Phosphate Foam Research Articles

Sorbents based on foamed phosphate glass for collecting petroleum oil products from contaminated soils and water surfaces

Relevance. The need to clean from pollution soils and water areas contaminated with oil and chemical industry wastes. Physico-chemical methods are one of the effective ways of cleaning, provided that sorbents are applied in time to collect contaminants from the surface of water areas and landscapes. Sorption is the most efficient and cost-effective method for relatively small scale pollution. Despite the variety of existing sorbents, in most cases when cleaning up accidental spills, first of all, economic benefits and oil capacity value of the sorbent are guided. However, such essential criteria as: 1) main purpose (type of polluted surface and nature of pollution); 2) physical and chemical properties, including structural characteristics and acid-base adsorption centers; 3) peculiarities of oil or other pollutants adsorption. Taking into account these factors, it is possible to develop and improve the formulation of sorbents based on phosphate foams. Introduction of various modifying additives into material composition is likely to expand their field of application. Aim. Development of formulation and technological features of obtaining new phosphate sorbents in relation to their intended purpose: for collecting oil and petroleum product spills from soil or water surfaces. Methods. Gravimetric, microscopic spectroscopic, statistical and comparative methods. Results and conclusions. The authors have compared sorbents no. 1 and 2 in terms of physical and chemical properties, morphology and cleaning efficiency. Based on our laboratory studies, we concluded that sorbent no. 1 is better suited for sorption from aqueous surfaces and sorbent no. 2 is better suited for soil cleaning. Both sorbents have the potential to improve their technological properties. This allows refining the formulation of these materials with further testing in laboratory and field conditions, for example, at oil spill sites. For this purpose, it is possible to change the material composition using a different foaming agent, applying modifying additives and varying the temperature mode of firing. Development of new compositions and methods of sorbent foaming will make it possible to select optimal characteristics for each type of contamination. The author proposed as well to create phosphate biosorbent obtained by immobilization of fungi and bacteria on the surface of highly porous carrier. In this case, after sorption of pollution, adsorbed substances will undergo biodegradation with the formation of safe products, and the sorbent will perform the role of fertilizer.

Fabrication of low-crystalline Mg-substituted β-tricalcium phosphate foam via dissolution–precipitation reaction

Fabrication of low-crystalline Mg-substituted β-tricalcium phosphate foam via dissolution–precipitation reaction

Osteogenic differentiation of adipose-derived canine mesenchymal stem cells seeded in porous calcium-phosphate scaffolds.

Engineered bone graft substitutes are a promising alternative and supplement to autologous bone grafts as treatments for bone healing impairment. Advances in human medicine extend an invitation to pursue these biomimetic strategies in animal patients, substantiated by the theory that specialized scaffolds, multipotent cells, and biological cues may be combined into a bioactive implant intended for the enhancement of tissue regeneration. This proof-of-concept study was designed to evaluate and validate the feasibility of beta-tricalcium phosphate foam scaffolds seeded with canine mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue. Cell-inoculated samples and sham controls were cultured statically for 72 hours in complete growth medium to evaluate seeding capacity, while a subset of loaded scaffolds was further induced with osteogenic culture medium for 21 days. Produced implants were characterized and validated with a combination of immunofluorescence and reflection confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction to confirm osteogenic differentiation in tridimensional-induced samples. After 72 hours of culture, all inoculated scaffolds presented widespread yet heterogeneous surface seeding, distinctively congregating stem cells around pore openings. Furthermore, at 21 days of osteogenic culture conditions, robust osteoblastic differentiation of the seeded cells was confirmed by the change of cell morphology and evident deposition of extra-cellular matrix, accompanied by mineralization and scaffold remodeling; furthermore, all induced cell-loaded implants lost specific stemness immunophenotype expression and simultaneously upregulated genomic expression of osteogenic genes Osterix and Ostecalcin. β-TCP bio-ceramic foam scaffolds proved to be suitable carriers and hosts of canine adipose-derived MSCs, promoting not only surface attachment and proliferation, but also demonstrating strong in-vitro osteogenic potential. Although this research provides satisfactory in-vitro validation for the conceptualization and feasibility of a canine bio-active bone implant, further testing such as patient safety, large-scale reproducibility, and quality assessment are needed for regulatory compliance in future commercial clinical applications.

