The effect of aqueous media on the mechanical properties of fluorapatite-mullite glass-ceramics.

OBJECTIVES: To verify the effects of alternating thermal changes in aqueous media and chemical composition on mechanical properties of apatite-mullite glass-ceramics and to investigate concentration of ions eluted from glass-ceramics in aqueous media. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The glass compositions were from SiO2Al2O3P2O5CaOTiO2BaOZrO2CaF2 system. Glass-ceramics were prepared by heat-treating at 1100°C for 3h samples alternately immersed in water at 5 and 60°C. The 3-point bending strength (n=10) were determined using 3×4×25mm/bar and a universal testing machine, at a cross-head speed of 0.1mm/min. Vickers micro hardness were evaluated by applying a total of 15-20 indentations under a 100g load for 30s. Concentrations of ions eluted from glass-ceramics immersed in 60±5°C double distilled water were determined by ion chromatography. The toxicity of glass-ceramics was assessed by seeding the osteosarcoma cells (MG63) on powder for different days and their cell proliferation assessment was investigated by MTT assay. The data were analyzed using one way analysis of variance and the means were compared by Tukey's test (5% significance level). RESULTS: The highest flexural strength and hardness values after thermal changes belonged to TiO2 and ZrO2 containing glass-ceramics which contained lower amount of released ions. BaO containing glass-ceramic and sample with extra amount of silica showed the highest amount of reduction in their mechanical strength values. These additives enhanced the concentration of eluted ions in aqueous media. MTT results showed that glass-ceramics were almost equivalent concerning their in-vitro biological behavior. SIGNIFICANCE: Thermal changes and chemical compositions had significant effects on flexural strength and Vickers micro-hardness values.

Evaluation of electrochemical generation of volatile zinc hydride by heated quartz tube atomizer atomic absorption spectrometry.

Electrochemical hydride generation (EcHG) as a sample introduction system for determination of zinc was developed. It was directly coupled to an electrically heated quartz tube atomizer (QTA) atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) system. The hydride generator is a laboratory-made semi-batch electrolytic cell that consists of a lead-tin alloy cathode and a platinum anode. The effects of typical parameters on the generation efficiency of the technique, such as types of cathode material and catholyte and anolyte solutions, were studied. The influences of numerical experimental operating parameters on the analytical signal were evaluated in detail and optimum conditions were obtained. The analytical figures of merit for the developed method were determined. The calibration curve was linear up to 300 ng mL(-1) of Zn. A concentration detection limit (3σ, n = 9) of 11 ng mL(-1) Zn and a relative standard deviation of 5.0% (RSD, n = 9) for 200 ng mL(-1) Zn were accessed. In addition, the susceptibility of interference from various ions was evaluated. The accuracy of the method was verified by determination of Zn in a certified reference material and in tap water. The achieved concentrations were found to be in good agreement with both the certified value and the data obtained using flame AAS.

Fabrication of nanospinel ZnCr2O4 using sol-gel method and its application on removal of azo dye from aqueous solution.

For the first time, nanoparticles of zinc chromite, spinel ZnCr(2)O(4) have been fabricated by the thermal decomposition of Zn-Cr gel prepared by sol-gel method in the presence of oxalic acid as a chelating agent. It was shown that the well-crystallized spinel structure is formed after calcination at 450°C. The nanospinel has been characterized by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The average particle size is approximately 13 nm according to the TEM image. The nanoparticles of zinc chromites showed excellent adsorption properties towards reactive dye, reactive blue 5 (RB5). The adsorption studies have been carried out for contact time, different pH values, different temperatures, and adsorbent doses. The investigation of removal kinetics of RB5 indicates that the removal process obeys the rate of second-order kinetic equation. The results indicate that the Langmuir adsorption isotherm fitted the data better than the Freundlich. Also, the photocatalytic degradation of RB5 using spinel ZnCr(2)O(4) under UV irradiation at pH=1 has been also examined. The results showed that the degradation of RB5 dye follows merely an adsorption process.