comparative study on arsenic [III] removal from aqueous solution using nano and micro sized zerovalent iron

The present study was conducted for Arsenic [III] removal, one of the most poisonous groundwater pollutants, by synthetic nano and micro size zerovalent iron [n-mZVI]. Batch experiments were performed to investigate the influence of As [III], nZVI and mZVI concentration, pH of solution and reaction time on the efficiency of As [III] removal by Fe[o] particles. Nano ZVI was synthesized by reduction of ferric chloride by sodium borohydrid. Scanning Electron microscope and X-Ray diffraction were used to determine particle size and characterization of produced nanoparticles. Results showed up to 99.9% removal efficiency for arsenic [III] that was obtained by nZVI dosage of 1 g/L at equal time of 10 min and pH=7. The maximum removal efficiency by mZVI obtained in initial arsenic concentration of 1 mg/L and mZVI dosage of 10 g/L after 120 min. and pH=7. It could be concluded that the removal efficiency was enhanced with increasing n-mZVI dosage and reaction time, but decreased with increasing of arsenic concentration and pH for both nano and micro sized ZVI. Nano ZVI presented an outstanding ability to remove As [III] due to not only a high surface area and low particle size but also to high inherent activity

Serum lipoprotein [LP[a]] levels in patients with diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance: an evaluation and comparison

Lipoprotein [a] [Lp[a]] is known as an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis and changes in serum level of this molecule and other lipoproteins have been noticed in diabetic patients because the most important cause of death in these patients is related to their cardiovascular disorders. Moreover, patients with IGT [Impaired Glucose Tolerance] are more at risk of cardiovascular disease than the normal population. The main purpose of this study is to comparie Lp[a] serum levels between diabetic patients, patients with IGT and normal controls without any glucose metabolism disturbance. In this study, 180 patients [112 females, average age of 51 +/- 11 years and 68 males, average age of 54 +/- 14 years] were selected and placed in three separate age and sex matched groups [60 patients in each group] as Diabetic, IGT and Control group. After taking clinical history and determining body measurements, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, LDL-C and Lp[a] were measured in fasting blood samples. Lp[a] serum levels were not significantly different between the three groups. [DM:25.4 +/- 20.9, IGT: 24 +/- 21.4, Control: 24.6 +/- 17.9 mg/dL]. An increase in serum triglyceride was found in the diabetic patients compared with the controls. [DM: 210.6 +/- 91.5, control: 159 +/- 71.9 mg/dL p = 0.04]. HDL-C levels showed no significant difference between groups. In addition, HDL-C levels of the all three groups were lower than the recommended range of Coronary Artery Disease prevention. [average range of the three groups: 37.4 +/- 8.7 mg/dL] Total Cholesterol and LDL-C serum levels were higher in diabetic patients compared with the controls. [DM: 222.3 +/- 35.4 vs Control group: 191.7 +/- 46.5 mg/dL p < 0.007 and DM: 141.2 +/- 32.4 vs Control: 119.0 +/- 36.6 mg/dL p < 0.03]. In the IGT group, serum lipids levels were between the levels of the diabetic and control groups none of these differences were significant. This study shows that Lp[a] serum levels do not change in Diabetes Mellitus and IGT