Fate and cotransport of Pb(II) and Cd(II) heavy ions with bentonite colloidal flow in saturated porous media: The role of filter cake, counter ions, colloid concentration, and fluid velocity.

This study examines the transport and retention of colloidal particles and heavy ions in porous sand, focusing on the environmental risks associated with waste from oil and gas drilling. Experimental and numerical models assess the influence of flow rate, external filter cake layer, and ionic strength on bentonite clay particles and heavy ions, such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), in near-wellbore (high-flux) and far-field (low-flux) scenarios. Colloidal filtration theory and the one-dimensional convection-dispersion equation with two-site kinetic model for attachment and detachment were utilized to calibrate and predict the transport of colloidal suspension in porous media.

Hydrotalcite stability during long-term exposure to natural environmental conditions.

Hydrotalcite-like compounds are a group of layered double hydroxides widely studied as sorbents to remove organic and inorganic contaminants under laboratory conditions. This study is a proof-of-concept of the long-term fate of hydrotalcite compounds under natural environmental conditions, to bridge the gap between laboratory studies and their field application as sorbents. Hydrotalcite (HT) with intercalated carbonate species (HT-CO) and dodecyl sulphate (HT-DS) were synthesised and placed in two groundwater monitoring wells in Denmark, one contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons and another with uncontaminated groundwater.

Chloroform compatible, thiol-ene based replica molded micro chemical devices as an alternative to glass microfluidic chips.

Polymeric microfluidic chips offer a number of benefits compared to their glass equivalents, including lower material costs and ease and flexibility of fabrication. However, the main drawback of polymeric materials is often their limited resistance to (organic) solvents. Previously, thiol-ene materials were shown to be more solvent resistant than most other commonly used polymers; however, they still fall short in "harsh" chemical environments, such as when chlorinated solvents are present.

The effect of parasite infection on the recombination rate of the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

Sexual reproduction and meiotic recombination generate new genetic combinations and may thereby help an individual infected by a parasite to protect its offspring from being infected. While this idea is often used to understand the evolutionary forces underlying the maintenance of sex and recombination, it also suggests that infected individuals should increase plastically their rate of recombination. We tested the latter idea with the mosquito Aedes aegypti and asked whether females infected by the microsporidian Vavraia culicis were more likely to have recombinant offspring than uninfected females.