Chloride concentrations at the Greenbrook well field in Kitchener, Ontario, have been steadily increasing over the past several decades and may soon pose a threat to drinking water quality. Drinking water limits at some wells have already been exceeded. The Regional Municipality of Waterloo (RMOW) relies mainly on local groundwater resources for its drinking water supply, and the Greenbrook well field is the oldest of 50 municipal well fields contributing to this supply. Urban growth and the expansion of city limits over the years has surrounded the well field, placing it in a high risk area in need of protection. As such, protection of this water supply is essential until alternative sources can be found. Road salt has been identified as the prime source of the chloride contamination, and various management alternatives and remediation strategies are currently being studied. In order to characterize the behaviour of chloride in the subsurface, an understanding of the mechanisms that control travel of chloride to the water table and through the groundwater system is needed. For the first phase of this work, a 2-D variably-saturated flow and transport model (SWMS-2D) was used to evaluate the effect of seasonal fluctuation in chloride loading to a generic aquifer system. Chloride was applied over the surface of the model in seasonal pulses that correlated with temperature and precipitation. The model showed a dampening of the seasonal response with depth that lead to the conclusion that long-term transport models can neglect seasonal changes in solute loading. For the second phase of this work, a proven 3D finite element transport model (Waterloo Transport Code: WTC) was used to simulate road salt impacts to the well field. Road salt was applied over selected roads throughout the steady-state capture zone via a type 3 (Cauchy) boundary that varies both temporally and spatially with road type and location. After calibrating the model from 1945 to 2002 to chloride concentrations using the weighted average of 5 Greenbrook production wells, the model was run to the year 2041 to assess future implications. Remediation strategies were also investigated via 6 predictive scenarios in which chloride applications were reduced by varying degrees. The results of this phase will be used by the RMOW in cost-benefit analyses of alternative de-icing approaches versus de-chlorination treatment of the well water.

CH3Br and CH3Cl (methyl halides) are the most abundant natural vectors of bromine and chlorine into the stratosphere and play an important role in stratospheric ozone destruction. The current knowledge of their respective natural sources is incomplete leading to large uncertainties in their global budgets. Beside the issue of quantification, characterisation of possible sources is needed to assist modelling of future environmental change impacts on these sources and hence the stratosphere. This study describes measurements conducted at two temperate salt marsh and three temperate forest sites in Scotland, and one tropical rainforest site in Malaysian Borneo to quantify and characterise natural methyl halide producing processes in these respective ecosystems. Measurements were conducted with static enclosure techniques, and methyl halide fluxes were calculated from the concentration difference between blank/background and afterenclosure samples. Methyl halide concentrations were determined via oxygen-doped GCECD with a custom-built pre-concentration unit. External factors such as photosyntheticallyactive radiation (PAR), total solar radiation, air temperature, soil temperature, internal chamber temperature and soil moisture were recorded in parallel to the enclosures to determine possible dependencies. Salt marsh studies were carried out at Heckie’s Hole in East Lothian, and Hollands Farmin East Dumfriesshire for 2 years. The study subjects were salt marsh plants that were enclosed during daylight hours in transparent enclosures for 10min each at 2–4 week intervals throughout the year. Parallel to this monitoring programme, systematic manipulation experiments and diurnal studies were carried out to learn more about the possible influence of potential drivers such as sunlight and temperature. Mean annual net fluxes ( standard deviation (sd)) were 300 44 ngm-2 h-1 for CH3Br and 660 270 ngm-2 h-1 for CH3Cl, with fluxes of both gases following a diurnal as well as an annual cycle, being lowest during winter nights and highest during summer days. A possible link between variations of daytime fluxes over the course of a year and changes in temperature was found. CH3Cl and CH3Br fluxes were positively correlated to each other and average fluxes of CH3Cl