FeSO4 Research Articles

Hybrid Fenton-electrochemical reactor and system as post-treatment of textile wastewater

Textile effluents contain different kinds of chemical additives and mostly are treated by biological processes. However, COD, ammonium, and color cannot be removed completely from wastewater. Decolorization agents are commonly used as a post-treatment method, although high cost and hazardous sludge byproduct are often reported as their main weaknesses. This study proposes a hybrid system of Fenton and electrochemical to replace the costly decolorization agents, as it is low-cost and highly efficient with no sludge production. This system consists of one cylindrical reactor with a working volume of 50 L and 12 pairs of Ti/RuO2 mesh cylinder and graphite carbon rod electrodes. It was also equipped with wastewater tank, pump, power supply, mixer, pH meter, and ammonia meter. The effects of wastewater volume, potential, retention time, pH, mixing speed, ferrous sulphate and salt concentration on COD, ammonium, and color removals were investigated and discussed. This system was able to reduce color, COD, and ammonium significantly in 15 min for 96 %, 64 %, and 77 %, respectively, at 4000 mg/L salt concentration, 30 mg/L ferrous sulphate, pH 4, 90 rpm mixing speed, and 6 V potential. pH was increased to 6.18; 6.73; 7.25 and 7.36 after 15, 30, 45 and 60 min, respectively. A circulatory system was applied to improve pollutants removal efficiency and electrochemical oxidability index as well as to reduce energy consumption. In terms of reactor performance and operating cost, this system is deemed feasible and applicable as a post-treatment method to support anaerobic-aerobic unit of textile WWTP.

Correlation between Body Mass Index with Anaemia Status of Pregnant women after Intervention Infused Okra Water and Ferrous Sulfate

Background: Lack of intake of macronutrients such as energy, protein and micronutrients such as iron, vitamins in the daily diet of pregnant women is a problem that has an impact on iron deficiency and chronic energy deficiency. To increase the bioavailability and absorption of iron sulfate supplements and improve the nutritional status of pregnant women, researchers provide interventions by consuming infused okra water. Okra contains macronutrients and micronutrients that can provide nutrition during pregnancy and increase iron absorption. This study aims to analyse the nutritional status of pregnant women by measuring BMI and its relation to their anaemia status. Methods: This research is a experimental study with a one group pretest-posttest design. The population in this study was all pregnant women with gestational ages of 16–32 weeks and Hb levels less than 11 gr/dl. Purposive sampling was used to collect 50 samples from 50 people. The intervention provided was 100 grams of fresh okra fruit, which had been made into infused okra water, which was then drunk by the respondents after consuming ferrous sulphate tablets 60 mg per day. To analyse the relationship between BMI and anaemia status, the researchers used the chi-square test. Results: There was no relationship between increases in BMI and Hb levels in pregnant women in this study. Conclusions: An increase in body mass index (BMI) in pregnant women who were given infused okra water and ferrous sulphate tablets did not have a positive effect on haemoglobin levels. Based on BMI, it appears that pregnant women are not malnourished.

The magnitude of the plasma hepcidin response to oral iron supplements depends on the iron dosage.