Formation of Biomimetic Apatite on Calcium Phosphate Foam Ceramic in a Concentrated Model Solution

Formation of Biomimetic Apatite on Calcium Phosphate Foam Ceramic in a Concentrated Model Solution

Bioactive calcium phosphate foam ceramics modified by biomimetic apatite

By combining the method of replication of polyurethane foam matrices at 1200 °C and modification in model SBF (Simulated Body Fluid) solutions of various compositions, open-pore calcium phosphate foam ceramics with a porosity of 53-60 % was obtained. The architecture and morphology of the calcium phosphate foam ceramics surface was formed by using polyurethane foam matrices («Granufoam», «STR») with different porosity and quantity of open pores. Modification of the calcium phosphate foam ceramics in SBF solutions of various compositions leads to a slight decrease in porosity to 3 %, which indicates the formation of an ultrathin apatite layer. The calcium phosphate-modified foam ceramics consisted of β-tricalcium phosphate, β-calcium pyrophosphate, α-tricalcium phosphate, and biomimetic apatite. In the standard SBF solution, the formation of apatite on calcium phosphate foam ceramics occurs slowly (14-56 days) and the strength increases by a factor of 2 as compared to the initial one. Soaking of calcium phosphate foam ceramics in SBF without HCO3- leads to the formation of biomimetic apatite with inclusions of calcium chloride dihydrophosphate in spherulites. Modification in a 5-fold concentrated SBF solution for 3-5 days at 37 °C makes it possible to form 6-10 times more biomimetic apatite compared to standard SBF with a 2.5-fold increase in static strength to 0.05 MPa. It has been established that at 800 °C biomimetic apatite crystallizes into β- tricalcium phosphate.

Формирование биомиметического апатита на кальцийфосфатной пенокерамике в концентрированной модельной среде

By firing polyurethane foam templates (“STR” brand, 12 pores per cm, China) with a porosity of ~ 65 % at 1200 °С, an open-pore calcium phosphate foam ceramics was obtained using a highly concentrated suspension based on synthetic hydroxyapatite, heat-treated at 800 °С, monocalcium phosphate monohydrate and 0.8 % polyvinyl alcohol. The resulting calcium phosphate foam ceramics after modification in the SBF (Simulated Body Fluid) solution concentrated 5 times (SBF×5) consisted of β-tricalcium phosphate, β-calcium pyrophosphate and biomimetic apatite, had a porosity of 53 – 59 % and a static strength of ~ 0.05 MPa. The formed biomimetic apatite, consisting of amorphous calcium phosphate Ca9(PO4)6 and apatite tricalcium phosphate Ca9HPO4(PO4)5OH, crystallizes into β-tricalcium phosphate at 1200 °С. Calcium phosphate foam ceramics modified with biomimetic apatite, after soaking in 5 % hydroxyapatite gel and SBF×5, which simulating a bone defect in vitro, in parallel with the formation of biomimetic apatite, is partially destroyed, which confirmed its high bioactivity and degradation.

Optimum conditions of zero-valent iron nanoparticle stabilized foam application for diesel-contaminated soil remediation involving three major soil types

Stability of foam, enhanced by nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) and its optimized constituents, may have significant potential for effective treatment of soil contaminated with diesel oil-a major environmental problem. The optimum diesel removal efficiency from distinct types of soil accomplished by the unique application of such foams as well as the optimum conditions of the foaming constituents have not been reported in literature so far. Hence, in this work, the removal of diesel contaminant from different soil types (desert, coastal, clay soil) is optimized, and the optimized results are reported for the first time, using response surface methodology (RSM), for alkylpolyglucoside phosphate (APG-Ph) foam, stabilized by nZVI. The effect of concentrations of APG-Ph (0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.1 volume %) and nZVI (2, 3, and 3.5mg/l) on diesel removal efficacy from soil is studied using Box-Behnken design (BBD) of response surface methodology (RSM). Maximum diesel removal efficiency obtained at a concentration of 0.1 volume % APG-Ph foam with 3.5mg/l nZVI for desert, coastal, and clay soil is 94.6, 95.3, and 57.5%, respectively. The optimum concentrations of APG-Ph and nZVI are found to be 0.98 volume % and 0.8mg/l, respectively. Validation of this optimal condition experimentally results in highest removal efficiency of 98.3, 97.2, and 75.9% for desert, coastal, and clay soil respectively. This is in good agreement with the predicted values by RSM (98.67, 97.57, and 76.85%). The maximum diesel removal efficiency predicted at optimal concentration of APG-Ph and nZVI is significantly larger than the results reported in literature in last three years.

