In the first part, the mechanisms for the dissociation of TPA are studied under three types of conditions. The unimolecular dissociation is initiated by the breaking of either the N-Calpha and Calpha -Cbeta bonds and leads to many complicated processes. Within the confined space inside neutral zeolite channels, the diffusion of H radicals enhances a cycle of reactions, which accounts for the experimental observation of dipropylamine and monopropylamine. In the presence of an acidic site, the dissociation of TPA goes through catalyzed successive steps to produce ammonia and propylene molecules. / In the last part, two distinct paths are proposed to investigate the carbon nanotube growth mechanism using benzene as the growth seed and propylene as carbon resource. There is an incremental aromatization process, involving both alkylation and dehydrogenation, that leads to linked aromatic rings to form either (3,3) tube or (4,2) tube. Two paths are identified, one via toluene and the other via cumene. The cumene path is more favorable as the barrier is significant lower. / In the second part, A T5 cluster model is used to investigate mechanisms of propylene aromatization to benzene, which involves chemisorption, dimerization, cyclization and dehydrogenation. Propylene can be chemisorbed to form two distinct products, n-propoxide and i-propoxide, which can further be dimerizated to form longer chain olefins 1-hexene and 2-hexene (from n-propoxide), and 4-methyl-1-pentene and 4-methyl-2-penetene (from i-propoxide). Initiated by H2 elimination, these dimerization products can further go through cyclization process to generated either 6-member ring cyclohexene or 5-member ring methyl-cyclopentene. Catalyzed by zeolite, cyclohexene can directly dehydrogenate to form benzene whereas methyl-cyclopentene can dehydrogenate to form fulven, an isomer to benzene. Under acidic zeolite environment, a fulvene can readily be transformed to the thermodynamically more stable benzene. / The growth mechanisms of mono-sized and parallel-aligned single wall carbon nanotube (CNT) in the microporous channels of AlPO4-5 are investigated by density functional theory calculations. Detailed mechanisms are proposed for the decomposition of TPA, the formation of aromatic ring, and the growth of carbon nanotubes. / Liu, Jianwen. / Adviser: Zhifeng Liu. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-09, Section: B, page: . / Thesis submitted in: December 2008. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-99). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

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Bibliography: leaves 164-193. This study aims to quantify the belowground input of organic carbon by barrel medic using techniques that account for root death and decomposition as well as root secretion and exudation. It also investigates the effect of defoliation on carbon allocation within the plant so as to determine the potential for optimising carbon input to the soil through grazing management.

Globally, the forestry sector is the second largest contributor of greenhouse gases, and sustainable forest management is a major target of international environmental policy. However, there is the assumption underlying many policy recommendations that an increase in above-ground carbon stocks correspond to long term increases in ecosystem carbon stocks, the majority of which is stored in soils. We analyzed soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in forest soils that had undergone twenty years of organic inputs manipulations as part of the Detritus Input and Removal Treatment (DIRT) network. There was no statistically significant effect of the rate of litter or root inputs on the carbon or nitrogen in bulk soil, on respiration rates of soil in laboratory incubations, on the non-hydrolyzed fraction of soil organic matter, or on any organic matter associated with any density. However, there is evidence for positive priming due to increased litter inputs; doubling the rate of litter inputs decreased C and N contents of bulk soil and decreased respiration rates of soil. Furthermore, there is evidence that roots influence soil organic matter dynamics more strongly than above-ground inputs. Both of these results trends match data from other DIRT sites, and are supported by the literature. / Graduation date: 2012

Two peat cores from two mires with different characteristics, but both containingpermafrost features and located in the eastern part of the Tavvavuoma mire complex innorthernmost Sweden, were analysed for macrofossils and geochemical properties. Local vegetationsequences and changes in geochemical properties of peat were used to reconstruct development ofthe studied mires during the Holocene. The study includes measurements of water/ice content, bulkdensity, loss-on-ignition and C/N ratio. Radiocarbon dates for peatland inception and permafrostaggradation are available. The main purpose of the study is to verify permafrost history in thepeatlands. The results of the macrofossil analysis and values of C/N ratio indicate nutrient poor tointermediate fen environments in both studied mires until recently. Signs of permafrost upheavalwhich caused formation of xerophilic peat can be proved only since late 1950’s. The study resultscorroborate with other studies from Northern Fennoscandia and infer peatland initiation soon afterthe deglaciation of the area and permafrost-free conditions throughout entire Holocene untilrecently.

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

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In an upland forest in the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA), Ontario, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in precipitation increased with passage through a forest canopy, as throughfall and stemflow. A maximum mean concentration of 67 mg/l occurred in the forest floor, which decreased to 11 mg/l in the B horizon, as DOC was sequestered in the soil. High DOC concentrations were measured in an ephemeral stream draining the upland, as a result of saturated overland flow, and the leaching of litter and woody material. / Porewater DOC concentrations decreased with depth in two bogs. The porewater DOC was comprised primarily of acidic fractions (70 to 87%), with a predominance of hydrophobic acids. The bogs were significant sources of DOC, exporting between 17.2 and 29.4 g DOC/m$ sp2$ over the study period. In 1993, a bog was flooded simulating the creation of a hydroelectric reservoir, and resulting in significant increases in porewater DOC concentrations at the surface. A maximum surface concentration of 223 mg/l was measured in late September. The flooding of the bog also resulted in significant increases in DOC concentrations in the draining waters, with the outflow of the watershed increasing from a mean of 20.5 mg/l in 1992, to 14.7 mg/l in 1993.

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