Introduction: Mineralogical, granulometrical and chemical investigations of Brenta’s silt-clay confirmed its common origin with natural Euganean Thermal Muds (ETM)1) opening perspectives in the treatment of inflammatory pathologies as rheumatic diseases. Basing on these evidences, surface energy investigations of Brenta’s silt-clay and ETM by TVS modelling were considered within correlation studies between physic-chemical and tensiometric data. Objectives: Basing on Brenta’s silt-clay and ETM common origin, the aim of this work was to confirm the suitability of Brenta’s silt-clay in thermal field by comparative analyses of their matrices and on these basis hypothesize the potentialities of Brenta’s silt-clay in mudtherapy and cosmetic field. Materials and Methods: Brenta’s silt-clay (BrentaKerÒ) samples and ETM were collected respectively from EGAP’s gravel pit and Euganean thermal spa’s maturation plant, undergone at maturation process employing thermal water at different temperature, investigated using (a) DSA10-Kruss tensiometer (diiodomethane, PFPE, glycerine as liquid tests) for surface energy characterization, and (b) Perkin Elmer TOC Analyser for C (%) and H (%) detection. Tensiometric characterizations were performed by measurement of contact angles (deg) of different liquid tests converted successively in surface energy (mN/m) by Owens mathematical model 2). Contact angles of PFPE were performed by Perfluoropolyether Contact Angle Measurement Method (PCAM). Results: Correlation degree between dispersed surface energy component (DC) of Brenta’s silt-clay and contact angles of PFPE (deg) measured during 6 weeks of maturation resulted satisfactory (R2=0.90). Considering the typical maturation’s temperature measured from third week to sixth (40°Ct3, 41°Ct4, 42°Ct5, 43°Ct6), the correlation degree between them and values of DC (mN/m) of Brenta’s silt-clay (DCt3=18.9 mN/m, DCt4=20.3 mN/m, DCt5=19.9 mN/m, DCt6=20.6 mN/m) resulted maximal (R2=1). Brenta silt-clay and ETM DC levels (DCt3=21.2 mN/m, DCt4=20.4 mN/m, DCt5=20.9 mN/m, DCt6=20.7 mN/m) demonstrated optimally correlated (R2=0.97). TOC analyses performed on Brenta’s silt-clay and ETM after maturation showed an increase of C% respectively +1.4% and +4.3% and percentage loss of H of -37.8% and -10.7% with an increase of DC and PC of +17.8 mN/m and +21.0 mN/m confirming the great affinity between the two geomaterials. Regarding ETM it demonstrated also the capability to deliver DC (-44.8%) uptaking PC (+50%) during mudtherapy as result of the modification of selective permeability of skin. Conclusions: Chemical-mineralogical analyses, tensiometric investigations, and studies of correlations between Brenta’s silt-clay and ETM demonstrated a great affinity between them. Surface energy evaluations of ETM, its capability to deliver DC to skin uptaking PC during mudtherapy modifying skin’s selective permeability and favouring the permeation of therapeutic substances product during maturation process, suggest new perspectives for the employment of Brenta’s silt-clay in thermal field as anti-inflammatory agent for rheumatic diseases and in cosmetic sector.

Introduction: TVS mud index1) is a tensiometric marker for quality and maturation process control of Italian Euganean Thermal Muds (ETM) which sensitivity defined on objective basis their quality and maturation degree. Objectives: The goal was to assess the maturation process of Biofango by TVS mud index (Sanraku-en spas centre, Japan and Osservatorio Termale Permanente-OTP, Italy), and its organic compounds by TOC analyses (University of Padova, Italy). Materials and Methods: Biofango was prepared using KomatsuClay, MotoyamaClay, WakuraDiatomite and KasaokaBentonite giving K02 (Bentonite 1.25, Kaolinite 1.5, Diatomite 0.25) and A01 (KasaokaBentonite 1.25, Kaolinite 0.5, Diatomite 0.25). Final Biofango BFM+0%Dolomite, MAT1+10%Dolomite, MAT2+18%Dolomite, and MAT3+35%Dolomite were analyzed by TOC (Perkin-Elmer-2400) and DSA10-Krüss employing (a) PFPE, Fomblin HC/OH-1000, diiodomethane, glycerine as liquid tests and (b) Owens-Wendt mathematical model for conversion of contact angles in surface energy parameters2). Results: The behaviour of C(%) in MAT1, MAT2, and MAT3 during maturation process (20°C) showed respectively (a) MAT1t0h=1.26%, MAT1t216h=0.91%, MAT1t360=1.08%, MAT1t576h=1.23%, MAT1t720h=0.98%, (b) MAT2t0h=2.36%, MAT2t216h=1.80%, MAT2t360=1.49%, MAT2t576h=1.86%, MAT2t720h=1.68%, (c) MAT3t0h=3.29%, MAT3t216h=2.71%, MAT3t360=2.57%, MAT3t576h=2.6%, MAT3t720h=2.7%. C% decrease demonstrating the influence of Dolomite in Biofango mixtures. Dispersed energy components (DC) of MAT1, MAT2, and MAT3 showed respectively (a) MAT1t0h=3.0mN/m, MAT1t216h=3.1mN/m, MAT1t360=2.9mN/m, MAT1t576h=3.8mN/m, MAT1t720h=2.5mN/m, (b) MAT2t0h=2.1mN/m, MAT2t216h=2.2mN/m, MAT2t360=3.1mN/m, MAT2t576h=3.7mN/m, MAT2t720h=2.6mN/m, (c)MAT3t0h=2.0mN/m, MAT3t216h=2.6mN/m, MAT3t360=2.6mN/m, MAT3t576h=2.9mN/m, MAT2t720h=3.0mN/m. On the other side TVS mud index showed respectively (a) MAT1t0h=68.7mN/m, MAT1t216h=70.26mN/m, MAT1t360=71.78mN/m, MAT1t576h=64.69mN/m, MAT1t720h=71.84mN/m, (b) MAT2t0h=74.06mN/m, MAT2t216h=71.69mN/m, MAT2t360= 70.36mN/m, MAT2t576h=65.83mN/m, MAT2t720h=71.23mN/m, (c) MAT3t0h=75.9mN/m, MAT3t216h=73.05mN/m, MAT3t360=73.34mN/m, MAT3t576h=68.52mN/m, MAT3t720h=68.66mN/m proportionally inverse with DC behaviour. MAT3 with highest content in Dolomite demonstrated great capability to uptake DC during maturation process with consequently decrease of TVS mud index levels accordingly with TOC result. Conclusions: Tensiometric investigations of Biofango underlined the links between chemical and surface energy data. The high sensitivity of TVS mud index consented to follow directly in a non invasive way the structural-surface changes in Biofango mixtures occurred during maturation process opening at new perspective for their control.

