Search results for "Silicates"
showing 10 items of 98 documents
Exploring the cellular uptake of hectorite clay mineral and its drug carrier capabilities.
2022
In the last years, the use of clay minerals for pharmaceutical purposes has increased due to their interesting properties. Hectorite (Ht) is a clay belonging to the smectite group which has attracted attention for applications in biology, tissue engineering and as drug carrier and delivery system. However, the mechanisms involved in Ht cellular uptake and transport into cells, are still unclear. Herein, we used a labeled Ht (Ht/1Cl) to study both the cellular uptake, by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and internalization pathways involved in the cellular uptake, by various endocytosis-inhibiting studies and fluorescence microscopy. These studies highlighted that Ht can penetrate the cel…
Photosensitivity of SiO2–Al and SiO2–Na glasses under ArF (193 nm) laser
2009
Abstract Photosensitivity of SiO 2 –Al and SiO 2 –Na glass samples was probed by means of the induced optical absorption and luminescence as well as by electron spin-resonance (ESR) after irradiation with excimer-laser photons (ArF, 193 nm). Permanent visible darkening in the case of SiO 2 –Al and transient, life time about one hour, visible darkening in the case of SiO 2 –Na was found under irradiation at 290 K. No darkening was observed at 80 K for either kind of material. This investigation is dedicated to revealing the electronic processes responsible for photosensitivity at 290 and 80 K. The photosensitivity of both materials is related to impurity defects excited directly in the case …
Characterization of the Etna volcanic emissions through an active biomonitoring technique (moss-bags): Part 2 – Morphological and mineralogical featu…
2013
Volcanic emissions were studied at Mount Etna (Italy) by using moss-bags technique. Mosses were exposed around the volcano at different distances from the active vents to evaluate the impact of volcanic emissions in the atmosphere. Morphology and mineralogy of volcanic particulate intercepted by mosses were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Particles emitted during passive degassing activity from the two active vents, Bocca Nuova and North East Crater (BNC and NEC), were identified as silicates, sulfates and halide compounds. In addition to volcanic particles, we found evidences also of geogenic, anthropogenic and marin…
Adsorption of a dye on clay and sand. Use of cyclodextrins as solubility-enhancement agents.
2007
Abstract Laboratory-scale studies were aimed at elucidating the physico-chemical aspects on the removal process of crystal violet (CV) from waters and solid substrates. The laponite clay (RD) and sand were chosen for the double aim at investigating them as CV adsorbents for water treatment and as substrates which mime the soil components. Sand is very effective in removing CV from waters. The cyclodextrins (CDs) were exploited as solubility-enhancement agents to remove CV from the solid substrates. They are powerful solvent media because they extract the CV from sand forming water-soluble CV/CD inclusion complexes and do not show affinity for sand. Optimum performance was shown by the modif…
The use of lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) as sorbent for PAHs removal from water.
2012
Author's version of an article in the journal: Journal of Hazardous Materials. Also available from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.03.038 Lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) has been explored as a sorbent for the removal of PAHs (phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene) from water. The efficacy of LECA as a sorbent for PAHs was assessed using contact time, mass of sorbent and sorption isotherms in a series of batch experiments. Maximum (optimum) sorption was reached at 21 h after which the amount of PAHs sorbed remained almost constant. Batch experiments were conducted by shaking a 100 ml solution mixture of individual PAHs (containing 0.02 mg/L) with LECA. T…
Basaltic Rocks Analyzed by the Spirit Rover in Gusev Crater
2004
The Spirit landing site in Gusev Crater on Mars contains dark, fine-grained, vesicular rocks interpreted as lavas. Pancam and MiniâThermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) spectra suggest that all of these rocks are similar but have variable coatings and dust mantles. Magnified images of brushed and abraded rock surfaces show alteration rinds and veins. Rock interiors contain â¤25% megacrysts. Chemical analyses of rocks by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer are consistent with picritic basalts, containing normative olivine, pyroxenes, plagioclase, and accessory FeTi oxides. MoÌssbauer, Pancam, and Mini-TES spectra confirm the presence of olivine, magnetite, and probably pyroxene. The…
Mineralogy at Gusev Crater from the Mössbauer spectrometer on the Spirit Rover.
2004
Mössbauer spectra measured on Mars by the Spirit rover during the primary mission are characterized by two ferrous iron doublets (olivine and probably pyroxene) and a ferric iron doublet (tentatively associated to nanophase ferric iron oxide). Two sextets resulting from nonstoichiometric magnetite are also present, except for a coating on the rock Mazatzal, where a hematite-like sextet is present. Greater proportions of ferric-bearing phases are associated with undisturbed soils and rock surfaces as compared to fresh rock surfaces exposed by grinding. The ubiquitous presence of olivine in soil suggests that physical rather than chemical weathering processes currently dominate at Gusev crat…
Chronology of early Archaean granite-greenstone evolution in the Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa, based on precise dating by single zircon evap…
1991
We report precise 207Pb/206Pb single zircon evaporation ages for low-grade felsic metavolcanic rocks within the Onverwacht and Fig Tree Groups of the Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB), South Africa, and from granitoid plutons bordering the belt. Dacitic tuffs of the Hooggenoeg Formation in the upper part of the Onverwacht Group yield ages between 3445 +/- 3 and 3416 +/- 5 Ma and contain older crustal components represented by a 3504 +/- 4 Ma old zircon xenocryst. Fig Tree dacitic tuffs and agglomerates have euhedral zircons between 3259 +/- 5 and 3225 +/- 3 Ma in age which we interpret to reflect the time of crystallization. A surprisingly complex xenocryst population in one sample documents …
New approach for synthesis of poly(ethylglyoxylate) using Maghnite-H + , an Algerian proton exchanged montmorillonite clay, as an eco-catalyst
2017
International audience; In this works, we have explored a new method for a green synthesis of poly(ethylglyoxylate) (PEtG). This method consists on using a montmorillonite clay called Maghnite-H+ as an eco-catalyst to replace triethylamine which is toxic. Cationic polymerization experiments are performed in bulk conditions at three temperatures (-40 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 80 degrees C) and in THF solutions at room temperature (25 degrees C). At 25 degrees C, an optimum ratio of 5 wt% of catalyst leads to molar masses up to 22000 g/mol in THF solutions. Polymerizations in bulk conditions lead to slightly lower masses than experiments conducted in THF solutions. However, bulk polymerization…
Direct chemical grafted curcumin on halloysite nanotubes as dual-responsive prodrug for pharmacological applications
2016
Covalently functionalized halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were successfully employed as dual-responsive nanocarriers for curcumin (Cur). Particularly, we synthesized HNT-Cur prodrug with a controlled curcumin release on dependence of both intracellular glutathione (GSH) and pH conditions. In order to obtain HNT-Cur produgs, halloysite was firstly functionalized with cysteamine through disulphide linkage. Afterwards, curcumin molecules were chemically conjugated to the amino end groups of halloysite via Schiff's base formation. The successful functionalization of halloysite was proved by thermogravimetric analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy. Ex…