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The Science of the Total Environment Mar 2021Polymer injection is used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) when an oil field ages and the pressure in the reservoir decreases, or for oil fields with heavy oil. By polymer...
Polymer injection is used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) when an oil field ages and the pressure in the reservoir decreases, or for oil fields with heavy oil. By polymer injection, the viscosity of the water injected for pressure support is increased by mixing with a high concentration of a polymer solution. Polymers used in EOR operations are often high molecular weight polyacrylamides, including anionic polyacrylamide (APAM), which may subsequently enter the marine environment with produced water releases. Since seawater (SW) contains mineral particles (MPs) in low concentrations, and polymers like APAM are known to flocculate MPs, we investigated if APAM at different concentrations (0.5-10 mg/L) would attach and flocculate MPs, when these occurred in concentrations relevant for oceanic SW (1 mg/L). Two types of MPs, diatomaceous earth and kaolin, were exposed to fluorescence-tagged APAM (APAM-TAG). A low-energy carousel system with natural seawater (SW) was used for incubation of MPs and APAM-TAG at a temperature relevant for the Norwegian Continental Shelf (13 °C). Attachment to MPs and aggregates of these were analysed by fluorometry and fluorescence microscopy. Particle analyses showed that only minor fractions of the MPs aggregated. When samples were separated in steel filter with a mesh size of 20 μm, APAM-TAG was mainly measured in the flow-through fraction (<20 μm), and the results therefore showed that the polymer mainly remained in the water-phase, or was attached to small particles (<20 μm). For the small fraction of APAM attaching to aggregated MPs, attraction to kaolin was higher than to diatomaceous earth, and fluorescence microscopy analyses confirmed the presence of fluorescent particles at the higher APAM concentrations. MPs at concentrations relevant for oceanic SW are therefore not expected to significantly contribute to sedimentation of APAM dissolved in the water column.
PubMed: 33333302
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143888 -
Insects Jul 2022Cases of Lyme disease in humans are on the rise in the United States and Canada. The vector of the bacteria that causes this disease is the blacklegged tick, . Current...
Cases of Lyme disease in humans are on the rise in the United States and Canada. The vector of the bacteria that causes this disease is the blacklegged tick, . Current control methods for mainly involve chemical acaricides. Unfortunately, ticks are developing resistance to these chemicals, and more and more, the public prefers non-toxic alternatives to chemical pesticides. We discovered that volcanic glass, Imergard WP, and other industrial minerals such as Celite 610 were efficacious mechanical insecticides against mosquitoes, filth flies, and agricultural pests. In this report, when 6-10- and 50-70-day old unfed nymphs were dipped for 1-2 s into Celite, the time to 50% mortality (LT) was 66.8 and 81.7 min, respectively, at 30 °C and 50% relative humidity (RH). The LT was actually shorter at a higher 70% RH, 43.8 min. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the ticks were coated over most of their body surface, including partial to almost total coverage of the opening to their respiratory system. The other mechanical insecticide, Imergard, had similar efficacy against blacklegged unfed nymphs with an LT at 30 °C and 50% RH of 70.4 min. Although more research is needed, this study suggests that industrial minerals could be used as an alternative to chemical pesticides to control ticks and Lyme disease.
PubMed: 35893027
DOI: 10.3390/insects13080672 -
Waste Management & Research : the... Apr 2023The treatment of used vegetable oil (UVO) with seven different adsorbents and through two different procedures (stirring and gravity filtration) was explored. Important...
The treatment of used vegetable oil (UVO) with seven different adsorbents and through two different procedures (stirring and gravity filtration) was explored. Important differences in terms of density, turbidity, electrical resistance, free fatty acids (FFAs) content and relative fatty acid distribution were observed. Different outcomes were shown depending both on the adsorbent and on the procedure. Lower values of density and FFAs were registered for oils treated by gravity filtration with portland (respectively 0.6% and 0.81 g/ml) and celite (respectively 0.7% and 0.72 g/ml). Considering the undesired leaching from the powder to the oil, related to the turbidity, the celite resulted more suitable for the oil recycling (241 Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) for portland vs 184 NTU for celite). In addition, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis allowed to determine a chemical fingerprint relative characteristic of vegetable oils recycled by gravity or by adsorption by stirring.
Topics: Plant Oils; Powders; Adsorption; Diatomaceous Earth; Fatty Acids; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
PubMed: 36382767
DOI: 10.1177/0734242X221135336 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2020The early diagnosis and monitoring of cancers are key factors in effective cancer treatment. Particularly, the separation of biomolecules is an essential step for both...