were linked to dry mass of certain species such as Puccinellia maritima, Aster tripolium, Juncus gerardi and Plantago maritima as found at the different measurement locations. No link between methyl halide fluxes and total halogen content or halogen concentration of the enclosed vegetation was found. Work in temperate forests was carried out for over one year at Fir Links, a mixed beech/ sycamore forest in East Lothian, and on one occasion each in Griffin Forest, a sitka spruce plantation in Perthshire, and finally the Hermitage of Braid, a mixed woodland park in Edinburgh. The study subject was leaf and needle litter which was enclosed in opaque 12 L containers for 10min–24h. During enclosure, internal chamber temperature was recorded, and leaf/needle litter water content was determined after enclosure. Combined average CH3Br and CH3Cl fluxes from temperate forest litter were 4.3 10-3 ngg-1 h-1 and 0.91 ngg-1 h-1, respectively. Average fluxes measured from leaf and needle litter were comparable in magnitude and CH3Br and CH3Cl were positively correlated. However no correlation of methyl halide fluxes to either temperature or litter water content was observed. Work at Danum Valley inMalaysian Borneo focused on flux measurements from both trees and leaf litter in a tropical dipterocarp forest. Fluxes from tropical trees were measured with transparent branch chambers at 20min enclosure times whilst methyl halide fluxes from leaf litter were measured with opaque 12 L containers at 24h enclosure times. Mean CH3Br and CH3Cl fluxes from branch enclosures were 0.53 ngg-1 h-1 and 27 ngg-1 h-1, respectively, and CH3Br and CH3Cl fluxes from tropical leaf litter were 1.4 10-3 ngg-1 h-1 and 2.3 ngg-1 h-1 respectively. Again fluxes of CH3Br and CH3Cl were positively correlated but no direct environmental driver for flux variations was found. The magnitude of methyl halide fluxes was species specific with individuals of the genus Shorea generally producing large amounts of methyl halide. Tropical rainforests were confirmed to be potentially the largest single natural source of CH3Cl. Global estimates were derived from extrapolating measured fluxes from the respective global land cover areas. These estimates suggest that the ecosystems examined in this study could account for over 1/3 of global CH3Cl production and up to 13%of global CH3Br production in nature. The ratio of CH3Br to CH3Cl emissions for these ecosystems is likely to be dependent on the abundance of bromine in the plant material with higher bromine content boosting CH3Br production and suppressing CH3Cl production. For this reason salt marshes are only a very minor source of CH3Cl.

Fast postsynaptic inhibition in the brain is mediated by ionotropic GABA_A receptors (GABA_ARs), which are activated by the release of the neurotransmitter GABA from presynaptic interneurons. The GABA_AR is primarily permeable to chloride ions (Cl-) and therefore the transmembrane gradient for Cl- sets the reversal potential of the receptor (E_GABA-A). When intracellular Cl^- concentrations are relatively low, E_GABA-A is more negative than the membrane potential and GABA_AR responses will have a hyperpolarising and inhibitory effect upon the postsynaptic cell. In contrast, when intracellular Cl^- concentrations are relatively high, E_GABA-A will be more positive and GABA_AR activation will have a depolarising effect. How a neuron controls its intracellular Cl^- concentrations is a fundamental question that has direct relevance to hyperexcitability conditions such as epilepsy. Recently, it has become clear that Cl^- homeostasis is altered in epileptic tissue such that postsynaptic inhibition via the GABA_AR is reduced and, under some conditions, GABA_AR signalling may even be excitatory. In my thesis I explore some of the mechanisms and factors that are responsible for regulating postsynaptic GABA_AR signalling in the context of epileptic seizure activity in the rat hippocampus. In the first series of experiments I combined pharmacological approaches with electrophysiological recordings from pyramidal neurons in the CA3 region of the hippocampus to trigger seizure activity. My results show that intense neuronal activity during a seizure leads to a transient accumulation of intracellular Cl^-, which generates a pronounced depolarising shift in E_GABA-A. Under these conditions, GABAergic synapses become excitatory and contribute to ongoing neuronal activity rather than exerting their normal inhibitory role. I found that the same seizure activity also induces the release of a neuromodulator called adenosine, which serves to limit the deleterious effects of excitatory GABA_AR responses. Adenosine exerts