Electrochemical defluorination of water: an experimental and morphological study

This experimental study concerns the elimination of fluoride from water using an electrocoagulation reactor having a variable flow direction in favour of increasing the electrolysing time, saving the reactor area, and water mixing. The detention time of the space-saver EC reactor (S-SECR) was measured and compared to the traditional reactors using an inert dye (red drain dye). Then, the influence of electrical current (1.5 ≤ δ ≤ 3.5 mA cm2), pH of water (4 ≤ pH ≤ 10), and distance between electrodes (5 ≤ ϕ ≤ 15) on the defluoridation of water was analysed. The effect of the electrolysing activity on the electrodes’ morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the operational cost was calculated. The results confirmed the removal of fluoride using S-SECR met the guideline of the World Health Organization (WHO) for fluoride levels in drinking water of ≤1.5 mg/L. S-SECR abated fluoride concentration from 20 mg/L to the WHO’s guideline at δ, ϕ, pH, operational cost, and power consumption of 2.5 mA cm2, 5 mm, 7, 0.346 USD m3, and 5.03 kWh m3, respectively. It was also found the S-SECR enhanced the detention time by 190% compared to the traditional reactors. The appearance of dents and irregularities on the surface of anodes in the SEM images proves the electrolysing process

Particle induced X-ray emission study of blood samples of Indian Kala-azar patients

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or Kala-azar (KA) is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasite, Leishmania sp. and is fatal, if left untreated. In this study, we measured trace elements (K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Cl, S, Ca, Mn, Cr, Ni, As, Se, Rb and Sr) in the blood of Indian VL patients (32) by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) study. Blood was collected from 36 subjects including healthy controls from Rambagh Kala-azar Hospital, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India. PIXE experiment was carried out at the Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, India and data were analyzed by GUPIXWIN software. We observed first time the association of bromine with the disease. The results showed 48.47 % decrease in Br, 35.16 % decrease in Zn and 29.05 % decrease in Fe in untreated state of the KA patients. In the same group, Cu has been increased by 16.73 %. Cu/Zn ratio has been altered in diseased state. The association of bromine with the disease is reported for the first time and altered levels of trace elements (Br, Cu, Fe and Zn) may come back to normal after completion of the treatment regimen with Amphotericin B