Iron ochre - a pre-catalyst for the cracking of methane.

Background: Iron ochres are gelatinous sludges that can cause problems in terms of water management. In this work, the application of iron ochre obtained from a river has been applied to catalytically crack methane - another potential waste product - into two useful products, hydrogen and a magnetic carbon-containing composite.

Results: The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the iron ochre was found to be consistent with the expected 2-line ferrihydrite, and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis showed Fe to be a major component although some Si and Ca were present.

Semiconducting quantum confined silicon-tin alloyed nanocrystals prepared by ns pulsed laser ablation in water.

Here we demonstrate the material's synthetic feasibility for semiconducting alloyed silicon-tin nanocrystals (SiSn-NCs) with quantum confinement effects. An environmentally friendly synthesis is achieved by ns laser ablation of amorphous SiSn in water at ambient conditions. Plasmas generated in the liquid by laser pulses are characterized by spatial confinement with very high pressure (GPa), which allowed the growth of the SiSn-NCs via kinetic pathways.

Controllable selective exfoliation of high-quality graphene nanosheets and nanodots by ionic liquid assisted grinding.

Bulk quantities of graphene nanosheets and nanodots have been selectively fabricated by mechanical grinding exfoliation of natural graphite in a small quantity of ionic liquids. The resulting graphene sheets and dots are solvent free with low levels of naturally absorbed oxygen, inherited from the starting graphite. The sheets are only two to five layers thick.

Accelerated electron beam induced breakdown of commercial WO3 into nanorods in the presence of triethylamine.

Tungsten oxide nanorods were prepared from commercial crystalline WO(3) particles treated with triethylamine under electron beam irradiation in an electron microscope operating at 200 kV. The amine acts as a molecular knife, cleaving the particles under beam irradiation.

Carbon deposition and phase transformations in red mud on exposure to methane.

A characterization study detailing the phase transformations and microstructural nature of the carbon deposited during methane decomposition over red mud has been undertaken. In situ XRD was carried out to study the phase transformation sequences of red mud during the reaction. Scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, BET surface area determination and CHN analysis were carried out to investigate the properties of the post-reaction samples.

Highly active mesostructured silica hosted silver catalysts for CO oxidation using the one-pot synthesis approach.

A facile one-pot approach gave isolated silver nanoparticles anchored on a mesostructured silica matrix in a self-assembled way; these gave 100% CO conversion in CO oxidation at room temperature, which is higher than or comparable to the conversion obtained using noble metal catalysts.

The synthesis of mesoporous silicates containing bimetallic nanoparticles and magnetic properties of PtCo nanoparticles in silica.

Using a one-pot approach employing true liquid crystal templating on neutral surfactants and simple metal salt precursors, mesostructured, mesoporous silicates have been prepared in which bimetallic nanoparticles are deposited; magnetic properties of PtCo systems so prepared are evaluated.

The preparation by true liquid crystal templating of mesoporous silicates containing nanoparticulate metals.

Mesostructured silicates containing metal nanoparticles have been synthesised via templating around a pre-formed, metal-containing mesophase using a non-ionic surfactant.

Relationships of myosin heavy chain fibre types to meat quality traits in traditional and modern pigs.

Porcine skeletal muscle fibres were molecularly classified, using in situ hybridisation and immunocytochemistry, into four types, according to the isoform of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) that was present in each fibre (MyHC slow/I, MyHC 2a, MyHC 2x and MyHC 2b). The relationship between MyHC fibre types and meat quality traits between two phenotypically divergent muscles [longissimus dorsi (LD) and psoas], and between the same muscles of different breeds (traditional Berkshire and Tamworth, and modern Duroc-based and Large White-based) were examined. We found that the greater abundance of fast oxidative-glycolytic MyHC 2a and 2x fibres in the psoas was associated with superior meat quality traits, and that the greater presence of fast glycolytic MyHC 2b fibres in the LD could account for less favourable quality traits, both in terms of pH, drip loss, grain, colour, yield force and work done.

Quantifying the temporospatial expression of postnatal porcine skeletal myosin heavy chain genes.

Postnatal skeletal muscle fiber type is commonly defined by one of four major myosin heavy chain (MyHC) gene isoforms (slow/I, 2a, 2x, and 2b) that are expressed. We report on the novel use of combined TaqMan quantitative real-time RT-PCR and image analysis of serial porcine muscle sections, subjected to in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunocytochemistry (IHC), to quantify the mRNA expression of each MyHC isoform within its corresponding fiber type, termed relative fiber type-restricted expression. This versatile approach will allow quantitative temporospatial comparisons of each MyHC isoform among muscles from the same or different individuals.