The Effect of Water Boiled in Aluminum Cookwares on Genomic Abnormalities in the Meristematic Cells of Onion Root

Introduction: One of the ways of human exposure to aluminum (Al) is Al food packaging materials and cookwares. Although many studies have examined the biotic influence of nanoparticles or ionic form of heavy metals, there are limited studies conducted on the possible health risks of metals in the form of alloy used for making utensils. In this study, the effect of water boiled in Al cookwares with defined concentrations of Al on the genomic abnormalities and cell division of meristematic cells of onion root was evaluated using Allium cepa assay. Materials and Methods: The onion roots were treated with water boiled in Al utensils (three pots) with different concentrations of Al (5 and 10 mg/l) for 42 to 43 hours and then analyzed for mitotic index (MI) and mitotic phase aberrations (MPA). Results: The percent of MI in the study groups treated with 5 mg/l of Al from pot 1 and 10 mg/l from all pots increased significantly compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Also, the frequency of total MPA in all Al treated groups significantly increased compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The most significant results were derived by sticky chromosomes, anaphase bridge, going ahead chromosome and disturbed mitosis, respectively. Conclusion: The result of this study confirmed the genotoxic effect of water boiled in Al cookwares containing the examined range of Al concentrations on the meristematic cells of onion root.

THE STUDY OF THE SORPTION PROPERTIES OF FILTERING MATERIALS BASED ON TITANIUM PHOSPHATE - POROUS TITANIUM COMPOSITION

Inorganic sorbents are more selective in comparison with commercial ion exchange resins towards of metal ions. However, inorganic sorbents characterized not high kinetic properties. One of the way to increase the kinetic rate of inorganic sorbents is to reduce the particle size of these materials, other way is synthesizing inorganic sorbents as porous products from powder materials. A sample of such inorganic sorbents is titanium phosphate of various compositions. Studying the properties of microfilters based on composition titanium phosphate - porous titanium has been developed. The sorbents based on acidic titanium phosphate Ti(HPO4)2∙H2O were used for filtering solution with Fe(II) content. It is found that the number of impregnations with inorganic sorbent modificator is important and influence filtration process. The obtained results demonstrated that after the first impregnation of porous material with a smaller pore size, it is possible to obtain such sorbent as a mass content of powder material. By varying the ionic form of titanium phosphate, the porosity of titanium, the amount of impregnation, it could be possible effect on the sorption Fe(II). The sorption properties of titanium-titanium phosphate microfilters were studied by potentiometric titration in the NaCl-NaOH system, as well as the sorption of Fe2+ ions. The degree of purification for Fe(II) from solution with a concentration of 10 mg/l is 64 %. Application an electric potential to the microfilter of porous titanium - phosphate titanium increases the degree of purification of Fe(II) to 88 %.

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMUNOMODULATORY AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF SHILAJATU

Ayurveda focuses upon preventing and promoting health along with curing of diseases in a systematic way. Ayurvedic literature has numerous single and compound plant-based, herbo-mineral, herbo-metallic formulations for general well being and in disease-specifi c conditions relating to geriatrics. Rasayana is a specialized branch that deals with the problems related to ageing and methods to counter the same. Shilajatu is one such compound, which has been used in Ayurveda for centuries as Rasayana and as a treatment for all the ailments of body. It is composed of mainly humic acid (60-80 %), and fulvic acid, oxygenated dibenzo- -pyrones and minerals in ionic form (20-40 %). This article is aimed at analyzing and disseminating the classical concepts and available published researches inferring antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of Shilajatu. The review reveals that Shilajatu exhibits signifi cant antioxidant, immunomodulatory, chelating, cognitive and memory enhancing activities, thus it could prove to be a panacea for mankind.

