Zinc Sulfate Solution Research Articles

Transference Number Measurement of Zinc Salts in Aqueous Solution

Transference numbers of the aqueous zinc chloride and zinc sulphate solutions have been measured for the concentrations 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09 and 0.1 mol.dm-3at 298.15K, by using the modified Hittorf method. The dependence of transference number on concentration of each electrolyte was also investigated in an attempt to explain the value of the limiting transference number. The Longsworth method has been used for the extrapolation of zinc transference number in aqueous solutions, using the values of the limiting transference numbers of the appropriate values of the limiting equivalent conductance, it was possible to determine the corresponding values of the limiting ion conductance for the cations and anions of the electrolytes. The density and specific conductivity of all solutions have been measured at 298.15K.

ZIF-12-derived nitrogen doped porous carbon nanosheets-functionalized with silver nanoparticles for ratiometric molecularly-imprinted electrochemical sensing of D-penicillamine

In this work, an electrochemical platform was developed for detection of D-pencillamine utilizing highly responsive molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). This platform operates on a ratiometric principle and is constructed on nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanosheets (N-PCNS) derived from zeolite imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-12) in the presence of saturated solution of zinc sulfate. Subsequently, silver nanoparticles (Ag) were introduced onto the surface of N-PCNS/GCE to enhance conductivity and surface area, and serve as a standard signal. The MIP layer was formed on the Ag@N-PCNS/GCE surface through o-phenylenediamine (o-phen) electro-polymerization in the presence of the D-pencillamine (D-PAN) as a template. Detection of D-PAN relies on measuring ID-PAN/IAg response ratio employing differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). This ratio exhibits a linear correlation with the concentration of D-PAN in the dynamic linear range of 0.161–170 µM, exploiting LOD of 38.0 nM (S/N = 3). The electrochemical sensor offers numerous advantages including low detection limit, accuracy, stability, and sufficient degree of selectivity. Utilizing this platform, D-PAN-containing samples were efficiently analyzed with recovery percentages of 98.0–102.0 % and RSDs of 2.78–3.89 %, demonstrating the accuracy of the method.

Improving erosion resistance of calcareous sand slope with zinc sulfate solution

Loose and uncemented calcareous sand slopes are prone to collapse under rainstorm erosion. In order to improve the erosion resistance stability of slopes, it is crucial to enhance the erosion resistance of calcareous sand. In this study, a new method of cementing calcareous sand with zinc sulfate solution (ZSS) is proposed. The ZSS reinforcement technique can effectively cement calcareous sand, enhance the mechanical properties and help reduce erosion on calcareous sand slopes. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted, including uniaxial compression tests, Brazilian splitting tests, surface penetration tests, microscopic tests, and rainfall scouring tests. The test results show that the uniaxial compressive strength of calcareous sand achieved 8.3 MPa reinforced with ZSS. Microscopic analyses revealed the mechanism of reinforcement, discovering the formation of environmentally friendly compounds such as ZnCO3 and CaSO4·2 H2O between calcareous sand particles, which enhanced the soil mechanical properties. The calcareous sand slope reinforced with ZSS forms a hard shell on the slope surface, which effectively improves the erosion resistance of the slope. After being reinforced with a ZSS concentration of 1.0 mol/L, the slope remained stable after 20 min of scouring at a rainfall intensity of 80 mm/h. This method provides a quick solution for reinforcing calcareous sand slopes and holds promising potential for practical engineering applications.

Synthesis of Zinc Nanoparticles in Hibiscus sabdariffa Plant Extract and Investigation of Its Antimicrobial Properties

Background: The use of nanotechnology in various biomedical and pharmaceutical fields is expanding rapidly. Objectives: The aim of this study was to synthesize zinc nanoparticles using Hibiscus sabdariffa plant extract and investigate their antimicrobial properties. Methods: In this experimental study, the aqueous extract of sour tea was mixed with a 0.1 M zinc sulfate solution at a 1:1 ratio and allowed to react for 15 minutes at room temperature to produce nanoparticles. The synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles was confirmed using spectrophotometric methods, measuring the average diameter of nanoparticles, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the zinc oxide nanoparticles was then measured against standard strains. Results: The results showed that the largest inhibition zone diameter was observed at a concentration of 1024 μg/mL against Listeria monocytogenes, while the smallest inhibition zone was observed against Aeromonas hydrophila. At a concentration of 512 μg/mL, an inhibition zone of 10 mm was developed against two strains: Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles, along with the sour tea aqueous extract and zinc sulfate, exhibited antibacterial properties. However, the most pronounced antimicrobial effects were observed with the zinc oxide nanoparticles.