Lanthanum phosphate foam as novel heterogeneous nanocatalyst for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil

In this study, the potential of LaPO4 foam as a heterogeneous catalyst to produce biodiesel from highly acidic waste cooking oil (WCO) was investigated. The LaPO4 supported nickel foam was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray mapping analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). In addition, the effect of different parameters such as the molar ratio of feedstock to methanol, contact time and the reaction temperature. Under the study conditions, with methanol to oil molar ratio of 5:1, and a reaction temperature of 90 °C, 91% FAME yield was obtained within 120 min with 2.5 wt % of LaPO4. The obtained results demonstrated that LaPO4 foam can be used effectively as a heterogeneous catalyst with superior catalytic efficiency (>90%) with easy separation and excellent stability.

Fabrication of octacalcium phosphate foams with suitable mechanical strength for use as a bone substitute based on the setting reaction of acidic calcium phosphate granules

Fabrication of octacalcium phosphate foams with suitable mechanical strength for use as a bone substitute based on the setting reaction of acidic calcium phosphate granules

Preparation of biphasic hydroxyapatite/ β-tricalcium phosphate foam using the replication technique

Biphasic hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate foams were prepared using the replication technique starting from a precipitated hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2: HAP) powder, and sodium glycerophosphate (GP). The effect of the grinding time, solid loading, dispersant amount, and etching, replication, and sintering processes were investigated. The SEM, OEM and FTIR analyses proved that the surface of the polyurethane template must be treated with NaOH solution to make it more hydrophilic prior to the coating process. With a solid loading of 40 wt-%, the slurries prepared from the precipitated hydroxyapatite presented a shear thinning behavior, which was useful for the coating process. The SEM analysis of the foams showed that the optimum number of coating layers to obtain foam with an identical structure with the template was limited to three. The use of GP and the optimized preparation parameters helped to decrease the consolidation temperature of the ceramic foams to 1000 °C. The XRD and FTIR analyses of the prepared foams showed that the thermal treatment of the GP and the HAP mixture led to a partial decomposition of the HAP to tricalcium phosphate. The fitting of the XRD patterns and the obtained lattice parameters proved that the decomposition was accompanied by the insertion of sodium from GP toward the lattice of tricalcium phosphate and the formation of Na-β-tricalcium. The results of the SEM analysis, the pore size distribution and the mechanical strength showed that the presence of the Na-β-tricalcium reduced the pore size distribution from 500-2700 to 100–1700 μm, decreased slightly the total porosity from 80 vol-% to 70 vol-%; and improved the mechanical strength of the obtained foam from 1.56 MPa to 2.60 MPa.

Effect of Different Granular Size on the Properties of Porous β-Tricalcium Phosphate Foam Granular Cements

Porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) foam granular cements was obtained by exposing different range size of β-TCP foam granular (300-600 μm and 600-1000 μm) with 1.4 mol/L of saturated acidic calcium phosphate solution at various setting reaction times. It was found that large amount of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) was formed in the set specimens after exposing small size of β-TCP foam granular with saturated acidic calcium phosphate solution. Morphological observation shows that the bridging of DCPD platelet-like crystals between β-TCP foam granular surfaces were detected as early as 10 mins after exposing 300-600 μm of β-TCP foam granules with saturated acidic calcium phosphate solution. In fact, the amount of DCPD formed in the specimens obtained from small size of β-TCP foam granules is higher than large sized foam granules. These results demonstrated that small size of β-TCP foam granules induced fast setting reaction of β-TCP foam granules to produce porous β-TCP foam granular cements.

Production, characterization and properties of open-cell calcium phosphate foams reinforced with alumina

In this study, tailored made open-cell calcium phosphate foams reinforced with alumina were fabricated by employing a dissolution-sintering process, using crystalline raw cane sugar as a water-leachable material. The effect of the alumina addition in the 3D morphology and in the microstructure of the produced calcium phosphate-based foams was examined. Preliminary in vitro bio-dissolution studies were performed to obtain an initial indication for the suitability of these composite bioceramic foams as implant materials. The mechanical properties of the produced composite calcium phosphate foams were also evaluated. It was found that the addition of small amount of alumina (5 wt%) resulted in a microstructural alteration affecting both the 3D geometry of the produced bioceramic foams and the morphology of the precipitated apatite during the biodegradation tests. The addition of alumina resulted in considerable enhancement of the mechanical strength of the bioceramic foam when the porosity was above 70%. The produced calcium phosphate-based composite foams (with alumina reinforcement) are suitable for biomedical applications.