these effects by activating downstream potassium channels, which increase the postsynaptic cell’s membrane conductance and, in doing so, ‘shunt’ incoming GABA_AR responses. In the second series of experiments I examined Cl^- homeostasis and E_GABA-A in the context of neonatal seizures. One of the main mechanisms by which neurons maintain their intracellular Cl^- levels is through the activity of ion transporter proteins that reside in the membrane and move Cl^- either into, or out of, the cell. I discovered that the intracellular trafficking of an important Cl^- transporter protein, NKCC1, correlates with changes in Cl^- homeostasis. Using a combination of biochemical and molecular techniques, I then identified a novel molecular association between NKCC1 and a motor protein, Myosin Va, which has been implicated in the intracellular trafficking of membrane proteins. Using electrophysiological recordings I found that Myosin Va is required for NKCC1’s contribution to Cl^- homeostasis, which may be important for E_GABA-A changes in epilepsy. In the final series of experiments I developed methods to study the temporal dynamics in E_GABA-A during a single seizure. These revealed a Cl^- unloading mechanism that emerges at the end of a seizure and which depends upon hyperpolarisation of the postsynaptic membrane potential. This mechanism aids E_GABA-A recovery after the seizure and moves E_GABA-A to more hyperpolarised values. This mechanism could boost postsynaptic inhibition after a seizure and thereby help to protect against further seizure episodes. In conclusion, this work extends our understanding of postsynaptic GABAergic transmission in the context of epileptic seizure activity and suggests new mechanisms that could be relevant for the development of rational anti-epileptic treatments.

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um procedimento analítico empregando o processo de multicomutação para determinação de íons cloreto com detecção fotométrica para aplicação em amostras de coque de petróleo. O procedimento foi baseado no método espectrofotométrico descrito no Standard Methods, onde a reação entre tiocianato de mercúrio (II) e cloreto leva ao deslocamento dos íons tiocianato e à formação de um complexo de coloração vermelha com o Fe (III), que foi monitorado em 455 nm. Foram construídos dois módulos de análise empregando válvulas solenóide de três vias no primeiro e válvulas de estrangulamento no outro. Com os parâmetros analíticos otimizados para o primeiro módulo, obteve-se uma curva analítica linear para o intervalo de 0,25 a 4,0 mg L-1 de cloreto (R= 0,997), com um limite de detecção de 0,12 mg L-1 (3xbranco/inclinação); RSD de 1,7% (n=15) e uma freqüência de amostragem de 50 det h-1. O segundo módulo de análise foi proposto a fim de eliminar a etapa de acidificação das soluções de referência e amostras. Esta etapa era efetuada off line para liberar as bolhas formadas na reação. A curva analítica obtida para este módulo foi linear para o intervalo de 0,25 a 6,0 mg L-1 de cloreto (R= 0,999), com um limite de detecção de 0,04 mg L-1 (3xbranco/inclinação); RSD de 0,8% (n=15) e uma frequência de amostragem de 50 det h-1. O módulo foi aplicado em amostras de coque de petróleo e também no material de referência certificado. / In this work was developed an analytical procedure employing multicommutation for the photometric determination of chloride in petroleum coke. The procedure was based on the photometric method described on Stand Method, where the reaction between mercury(II) thyocyanate and chloride causes the displacement of the thyocyanate ions, which reacted with iron(III) forming a compound that monitored at 472 nm. Two analysis modules were designed employing three-way and pinch solenoid valves. After the optimizing of the analytical parameters related to analysis module that employed three-way solenoid valves, the analytical curve presented a linear response in the concentration range of 0.25 to 4.0 mg L-1 (R = 0.997). A detection limit of 0.12 mg L-1 chloride, a relative standard deviation of 1.7 % (n = 15) and a sampling frequency of 50 determination per hour were also achieved. The second analysis module was designed to avoid acidification step of sample and reference solutions that was carried out off line to prevent bubbled delivering. The analytical curve presented a linear response within the concentration range of 0.25 up to 6.0 mg L-1 chloride (R=0.999). Detection limit of 0.04 mg L-1, standard deviation of 0.8 % (n=15), and sampling frequency of 50 determination per hours were of achieved. The proposed system was used for the determination of chloride in petroleum coke and also in certified material.

