The Southern Ocean diatom Pseudo-nitzschia subcurvata flourished better under simulated glacial than interglacial ocean conditions: Combined effects of CO2 and iron

The ‘Iron Hypothesis’ suggests a fertilization of the Southern Ocean by increased dust deposition in glacial times. This promoted high primary productivity and contributed to lower atmospheric pCO2. In this study, the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia subcurvata, known to form prominent blooms in the Southern Ocean, was grown under simulated glacial and interglacial climatic conditions to understand how iron (Fe) availability (no Fe or Fe addition) in conjunction with different pCO2 levels (190 and 290 μatm) influences growth, particulate organic carbon (POC) production and photophysiology. Under both glacial and interglacial conditions, the diatom grew with similar rates. In comparison, glacial conditions (190 μatm pCO2 and Fe input) favored POC production by P. subcurvata while under interglacial conditions (290 μatm pCO2 and Fe deficiency) POC production was reduced, indicating a negative effect caused by higher pCO2 and low Fe availability. Under interglacial conditions, the diatom had, however, thicker silica shells. Overall, our results show that the combination of higher Fe availability with low pCO2, present during the glacial ocean, was beneficial for the diatom P. subcurvata, thus contributing more to primary production during glacial compared to interglacial times. Under the interglacial ocean conditions, on the other hand, the diatom could have contributed to higher carbon export due to its higher degree of silicification.

Effects of Fe Addition on the Phase Transformation Internal Friction in Ni-Al-Based Alloys

The influences of chemical compositions on the internal friction of phase transformation were investigated for the quenched Ni-Al-based alloys. The internal friction measurements were completed using a low-frequency mechanical spectrum apparatus through forced vibration method. It was shown that the chemical compositions have the great influences on the internal friction of phase transition for the oil-cooled Ni-Al-based alloys. The peak-temperature of internal friction is lowered, and the peak-height is increased and the peak-width is narrowed when Fe content is elevated. The reducing of the peak-temperature is attributed to the increase of stability of γ phase due to the addition of Fe. The changes of the parameters of the peak are also related to the Aleq (equivalent Al) contents.

Synthesis and Investigation of Structural, Microstructural and Optical Properties of Iron-doped Sno2 Nanoparticles : Application in Photocatalysis

Iron-doped tin dioxide nanoparticles Sn1-xFexO2 (0% ≤ x ≤ 10% ), were prepared by coprecipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicate that Sn1-xFexO2 nanoparticles (NPs) crystallize in the tetragonal rutile-like structure. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations did not show more modification of the SnO2 morphology with Fe addition. All the results are consistent with the fact that Fe is strongly soluble in SnO2 host. The optical band gap energy decreased from 3.65 to 3.30 eV with increasing the iron doping concentration in the solution. Finally, the photocatalytic efficiency of Fe0.05Sn0.95O2 nanoparticles (NPs) was examined for the degradation of MB in aqueous solution under UV irradiation. It was found that smaller bandgap of Fe doped SnO2 photocatalyst resulted in a prominent increase in photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles against Methylene Blue (MB) under UV irradiaion.

Influence of Rare Earth and Fe Addition on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-B Alloy

In this study, changes in the microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity of as-cast and as-extruded Al–B based alloys with the addition of Fe and rare earth (RE) were investigated. The melted aluminum alloy was maintained at 750 °C and then poured into a mould at 200 °C. Aluminum alloys were hot-extruded into a rod that was 12 mm in thickness with a reduction ratio of 39:1. The addition of Fe and RE resulted in the formation of Al11RE3 and Al3Fe intermetallic compounds and the area fraction of these inter-metallic compounds increased with increasing Fe and RE contents. As the amount of Fe and RE increased, the average grain size of the extruded Al alloy decreased to 798.6, 196.1, and 21.9 µm, and the high-angle grain boundaries fraction increased to 24.8, 27.9, and 60.7%. In the case of cast materials, low electrical conductivity was shown by porosity and fine casting defects. As the Fe and RE contents increased, the electrical conductivity of the extruded Al–B alloy decreased to 62.3, 59.6 and 55.0% International Annealed Copper Standard. As the Fe and RE content increased the ultimate tensile strength improved from 90.8 to 112.9 MPa which was attributed to the grain refinement and formation of Al11RE3 and Al3Fe intermetallic compounds by the addition of Fe and RE.