Acid Mixture Research Articles

Synergistic extraction of zinc from spent acid using P507-P204: A novel approach for efficient separation

A novel system for the synergistic extraction of zinc from spent acid using a mixture of 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (P507) and Di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (P204) as extractant is proposed. The optimum extraction parameters of P507-P204 are investigated, and the results exhibit that 84.80% of zinc is extracted at a solution pH control of 1, the V(P507):V(P204) of 4:1, the P507-P204 concentration of 30% (v/v), and the phase ratio (O/A) of 2:1. Furthermore, the zinc can be effectively stripped from its extracted complex by sulfuric acid. The synergistic extraction mechanism of P507-P204 is identified by slope analysis, FT-IR, mass spectrum, and 31P-NMR. In addition, the mechanism of synergistic extraction of zinc by P507-P204 is cation exchange and releases two hydrogen ions during zinc extraction. In a word, the establishment of this synergistic system realizes the effective separation of zinc from spent acid and has potential industrial application value.

Dissociation extraction: Theoretical foundations and applications

Dissociation extraction (DE) is a separation method that has been known for many decades but is not yet widely used in industry. However, there are a number of applications for which DE may be applied, for example, for new biorefinery separations. To facilitate future applications, we derived a new shortcut method for DE processes and demonstrated its application in the conceptual design of a separation process for acidic and basic organic mixtures. The new method allows for the calculation of the minimum energy requirement and a fast comparison of dissociation extraction with other separation methods. The shortcut method was validated using experimental data from the literature and is easy to implement because it is based only on the physical distribution coefficients and dissociation constants of the acids or bases to be separated.In the second part of this paper, we identify several areas that require effective separation techniques, where dissociation extraction can have an impact. These include biorefinery separation, polymer recycling, and fatty acid fractionation.In conclusion, we hope to promote DE as a known but less-used separation method for difficult separation problems in both fossil-based and bio-based sustainable chemical products.

Liquid-liquid extraction and separation of light and heavy rare earth elements from chloride solution using a mixture of tertiary amine and phosphinic acid: recycling strategies for NdFeB magnet

ABSTRACT This piece of work aims to study the extraction behavior of light and heavy rare earth elements, which are often found in permanent magnets, using a mixture of tri-octyl amine and bis-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid from a chloride medium. The study showed that the extraction efficiency of Dy(III) is more than that of Nd(III) and Pr(III). Benzene proved to be an effective diluent. Increasing the pH of the aqueous phase improved the extraction percentages, with maximum extractions of 98.4% for Dy(III), 61.2% for Nd(III), and 58.3% for Pr(III) at pH 5.04 using 0.1 mol/L of each extractant. Adding sodium chloride enhanced the extraction efficiency due to the salting-out effect. The extraction mechanism has been proposed based on the slope analysis and FTIR data. From thermodynamic variables, the process was found to be exothermic. The simulated leach liquor of NdFeB magnets showed the highest separation factors of 67.7 (Dy/Pr) and 56.9 (Dy/Nd) at pH 2.05 with 0.25 mol/L extractants. The counter-current study showed that 4.15 mg/L Dy(III) was left behind in the raffinate indicating 97.4% removal of Dy(III) in two stages at unity phase ratio. Testing with actual leach liquor from hard disk magnets revealed a preference for iron extraction, which impeded REE extraction.

Combination of gold nanoparticles with near-infrared light as an alternative approach for melanoma management.

Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer and recently approved drugs are often associated with resistance and significant adverse effects. Therefore, the design of more effective and safe options remains imperative. Photothermal therapy (PTT) using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) presents a promising and innovative approach. In this work, the efficacy of combining a previously optimized formulation of AuNPs coated with a mixture of hyaluronic and oleic acids (HAOA-AuNPs) with near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation in melanoma cell lines was explored. Coated and uncoated AuNPs formulations were characterized in physicochemical, morphological and elemental terms. Next, the cellular uptake efficiency as well as antiproliferative activity of the combination of each formulation with laser irradiation was evaluated. Subsequently, HAOA-AuNPs were selected to assess the underlying mechanism of combined therapy by cell cycle and Annexin V/PI assays. An in vivo syngeneic murine melanoma model was also conducted. In vitro studies demonstrated that 24 h after incubation and in the absence of laser, HAOA-AuNPs did not exhibit cytotoxic effects on the melanoma cell lines tested, similar to the laser alone. On the contrary, the combination therapy resulted in a large reduction in cell viability. Furthermore, it has been shown to promote S-phase cell cycle arrest and increase in the percentage of late apoptotic cells. Finally, the in vivo proof-of-concept showed that the intratumoral administration of HAOA-AuNPs followed by three laser irradiations impaired tumor progression. Collectively, AuNP-based PTT holds significant potential to improve treatment efficacy and safety, offering a versatile and potent tool against cancer.