The early diagnosis and monitoring of cancers are key factors in effective cancer treatment. Particularly, the separation of biomolecules is an essential step for both diagnostic and analytical purposes. However, the current techniques used to isolate biomolecules are intensive, laborious, and require multiple instruments as well as repeated sample preparations to separate each biomolecule. Thus, an efficient separation system that can simultaneously separate biomolecules from scarce samples is highly desirable. Hence, in this study, we developed a biosilica-based syringe filtration system for the efficient separation of biomolecules from cancer samples using amine-modified diatomaceous earth (AD) with dimethyl 3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate (DTBP). The syringe filter can be an efficient and rapid tool for use in various procedures without complex instruments. The DTBP-based AD system was combined with the syringe filter system for nucleic acid and protein separation from various cancer cells. We demonstrated the efficacy of the DTBP-based AD in a single-filter system for the efficient separation of DNA and proteins within 40 min. This DTBP-based AD syringe filter system showed good rapidity, efficiency, and affordability in the separation of biomolecules from single samples for the early diagnosis and clinical analysis of cancers.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; DNA, Neoplasm; Diatomaceous Earth; Humans; Imidoesters; Neoplasm Proteins; Neoplasms; Tumor Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 32973156
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72913-8 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Sep 1991Diatomaceous earth was modified by in situ precipitation of metallic hydroxides. Modification decreased the negative charge on the diatomaceous earth and increased its...
Diatomaceous earth was modified by in situ precipitation of metallic hydroxides. Modification decreased the negative charge on the diatomaceous earth and increased its ability to adsorb viruses in water. Electrostatic interactions were more important than hydrophobic interactions in virus adsorption to modified diatomaceous earth. Filters containing diatomaceous earth modified by in situ precipitation of a combination of ferric chloride and aluminum chloride adsorbed greater than 80% of enteroviruses (poliovirus 1, echovirus 5, and coxsackievirus B5) and coliphage MS2 present in tap water at ambient pH (7.8 to 8.3), even after filtration of 100 liters of tap water. Viruses adsorbed to the filters could be recovered by mixing the modified diatomaceous earth with 3% beef extract plus 1 M NaCl (pH 9).
Topics: Adsorption; Chemical Precipitation; Diatomaceous Earth; Thermodynamics; Virology; Viruses; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 1768124
DOI: 10.1128/aem.57.9.2502-2506.1991 -
Scientific Reports May 2022Novel metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been fabricated with Ti6Al4V matrix and a biogenic ceramic filler in the form of diatomaceous earth (DE). Mixtures of DE and...
Novel metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been fabricated with Ti6Al4V matrix and a biogenic ceramic filler in the form of diatomaceous earth (DE). Mixtures of DE and Ti6Al4V powders were consolidated by the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. Microstructure of the consolidated samples has been investigated with microscopic techniques and XRD. Thermomechanical characteristics have been obtained using small-sample techniques. The results obtained indicate that the fabricated composites show outstanding mechanical and thermal properties due to synergic effects between the filler and the matrix (beyond the rule of mixtures).
Topics: Ceramics; Materials Testing; Titanium
PubMed: 35610349
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12855-5 -
Journal of Oleo Science 2014In the present study, a purified lipase from Bacillus aerius immobilized on celite matrix was used for synthesis of ethyl ferulate. The celite-bound lipase exposed to... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
In the present study, a purified lipase from Bacillus aerius immobilized on celite matrix was used for synthesis of ethyl ferulate. The celite-bound lipase exposed to glutaraldehyde showed 90.02% binding efficiency. It took two hours to bind maximally onto the support. The pH and temperature optima of the immobilized lipase were same as those of free enzyme i.e 9.5 and 55°C. Among different substrates both free and immobilized lipase showed maximum affinity towards p-nitrophenyl palmitate (p-NPP). The lipase activity was found to be stimulated in the presence of Mg(2+) in case of free enzyme while Zn(2+) and Fe(3+) showed stimulatory effect on immobilized lipase whereas salt ions as well as chelating agents inhibited activity of both free and immobilized lipase. Maximum enzyme activity was observed in n-hexane as organic solvent followed by n-heptane for both free and immobilized lipase, however CCl4, acetone and benzene inhibited the enzyme activity. Moreover, all the selected detergents (SDS, Triton X-100, Tween 80 and Tween 20) had an inhibitory effect on both free and immobilized enzyme activity. The celite bound lipase (1.5%) efficiently performed maximum esterification (2.51 moles/l) of ethanol and ferulic acid (100 mM each, at a molar ratio of 1:3) when incubated at 55°C for 48 h resulting in the formation of ester ethyl ferulate.