Anthropozoonotic parasitoses of dogs and cats in the urban ecosystem of Vladivostok, Russia

To investigate the role of domestic dogs and cats in the spread of parasitoses in the Vladivostok urban ecosystem. Biological materials from 782 dogs and 189 cats were used in the research, which were examined by methods of complete parasitological autopsy, microscopy and flotation of faecal samples using saturated solutions of zinc sulfate and sodium nitrate.Fourteen parasite taxa have been identified: nematodes (Nematoda) Ancylostoma caninum, Dirofilaria immitis, Toxascaris leonina, Toxocara canis, T. mystax, Uncinaria stenocephala, Taenia sp., T. hydatigena; tapeworms (Cestoda) Diphyllobothrium latum, Dipylidium caninum, Hydatigera taeniaeformis; flukes (Trematoda) Metagonimus sp.; and parasitic alveolates (Conoidasida) Cystoisospora sp., C. felis. The paper presents the values of the prevalence of infection and statistical reliability of their differences for different groups of animals, depending on gender and age. Nematodes were the core taxa of the parasitofauna identified. Explanations for the results obtained are offered and possible sources of human infection are described. Despite the fact that parasitic‐faunal complexes in the ecosystem of a modern city are much less branched and represented by fewer species than in the wild, there remains a high risk of human infection with zoonotic parasites in urban biocenoses due to the high level of intensive population interactions. Therefore, there is a requirement of high alertness of supervisory authorities in relation to anthropozoonotic parasitoses in an urban environment.

Preparation of active zinc oxide from zinc-containing dust and synergistic recovery process of valuable elements

Zinc-containing dust generated from the iron and steel industry is enriched with a large amount of heavy metal substances and rare elements, which is a hazardous waste and a secondary resource. In this study, a new process for the preparation of active zinc oxide and synergistic recovery of valuable elements using zinc-containing dust was proposed. Firstly, a fire process was used to make the valuable components such as Zn, Cd, K, Na, Pb, Bi, In and Sn secondary enriched in the zinc-rich dust. Then the leaching and recovery of K (99.74 %) and Na (98.12 %) were realized by alkaline washing method taking advantage of the solubility difference. Thermodynamic analysis showed that controlling the pH of the leaching system could realize the selective separation of the valuable components. The experimental results showed that the leaching rates of Zn and Cd reached 86.95 % and 92.28 %, respectively, under the optimal experimental conditions, while Pb, Sn, Bi and In were enriched in the neutral leaching slag. Cd sponge (70.3 %) was obtained after the neutral leach solution was treated by Zn powder replacement process. The purified zinc sulfate solution was used to prepare active zinc oxide (97.04 %) by direct precipitation at a molar ratio of CO32–/Zn2+ of 1.15 and a temperature of 50 °C. The average particle size of the product was 21.95 nm, which was in accordance with the industry standard. Neutral leaching slag realized Bi (91.5 %), Sn (71.01 %) and In (94.0 %) in high acid leaching process, and Pb was enriched in slag in the form of PbSO4. The high acid leach solution is hydrolyzed, extracted and replaced to obtain BiOCl, crude tin and crude indium. This process realizes the comprehensive recovery and high-value utilization of various valuable elements in zinc-containing dust sludge, and has significant environmental, economic and social benefits.

