We developed a technique to monitor spatially confined surface reactions with mass spectrometry under ambient conditions, without the need for voltage or organic solvents. Fused-silica capillaries immersed in an aqueous solution, positioned in close proximity to each other and the functionalized surface, created a laminar flow junction with a resulting reaction volume of ∼5 pL. The setup was op...

Identifying the source(s) of silicon (Si) for plant is a key issue in understanding terrestrial cycle Si and deciphering reservoir bioavailable to accumulating crops. In soils, amorphous Si, one most source, mostly present as phytoliths has been suggested use fertilizer by diatomite application. Although clay minerals are known contribute nutrition, their role major source silica plants not ful...

Aggregates of biogenic origin >0.5 mm, known as marine snow, represent a concentrated potential source of food for zooplankton. Little is known, however, about whether aggregates are commonly grazed by zooplankton in the field. While previous laboratory studies have shown that the euphausiid Euphausia pacifica, and the copepod, Calanus pacificus, common crustacean zooplankters, consume marine s...

Tropical volcanic ash is a cheap and sustainable source of high purity silica for the synthesis zeolites; zeolite type, whether Na–X, Na–P or hydroxysodalite, depends on amount SiO 2 Na O in hydrogels.

We describe the synthesis of mesoporous silica fibers and discoids using disodium trioxosilicate (Na2SiO3 9H2O), a convenient silica source with cetyltrimethylmmonium chloride (CTAC) as a structure directing agent under acidic condition. The molar composition of the synthesis sol is 1Na2SiO3 9H2O:1.5CTAC:28HCl:729H2O. The fibers and discoids, both p6mm, hexagonal, are obtained at room temperatu...