Addition Of Bicarbonate Research Articles

A prospective randomized controlled trial comparing simethicone, N-acetylcysteine, sodium bicarbonate and peppermint for visualization in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Early cancer detection is crucial in improving the patients' quality of life and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (EGD) plays a key role in this detection. Many clearing mechanisms may be applied to create good endoscopic visualizations for the upper gastrointestinal tract using mucolytic agents, antifoaming agents, proteolytic enzymes and neutralizers. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of simethicone, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), sodium bicarbonate and peppermint as pre-medications for visualization of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). This study was a single center prospective randomized controlled trial. The patients were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups. Group A: water; Group B: water with simethicone; Group C: water with simethicone plus NAC 600mg; Group D: water with simethicone, NAC, sodium bicarbonate and peppermint. A total of 128 patients were enrolled and evaluated in this study. Total visibility score (TVS) of Groups A, B, C, and D were 13.4 ± 1.86, 10.5 ± 1.45, 7.15 ± 0.98 and 6.4 ± 1.43, respectively. Group D showed lower TVS than other groups. The procedural durations of Groups C and D were significantly shorter than Group A. The volume of solution for mucosal cleansing of Groups C and D was significantly lower than Groups A and B. The application of simethicone plus NAC is safe, improves endoscopic visualization and requires a minimal amount of mucosal cleansing solution. The addition of sodium bicarbonate and peppermint further improved visualization for the upper and lower gastric body. Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR) with a reference number; TCTR20190501002.

High-performance nanofiltration membrane structured with enhanced stripe nano-morphology

Increasing the roughness of polyamide surface is recognized as an effective way to enhance their water permeability, however, this method also increases the fouling risk of the membranes. In this study, we present a type of enhanced nanostructured nanofiltration (E-NF) membrane, which was created by the simple addition of sodium bicarbonate during interfacial polymerization on a porous substrate. Water flux of the enhanced nanostructure NF membrane (E-NF) was nearly triple that of the control NF membrane (C–NF), while salt rejection was maintained at a high level. More importantly, the E-NF exhibited less fouling than the C–NF and a stripe nanostructure NF membrane (S–NF). This improved fouling resistance was a result of the enhanced ridge-and-valley nanostructure, which experienced reduced fouling coverage, as evidenced by non-destructive optical coherence tomography (OCT). Our results demonstrate the importance of surface nano-morphologies for improving membrane performance and provide new insight into methods which can be used to enhance the anti-fouling ability of nanofiltration membranes in applications such as water and wastewater treatment.

Characterization and anaerobic digestion of highly concentrated Mexican wine by-products and effluents.

Wine production has increased in recent years, especially in developing countries such as Mexico. This increase is followed by an increase of winery effluents that must be treated to avoid environmental risks. However, little information is available about the characteristics of these effluents and the possible treatments. This paper aimed to characterize the effluents and by-products generated by the Mexican winery industry and to evaluate the performance and stability of the anaerobic treatment using a single-stage and a two-stage process. Results showed that the winery effluents had a high content of biodegradable organic matter, with chemical oxygen demand (COD) values ranging from 221 to 436 g COD/L. The single-stage anaerobic process was able to treat an organic loading rate of 9.6 kg COD/(m3 d); however, it was unstable and highly dependent on the addition of bicarbonate alkalinity (0.31 g NaHCO3/g COD removed). The two-stage process was more stable working at a higher organic load (12.1 kg COD/(m3 d)) and was less dependent on the addition of bicarbonate (0.17 g NaHCO3/g COD removed). The results highlight the potential of the winery effluents to produce methane through anaerobic digestion in a two-stage process, making wine production more sustainable.

