Study of Structural and Optical Properties of Electrodeposited Silicon Films on Graphite Substrates.

Silicon (Si) films were deposited on low-cost graphite substrates by the electrochemical reduction of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (nano-SiO) in calcium chloride (CaCl), melted at 855 °C. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to analyze the electrochemical reduction mechanism of SiO to form Si deposits on the graphite substrate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) along with Raman and photoluminescence (PL) results show that the crystallinity of the electrodeposited Si-films was improved with an increase of the applied reduction potential during the electrochemical process.

Aloe sp. leaf gel and water glass for municipal wastewater sludge treatment and odour removal.

Aloe gel (Alg), which is a natural extract from the Aloe sp. plant, was evaluated in this study for its potential use as a bioflocculant to treat urban wastewater sewage sludge. The gel was used alone and combined with water glass (WG) under controlled conditions in laboratory experiments.

Mineral salts removal and lithium traces determination in highly concentrated solutions and natural brines.

The usual methods, of lithium traces determination, refer in particular to the aqueous solutions whose dry residues do not exceed 7gL(-1). Flame spectrometry or atomic absorption is used for the determination of the considered element. In the case of natural brines, the total dissolved salt ranges from 250 to 350gL(-1).