Solubilization in micellar systems. Analytical and environmental applications

Abstract: Surfactant-based separation techniques largely exploit the solubilization power of micelles and other amphiphilic aggregates towards a great variety of hydrophilic and hydrophobic solutes. Micellar extraction, based on the cloud-point phenomenon, and micellar ultrafiltration have been succesfilly applied for preconcentration and removal of organic and inorganic analytes of environmental concern from aqueous media. In particular, the recent development of chelating surfactant aggregates allows to perform very selective demetallation treatments. The factors which control the separation efficiencies of these methods are examined and discussed

Bio-based substances from urban waste as auxiliaries for solar photo-Fenton treatment under mild conditions: Optimization of operational variables

The use of soluble bio-based organic substances (SBO) obtained from urban wastes to expand the pH region where the photo-Fenton process can be applied has been investigated in this study. For this purpose, a mixture of six pollutants, namely acetaminophen, carbamazepine, amoxicillin, acetamiprid, clofibric acid and caffeine, at an initial concentration of 5 mg L-1 each, has been employed. Surface response methodology, based on the Doehlert matrix, has shown to be a useful tool to determine the effect of pH (in the range 3-7), concentration of SBO (15-25 mg L-1) and iron (2-6 mg L-1) on the performance of the photodegradation of the studied pollutants, measured by their half-life. Results indicate that, at high SBO concentration, the optimum pH shifts in most cases to a higher value (between 3 and 4) and that a significant loss of efficiency of the process was only observed at pH values above 5. An iron concentration of 4-5 mg L-1 and an amount of SBO of 19-22 mg L-1 have been determined to be the optimal conditions for the degradation of most of the studied pollutants at pH = 5. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The authors want to thank the financial support of the European Union (PIRSES-GA-2010-269128, EnvironBOS) and Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (CTQ2012-38754-C03-02). Juan Gomis would like to thank UPV for his FPI grant (2010-07).Gomis Vicens, J.; Carlos, L.; Bianco Prevot, A.; Teixeira, ACSC.; Mora Carbonell, M.; Amat Payá, AM.; Vicente Candela, R.... (2015). Bio-based substances from urban waste as auxiliaries for solar photo-Fenton treatment under mild conditions: Optimization of operational variables. Catalysis Today. 240(Part A):39-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2014.03.034S3945240Part

Monteggia fracture associated with ipsilateral intercondylar distal humeral fracture with posterior interosseous nerve palsy: case report, medico-legal implications, and methodological assessment analysis

BACKGROUND: The Monteggia fracture, defined as a fracture of the proximal third of the ulnar shaft associated with an anterior or posterior dislocation of the proximal radial epiphysis, is a serious injury accounting for 0.7% of all elbow fractures and dislocations in adults. For adult patients, good results can only be obtained through early diagnosis and adequate surgical treatment. Monteggia fracture-dislocations associated with distal humeral fracture are extremely rare injuries in adults and there are few cases described in the literature. Medico-legal implications arising from such conditions have a host of complexities that cannot be discounted.CASE REPORT: This case report revolves around a patient affected by a type I Monteggia fracture-dislocation, according to the Bado classification, associated with an ipsilateral intercondylar distal humeral fracture. To our knowledge, this combination of lesions has never been reported before in adult patients. A positive result was obtained due to early diagnosis, achievement of anatomical reduction, and optimal stabilization with internal fixation which made it possible to achieve early functional recovery.CONCLUSIONS: Monteggia fracture -dislocations associated with ipsilateral intercondylar distal humeral fracture are extremely rare in adults. In the case herein reported, a favorable outcome was obtained due to early diagnosis, achievement of anatomical reduction and management with internal fixation with plate and screws, as well as early functional training. Misdiagnosis makes such lesions risky in terms of potentially delayed treatment, increasing the need for surgical interventions and the possibility of high-risk complications and disabling sequelae, with possible medico -legal implications. In the case of unrecognized injuries under urgent circumstances, the injuries may become chronic, making the treatment more complex. The ultimate outcomes of a misdiagnosed Monteggia lesion can lead to very serious functional and aesthetic damage

Urban biowaste-derived sensitizing materials for caffeine photodegradation

[EN] Caffeine-photosensitized degradation has been studied in the presence of bio-based materials derived from urban biowaste after aerobic aging. A peculiar fraction (namely bio-based substances (BBSs)), soluble in all the pH range, has been used as photosensitizing agent. Several caffeine photodegradation tests have been performed, and positive results have been obtained in the presence of BBSs and H2O2, without and with additional Fe(II) (photo-Fenton-like process). Moreover, hybrid magnetite-BBS nanoparticles have been synthesized and characterized, in order to improve the sensitizer recovery and reuse after the caffeine degradation. In the presence of such nanoparticles and H2O2 and Fe(II), the complete caffeine degradation has been attained in very short time. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous processes were run at pH = 5, milder condition compared to the classic photo-Fenton process.This work was performed with the financial support for academic interchange by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange project funded by the European Commission H2020-MSCA-RISE-2014 within the framework of the research project MAT4TREAT (project number 645551). Compagnia di San Paolo and University of Torino are gratefully acknowledged for funding Project Torino_call2014_L2_126 through BBando per il finanziamento di progetti di ricerca di Ateneo – anno 2014 (Project acronym: Microbusters). Additionally, authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Flavio R. Sives (La Plata, Argentina) for magnetization measurements.Prevot, AB.; Baino, F.; Fabbri, D.; Franzoso, F.; Magnacca, G.; Nistico, R.; Arques Sanz, A. (2017). Urban biowaste-derived sensitizing materials for caffeine photodegradation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 24(14):12599-12607. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7763S1259912607241