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At least 865 records · Page 48

Trace contaminant adsorption and sorbent regeneration in closed ecological systems

Correlation was obtained for determining sorptive capacity of carbon for pure and mixed contaminants under dry and humid conditions at various temperatures. Vacuum desorption rates were investigated for single particles and for sorbent beds. For sorbent beds, rate-determining step is Knudsen diffusion through interparticle voids.

Arnold, C. R.↗

Biological cycling of atmospheric trace gases

A detailed critical review was conducted of present knowledge of the influence of biological processes on the cycling of selected atmospheric gas constituents--methane, carbon monoxide, and gaseous compounds of nitrogen (nitrous oxide, ammonia, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide) and sulfur (hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide). The identification was included of biological and other sources of each gas, a survey of abundance measurements reported in the literature, and a review of the atmospheric fate of each contituent. Information is provided on which to base conclusions regarding the importance of biological processes on the atmospheric distribution and surface-atmosphere exchange of each constituent, and a basis for estimating the adequacy of present knowledge of these factors. A preliminary analysis was conducted of the feasibility of monitoring the biologically influenced temporal and spatial variations in abundance of these gases in the atmosphere from satellites.

Hitchcock, D. R.↗

Trace element studies of rocks and soils from Oceanus Procellarum and Mare Tranquillitatis

Neutron activation data on Zn, Ga, Ge, Cd, In and Ir are reported for six rocks and two soils from the Apollo 12 mission. Comparison of these and similar data for Apollo 11 samples indicates extralunar components in the 12070 and 10084 soils of about 1.0 and 1.1% expressed in terms of an assumed composition which is the same as the water-free portion of C1 chondrites. A relationship between the integrated flux of extralunar material and the increase in concentration of such material in the fines of the lunar regolith is derived. Apollo 12 rocks have concentrations of Zn, Ge, Cd, In and possibly Ir which are lower by factors of 60 or more, relative to terrestrial basalts. A mechanism is proposed for the late accretion of volatile-rich materials, including comets, in which a primitive terrestrial atmosphere is invoked to explain the significantly higher concentrations of such substances on the earth.

Baedecker, P. A.↗

Development of a sorber trace contaminant control system including pre- and post-sorbers for a catalytic oxidizer

A general methodology was developed for spacecraft contaminant control system design. Elements considered for contaminant control were catalytic oxidation with isotope or electrical heat and pre- and post-sorbers, charcoal with regeneration and non-regeneration, and reactive constituents. A technique is described for sizing a charcoal bed for a multiple contaminant load.

Olcott, T. M.↗

Bulk, rare earth and other trace elements in Apollo 14 and 15 and Luna 16 samples

The chemical abundances were measured by instrumental and radiochemical neutron activation analysis in a variety of lunar specimens. Apollo 14 soils are characterized by significant enrichments of Al2O3, Na2O and K2O and depletions of TiO2, FeO, MnO and Cr2O3 relative to Apollo 11 and to most of Apollo 12 soils. The uniform abundances in 14230 core tube soils and three other Apollo 14 soils indicate that the regolith is uniform to at least 22 cm depth and within approximately 200 m from the lunar module. Two Luna 16 breccias are similar in composition to Luna 16 soils. Four Apollo 15 soils (LM, STA 4, 9, and 9a) have variable compositions. Interelement correlations between MnO-FeO, Sc-FeO, V-Cr2O3 and K2O-Hf negate the hypothesis that howardite achondrites may be primitive lunar matter, argue against the fission hypothesis for the origin of the moon, and precludes any selective large scale volatilization of alkalies during lunar magmatic events.

Laul, J. C.↗

Global studies of atmospheric pollutants and trace constituents.

A high speed, high resolution, Fourier interferometer operating in the 1 to 5 micron spectral region can best meet the needs for remotely detecting and monitoring various molecular species in the atmosphere. An operational breadboard version of the instrument exists. Spectra obtained from ground sites in the Los Angeles area demonstrate the presence of several gases in the atmosphere. Two spectra in the 2.1 and 2.3 micron regions respectively are presented from which relative abundances of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are derived. Ground based operations and aircraft flights with the present instrument verify the potential operational capacity for a satellite instrument. A discussion is presented on the use of the instrument from a spacecraft.

Toth, R. A.↗

Meteoritic and non-meteoritic trace elements in Luna 16 samples.

Two Luna 16 soils have been analyzed for Ag, Au, Bi, Br, Cd, Co, Cs, Cu, Ga, Ge, In, Ur, Ni, Rb, Re, Sb, Se, Te, Tl, and Zn. A meteoritic component similar to that in Apollo 11 and 12 soils seems to be present, corresponding to about 1.5 to 2% Cl chondrites or equivalent. It probably consists largely of micrometeorites. Three elements show strong enrichments compared to Apollo 11 and 12 soils: Cd (5 x to 200 x), Ag (5 x to 10 x), and Bi (3 x). Presumably these elements were brought in by Cd-Ag-Bi rich material, similar to that in Unit VI of Apollo core 12028.

Laul, J. C.↗

Trace ferric ion in lunar and meteoritic titanaugites.

Evidence for presence of Fe(3+) in lunar rocks is furnished by heating them in air to 200-225 C for two hours. This causes a large decrease in the same charge transfer bands attributed to Fe(3+) that can be enhanced by heating the same rocks in air at 500 C. This is interpreted as evidence that the Fe(3+) was not in equilibrium in the melt but was produced by cosmic radiation subsequent to the rock formation. Possible tetrahedrally coordinated Fe(3+) is present in the meteoritic and lunar augites as suggested by comparison of their spectra to that of terrestrial augite high in Fe(3+). This would have been present in the original melt and is distinct from radiation produced Fe(3+) in the M-sites. The polarized absorption spectra of single crystal pigeonite and augite from rock 12021 before heating, and augite from 12018 after heating are compared to that of meteoritic titanaugite in the Angra dos Reis meteorite and terrestrial titanaugite from Maui, Hawaii. The absorption spectrum of meteoritic hypersthene (Tatahouine) is also included for comparison to the pigeonite.

Cohen, A. J.↗

Trace elements profiles, notably Hg, from a preliminary study of the Apollo 15 deep-drill core.

The possible thermal gradient near the surface during a lunation is considered together with the heat flow from the interior, the physical process of Hg migration, the results from core and trench samples from previous missions, and other temperature sensitive phenomena that may help understand the processes. U, Os, and Ru concentrations in the deep drill core samples are of potential interest and are summarized in a table. The Os tends to parallel the Hg profile with depth.

Jovanovic, S.↗