Improvement of the technological scheme for processing zinc concentrates by hydrometallurgical method at JSC Almalyk MMC

The extraction of zinc from concentrates is carried out in pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical ways. Obtaining pure zinc of the highest grades is possible using the hydrometallurgical method, in which the calcined sulfide concentrate is subjected to sulfuric acid leaching, a solution of zinc sulfate and a recycled product is formed - a solid residue of the cake leaching process. After purification, the zinc sulfate solution is subjected to electrolytic refining, and the cake is processed pyroly or hydrometallurgically. At JSC "Almalyk MMC" in the process of hydrometallurgical processing of zinc concentrates, the resulting zinc cake is processed by the pyrometallurgical method - rolling. The rolling process takes place in two tubular furnaces (rolling furnaces) 50 meters long and 3.5 meters in diameter at a temperature of 1100–12000C, in the presence of a reducing agent, coke breeze and petroleum coke. As a result of the rolling process of zinc cakes, sublimates and a solid technogenic residue, clinker, containing copper, gold, and silver are formed. Clinker is processed at the plant in smelting furnaces to extract precious metals, but it is accumulating more than 450 thousand tons. In connection with this, scientific research is currently underway on the processing of zinc cakes using a hydrometallurgical method to eliminate the expensive rolling process of processing zinc cakes; high-temperature (900 C) sulfuric acid leaching of cakes with a size of 0.074 mm has been developed during leaching for 4-4.5 hours, the extraction of zinc into the solution is 98.5%; copper 92.8%; iron 75.2; cadmium 79.2.

Effect of pH on Toxicity of Zinc Sulphate Hydrate Solutions Using the Spirotox Test

Introduction: Spirostomum ambiguum is commonly used as a biological indicator due to its high sensitivity to heavy metals. It functions normally across a wide pH range of 4.5 to 8.0. Testing on protozoan organisms provides a general understanding of the impact of pH on the toxicity of zinc in pharmaceuticals. By investigating the toxicity of zinc in environment with varying pH levels, the optimal environment for zinc absorption can be determined. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the toxicity of zinc sulphate solutions using different forms of hydrating and at various pH levels, applying the Spirotox method. Methods: An experiment was conducted using a solution of pharmaceutical substances, specifically zinc sulphate heptahydrate and zinc sulphate monohydrate, with a concentration of 0.01 M. The study aimed to investigate the effect of the solution on the lifespan of S.ambiguum within the pH range of 4.8-6.5. Results: Arrhenius activation energy (Ea linear correlates with LD50 oral toxicity for rats) decreases as pH increases from 4.8 to 6.5 for ⋅7 and ⋅ solutions. The values decrease from 140±10 kJ/mol to 55±10 kJ/mol and from 110±2 kJ/mol to 60±10 kJ/mol, respectively. Conclusion: It was found that the toxicity of zinc sulphate hydrate solution towards S. ambiguum increased as the pH value increased. Hydrating of the active pharmaceutical substance was a crucial factor, it is critically important for preparation of solutions of an active pharmaceutical substance. Keywords: zinc sulphate, Spirotox test, pH, activation energy, toxicity.

MOF@N–doped carbon dots–based dispersive solid phase extraction combined dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of several aflatoxins from raw cow’s milk samples prior to HPLC–FLD

A dispersive solid-phase extraction method based on metal–organic framework and nitrogen–doped carbon dot nanocomposite combined with magnetic ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was established for the extraction of aflatoxins from milk samples. For this purpose, the proteins in the sample were precipitated using a zinc sulfate solution. After vortexing (for 5 min) and centrifuging, 35 mg of the sorbent were added into the aqueous phase obtained from previous step, and the mixture was vortexed for five minutes. In the following, the sorbent particles were separated and eluted with methanol in the presence of vortex agitation (4 min). After centrifuging, the eluent phase was mixed with magnetic ionic liquid (1- octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate) and rapidly injected into deionized water to perform the dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction procedure. Finally, the magnetic solvent was separated in the presence of a magnet and injected into a high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector after diluting with the mobile phase. Referring to the results, the limits of detection and quantification of the studied aflatoxins were in the ranges of 0.69–1.09 and 2.31–3.63 ng/L, respectively. Extraction recoveries were in the range of 61 to 73 %. At the end, the suggested approach was employed in the analysis of the aflatoxins in the raw cow’s milk samples collected from different regions of East Azarbaijan and AFM1 was found in several samples (34 out of 60 samples). Also, AFB1 was found in three samples.