Research influence of biological corrosion on the strength of steel structures of hydrotechnical construction of long-term operation in aggressive environments

Biocorrosion is caused by the vital activity of various microorganisms that use metals as a nutrient medium or produce products that destroy metal structures. Anaerobic is the most dangerous (growth without oxygen) sulfate-reducing bacteria, which are present in slimy and swamp soils. Bacteria restore sulfate ions to sulfides ions, accelerating corrosion of metal. Life of aerobic bacteria occurs only in the presence of oxygen. Bacteria oxidize sulfur to sulfuric acid, the concentration of which in separate places can reach 10%. Ironobacteria absorb iron in ionic form and excrete it in the form of non-dissolved compounds. Since non-dissolved products are distributed on the metal surface unevenly, the electrochemical heterogeneity of the surface occurs, which accelerates corrosion. Microorganisms formed on the metal surface can cause not only corrosion. They can also increase the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the environment by increasing the amount of deposits on steel hydraulic structures. The greatest danger from the point of view of corrosion is sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), which are widespread in hydraulic environments. Sulfate renewable bacteria belong to the class of anaerobic bacteria, the vital activity of which can be without oxygen. Aerobic bacteria, such as ironbacteria (IB) and sulfur bacteria or thionic (TB), which are present in groundwater with SRB, is viable only in the presence of oxygen. Anaerobic and aerobic bacteria have a common existence environment, and therefore often the development of one species creates favorable conditions for others.

Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles from Cu2+-Spiked Wastewater via Adsorptive Separation and Subsequent Chemical Reduction

Copper in ionic form (Cu2+) should be removed from wastewater because of its harmful effects on human health. Meanwhile, Cu-metal nanoparticles (Cu0 NPs) are widely used in various applications such as catalysts, optical materials, sensors, and antibacterial agents. Here, we demonstrated the recovery of Cu2+ from wastewater and its subsequent transformation into Cu0 NPs, a value-added product, via continuous adsorption followed by chemical reduction by hydrazine. To separate and enrich Cu2+ from wastewater, a biosorbent that exhibits excellent selectivity and adsorption capacity toward Cu2+, i.e., polyethyleneimine-grafted cellulose nanofibril aerogel (PEI@CNF), was packed into a column and used to treat 20 mg/L Cu2+ wastewater at a flow rate of 5 mL/min. The Cu2+ adsorption reached equilibrium at 72 h, and the Cu2+-saturated column was eluted using 0.1 M of HCl. After five consecutive elutions of Cu2+ from the adsorbent column, a Cu2+-enriched solution with a concentration of 3212 mg/L was obtained. The recovered Cu2+ concentrate was chemically reduced to obtain Cu0 NPs by reaction with hydrazine as a reductant in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a stabilizer. The solution pH and hydrazine/Cu2+ ratio strongly affected the reduction efficiency of Cu2+ ions. When 0.1 M of SDS was used, spherical 50–100 nm Cu0 NPs were obtained. The results demonstrate that Cu2+-spiked wastewater can be converted into Cu0 NPs as a value-added product via adsorption followed by chemical reduction.

Electrochemical Approaches for the Recovery of Metals from Electronic Waste: A Critical Review

Electronic waste (e-waste) management and recycling are gaining significant attention due to the presence of precious, critical, or strategic metals combined with the associated environmental burden of recovering metals from natural mines. Metal recovery from e-waste is being prioritized in metallurgical extraction owing to the fast depletion of natural mineral ores and the limited geographical availability of critical and/or strategic metals. Following collection, sorting, and physical pre-treatment of e-waste, electrochemical processes-based metal recovery involves leaching metals in an ionic form in a suitable electrolyte. Electrochemical metal recovery from e-waste uses much less solvent (minimal reagent) and shows convenient and precise control, reduced energy consumption, and low environmental impact. This critical review article covers recent progress in such electrochemical metal recovery from e-waste, emphasizing the comparative significance of electrochemical methods over other methods in the context of an industrial perspective.

