Removal of sulfur dioxide by carbon impregnated with triethylenediamine, using indigenously developed pilot scale setup.

In order to provide protection against extremely toxic gases, activated carbon (AC) adsorption has long been regarded to be a useful technology in terms of gas removal. AC without chemical impregnation has been considerably less effective than impregnated ACs. AC in present use was modified with an organic amine, i.e., triethylenediamine (TEDA) to enhance the physical and chemical properties of AC in order to remove specific poisonous gases. With the rising concern on environmental pollution, there has been an increased curiosity in ACs as the means for eliminating pollutants from environment. Purpose of this study was to assess the TEDA impregnated AC in terms of adsorption capability for simulant gas like SO2. Analysis was done in a properly designed setup. By using the scheme reported here, significant adsorption of toxic gas was obtained. Maximum removal capability observed by AC-4 for SO2 gas was 374 mg/g-C and its breakthrough time was 264 min. Breakthrough time and adsorption capacity of AC-4 was found to be 25 times and 10 times greater as compared to raw AC. Different characterization techniques were also used to study impregnated AC. It was found that chemical adsorption was the crucial means by which TEDA-impregnated AC removed the simulant gas. Langmuir model was best to represent equilibrium, and adsorption kinetics follow second-order model. The process was endothermic, favorable, and spontaneous.

Plastic surgical trauma: A single-centre experience.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the demographics, mechanism, nature, anatomical distribution, management and complications in trauma patients presenting to the plastic surgery unit. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. SETTING: This study was conducted in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, from 1(st) January 2009 to 30(th) April 2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All trauma patients referred from emergency department and other departments irrespective of age and gender were enrolled in the study, excluding acute burns and trauma sequelae patients. The details were obtained from the data sheets of the patients. All the data were analysed and projected in the form of tables and figures. RESULTS: A total of 1034 patients including 855 (82.7%) males and 179 (17.3%) females presented with plastic surgical trauma, with age ranging from 1 to 86 years, with a mean age of 20.84 ± 15.469 SD. The upper limb was affected in 492 (47.6%) patients, followed by head and neck in 273 (26.4%) cases. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were the main cause of trauma, affecting 340 (32.9%) patients. Wound excision and closure was performed in 473 (45.7%) patients, followed by skin grafting and flap coverage in 232 (22.4%) and 132 (13.2%) patients, respectively. Postoperative complications were observed in 45 (4.35%) patients. CONCLUSION: Males in their young age mainly presented with plastic surgical trauma with RTA as the main mechanism and laceration as the most common type of these injuries. The upper limb was the most commonly affected region. The frequency of different types of surgical procedures and postoperative complications observed are comparable with international literature except for the microvascular surgery which is not performed in our centre. Regular audit of the plastic surgical trauma should be conducted in all plastic surgical units to both improve trauma care and reaffirm the role of Plastic Surgery in the new age trauma.