving the heat transfer problem using an existing computer code HEATING5. The measured steady state temperature distribution within a mock-up of a storage basket is compared to the calculated result. Steady state and/or transient fuel temperature distributions have been calculated for various ambient conditions at the canister exterior surface.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This document reviews the status of the knowledge on the oxidation of fuels below 400 deg C, in all its forms, including fuel rods, by examining the consequences of this reaction on the strength or ruin of the fuel rods during dry storage in air for a hundred years. The data available in the scientific literature, and the data acquired by CEA, are abundant on irradiated powders and pellets, but sparser for irradiated fuel fragments and for rods or sections of fuel rods. A bibliographic review is made to identify the morphological and structural changes, as well as the kinetic laws. An analysis and a summary is made with a concern to evaluate the risks of rod ruin by oxidation. The final section, in a few pages, addresses the essential lessons from this study. It presents: first, a summary of the main results of this review and its analysis, recommendations and remedies for storage; proposed research guidelines as well as precise topics, in order to fill out our ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Methyl halide fluxes were measured from fine (nonwoody) litter samples at a temperate deciduous forest site in Scotland on 16 occasions over more than a year and at a coniferous forest site. The resulting mean (+-1 sd) CH3Br and CH3Cl fluxes were 4.1 +- 3.7 ng kg-1 h-1 and 0.98 +- 0.62 mg kg-1 h-1, respectively, for dry mass leaf litter and 5.7 +- 6.3 ng kg-1 h-1 and 0.47 +- 0.14 mg kg-1 h-1 for dry mass needle litter. Temporal variations of net fluxes from leaf litter were significantly greater than spatial variations suggesting seasonality in the fluxes. The mean CH3Cl/CH3Br mass ratio of fluxes was 200 (to 1 sig. fig.), an order of magnitude larger than the ratio of their estimated global turnovers. Temperate forest litter may be a moderate net source of CH3Cl globally but a negligible ...