Calcium Phosphate Foam Ceramic Based on Hydroxyapatite–Brushite Powder Mixture

Calcium Phosphate Foam Ceramic Based on Hydroxyapatite–Brushite Powder Mixture

Injectable calcium phosphate foams for the delivery of Pitavastatin as osteogenic and angiogenic agent.

Apatitic bone cements have been used as a clinical bone substitutes and drug delivery vehicles for therapeutic agents in orthopedic applications. This has led to their combination with different drugs with known ability to foster bone formation. Recent studies have evaluated Simvastatin for its role in enhanced bone regeneration, but its lipophilicity hampers incorporation and release to and from the bone graft. In this study, injectable calcium phosphate foams (i-CPF) based on α-tricalcium phosphate were loaded for the first time with Pitavastatin. The stability of the drug in different conditions relevant to this study, the effect of the drug on the i-CPFs properties, the release profile, and the in vitro biological performance with regard to mineralization and vascularization were investigated. Pitavastatin did not cause any changes in neither the micro nor the macro structure of the i-CPFs, which retained their biomimetic features. PITA-loaded i-CPFs showed a dose-dependent drug release, with early stage release kinetics clearly affected by the evolving microstructure due to the setting of cement. in vitro studies showed dose-dependent enhancement of mineralization and vascularization. Our findings contribute towards the design of controlled release with low drug dosing bone grafts: i-CPFs loaded with PITA as osteogenic and angiogenic agent.

Comparison of zero-valent iron and iron oxide nanoparticle stabilized alkyl polyglucoside phosphate foams for remediation of diesel-contaminated soils

Stable surfactant foam might play a vital role in the effective remediation of diesel oil contaminated soil-a major environmental hazard. This paper, first of its kind, is reporting the remediation of diesel-contaminated desert soil, coastal soil and clay soil by aqueous alkylpolyglucoside phosphate (APG-Ph) surfactant foams stabilized by Fe0 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Zero-valent iron (Fe0, ∼28 nm) and iron oxide (Fe3O4, ∼20 nm) nanoparticles are synthesized by liquid-phase reduction and precipitation methods, respectively. The effect of these nanoparticles on foamability, foam stability, surface tension and remediation of diesel-contaminated soils are examined at various concentrations (volume %) of alkylpolyglucoside phosphate (APG-Ph) surfactant and nanoparticles (mg/l). The maximum values of foamability and foam stability recorded for 0.1 vol % APG-Ph foam stabilized by 3.5 mg/l Fe0 are 108.3 and 110.4 mL, respectively. At the same conditions, the Fe3O4 results in 99.4 and 87.5 mL, respectively, depicting the better performance of Fe0. Reduction in surface tension of 0.1 vol % APG-Ph solution (50.75 mN/m) with the addition of 3.5 mg/l Fe0 (9.51 mN/m) and Fe3O4 (19.45 mN/m) nanoparticle is observed. Both the nanoparticles enhance remediation. The foam formed with 0.1 vol % APG-Ph and stabilized by 3.5 mg/l Fe0 shows the maximum diesel removal efficiency of 95.3, 94.6, and 57.5% for coastal soil, desert soil and clay soil, respectively. On the other hand, Fe3O4 (3.5 mg/l) stabilized APG-Ph foam of the same concentration shows merely 76.0, 79.6 and 51.6% diesel removal efficiency for coastal soil, desert soil, and clay soil, respectively. The rate of diesel removal by zero-valent iron and iron oxide nanoparticle stabilized foams are found to be well described by the first order kinetic model. Higher foamability, foam stability, and reducing capacity accompanying lower surface tension, compared to those of the Fe3O4 nanoparticle stabilized foam, could explain higher diesel removal efficiency of the Fe0 nanoparticle stabilized foam.

