Solid State Reactions of Potato Starch with Urea and Biuret

Reaction of granular potato starch with urea and biuret resulted in the formation of products, which were soluble neither in cold nor boiling water. The net reaction was a monosubstitution of the hydrogen atom in one hydroxyl group in each D-glucose unit of starch with the either CO–NH₂ or CO–NH–CO–NH₂ moiety, respectively. Properties of the products, particularly these with urea, depended on the mode of reaction. Reactions were carried out in the microwave oven as well as with convection heating. The products retained the granular form of starch but a vast majority of granules were damaged. -Amylolysis of those materials revealed that their susceptibility to the enzyme increasing in the order: starch-amylolysis with simultaneous insolubility in water make these products suitable as ruminant fodder and, eventually, biodegradable material.     

An evaluation of reactive filter media for treating landfill leachate

A laboratory bench-scale column study was conducted to evaluate permeable reactive filter materials as a new method for removal of heavy metals and inorganic nitrogen from landfill leachate. Mixtures of sand and peat, blast-furnace slag (BFS) and peat, and Polonite and peat were tested by loading columns with leachate collected from a pond at Tvetaverket Landfill, Sweden. Sand, peat and Polonite represent natural materials. BFS is a by-product from steel-works. The metal treatment efficiencies of the media were assessed and Polonite was found to perform best, where Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu concentrations were removed by 99%, 93%, 86% and 67%, respectively. This material was also able to reduce inorganic N by 18%. The BFS showed good removal efficiency for Cu (66%), Zn (62%), Ni (19%) and Mo (16%). The sand-peat mixture did not demonstrate a promising removal capacity for any of the elements studied with the exception of Cu (25%). The removal of different elements was suggested to be a combination of several factors, i.e. precipitation, ion exchange and adsorption. Prior to full-scale application of reactive filters at a landfill site, matrix selection, filter design and operational procedures must be developed.     

Deposition and resuspension of selected aerosols particles on electrically charged filter materials for respiratory protective devices.

The primary aim of the study was to analyse the non-steady state of filtration for selected electrostatic filter materials designed for use in respiratory protective devices. The obtained results showed that the filtration process in electrostatic filters was dependent in the main on the following factors: type of the filter material, electrostatic field strength of the material, and the charge of the aerosol. To a lesser degree the filtration process depended on the sign of the charge and the relative humidity of the air. A significant correlation was found between the increase in the penetration and the decrease in breathing resistance while the filter was being loaded. The effect of resuspension (tearing off and re-deposition of dust agglomerates inside the filter) on the filtration process very significant. It was also observed that under certain conditions electrostatic filter materials lost their protection properties.     

Occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)--how can we reduce the risk?

We analyzed occupational exposure to potentially infectious body fluids among health care workers (HCWs). Nurses were the most common exposed category of HCWs. In 73.6% cases needle sticks had been the reason of exposure. Recapping a needle was the cause of exposure in 6.9% accidents. Among 189 registered HCWs, 66 (34.9%) performed invasive procedures without any personal protective equipment. Prophylaxis with antiretroviral drugs was necessary in 43 (22.8%) cases. As many as 60.3% of exposure incidents to potentially infectious material result from non-compliance with the relevant recommendations. Continuous education and training is critically needed to prevent occupational exposure to blood-borne infections among health care workers.     

The application of piezoelectric detectors for investigations of environmental pollution

The general properties of piezoelectric sorption detectors utilised in the detection of air pollution have been characterised. Examples of detection, with the aid of these detectors, of the organophosphorus compounds, sulphur dioxide, ammonia, hydrocarbons and their derivatives and other air pollutants have been given. Based on information given in this paper, general conclusions including advantages, and difficulties of using piezoelectric detectors in practice have been described.