Um sistema de tratamento de esgotos sanitários por reator UASB seguido de RSB foi operado durante 27 semanas objetivando-se verificar seu desempenho na remoção de matéria orgânica carbônácea, nitrogênio amoniacal e fósforo. O reator UASB, com 145 litros foi operado com tempo de detenção hidráulica médio de 8 horas durante todo o experimento. O reator RSB, de 106 litros, foi operado com tempos de ciclio de 24, 12 e 6 horas, em seis etapas distintas. Os tempos de ciclo no RSB variaram de 24, 12, 6, 24, 24 e 24 para as etapas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 e 6 respectivamente. As últimas três etapas foram caracterizadas pela adição de cloreto férrico, respectivamente. O sistema UASB/RSB apresentou eficiência média de remoção de DQO de 92% nas etapas 1, 2, 5, e 6. Na etapa 3, com tempo de ciclo de 6 horas e na etapa 4, quando o RSB recebeu 50mg/L de cloreto férrico, a eficiência média de remoção de DQO foi de 83%. Quando FeCl3 foi adicionado no afluente do reator UASB, obteve-se excelente desempenho na remoção de fósforo, cujas concentrações afluentes foram da ordem de 1,0 mg/L e 4,0 mg/L para a adição de 200 e 100 mg/L de cloreto férrico, respectivamente. / The performance evaluation of a pilot scale system composed by a UASB reactor followed by an SBR reactor treating domestic sewage is presented. The UASB reactor with 145 L of volume, was operated with an average hydraulic detention period of 8 hours. The SBR reactor had a volume of 106 litters being operated with cyclic time of 24, 12, and 6 hours. These different operational conditions characterized three stages of the work from a total of six stages. The three last stages were the addition of 50, 100, and 200 mg/L of ferric chloride in the aerobic, anaerobic, and anaerobic reactors, respectively. In the three last stages the UASB reactor worked with an average hydraulic detention time of 8 hours and the aerobic reactor worked with a cyclic time of 24 hours. After 27 weeks of continuous operation, the UASB/SBR system produced very good results in terms of COD removal. The average results of the COD removal were of 92% to the first, second, fifth, and sixth stages, having a reduction to 83% on the average to the stages where the SBR received 50 mg/L of ferric chloride and in which it worked with a six hour cyclic period. The addition of ferric chloride in the anaerobic reactor had great efficiency in the phosphorus removal. It was reached absolute values of until 1 mg/L of PO43- in the aflluent of the system, promoting an average effluent of 4 mg/L of PO43- with the addition 200 mg/L of FCl3. The UASB/SBR system can become a very promising alternative for domestic sewerage treatment in Brazil, since the system can be projected with shorter times of hydraulic detention times, resulting in a low cost compact installation. Furthermore, excellent results can be gotten to the ammonium and phosphorus removal.