Introduction: Sanraku-en spa started to purpose the “Shogawa biofangotherapy” using hot spring water and different kind of clays of natural origin (called Biofango) matured for three weeks during which bacterial flora develop with production of constitutive elements having therapeutic properties [4]. In collaboration with Ascendant Co. Ltd was ideated and developed the production of the first japanese Biofango supported by Toho University, University of Science and Technology of Hokuriku, and University of Hishigawa opening at new perspective in mudtherapy for therapeutic use in Japan (Biofango project). Objectives: The goal was the assessing the surface energy of Biofango by TVS modelling and TVS mud index 1, 2). Tensiometric analyses of Biofango mixtures were performed at Sanraku-en spas centre (Tonami-Japan) and its quality control has been carried out in the Permanent Thermal Observatory (OTP) of University of Padova. Organic compounds analysis (TOC) were performed in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences of University of Padova (Italy). Materials and Methods: Biofango was prepared using KomatsuClay, MotoyamaClay, WakuraDiatomite and KasaokaBentonite. Pre-test mixtures were K01 (Bentonite 1.75, KomatsuClay 0.5, Diatomite 0.25) and M01 (Bentonite 1.75 MotoyamaClay 0.5 Diatomite 0.25). After were prepared K02 (Bentonite 1.25, Kaolinite 1.5, Diatomite 0.25) and A01 (KasaokaBentonite 1.25, Kaolinite 0.5, Diatomite 0.25) mixtures. Final Biofangos were BFM+0%Dolomite, MAT1+10%Dolomite, MAT2+18%Dolomite, and MAT3+35%Dolomite were analysed by XRF/XRD. TOC analyses were performed on a Perkin-Elmer-2400 analyser with Perkin-Elmer-AD-4 autobalance and tensiometric investigations were performed by DSA 10 (Krüss) tensiometer employing (a) PFPE, Fomblin HC/OH-1000, diiodomethane, glycerine as liquid tests and (b) Owens-Wendt3) mathematical model to convert contact angles in surface enery parameters. Results: XRD analyses of Biofango demonstrating presence of Kaolinite-Quartz-Feldspar in Komatsu Clay, Kaolinite-Quartz-Feldspar-Carbon in MotoyamaClay, Quartz-Montmorillonite-Feldspar-Grauconite in WakuraDiatomite, and Montmorillonite-Quartz-Feldspar-Christoballite in KasaokaBentonite while XRF showed presence of SiO2 (KomatsuClay 53.38%, MotoyamaClay 48.86%, WakuraDiatomite 78.20%, KasaokaBentonite 66.01%) and Al2O3 (KomatsuClay 53.38%, MotoyamaClay 48.86%, WakuraDiatomite 78.20%, KasaokaBentonite 66.01%) as principal elements. TOC analyses demonstrated an increase of C% with production of CO2 in relation to the amount of Dolomite in Biofango mixtures (MAT1=1.26%, MAT2=2.36%, MAT3=3.29%). Tensiometric investigations showed a correlation between C% and dispersed components (DC) measured on Biofango mixtures (MAT1=3.0 mN/m, MAT2=2.1 mN/m, MAT3=2.0 mN/m) and between C% and TVS mud index levels (MAT1=68.7 mN/m eq., MAT2=74.06 mN/m eq., MAT3=75.9 mN/m eq.). Conclusions: Tensiometric investigations of Biofango consented to determine the correlations between chemico-mineralogical data and surface energy parameters. Thanking to the high sensitivity of TVS mud index used as integrated tensiometric marker was possible to determine directly and in a non invasive way the quality of Biofango mixtures opening at new perspective in their monitoring and control before their employment in mudtherapy in Japanese spas after their maturation process.