Environmental Research Database

SummaryIntended Outputs: Documentation demonstrating an improved biophysical understanding of the role of forests on low flows in the arid zone regions of India through the development and outputs from hydrological models such as Hyluc and SWAT.A documented analysis of the impacts on the poor of historical and current water management policies, including the investigation through PRA techniques of people's perceptions and beliefs of land-use/hydrological interactions, and the implications o [continued...]ObjectivesTo establish a better understanding of forest impacts on low flows and the social impact of water resources management in arid zone regions of India, and to develop tools which allow this improved understanding to be disseminated directly to stakeholders.DescriptionProject Background: Reducing river flows and groundwater tables, especially during the dry season, constitutes a major problem causing great hardship to large numbers of rural and urban poor ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The pilot project of the conversion of the green forage drying plant Lengenfeld to biomass firing could not be realized without problems. But the experience until now shows that it is in principle possible. The farmers involved are devoted to the project. For them the cultivation of biomass is an alternative to the abandonment of fields. The present low oil price sets limits to the positive income effect. The aim is an increase of the biomass share in heating energy supply to about 80%. (orig.) [Deutsch] Die Umstellung der Gruenfuttertrocknung Lengenfeld auf Biomassefeuerung ist als Pilotprojekt nicht ohne Probleme moeglich gewesen. Die bisherigen Erfahrungen zeigen jedoch die grundsaetzliche Praktikabilitaet. Die beteiligten Landwirte sind engagiert bei der Sache und schaetzen die Produktionsmoeglichkeit als Alternative zur Flaechenstillegung. Der derzeit niedrige Oelpreis setzt der positiven Einkommenswirkung jedoch enge Grenzen. Eine Erhoehung des ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Radon emanation coefficients of 0.02 to 0.55 were measured at moisture contents ranging from dry to saturation in 18 different ores. The emanation coefficients rose from a minimum when dry to a plateau usually starting at 5 to 20 percent of saturation. A model, using measured pore-size distributions, suggested that the radium mineralization may be confined to annular layers about 0.02 micrometers thick around pores. Radon's diffusion coefficient was determined as a function of moisture. The techniques involved comparing a disk's exhalation as a function of time whether or not the disk had a distributed source. The model was free of approximations and included the effects of porosity and adsorption. An increase of diffusion coefficient with moisture for one or two ores was explained in terms of a model's equation for the diffusion coefficient in terms of both volume and surface diffusion. Radon's adsorption ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A wear-resistant nitrided layer was formed on a 304L austenitic stainless steel substrate by DC plasma nitriding. Effects of DC plasma nitriding parameters on the structural phases, micro-hardness and dry-sliding wear behavior of the nitrided layer were investigated by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, micro-hardness testing and ring-on-block wear testing. The results show that the highest surface hardness over a case depth of about 10 #mu#m is obtained after nitriding at 460 deg. C. XRD indicated a single expanded austenite phase and a single CrN nitride phase were formed at 350 deg. C and 480 deg. C, respectively. In addition, the S-phase layers formed on the samples provided the best dry-sliding wear resistance under the ring-on-block contact configuration test.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A patent is claimed for a direct coal liquefication process which is carried out by interaction with a paste, consisting of small-fragment coal, oil and catalysts, with H/sub 2/ at increased temperatures and pressures. The catalyst is a mixture of 1 part per weight of Fe-ore that's been activated by aqueous treatment, and 0.1-1.0 powder-form S. The Fe-ore can be magnetite, limonite, hematite, pyrite, ferrous sand or ''red mud'' (byproduct of the Bayer process), with the ''red mud'' and limonite, having a particle size of about 100 mesh is preferable. Activation of Fe-ore includes aqueous treatment in boiling water for 30-120 min with subsequent drying; annealing at a temp. of 300-700/sup 0/C for 10-120 min; submerging into cold water and final drying. The catalyst is added to the paste in the amount of 0.03-0.3 parts per weight to one part of fine coal. This ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Scenarios are developed for spent fuel that is taken out of the nuclear reactor and stored for 20 years before reprocessing, and three storage techniques which use a water pool, dry cask or vault are compared with respect to their costs. The storage price (storage cost per kilogram of spent fuel), which is employed as the economic index, is calculated on the assumption that all the charge is paid when the spent fuel is brought in the storage facilities. Four scenarios are assumed for spent PWR and BWR fuels to be stored in at-reactor (AT) or away-from-reactor (AFR) facilities. The capital costs cover the buildings of the storage facilities, equipment, decommissioning, casks for transportation and storage (for cask storage) and casks for transportation (for water pool or vault storage). Costs for operation and maintenance of the facilities are also considered in evaluating these methods. Evaluation results show that the dry cask method is the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We assessed the age-related changes in magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) value and the ratio of water content in rat brain (frontal lobe and pons) during normal development. All studies were done on 42 normal Wistar rats. MTR was calculated by using the equation (M_o_f_f-M_o_n)/M_o_f_f, where M_o_f_f and M_o_n were the measured signal intensities on the conventional and MT-prepared SPGR images, respectively. The ratios of water content were measured by comparing the wet weight with the dry weight of the frontal lobe and the pons, which were extracted from a rat brain soon after MTR measurements. The ratio of water content was calculated by using the equation 100 x (wet weight-dry weight)/wet weight (%). The ratio of water content decreased markedly during the first 30 days, but the decrease was very slight there after both in the frontal lobe and the pons. The change in MTR was similar to that of the ratio of water content, though the ...

Science.gov (United States)