Neste trabalho buscou-se avaliar a suscetibilidade dos diferentes modelos de tubos gotejadores ao processo de entupimento quando expostos ao uso de cloreto de potássio (branco e vermelho), aplicados via diferentes qualidades de água. O experimento foi realizado em três fases, por um período de doze meses, analisando o desempenho de 22 modelos de gotejadores (autocompensante e convencionais), com quatro tratamentos e dez repetições, sendo cada repetição representada por um gotejador. Na primeira fase, foram aplicados os seguintes tratamentos: (T1) água com fitoplâncton (lago) e cloreto de potássio branco; (T2) água com fitoplâncton (lago) e cloreto de potássio vermelho; (T3) água potável (laboratório) e cloreto de potássio branco; (T4) água potável (laboratório) e cloreto de potássio vermelho. Na segunda fase foram adicionadas partículas sólidas (solo) às soluções dos tratamentos 1 (T1-Lg/B) e 2 (T2-Lg/V), mantendo a mesma solução do tratamento 3 (T3-Lb/B) e adicionado sulfato de ferro à solução do tratamento 4 (T4-Lb/V). Na terceira fase acrescentou-se hidróxido de ferro às soluções referentes a T1 (T1+So) e T2 (T2+So), mais uma aplicação de uma solução concentrada diretamente nas linhas (tubos gotejadores) sem passar pelo sistema de filtragem, sendo os tratamentos: (T1) Água do lago, cloreto de potássio branco, partículas sólidas e hidróxido de ferro, com o orifício do gotejador posicionado para baixo. (T2) água do lago, cloreto de potássio vermelho, partículas sólidas e hidróxido de ferro, com o orifício do gotejador posicionado para cima. (T3) água do lago , cloreto de potássio branco, partículas sólidas e hidróxido de ferro, com o orifício do gotejador posicionado para cima. (T4) água do lago, cloreto de potássio vermelho, partículas sólidas e hidróxido de ferro, com o orifício do gotejador posicionado para baixo. Os modelos de tubos gotejadores analisados apresentaram desempenhos variáveis, tanto na suscetibilidade ao entupimento quanto no coeficiente de variação de vazão, sugerindo que a arquitetura interna dos gotejadores, foi o fator determinante na caracterização do processo de entupimento. Não foi observada diferença significativa da dinâmica de entupimento com relação à aplicação dos cloretos de potássio branco e vermelho na ausência ou presença de fitoplâncton, mostrando que é possível fazer uso do cloreto de potássio vermelho em fertirrigação, tomando o cuidado de verificar a ausência do elemento ferro no adubo (análise de laboratório). A adição de partículas sólidas e do sulfato de ferro aos tratamentos da primeira fase, passando pelo sistema de filtragem, não potencializou mudanças significativas do cenário de suscetibilidade ao entupimento, nas condições de irrigação da segunda fase. A entrada de partículas sólidas e hidróxido de ferro no sistema sem passar pelo sistema de filtragem (fase 3) e o posicionamento do orifício dos gotejadores para baixo intensificaram o processo de entupimento, onde os modelos convencionais foram os mais sensíveis e alguns modelos autocompensantes foram mais tolerantes a presença destes elementos na água de irrigação. O modelo C3 foi o que apresentou melhor desempenho entre os modelos convencionais nas três fases estudadas, sendo que os modelos A2 e A3 destacaram-se entre os modelos autocompensantes, com uma boa recuperação da vazão ao final dos ensaios. / This work aims to evaluate the susceptibility of several dripline models against clogging process when exposed to potassium chloride (white and red), applied through different water qualities (fertirrigation). The experiment was accomplished in three phases, during a period of twelve months, analyzing the performance of 22 drip models (compensating and conventional), with four treatments and ten repetitions, being each repetition a dripper. In the first phase, it was applied the following treatments: (T1) water with fitoplancton (lake) and white potassium chloride; (T2) water with fitoplancton (lake) and red potassium chloride; (T3) potable water (laboratory) and white potassium chloride; (T4) potable water (laboratory) and red potassium chloride. In the second phase, solid particles were added to the solutions of previous treatments 1 (T1-Lg/B) and 2 (T2-Lg/V), maintaining the same solution for treatment 3 (T3-Lb/B) and added iron sulfate to the solution of treatment 4 (T4-Lb/V). In the third phase iron hydroxide was added to the solutions of T1 (T1+So) and T2 (T2+So) treatments, one more application of a concentrated solution directly in drip lines without passing through the filtration system, resulting the following treatments: (T1) water with fitoplancton, white potassium chloride, solid particles and iron hydroxide, with dripper facing down. (T2) water with fitoplancton, red potassium chloride, solid particles and iron hydroxide, with drippers facing up, (T3) water with fitoplancton , white potassium chloride, solid particles and iron hydroxide, with drippers facing up, (T4) water with fitoplancton, red potassium chloride, solid particles and hydroxide of iron, with drippers facing down. Driplines presented a variable performance, regarding the original flow rate levels and variation coefficient, suggesting that internal architecture of emitters, it is a major factor related to clogging resistance to treatments imposed. Statistical differences were not observed for clogging dynamics under the application of white or red potassium chloride, under different water quality conditions, showing that it is possible to use the red potassium chloride for fertirrigation without problems. It is recommended to certify the absence of iron element in the fertilizer based on laboratory analysis. The addition of solid particles and iron sulfate to first phase treatments, going through the filtration system, did not increase the clogging rate or emitters (second phase). The application of solid particles and iron hydroxide in the system without passing through the filtration system (phase 3) and the positioning of drippers facing down, intensified the clogging process. Conventional models were more sensitive and compensating models were more tolerant of this water quality conditions. Models C3 performance better among the conventional models in all phases studied. Models A2 and A3 stood out among compensating models, presenting a good recovery flow rate at the end of the experiment.