Iron deficiency without anaemia is a common health problem, especially in young menstruating women. The efficacy of the usually recommended oral iron supplementation is limited due to increased plasma hepcidin concentration, which reduces iron absorption and leads to side effects such as intestinal irritation. This observation raises the question of how low-dose iron therapy may affect plasma hepcidin levels and whether oral iron intake dose-dependently affects plasma hepcidin production. Fifteen non-anaemic women with iron deficiency (serum ferritin ≤30 ng/ml) received a single dose of 0, 6, 30, or 60 mg of elemental oral iron as ferrous sulfate on different days. Plasma hepcidin was measured before and seven hours after each dose. Subjects had an average age of 23 (standard deviation = 3.0) years and serum ferritin of 24 ng/ml (interquartile range = 16-27). The highest mean change in plasma hepcidin levels was measured after ingesting 60 mg of iron, increasing from 2.1 ng/ml (interquartile range = 1.6-2.9) to 4.1 ng/ml (interquartile range = 2.5-6.9;p< 0.001). Iron had a significant dose-dependent effect on the absolute change in plasma hepcidin (p = 0.008), where lower iron dose supplementation resulted in lower plasma hepcidin levels. Serum ferritin levels were significantly correlated with fasting plasma hepcidin levels (R2= 0.504, p = 0.003) and the change in plasma hepcidin concentration after iron intake (R2= 0.529, p = 0.002). We found a dose-dependent effect of iron supplementation on plasma hepcidin levels. Lower iron dosage results in a smaller increase in hepcidin and might thus lead to more efficient intestinal iron absorption and fewer side effects. The effectiveness and side effects of low-dose iron treatment in women with iron deficiency should be further investigated. This study was registered at the Swiss National Clinical Trials Portal (2021-00312) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04735848).

Zinc oxide and ferric oxide nanoparticles combination increase plant growth, yield, and quality of soybean under semiarid region

Zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) malnutrition are global health challenges that need immediate attention. Hence, to address these issues, a two-pronged approach involving the development and application of novel Zn and Fe products for crop fertilization may be a potential solution. Therefore, zinc oxide (ZnO) (∼13.2 nm) and ferric oxide (Fe2O3) (∼15 nm) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and characterized. Seven nutrients treatments viz, control, ZnO- NPs (25 mg kg−1), Fe2O3-NPs (25 mg kg−1), ZnO + Fe2O3-NPs (25 mg kg−1each), ZnSO4 (55.8 mg kg−1), FeSO4 (60.4 mg kg−1) and ZnSO4+ FeSO4 (55.8 and 60.4 mg kg−1) were arranged in five-time replicated Completely Randomized Design model to test the effectiveness of ZnO and Fe2O3 NPs in two soybean cultivars over conventional zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) fertilizers. The results indicated that the photosynthetic rate (Pn) and chlorophyll content increased (33.9–86.2%) significantly at the flowering stage with ZnO and Fe2O3 NPs applications, compared to their conventional counterparts. Likewise, the combined application of ZnO and Fe2O3 NPs reduced H2O2 production by 17–19% and increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities by 15–17% and 9.6–11.4% over the combined use of ZnSO4 and FeSO4, respectively. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) showed an increase of 6.9–44.2% under ZnO and Fe2O3 NPs, as well as ZnSO4 and FeSO4. Furthermore, the combined application of NPs enhanced soybean seed yield by 4.6–18.3% compared to conventional Zn and Fe fertilizers. Concerning seed Zn and Fe density, conjoint application of ZnO and Fe2O3 NPs increases Zn by 1.8–2.2-fold and Fe by 19.22–22.58% over the combined application of Zn SO4 and FeSO4, respectively. While the application of NPs significantly decreased seed phytic acid concentrations by 7.3–59.9% compared to the control. These findings suggest that the combined application of ZnO and Fe2O3 NPs effectively enhances soybean productivity, seed nutrient density, and overall produce quality. Therefore, the combined application of ZnO and Fe2O3 -NPs in soybean can be a potential approach for sustainable soybean production and to reduce/arrest Zn and Fe malnutrition in a growing population.

