Formulation of Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanopowder into Hybrid Beads for Dye Separation

The sol-gel prepared zinc oxide nanopowder was immobilized onto alginate-polyvinyl alcohol polymer blend to fabricate novel biocomposite beads. Various physicochemical characterization techniques have been utilized to identify the crystalline, morphological, and chemical structures of both the fabricated zinc oxide hybrid beads and their corresponding zinc oxide nanopowder. The thermal stability investigations demonstrate that ZnO nanopowder stability dramatically decreased with its immobilization into the polymeric alginate and PVA matrix. The formulated beads had very strong mechanical strength and they are difficult to be broken up to 1500 rpm. Moreover, these hybrid beads are chemically stable at the acidic media (pH < 7) especially within the pH range of 2–7. Finally, the applicability of the formulated ZnO hybrid beads for C.I. basic blue 41 (BB41) decolorization from aqueous solution was examined

Investigation on Concrete Properties for Nano Silica Concrete by using Different Plasticizers

This paper presents results of the optimal dosage levels of polycarboxylate-based (PSP) (0.4 and 0.8%) and naphthalene-based (NSP) (0.8 and 1.6%) super plasticizers and different water to binder (w/b) ratios (0.4 and 0.45 ) that produce an adequate balance between strength and workability for concrete containing nano-SiO2 (NS) of 1%, 2%, and 3% as cement replacement. These results indicate that For two types super plasticizers mixes. Increasing the w/c ratio from 0.40 to 0.45 increased the slump of all mixes. Either those containing polycarboxylate or naphthalene sulphonate super plasticizer or the control mixes. For polycarboxylate super plasticizer mixes. Decreasing the w/c ratio from 0.45 to 0.40 increased the compressive strength of all mixes. Either those containing polycarboxylate super plasticizer. For naphthalene sulphonate super plasticizer mixes. Increasing the w/c ratio from 0.40 to 0.45 increased the compressive strength of all mixes. Either those containing 0.8 % naphthalene super plasticizer or the control mixes. While decreasing the w/c ratio from 0.45 to 0.40 increased the compressive strength of all mixes. Either those containing 1.6 % naphthalene sulphonate super plasticizer. the use of (1.6 %) sulphonated naphthalene super plasticizer (NSP) with 0.4 w/c ratio reached a gain in strength equivalent to the  use of  (0.8 %) polycarboxylic super plasticizer (PSP) for mix containing 3 % nano silica . the use of (1.6 %)  naphthalene super plasticizer (NSP) with 0.45 w/c ratio reached a gain in strength equivalent to the  use of  (0.8 %) polycarboxylic super plasticizer (PSP) for mix containing 2 % nano silica. Keywords: Nano silica, concrete, plasticizers, workability, strength

Fabrication of an Inorganic Nano-Zirconium Tungstovanadate Ion Exchange to Be Utilized for Heavy Metal Decontamination

An innovative heteropolyacid salt of ion exchanger, nano-zirconium tungstovanadate has been synthesized under varying conditions using sol–gel technique. The different synthesized ion exchange materials were compared based on both their ion exchange capacity (IEC) and their efficiency in separating lead ions from aqueous streams by conducting batch experiments with a batch factor of 50ml/g. Nano- zirconium tungstovanadate prepared from the reaction of 0.2 M zirconiumoxychloride, 0.2M ammonium metavanadate and 0.1 M sodium tungstate in presence of 0.01 M HCl at room temperature was record the highest IEC value that equal to 1.5 mequiv/g. Structural characterization of this most proper ion exchanger was performed with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The X-ray spectrum of the prepared material suggested that of Zr (IV) tungstovanadate is crystalline in nature with average crystallite size between19 and 37 nm. The SEM result confirmed that the ion exchanger was produced in nano-scale with average particle diameter equal to 28 nm. Good thermal and chemical stabilities have also been observed for the prepared nano-zirconium tungstovanadate. On the basis of these results, the prepared nano-zirconium tungstovanadate is a promising cation exchanger for lead ion decontamination from the polluted water in view of the factthat lead ion removal rate was recorded up to 99.24 % within 3hours.Keywords: nano- zirconium tungstovanadate; sol-gel technique; equilibrium isotherm; Lead ion separation

Utilization of Synthesized Nano-Zinc Oxide in Yellow Basic Dye Decontamination from Industrial Wastewater

ZnO nanorod has been successfully synthesized through the reduction of Zinc chloride salt with ammonia solution in the presence of triethanolamine (TEA) as surfactant agent via hydrothermal technique. The properties of the produced material were determined using different characterization techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectrum (FTIR). The results showed that the asprepared ZnO are rod- like morphologies at pH equal to 10. The synthesized nano rod-zinc oxide was employed asadsorbent agent for basic yellow 28 dye decolorization from polluted industrial wastewater. The synthesized nano-ZnO was achieved 93.26% dye decolorization affinity with in 60minutes. The variation in the different processing parameters on the dye sorption process was elucidated using batch technique. The increment in both the dye solution pH and its  temperature was association with decline in the decolourization process. The optimum nano-zinc oxide dosage was recorded to be equal to 10 g/L. The adsorption data at equilibrium were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin equilibrium isotherms. The experimental results confirmed the applicability of synthesized nano-zinc oxide as adsorbent agent for dye decontamination from polluted wastewater.Keywords: nano-zinc oxide, dye decolourization, sorption parameters