"Abstract. Urbanization has a significant impact on water quality. Urban drainage systems and impervious surfaces accelerate the delivery of pollutants from land areas in watersheds to streams and rivers. The harmful pollutants include sodium and chloride associated with the application of road salts during the winter, metals and oils associated with vehicles and impervious surface. The goal of this project was to access impacts of urbanization on River Meadow Brook and validate a chloride assessment tool. The first phase of this research was a part of a chloride study sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). The second phase of the projects included flow and water quality monitoring. The first phase of the project involved the development of a linear regression equation to validate a chloride assessment tool that MassDEP had developed and implemented based on historical data. River Meadow Brook, a Massachusetts stream that flows from a non-urban, rural area with relatively low pollutant concentrations to highly urbanized area in Lowell, MA, was chosen for that purpose because of the area’s large concentration of roadways and highways and historically high concentrations of chloride. Water samples and continuous conductivity data were collected for a 7-month period. Using 24 grab samples analyzed at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) laboratory in Chelmsford, MA, the model was validated with 99.37% confidence using a linear regression equation. Therefore, the relationship between conductivity and chloride was validated. Calculated chloride was used to identify chloride violations of ambient water quality standards in River Meadow Brook. In addition to MassDEP study, the relationship between the percent of imperviousness and various trace metals, anions and total suspended solids was developed to show impacts of urbanization on the stream. The research approach included collection of both water samples and flows to calculate daily pollutant loads. Water monitoring included grab samples and unattended continuous conductivity with a 30-minute recording intervals. Discharge monitoring included collection of flows in River Meadow Brook using a brad- crested dam and the area- velocity technique. A wide variety of cations from a sampling of 5 sites along River Meadow Brook were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Cl, sulfate and nitrate were analyzed using the Dionex ICS-2100 Ion Chromatography System. Laboratory results of water quality parameters showed that pollutants associated with impervious surface increase as the stream flows from its headwaters to downstream. The result from the Pearson correlation analysis revealed that sodium, chloride, potassium, vanadium, nickel, copper, arsenic, TSs and pH had a positive relationship with imperviousness while DO and nitrate had negative relationship. The combination of laboratory and field analysis helped to assess the impacts of urbanization and checked against ambient water quality standards. "

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

A corrosão localizada em aços inoxidáveis pode se manifestar de várias formas, tais como, a corrosão por pite, em fresta e corrosão sob tensão. Estes tipos de corrosão ocorrem quando o metal é exposto em meios agressivos como o cloreto, entre outros. O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar o comportamento dos aços inoxidáveis austeníticos e ferríticos em meios agressivos de cloreto, brometo e suas misturas. Para testar a resistência à corrosão por pite foi usado o método de polarização potenciodinâmica em eletrólitos de concentração iônica total de 0,6M. Os materiais estudados foram os aços inoxidáveis: 298 (aço inoxidável Cr-Mn, especificação da ArcelorMittal Inox Brasil) e os aços padronizados segundo a UNS: S30400, S31603, S43000 e S44400; todos, na condição tal como recebida da usina. Os resultados mostraram que, em meio de 0,6M(NaCl+NaBr), para concentrações de 0M a 0,45M NaCl, o desempenho quanto a resistência à corrosão por pite obedece a seguinte ordem decrescente: 444, 316L, 304, 298 e 430. Por sua vez, para a concentração de 0,6M NaCl, ou seja, ausência total de brometo, ocorre a alteração do desempenho dos aços inoxidáveis, colocando a seqüência da seguinte ordem: 316L, 444, 304, 298 e 430. Nota-se, portanto, que o melhor aço para ambientes contendo íon brometo seria o aço 444, já para aplicações em meio de cloreto puro, a melhor seleção é o aço 