Valorizing hazardous lead glass sludge and alumina flakes filling waste for the synthesis of geopolymer building bricks.

Geopolymer bricks from lead glass sludge (LGS) and alumina flakes filling (AFF) waste were synthesized in the present work. AFF waste was chemically treated to prepare sodium aluminate (NaAlO2) powder. Silicate source (untreated LGS and thermally treated one at 600 °C (LGS600)) and sodium oxide (Na2O) concentration (as NaAlO2) were the compositional parameters, which affected the physical and mechanical properties (compressive strength, water absorption, and bulk density) of the prepared bricks. High organic matter content inside LGS caused a retardation effect on the geopolymerization process, resulting in the formation of hardened bricks with modest 90-day compressive strengths (2.13 to 4.4 MPa). Using LGS600 enhanced the mechanical properties of the fabricated bricks, achieving a maximum 90-day compressive strength of 22.35 MPa at 3 wt.% Na2O. Sodium aluminosilicate hydrate was the main activation product inside all samples, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and thermal analyses. Acetic acid leaching test also proved that all LGS600-NaAlO2 mixtures represented Pb concentrations in leachates lower than the permissible level of characteristic leaching procedures, indicating the mitigation of environmental problems caused by these wastes.

Hemoglobin drop after anesthesia in craniosynstosis: Dilemma of operate or not to operate.

An infant with craniosynostosis for craniectomy and cranial-vault remodelling was detected to have very low hemoglobin (6.8 gm%) after induction of anesthesia. This posed a dilemma whether to proceed with or abandon the surgical procedure. The case was postponed and was rescheduled for surgery one week later with hope that his hemoglobin would rise during this period. However, even before second anesthesia his hemoglobin level was found to be unchanged. Meticulous anesthesia management resulted in uneventful surgical procedure.