Preparation and flocculation performance of a cationic starch based flocculant

Abstract To increase the specific surface area of corn starch and remove the anion contaminant in water, STP-OGG-DD, which is composed of porous corn starch (Stp), methylpropenoxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DMC) and dimethyldiallyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC), was prepared and used for the flocculation of humic acid (HA). In this preparation, ferrous sulfate and hydrogen peroxide act as initiators for free radicals that attract cationic monomers to gather on starch chains. The effects of reaction time, reaction temperature, dosage of cationic monomer, and initiator on the reaction performance were investigated. The results showed that the conversion rate of starch monomer was 97.69 %, the grafting rate was 96.47 %, and the grafting efficiency was 95.85 %. Stp-OG-DD was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and its structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. In the flocculation test. The flocculation effect of 30 mg/L flocculants with different grafting rates on 30 mg/L humic acid was investigated, and the relationship between the two was studied. The results showed that the flocculant with a high starch grafting rate had a better removal effect on humic acid and was positively correlated. Different from the traditional gelatinization method, the enzymatic hydrolysis method is used to pretreat starch, which not only saves energy but also enlarges the specific surface area of molecules. In addition, adding two cationic monomers improved the grafting effect of starch. DMC and DMDAAC could be polymerized alternately onto the starch backbone, providing long molecular chains and abundant positive charge for enzymatic hydrolysis of starch molecular chains. In addition to exploring the grafting of samples under reaction conditions, flocculants prepared under different conditions were used to flocculate 30 mg/L humic acid to further determine the role of grafting rate in the removal effect.

Therapeutic effect of ferrous sulfate in diabetic patients with iron deficiency anaemia: a randomised controlled trial.

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are most prevalent disease, that diabetic patients are more prone to IDA. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between patients with diabetes and IDA in relation to taking iron pills daily and every other day to reduce the effects related to it. Ninety-one participants were enroled and randomly divided into two groups, with a final analysis cohort of 72 patients. The primary focus was on changes in serum Hb and Ferritin levels. The screening phase lasted 24 weeks, leading to 72 eligible participants meeting the criteria for entry into the study. Additionally, the study examined alternations in Hb and Hb A1C levels after treating patients with iron deficiency. The Hb and ferritin level contrasts between groups were not significant (P = 0.096 and P = 0.500, respectively). The relationship between Hb A1C and Hb levels before and after treatment was positive and significant (r 2 = 0.187). The results of the present study show that although the effectiveness of using oral iron supplements did not have a significant difference in terms of increasing haemoglobin and ferritin, the use of oral iron once every other day was more effective than the use of oral iron every day, and also in this study Like other studies, this result concluded that there is a negative correlation between Hb A1C and Hb, and to check the status of Hb A1C in diabetics, the level of Hb should be considered first.

Acrylic yarns pre-treated with different mordants and their dyeing potential with annatto dye

The study aimed to identify the best conditions for dyeing acrylic fiber with natural annatto dye, considering the presence of metallic mordants such as alum and ferrous sulfate, and evaluating the influence of soy milk or the absence of a mordant. Exhaust dyeing tests were conducted with the extract at different pH ranges to understand the behavior of the carotenoids bixin and norbixin in annatto seeds. Color intensity was measured by spectrophotometry, while colorfastness tests were performed to assess color transfer. The alum mordant showed less colorfastness than dyeing without a mordant, suggesting interference in dye fixation despite high color intensity values. On the other hand, the ferrous sulfate mordant exhibited limited leveling but high colorfastness. The natural pH range of the extract with soy milk mordant demonstrated good colorfastness and moderate intensity, resulting in a light-yellow shade. These findings underscore the complexity of interactions between natural dyes, synthetic fibers, and different mordants, emphasizing the importance of considering various factors to optimize desired outcomes in acrylic fiber dyeing.

Chemical recovery of magnesium from the Dead Sea and its use in wastewater treatment

Abstract The objective of this study was to establish a suitable chemical process to recover magnesium compounds from Dead Sea water using a selective precipitation process. The recovered magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2) are applicable for wastewater treatment processes since they can effectively remove total suspended solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Magnesium salts recovered from Dead Sea water were compared with cationic polyacrylamide (PAM) and inorganic salts, including aluminum sulfate Al2(SO4)3, ferric chloride (FeCl3), and ferrous sulfate (Fe2SO4) to investigate the removal efficiency of TSS and COD from wastewater using a chemical precipitation method by using coagulation and flocculation process. Results show that Mg(OH)2 yielded the highest TSS and COD removal efficiencies of 59 and 57%, respectively, with a wastewater pH of 11.5. MgCl2 yielded lower removal efficiencies of 46 and 44%, respectively; at pH 10.5, lower magnesium concentration doses were needed. The most effective chemical precipitation method for removal involved cationic PAM coagulants, resulting in an 86% reduction in TSS and a 65% reduction in COD. Combining commercial Fe2SO4 and MgCL2 recovered from Dead Sea water reduced up to 90 and 73% of TSS and COD, respectively.