316L. Foram encontrados sítios de nucleação nos diferentes aços testados nos eletrólitos de 0,6M NaCl e 0,6M NaBr,sempre relacionados a inclusões: em alguns casos a nucleação ocorreu na interface matriz/inclusões insolúveis e, em outros, foram encontrados sinais de dissolução de inclusões, provavelmente de sulfeto. As diferenças de resistência à corrosão por pite entre os diferentes aços, nos diferentes eletrólitos, foram discutidas em função das diferenças de composição química. / Localized corrosion of stainless steels can be manifested in various forms, such as: pitting, crevice and stress corrosion. These types of corrosion occur due to exposition of metal in aggressive environments such as: chloride and bromide. The mean goal of this work is to study the pitting corrosion resistance of both austenitic and ferritic stainless steels in aggressive environments containing chloride, bromide or their mixtures. The potentiodynamic polarization method was used to test the pitting corrosion resistance in media containing a total of ion concentration of 0,6M. The studied materials in this work were stainless steel: 298 (Cr-Mn steel, specification of ArcelorMittal Inox Brazil) and standardized steels according to the UNS: S30400, S31603, S43000 and S44400. The results have shown that maintaining a constant concentration of 0.6M (NaCl+NaBr) into the electrolyte by varying the NaCl concentration between 0M and 0.45M, the performance in terms of pitting corrosion obeys to the following decreasing order: 444, 316L, 304, 298 and finally 430. In turn, for a concentration of 0.6M NaCl, so without any bromide, there is a variation from the performance of stainless steels, putting the sequence as following: 316L, 444, 304, 298 and 430. Nucleation sites were always found related to non-metallic inclusions in all tested stainless steels for the electrolytes of 0,6M NaCl or 0,6M NaBr. Sometimes, pits nucleation occurred at the matrix/inclusion interface, but others times, pits nucleated in water soluble inclusions. Difference of the pitting corrosion resistance between tested steel in the different electrolytes have been discussed as a function of the chemical composition.

Wong, Tak Hong. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-104). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Thesis Committee --- p.i / Statement --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / Chinese Abstract --- p.v / Acknowledgements --- p.vii / Abbreviation --- p.ix / Table of Content --- p.xi / List of figures --- p.xiv / List of tables --- p.xv / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Problem of soil salinization and sodification: reducing crop productivity --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Effects of high salinity on plant growth --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Ion toxicity --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Osmotic stress --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Oxidative stress --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Overview of salt tolerance mechanisms in plant --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Maintenance of ion homeostasis --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Maintaining osmotic homeostasis --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Detoxification of Reactive oxygen species --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- The important role of CI- in plant salt stress tolerance research --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5 --- Introduction to chloride channel (CLC) family --- p.7 / Chapter 1.6 --- E. coli CLC-ecl: The first CLC member found to function as antiporter --- p.8 / Chapter 1.7 --- Yeast GEF1: eukaryotic model for early plant CLC complementation studies --- p.9 / Chapter 1.8 --- Mammalian CLC family: 4 channels and 5 antiporters --- p.10 / Chapter 1.8.1 --- CLC-4 and -5: First eukaryotic CLC member found to be function as antiporter --- p.13 / Chapter 1.8.2 --- CLC-7 function as antiporter and regulate lysosomal acidification --- p.13 / Chapter 1.8.3 --- "CLC-6 select nitrate over chloride, unlike other mammalian CLC members" --- p.14 / Chapter 1.9 --- Introduction to Plant CLC members --- p.14 / Chapter 1.10 --- Tobacco CLC-Ntl co-localized with mitochondrial markers in plant and may cause current on Xenopus oocytes membrane --- p.15 / Chapter 1.11 --- Rice CLCs may involved in salt tolerenace and growth regulation --- p.16 / Chapter 1.12 --- Arabidopsis CLC members are extensively studied --- p.18 / Chapter 1.12.1 --- AtCLCa regulates nitrate accumulation --- p.20 / Chapter 1.12.2 --- "AtCLCb, a nitrate/proton antiporter with unclear physiological role" --- p.22 / Chapter 1.12.3 --- "AtCLCc selective chloride over nitrate, involved in salt tolerance" --- p.23 / Chapter 1.12.4 --- AtCLCd and AtCLCf both localized on Golgi network --- p.25 / Chapter 1.12.5 --- AtCLCe may regulate ionic strength of chloroplast thylakoid membrane --- p.26 / Chapter 1.13 --- Previous work in Prof. Lam's laboratory --- p.26 / Chapter 1.14 --- "Reason, Hypothesis, Objective and long term significance" --- p.28 / Chapter 2. --- Materials and Methods --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- "Bacterial strains, animals, plants and plasmid vectors" --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Chemicals and Enzymes --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Commercial kits --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Primers --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Equipments and facilities used --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- "Buffer, solution, gel and medium" --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Software --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Growth and treatment of soybean seedling --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- RNA extraction from root tissue --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- RNA denaturing gel electrophoresis --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Generation and testing of single-stranded DIG-labeled PCR probes --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Transformation of V7/GmCLCl electro-competent Agrobacterium tumefaciens --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- PCR screening of transformed Agrobacterium tumefaciens colonies --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- DNA gel electrophoresis --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tobacco BY-2 cells --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- Verifying the expression of GmCLCl in transgenic tobacco BY-2 cells --- p.45 / Chapter 2.2.11 --- Salt treatment of tobacco BY-2 cells and cell viability assay --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.12 --- Subcloning of GmCLCl cDNA into pgh21 vector --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.13 --- In vitro synthesis of GmCLCl cRNA --- p.51 / Chapter 2.2.14 --- Obtaining oocyte from Xenopus laevis ovaries --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.15 --- Microinjection of GmCLCl cRNA into Xenopus oocyte and oocyte incubation --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.16 --- Two electrode voltage clamp of Xenopus oocytes --- p.54 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.56 / Chapter 3.1 --- Phylogenetic analysis of GmCLCl --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2 --- Expression of GmCLCl in root was induced by NaCl and alkaline condition --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3 --- Construction of GmCLCl transgenic tobacco BY-2 cell line --- p.62 / Chapter 3.4 --- GmCLCl improve NaCl stress tolerance of transgenic tobacco BY-2 cells in a pH dependent manner --- p.67 / Chapter 3.5 --- Subcloning of GmCLCl into pgh21 --- p.70 / Chapter 3.6 --- GmCLCl cRNA synthesis by in vitro transcription --- p.72 / Chapter 3.7 --- Two electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) of GmCLCl cRNA injected Xenopus oocytes --- p.75 / Chapter 4. --- Discussion --- p.81 / Chapter 4.1 --- Implications from phylogenetic and sequence analysis on the function of GmCLCl --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2 --- Electrophysiological characterization of GmCLC 1 by Xenopus oocytes --- p.82 / Chapter 4.3 --- Some plant CLCs contributed in salt tolerance response --- p.84 / Chapter 4.4 --- Relationship between pH and physiological function of plant CLCs --- p.85 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion and Perspectives --- p.88 / Chapter 6. --- Appendices --- p.90 / Chapter Appendix I: --- Major Chemicals and reagents used in this research --- p.90 / Chapter Appendix II: --- Enzymes used in this research --- p.92 / Chapter Appendix III: --- Major equipment and facilities used in this research --- p.93 / Chapter Appendix IV: --- "Buffer, solution, gel and medium formulation" --- p.94 / Chapter 7. --- References --- p.96