Characterizing and linking macropore structure characteristics to water infiltration in stony soils

<p>Macropores have been widely recognized as preferential pathways for the rapid movement of water into soils. The objectives of this study were to characterize soil macropore structures using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and to explore the relationships between macropore characteristics and hydraulic properties of stony soils. To achieve these, a total of 18 soil columns were sampled from six sites (three sites covered with grass and three sites with forest) with stony soils located in a mountain watershed in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area of Central China. Field infiltration experiments were carried out at the sampling sites under near-saturated conditions using a tension disc infiltrometer. The three-dimensional macropore structures were visualized from X-ray CT images, and total macroporosity, connected macroporosity, macropore density, specific surface area, degree of anisotropy, fractal dimension, and hydraulic radius were characterized. The results showed that the largest total macroporosity and connected macroporosity were observed at forest sites. The macropore structure with high connectivity could facilitate greater water infiltration into the soils. The near-saturated hydraulic conductivity Kh was significantly higher at the forest sites than at the grassland sites at four water pressure heads. The stony soils studied had heterogenous macropore systems with large and well-connected macropores. The macroporosity of macropores with equivalent diameters between 0.5 and 2 mm was found best to predict the near-saturated hydraulic conductivity. Our study provides a helpful technique for a better understanding of stony soil macropores and hydraulic properties by a combination of 3D visualization methods and traditional hydraulic analysis.</p>

Impregnation Protocols on Alumina Beads for Controlling the Preparation of Supported Metal Catalysts

Whereas the synthesis principles of supported metal catalysts are well documented in the open literature, impregnation protocols on shaped bodies represent sensitive industrial know-how and are, therefore, rarely found. We investigated various synthesis parameters for both wetness (WI) and dry (DI) impregnations to prepare Pd/γ–Al2O3 alumina beads. Two kinds of catalysts were achieved: homogeneously dispersed catalysts with no metal gradient across the beads and eggshell catalysts. A combination of optical images, Castaing microprobe analysis, elemental analysis, and TEM made it possible to discriminate between catalysts according to their metal loading, location across the bead diameter, and metal dispersion. Regardless of the macropore structure of the alumina beads, we found that volatile solvents (acetone) were preferred for preparing homogeneous catalysts by WI, whereas the use of a viscous aqueous solution (water/glycerol) in DI resulted in an eggshell-type catalyst. The atomic layer deposition (ALD) method was also investigated as a physical vapor phase deposition method for preparing eggshell catalysts. Representative-shaped catalysts were tested for CO oxidation as a model reaction in order to highlight the differences between catalysts with a homogeneous metal distribution (no metal gradient) and eggshell-type.