Separation of Iron from ZnSO4 solution by oxygen pressure-enhanced hydrothermal precipitation

ABSTRACT This study presented a method for removing iron (Fe) from zinc (Zn) sulfate solution utilising an oxygen (O2) pressure-enhanced goethite process. The study investigated the effects of O2 pressure, reaction temperature (T), pH value, and reaction time (t) on the Fe removal process. The results indicated that the oxidation rate increased with increasing T and O2 pressure. The goethite obtained at an O2 partial pressure of 0.2 MPa exhibited higher Fe content and a distinct acicular morphology, containing 55.7% Fe, 5.4% Zn, and 1.9% Sulphur (S). The increase in temperature from 90°C to 110°C accelerated the Fe hydrothermal precipitation, enhancing the Fe content in the goethite from 55.7% to 57.1%. The goethite products with 56.4% Fe content exhibited 95.0% crystallinity at a pH of 3.2, with a tendency for particle aggregation at lower crystallinity levels. The goethite precipitation occurred within the pH range of 2.2−3.5. Furthermore, as the reaction time increased, the hydrothermal precipitation particles increased in size and exhibited higher Fe content. The proposed method modified the O2 mass transfer process, increasing its solubility to enhance the Fe2+ oxidation rate, facilitating the controlled acicular α-FeOOH production with excellent crystallization performance.

Comparative efficacy of stannous fluoride and zinc sulfate solution to copper sulfate footbath solutions for the treatment and prevention of digital dermatitis in lactating dairy cows

The objective of this study was to determine whether a novel footbath solution containing stannous fluoride (SnF2) was superior to 5% copper sulfate solution for the treatment and prevention of digital dermatitis (DD) in dairy cattle. Study 1 was conducted over 4 weeks in Missouri and involved 34 lactating Holstein-Friesian cows with hind feet DD lesions. Cows in group SF walked through a footbath containing a proprietary formulation of SnF2 once weekly, whereas cows in group CS walked through a 5% CuSO4 footbath once daily for 5 d each week. Study 2 was conducted over 8 weeks in California and involved 40 lactating Holstein-Friesian cows with hind feet DD lesions. Cows in group SF walked through a SnF2 footbath for 3 consecutive days then once a week for the following 7 weeks. Cows in group CS walked through a 5% CuSO4 footbath 3 times each week for 8 weeks. Data collection included lesion type, lesion area, locomotion score, and pain score. Digital dermatitis was actively transmitted in study 1, and lesion area and locomotion scores were lower in group SF than group CS. In contrast, DD was not actively transmitted in study 2, and lesion area and locomotion scores were similar in groups SF and CS. Stannous fluoride delayed the development of active DD lesions in study 1 compared with copper sulfate, with a lower relative risk (0.57, P < 0.001) of a hind foot developing an active DD lesion over 28 d. However, SnF2 decreased the rate that active DD lesions transitioned to M3, M4, or M0 lesions compared with 5% copper sulfate in both studies, with the relative risk of a hind foot with an active DD lesion transitioning to M3, M4, or M0 in group SF being slightly lower in study 1 (0.83, P = 0.042) and study 2 (0.90, P = 0.020) than group CS. Our findings demonstrated that walking cows through a stannous fluoride footbath once per week in a herd undergoing active transmission of infection was more effective in preventing active DD lesions, but less effective in treating active DD lesions, than walking cows through a copper sulfate footbath 4 times per week. The novel SnF2 footbath solution shows promise for controlling DD in dairy herds that want an alternative footbath solution to CuSO4 and are interested in limiting the environmental accumulation of copper.

Mechanism analysis and mixing characterization of variable-speed mechanical mixing enhancement

Abstract In response to the observed phenomenon of poor fluid mixing within the reactor, this study proposes a novel mixing method to enhance fluid mixing efficiency. In this study, numerical simulation and purification tests were carried out for the purification of zinc sulfate solution. Numerical simulations were conducted to compare the effects of variable-speed stirring and uniform-speed stirring on mixing efficiency, considering both momentum transfer process and mass transfer process. The purification test further demonstrated a significant improvement in the reaction rate under variable-speed stirring, as evidenced by the analysis of purification efficiency and microscopic morphology. It was elaborated that the enhancement mechanism of variable-speed stirring involved disrupting the periodic order structure in the tank, leading to the generation of a multi-scale vortex that increased stirring kinetic energy to form a shear force. This force contributed to reducing the velocity slip between the impurity ions and zinc particles, consequently decreasing reaction time and enhancing purification rate. The results indicated that sinusoidal stirring yielded the most effective mixing. When implemented in practical production settings, it enhanced dimensionless mixing efficiency by 24.83 % compared to the homogeneous stirring system. Additionally, it reduced reaction time by 15.47 % and decreased mixing energy per unit volume by 32.38 %, while simultaneously lowering energy consumption by 24.77 %.

