The evaluation of geopolymer properties prepared by alkali activation of black coal ashes with high content of loss on ignition

The utilization of fly ashes in Slovakia is lower than in other countries and dumping of fly ashes prevails. The dumping changeschemical and phase composition of fly ashes and so it decreases possibilities for their utilization. Fly ashes are mainly used in buildingindustry, where the content of loss on ignition (LOI) is limited due to standards. Black coal fly ashes produced in Slovakia have a highcontent of loss on ignition – more than 20 % - so they straight utilization in building industry is not possible. The current possibility fortheir utilization is in geopolymer synthesis. Products with 28-day compression strength of 35.7 MPa and 180-day compression strengthof 55.0 MPa were obtained by alkali activation of fly ashes with 23.25 % LOI with 8 wt% Na2O and their next hardening in temperatureof 80 °C during 6 hours. Products have a great frost-resistance and aggressive environments resistance (NaCl a H2SO4 solutions)

The influence of solutions of NaOH and plasticizers on the wettability of PVC and PET plastics

Flotation of plastics becomes a very prospective method of their separation as a reflection of the industrial quality of purity requirements. The problem is however that most of the plastics have relatively similar hydrophobic surfaces preventing them to be selectively sorted by the flotation method. That is why various ways have been proposed in order to stimulate the wetting of the plastics´ surfaces selectively (gamma flotation, selective adsorption of wettting substances or depressants, physical treatment, and chemical treatment). Unfortunately, the application of traditional use of depressants is questionable since there are different or even contrast theoretical explanations of their adsorption mechanism on the plastics´ surfaces. In this article, a brief theoretical overview is presented summarizing the possible mechanisms of the selective adsorption of organic depressants from the standpoint of modern surface thermodynamics approaches. On the other hand, the method of chemical treatment of the plastics´ surfaces known as the selective hydrophobic modification is better studied and so understood. Therefore, the influence of NaOH solutions as well as of two plasticizers (diisodecyl phtalate and diethylen glycol dibenzoate) on the surface wettability of PVC and PET plastics has been studied experimentally

Evaluation of the aggregation stability of colloidal silica in the presence of CTAB. Part 1: Kinetic parameters of coagulation

The coagulation rate of colloidal silica (synthetic SiO2) spheres in aqueous solution of hexadecyltrimety-amonium bromide (CTAB) was investigated at the concentration scale of 10-5 - 5×10-4 M and pH of 4.7 8.1. The computer-controlled spectrophotometer was used to detect absorbance of the colloidal system as a function of time. From the absorbance-vs.-time dependence, the coagulation rate constant, stability ratio and critical concentration of coagulation (c.c.c.) have been determined by using a linearization and approximation method. Both methods provided c.c.c. values of the initially hydrophilic silica spheres to be ca. 2×10-4 M CTAB (pH 6.8), suggesting an adsorption-induced hydrophobization of their surface by CTAB cations. A slight influence of pH was also observed, probably related to the ionization degree of the CTAB cations

Chemical cues and genetic divergence in insects on plants: conceptual cross pollination between mutualistic and antagonistic systems

Cascading or reciprocal genetic diversification of herbivores, parasitoids, and pollinators can track chemotypic variation in host resources, and can lead to non-overlapping communities. Because plants simultaneously interact with both pollinators and herbivores, models investigating the genetic divergence of antagonistic herbivores and mutualistic pollinators should be merged in order to study how both processes interact using a common conceptual and methodological approach. We expect insects to mediate divergence in many systems, with outcomes depending on the level of pollinator or herbivore specialisation, and the relative selective pressures they impose. Applying approaches widely used to study insect pollinators, for example genomic tools and integration of behavioural, genetic and chemical data, to both pollinators and herbivores in the same system will facilitate our understanding of patterns of genetic divergence across multiple interacting species

Study on Mechanical Properties of Heap Deposited Fly Ash Based Geopolymers with Different Alkaline Activator Properties

Geopolymers can improve environmental protection and are therefore considered a 21st-century material that requires special attention. The main objective of this study was to examine the utilization of fly ash deposited on a heap as a potential raw material for the geopolymerization process. In this work, flexural and compressive strengths, as well as water absorption of geopolymers, were evaluated based on alkaline activator properties. Na2O content, SiO2/Na2O molar ratio and fly ash-to-water ratio were key observed factors. Mechanical strengths tests were conducted after 7, 28, 90, 180, and 360 days. The research findings showed that geopolymer cured at appropriate conditions and with a suitable alkaline activator can reach a compressive strength of more than 55 MPa. The presented study highlighted the possibility of the efficient use of fly ash to produce useful materials, i.e., geopolymers, which contribute to environmentally friendly solutions. This approach is fully in line with the principles of sustainable development

Contrasting patterns of fig wasp communities along Mt. Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea

The fig (Moraceae) and pollinating fig wasp (Agaonidae) mutualism is best known as a model system for the study of coevolution in plant–pollinator interactions and its central role in shaping vertebrate communities in tropical forests. Figs also host myriad antagonistic parasitic fig wasps which impose costs on both partners threatening mutualism stability. Spatiotemporal variation in parasitic wasp abundance is a key factor in mitigating these effects. Because fig wasps are temperature sensitive and likely vary in their ability to traverse environmental gradients, we expect community assemblages and abundance of both pollinating and non‐pollinating fig wasps to respond to changes along an elevational gradient. In the present study, we compare the fig wasp communities and abundance of three fig species growing along the slopes of the Mount Wilhelm altitudinal gradient in Papua New Guinea. We quantified wasps from over 100 male fig trees and calculated seed set for 55 female trees along each of the species’ distribution on the transect. Our results show that the abundance of both pollinating and non‐pollinating fig wasps follow a mid‐elevation peak, consistent with fig species richness found in the same transect. The patterns, however, are different according to the host's species distribution. Seed set remained relatively constant along the gradient for all species with some decrease along higher elevations, potentially affecting connectivity along the gradient. As suggested for insects in general, temperature and habitat diversity appear to play a fundamental role in the species richness and abundance of fig wasps

