Attapulgite(ATP), as a fertilizer slow-release agent and soil conditioner, has shown remarkable effect in improving the utilization rate of fertilizer and the yield and quality of agricultural products and Chinese medicinal materials. This study aims to explore the effect of ATP on the growth and root quality of Angelica sinensis. To be specific, Mingui 1 was used, and through the pot(soil culture) experiment in the Dao-di producing area, the effects of conventional chemical fertilizer added with ATP on the morphology, photosynthesis, soil respiration, and content of ferulic acid and volatile oil in roots of Mingui 1 were detected. The underlying mechanism was discussed from the perspective of source-sink relationship. The results showed that ATP, via the fertilizer slow-release effect, could meet the needs of A. sinensis for nutrients at the root expansion stage, improve the net photosynthetic rate of leaves and aboveground biomass of plants, and promote the transfer and accumulation of nutrients from the aboveground part(source) to the underground root(sink) in advance during the dry matter accumulation period of roots, so as to improve the root weight per plant. ATP can increase the content of total ferulic acid(the sum of free ferulic acid and coniferyl ferulate), the main effective component of Angelicae Sinensis Radix, by promoting the synthesis of ferulic acid in the roots and the transformation to coniferyl ferulate. However, it had little effect on the content of volatile oil. ATP had certain influence on soil respiration, which needs to be further explored from root activity, rhizosphere microorganisms, and soil microorganisms. This study can lay a basis for soil remediation and improvement and ecological cultivation of A. sinensis.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Angelica sinensis/chemistry* ; Coumaric Acids ; Fertilizers/analysis* ; Magnesium Compounds ; Oils, Volatile/chemistry* ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Silicon Compounds ; Soil

Bentonite is a kind of natural clay with good exchanging ability. By exchanging its interlamellar cations with various soluble cations, such as quaternary ammonium cations and inorganic metal ions, the properties of natural bentonite can be greatly improved. In this study, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA), CaCl(2), MgCl(2), FeCl(3), AlCl(3) were used as organic and inorganic pillared materials respectively to produce several kinds of Ca-, Mg-, Fe-, Al-organo pillared bentonites. Sorption of reactive red X-3B on them was studied to determine their potential application as sorbents in wastewater treatment. The results showed that these pillared bentonites had much improved sorption properties, and that the dye solutions' pH value had some effect on the performance of these inorgano-organo pillared bentonites. Isotherms of reactive X-3B on these pillared bentonites suggested a Langmuir-type sorption mechanism.
Aluminum Compounds ; chemistry ; Bentonite ; chemistry ; Calcium Chloride ; chemistry ; Cations ; Cetrimonium Compounds ; chemistry ; Chlorides ; chemistry ; Coloring Agents ; chemistry ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnesium Chloride ; chemistry ; Naphthalenes ; chemistry ; Triazines ; chemistry ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; methods ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; isolation & purification

Mg2Ni0.8Cr0.2-x wt.% CoO/Al2O3 (x=0.5, 1, 2 and 3) composites were prepared by mechanically milling sintered Mg2Ni0.8Cr0.2 alloy and CoO/Al2O3 compound for 45 h. The addition of CoO/Al2O3 compound resulted in the good kinetics properties of hydriding/dehydriding reaction of the composites. The composite with 1.0 wt.% CoO/Al2O3 catalyst could reach the maximum hydrogen absorption capacity (2.9 wt.%) within 5 min at 393 K under H2 pressure of 4 MPa, and can desorb rapidly at 493 K. The decomposition and synthesis of hydrogen molecule on Mg2Ni0.8Cr0.2 alloy surface was promoted by addition of CoO/Al2O3 catalyst. In addition, the formation of metallic Ni particles, strain and defects during the ball milling process also resulted in the improved hydrogenation performance of Mg2Ni-based alloys.
Absorption ; Aluminum Oxide ; analysis ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrogen ; analysis ; chemistry ; Kinetics ; Magnesium Compounds ; analysis ; chemistry ; Manufactured Materials ; analysis ; Materials Testing ; Molecular Conformation ; Nitrogen Compounds ; analysis ; chemistry ; Pressure ; Temperature