Study on Preparation of High-Performance Flake Silver Powder by Liquid Phase Reduction

Flake silver powder was prepared by liquid phase reduction method with silver nitrate as silver source, ferrous sulfate heptahydrate as reducing agent, citric acid and gum acacia as surfactants. The effects of reducing agent dosage, citric acid dosage, gum acacia dosage, silver nitrate dosage and reaction temperature on the properties of silver powder were studied. The results show that when the dosage of silver nitrate is 0.08 mol·L−1, the molar ratio of silver nitrate to ferrous sulfate heptahydrate is 1:2, the oxidizing solution is added to the reducing solution at the rate of 100 ml·min−1, the citric acid is added to the oxidizing solution at 7.5% of the mass of silver nitrate, the gum acacia is added equally dispersed to the oxidizing solution and the reducing solution, the addition amount is 20% of the mass of silver nitrate and the reaction temperature is 30 °C, the silver powder obtained is flake with good dispersion and narrow particle size distribution.

The effect of anti-inflammatory properties of sumac powder (Rhus coriaria L.) along with ferrous sulfate on blood markers and oxidative stress of young athletic girls with non-anemic iron deficiency (NAID)

The effect of anti-inflammatory properties of sumac powder (Rhus coriaria L.) along with ferrous sulfate on blood markers and oxidative stress of young athletic girls with non-anemic iron deficiency (NAID)

Chalcopyrite Leaching in Ferric Sulphate: The Effect of Fe3O4-CuFeS2 Galvanic Couple on the Cu Dissolution

Galvanic interactions present alternative strategies to achieve a more efficient Cu dissolution from CuFeS2. The present work studied the interaction between chalcopyrite–magnetite (CuFeS2-Fe3O4) in acidified ferric sulphate Fe2(SO4)3-H2SO4 at a solution pH of 1.8 and a temperature of 25 or 50 °C. The addition of Fe3O4 to CuFeS2 forms a galvanic couple, which positively impacts the dissolution of Cu. The results showed that the presence of Fe3O4 led to high and fast Cu dissolution rates and decreased significantly the activation energy, from 83 to 57 kJ/mol. In addition to that, the solid residues revealed that CuFeS2 dissolution produced intermediate Cu-S-rich phases: CuS, Cu2S and Cu5FeS4, which appeared to envelop CuFeS2, had no observable intermediate phase while in the presence of Fe3O4. The results showed that 94% of Cu could be recovered after 5 h of leaching at 50 °C at a Fe3O4/CuFeS2 ratio of 4:1 and a 460 mV Ag/AgCl solution potential. The findings of this study present an option for efficient Cu dissolution from CuFeS2 in ferric sulphate at atmospheric pressure.

Fungal mediated synthesis and characterization of mixed iron- manganese oxide nanoparticles and their antimicrobial and dye remediation applications

Nanotechnology is a known field of research since last century. The present review focused on synthesis of nanoparticles through microorganisms, especially Fungi. Due to their non-toxicity and ecologically friendly characteristics, iron manganese oxide nanoparticles created using a recently established green method are very promising. In this work, ferrous sulphate, manganese sulphate, and ethyl glycol were combined with the fungus Aspergillus niger to create iron oxide particles (Fe2MnO4) under air conditions. Systematic analysis with UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD and Antimicrobial study validated the synthesis of iron Manganese oxide nanoparticles. Environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and energy-efficient nanoparticles have been manufactured from biological resources like fungus. Further prepared Materials were used for Methylene Blue Dye Reduction.