Deep purification of copper from zinc sulfate solution using controllable aging FeS nanoparticles through slow-release sulfide precipitation

The purification of impurity ions within zinc hydrometallurgical solutions significantly impacts the subsequent quality of zinc electrodeposition. Traditional methods for copper removal from zinc solutions suffer from issues like limited reactivity, high consumption, and elevated costs. To address these challenges, controllable aging of FeS nanoparticles was designed, employing temperature variations to facilitate comprehensive copper removal from neutral zinc leachates. The aging process imparts a crystalline structure to the FeS nanoparticles, enabling the slow release of sulfide ions. A temperature of 60°C is regarded as the optimal aging temperature, at which the resultant FeS nanoparticles exhibit an optimal sustained-release performance during the aging process. Temperature has been found to be a crucial factor influencing the sustained-release performance of FeS. Once the reaction temperature surpasses 60°C, the utilization efficiency of S ions in the sustained-release agent can reach over 95%, with a maximum of 98.5%. Under optimal conditions featuring a reaction temperature of 60°C, a reaction duration of 30 minutes, and a solution pH maintained at 1, the dosage aged FeS at the S/Cu (II) ratio of 1.2 times, nearly 100% copper removal rate can be achieved. The maximum removal rate for cadmium does not exceed 2.5%, and the residual copper concentration in the zinc leachate is below 0.2 mg/L. The precipitate obtained is high-purity copper sulfide residue, which contains virtually no zinc. Slow-release sulfidation can maximize the utilization efficiency of sulfide ions in the solution, reduce the occurrence of competing reactions, and minimize the intermixing of products. It offers advantages such as high selectivity and deep purification.

Study on Optimization of Deep Purification Process Design of Zinc Oxygen Pressure Acid Leaching Solution

According to the characteristics of high impurity content and complex composition of oxygen pressure leaching (OPL) solution of zinc sulfide concentrate, combined with the quality requirements of large plate electrowinning and automatic plate stripping, the advanced purification process of solution was designed. Through the deep purification process consisting of neutralization indium precipitation and low iron purification, high temperature antimony salt nickel and cobalt removal, copper slag chlorine removal, low temperature zinc powder replacement copper and cadmium removal, fine purification, calcium and magnesium removal, the contents of harmful impurities such as iron, indium, copper, cadmium, nickel, cobalt, fluorine and chlorine in the solution are strictly controlled to ensure that the quality of the deeply purified zinc sulfate solution is qualified and can meet the needs of continuous and stable production. The energy-saving effect of advanced purification process is obvious, and the average DC power consumption per ton of electric zinc is 2880kWh, reaching the advanced level of the same industry in China. The good effect of advanced purification process ensures the successful application of OPL and large plate zinc electrowinning, and improves the technology and equipment level of zinc smelting industry, which has important popularization and application value.

A Gaussian-mixture-model based peak splitting method in X-ray fluorescence for high concentration ratio solution

Simultaneous detection of multi-heavy metal ions in zinc sulfate solution facilitates the zinc hydrometallurgy process control. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is widely used for composition detection due to its high detection speed and no sample pre-treatment. However, the high matrix ion-to-trace impurity ion ratio in zinc sulfate causes severe spectral overlap, hindering pure peak area acquisition—a vital feature in ion concentration detection. To address this, a peak-splitting method based on the Gaussian mixture model was proposed. Initially, two ion mixing spectra were obtained with optimized reagents. Subsequently, Gaussian models were established for the characteristic peak regions with varying distributions. Finally, the proposed model was combined with Chaotic Sparrow Search Algorithm to handle the overlapping peaks. The experimental results demonstrated superior stability and additivity compared to other methods. All coefficients of determination between single peak areas and ion concentrations exceeded 0.99, confirming the method's efficacy in resolving heavily masked overlapping peaks.