Co-digestion of palm oil mill effluent for enhanced biogas production in a solar assisted bioreactor: Supplementation with ammonium bicarbonate

Lack of sufficient nitrogenous substrate and buffering potential have been acknowledged as impediments to the treatment of palm oil mill effluent through co-digestion processes. In this study, ammonium bicarbonate was used to provide the nitrogenous substrate and buffering potential. To regulate the impact of ammonium bicarbonate toxicity on the anaerobic co-digestion system, dosages from 0 to 40 mg/L were supplemented. The biogas yield was used to indicate the effects of NH4+ toxicity. In a solar-assisted bioreactor, solar radiation was first collected by a solar panel and converted into electricity, which was then used to heat a mixture of palm oil mill effluent and cattle manure to maintain the reactor in the mesophilic temperature range. This co-digestion operation was performed semi-continuously and was analyzed at a 50:50 mixing ratio of palm oil mill effluent and cattle manure. The results indicate that the additional dosing of ammonium bicarbonate can significantly enhance biogas production. Maximum cumulative biogas and methane productions of 2034.00 mL and 1430.51 mL, respectively, were obtained with the optimum addition of 10 mg/L ammonium bicarbonate; these values are 29.80% and 42.30% higher, respectively, than that obtained in the control co-digestion operation without addition of ammonium bicarbonate. Utilization of a mathematical equation (G = Gmk/t) to describe a kinetic analysis of the biogas yield also indicated that the optimum ammonium bicarbonate dose was 10 mg/L. The results of this study suggest that supplementation with ammonium bicarbonate doses of up to 40 mg/L can be used to provide nitrogenous substrates and buffering potential in anaerobic co-digestion processes. The determination of the optimal dose provides an alternative and efficient option for enhanced biogas production, which will have obvious economic advantages for feasible industrial applications.

REDUCTION OF NEPHROTOXICITY BY PERITONEAL DIALYSIS WITH ADDITION OF SODIUM HYDROCARBONATE DURING POISONING WITH URANIUM ACETATE DIHYDRATE IN RAT

The article presents the results of an experimental study on rats’ poisoning with uranyl acetate dihydrate (1 DL 50 ). The aim of this work was to investigate the effectiveness to the sodium bicarbonate additive to the composition of the solution for peritoneal dialysis in relation to uranium clearance and survival of rats. The procedure of peritoneal dialysis was carried out in the “acute” mode in 1 day for 5 hours. Each rat received a total of 6 abdominal fillings and 6 ultrafiltration drains. The differences for pH Δ=1.71, EC Δ=5055 µS / cm and TDS Δ=2527 mg / L have been observed by addition of sodium bicarbonate (B, 1.5%) to the standard solution. The administration of solution B led to an increase in the rate of peritoneal clearance of uranium PCl 238 U by 276.2% (p=0.0286, MannWhitney criterion) compared to standard solution A without sodium bicarbonate. The dynamics of ultrafiltration were characterized by a linear growth from 1 to 3 sessions (the slope of the linear regression is 70°) to an exit to the plateau by 3 sessions. The URR was 65.4% in the 1 st day, 65% in the 3 rd day, and 69.1% in the 7 th day. The results of the Mantel-Cox test have showed that peritoneal dialysis with the addition of sodium bicarbonate as an antidote (solution B) contributed to a significant increase in postdialysis survival of rats (p=0.0018 compared to the negative control group, p=0.0425 compared to dialysis solution A).

Removal of an established invader can change gross primary production of native macroalgae and alter carbon flow in intertidal rock pools.

The impact of invasive species on recipient communities can vary with environmental context and across levels of biological complexity. We investigated how an established invasive seaweed species affected the biomass, eco-physiology, carbon and nitrogen storage capacity of native seaweeds at sites with a different environmental setting due to a persistent upwelling in northern Spain. We removed the invasive Japanese wireweed Sargassum muticum from intertidal rock pools once every month during a one-year period and used an in-situ stable isotope pulse-chase labeling to estimate gross primary production (GPP), nitrogen uptake rate, 13C-carbon and 15N-nitrogen storage capacities. Following the addition of 13C-enriched bicarbonate and 15N-enriched nitrate to the seawater in the rock pools during the period of the low tide, we sampled macroalgal thalli at incoming tide to determine label uptake rate. After four days, we sampled macroalgal assemblages to determine both label storage capacity and biomass. After one year of removal there was no change in the macroalgal assemblage. However, both the GPP and 13C-carbon storage capacity were higher in the turf-forming Corallina spp. and, sometimes, in the canopy-forming Bifurcaria bifurcata. Nitrogen uptake rate followed similar, but more variable results. Although S. muticum inhibited carbon storage capacity of native species, the assemblage-level 13C-carbon storage was similar in the S. muticum—removed and control rock pools because the presence of the invasive species compensated for the functional loss of native species, particularly at sites where it was most abundant. No obvious effects were observed in relation to the environmental setting. Overall, the effect of the invasive S. muticum on carbon flow appeared to be mediated both by the effects on resource-use efficiency of native species and by its own biomass. Integrating physiological and assemblage-level responses can provide a broad understanding of how invasive species affect recipient communities and ecosystem functioning.

