Synthesis of hydroxyapatite by using calcium carbonate and phosphoric acid in various water-ethanol solvent systems

The purpose of the present study is to synthesize hydroxyapatite by using CaCO₃ and H₃PO₄ in various water-ethanol solvent systems. It was observed from experiments that formation of ammonium phosphate compounds hindered the formation of calcium phosphates in ethanol medium. Although the reactivity was better in aqueous medium, the carbonate contents of the products obtained were above 8.5%. Best results with a carbonate content as low as 3.82% was obtained in 50% ethanol containing mixed-aqueous medium at 80°C and the FTIR analysis showed that the product was a carbonated apatite with a calculated composition of 14CaO·4.2P₂O₅·CO₃·7.2H₂O. The amorphous and porous phosphate compound obtained with a BET surface area of 106.6 m² g⁻¹ seems to be useful as adsorbent in wastewater treatment. Upon sintering of the amorphous product at 750°C, crystalline hydroxyapatite with a BET surface area of 25.9 m² g⁻¹ is obtained that may be used in biomedical applications.      

On the Computation of the Macroscopic Tangent for Multiscale Volumetric Homogenization Problems

For the computation of the macroscopic tangent that is required in multiscale volumetric homogenization techniques, two methods are summarized. First, a condensation approach is followed where the linearity of variational terms associated with the penalty enforcement of boundary conditions is explored in order to extract a macroscopic tangent at any stage of the Newton–Raphson iterations of a microstructural testing procedure. As an alternative approach, a second method is explored that requires only the knowledge of infinitesimally close macroscopic deformation states. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Kinetic adsorption of drugs using carbon nanofibers in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids

Two different classes of drugs were selected to test the adsorption capacity of carbon nanofibers as a greener new generation alternative adsorbent in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Kinetics of the promethazine and trimethoprim adsorption were analyzed using Lagergren first order and Pseudo second order models. Intraparticle diffusion graphs were also plotted to discuss the adsorption mechanism. Kinetic data showed the significance of boundary layer effect for both of the drugs and the presence of intraparticle diffusion as the other rate controlling step for the promethazine adsorption. Giles isotherms showed the high affinity of drug molecules to the adsorbent. Maximum adsorption capacity of drugs was calculated using Langmuir model as 18.35 and 41.15 mg/g for trimethoprim and 95.24 and 80.65 mg/g for promethazine in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), respectively. Trimethoprim adsorption was under favor of hydrophobic interaction and π-π dispersion interactions while promethazine adsorption was through cation exchange where the electrostatic attraction is an important force with the contribution of dispersion interactions.