In vivo efficiency of antimicrobial inorganic bone grafts in osteomyelitis treatments

The purpose of the present work was to evaluate in vivo different antimicrobial therapies to eradicate osteomyelitis created in the femoral head of New Zealand rabbits. Five phosphate-based cements were evaluated: calcium phosphate cements (CPC) and calcium phosphate foams (CPF), both in their pristine form and loaded with doxycycline hyclate, and an intrinsic antimicrobial magnesium phosphate cement (MPC; not loaded with an antibiotic). The cements were implanted in a bone previously infected with Staphylococcus aureus to discern the effects of the type of antibiotic administration (systemic vs. local), porosity (microporosity, i.e. <5 μm vs. macroporosity, i.e. >5 μm) and type of antimicrobial mechanism (release of antibiotic vs. intrinsic antimicrobial activity) on the improvement of the health state of the infected animals. A new method was developed, with a more comprehensive composite score that integrates 5 parameters of bone infection, 4 parameters of bone structural integrity and 4 parameters of bone regeneration. This method was used to evaluate the health state of the infected animals, both before and after osteomyelitis treatment. The results showed that the composite score allows to discern statistically significant differences between treatments that individual evaluations were not able to identify. Despite none of the therapies completely eradicated the infection, it was observed that macroporous materials (CPF and CPFd, the latter loaded with doxycycline hyclate) and intrinsic antimicrobial MPC allowed a better containment of the osteomyelitis. This study provides novel insights to understand the effect of different antimicrobial therapies in vivo, and a promising comprehensive methodology to evaluate the health state of the animals was developed. We expect that the implementation of such methodology could improve the criteria to select a proper antimicrobial therapy.

Simple room temperature synthesis of porous nickel phosphate foams for electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation

The simple and eco-friendly fabrication of non-noble metal catalyst is of great importance for sustainable energy production from alcohol. Herein, we report the new synthetic route for the preparation of nickel phosphate nanostructure through simple co-precipitation method. We studied the effect of annealing temperature ranging from 500°C to 1100°C on the electrocatalyst for ethanol electro-oxidation. In addition, we demonstrate that the resulting nickel phosphate materials can serve as efficient transition metal electrocatalyst for the ethanol oxidation under alkaline condition. In particular, the nickel phosphate annealed at 900°C (NP-900) affords higher current density of 1.2mAcm−2 at the low potential of 0.7mV, demonstrating great catalytic stability as well as good cyclability for 1000cycles giving about 92% faradaic yield towards the ethanol.

Fabrication of octacalcium phosphate foam through phase conversion and its histological evaluation

Octacalcium phosphate (OCP) foam with an interconnected porous structure was fabricated through phase conversion via a dissolution–precipitation reaction using calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CSH: CaSO4·1/2H2O) granules as precursors in a sodium dihydrogen phosphate (NaDP: NaH2PO4) solution. The diametral tensile strength and porosity of the OCP foam were 0.15 ± 0.04 MPa and 69.4% ± 0.04%, respectively. When the OCP foam was implanted into bone defects in a rabbit femur, the OCP foam showed an excellent tissue response, and the bone penetrated into the porous structure. The osteoconductivity and bone-replacement rate were significantly higher than those of an OCP compact.

"Fabrication of arbitrarily shaped carbonate apatite foam based on the interlocking process of dicalcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate".

Carbonate apatite (CO3Ap) foam with an interconnected porous structure is highly attractive as a scaffold for bone replacement. In this study, arbitrarily shaped CO3Ap foam was formed from α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) foam granules via a two-step process involving treatment with acidic calcium phosphate solution followed by hydrothermal treatment with NaHCO3. The treatment with acidic calcium phosphate solution, which is key to fabricating arbitrarily shaped CO3Ap foam, enables dicalcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) crystals to form on the α-TCP foam granules. The generated DCPD crystals cause the α-TCP granules to interlock with each other, inducing an α-TCP/DCPD foam. The interlocking structure containing DCPD crystals can survive hydrothermal treatment with NaHCO3. The arbitrarily shaped CO3Ap foam was fabricated from the α-TCP/DCPD foam via hydrothermal treatment at 200 °C for 24 h in the presence of a large amount of NaHCO3.

Calcium Phosphate Foams: Potential Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Modeling in Three Dimensions.

The present method describes the procedure to fabricate calcium phosphate foams with suitable open porosity, pore size, and composition to perform three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures with the objective to simulate the bone tissue microenvironment in vitro. Foams with two compositions but equivalent porosity can be fabricated. On the one hand, hydroxyapatite foams obtained by hydrolysis at 37 °C, with microstructure that mimics the small crystal size of the mineral component of bones, and on the other hand, beta tricalcium phosphate foams with polygonal grains obtained by sintering at 1100 °C. In the first part of the chapter the calcium phosphate foams are briefly described. Afterwards, the foaming process is described in detail, including alternatives to overcome processing problems than can arise. Finally, insights are provided on how to perform 3D cell cultures using the calcium phosphate foams as substrates.