The Effect of Alkali Addition and Coating Time on Hydrophilic Properties of Antimocrobial Ceramic Tiles

Antimicrobial glaze is used for sanitation needs in special environments such as hospitals or schools. Antimicrobial properties of TiO 2 involve photocatalytic activity on inorganic material. A hydrophilic surface, with contact angle value <65 o , is resulted by those activity. In this study, polished tile coating was done using TiO 2 material which had been prepared through a dissolving process in sulfuric acid followed by gel formation with addition of 2 types of alkali, ammonia and ammonium bicarbonate. The TiO 2 gel formed was dispersed in aquadest and then coated on the surface of the tile by dip coating with various deposition time (3 hours, 6 hours and 53 hours). ANOVA test results represent that both main effect of alkali type and coating time, and interaction effect of these variable produce significant effects on contact angles. Addition of ammonium bicarbonate produce better hydrophilic surface on the tile than addition of ammonia. The longer coating time will increase hydrophilic characteristic of the surface.

Enteric methane emission and digestion in dairy cows fed wheat or molasses

The aim of this experiment was to measure enteric methane (CH4) emission and its relation with rumen digestion in dairy cows fed diets rich in 1 of the 2 carbohydrate sources, starch or sugar. The rations were based on late first-cut grass-clover silage supplemented with wheat (Wh), NaOH-treated wheat (Wh+NaOH), sugar beet molasses (Mo), or sugar beet molasses with addition of sodium bicarbonate (Mo+Bic). Wheat and molasses made up 35% of dry matter in the 2 diets with molasses and wheat, respectively. Four cows fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal canulae were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Nutrient digestibility was measured using chromium oxide and titanium oxide as flow markers, and emissions of CH4 and hydrogen were measured via open-circuit indirect calorimetry on 4 consecutive days. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) with treatment and period as fixed effects and cow as random effect. Furthermore, orthogonal contrasts were calculated. The cows produced 32.5, 33.6, 36.2, and 35.1 L of CH4/kg of dry matter intake (DMI) on diets Wh, Wh+NaOH, Mo, and Mo+Bic, respectively. The emission of CH4 per day, per kilogram of DMI, and per kilogram of energy-corrected milk as well as daily hydrogen emission were higher on the Mo diet compared with the Wh diet. With the present inclusion of wheat and molasses in the diet, no effects of NaOH treatment of wheat or of sodium bicarbonate supplementation to the Mo diet could be demonstrated on CH4 emission expressed per kilogram of DMI or per kilogram of energy-corrected milk. The duodenal flow of starch was higher when wheat was treated with NaOH. Under the conditions in the present experiment, ruminal NDF digestibility was not affected by carbohydrate source, NaOH treatment of wheat, or bicarbonate supplementation. Total volatile fatty acid concentration in the rumen and the proportions of acetate and propionate were not affected by carbohydrate source, NaOH treatment of wheat, or bicarbonate supplementation. Likewise, we could not show any influence of diet on microbial protein synthesis or efficiency of microbial protein synthesis expressed as grams of microbial protein synthesis per kilogram of true rumen-digested organic matter. We concluded that CH4 emission was increased when wheat was replaced by molasses, whereas no effect of manipulating rumen fermentation by NaOH treatment of wheat or addition of bicarbonate to molasses could be found with a level of approximately 25% of dry matter from starch and sugar, respectively.