Topics: Bacillus; Caffeic Acids; Diatomaceous Earth; Enzymes, Immobilized; Esterification; Heptanes; Hexanes; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolysis; Lipase; Solvents; Temperature
PubMed: 25099909
DOI: 10.5650/jos.ess14026 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2021The authors of this paper use an original method of diatomaceous earth fractionation, which allows for obtaining a filler with a specific particle size distribution. The...
The authors of this paper use an original method of diatomaceous earth fractionation, which allows for obtaining a filler with a specific particle size distribution. The method makes it possible to separate small, disintegrated and broken diatom frustules from those which maintained their original form in diatomaceous earth. The study covers a range of tests conducted to prove that such a separated diatomic fraction (3-30 µm) shows features different from the base diatomite (from 1 to above 40 µm) used as an epoxy resin filler. We have examined the mechanical properties of a series of diatomite/resin composites, considering the weight fraction of diatoms and the parameters of the composite production process. The studied composites of Epidian 601 epoxy resin cross-linked with amine-based curing agent Z-1 contained 0 to 70% vol. of diatoms or diatomaceous earth. Samples were produced by being casted into silicone molds in vacuum degassing conditions and, alternatively, without degassing. The results have shown that the size and morphology of the filler based on diatomaceous earth affects mechanical and rheological properties of systems based on epoxy resin. Elongation at rupture and flexural stress at rupture were both raised by up to 35%, and impact strength by up to 25%.
PubMed: 33800695
DOI: 10.3390/ma14071663 -
Sensors and Actuators. B, Chemical Mar 2023Rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)- 2 during early infection is pivotal in controlling the spread...
Rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)- 2 during early infection is pivotal in controlling the spread and pathological progression of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Thus, highly accurate, affordable, and scalable point-of-care (POC) diagnostic technologies are necessary. Herein, we developed a rapid and efficient self-directed molecular diagnostic (SdMDx) system for SARS-CoV-2. This system combines the sample preparation step, including virus enrichment and extraction processes, which involve dimethyl suberimidate dihydrochloride and diatomaceous earth functionalized with 3-aminopropyl(diethoxy)methylsilane, and the detection step using loop-mediated isothermal amplification-lateral flow assay (LAMP-LFA). Using the SdMDx system, SARS-CoV-2 could be detected within 47 min by hand without the need for any larger instruments. The SdMDx system enabled detection as low as 0.05 PFU in the culture fluid of SARS-CoV-2-infected VeroE6 cells. We validated the accuracy of the SdMDx system on 38 clinical nasopharyngeal specimens. The clinical utility of the SdMDx system for targeting the S gene of SARS-CoV-2 showed 94.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity. This system is more sensitive than antigen and antibody assays, and it minimizes the use of complicated processes and reduces contamination risks. Accordingly, we demonstrated that the SdMDx system enables a rapid, accurate, simple, efficient, and inexpensive detection of SARS-CoV-2 at home, in emergency facilities, and in low-resource sites as a pre-screening platform and POC testing through self-operation and self-diagnosis.
PubMed: 36570722
DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2022.133193 -
Biosensors & Bioelectronics Jan 2018Versatile, simple and efficient sample preparation is desirable for point-of-care testing of emerging diseases such as zoonoses, but current sample preparation assays...
Versatile, simple and efficient sample preparation is desirable for point-of-care testing of emerging diseases such as zoonoses, but current sample preparation assays are insensitive, labour-intensive and time-consuming and require multiple instruments. We developed a single-tube sample preparation approach involving direct pathogen enrichment and extraction from human specimens using diatomaceous earth (DE). Amine-modified DE was used to directly enrich a zoonotic pathogen, Brucella, in a large sample volume. Next, a complex of amine-modified DE and dimethyl suberimidate was used for nucleic acid extraction from the enriched pathogen. Using our single-tube approach, the pathogen can be enriched and extracted within 60min at a level of 1 colony formation unit (CFU) from a 1ml sample volume in the same tube. The performance of this approach is 10-100 times better than that of a commercial kit (10 to 10CFU/ml) but does not require a large centrifuge. Finally, we combined the single-tube approach with a bio-optical sensor for rapid and accurate zoonotic pathogen detection in human urine samples. Using the combination system, Brucella in human urine can be efficiently enriched (~ 8-fold) and the detection limit is enhanced by up to 100 times (1CFU/ml bacteria in urine) compared with the commercial kit. This combined system is fast and highly sensitive and thus represents a promising approach for disease diagnosis in the clinical setting.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Brucella; Diatomaceous Earth; Humans; Limit of Detection; Point-of-Care Testing
PubMed: 28818785
DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2017.08.027