Dot blot immunochemical and infrared analyses of the adhesive layer applied to the painting Imago Pietatis by Domenico Morone

Purpose To investigate the nature of the materials used in the adhesive layer of the Imago Pietatis painting (end of the fifteenth century—beginning of the sixteenth century) by Domenico Morone as a prerequisite for its restoration. Methods Micro-FTIR spectra of the animal glue and a polished cross-section were acquired by a Jasco IRT3000 spectrometer, equipped with a 32× Cassegrain objective. A dot blot immunoassay was used to characterise a minor component of the adhesive layer. Results Micro-FTIR was used as an effective diagnostic tool to detect the major component of the adhesive layer and the binder of the paint. Despite the ageing, the complex matrix and the micro-size of the sample, using a dot blot immunoassay, it was possible to quantify 3.7 ± 2.0 ng of ovalbumin per microgram of sample (corresponding to 0.004 ± 0.002% of the weight). Conclusions The findings were in line with conservation practices described in the old treatises, confirming the correct interpretation of the adhesive layer compounds added to the painting and suggesting for the cleaning the use of an anionic water-soluble surfactant highly effective in the removing of proteinaceous materials.

Instabilities at a sheared interface over a liquid laden with soluble surfactant

The linear stability of a semi-infinite fluid undergoing a shearing motion over a fluid layer that is laden with soluble surfactant and that is bounded below by a plane wall is investigated under conditions of Stokes flow. While it is known that this configuration is unstable in the presence of an insoluble surfactant, it is shown via a linear stability analysis that surfactant solubility has a stabilising effect on the flow. As the solubility increases, large-wavelength perturbations are stabilised first, leaving open the possibility of mid-wave instability for moderate surfactant solubilities, and the flow is fully stabilised when the solubility exceeds a threshold value. The predictions of the linear stability analysis are supported by an energy budget analysis which is also used to determine the key physical effects responsible for the (de)stabilisation. Asymptotic expansions performed for long-wavelength perturbations turn out to be non-uniform in the insoluble surfactant limit. In keeping with the findings for insoluble surfactant obtained by Pozrikidis & Hill (IMA J Appl Math 76:859–875, 2011), the presence of the wall is found to be a crucial factor in the instability.

555 Early Application of a Water-soluble Surfactant Dressing for Partial-thickness Burn Wounds to Reduce Wound Conversion

Introduction Surfactant-based wound dressings have been utilized in chronic, non-healing wounds and small burn wounds to soften and aid removal of wound debris. In vitro data suggest enhanced healing properties are due to the ability to stabilize and potentially reseal plasma membranes, thereby, retaining cellular integrity and enhance wound healing. Further, surfactant-based wound dressings are non-ionic and may facilitate removal, sensitize, or prevent bacterial biofilms. Biofilms are an evolved, protective mechanism bacteria utilize to reduce antimicrobial efficacy. Removal or penetration of biofilms is essential for bacterial eradication. This case series presents outcomes from use of a water-soluble surfactant dressing (WSD) is used at hospital admission for treating partial thickness (PT) burn wounds. Methods This retrospective, single-center, electronic health record review, included patients, if they were admitted between August 1, 2019 - January 31, 2020, at least 18 years old, and sustained a PT burn wound treated with WSD on admission. Pregnant or incarcerated patients were excluded. The WSD was applied following initial wound debridement, and then twice daily until either discharge or it was deemed burn wound excision would be required. PT tissue salvage was calculated from body mass index (BMI), PT total body surface area (TBSA) burned, and cm2 requiring autografting. SigmaPlot 11.0 was utilized for statistical analysis. Results Thirty-two patients were included. All but one patient had a TBSA burned less than 20% with median (IQR) of 6% (3.5,9). Fifteen also had some full thickness injuries. Seventy-eight percent had flame injuries; 19% contact. Two had inhalation injuries. All but four had a significant past medical and/or social history. Fifty-nine percent had a history of substance abuse and 22% had diabetes. Nine patients had a delayed admission. The median BMI was 26 (24.3,34.2). There were no deaths. Seven patients were discharged within 48 hours to complete outpatient treatment. Median length of stay was 7 days (4.8,12.8). There was lack of any full thickness conversion to the applied areas in 69% of patients; 91% demonstrated either complete or some tissue salvage. Median % PT tissue salvage was 100 (75.3,100). The WSD was well tolerated and no patients developed a wound infection to the applied area. Conclusions Understanding inherent design limitations, this case series demonstrates feasibility of early application, and potential efficacy preventing wound conversion in a complex population with comorbidities and polysubstance abuse.

Unlock the Potentials to Further Improve CO2 Storage and Utilization with Supercritical CO2 Emulsions When Applying CO2-Philic Surfactants

Supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) emulsion has attracted lots of attention, which could benefit both climate control via CO2 storage and industry revenue through significantly increased oil recovery simultaneously. Historically, aqueous soluble surfactants have been widely used as stabilizers, though they suffer from slow propagation, relatively high surfactant adsorption and well injectivity issues. In contrast, the CO2-soluble surfactants could improve the emulsion performance remarkably, due to their CO2-philicity. Here, comprehensive comparison studies are carried out from laboratory experiments to field scale simulations between a commercially available aqueous soluble surfactant (CD 1045) and a proprietary nonionic CO2-philic surfactant whose solubility in ScCO2 and partition coefficient between ScCO2/Brine have been determined. Surfactant affinity to employed oil is indicated by a phase behavior test. Static adsorptions on Silurian dolomite outcrop are conducted to gain the insights of its electro-kinetic properties. Coreflooding experiments are carried out with both consolidated 1 ft Berea sandstone and Silurian dolomite to compare the performances as a result of surfactant natures under two-phase conditions, while harsher conditions are examined on fractured carbonate with presence of an oleic phase. Moreover, the superiorities of ScCO2 foam with CO2-philic surfactant due to dual phase partition capacity are illustrated with field scale simulations. ScCO2 and WAG injections behaviors are used as baselines, while the performances of two types of CO2 emulsions are compared with SAG injection, characterized by phase saturations, CO2 storage, oil production, CO2 utilization ratio and pressure distribution. A novel injection strategy, named CO2 continuous injection with dissolved surfactant (CIDS), which is unique for a CO2-philic surfactant, is also studied. It is found that the CO2-soluble surfactant displays much lower oil affinity and adsorption on carbonate than CD 1045. Furthermore, in a laboratory scale, a much higher foam propagation rate is observed with the novel surfactant, which is mainly ascribed to its CO2 affinity, assisted by the high mobility of the CO2 phase. Field scale simulations clearly demonstrate the potentials of CO2 emulsion on CO2 storage and oil recovery over conventional tertiary productions. Relative to traditional aqueous soluble surfactant emulsion, the novel surfactant emulsion contributes to higher injectivity, CO2 storage capability, oil recovery and energy utilization efficiency. The CIDS could further reduce water injection cost and energy consumption. The findings here reveal the potentials of further improving CO2 storage and utilization when applying ScCO2-philic surfactant emulsion, to compromise both environmental and economic concerns.