Intrinsic Dependence of Groundwater Cation Hydraulic and Concentration Features on Negatively Charged Thin Composite Nanofiltration Membrane Rejection and Permeation Behavior

Commercial nanofiltration membranes of different molecular weight cut-offs were tested on a pilot plant for the exploration of permeation nature of Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Na and ammonium ions. Correlation of transmembrane pressure and rejection quotient versus volumetric flux efficiency on nanofiltration membrane rejection and permeability behavior toward hydrated divalent and monovalent ions separation from the natural groundwater was observed. Membrane ion rejection affinity (MIRA) dimension was established as normalized TMP with regard to permeate solute moiety representing pressure value necessary for solute rejection change of 1%. Ion rejection coefficient (IRC) was introduced to evaluate the membrane rejection capability, and to indicate the prevailed nanofiltration partitioning mechanism near the membrane surface. Positive values of the IRC indicated satisfactory rejection efficiency of the membrane process and its negative values ensigned very low rejection affinity and high permeability of the membranes for the individual solutes. The TMP quotient and the efficiency of rejection for individual cations showed upward and downward trends along with flux utilization increase. Nanofiltration process was observed as an equilibrium. The higher the Gibbs free energy was, cation rejection was more exothermic and valuably enlarged. Low Gibbs free energy values circumferentially closer to endothermic zone indicated expressed ions permeation.

Scale Invariant Turbulence and Gibbs Free Energy in the Atmosphere

A method of calculating the Gibbs Free Energy (Exergy) for the Earth’s atmosphere using statistical multifractality — scale invariance - is described, and examples given of its application to the stratosphere, including a methodology for extension to aerosol particles. The role of organic molecules in determining the radiative transfer characteristics of aerosols is pointed out. These methods are discussed in the context of the atmosphere as an open system far from chemical and physical equilibrium, and used to urge caution in deploying “solar radiation management”.

Superionic Solid Electrolyte Li7La3Zr2O12 Synthesis and Thermodynamics for Application in All-Solid-State Lithium-Ion Batteries

Solid-state reaction was used for Li7La3Zr2O12 material synthesis from Li2CO3, La2O3 and ZrO2 powders. Phase investigation of Li7La3Zr2O12 was carried out by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) methods. The thermodynamic characteristics were investigated by calorimetry measurements. The molar heat capacity (Cp,m), the standard enthalpy of formation from binary compounds (ΔoxHLLZO) and from elements (ΔfHLLZO), entropy (S0298), the Gibbs free energy of the Li7La3Zr2O12 formation (∆f G0298) and the Gibbs free energy of the LLZO reaction with metallic Li (∆rGLLZO/Li) were determined. The corresponding values are Cp,m = 518.135 + 0.599 × T − 8.339 × T−2, (temperature range is 298–800 K), ΔoxHLLZO = −186.4 kJ·mol−1, ΔfHLLZO = −9327.65 ± 7.9 kJ·mol−1, S0298 = 362.3 J·mol−1·K−1, ∆f G0298 = −9435.6 kJ·mol−1, and ∆rGLLZO/Li = 8.2 kJ·mol−1, respectively. Thermodynamic performance shows the possibility of Li7La3Zr2O12 usage in lithium-ion batteries.

Thermodynamic Parameters of Nonisothermal Degradation of A New Family of Organometallic Dendrimer with Isoconversional Methods

The objective of this work is to obtain the thermodynamic parameters, namely, the changes of enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, and the entropy of two degradation steps observed in three of a new family of organometallic dendrimers. The isoconversional Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) model was employed to calculate the effective activation energy and pre-exponential factor. The changes of enthalpy and the entropy was consistent with the activation energy, whereas the change of Gibbs free energy remains positive during the entire degradation process, implying that the degradation is non-spontaneous and thus requires external heat supply.

Gibbs Free Energy, a Thermodynamic Measure of Protein–Protein Interactions, Correlates with Neurologic Disability

Modern network science has been used to reveal new and often fundamental aspects of brain network organization in physiological as well as pathological conditions. As a consequence, these discoveries, which relate to network hierarchy, hubs and network interactions, have begun to change the paradigms of neurodegenerative disorders. In this paper, we explore the use of thermodynamics for protein–protein network interactions in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), traumatic brain injury and epilepsy. To assess the validity of using network interactions in neurological diseases, we investigated the relationship between network thermodynamics and molecular systems biology for these neurological disorders. In order to uncover whether there was a correlation between network organization and biological outcomes, we used publicly available RNA transcription data from individual patients with these neurological conditions, and correlated these molecular profiles with their respective individual disability scores. We found a linear correlation (Pearson correlation of −0.828) between disease disability (a clinically validated measurement of a person’s functional status) and Gibbs free energy (a thermodynamic measure of protein–protein interactions). In other words, we found an inverse relationship between disease disability and thermodynamic energy. Because a larger degree of disability correlated with a larger negative drop in Gibbs free energy in a linear disability-dependent fashion, it could be presumed that the progression of neuropathology such as is seen in Alzheimer’s disease could potentially be prevented by therapeutically correcting the changes in Gibbs free energy.

Thermochemical Equilibrium Modeling Indicates That Hg Minerals Are Unlikely to Be the Source of the Emissivity Signal on the Highlands of Venus

Several of the highlands of Venus exhibit unexpectedly low radar emissivity compared to that of the lowlands. The source has been hypothesized to be a mineral with a high dielectric constant. Recently HgTe (coloradoite) has been suggested to explain the low emissivity signal; however, little research has been completed to verify its stability on Venus. In this project, we used a Gibbs free energy minimization software to investigate whether HgTe, as well as HgS and HgSe, can form at simulated highland conditions. According to our calculations, approximately 1.3 wt% of mercury in the crust needs to be outgassed in order for HgS to be stable at 4 km in altitude. In addition, approximately 250 ppb of tellurium in the crust needs to be outgassed for HgTe to precipitate at the same altitude. The required mercury abundance for HgSe to be stable at this altitude is less, approximately 0.6 wt%; however, this is significantly larger than the 10–90 ppb generally present in basaltic rocks on Earth. Therefore, Hg-bearing minerals are likely not the source of the low radar emissivity signal.