Short Communication: Mechanism and Prevention of Irreversible Trapping of Atmospheric He During Mineral Crushing

A pervasive challenge in noble gas geochemistry is to ensure that analytical techniques do not modify the composition of the noble gases in the samples. Noble gases are present in the atmosphere and are used in a number of manufacturing procedures and by laboratory equipment. Of particular concern is the introduction of atmospheric or laboratory noble gases to samples during preparation before samples are placed in a vacuum chamber for analysis. Recent work has shown the potential for contamination of crushed samples with air-derived He that is not released by placing the samples under vacuum at low temperature. Using pure He gas as a tracer, we show that the act of crushing samples to a fine powder itself can introduce He contamination, but that this is easily avoided by crushing under liquid or in an inert atmosphere. Because the He is trapped during crushing, the same concern does not extend to samples that are naturally fine-grained when collected. The degree of He contamination even from crushing samples to sizes smaller than typically used for geochronology is insignificant for samples at least 1 Ma and with more than 1 ppm U when the guidelines outlined here are followed.

Property Evaluation of Cement-Stabilized Macadam Modified via Phosphorus Slag Materials

Phosphorus slag, known as the waste product of the phosphate ore industry, is causing critical environmental issues due to its direct exposure to natural spaces. In this article, a partial replacement of the natural fine aggregate ordinarily used in cement-stabilized macadam (CSM) base by phosphorus slag was explored to be an effective solution for phosphorus slag waste. CSM specimens were fabricated by adding various dosages of phosphorus slag particle and fine powder, whereas the optimum moisture content and maximum dry density were analyzed through compaction tests. Compressive strength, bending tensile strength, fatigue life span, dry shrinkage, and temperature shrinkage performance at different curing durations were investigated to evaluate the properties of modified macadam. Results show that phosphorus slag reduced the early compressive strength of CSM to a small extent, but the compressive strength finally increased at 90 days’ curing. The modified slag particles and slag fine powder exhibited different behaviors to repeated loading, moisture loss, and temperature difference. Finally, according to the strength change, fatigue performance comparison, and shrinkage strain caused by the incorporation of phosphorous slag materials into the CSM, it was verified that 25% of the particles to 40% of the fine powder is the best replacement ratio.

Effects of Etlingera elatior inflorescence extract on beneficial bacteria of the healthy human gut

Background: Etlingera species is an enduring plant in the Zingiberaceae family, with more than 100 species local to many countries. It has been utilized commonly as a culinary spice or eaten crude for its therapeutic impacts. This research is intended to study the effects of E. elatior inflorescence, which is commonly known as bunga kantan in Peninsular Malaysia, upon the microbiota of healthy human gut. Material and methods: The closed bud E. elatior inflorescence was cleaned and dried in the hot air oven and grounded into fine powder. The extract from the E. elatior inflorescence was obtained using hot water extraction method. The effects of the inflorescence extract on L. rhamnosus and L. acidophilus were studied through micro-broth dilution process where different concentration of sample was incorporated into a broth medium followed by the application of a standardized volume of Lactobacillus sp. into the medium of the 96 well plate. Results: Growth was seen in both L. rhamnosus and L. acidophilus, indicating that E. elatior inflorescence acted like a prebiotic towards L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus Conclusion: E. elatior inflorescence concentrate acts like a prebiotic towards L. acidophilus incomparable to L. rhamnosus

Nikiel i jego związki. Metoda oznaczania w powietrzu na stanowiskach pracy

Nickel due to its physicochemical properties is used to produce high strength, corrosion resistant, temperature resi-stant, high resistance and acid resistant alloys. Nickel in the form of fine powder can induce an allergic response when in contact with the skin, carcinogenic properties have been proven with long-term exposure to nickel dust. According to the proposed directive of the European Parliament No. 2020/0262, a value of maximum allowable concentration (MAC) in a workplace air in Poland for the inhalable fraction should be at 0.05 mg/m3 and for the respirable fraction at 0.01 mg/m3 (2020/0262/COD). The aim of this study was to develop a method for determining nickel in the range of 1/10 ÷ 2 of the MAC. The method is based on gathering nickel aerosol and its compounds contained in the air on a filter, filter mineralization in nitric acid(V) and hydrochloric acid at elevated temperature then determination of nickel content in the sample using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) with flame atomization. The method for the determination of nickel is presented in the form of an analytical procedure, which is included in the appendix. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

Sodium Caseinate and Acetylated Mung Bean Starch for the Encapsulation of Lutein: Enhanced Solubility and Stability of Lutein

