Carbon monoxide electrooxidation on Pt and PtRu modified zeolite X

Zeolite NaX was modified by Pt and Pt/Ru nanodispersed metallic clusters. This modification was achieved by zeolite impregnation with acetylacetonate salt/acetone solution, followed by acetone evaporation and thermal decomposition of organometallic complex. Samples characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction analysis, nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements and Raman spectroscopy. The incorporation of metal into zeolite cavities induced the amorphisation of the zeolite framework on the local level. The mixture of modified zeolite and 10 wt% of carbon black, in a form of thin layer, was pasted to a glassy carbon surface by Nafion. Electrocatalytic properties of metal-modified zeolites were tested in CO electrooxidation reaction. The mutual influence between Pt and Ru atoms enhanced electroactivity of Pt/Ru-modified zeolite toward carbon monoxide electrooxidation. The behavior of untreated 13X zeolite was investigated under the same condition in order to asses the influence of the support. Gradual deactivation of 13X electrode occurred

Manganese levels in infant formula and young child nutritional beverages in the United States and France: Comparison to breast milk and regulations

Exposure to high levels of manganese (Mn) in children has recently been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental effects. Current infant formula regulations for Mn content were set between 1981 (United States), 2006 (European Union, France), and 2007 (Codex Alimentarius) prior to the publication of much of the growing body of research on the developmental neurotoxicity of Mn. In this study, we sought to measure the concentrations of Mn in some infant formulas and young child nutritional beverages available on the United States (US) and French markets using ion beam analysis by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) spectrometry and then compare the analytical results to concentrations reported in the literature for breast milk and applicable infant formula regulations and guidelines. We were particularly interested in measuring Mn concentrations in product types for which there is very little data from previous surveys, especially soy-based, rice-based, goat-milk based, chocolate-flavored, and nutritional beverages for young children that are not regulated as infant or follow-on formulas (e.g. "toddler formulas" and "toddler powders"). We purchased 44 infant formulas and young child nutritional beverage products in the US and France with varying protein sources (cow-milk, goat-milk, soy, rice) labelled for birth to 3 years. We selected these samples using maximum variation sampling to explore market extremes to facilitate comparisons to regulatory limits. Since this sampling method is non-probabilistic, other inferences cannot be made beyond this set of samples to the overall markets. We used ion beam analysis to measure the concentrations of Mn in each product. The range of measured Mn concentrations in the products is 160-2,800 μg/L, substantially higher than the 3-6 μg/L mean Mn concentration reported in human breast milk. All products satisfied national and Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) international standards for minimum Mn content in infant formulas; however, 7/25 of the products purchased in the US exceeded the CAC Guidance Upper Level of 100 μg Mn/kcal for infant formula