Further studies of the hydration of MgO-hydromagnesite blends

The hydration of magnesium oxide in the presence of hydromagnesite (Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O) was investigated. The hydration products are a poorly-crystalline form of brucite (Mg(OH)2) and an unknown amorphous or poorly crystalline hydrate, which was evidenced by X-ray diffraction analyses and Raman spectroscopy. By thermogravimetry it was found that in the presence of hydromagnesite more water is bound in hydrate phases than can be explained by the formation of brucite only. The unknown hydrate is hypothesized to lead to cohesive binding in MgO-hydromagnesite blends. Due to thermodynamic predictions artinite (Mg2(CO3)(OH)2·3H2O) should be the stable hydrate in this system. The addition of artinite crystal seeds, however, had no significant effect on hydration kinetics or nature of the reaction products. The hypothesis that the addition of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) could modify or accelerate the hydration reactions due to its high solubility and the supply of additional HCO3− ions was also not supported by the experiments.

Can Bicarbonate Enhance the Performance of Carob Seedlings Grown in Nutrient Solutions with Different Fe Concentrations?

The aim of this work was to assess the effect of bicarbonate (Bic) ion on the nutritional status and performance of carob-tree seedlings, a species that normally grows in calcareous soil without exhibiting iron chlorosis symptoms. Seedlings were previously grown in nutrient solution with a small concentration of Fe (0.5–1 μM) to induce a moderate chlorosis. Afterwards, two experiments were established: in experiment 1, plants were grown for 21 days in the following treatments: Fe deficiency (Fe0), 0.5 μM Fe, 5 μM Fe, and 5 μM Fe plus calcium carbonate (CaCO3). After assessing these results, a second experiment was conducted for 91 days, with the following treatments: Fe0, 1 μM Fe, 40 μM Fe and 40 μM Fe plus CaCO3 and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Chlorophyll of young leaves, biomass and mineral composition of leaves, stems and roots were assessed in both experiments. The ferric chelate reductase root activity (FC-R) and the genetic expression of calmodulin-regulated Ca2+-ATPase pump (ACA gene) were evaluated in experiment 2. Fe-deficient plants exhibited reduced growth and enhanced macronutrients in leaves. Root micronutrient homeostasis changed as an adaptive mechanism in carob. The addition of bicarbonate did not aggravate Fe chlorosis, as leaf chlorophyll increased significantly. Root FC-R activity and ACA gene expression was not enhanced under Fe deficiency induced by bicarbonate (Fe40 + BicNa) which suggest a positive effect of bicarbonate in the metabolism of this crop. Nevertheless, small Fe concentrations (Fe1) induced a higher ACA gene expression thus indicating some stress response signalling.

Enhancement of host infectivity, immunity, and protective efficacy by addition of sodium bicarbonate antacid to oral vaccine formulation of live attenuated Salmonella secreting Brucella antigens

In the present study, the importance of sodium bicarbonate antacid as an agent for an orally delivered attenuated Salmonella strain secreting Brucella antigens Cu–Zn superoxide dismutase (SodC) and outer membrane protein 19 (Omp19) as a live vaccine candidate against Brucella infection was investigated. First, Brucella antigens SodC and Omp19 were cloned into a prokaryotic constitutive expression vector, pJHL65. Then secretion of proteins was verified after transformation into an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium (ST) strain, JOL1800 (Δlon, ΔcpxR, Δasd, ΔrfaL), using western blot analysis. Mice were orally inoculated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or with a co-mixture Salmonella secreting each antigens at a 1:1 ratio, each containing 1 × 108 CFU/mouse with and without sodium bicarbonate treatment. For antacid treatment, 1.3% w/v sodium bicarbonate was orally administered 30 min before and immediately after immunization with the Salmonella formulation. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were evaluated to investigate the efficacy of sodium bicarbonate in an oral formulation. The results indicated that addition of sodium bicarbonate to the vaccine significantly increased (P < 0.05) levels of anti-Brucella-specific systemic IgG responses, lymphocyte proliferation, and CD4+ T cell responses, indicating induction of a mixed Th1–Th2 response. Immunohistochemical assays and bacterial enumeration in intestinal samples also indicated that administration of sodium bicarbonate enhanced colonization of Salmonella. These results indicate that ingestion of the Salmonella formulation with sodium bicarbonate can enhance colonization of Salmonella and induce a significant protective immune response against Brucella compared with a formulation without sodium bicarbonate. Thus, incorporation of sodium bicarbonate as an antacid buffer is highly recommended for this oral live vaccine.