DNA methylation is an important event in epigenetic changes in cells, and a fundamental regulator of gene transcription. Bisulfite genomic sequencing is a powerful technique used in studies of DNA methylation. However, the established procedures often require relatively large amounts of DNA. In everyday practice, samples submitted for analysis might contain very small amounts of poor quality material, as is often the case with forensic stain samples. In this study, we assess a modified, more efficient method of bisulfite genomic sequencing. Genomic DNA extracted from 3-mm dried blood spots using QIAamp micro kit was treated with sodium bisulfite (using EpiTect kit). Subsequent methylation-specific PCR (MSP) followed by DNA sequencing displayed the differentially methylated region of imprinted gene SNRPN. Our results show that this new combination of efficient DNA extraction and bisulfite treatment provides high quality conversion of unmethylated cytosine to uracil ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Summary Potential predictors of egg quality were assessed in whiting Merlangius merlangus L. permitted to spawn in a tank from which eggs were collected. These included fertilisation rate, the proportion of viable buoyant eggs, egg diameter, and egg wet and dry weights; all were influenced by temporal effects and were negatively correlated with days from start of spawning. The spawning period was protracted, from February to June. Mean daily egg production per female was 2.74 +- 2.43 g and 2338 +- 2075 eggs, equivalent to 14.6 +- 13.1 g kg-1 day-1 female-1. Egg diameter was 1.21 +- 0.04 mm, egg wet weight 1.20 +- 0.21 mg, dry weight 0.10 +- 0.02 mg, and mean fertilisation rate and hatching rates were 76.8 and 73.3%, respectively. The incubation period ranged from 72 to 80 degree days and w...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Empty palm fruit bunch fiber (EPFBF), a readily available cellulosic biomass from palm processing facilities, is investigated as a potential carbohydrate source for cellulosic ethanol production. This feedstock was pretreated using ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) and enzymatically hydrolyzed. The best tested AFEX conditions were at 135??C, 45?min retention time, water to dry biomass loading of 1:1 (weight ratio), and ammonia to dry biomass loading of 1:1 (weight ratio). The particle size of the pretreated biomass was reduced post-AFEX. The optimized enzyme formulation consists of Accellerase (84??L/g biomass), Multifect Xylanase (31??L/g biomass), and Multifect Pectinase (24??L/g biomass). This mixture achieved close to 90% of the total maximum yield within 72?h of enzymatic hydrolysis. Fer...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Packages used for the storage and transportation of radioactive spent fuel must demonstrate the ability to withstand severe impact scenarios such as those established by the Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) in Canada and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). One such package is the Dry Storage Container (DSC) for transporting and storing used fuel. The DSC model is comprised of several interactive components with materials such as high density concrete and polyurethane foam. To accurately model these materials, experimental studies were performed in order to provide material properties for the in-house finite element analysis code used. Structural assessments of the package design subject to postulated impact scenarios included a 9 meter center of gravity over corner drop, a 1 meter pin drop over the welded lid closure and a 1 meter center of gravity over lid pin drop. Simulations were carried out using full scale analytical models with validation by a ...

Science.gov (United States)

A simplified two step thermal analysis method has been develop to evaluate (1) the mean temperature of the CANDU fuel bundles within a fuel basket in a given spent fuel dry storage canister by HEATING5 code with additional input data and heat transfer correlations in the step-1 analysis and (2) the maximum fuel rod temperature within a CANDU 37-element fuel bundle by MAXROT code developed here for step-2 analysis. In addition, the results of sample analysis is performed to examine the parametric effects of the site-specific ambient conditions on the maximum fuel temperature within a canister are presented. The comparison between the results of step-1 analysis and the mock-up test, in particular, is quite satisfactory. In essence, the two-step thermal analysis method proposed here is a code package that used the HEATING5 and MAXROT codes, respectively, for step-1 and step-2 calculations in series.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Advanced structural ceramics are presently used in several tribological applications, such as precision instrument bearings, automotive engine parts and cutting tools inserts. Design and selection of advanced ceramics for these applications require reliable data on the effects of temperature, load and environment on the tribological behaviour of these materials. In the present work, the friction and wear behaviour of colloidally processed and pressureless sintered sialon ceramics with phase (#alpha#) have been studied, aiming at increasing #alpha#-sialon in industrial applications as cutting tools. The friction and wear behaviour of sialon ceramics against steel DIN-Ck45K were investigated using a pin-on-disk tribometer under dry sliding conditions at room temperature, in order to eliminate the contribution of lubricant. The experiments were performed with a constant sliding velocity of 0.5 m/s and a contact stress of 2.85 MPa for 2000 m of sliding distance. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A conceptual design of a solar retrofit to US Gypsum's plant at Sweetwater, Texas, has been developed which provides heated air to a large gypsum board drying kiln that is currently under construction. The solar heated air displaces natural gas normally used for the process heat. The solar retrofit is composed of a tower focus collector with a cavity receiver which uses air as the heat transfer fluid. An executive summary of the conceptual design, system performance, economics, and development plan is presented. (WHK)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The penetration depth and concentration distribution for vanadium ions with low energy implanted into the dry peanut seeds is determined by scanning electron microscope and X-ray energy dispersion spectrometer. The results show that the depth-concentration distribution is a Gaussian distribution with a long tail and the maximum penetration depth is about 13.6 #mu#m for V"+ with 200 keV in cotyledon of the peanut. The experimental result of the implanted V"+ range in the peanut seeds is compared with the calculating value of the TRIM95

