The thermodynamics of wax formation in crude oils is examined and additional insights obtained into the problem. We show that a correlation for cloud point, or wax apppearance temperature, obtained for pure-substance waxes may be extended to mixtures of hydrocarbons, thereby generalising the usefulness of the correlation. We apply the colligative equation for freezing point depression to quanti...

Variations of the Kelvin equation [W. Thomson, Philos. Mag. 42, 448 (1871)] to describe the freezing point depression of water in capillaries exist in the literature. The differing equations, coupled with the uncertainty in input parameters, lead to various predictions. The difference between the predictions may become substantial when the capillary size decreases much below micron dimensions. ...

Drought and freezing are both known to limit desert plant distributions, but the interaction of these stressors is poorly understood. Drought may increase freezing tolerance in leaves while decreasing it in the xylem, potentially creating a mismatch between water supply and demand. To test this hypothesis, we subjected Larrea tridentata juveniles grown in a greenhouse under well-watered or drou...

The atmospheric corrosion due to pure amines emitted from carbon capture plants was investigated. Amine exposure found initially inhibit the of steel, by its film formation and alkalinity, but reduce product layers lead freezing point depression, which could in turn increase corrosion. Very high amine doses were observed dissolve metal without establishing a layer. These effects seem much more ...

During winter, larvae of the Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica (Diptera, Chironomidae), must endure 7-8 months of continuous subzero temperatures, encasement in a matrix of soil and ice, and severely desiccating conditions. This environment, along with the fact that larvae possess a high rate of water loss and are extremely tolerant of desiccation, may promote the use of cryoprotective dehydr...

Ice can be anything from a highly destructive agent in agriculture to a useful building material. Established industries are based on the known rules of physics and chemistry which allow some control of amounts of ice or ice crystal geometry. However, organisms have much more subtle requirements to maintain their delicate internal structure if they are to survive freezing. As a result they have...