04-11Quality assessment of Japanese Biofango through tensiometric approach by TVS mud index / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

<b>Introduction: </b>Sanraku-en spa started to purpose the “Shogawa biofangotherapy” using hot spring water and different kind of clays of natural origin (called Biofango) matured for three weeks during which bacterial flora develop with production of constitutive elements having therapeutic properties [4]. In collaboration with Ascendant Co. Ltd was ideated and developed the production of the first japanese Biofango supported by Toho University, University of Science and Technology of Hokuriku, and University of Hishigawa opening at new perspective in mudtherapy for therapeutic use in Japan (Biofango project).<BR><b>Objectives: </b>The goal was the assessing the surface energy of Biofango by TVS modelling and TVS mud index ^{1, 2)}. Tensiometric analyses of Biofango mixtures were performed at Sanraku-en spas centre (Tonami-Japan) and its quality control has been carried out in the Permanent Thermal Observatory (OTP) of University of Padova. Organic compounds analysis (TOC) were performed in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences of University of Padova (Italy).<BR><b>Materials and Methods: </b>Biofango was prepared using KomatsuClay, MotoyamaClay, WakuraDiatomite and KasaokaBentonite. Pre-test mixtures were K01 (Bentonite 1.75, KomatsuClay 0.5, Diatomite 0.25) and M01 (Bentonite 1.75 MotoyamaClay 0.5 Diatomite 0.25). After were prepared K02 (Bentonite 1.25, Kaolinite 1.5, Diatomite 0.25) and A01 (KasaokaBentonite 1.25, Kaolinite 0.5, Diatomite 0.25) mixtures. Final Biofangos were BFM+0%Dolomite, MAT1+10%Dolomite, MAT2+18%Dolomite, and MAT3+35%Dolomite were analysed by XRF/XRD. TOC analyses were performed on a Perkin-Elmer-2400 analyser with Perkin-Elmer-AD-4 autobalance and tensiometric investigations were performed by DSA 10 (Krüss) tensiometer employing (a) PFPE, Fomblin HC/OH-1000, diiodomethane, glycerine as liquid tests and (b) Owens-Wendt³⁾ mathematical model to convert contact angles in surface enery parameters. <BR><b>Results: </b>XRD analyses of Biofango demonstrating presence of Kaolinite-Quartz-Feldspar in Komatsu Clay, Kaolinite-Quartz-Feldspar-Carbon in MotoyamaClay, Quartz-Montmorillonite-Feldspar-Grauconite in WakuraDiatomite, and Montmorillonite-Quartz-Feldspar-Christoballite in KasaokaBentonite while XRF showed presence of SiO₂ (KomatsuClay 53.38%, MotoyamaClay 48.86%, WakuraDiatomite 78.20%, KasaokaBentonite 66.01%) and Al₂O₃ (KomatsuClay 53.38%, MotoyamaClay 48.86%, WakuraDiatomite 78.20%, KasaokaBentonite 66.01%) as principal elements. TOC analyses demonstrated an increase of C% with production of CO₂ in relation to the amount of Dolomite in Biofango mixtures (MAT1=1.26%, MAT2=2.36%, MAT3=3.29%). Tensiometric investigations showed a correlation between C% and dispersed components (DC) measured on Biofango mixtures (MAT1=3.0 mN/m, MAT2=2.1 mN/m, MAT3=2.0 mN/m) and between C% and TVS mud index levels (MAT1=68.7 mN/m eq., MAT2=74.06 mN/m eq., MAT3=75.9 mN/m eq.).<BR><b>Conclusions:</b> Tensiometric investigations of Biofango consented to determine the correlations between chemico-mineralogical data and surface energy parameters. Thanking to the high sensitivity of TVS mud index used as integrated tensiometric marker was possible to determine directly and in a non invasive way the quality of Biofango mixtures opening at new perspective in their monitoring and control before their employment in mudtherapy in Japanese spas after their maturation process.