Asymmetrical ultrafiltration membranes based on polylactic acid for the removal of organic substances from wastewater

The continued use of non-biodegradable polymeric-based membranes for water purification has led to an unsustainable accumulation of waste at disposal, resulting in various environmental problems. In this study, ecofriendly asymmetric ultrafiltration (UF) membranes were fabricated from polylactic acid (PLA) with different polymer concentrations using the phase inversion method. The fabricated membranes were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle, porosity, and pore size analysis. Permeate flux and organic matter (bovine serum albumin (BSA)) rejection were evaluated using synthetic wastewater. The anti-fouling properties of PLA membranes were investigated through static adsorption and dynamic filtration of BSA. Furthermore, the performance of the best performing PLA membrane was evaluated via chemical oxygen demand (COD) rejection as well as membrane fouling using raw municipal wastewater obtained from a local wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Abu Dhabi (UAE). The results indicated that increasing the PLA concentration to 20 wt% improved BSA removal from synthetic and raw wastewaters by up to 92 and 89%, respectively, in addition to improving the membrane antifouling property. The post-filtration and after cleaning FT-IR spectra revealed high antifouling property with no detection of BSA peaks, SEM images confirmed the reduction in membrane's pore size as PLA concentration increased, resulting in enhancing the antifouling properties of the membranes. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that PLA-UF membranes could be a viable eco-friendly alternative to traditional crude oil-derived membranes

Materials Used Intraoperatively During Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Procedures

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) is a broad scope medical and dental specialty that focuses on the diagnoses and treatment of a wide range of disorders including those that affect the head and neck, as well as the facial complex and skeleton. A number of tools and materials can be used intraoperatively with the intention of increasing the success rate of a surgical procedure and shortening the healing time for patients. In this chapter, we will explore several elements of surgical intervention relating to the use of varying types of bone grafts, along with implementing growth factors and enhancers including bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). In addition, we will examine the use of biodegradable materials including bone plates, membranes, and scaffolds. Further, we will discuss the use of implantable devices in the surgical treatment of patients for replacement of teeth and fixation of hard tissue structures using customizable titanium plates and screws within the realm of OMFS. Finally, we consider what the future holds with regard to technologically assisted surgery