Strong and tough poly(vinyl alcohol)/xanthan gum-based ionic conducting hydrogel enabled through the synergistic effect of ion cross-linking and salting out

The mechanical properties of ionic conductive hydrogels (ICHs) are generally inadequate, leading to their susceptibility to breakage under external forces and consequently resulting in the failure of flexible electronic devices. In this work, a simple and convenient strategy was proposed based on the synergistic effect of ion cross-linking and salting out, in which the hydrogels consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and xanthan gum (XG) were immersed in zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) solution to obtain ICHs with exceptional mechanical properties. The salt-out effects between PVA chains and SO42− ions along with the cross-linked network of XG chains and Zn2+ ions contribute to the desirable mechanical properties of ICHs. Notably, the mechanical properties of ICHs can be adjusted by changing the concentration of ZnSO4 solution. Consequently, the optimum fracture stress and the fracture energy can reach 3.38 MPa and 12.13 KJ m−2, respectively. Moreover, the ICHs demonstrated a favorable sensitivity (up to 2.05) when utilized as a strain sensor, exhibiting an accurate detection of human body movements across various amplitudes.

Enhanced osteogenic and antibacterial properties of titanium implant surface modified with Zn-incorporated nanowires: Preclinical invitro and invivo investigations.

This study aimed to synthesize zinc-incorporated nanowires structure modified titanium implant surface (Zn-NW-Ti) and explore its superior osteogenic and antibacterial properties invitro and invivo. Zn-NW-Ti was synthesized via displacement reactions between zinc sulfate solutions and the titanium (Ti) surface, which was pretreated by hydrofluoric acid etching and hyperthermal alkalinization. The physicochemical properties of the Zn-NW-Ti surface were examined. Moreover, the biological effects of Zn-NW-Ti on MC3T3-E1 cells and its antibacterial property against oral pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) compared with sandblasted and acid-etched Ti (SLA-Ti) and nanowires modified Ti (NW-Ti) surface were assessed. Zn-NW-Ti and SLA-Ti modified implants were inserted into the anterior extraction socket of the rabbit mandible with or without exposure to the mixed bacterial solution (S. aureus, P. gingivalis, and A. actinomycetemcomitans) to investigate the osteointegration and antibacterial performance via radiographic and histomorphometric analysis. The Zn-NW-Ti surface was successfully prepared. The resultant titanium surface appeared as a nanowires structure with hydrophilicity, from which zinc ions were released in an effective concentration range. The Zn-NW-Ti surface performed better in facilitating the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells while inhibiting the colonization of bacteria compared with SLA-Ti and NW-Ti surface. The Zn-NW-Ti implant exhibited enhanced osseointegration invivo, which was attributed to increased osteogenic activity and reduced bacterial-induced inflammation compared with the SLA-Ti implant. The Zn-incorporated nanowires structure modified titanium implant surface exhibited improvements in osteogenic and antibacterial properties, which optimized osteointegration in comparison with SLA titanium implant surface.

Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in dogs and cats: Age-related predisposition, symptomatic, and asymptomatic cyst shedding

Background and Aim: Giardiasis is a protozoal disease that is globally prevalent in dogs and cats. The clinical manifestations vary, but asymptomatic cases have also been reported. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in domestic dogs and cats, characterize the age susceptibility to this disease, and determine the frequency of cases in which cysts are combined with stool changes. Materials and Methods: After centrifugation in a zinc sulfate solution (specific gravity = 1.32 g/cm3), feces of dogs (2761) and cats (1579) were examined microscopically. The age of the animals and the presence of coprological stool characteristics such as fecal odor, consistency, presence of mucus, and other pathological impurities were taken into account. Results: G. duodenalis infection rates were 18.2% (215/1182) in dogs aged 1–12 months and 3.8% (60/1579) in dogs older than 12 months. The infection rate was 7.8% (48/615) in cats aged 1–12 months and 3.35% (33/994) in cats aged &gt;12 months. The most frequently observed coprological abnormalities in cyst-positive animals were soft and/or mushy stool and pungent odor. In dogs, the frequency of these symptoms was 24.4% (67/275), 27.6% (76/275), and 36.4% (100/275) for soft stools, mushy stools, and pungent fecal odor, and 37.8% (31/82), 25.6% (21/82), and 19.5% (16/82), respectively. No stool changes were found when G. duodenalis cysts were detected in dogs in 24.7% (68/275) of cases and in cats in 24.4% (20/82). Conclusion: G. duodenalis cysts are reported more frequently in domestic cats and dogs under 12 months of age than in dogs under 12 months of age. The presence of Giardia cysts is usually accompanied by a strong odor of feces and changes in their consistency. It can be concluded that it is necessary to conduct periodic surveillance for apparently healthy dogs and cats to rule out G. duodenalis infection. Keywords: age of animals, cat feces, consistency of dog feces, coprological parameters, cysts, feces, Giardia duodenalis.