Insect herbivory and herbivores of Ficus species along a rain forest elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea

Classic research on elevational gradients in plant–herbivore interactions holds that insect herbivore pressure is stronger under warmer climates of low elevations. However, recent work has questioned this paradigm, arguing that it oversimplifies the ecological complexity in which plant–insect herbivore interactions are embedded. Knowledge of antagonistic networks of plants and herbivores is however crucial for understanding the mechanisms that govern ecosystem functioning. We examined herbivore damage and insect herbivores of eight species of genus Ficus (105 saplings) and plant constitutive defensive traits of two of these species, along a rain forest elevational gradient of Mt. Wilhelm (200–2,700 m a.s.l.), in tropical Papua New Guinea. We report overall herbivore damage 2.4% of leaf area, ranging from 0.03% in Ficus endochaete at 1,700 m a.s.l. to 6.1% in F. hombroniana at 700 m a.s.l. Herbivore damage and herbivore abundances varied significantly with elevation, as well as among the tree species, and between the wet and dry season. Community‐wide herbivore damage followed a hump‐shaped pattern with the peak between 700 and 1,200 m a.s.l. and this pattern corresponded with abundance of herbivores. For two tree species surveyed in detail, we observed decreasing and hump‐shaped patterns in herbivory, in general matching the trends found in the set of plant defenses measured here. Our results imply that vegetation growing at mid‐elevations of the elevational gradient, that is at the climatically most favorable elevations where water is abundant, and temperatures still relatively warm, suffers the maximum amount of herbivorous damage which changes seasonally, reflecting the water availability

Compound Specific Trends of Chemical Defences in Ficus Along an Elevational Gradient Reflect a Complex Selective Landscape

Elevational gradients affect the production of plant secondary metabolites through changes in both biotic and abiotic conditions. Previous studies have suggested both elevational increases and decreases in host-plant chemical defences. We analysed the correlation of alkaloids and polyphenols with elevation in a community of nine Ficus species along a continuously forested elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea. We sampled 204 insect species feeding on the leaves of these hosts and correlated their community structure to the focal compounds. Additionally, we explored species richness of folivorous mammals along the gradient. When we accounted for Ficus species identity, we found a general elevational increase in flavonoids and alkaloids. Elevational trends in non-flavonol polyphenols were less pronounced or showed non-linear correlations with elevation. Polyphenols responded more strongly to changes in temperature and humidity than alkaloids. The abundance of insect herbivores decreased with elevation, while the species richness of folivorous mammals showed an elevational increase. Insect community structure was affected mainly by alkaloid concentration and diversity. Although our results show an elevational increase in several groups of metabolites, the drivers behind these trends likely differ. Flavonoids may provide figs with protection against abiotic stressors. In contrast, alkaloids affect insect herbivores and may provide protection against mammalian herbivores and pathogens. Concurrent analysis of multiple compound groups alongside ecological data is an important approach for understanding the selective landscape that shapes plant defences

Compound specific trends of chemical defences in Ficus along an elevational gradient reflect a complex selective landscape

Elevational gradients affect the production of plant secondary metabolites through changes in both biotic and abiotic conditions. Previous studies have suggested both elevational increases and decreases in host-plant chemical defences. We analysed the correlation of alkaloids and polyphenols with elevation in a community of nine Ficus species along a continuously forested elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea. We sampled 204 insect species feeding on the leaves of these hosts and correlated their community structure to the focal compounds. Additionally, we explored species richness of folivorous mammals along the gradient. When we accounted for Ficus species identity, we found a general elevational increase in flavonoids and alkaloids. Elevational trends in non-flavonol polyphenols were less pronounced or showed non-linear correlations with elevation. Polyphenols responded more strongly to changes in temperature and humidity than alkaloids. The abundance of insect herbivores decreased with elevation, while the species richness of folivorous mammals showed an elevational increase. Insect community structure was affected mainly by alkaloid concentration and diversity. Although our results show an elevational increase in several groups of metabolites, the drivers behind these trends likely differ. Flavonoids may provide figs with protection against abiotic stressors. In contrast, alkaloids affect insect herbivores and may provide protection against mammalian herbivores and pathogens. Concurrent analysis of multiple compound groups alongside ecological data is an important approach for understanding the selective landscape that shapes plant defences

Community structure of insect herbivores is driven by conservatism, escalation and divergence of defensive traits in Ficus

Escalation (macroevolutionary increase) or divergence (disparity between relatives) in trait values are two frequent outcomes of the plant-herbivore arms race. We studied the defences and caterpillars associated with 21 sympatric New Guinean figs. Herbivore generalists were concentrated on hosts with low protease and oxidative activity. The distribution of specialists correlated with phylogeny, protease and trichomes. Additionally, highly specialised Asota moths used alkaloid rich plants. The evolution of proteases was conserved, alkaloid diversity has escalated across the studied species, oxidative activity has escalated within one clade, and trichomes have diverged across the phylogeny. Herbivore specificity correlated with their response to host defences: escalating traits largely affected generalists and divergent traits specialists; but the effect of escalating traits on extreme specialists was positive. In turn, the evolution of defences in Ficus can be driven towards both escalation and divergence in individual traits, in combination providing protection against a broad spectrum of herbivores