Abstract 4136030: Fatty acids disturb cardiomyocyte proliferation by increasing PDK4 and HMGCS2 via PPARδ activation

Background: Almost all cardiac diseases are difficult to cure entirely because cardiomyocytes rarely proliferate to recover cardiac damage. In fact, most mammals have a capacity to regenerate cardiomyocytes immediately after birth. Newborn infant drastically changes cardiac metabolism from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation using fatty acids. Previous research revealed that lipid metabolism had a negative influence on cardiomyocyte cell cycle but the mechanism has not been clarified completely. Objective: This study was performed to elucidate the way fatty acid metabolism affects cardiomyocyte proliferation. Methods and results: Isolated and cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCM) were treated with the mixture of palmitic acid, oleic acid, and L-carnitine (FA mix) for 24 hours. Realtime RT-PCR revealed that FA mix increased the mRNA expressions of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), a fatty acid metabolism regulator, and HMG-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2), a ketogenic factor, as well as β-oxidation-related enzymes in dose dependent manner. Simultaneously, the results of immunofluorescent staining showed that FA mix decreased cardiomyocytes expressing Ki67, a cell cycle marker. GW501516, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) agonist, also increased fatty acid metabolism factors with the reduction of Ki67 positive cardiomyocytes, whereas fenofibrate, a PPARα agonist, or pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, caused little or no change in these phenotypes. Moreover, NRCM pretreated with GSK3787, a PPARδ antagonist, before FA mix stimulation suppressed the upregulations of fatty acid metabolism factors and the reduction of Ki67 expressing cardiomyocytes. Finally, the lentiviral vectors which expressed PDK4 or HMGCS2 were produced to investigate these proteins suppressed NRCM cell cycle directly. Either overexpressing PDK4 or HMGCS2 decreased Ki67 positive NRCM without the upregulation of each other or β-oxidation-related enzymes. Conclusion: Fatty acids disturbed NRCM proliferation by upregulating PDK4 and HMGCS2 through the activation of PPARδ independently from β-oxidation.

Nutritional intervention to enhance recovery after arthroscopic knee surgery in adults: a randomized controlled pilot trial.

Essential amino acid (EAA) and omega-3 fatty acid ingestion independently attenuate leg skeletal muscle disuse atrophy in uninjured persons. However, no data exist regarding the effectiveness of combined EAA and omega-3 fatty acid ingestion to mitigate skeletal muscle disuse atrophy in response to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. This pilot trial will explore the feasibility of recruitment and retention of ACLR outpatients from a single center across 18 months to consume either a combination of omega-3 fatty acids and EAAs, or a placebo control, for 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery. Thirty adult (≥ 18 years old) ACLR outpatients will be recruited for this single center, double-blind, two-arm randomized controlled feasibility pilot trial. Participants will consume either 5 g⋅day-1 of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and 40 g⋅day-1 of EAAs or 5 g⋅day-1 of a control fatty acid mixture (safflower oil) and 40 g⋅day-1 of non-essential amino acids (NEAAs). Fatty acid supplements will be consumed 4 weeks before and for 2 weeks after ACLR surgery, whereas the EAAs and NEAAs will be consumed 1 week before and for 2 weeks after ACLR surgery. The primary outcomes are feasibility of recruitment and retention, with the goal to recruit 30 outpatients across 18 months and retain 22 participants upon completion of the study protocol following 12 weeks of data collection. These results will be reported using descriptive statistics, along with reasons and timepoints for study dropout. Secondary exploratory outcomes will be reported using inferential statistics for purposes of hypothesis generation and elucidation of mechanistic targets for future work; no inferences to clinical efficacy will be made. These outcomes include integrated rates of skeletal muscle protein synthesis, skeletal muscle protein content and expression of translation factors, skeletal muscle and erythrocyte phospholipid composition, and measures of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and power. This work will set the foundation for a future randomized controlled trialpowered to detect an effect of EAA + omega-3 fatty acid intake on skeletal muscle size or function in response to ACLR surgery. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06233825. Registered 31 January 2024. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06233825?term=NCT06233825&rank=1.

