Elemental Characterization of Romanian Crop Medicinal Plants by Neutron Activation Analysis.

The metallic elements concentrations of medicinal plants (coriander, dill, , lavender, chamomile, mint, and plantain, used for phytopharmaceutical products), cultivated in unpolluted region, were analyzed by neutron activation analysis. The essential nutrients, macro-, micro-, and trace elements (K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Rb, Sr, and Zn), potentially toxic elements (Al, As, Ba, Co, Sb, Cr, and V), and rare earth elements were monitored and were compared with those presented in the literature. An estimation of their contributions to intake and toxicity for a person was made, which revealed that (a) teas prepared from the examined plants represent useful contribution to the food provided intake of three essential macronutrients (K, Ca, and Mg); (b) the Cu, Mn, Rb, Sr, Zn, and rare earths levels are normal or low; (c) the quantities of As, Ba, Co, Sb, Cr, and V do not represent toxicological concerns; (d) the examination of the estimated Al and Fe quantities recovered in infusions in the conditions of usual daily tea consumption is below the Tolerable Daily Intake values.

Ultraporous single phase iron oxide-silica nanostructured aerogels from ferrous precursors.

Monoliths of iron oxide-silica aerogel nanocomposites have been synthesized using a novel synthesis route which consists of impregnating silica wet gels with anhydrous iron(II) precursors followed by ethanol supercritical drying of the gels. The process yields aerogels exhibiting high porosity, large surface areas (approximately 900 m2/g), rather low densities (approximately 0.6 g/cm3), and a homogeneous distribution of single-phase maghemite, gamma-Fe2O3, nanoparticles with average sizes in the 7-8 nm range.