Plant Stress and Allelotoxicity of Soils.

Stress exposures during vegetation are known to reduce the yield in crops, but the intensity and duration of stress is rather difficult to determine from the crop loss. Allelotoxins are released from plants into soil on exposure to stress factors. Soil allelotoxicity after vegetation was assumed to provide a diagnostic parameter that characterizes the total stress effect on crops.

Specific many-electron effects in X-ray spectra of simple metals and graphene.

In this work the influence of many-electron effects on the shape of characteristic X-ray emission bands of the simple metals Mg and Al is examined by means of ab initio calculations and semi-empirical models. These approaches are also used for the analysis of C K-emission and absorption spectra of graphene. Both the dynamical screening of the core vacancy and the Auger-effect in the valence band (VB) have been taken into account.

The catalytic and photocatalytic oxidation of organic substances using heterogeneous Fenton-type catalysts.

This paper deals with catalytic and photocatalytic oxidation of organic substances using H202 over heterogeneous Fenton-type catalysts. In the study a series of Fe-containing catalysts was experienced. A zeolite named as FeZSM-5 was selected as the most active heterogeneous Fenton-type catalyst.

Influence of solution composition and ultrasonic treatment on optical spectra of TiO2 aqueous suspensions.

Investigation of TiO(2) aqueous suspensions has shown that their optical spectra can be unstable, with instability not related to precipitation or adherence of TiO(2) particles to the vessel walls. Increase of ionic strength of the suspension as well as neutralization of charged TiO(2) particles via pH adjustment accelerates the optical density drop. Vice versa, increasing the charge of TiO(2) particles via shifting pH in acidic or basic directions stabilizes the suspension's optical spectra, and ultrasonic treatment promotes optical density recovery.

Photocatalytic degradation of 2-phenethyl-2-chloroethyl sulfide in liquid and gas phases.

This work explores the ability of photocatalysis to decontaminate water and air from chemical warfare agent mustard using its simulant 2-phenethyl 2-chloroethyl sulfide (PECES). PECES like mustard slowly dissolves in water with hydrolysis, forming 2-phenethyl 2-hydroxyethyl sulfide (PEHES). Irradiation of TiO2 suspension containing PECES with the unfiltered light of a mercury lamp (lambda > or = 254 nm) decomposed all PECES mostly via photolysis.