Estimation of Scattering Properties Modifications Caused by InVivo Human Skin Optical Clearing Using Line-Field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography.

The image contrast and probing depth of optical methods applied to invivo skin could be improved by reducing skin scattering using the optical clearing method. The aim of this study was to quantify, from line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) 3D images, the modifications of skin scattering properties invivo during optical clearing. Nine mixtures of optical clearing agents were used in combination with physical and chemical permeation enhancers on the human skin of three healthy volunteers. Scattering coefficient and anisotropy factor of the epidermis and the upper dermis were estimated from the 3D LC-OCT images of skin using an exponential decay model of the in-depth intensity profile. We were able to demonstrate a decrease in epidermal scattering (down to 33%) related to optical clearing, with the best results obtained by a mixture of polyethylene glycol, oleic acid, and propylene glycol.

CRYSTALLIZATION TEMPERATURE AND SOLVENT COMPOSITION EFFECT FOR ENHANCEMENT OF UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS FROM PALM OIL USING UREA COMPLEXATION

Mono and Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAs/PUFAs) are vital nutritional sources for infants, adults, and the elderly. The content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can be enhanced in vegetable oils or animal fats using a range of different techniques. The process of urea complexation is highly effective and efficient for concentrating monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from vegetable oils. This study employed refined palm oil as the raw material that went through saponification and purification processes in order to generate fatty acids mixture. Subsequently, urea was introduced to create a complex chemical in the form of urea complexed fraction (UCF) and leaving the non-urea complexed fraction (NUCF). Gas chromatography was employed to analyze the fatty acid composition obtained from urea complexation. This study investigated the impact of different crystallization temperatures (-4°C, 8°C, 12°C, 22°C, and 30°C) and ethanol concentrations (ranging from 0% to 100%) on enhancing the unsaturated content and yield of fatty acids derived from palm oil. It also conducted predictive equations to determine the yield and fatty acids composition in the non-urea complexed fraction (NUCF) which are important for separation process design in chemical industries. The study revealed that increasing the crystallization temperature resulted in a larger yield in the liquid fraction (NUCF), but a lower concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).

Inhibition of the miR-1914-5p increases the oxidative metabolism in cellular model of steatosis by modulating the Sirt1-PGC-1α pathway and systemic cellular activity.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is considered an indicator of metabolic syndrome, which affects millions of people around the world and no effective treatment is currently available. MAFLD involves a wide spectrum of liver damage, that initiates from steatosis (fatty live) and may progress to more complex pathophysiology. Then, details in lipid metabolism controlling should be explored aiming to control the fatty liver. In this context, the miR-1914-5p can be considered a potential biotechnology tool to control lipid metabolism in hepatic cells. This miRNA finds potential mRNA binding sequences in more than 100 molecules correlated with energy production and lipid metabolism pointed in bioinformatic platforms. The present study addressed the miR-1914-5p effects in hepatic HepG2/LX-2 co-cultured cells in a in vitro steatotic environment stablished by the addition of 400 μM of a mixture of oleic and palmitic acids. The analyses demonstrated that the inhibition of the miRNA reduced energetic metabolites such as total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol and even glucose. In addition, the miR-inhibitor-transfected cells did not present any deleterious effect in cellular environment by controlling reactive oxygen species production (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and even the pro-inflammatory environment. Moreover, the functional effect of the investigated miR, suggested its close connection to the modulation of Sirt-1-PGC1-α pathway, a master switch metabolic route that controlls cellular energetic metabolism. Our assays also suggested a synergistic effect of this miR-1914-5p in cell metabolism, which should be considered as a strong candidate to control steatotic environment in future clinical trials.