Silver Nanoparticles and Silver Ions Differentially Affect the Phytohormone Balance and Yield in Wheat

This study aimed to examine the hypothesis that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver ions might induce specific changes and thereby affect plant development and final yield. The experiment was performed on spring wheat, cultured hydroponically with two types of negatively charged AgNPs of an average size of 13–15 nm and silver ions for 14 days and then transplanted to pots with soil. Our results indicated that treatment with the AgNPs stabilized by specific compounds resulted in growth promotion and a reduced number of days to flowering, while that with the ionic form of Ag only caused greater growth in height without influencing the time to heading. Accelerated flowering was caused by changes in phytohormone balance, with GA6 found to be especially favorable. Nanoparticles and silver ions affected the function of photosystem II and the transport and partitioning of assimilates. Increases in the transport form of sugars such as sucrose, raffinose and sorbitol were associated with a considerable improvement in wheat yield, especially in the case of plants treated with the nanoparticle forms, which were more stable and resistant to oxidative dissolution.

Fate and transformation of silver nanoparticles in different biological conditions

The exploitation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in biomedicine represents more than one third of their overall application. Despite their wide use and significant amount of scientific data on their effects on biological systems, detailed insight into their in vivo fate is still lacking. This study aimed to elucidate the biotransformation patterns of AgNPs following oral administration. Colloidal stability, biochemical transformation, dissolution, and degradation behaviour of different types of AgNPs were evaluated in systems modelled to represent biological environments relevant for oral administration, as well as in cell culture media and tissue compartments obtained from animal models. A multimethod approach was employed by implementing light scattering (dynamic and electrophoretic) techniques, spectroscopy (UV–vis, atomic absorption, nuclear magnetic resonance) and transmission electron microscopy. The obtained results demonstrated that AgNPs may transform very quickly during their journey through different biological conditions. They are able to degrade to an ionic form and again reconstruct to a nanoparticulate form, depending on the biological environment determined by specific body compartments. As suggested for other inorganic nanoparticles by other research groups, AgNPs fail to preserve their specific integrity in in vivo settings.

Equilibrium of ion exchange of calcium, magnesium and potassium for proton on fibrous carboxylic ion exchanger

By the method of potentiometric titration of a fibrous aminocarboxylic polyampholyte with a predominant content of carboxyl groups, the equilibrium of the cation exchange of calcium, magnesium, and potassium ions for a hydrogen ion was studied. Due to the low solubility of calcium and magnesium hydroxides in these cases, titration was carried out by Ca(OH)2 and Mg(OH)2, which are formed in solution upon contact with the H-form of the ion exchanger оf increasing portions of solid CaO and MgO. This made it possible to obtain titration curves in a wide range of pH and calcium and magnesium chlorides concentration (0–0.1 eq./L). The dependences of the swelling of ion exchangers on the neutralization degree with the bases of the studied cations are obtained. The coefficients of ion-exchange equilibria are calculated. It was found that the swelling of the ion exchanger is relatively little dependent on its ionic form. The ion exchanger has a higher affinity for calcium than magnesium ion.

Penetration and pharmacokinetics of ferulic acid after dermal administration

Purpose: To study the in vitro penetration and in vivo pharmacokinetics of ferulic acid (FA), and the correlation between them after dermal administration. Methods: Franz diffusion cell was used to study in vitro penetration of FA. The concentration of FA in the Franz receiver solution was assessed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Prior to in vivo pharmacokinetics experiments, probe recovery was validated with respect to influencing factors such as flow rate, FA concentration, within-day stability and reproducibility of the probes. In in vivo pharmacokinetic experiment, six male CD-1 hairless mice were used. The micro-dialysis (MD) probe was implanted in the dermis of the rat skin, and dialysates from probe outlet were quantified directly by HPLC. In in vivo studies, deconvolution methods were used to determine the relationship between in vitro and in vivo data, and the correlation coefficient of linear equations. Results: There was significant effect of pH (5 ~ 8) on the penetration of FA. Increase in pH caused commensurate decrease in permeability. The Cmax of FA was 300.74 ± 31.86 ng/mL while Tmax was 138.00 ± 22.80 min after dermal administration of 1 mg/mL FA dissolved in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The correlation coefficient (r) between in vitro and in vivo data was 0.9905. Conclusion: Both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrate that FA permeates the stratum corneum of skin rapidly. The unionized form of FA shows better penetration than the ionic form. In addition, results from correlation analysis indicate that the in vitro penetration characteristics of FA can be applied to predict its in vivo pharmacokinetics.