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lithium orthosilicate (Li_4SiO_4) powder was synthesized by the solid-state reaction of lithium oxide with amorphous silica, and the effects of fabrication parameters on the structural characteristics of the product were investigated. Processing considerations such as milling media, drying technique, calcination time and temperature, pressing behavior, sintering time and temperatures, and impurity concentration were addressed. The initial powder particle size was observed to be important in achieving high sintered density, with densities as high as 98% TD achieved with a particle size of approximately 1 #mu#m. 9 refs., 6 figs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The lithium-polymer energy storage technology requires the production of thin films of huge surface. The BT-EdF-CEA consortium has studied the various manufacturing techniques of these films and their assembly. The process was chosen according to its productivity, low expensiveness, ecological impact and energy performances with capacities reaching 40 Ah. This paper explains: the objectives and specifications of the project, the advantage of the consortium and the role of the different partners, the results (coating, dry extrusion and battery element manufacturing techniques), and the electrochemical performances of the elements. (J.S.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A detailed study was undertaken to examine the potential of iron oxide present in red mud (a waste product from Bayer's alumina process) as a sorbent for SO/sub 2/ capture by dry process. The other constituents present in the red mud can bring about enhanced utilization of the active component provided they are almost completely inert. The practical use of the process has been explored and a few batchwise cyclic operations of SO/sub 2/ capture and regeneration have also been carried out. A kinetic model of the reaction has been proposed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A few industry-derived and conventional building materials have above acceptable radioactivity. An examination of some materials presently used, or with a potential for use, has shown that in phosphogypsum, fly ash, zircon kyanite tailings, red mud and brickmaking clay, the radium equivalent activities of the finer fractions (<53 #mu#) are higher than those of the larger fractions. Consequently, the radioactivity of these materials could be reduced by dry-sieving and discarding the fines. In blast furnace slag and dissociated zircon, no such reduction would occur since the radioactivity is evenly distributed in all sized fractions.

Science.gov (United States)

Novel lightweight bricks have been produced by sintering mixes of dried water treatment sludge and rice husk. Samples containing up to 20 wt.% rice husk have been fired using a heating schedule that allowed effective organic burn-out. Rice husk addition increased the porosity of sintered samples and higher sintering temperatures increased compressive strengths. Materials containing 15 wt.% rice husk that were sintered at 1100 degrees C produced low bulk density and relatively high strength materials that were compliant with relevant Taiwan standards for use as lightweight bricks. PMID:19596512

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The effect of high-energy-density laser surface melting on the morphology and properties of a cast Ni-based superalloy containing 33 wt percent Mo and 17 wt percent W is investigated experimentally. Significant improvements in the hardness and the wear resistance in both dry and acid environments are atttributed to the elimination of segregation in the laser-treated zone, where solid solubility increases, crystalline structure becomes finer, and the fine dendritic, cellular dendritic, cellular, and plane-front solidification structures are evenly distributed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The purposed project is a commercial-scale ethanol-fuel facility with a capacity of twenty million gallons per year of fuel-grade ethanol. In addition, 70,000 tons per year of distillers dried grains will be produced. The following tasks and issues are addressed: process engineering - process descriptions, plant layout, and design; economics and finance - overview of capital and operating costs; environmental analysis - preliminary project description; and permit processing and legal issues. (MHR)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The ElectroScan environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) is one of the most exciting new developments in the field of Electron Microscopy. The ESEM differs from conventional Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) by being able to examine materials including liquids and oils in their natural state with no prior sample preparation. Accessory equipment, cooling, heating and manipulating devices allow the manipulation of samples thus making it possible for the first time to image dynamic processes such as wetting, drying, absorption, corrosion, melting, crystallisation, curing and fracturing at high magnification. Papers concerning the historical development of the ESEM are given in a bibliography at the end of this paper. 24 refs., 18 figs.

CERN Document Server

Daya Bay Neutrino Experiment is dedicated to measuring the last unobserved neutrino mixing angle theta_13. The predicted precision on sin^2(2theta_13) is 0.01 at 90% confidence level. This document briefly reviews the measurement method and detector construction status. The first two anti-neutrino detectors' dry run result is also discussed. The Daya Bay near hall data taking is expected to commence in the summer of 2011 and the data taking of all of the three halls in the summer of 2012.