Preparation of nano zinc borate and investigation of flame-retardancy of ternary combination nano zinc borate/red phosphorus/expandable graphite on HDPE

Nano zinc borates were successfully synthesised from aqueous solutions of zinc sulfate, boric acid, and sodium hydroxide via the precipitation method. The effects of pH, temperature, and surfactants on the structure and morphologies of nano zinc borates were investigated. The nano zinc borates obtained at the pH of 7 to 8 were well-crystallised monophase Zn[B3O4(OH)3]. The morphologies of nano zinc borates were highly impacted by the reaction temperature and the surfactants. At the range of temperatures from 70 to 80oC, the nano zinc borates were nanoplates of 40-50 nm in thickness. The nano zinc borates grew out of the surface to form nanorods at 90oC and nanowhiskers at 100oC. The nano zinc borates modified with surfactants tended to form larger and thinner plate-like nanoparticles. In the presence of Tween 80, petal-like nano zinc borates were achieved. The petal-like nano zinc borates showed good flame retardant synergistic effects with red phosphorus and expandable graphite on high-density polyethylene matrix. Additionally, the nano zinc borates nanopetals significantly improved the mechanical properties of red phosphorus/expandable graphite/high-density polyethylene composites.

Management of Athlete's foot with topical Zinc Sulphate (15%) Solution versus Clotrimazole (1%) Solution

Background: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is by far the commonest fungal infections of the integument in the developed world that usually begins between the toes. Multiple drugs were used for the treatment of athlete's foot and including both; topical and systemic agents.Zinc sulphate has been used as topical antifungal agent. Objective: Comparison the efficacy of 15% zinc sulphate solution topically in the management of tinea pedis with topical clotrimazole solution. Patients and Methods: A therapeutic, single blind, comparative, study of Zinc Sulphate solution (15%) in the management of tinea pedis in comparison with clotrimazole solution (both topically), that conducted in the Unit of Dermatology and Venereology ,Baquba Teaching Hospital, extended from March 2020- July 2021 . Fifty patients, 31 males and 19 females with tinea pedis were registered in this study. Divided to 2 groups of patients included in the study: Group A: Use the topical zinc sulphate solution 15%. Group B: Use the topical 1% Clotrimazole solution. A complete history with examination clinically were done for all patients with tinea pedis involving all the relevant points. All patients were used the medicine twice daily for 30 days, and follow there to be seen every 14 days during the course of treatment and then follow up for two months. The patients were examined clinically; also the scoring of feet odor was done at each visit. Results: Group A: Twenty five patients 9 (36%) females and 16 (64%) males were included in this group were treated by Zinc Sulphate solution , and their ages ranged between 27-73(47.8±12.18) years. and the duration of that illness was ranged from 1-120(43±46.61) months. Clinical response after one month of the treatment was 10(40%) patients with complete clearance, 5(20%) patients had partial clearance while 10(40%) patients showed no response. Group B: Twenty five patients treated by clotrimazole solution, and their ages ranged from 24-65(43.2±11.83) years, and the duration of the illness was ranged from 1-180(30.24±44.9) months. Clinical response after four weeks of treatment was 19(76%) patients with complete response, 2(8%) patients had partial response, while 4(16%) patients have no response. There was no statistical significance difference at two weeks in comparison between group A and B (chi square 5.37 P value =0.07) but was slightly significant at four weeks (chi square 6.65, P value =0.04). Side effects of treatment were mild which included itching and burning sensation in 4(16%) patients of group A and in 1(4%) patients of group B. These side effects did not require discontinuation of the treatment. Conclusion: Clotrimazole solution was superior to15% Zinc sulphate solution as effective as topical treatment for Athlete's foot. Keywords: Tinea pedis, topical zinc sulphate, clotrimazole