Ammonium bicarbonate pretreatment of corn stalk for improved methane production via anaerobic digestion: Kinetic modeling

This work studied the effects of ammonium carbonate pretreatment on biogas production during sequential anaerobic digestion. The results showed that the addition of ammonium bicarbonate (8%, w/w) obtained the highest biogas production of 14,690 mL with a yield of 222.6 mL g−1, which was 31% higher than that of un-pretreated (control experiment). Interestingly, the COD removal was increased by 100%. Furthermore, it was also helpful in stabilizing the pH of anaerobically digested corn stalk. Based on the results, the modified Gompertz equation fitted the cumulative biogas production curves very well, with high correlation coefficients (>0.994).

D1:Glu244 and D1:Tyr246 of the bicarbonate-binding environment of Photosystem II moderate high light susceptibility and electron transfer through the quinone-Fe-acceptor complex

In cyanobacteria, Glu-244 and Tyr-246 of the Photosystem II (PS II) D1 protein are hydrogen bonded to two water molecules that are part of a hydrogen-bond network between the bicarbonate ligand to a non-heme iron and the cytosol. Ala substitutions were introduced in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to investigate the roles of these residues and the hydrogen-bond network on electron transfer between the primary plastoquinone acceptor, QA, and the secondary plastoquinone acceptor, QB, of the quinone-Fe-acceptor complex. All mutants assembled PS II; however, an increase in the PS II to PS I ratio was apparent, particularly in the E244A:Y246A double mutant. The mutants also showed impaired oxygen evolution and retarded chlorophyll a fluorescence decays following single turnover actinic flashes, which appeared to be primarily due to reduced QB binding in the E244A strain and an enhanced back reaction with the S2 state of the oxygen-evolving complex in the Y246A mutant. Impaired PS II in the Y246A and E244A:Y246A mutants resulted in inactivation of the psbA gene encoding D1. The Y246A and E244A:Y246A mutants also showed high light sensitivity whereas the E244A mutant showed enhanced resilience towards photodamage. Unlike the control strain, all of the mutants were insensitive to the addition of formate or bicarbonate in assays following chlorophyll decay kinetics that reflect electron transfer between QA and QB, suggesting the bicarbonate binding environment was perturbed. Our data also indicate that waters W582 and W622 (PDB: 4UB6) have essential roles in maintaining the architecture of the acceptor side of PS II.

Ultrastructural evaluation of urine alkalinization versus hydration on colistin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Colistin is a vital antibiotic used in multidrug-resistant infections. Its most important side effect is nephrotoxicity. Colistin is a weak acid. This study aims to evaluate whether urine alkalinization is protective in the nephrotoxicity of colistin. Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into groups. Group I (n = 4) was injected with intramuscular distilled water twice a day for 7 days. Group II (n = 8) was injected with 750,000 IU/kg/day colistin for 7 days. Group III (n = 8) was injected with the same dose of colistin after their urinary pH was ≥7 through the addition of bicarbonate in their drinking water. Group IV (n = 8) was injected with the same dose of colistin after their urine density fell below 1010 through the addition of NaCl molds in their food and 12.6 mg/L NaCl in their drinking water. According to tubular degenerations (scored 0-5), group I scored 0, group II scored 4.25, group III scored 2, and group IV scored 1.5. In groups III and IV, protection was achieved (p = 0.001). The bicarbonate group was not superior to the NaCl group (p = 0.789). In transmission electron microscopy, group III had more microvilli integrity and autophagic vacuoles compared to group IV. Group IV had mitochondrial swelling and cristae lysis. A lower urine density was related to lower tubular scores (p = 0.001). Colistin was highly nephrotoxic without protection. Light microscopy findings revealed that urinary alkalinization and NaCl hydration were similarly protective. Urine alkalinization further prevents ultrastructural changes as revealed by electron microscopy.

The impact of wastewater matrix on the degradation of pharmaceutically active compounds by oxidation processes including ultraviolet radiation and sulfate radicals.