Engineering pH and Temperature-Triggered Drug Release with Metal-Organic Frameworks and Fatty Acids

This study reports the successful synthesis of core-shell microparticles utilizing coaxial electrospray techniques, with zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) encapsulating rhodamine B (RhB) in the core and a phase change material (PCM) shell composed of a eutectic mixture of lauric acid (LA) and stearic acid (SA). ZIF-8 is well-recognized for its pH-responsive degradation and biocompatibility, making it an ideal candidate for targeted drug delivery. The LA-SA PCM mixture, with a melting point near physiological temperature (39 °C), enables temperature-triggered drug release, enhancing therapeutic precision. The structural properties of the microparticles were extensively characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Drug release studies revealed a dual-stimuli response, where the release of RhB was significantly influenced by both temperature and pH. Under mildly acidic conditions (pH 4.0) at 40 °C, a rapid and complete release of RhB was observed within 120 h, while at 37 °C, the release rate was notably slower. Specifically, the release at 40 °C was 79% higher than at 37 °C, confirming the temperature sensitivity of the system. Moreover, at physiological pH (7.4), minimal drug release occurred, demonstrating the system’s potential for minimizing premature drug release under neutral conditions. This dual-stimuli approach holds promise for improving therapeutic outcomes in cancer treatment by enabling precise control over drug release in response to both pH and localized hyperthermia, reducing off-target effects and improving patient compliance.

The impact of using bee pollen in poultry systems

The use of antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production has resulted in the development of drug resistance, and destruction of the normal beneficial intestinal flora. Therefore, the task of poultry industry is to find alternative solutions to ensure safe products. The aim of this review article was to understand the potential use of bee pollen in poultry production system regarding its impact on performance, carcass traits, immunity, bacterial community, and blood parameters. Bee products such as pollen have been used in traditional medicine and have recently appeared as possible feed additives. Bee pollen is considered the most important substance in the hive, as a basic feed for bees. It consists of a mixture of proteins, amino acids, fats, carbohydrates, and multiple vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. The chemical composition of bee pollen depends mainly on the plant species, geographic region, and season of collection. Bee pollen has many uses in human medicine and livestock production. It has been used to improve general health, and may also act as an antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-radiation, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, hepato- and cardio-protective, and antidiabetic. Dietary supplementation of bee pollen could increase performance parameters as a growth promotor, enhancing carcass quality. In addition, bee pollen can enhance the immune response, reduce the pathogenic bacterial count, and enhance important blood parameters.

Amino Acid Transport Dynamics in the Jejunum and Ileum in Rats: A Regional and Time-Course Analysis.

Postprandially, amino acids and di/tripeptides are thought to be primarily absorbed in the proximal small intestine. However, there have been no in vivo demonstrations of regional differences in amino acid transport dynamics between the proximal and distal small intestines. We monitored plasma amino acid responses in the jejunal and ileal mesenteric veins of rats after oral administration of a diet or an amino acid mixture (Experiment 1), and in the portal vein after direct administration of the amino acid mixture into the lumen of the jejunum or ileum (Experiment 2). In experiment 1, the total and some amino acid concentrations in the jejunal mesenteric vein were slightly higher than those in the ileal mesenteric vein after oral administration of the amino acid mixture, suggesting that the ileum actively transports luminal amino acids to the basolateral side, comparable to the jejunum. In experiment 2, portal amino acid concentrations were elevated to a greater extent after direct administration of the amino acid mixture into the ileal lumen than into the jejunal lumen. These results demonstrate regional differences in amino acid transport dynamics in vivo and suggest that the ileum has a higher capacity for transporting amino acids than the jejunum. Our findings highlight the importance of the ileum in postprandial amino acid absorption and metabolism.

Efficacy of Cytoreg in the treatment of diabetic foot disease.