Clinical Profile of Non-Motor Symptoms in Patients with Essential Tremor: Impact on Quality of Life and Age-Related Differences

Background: Identifying the clinical phenotypes of non-motor symptoms (NMSs) of essential tremor (ET) among different populations is necessary due to their impact on the quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to investigate the clinical phenotype and impact of NMSs on QoL in Egyptian patients with ET. Methods: Thirty ET patients were compared to 30 matched controls. Subjects were evaluated by the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scale, Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep quality Index, and the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire. Both groups were divided into two subgroups of younger (45 years, 16 patients) groups, to investigate age-related differences. Results: ET patients showed significantly worse cognition, depression, anxiety, sleep and NMSS domains (p < 0.001), compared to controls, that negatively affected and predicted QoL. Older patients had more cognitive impairment (p = 0.003) and worse sleep/fatigue (p = 0.032) and sexual functions (p = 0.006), compared to younger group. Discussion: The study supports that NMSs are integral part of ET, negatively affect QoL, and similarly affect younger and older patients. Therefore, NMSs should be explored for proper care of ET patients

Fabrication of an Inorganic Nano-Zirconium Tungstovanadate Ion Exchange to be Utilized for Heavy Metal Decontamination

An innovative heteropoly acid salt of ion exchanger, nano-zirconium tungstovanadate has been synthesized under varying conditions using sol–gel technique. The different synthesized ion exchange materials were compared based on both their ion exchange capacity (IEC) and their efficiency in separating lead ions from aqueous streams by conducting batch experiments with a batch factor of 50ml/g. Nano- zirconium tungstovanadate prepared from the reaction of 0.2 M zirconium oxychloride, 0.2M ammonium metavanadate and 0.1 M sodium tungstate in presence of 0.01 M HCl at room temperature was record the highest IEC value that equal to 1.5 mequiv/g. Structural characterization of this most proper ion exchanger was performed with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The X-ray spectrum of the prepared material suggested that of Zr (IV) tungstovanadate is crystalline in nature with average crystallite size between 19 and 37 nm. The SEM result confirmed that the ion exchanger was produced in nanoscale with average particle diameter equal to 28 nm. Good thermal and chemical stabilities have also been observed for the prepared nano-zirconium tungstovanadate. On the basis of these results, the prepared nano-zirconium tungstovanadate is a promising cation exchanger for lead ion decontamination from the polluted water in view of the fact that lead ion removal rate was recorded up to 99.24 % within 3hours

Utilization of Synthesized Nano-Zinc Oxide in Yellow Basic Dye Decontamination from Industrial Wastewater

ZnO nanorod has been successfully synthesized through the reduction of Zinc chloride salt with ammonia solution in the presence of triethanolamine (TEA) as surfactant agent via hydrothermal technique. The properties of the produced material were determined using different characterization techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectrum (FTIR). The results showed that the as prepared ZnO are rod- like morphologies at pH equal to 10. The synthesized nano rod-zinc oxide was employed as adsorbent agent for basic yellow 28 dye decolorization from polluted industrial wastewater. The synthesized nano-ZnO was achieved 93.26% dye decolorization affinity with in 60minutes. The variation in the different processing parameters on the dye sorption process was elucidated using batch technique. The increment in both the dye solution pH and its temperature was association with decline in the decolorization process. The optimum nano-zinc oxide dosage was recorded to be equal to 10 g/L. The adsorption data at equilibrium were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin equilibrium isotherms. The experimental results confirmed the applicability of synthesized nano-zinc oxide as adsorbent agent for dye decontamination from polluted wastewater

Geographical and Ethnic Distribution of the HBV C/D Recombinant on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Two forms of hepatitis B virus (HBV) C/D recombinant have been identified in western China, but little is known about their geographical and ethnic distributions, and particularly the clinical significance and specific mutations in the pre-core region. To address these questions, a total of 624 chronic HBV carriers from four ethnic populations representing five provinces in western China were enrolled in this study. Genotypes were firstly determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism, and then confirmed by full or partial genome nucleotide sequencing. The distribution of HBV genotypes was as follows: HBV/B: 40 (6.4%); HBV/C: 221 (35.4%); HBV/D: 39 (6.3%); HBV/CD: 324 (51.9%). In the 324 HBV C/D recombinant infections, 244 (75.3%) were infected with the “CD1” and 80 (24.7%) were infected with the “CD2.” The distribution of HBV genotypes exhibited distinct patterns in different regions and ethnic populations. Geographically, the C/D recombinant was the most prevalent HBV strain on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Ethnically, the C/D recombinant had a higher prevalence in Tibetan patients than in other populations. Clinically, patients with HBV/CD1 showed significantly lower levels of serum total bilirubin than patients with HBV/C2. The prevalence of HBeAg was comparable between patients with HBV/CD1 and HBV/C2 (63.3% vs 50.0%, P = 0.118) whether patients were taken together or stratified by age into three groups (65.6% vs 58.8% in <30 years, P = 0.758; 61.9% vs 48.0% in 30–50 years, P = 0.244; 64.3% vs 33.3%, P = 0.336). Virologically HBV/CD1 had a significantly lower frequency of G1896A than HBV/C2. In conclusion, the HBV C/D recombinant is restricted to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in western China and is found predominantly in Tibetans. The predominance of the premature pre-core stop mutation G1896A in patients with the HBV C/D recombinant may account for the higher prevalence of HBeAg in these patients