Ultraviolet radiation (UV)-activated peroxydisulfate (PDS) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) advanced oxidation processes were examined for their capacity to remove nine pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) from secondary effluent. The effect of operational parameters (initial oxidant concentration, UV exposure time, pH, common coexisting anions and effluent organic matter (EfOM)) on UV/PDS and UV/PMS treatment efficiency was investigated in a collimated beam device housing a low-pressure mercury UV lamp emitting light at 253.7 nm. Both AOPs achieved high removals (>90%) when applied to pure water. Under otherwise similar conditions the removal percentage fell by 20-30% due to the scavenging of effluent organic matter (EfOM) in secondary effluent. Finally, eliminating EfOM but maintaining the inorganic composition, the radical scavenging effect was reduced and 98.3% and 85.6% average removals were obtained by UV/PDS and UV/PMS, respectively. Increasing pH improved degradation of several PhACs containing amine groups. Higher oxidant dosages created only a significant benefit in UV/PDS. The chloride anion produced a negligible effect on both processes, while higher nitrate concentrations increased removal percentage but did not affect degradation rate constants. Finally and surprisingly, the addition of bicarbonate had the strongest positive impact on the degradation kinetics observed, even stronger than the elimination of EfOM from secondary effluent.

PH-Assisted Gelation of Lactose-Modified Chitosan.

We report on a controlled process allowing for the gelation of a diol-rich chitosan-derivative named CTL (lactose-modified chitosan) in the presence of boric acid as the cross-linker. A two-step approach is described, namely (i) the mixing of CTL and boric acid at pH = 5, a condition where the inorganic component is mildly reactive; (ii) the addition of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as a trigger, allowing for the gradual and slow pH increase. The goal was to convert gradually the almost inert neutral boric acid into the much more reactive borate anion, the latter promoting the formation of borate esters with CTL diols. Gelling kinetics as well as mechanical behavior at small and large deformations was investigated by rheometry. CTL-boric acid gels behaved essentially as transient networks, hence continuously assembling and dissociating in a highly dynamic fashion. The present gelling mechanism preserves the strain-hardening behavior in the nonlinear region of stress-strain response, corroborating the already suggested potential applications of such gels as mimics of biological soft tissues.

Degradation of α-terpineol in aqueous solution by UV/H2O2: kinetics, transformation products and pathways.

The monoterpene alcohol α-terpineol is extensively used as the foaming agent in mineral processing and can be released to environment along with the wastewater. This study evaluated the feasibility of eliminating α-terpineol in water by ultraviolet irradiation (UV) in combination with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Within an H2O2 dose of 10 mg/L and an UV fluence of 64.8 J/cm2, more than 95% of the α-terpineol can be removed. The reactions fitted well to pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the apparent rate constant was 0.0678 min-1. The effects of matrix species including various anions and humic acid (HA), were evaluated. The degradation rate decreased significantly with the addition of bicarbonate and HA. Further verification was carried out with three types of real water samples. In the ground water and the surface water, the degradation rate decreased likely due to the presence of natural organic matter. Finally, possible degradation pathways were proposed based on the identification of transformation products, and the occurrence of two main transformation products were monitored. This study demonstrated that the UV/H2O2 is an effective technology for the degradation of α-terpineol in water.

Enhancement of peroxymonosulfate activation and utilization efficiency via iron oxychloride nanosheets in visible light

Inspired by the photosensitivity and self-heal properties of iron oxychloride (FeOCl), we used photocatalysis coupling peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation for effective aquatic decontamination in a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly method. Synthesized FeOCl was appointed to activate PMS to degrade bisphenol A (BPA, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxydiphenyl) propane) persistently under visible light. The best performance of FeOCl/PMS/Vis system was ∼100% BPA degradation efficiency which achieved in 20 min. The BPA removal efficiency had a positive correlation with the dosages of FeOCl and PMS, but negatively related to BPA concentration. The FeOCl/PMS/Vis system also presented impressive degradation performance at a wide pH range (pH = 3–11) and showed well excellent stability and reusability. The addition of either bicarbonate or chloride had impressive promotion effect on BPA removal. The reaction mechanism of FeOCl/PMS/Vis system was studied deeply. PMS was activated to generate active radicals (SO4− and HO) by Fe(II) of FeOCl for BPA degradation. Then the as-formed Fe(III) was reduced to Fe(II) via trapping photoexcited electrons in conduction band (CB) of FeOCl, which effectively inhibited the recombination of photo-generate charges and the pollutants oxidation would recur via facilitating the Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox recycle. Thus, the activation and utilization efficiency of PMS was effectively improved. This work indicated the FeOCl/PMS/Vis system was a promising application in wastewater treatment.