Complications from diabetic foot wounds, including bacterial infection, ulceration and gangrene, are major causes of hospitalisation and are responsible for 85% of amputations in patients with diabetes. Given that orally administered investigational therapeutic Cytoreg (Cytorex de Venezuela SA, Venezuela), a defined aqueous mixture of hydrofluoric, hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric, citric and oxalic acids, has been shown to increase levels of arterial blood oxygen in a Wistar rat model, oral and oral+topical Cytoreg were tested on patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) under a humanitarian, compassionate-use protocol. All patients received oral Cytoreg (5.0 ml concentrate in fruit juice) for 30 days; half also received weekly wound washing with Cytoreg concentrate in isotonic saline (1:50 volume/volume) (oral+topical group). In addition to standard clinical observations, wounds were monitored against the Saint Elian checklist system for the diabetic foot. A total of 10 patients took part in the study. Complete wound closure was observed in 4/5 patients in the oral+topical group; in the remaining patient, necrotic and fibrin tissues on the wound edges were eliminated. Half (2/4) of the patients receiving oral-only Cytoreg experienced complete wound closure; one patient in this group was removed prematurely because of an unrelated illness and was not replaced. During the study, no significant differences were observed between groups in either the oxygen saturation of the affected tissues or in insulin and glycaemia levels (p<0.05). Significant increases in arterial haemoglobin and arterial oxygen partial pressure (p<0.05) were observed, and significant decreases were measured in the levels of glycosylated haemoglobin, aspartate aminotransferase, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, creatine and urea (p<0.05). The results of this study justify an expanded clinical study for the treatment of DFUs with Cytoreg.

Chemical magnetic field-assisted batch polishing method of 316L stainless steel

316L stainless steel has been extensively employed in the manufacturing of medical equipment and biomedical implants because of its good ductility, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, etc. However, there has always been a non-neglected problem of low polishing precision and efficiency in the whole machining chain for such parts, hence, it is difficult to meet the batch demand of the market for 316L stainless steel with high-precision surface. Based on the principle of magnetic field-assisted batch polishing (MABP) proposed by our research team previously, a novel chemical magnetic field-assisted batch polishing (CMABP) method here is developed by adding chemical reagents (i.e., the mixture of oxalic acid and hydrogen peroxide) in the preparation process of regular magnetic brush, desiring and expecting to further realize the polishing of 316L stainless steel with higher precision and efficiency simultaneously. The preliminary experimental results demonstrated that the value of surface roughness Sa after CMABP became smaller and the material removal rate increased comparing to that after MABP, which did verify the potential advantage of the established CMABP approach. In detail, CMABP experiments with pH value and H2O2 concentration as variables were carried out quantitatively. The results suggested that, within the set range of pH value (from 2 to 7) and H2O2 concentration (from 0.3 wt.% to 2.0 wt.%), when pH was chosen as 4 and H2O2 concentration was adjusted as 2.0 wt.%, the value of Sa after CMABP was the minimum, which could be 38% lower than that of MABP approximately. Nonetheless, material removal rate reached to the maximum, which could be around 168% more than that after MABP, when pH and H2O2 concentration were determined as 3.0 and 2.0 wt.%, respectively. Additionally, the discrepancy between the chemical and the regular magnetic brushes were detected and analyzed comparatively both at macro and micro scales. Also, the products on the surface of 316L stainless steel, such as the weak-binding layer and the passive layer, were discovered and taken to interpret the experimental phenomena of the surface roughness and material removal rate varying with the content of chemical reagents in CMABP, thereby revealing the material removal mechanisms correspondingly and interestingly. This work is capable of providing valuable reference undoubtedly for batch precision polishing of 316L stainless steel and other significant functional materials.

Evaluation of aspartame as a co-former in the preparation of co-amorphous formulations of dipyridamole using spray drying