A method for preparing the double cross-linked agar beads entrapped attapulgite clay for hemopurification is reported. Attapulgite clay was coated with agar and cross-linked by epichlorohydrin. After the process of "drying-out", the cross-linked agar beads entrapped attapulgite clay (CAA) was cross-linked again by 10% toluene 2,4,-diisocyanate in acetone at 35 degrees C for 3 h and 30 min. The products withstood autoclaving at 121 degrees C for 30 min. The performance tests showed that the adsorption of the double cross-linked agar beads entrapped attapulgite clay (DCAA) on methylene blue was about 4 times the adsorption of CAA on methylene blue. The intensity of DCAA was raised 6 times, and the appearance of DCAA was denser. Investigation on the blood being in contact with DCAA showed: at 1 h of contact, the loss of leucocyte was <1%, of erythrocyte <5%, and of blood platelets <8%; at 2h of contact, the loss of leucocyte was <2%, of erythrocyte <10%, and of blood platelets <20%.
Adsorption ; Agar ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Epichlorohydrin ; chemistry ; Hemoperfusion ; instrumentation ; Magnesium Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Materials Testing ; Rats ; Silicon Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry

Virus inactivation of plasma can be achieved by phototreatment with methylene blue (MB). Subsequently, elimination of MB may reduce the adverse effects of MB. This study examined the effects of adsorbing MB with the use of cross-linked agar bead entrapped attapulgite clay (CAA) on normal ingredients in MB-treated plasma units. The biomedical characteristics of CAA were assessed by determination of partial biochemical indexes, coagulation potency and some cationic concentration in a control sample and the MB-treated plasma eluted from CAA column. The biochemistry indexes or K+, Na+ in plasma were almost unaltered before and after CAA adsorption. In contrast, the concentrations of CA2+ and Mg2+ increased and the blood ammonium decreased obviously. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was prolonged from 42 s to 53 s, and prothrombin time (PT) from 13 s to 14 s. The result indicates that CAA as an adsorbent for hemopurification retains the most important characters of human plasma. CAA can be useful for the elimination of MB in MB-treated plasma and does not bring on harmful alteration in clinical significance.
Adsorption ; Agar ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Blood Coagulation Tests ; Hemofiltration ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Magnesium Compounds ; Methylene Blue ; analysis ; Plasma ; chemistry ; cytology ; Silicon Compounds

OBJECTIVETo investigate the struvite precipitation under constant and non-constant pH conditions and to test a stainless steel device under different operating regimes to maximize the recovery of struvite.

METHODSThe molar ratio of NH4+: Mg2+: PO4(3-) was adjusted to 1: 1.2: 1.2 and pH was elevated to 9.0. The absorbance measurement was used to trace the process of struvite crystallization. Wastewater and precipitate analysis was done by standard analytical methods.

RESULTSThe pH constant experiment reported a significantly higher struvite precipitation (24.6 +/- 0.86 g) than the non-constant pH experiment (19.8 +/- 1.86 g). The SAR ranged from 5.6 to 8.2 g m(-2) h(-1) to 3.6-4.8 g m(-2) h(-1) in pH constant and non-constant experiments, respectively. The highest struvite deposit on the device was found in regime 3 followed by in regimes 2 and 4. The highest PO4(3-) (97.2%) and NH4+ (71%) removal was reported in the R1 regime. None of the influent Cu2+ or Zn2+ was precipitated on the device.

CONCLUSIONA higher struvite yield is evident in pH constant experiments. Moreover, the stainless steel device facilitates the isolation of heavy metal free pure (around 96%) struvite from swine waste biogas digester effluent contaminated with cu2+ and Zn2+ and the highest yield is attainable with the device operating at 50 rpm with agitation by a magnetic stirrer.

Animals ; Bioreactors ; Chemical Precipitation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnesium Compounds ; chemistry ; Manure ; Phosphates ; chemistry ; Stainless Steel ; Struvite ; Swine ; Time Factors ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; instrumentation ; methods

A large stone with 8.7 cm multiply 7.2 cm multiply 6.5 cm in size and 420 g in weight dropped down spontaneously from a 93-year-old man's scrotum, who had suffered from left intrascrotal mass and pain for more than 20 years. The component of the stone was magnesium ammonium phosphate. To the best of our knowledge, it is the largest intrascrotal calculus reported in the world. We hereby present the case and discuss the diagnosis and etiology of scrotal calculi.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Calculi ; chemistry ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Magnesium Compounds ; analysis ; Male ; Male Urogenital Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Phosphates ; analysis ; Scrotum ; pathology ; Struvite

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of nitrogen and phosphorus recovery from swine waste biogas digester effluent and the effects of pH and NH4+: Mg2+: PO4(3-) molar ratio on its precipitation.

