Influence of pyrometallurgical copper production on the environment

In this paper the influence of pyrometallurgical treatment of copper sulphide minerals and pyrite on the environment from the aspect of ambient air pollutions is considered. Results of emission of SO(2) and particulate matter from the location with the most pollution are presented. According to the results it could be seen that the Bor's citizen were exposed to the high concentration of SO(2) and arsenic which were found to be multiple over the Serbian legislative limits during 2007. Also, the reasons and consequences of this pollution were analysed.     

Solids flow mapping in a high pressure slurry bubble column

Successful design and scale-up of Slurry Bubble Column Reactors (SBCRs) require proper understanding of how operating conditions affect their flow behavior. Presently, there is little information on the flow dynamics of solids (e.g., distribution of velocities and turbulent parameters) in slurry systems that are operated at industrially relevant conditions of high pressure, high superficial gas velocities, and high solids loading.Computer Automated Radio Particle Tracking (CARPT) is widely recognized as one of a few techniques that can be reliably used even in highly turbulent and opaque slurry flows. This work utilizes an improved CARPT technique to investigate the effect of reactor pressure (0.1-1 MPa) and superficial gas velocity (0.08-0.45 m/s) on solids phase velocity and shear stress in a pilot scale 0.16 m diameter stainless steel column using an air-water-glass beads () system. The solids axial velocity and shear stress were found to increase noticeably with pressure and superficial gas velocity in the churn turbulent flow regime.     

Suppression of inherent ferromagnetism in Pr-doped CeO(2) nanocrystals

Ce(1-x)Pr(x)O(2-δ) (0 ≤x≤ 0.4) nanocrystals were synthesized by self-propagating method and thoroughly characterized using X-ray diffraction, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. Undoped CeO(2) nanocrystals exhibited intrinsic ferromagnetism at room temperature. Despite the increased concentration of oxygen vacancies in doped samples, our results showed that ferromagnetic ordering rapidly degrades with Pr doping. The suppression of ferromagnetism can be explained in terms of the different dopant valence state, the different nature of the vacancies formed in Pr-doped samples and their ability/disability to establish the ferromagnetic ordering.     

Phase Distribution in a High Pressure Slurry Bubble Column via a Single Source Computed Tomography

Due to their numerous advantages, Slurry Bubble Column Reactors (SBCR) are gaining wide importance in the petroleum, petrochemical, chemical, and biochemical industries. Most previous literature studies on the fluid dynamics and the phase holdup distribution in SBCR are limited to low superficial gas velocity, low solids loading, and the atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the presence of a solids phase poses difficulties in probe measurement techniques such as pitot tube and optical probe and see through measurement techniques such as particle image velocimetry (PIV), Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV). Single source γ‐ray Computed Tomography (CT) has been used to measure cross‐sectional phase holdup distribution in two‐phase systems. In the present study, a new methodology has been developed that combines a single source CT with overall gas holdup measurement, along with valid assumptions, to measure the cross‐sectional holdup distribution of the three phases in a slurry bubble column. The implementation of developed methodology has been demonstrated using air‐water‐glass beads (150 µm) at selected conditions of superficial gas velocity and operating pressure.     

Translocator Protein Modulation by 4′-Chlorodiazepam and NO Synthase Inhibition Affect Cardiac Oxidative Stress,Cardiometabolic and Inflammatory Markers in Isoprenaline-Induced Rat Myocardial Infarction

The possible cardioprotective effects of translocator protein (TSPO) modulation with its ligand 4′-Chlorodiazepam (4′-ClDzp) in isoprenaline (ISO)-induced rat myocardial infarction (MI) were evaluated, alone or in the presence of L-NAME. Wistar albino male rats (b.w. 200–250 g, age 6–8 weeks) were divided into 4 groups (10 per group, total number N = 40), and certain substances were applied: 1. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice), 2. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice) + L-NAME 50 mg/kg b.w., 3. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice) + 4′-ClDzp 0.5 mg/kg b.w., 4. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice) + 4′-ClDzp 0.5 mg/kg b.w. + L-NAME 50 mg/kg b.w. Blood and cardiac tissue were sampled for myocardial injury and other biochemical markers, cardiac oxidative stress, and for histopathological evaluation. The reduction of serum levels of high-sensitive cardiac troponin T hs cTnT and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), then significantly decreased levels of serum homocysteine Hcy, urea, and creatinine, and decreased levels of myocardial injury enzymes activities superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as lower grades of cardiac ischemic changes were demonstrated in ISO-induced MI treated with 4′-ClDzp. It has been detected that co-treatment with 4′-ClDzp + L-NAME changed the number of registered parameters in comparison to 4′-ClDzp group, indicating that NO (nitric oxide) should be important in the effects of 4′-ClDzp.     

Aging of Liver in Its Different Diseases

The proportion of elderly people in the world population is constantly increasing. With age, the risk of numerous chronic diseases and their complications also rises. Research on the subject of cellular senescence date back to the middle of the last century, and today we know that senescent cells have different morphology, metabolism, phenotypes and many other characteristics. Their main feature is the development of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), whose pro-inflammatory components affect tissues and organs, and increases the possibility of age-related diseases. The liver is the main metabolic organ of our body, and the results of previous research indicate that its regenerative capacity is greater and that it ages more slowly compared to other organs. With age, liver cells change under the influence of various stressors and the risk of developing chronic liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) increases. It has been proven that these diseases progress faster in the elderly population and in some cases lead to end-stage liver disease that requires transplantation. The treatment of elderly people with chronic liver diseases is a challenge and requires an individual approach as well as new research that will reveal other safe and effective therapeutic modalities.     

A review of environmentally friendly rubber production using different vegetable oils

Vegetable oils were investigated as plasticizers to improve the sustainability of rubber compounding. The potential use of different vegetable oils as an alternative to petroleum-based rubber process oils was reviewed. This article presents a literature review on the current understanding of the influence of vegetable oil properties on natural rubber (NR) compounding. Hansen solubility parameters of the vegetable oils were determined to assist with the selection of vegetable oil for NR. We believe that the use of Hansen parameters could make the use of vegetable oils in rubber more convenient and cost-effective.     

Chemical Profile of Satureja Kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. Essential Oils: Composition of Satureja Kitaibelii Essential Oils

The essential oils from dried aerial parts of Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff., collected at three various sites in Serbia, were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. One hundred sixty-three components were identified in all investigated samples, 132 components in the oil from the site Devoja?ki grob, 124 components in the oil coming from Si?eva?ka klisura site, and 146 components in the oil from the site Viso?ka R?ana, accounting 97.3, 93.9, and 95.6% of the total oils, respectively. The most abundant component in the essential oils was geraniol amounting from 24.0 to 30.3%, making up about one-quarter of the total oils. Other representative compounds were identified as linalool (5.0–14.8%), limonene (4.3–7.9%), and caryophyllene oxide (4.4–5.2%) in all tested samples. The results suggested that essential oils of S. kitaibelii belong to the aliphatic monoterpene chemotype.