Multifunctional Analysis of Banana Leaves Extracts for Dyeing Properties of Pima Cotton Fabric Using Different Mordants

Introduction Natural dyes have become very important for decades based on their extensive properties compared to synthetic dyes. Pima cotton was dyed with natural dyes derived from plants using mordants, a crucial step in modern industry. Objective This study explores the efficacy of banana leaf-extracted natural dyes with mordants in dyeing Pima cotton, examining color properties, chemical attributes, and fastness while exploring the potential for industrial applications. Methods In this study, banana leaf extracts were utilized for dyeing Pima cotton with mordants. The investigation assessed the multifunctional properties of alkaline and acetone using UV-Vis and FTIR or analyzed the dyed fabric's UPF. Applied to pre-mordanted Pima cotton, our dye interacts with various mordants like ferrous sulfate (Fe2SO4), copper sulfate (CuSO4), and potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7). Factors influencing dye fixation on Pima cotton, including cellulose and mordants, were examined. Treated and untreated fabric samples were tested for tensile strength and elongation. Dyeing performance was assessed using color parameters (K/S, L*, a*, b*, ΔE) using the Kubelka–Munk equation and fastness properties, with consistent results compared to standard protocols. Results The study on natural dye extraction from banana leaves has yielded promising outcomes, showcasing the effectiveness of mordants in dye fixation on cotton. The results demonstrate high tensile strength, color strength, and fastness properties in the dyed Pima cotton samples. Statistical analysis highlighted the nuanced relationship between mordants and dyes. The study's comprehensive approach, UV-Vis and FTIR analyses, dyeing temperature optimization, and phytochemical screening, confirming the presence of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, and other bioactive compounds, positions banana leaf extracts as a sustainable and versatile resource for eco-friendly textile practices, offering a compelling alternative to synthetic dyes. Conclusion The study reveals Pima cotton's promising potential for eco-friendly dyeing, optimizing cost, time, and space for future sustainable textile applications.

Depositional and Diagenetic Sulfates of Hogwallow Flats and Yori Pass, Jezero Crater: Evaluating Preservation Potential of Environmental Indicators and Possible Biosignatures From Past Martian Surface Waters and Groundwaters

AbstractThe Mars 2020 Perseverance rover has examined and sampled sulfate‐rich clastic rocks from the Hogwallow Flats member at Hawksbill Gap and the Yori Pass member at Cape Nukshak. Both strata are located on the Jezero crater western fan front, are lithologically and stratigraphically similar, and have been assigned to the Shenandoah formation. In situ analyses demonstrate that these are fine‐grained sandstones composed of phyllosilicates, hematite, Ca‐sulfates, Fe‐Mg‐sulfates, ferric sulfates, and possibly chloride salts. Sulfate minerals are found both as depositional grains and diagenetic features, including intergranular cement and vein‐ and vug‐cements. Here, we describe the possibility of various sulfate phases to preserve potential biosignatures and the record of paleoenvironmental conditions in fluid and solid inclusions, based on findings from analog sulfate‐rich rocks on Earth. The samples collected from these outcrops, Hazeltop and Bearwallow from Hogwallow Flats, and Kukaklek from Yori Pass, should be examined for such potential biosignatures and environmental indicators upon return to Earth.

The effectiveness of oral bovine lactoferrin compared to iron supplementation in patients with a low hemoglobin profile: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