Co-amorphous systems (CAMs) have shown promise in addressing the challenges associated with poorly water-soluble drugs. However, the limited selection of co-formers and the use of lab-scale techniques for their preparation present challenges in fully utilizing the advantages of CAMs. In this study, we used aspartame (a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine) as a model dipeptide with the BCS class II drug dipyridamole, to prepare co-amorphous systems using spray drying. The feed solutions were prepared by dissolving the drug and co-former into methanol–water mixtures. The spray drying process was evaluated and solid-state properties were compared with those of the individual amino acids, amino acid mixtures and aspartame as co-formers. Co-amorphous systems prepared with aspartame (AspPhe) exhibited better solid-state properties, including a higher glass transition temperature (Tg), compared to the individual amino acids and the mixture of amino acids. Additionally, this formulation showed improved physical stability when stored at 25 °C/60 % RH conditions. Hirshfeld Surface (HS) analysis was employed to visualize and analyse the molecular interaction sites within the crystal structures of dipyridamole and aspartame. The observed interactions were then correlated with the molecular interactions identified through FT-IR spectroscopic analysis within the CAMs. The spectroscopic analysis revealed molecular interactions between the sites found at the shortest distances in the HS analysis. The dominant hydrogen bond interactions identified in the co-amorphous DPM-AspPhe system was found to contribute significantly to its improve stability. X-ray powder diffraction in non-ambient mode reveals that both temperature and humidity play a role in the crystallization of the co-amorphous DPM-AspPhe. Crystallization rates increased notably at high temperature and humidity. To predict stability under accelerated conditions, the crystallization rates from DPM-AspPhe were fitted to a modified Arrhenius equation. However, the predictive accuracy of the resulting model was limited to a specific range of conditions.

Transport and competitive interfacial adsorption of PFOA and PFOS in unsaturated porous media: Experiments and modeling

Among emerging contaminants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have captured public attention based upon their environmental ubiquity and potential risks to human health. Due to their typical surface release conditions and amphiphilic properties, PFAS tend to sorb to soil and accumulate at the air-water interface within the vadose zone. These processes can result in substantial plume attenuation. Although there is a growing body of literature on vadose zone transport, few studies have explored PFAS mixture transport, particularly under conditions where nonlinear sorption processes are important. The present study aims to advance our understanding of PFAS transport in variably saturated porous media through integration of experiments and mathematical modeling. Experiments include batch studies to quantify sorption to the solid phase, interfacial tension (IFT) measurements to estimate adsorption at the air-water interface (AWI), and column studies with F-70 Ottawa sand at 100 % and ca. 50 % water saturation to explore transport mechanisms. Employed PFAS solutions encompass individual solutes and binary mixtures of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) at concentration levels spanning four orders of magnitude to assess competitive and nonlinear sorption at the AWI. Observations demonstrate that concentration levels and competitive effects substantially influence PFAS transport in unsaturated systems. In the presence of PFOS, PFOA experienced less retention than would be anticipated based on single-solute behavior, and effluent breakthrough curves exhibited chromatographic peaking. The presented mathematical model for simultaneous flow and transport of PFAS was able to capture experimental observations with a consistent set of parameters and minimal curve fitting. These results demonstrate the robustness of the model formulation that included rate-limited interfacial mass transfer, an extended Langmuir-Szyszkowski model for adsorption at the AWI, and a scaled Leverett thermodynamic model to predict the AWI specific area. Overall, the results of this work underscore the importance of the AWI in PFAS transport and highlight the relevance of competition effects in adsorption formulations.

Deoxygenation and isomerization activity balance for NiMo/ZSM-23 catalysts as an effect of Mo/(Ni+Mo) ratio in hydroprocessing of fatty acids

Series of Ni-Mo catalysts based on ZSM-23 zeolite were synthesized by incipient wetness impregnation – with a fixed content of Ni (5 wt. %). These catalysts were tested in a hydroprocessing of a mixture of fatty acids (C16-C18) in a flow reactor at a temperature of 300 °C, a pressure of 2.5 MPa and WHSV = 8.4 h-1. The influence of the ratio of metals on the formation of forms of the active component, as well as on the activity, selectivity to iso-alkanes and the stability of catalysts during the hydroprocessing of a mixture of undiluted fatty acids was determined. The ratio of metals was investigated in the range from 0 to 1. The highest deoxygenation activity and highest isoalkanes yield were found for sample with Mo/(Ni+Mo) ratio equal 0.25, in which, according to the XPS, the Mo/(Ni+Mo) ratio on the surface is 0.4.

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Chitosan Hydrogel Containing Gallic Acid-Modified Fe, Cu, and Zn Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs): Preparation, Characterization, and Biological Applications.

