Hydration of Cement in the Presence of Biocidal Modifiers Based on Metal Hydrosilicates

This article presents the results of a study of the characteristics of hydration and properties of a composite biocidal cement binder containing hydrosilicates of barium, copper or zinc. It was found that copper hydrosilicates block hydration processes, and when zinc hydrosilicates are used, the rate of hydration is determined by the content of silicic acid. The limiting concentrations of biocidal modifiers have been established: zinc hydrosilicates—no more than 4% and copper hydrosilicates—no more than 0.5%, which are advisable to use for the manufacture of a biocidal composite binder. It is shown that modifying additives slow down the setting time, the amount of tricalcium silicate in cement stones increases, and their strength for some compositions decreases. Active binding of portlandite with the formation of calcium hydrosilicates occurs when the content of zinc hydrosilicates is 2%, which leads to an increase in the strength of the materials.

Consolidation of volcanic tuffs with TEOS and TMOS: a systematic study

In this study, nine volcanic tuffs from Armenia, Germany and Mexico were treated with two commercially available consolidants on base of silicic acid ester, as well as different pretreatments with an anti-swelling agent and/or primer components. Prior to the treatment, the tuffs were analyzed regarding their petrography and mineralogy, with a greater focus on their clay mineral content. The effect of the consolidation was evaluated by comparative analyses of petrophysical properties and weathering behavior before and after the treatments. The main goals of this study were to identify a general suitability of different consolidating treatments for different types of tuff, evaluating tartaric acid as a primer component for tuff consolidation and to pursue the approach of finding a molecular answer for apparent tuff consolidation problematics, by testing a consolidation agent with smaller molecule sizes than current products on the market: tetramethoxysilane (TMOS).

Synthesis of mesoporous silica from geothermal water

Mesoporous silica was successfully synthesized for the first time using geothermal water from the Onuma Geothermal Power Plant, Akita Prefecture, Japan. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as an organic template for the synthesis. CTAB with a concentration of 2.4 × 10–4 mol/L was reacted for 30 min with geothermal water at a temperature of 90 °C, which had a total silicic acid concentration of 475 mg/L (SiO2), at pH 7.0, pH 8.2 (raw water) and pH 9.0. By calcination of the resulting precipitate at 550 °C, mesoporous silica with a pore size of about 2.8 nm and a specific surface area of > 800 m2/g was formed. The total silicic acid concentration in the solution after formation of the mesoporous precipitates was reduced to < 280 mg/L, indicating efficient recovery of supersaturated silicic acid from geothermal water. The monosilicic acid in geothermal water plays an important role in the formation of mesoporous silica. Production of mesoporous silica by our method will contribute not only to prevention of silica scale formation in the piping systems of geothermal power plants but also to its use as an industrial resource.

Effects of Silicic Acid on Leaching Behavior of Arsenic from Spent Calcium-Based Adsorbents with Arsenite

The spent adsorbents that remain after being used to purify As-contaminated water constitute waste containing a large amount of As. These spent adsorbents, after being disposed, are likely to come into contact with silicic acid leached from the soil or cementitious solidification materials. Thus, it is crucial the evaluate the effects of silicic acid on spent adsorbents. In this study, the effects of silicic acid on spent Ca-based (CaO and Ca(OH)2) adsorbents with arsenite were investigated. The As leaching ratio for the spent adsorbents decreased with an increase in the initial concentration of silicic acid in the liquid. Under the tested conditions, the As leaching ratio decreased from 8–9% to less than 0.7% in the presence of silicic acid at an initial Si-normalized concentration of 100 mg/L. The primary mechanism behind the inhibition of As leaching by silicic acid was determined to be re-immobilization via the incorporation of arsenite during the formation of calcium silicates. In the presence of silicic acid, spent Ca-based adsorbents with arsenite had a lower As leaching ratio than those with arsenate. Therefore, spent Ca-based adsorbents with arsenite were found to have a higher environmental stability than those with arsenate.

Lime compounds for restoration and decoration of building walls

Information on the effect of a polysilicate solution obtained by mixing liquid glass with a silicic acid sol on the structure formation of lime compositions is presented. It was revealed that the amount of specific heat released when lime is wetted with a polysilicate solution is greater than when lime is wetted with water. This is due to the additionally released heat due to the chemical interaction of lime with polysilicate solution. It was found that the introduction of a polysilicate solution accelerates the development of plastic strength. For comparison, we used liquid glass and a sol of silicic acid as an additive. The synergistic effect of the influence of the polysilicate solution on the structure formation of lime finishing compositions was established, which manifests itself in the acceleration of the set plastic strength in comparison with silica sol and water glass. It has been established that the introduction of a polysilicate solution into the lime mixture formulation contributes to an increase in the resistance to slipping of the finishing layer. The optimal thickness of the finishing layer was determined, which is 20 mm, at which sliding from the vertical surface is not observed.

Structural basis for high selectivity of a rice silicon channel Lsi1

Silicon (Si), the most abundant mineral element in the earth’s crust, is taken up by plant roots in the form of silicic acid through Low silicon rice 1 (Lsi1). Lsi1 belongs to the Nodulin 26-like intrinsic protein subfamily in aquaporin and shows high selectivity for silicic acid. To uncover the structural basis for this high selectivity, here we show the crystal structure of the rice Lsi1 at a resolution of 1.8 Å. The structure reveals transmembrane helical orientations different from other aquaporins, characterized by a unique, widely opened, and hydrophilic selectivity filter (SF) composed of five residues. Our structural, functional, and theoretical investigations provide a solid structural basis for the Si uptake mechanism in plants, which will contribute to secure and sustainable rice production by manipulating Lsi1 selectivity for different metalloids.

Dependence of the fractality of the silica gel on the method of sol emulsification

The article presents experimental data confirming the effect of capillary active substance (surfactants) and sedimentation stability on the final structure of the gel with stabilized silicic acid. Studies of the macrostructure of silica gel depending on the method of emulsifi ation of silicic acid sol and the effect of the resulting fractality on the strength of the mold are presented.The direction of modifying the binder for lost‑wax casting (LWC) with obtaining the specified properties of the ceramic shell is shown.The complex effect of organic polymers on the sol – gel system has been established. The conclusion is made about the possibility of using an aqueous dispersion of acrylic to form a given structure of a silica gel.