BackgroundPatients with a low serum blood hemoglobin concentration suffer from a pathologic state that contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality figures worldwide. Oral iron supplementation, the most common method of treatment, is reported to have poor patient adherence, due to its unwanted side effects. Lactoferrin is a globular glycoprotein of the transferrin family that has shown promising results in patients with a low hemoglobin profile. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials explore its effect on blood hemoglobin compared to conventional iron preparations.MethodsWe followed the PRISMA Guidelines for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane) from inception to June 2022. Meta-analysis was performed on studies where the primary outcome was the mean Hb concentration, comparing lactoferrin to ferrous sulfate subgroups. We assessed the methodological quality of the trials using the Jadad scoring scale.ResultsNineteen trials published between 2006 and 2022 met the eligibility criteria. It has been found that the levels of Hb concentration in different populations with varying health conditions undergo a moderate to significant change after treatment with all types of trialed interventions, including both iron and lactoferrin treatment, in both the intervention group and the comparison group. Most of the studies report that LF showed a statistically significant increase in Hb concentration levels, compared to those in the iron group. The meta-analysis included seven trials comparing the effectiveness of lactoferrin to ferrous sulfate for patients with low Hb concentration. The analysis showed a statistically significant increase in Hb levels in the oral bovine lactoferrin group compared to ferrous sulfate (SMD -0.81, 95% CI: -1.21, -0.42, p < 0.0001, I2 = 95.8%, P heterogeneity < 0.001).ConclusionsLactoferrin is an effective intervention at doses of 100–250 ng/day, for patients with a low Hb concentration. As a safer option and with high compliance evidence, lactoferrin can serve as an iron replacement treatment for patients who may be experiencing adverse side effects due to iron intake.

Maternal Fatigue after Postpartum Anemia Treatment with Intravenous Ferric Carboxymaltose vs. Intravenous Ferric Derisomaltose vs. Oral Ferrous Sulphate: A Randomized Controlled Trial

(1) Background: Postpartum anemia is a common maternal complication and is recognized as a cause of impaired quality of life, reduced cognitive abilities, and fatigue. Efficient iron supplementation for the treatment of postpartum anemia is an essential component of high-quality maternal care. The optimal mode of iron supplementation has not been determined yet, whether oral or intravenous. The objective of this study was to compare postpartum anemia treatment with intravenous ferric carboxymaltose, intravenous ferric derisomaltose, and oral ferrous sulfate. (2) Methods: A single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Women with hemoglobin &lt; 100 g/L within 48 h postpartum were randomly allocated to receive intravenous ferric carboxymaltose, intravenous ferric derisomaltose, or oral ferrous sulfate. Intravenous iron was given in one or two doses, while ferrous sulfate was given as two 80 mg tablets once daily. The primary outcome was maternal fatigue measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) six weeks postpartum. Hemoglobin, ferritin, and transferrin saturation levels were analyzed as secondary outcomes. A Kruskal–Wallis test was used for group comparison (p &lt; 0.05 significant). (3) Results: Three hundred women were included. The MFI score at six weeks postpartum did not differ between groups (median 38 (inter-quartile range (IQR) 29–47) in the ferric carboxymaltose group, median 34 (IQR 26–42) in the ferric derisomaltose group, and median 36 (IQR 25–47) in the ferrous sulfate group; p = 0.26). Participants receiving oral iron had lower levels of hemoglobin (135 (131–139) vs. 134 (129–139) vs. 131 (125–137) g/L; p = 0.008), ferritin (273 (198–377) vs. 187 (155–246) vs. 24 (17–37) µg/L; p &lt; 0.001) and transferrin saturation (34 (28–38) vs. 30 (23–37) vs. 24 (17–37) %; p &lt; 0.001) than those receiving ferric carboxymaltose or ferric derisomaltose. (4) Conclusions: Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose, intravenous ferric derisomaltose, and oral ferrous sulfate had similar impacts on maternal fatigue at six weeks postpartum despite improved laboratory parameters in the intravenous groups.

Natural dyeing and anti bacterial finishing of cotton fabric with extracts from Justicia schimperiana leaf extract: a step towards sustainable dyeing and finishing

ABSTRACT The use of non-toxic and eco-friendly natural dyes on textiles has received much attention due to the increased environmental awareness to avoid some hazardous synthetic dyes. In the present study, an eco-friendly approach was developed to impart colour and antibacterial properties to cotton fabrics dyed with Justicia schimperiana leaf extract as a non-toxic natural colourant. The solvent method of extraction and exhaust dyeing method was used for this study. Copper sulphate, ferrous sulphate, and alum were applied in a simultaneous -mordanting process as a mordanting agent. The effects of shade percentage, dyeing temperature, and dyeing time on the obtained colour strength of the fabrics were investigated. Optimisation of dyeing conditions was carried out using Box Behnken design of expert software. An optimum level of 3. 28 colour strength (K/S) was observed in the sample treated with a shade percentage of 50 (% o.w.f), 72 °C dyeing temperature, and 45 minutes of dyeing time. Antibacterial properties of treated fabrics were evaluated against common pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative). The results indicated the treated fabrics possessed desirable antibacterial properties. The washing and rubbing fastness of the dyed fabrics were also reported.