Hydrogel composites are water-swollen and three-dimensional materials that have been investigated for various biological applications, including controlled drug delivery and tissue engineering, owing to the similarity between their mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties with biological tissues. The hydrogel composites can provide a superior replication of living tissue compared to their single components. In this regard, Fe-BTC, Cu-BTC, and Zn-BTC MOFs were synthesized and modified with gallic acid (GA). The MOFs-based hydrogel composites (M-BTC-GA@PVA-CS) were finally fabricated by freezing-thawing the as-synthesized MOFs, gallic acid, chitosan, and poly(vinyl alcohol) mixture. The obtained hydrogels were characterized using techniques such as FTIR, XRD, UV-vis, SEM, EDS, and TEM. Additionally, their antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus and biocompatibility were investigated. The results showed that the surface modification of M-BTC MOFs with GA improves the antibacterial performance of hydrogels and increases their biocompatibility and cell viability. Among the as-prepared M-BTC MOF-based composites, the Cu-BTC MOF-loaded hydrogels showed the highest antibacterial activity. In contrast, the lowest antibacterial effect was observed for the hydrogels with Fe-BTC MOFs. Furthermore, the H&E staining exhibited improved vascularization in Zn-BTC-GA@PVA-CS and Cu-BTC-GA@PVA-CS scaffolds compared to the Fe-BTC-GA@PVA-CS hydrogel. These MOFs-loaded hydrogels may be suitable for utilization in biological applications such as skin treatment, drug delivery, and cosmetics owing to their excellent antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity.

Tranexamic acid with vitamin K mixture decreases bleeding of total hip arthroplasty in a Jordanian population

Background: Bleeding of total hip arthroplasty has severe consequences on postoperative recovery. 75–90% of early bleeding after surgery and during surgery is caused by operative technical issues. tranexamic acid decreases bleeding of arthroplasty. vitamin k has late and dose sensitive effect in clotting. Methods: This retrospective investigation included subjects of middle age and of both genders scheduled for primary hip replacement at Queen Alia hospital, Jordanian Royal medical services, between March 2022 and June 2023. Subjects were classified into two groups. Group I subject were administered intravenous mixture of Tranexamic acid 10 mg/kg with vitamin K1 of 10 mg 5 min pre-skin incision followed by an infusion of Tranexamic acid 1 mg/kg/h and vitamin K1 0.2 mg/kg/h, until skin closure. Group II subjects were administered only intravenous vitamin K1 of 10 mg, 5 min pre- skin incision followed by infusion of 0.2 mg/kg/h until skin closure. Hemoglobin, packed cell volume, platelet count, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen were tested. Bleeding and blood transfusion were remarked. Results: Group I demonstrated a remarkable less modifications in blood tests and less bleeding than group II. Group II demonstrated less bleeding after surgery. The average Hb in group I demonstrated a remarkable less reduction after surgery compared to group II. (p&lt;0.005). No blood transfusion after surgery was needed in group I. Nine (15%) patients in group II needed one unit of blood transfusion during surgery. Conclusion: Intravenous administration of Tranexamic acid with vitamin K mixture in total hip arthroplasty decreased bleeding during and after surgery and decreased the requirement for blood transfusion.

Tuning the geometry of porous alumina layers via anodization in mixtures of different acids

AbstractPorous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) layers have been obtained by two-step anodization of high-purity Al in two types of acid mixtures, i.e., in H2C2O4–H3PO4 and, for the first time, in H2SO4–H3PO4 systems. The kinetics of oxide formation was examined by monitoring the current vs. time curves while the morphology of the resulting layers was carefully verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A special emphasis was put on establishing correlations between electrolyte composition, the kinetics and effectiveness of oxide growth, and the morphological features of AAO layers (pore and cell diameter, porosity), as well as pore arrangement. It was confirmed that the addition of H3PO4 to both H2C2O4 and H2SO4 electrolytes results in a significant decrease in oxide growth rate, and worsening of pore arrangement, while the values of pore diameter and interpore distance are much less affected. Moreover, the presence of a small amount of phosphoric acid in the reaction mixture allowed for a noticeable increase in pore ordering if anodization was carried out beyond the self-ordering regime, or performing controlled anodization even at voltages at which the burning phenomenon is typically observed. It is strongly believed that manipulating the electrolyte composition by adding another acid may provide another degree of freedom to control the morphology of the resulting nanostructured alumina layers.