Ecolab

About: Ecolab is a company organization based out in Northwich, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Alkyl & Corrosion. The organization has 2860 authors who have published 3193 publications receiving 51478 citations. The organization is also known as: Economics Laboratory.

Top‐down and bottom‐up control of litter decomposers in streams

Abstract: 1. Detritivores preferentially consume certain aquatic hyphomycete species while rejecting others. Fungal identity may therefore be a crucial factor determining stream food-web structure and complexity and extend the impact of microbial diversity to effects up through the food web. 2. In this study, we examined if shredder feeding is affected by the identity of fungi on leaves (bottom-up effects) and if preferences of shredders for particular fungi affect the composition of fungal assemblages (top-down effects). Oak leaf discs were conditioned in microcosms with six individual fungal species previously reported as highly palatable (P), unpalatable/rejected (R) and intermediate (I). Additionally, three microcosms were inoculated with three mixtures of four fungal species, each consisting of a different subset of the six species. 3. Colonised discs were offered to three detritivores with different feeding strategies: Proasellus sp. (Isopoda), Echinogammarus meridionalis (Amphipoda) and Schizopelex festiva (Trichoptera). When offered leaves colonised by single fungal species, consumption rates by E. meridionalis and S. festiva were higher on I, followed by P and, finally, R species. Consumption rates by Proasellus sp. were sim- ilar across fungal treatments. Consumption rates by the three invertebrates were also similar across all fungal multispecies treatments, suggesting that invertebrate preferences for, or rejection of, a given fungal species may be masked when it grows in proximity to other fungi. Composition and structure of fungal communities were not significantly affected by the feeding of any of the three invertebrates. 4. Our results suggest that certain combinations of fungal and detritivore species result in unpredictable bottom-up and top-down effects in stream food webs.

Application date as a controlling factor of pesticide transfers to surface water during runoff events

Abstract: In agricultural watersheds, pesticide contamination in surface water mostly occurs during stormflow events. When modelling pesticide fate for risks assessment, the application timing input is one of the main uncertainty sources among all the parameters involved in the river network contaminations process. We therefore aimed to assess the sensitivity of the river network pesticide concentration patterns to application timing shifts within a plausible range of application dates, considering two pre-emergence herbicides (metolachlor and aclonifen) characterised by two different octanol/water partition coefficients (Kow). The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied in the 1110 km2 agricultural watershed of the river Save (south-western France), where wheat, maize, sorghum and sunflower are intensively grown. The pesticide application date was changed within a one-month interval and the pesticide concentration at catchment outlet was simulated from March to June 2010. Total metolachlor concentration prediction could be improved by an application timing shift to 3 days later (Daily R2 = 0.22 and PBIAS = − 57%). By testing the behaviour of the two molecules, it was shown that sorption processes were influencing the control of application timing on the transfer to surface water:metolachlor concentration in the channel depended on both discharge and delay between application date and first stormflow event whereas the transfer of aclonifen depended on rainfall intensity for exportation with suspended sediments through surface runoff. At last, the study discusses the potential implications of the sensitivity in terms of regional agricultural management practice design.

Self-optimizing detergent controller

Abstract: An apparatus and method for programming a detergent controller (12) to vary the detergent concentration set point (14) according to the time of day and to achieve detergent concentration levels quickly without incurring overshoot. Thus, the present invention insures that the warewashing machine is operated at optimum efficiency and cost. To vary the set-point according to the time of day, the invention combines the features of a microprocessor, a clock and a controller into one unit. The user enters the time setting (16) and set point into the controller (12). The microprocessor (10) then compares the real-time clock signal with the user time settings and outputs an appropriate set-point value from the microprocessor (10) to the controller (12). To achieve detergent concentration levels quickly without incurring overshoot, the controller (12) senses the detergent concentration and dispenses the proper detergent level to the warewashing machine according to a predetermined detergent feed time based on the previous response time and the programmed set-point (14). Thus, the controller (12) can change the response function if and when conditions change.

Alkyl ether amine conveyor lubricants containing corrosion inhibitors

Abstract: The invention is a lubricant concentrate composition, use solution, and method of use. The lubricant includes amine compounds of the formula R1 - O - R2 -NH2, R1 - O - R2 - NH - R3 - NH2, and mixtures thereof, wherein R1 may be a linear C6-C18 alkyl, R2 may be a linear or branched C1-C8 alkyl, and R3 may be a linear C1-C8 alkyl, and a corrosion inhibitor. The lubricant composition preferably includes a polycarboxylic acid as a corrosion inhibitor. The composition may also include a hydrotrope, stabilizer, and a surfactant to provide detergency to the composition upon dilution and use. The invention also includes a lubricant use solution resulting from dilution of this concentrate.