Effect of Micronutrients on Flowering and Yield Attributes of Chrysanthemum (Dendrathemum grandiflora Tzeuleu) cv.CO 1

Micronutrients are essential for crop growth and are equally important as primary and secondary nutrients. The Present study was carried out at orchard, Department of Horticulture Faculty of Agriculture, in the year 2010. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with seventeen treatments and three replications. The treatment comprised of various combination of micronutrients viz., Zinc sulphate 0.5%, Ferrous sulphate 0.5%, Borax 0.5%, Manganese sulphate 0.5%, Copper sulphate 0.5%, Mixture of all micronutrients 0.5% and micronutrients mixture at 12.5 kg ha-1, two different concentrations with recommended dose 25 t FYM ha-1 + RDF of N, P, K and a control at 5 different interval on flowering and yield attributes of chrysanthemum. The results revealed that soil application of micronutrients mixture @ 12.5 kg ha-1 in split as basal, 25, 50 and 75 DAT were found superior on number of flowers per plant (89.91), flower stalk length (8.92 cm) and flower yield per hectare (21.14 t ha-1).

Anaemia among school children of different socioeconomical status in a city of Southern Brazil

Background: Iron deficiency is one of the leading causes of anaemia, with those most affected being children and women of childbearing age, in Brazil there is a scarcity of studies involving the local prevalence of anaemia. Aim: To evaluate anaemia and associated factors in schoolchildren in Santa Cruz do Sul through the analysis of biochemical and haematological markers and parasitological examination of faeces. Subjects and methods: School children from 10 to 12 years of age were evaluated through complete blood count, serum ferritin, C-reactive protein and stool parasitological examination, as well as socio-demographic characteristics and prophylaxis with ferrous sulphate in childhood. Results: It was found that 13.0% of the population was anaemic, girls were very slightly overrepresented among the anaemic children. Only 5.3% had altered haematocrit levels; 26.6% had low Mean Corpuscular Volume levels; 18.4% had low ferritin levels; 2.4% had increased C-reactive protein levels, and 21.7% had altered eosinophils. As for the socioeconomic level, classes A2 and D presented lower haemoglobin levels, as well as class D presenting lower ferritin levels, although without statistical significance. Only 6.0% of the population presented iron-deficiency anaemia and 46.0% of the schoolchildren had used ferrous sulphate supplementation in childhood. Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia in the studied municipality is low, probably due to the high municipal human development index. Epidemiological studies are essential to characterise the population in a systematic form, to prevent future problems.

Crystallographic, Morphological, Magnetic, and Thermal Characterization of Superparamagnetic Magnetite Nanoparticles (Fe3O4) Synthesized by Chemical Coprecipitation Method and Calcined at 250°C for 4 hr

Magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were prepared by chemical coprecipitation method using ferric chloride (FeCl3) and heptahydrate ferrous sulfate (FeSO4·7H2O) salts employing sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as a precipitant. To determine the size, shape, and chemical makeup of the produced magnetite nanoparticles, the generated powders were examined by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, and X-ray diffractometer. It was found that the magnetite powder had made a face-centered cubic crystal structure and spherical-like particle form with particle diameters of about 30 nm. The magnetic properties of magnetite nanoparticles were evaluated using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The obtained superparamagnetic properties of the produced nanoparticles, with saturation magnetization and coercivity of 50.75 emu/g and 30.09 Oe, respectively, allow them for applications in drug delivery, MRI contrast agent, catalysis, degradation of antibiotics, antibacterial activity, removal of heavy metals and organic dyes, etc.