Lutein is a kind of vital carotenoid with high safety and significant advantages in biological functions. However, poor water solubility and stability of lutein have limited its application. This study selected different weight ratios of sodium caseinate to acetylated mung bean starch (10:0, 9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 1:9, and 0:10) to prepare lutein emulsions, and the microcapsules were produced by spray drying technology. The microstructure, physicochemical properties, and storage stability of microcapsules were investigated. The results show that the emulsion systems were typical non-Newtonian fluids. Lutein microcapsules were light yellow fine powder with smooth and relatively complete particle surface. The increase of sodium caseinate content led to the enhanced emulsion effect of the emulsion and the yield and solubility of microcapsules increased, and wettability and the average particle size became smaller. The encapsulation efficiency of lutein microcapsules ranged from 69.72% to 89.44%. The thermal characteristics analysis showed that the endothermic transition of lutein microcapsules occurred at about 125 °C. The microcapsules with sodium caseinate as single wall material had the worst stability. Thus, it provides a reference for expanding the application of lutein in food, biological, pharmaceutical, and other industries and improving the stability and water dispersion of other lipid-soluble active ingredients.

Digestive Activity of Pancha Harithakadi Churna

The traditional systems of medicine are really effective but the problem with them is they lack in quality assurance. Standardization is the need of the hour in ayurvedic system of medicine. PanchaHarithakadi Churna (PHC) is a traditional polyherbal formulation which consists of five household ingredients used for indigestion. It is mainly used for Constipation and Bloating. Churna’s will play a major role in gastro intestinal problems and they have greater bioavailability because of smaller particle size. It consists of fine powder (sieve 100 size) of ginger rhizomes, fennel fruits, myrobalan fruits, senna leaflets and pink rock salt in equal proportions (1:1:1:1:1) are mixed well. PHC was formulated by standard procedures and evaluated by microscopic characterization, inorganic analysis and digestive studies. Microscopical characters indicate the presence of genuine crude drugs used in the formulation. Inorganic analysis shows the presence of calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride and phosphate. The PHC showed pronounced amylolytic activity and trypsin activity whereas moderate lipolytic activity, proteolytic activity and pepsin activity, mild chymotrypsin activity in treating indigestion. In future we will carry out in vivo digestive studies.

Isolation of Alkaloids from Papaver rhoeas (Papaveraceae) Wildly Grown in Iraq

The plant Papaver rhoeas ,which belongs to family Papaveraceae and known as common poppy is wildly grown in Iraq .It was used in traditional medicine in wide range of diseases including inflammation, diarrhea, sleep disorders, treatment of cough, analgesia, and also to reduce the withdrawal signs of opioid addiction. The project provide the first comprehensive research done in Iraq to study the phytochemical and the methods of extraction and separation of alkaloids from Papaver rhoeas wildly grown in Iraq .The plant was harvested in April 2019 from Zurbatiya is an Iraqi town located at the northeast of Waist province in Iraq.The collected plant was washed thoroughly, dries under shade, and grounding in a mechanical grinder to fine powder. The plant was extracted by hot extraction method using Methanol then fractionation was done to separate alkaloids from chloroform Fraction by TLC and PTLC .The alkaloids were isolated and purified by PTLC then subjected to various analytical techniques for alkaloids identification such as UV, LC mass and IR .The result was indicated of three alkaloids (dihydrocodien, chelidonine and papaverrubine C) in Papaver rhoeas plant.

A Review of Glass Fibre Recycling Technology Using Chemical and Mechanical Separation of Surface Sizing Agents

Glass fiber is widely used in various modern industrial applications because it has the advantages of good electrical insulation performance and good process ability. Inevitably, some flawed glass fiber generated during manufacturing processes becomes waste and, in recent years, the treatment or recycling of glass fiber waste has become an environmental concern. Since glass fiber is brittle, non-wearing, and can easily generate static electricity after friction, the surface of glass fiber must be coated with a wetting agent (i.e., surface sizing agent) to overcome these disadvantages. However, glass fiber waste cannot be directly recycled as glass raw materials due to the presence of the surface sizing agent and the high content of sodium element. Therefore, there is a need to develop a feasible technology for removal of surface sizing agent in order to recycle glass fiber waste. In this study, two methods were used to remove surface sizing agent from glass fiber waste. After removing the surface sizing agent, the treated glass fiber waste can replace sand particles for manufacturing controlled low-strength material (CLSM). The first method for removing surface sizing agent used different organic solvents such as ethyl acetate to dissolve the surface coating (i.e., surface sizing agent). Then, an optical microscope was used to observe the surface changes before and after such removal treatments. The second method involved grinding glass fiber waste into a fine powder and heating it to a high temperature. An X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were used to analyze the surface characteristics of the glass fiber waste. The experimental results showed that different organic solvents could not effectively remove the surface sizing agent, even if the glass fiber waste was processed by ultrasonic vibration for 5 h. In contrast, after high heating at 800 °C for 2 h, the surface sizing agent could be removed, and glass fiber waste transformed to cristobalite. The CLSM concrete produced by mixing cristobalite with cement in an appropriate proportion can meet the CLSM specification standard in Taiwan.

