The atmospherically and technologically very important process of brine rejection from freezing salt solutions is investigated with atomic resolution using molecular dynamics simulations. The present calculations allow us to follow the motion of each water molecule and salt ion and to propose a microscopic mechanism of brine rejection, in which a fluctuation (reduction) of the ion density in th...

The exchange of malic acid, lactic acid, NaCl, and sugar between cucumber and cover brine was monitored over a course of 16 days for 5 sizes of cucumbers. Experimental results showed that sugar exchange between cucumbers and cover brine was the slowest. In comparison to Ficks diffusion equation, the exponential equation better described the movement of solutes during the brine fermentation of c...

Arsenate and nitrate can be removed quantitatively from drinking water by anion exchange. However, if the raw water contains substantial concentrations of sulfate or nitrate, the resin becomes exhausted quickly, and the requirements for regenerant (brine) can make the process unattractive. Previously, we described a modified ion exchange operating procedure for arsenic removal from solutions co...

Large-scale deployment of CO2 geological sequestration requires understanding and assessing the risks of such an operation. One of these risks is the potential contamination of groundwater by CO2/brine leakage into shallow aquifers. Although our understanding of this issue has improved significantly over the last decade, several questions still need to be better addressed, including the fate of...

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a method to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions thereby mitigating global warming. In CCS, carbon dioxide (CO2) is captured from fossil fuel-fired power plants or other large point-source emitters, purified, compressed and injected deep underground into subsurface formations at depths of or greater than 800m. At such depths CO2 is in a supercritical...

Coal combustion by-products such as fly ash (FA), brine and CO2 from coal fired power plants have the potential to impact negatively on the environment. Reaction of CO2 with FA/ brine slurry can potentially provide a viable route for CO2 sequestration through formation of mineral carbonates. Fractionated FA has varying amounts of CaO which not only increases the brine pH but can also be convert...

[1] Successful geologic sequestration of carbon in deep saline aquifers requires accurate predictive models of rock-brine-CO2 interaction. Often overlooked in siliciclastichosted saline reservoirs is the carbonate buffering of the groundwater. Carbonate minerals are ubiquitous, even in siliciclastic host rocks, resulting in some carbonate buffering. Geochemical modeling of rock-brine-CO2 system...

Silver staining of the adult brine shrimp, Artemia salina, revealed that only the metepipodites of the phyllopodia were significantly permeable to chloride and/or silver ions. The metepipodites stained in a reticulated pattern, possibly indicating areas in the cuticle over cells specialized for chloride secretion. Crude homogenates of metepipodites had very high Na/K-ATPase enzyme specific acti...

[1] The distribution and connectivity of brine pockets in first year sea ice has a determining influence on the bulk properties of the ice and its interaction with the environment. The structure of the brine network depends upon both temperature and salinity, and a full understanding of the temporal evolution of sea ice physical properties requires measurements that are sensitive to the microst...

Ocean acidification substantially alters ocean carbon chemistry and hence pH but the effects on sea ice formation and the CO2 concentration in the enclosed brine channels are unknown. Microbial communities inhabiting sea ice ecosystems currently contribute 10-50% of the annual primary production of polar seas, supporting overwintering zooplankton species, especially Antarctic krill, and seeding...