Membrane Stabilitiy and Removal of Cobalt from Waste Solution Using Liquid Emulsion Membrane

Abstract: A Liquid Emulsion Mmenrane (LEM) containing Cyanex 301 as a carrier and Span 80 as a surfactant was used for the extraction of Co-(II) from nitric acid solution. Various diluents were tested and cyclohexane was found the most effective diluent in the cobalt extraction. The effect of different factors affecting the permeation of cobalt through LEM (e.g pH of the extrenal phase, type and concentration of stripping internal phase, the equilibrium time, and Cyanex 301 conentration) were investigated. The effects of surfactant types and cocentrations on the stbility of LEM were also studied. It was found that the optimum conditions for cobalt extraction using 8% Cyanex 301 were as follows; 3M HCl as an internal phase, 4% span 80 as a surfactant and by using the best conditions 10 ml of prepared LEM can extract about 96.86% of 1 gm/l of cobalt in Nitric acid solution after 5 min. in the reactor tank

Clinical aspects and outcomes of 70 patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection: a single-center experience in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: To report the experience with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection at a single center in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Cases of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV occurring from October 1, 2012 to May 31, 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Information sources included medical files, infection control outbreak investigations, and the preventive medicine database of MERS-CoV-infected patients. Data were collected on clinical and epidemiological aspects and outcomes. Results: Seventy consecutive patients were included. Patients were mostly of older age (median 62 years), male (46, 65.7%), and had healthcare acquisition of infection (39, 55.7%). Fever (43, 61.4%), dyspnea (42, 60%), and cough (38, 54.3%) were the most common symptoms. The majority developed pneumonia (63, 90%) and required intensive care (49, 70%). Infection commonly occurred in clusters. Independent risk factors for severe infection requiring intensive care included concomitant infections (odds ratio (OR) 14.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.58–126.09; p = 0.018) and low albumin (OR 6.31, 95% CI 1.24–31.90; p = 0.026). Mortality was high (42, 60%), and age ≥65 years was associated with increased mortality (OR 4.39, 95% CI 2.13–9.05; p < 0.001). Conclusions: MERS-CoV can cause severe infection requiring intensive care and has a high mortality. Concomitant infections and low albumin were found to be predictors of severe infection, while age ≥65 years was the only predictor of increased mortality