HIGH EFFECTIVE RESOURCE-SAVING TECHNOLOGY OF REFINING VEGETABLE OILS

Показано, что эффективность комплексной рафинации зависит от организации и качества первичной очистки растительных масел непосредственно после их извлечения. Предложено использовать в качестве растительного адсорбента тонкодисперсный порошок из зерен фасоли, полученный их измельчением в роторно-валковом дезинтеграторе при давлении от 50 до 60 МПа. Для эксперимента использовали нерафинированное подсолнечное прессовое масло. Обработку масла полученным органическим порошком из зерен фасоли проводили следующим образом. Масло из форпресса при температуре от 95 до 100°С смешивали в роторно-валковом дезинтеграторе с адсорбентом в количестве 0,2% от массы масла, выдерживали в экспозиторе при температуре 90°С в течение 30 мин, а затем фильтровали. Установлено, что новый адсорбент обеспечивает повышение качества масла и полностью исключает присутствие в нем нежировых примесей и хлорогеновой кислоты. Исследована возможность использования электроактивированной воды в виде католита или анолита в качестве гидратирующего реагента при гидратации растительных масел. Для получения электроактивированной воды использовали водопроводную воду с рН 7,1 и окислительно-восстановительным потенциалом Eh +1,64 мВ. Электроактивированную воду получали в периодически действующем электролизере, варьируя продолжительность электролиза от 1 до 30 мин. Проведена пробная гидратация подсолнечного масла по традиционной технологии при температуре 60°С с последовательным введением католита и анолита с общим соотношением 1 : 1 в количестве 1% к массе масла. Установлено, что гидратация активированной водой подсолнечного масла, прошедшего очистку растительным адсорбентом, обеспечивает полное удаление фосфолипидов и значительное уменьшение массовой доли красящих веществ, снижение кислотного и перекисного чисел. Разработанные технологические решения позволяют готовить растительные масла к дистилляционной рафинации при более мягких температурных режимах масла и острого перегретого пара. It is shown that the efficiency of the complex of refining depends on the organization and quality of the primary refining of vegetable oils directly after their retrieval. Is offered use as a plant adsorbent a fine powder of grain beans obtained by their grinding in a rotary roller disintegrator at a pressure of from 50 to 60 MPa. For the experiment, crude sunflower press oil was used. Oil treatment of the obtained organic powder from the grain beans was performed in the following way. The oil from forpress at a temperature of from 95 to 100°C were mixed in a rotary roller disintegrator with the adsorbent in the amount of 0,2% by weight of oil, kept in exposure at 90°C for 30 min and then filtered. It is determined that the new adsorbent improves the quality of oil and completely eliminates the presence in him of non-lipid impurities and chlorogenic acid. In the next step the possibility of using electroactivated water in the catholyte or anolyte as a hydrating agent in the hydration of vegetable oils studied. Tap water with pH 7,1 and redox potential Eh +1,64 mV were used to obtain electroactivated water. Electroactivated water was obtained in the periodically current electrolytic cell, varying the duration of electrolysis from 1 to 30 min. Trial hydration of sunflower oil by traditional technology at 60°With sequential introduction of anolyte and catholyte with a common ratio of 1 : 1 in the amount of 1% by weight of oil carried out. It is established that hydration of sunflower oil by activated water, the last clean plant adsorbent, allows a complete removal of phospholipids and a significant decrease of the mass fraction of pigments, reduction of acid and peroxide numbers. Developed technological solutions allow to cook vegetable oils by distillation refining with milder temperatures oil and sharp superheated steam.

Technique to Investigate Pulverizing and Abrasive Performance of Coals in Mineral Processing Systems

The operating costs of breaking coal particles into fine powder, to achieve optimum combustion for the boilers in a power plant, are made up of power input to carry on an energy intensive comminution mechanism and to overcome friction losses within pulverising machines. The operating costs also include the cost of the replacement of the processing system’s components due to wear. This study presents the development and application of an attrition test machine that enables an investigation of the factors that influence pulverizing efficiency. The attrition tester simulates grinding conditions in real vertical spindle mills. In this kind of mill, as with the tester, the size reduction process results from a shearing action during the redistribution of the coal particles. The redistribution and attrition within the coal bed are forced by movement of the rollers (or by a disc rotation, in the case of the tester). The testing method was oriented toward mechanical properties, i.e., internal friction shear strength, abrasiveness and grindability. This method enables facilitated testing procedures and a more exact simulation of grinding in vertical spindle coal mills. Ball-race mills and Loesche roller mills were used.