Prospective randomized multicenter study to demonstrate the benefits of haemodialysis without acetate (with citrate): ABC-treat Study. Acute effect of citrate

IntroductionDialysis fluid (DF), an essential element in hemodialysis (HD), is manufactured in situ by mixing three components: treated water, bicarbonate concentrate and acid concentrate. To avoid the precipitation of calcium and magnesium carbonate that is produced in DF by the addition of bicarbonate, it is necessary to add an acid. There are 2 acid concentrates that contain acetate (ADF) or citrate (CDF) as a stabilizer. ObjectiveTo compare the acute effect of HD with CDF vs. ADF on the metabolism of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, acid base balance, coagulation, inflammation and hemodynamic stability. MethodsProspective, multicenter, randomized and crossed study, of 32 weeks duration, in patients in three-week HD, AK-200-Ultra-S or Artis monitor, 16 weeks with ADF SoftPac®, prepared with 3mmol/L of acetate, and 16 weeks with CDF SelectBag Citrate®, with 1mmol/L of citrate. Patients older than 18 years were included in HD for a minimum of 3 months by arteriovenous fistula. Epidemiological, dialysis, pre and postdialysis biochemistry, episodes of arterial hypotension, and coagulation scores were collected monthly during the 8 months of the study. Pre and post-dialysis analysis were extracted: venous blood gas, calcium (Ca), ionic calcium (Cai), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) among others.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03319680. ResultsWe included 56 patients, 47 (84%) men and 9 (16%) women, mean age: 65.3 (16.4) years, technique HD/HDF: 20 (35.7%)/36 (64.3%).We found differences (p<0.05) when using the DF with citrate (C) versus acetate (A) in the postdialysis values of bicarbonate [C: 26.9 (1.9) vs. A: 28.5 (3)mmol/L], Cai [C: 1.1 (0.05) vs. A: 1.2 (0.08)mmol/L], Mg [C: 1.8 (0.1) vs A: 1, 9 (0.2)mg/dL] and PTH [C: 255 (172) vs. 148 (149)pg/mL]. We did not find any differences in any of the parameters measured before dialysis. Of the 4416 sessions performed, 2208 in each group, 311 sessions (14.1%) with ADF and 238 (10.8%) with CDF (p<0.01), were complicated by arterial hypotension. The decrease in maximum blood volume measured by Hemoscan® biosensor was also lower [−3.4 (7.7) vs −5.1 (8.2)] although without statistical significance. ConclusionDialysis with citrate acutely produces less postdialysis alkalemia and significantly modifies Ca, Mg and PTH. CDF has a positive impact on hemodynamic tolerance.

Characterizations of foamed asphalt binders prepared using combinations of physical and chemical foaming agents

The objective of this study is to characterize the foamed asphalt binders prepared using different combinations of physical and chemical foaming agents. The foamed asphalt binders were investigated using the Rotational Viscosity (RV), Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and expansion ratio tests. Asphalt binders were also evaluated after short-term and long-term aging conditions. During the asphalt binder’s foaming process, the preheated binder was formerly foamed using a physical foaming agent (either water or ethanol), followed by the addition of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to improve the bubbling and the stability of the foam. Theoretically, through this process, numerous bubbles are generated by the vaporized ethanol or water, and the gases are released by NaHCO3, which significantly increases the volume of foamed asphalt. All foamed asphalt binders were produced at the same temperature, 100 °C, to diminish the inconsistency of binder-aging conditions during the preheating process. Overall, the results indicated that ethanol has better characteristics in lowering the viscosity of asphalt binders at low temperatures and is expelled from the asphalt binder after continuous heating at temperatures higher than its boiling point (78 °C). Although the addition of NaHCO3 has slightly increased the foamed binder viscosity that may affect its workability, it substantially lowers the volatile loss of foamed binders, as well as significantly improves the expansion ratio and the resistance to rutting.