METHODSPrecipitation experiments with swine waste biogas digester effluent were conducted at pH 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 together with NH4+: Mg2+: PO4(3-) molar ratios 1: 0.2: 0.08, 1: 1: 1, and 1: 1.5: 1.5. Chemical and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were done to determine the composition of the precipitate.

RESULTSThe highest removal and recovery of NH4+ and PO4(3-) were achieved at pH 9.0 in each experiment. The elevation of pH to 9.0 alone could decrease the initial PO4(3-) concentration from 42 mg L(-1) to 4.7 mg L(-1) and 89.2% PO4(3-) recovery was achieved. The pH-molar ratio combination 9.0-1: 1.5: 1.5 effected 76.5% NH4+ and 68.5% PO4(3-) recovery. The molar ratio of 1: 1: 1 together with pH elevation to 9.0 was determined to be the optimum combination for both NH4+ and PO4(3-) removal as it recovered over 70% and 97% of the initial NH4+ and PO4(3-), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSNitrogen and phosphorus can be recovered from biogas digester effluent as struvite.

Animals ; Bioelectric Energy Sources ; Bioreactors ; Chemical Precipitation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnesium Compounds ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Manure ; Nitrogen ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phosphates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phosphorus ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Struvite ; Swine ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; X-Ray Diffraction

This study aimed to conduct measurement uncertainty assessment of a new method for determination of Sudan colorants (Sudan I, II, III and IV) in food by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Samples were extracted with organic solvents (hexane, 20% acetone) and first purified by magnesium trisilicate (2MgO·3SiO2). The Sudan colorants (Sudan I-IV) were also initially separated on C8 by gradient elution using acetonitrile and 0.1% (v/v) formic acid aqueous solution as the mobile phases and detected with diode-array detector (DAD). The uncertainty of mathematical model of Sudan I, II, III and IV is based on EURACHEM guidelines. The sources and components of uncertainty were calculated. The experiment gave a good linear relationship over the concentration from 0.4 to 4.0 μg/mL and spiked recoveries were from 74.0% to 97.5%. The limits of determination (LOD) were 48, 61, 36, 58 μg/kg for the four analytes, respectively. The total uncertainty of Sudan colorants (Sudan I, II, III and IV) was 810±30.8, 790±28.4, 750±27.0, 730±50.0 μg/kg, respectively. The recovery uncertainty was the most significant factor contributing to the total uncertainty. The developed method is simple, rapid, and highly sensitive. It can be used for the determination of trace Sudan dyes in food samples. The sources of uncertainty have been identified and uncertainty components have been simplified and considered.
Azo Compounds ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Food Analysis ; methods ; Food Coloring Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Limit of Detection ; Magnesium Silicates ; chemistry ; Naphthols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

BACKGROUND: Studies that evaluate the effect of age on stone composition are scarce. The aim of this study was to highlight the changes in epidemiological characteristics (stone composition and location) of urolithiasis according to patients' age. METHODS: We studied 1,301 urolithiasis patients with age ranging from 6 months to 92 yr (781 males and 520 females). Stone analysis was performed using a stereomicroscope and infrared spectroscopy to determine the morphological type and molecular composition of each stone. RESULTS: The annual average incidence of new stone formation was 31.7 per 100,000 persons. In 71.8% of cases, calculi were located in the upper urinary tract. Compared to other age groups, children and old men were more affected by bladder stones. Calcium oxalate monohydrate was the most frequent stone component, even though its frequency decreased with age (59.5% in young adults and 43.7% in the elderly, P<0.05) in favor of an increase in uric acid stones (11.5% in young adults and 36.4% in the elderly, P<0.05). Struvite stones were rare (3.8%) and more frequent in children than in adults. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of these data showed that urinary stones in Tunisian patients are tending to evolve in the same direction as the stones in patients from industrialized countries.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Calcium Oxalate/chemistry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney Calculi/chemistry/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Magnesium Compounds/chemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphates/chemistry ; Retrospective Studies ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; Tunisia/epidemiology ; Uric Acid/chemistry ; Urinary Bladder Calculi/chemistry/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Urinary Calculi/*chemistry/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Young Adult