New calcareous soil-alginate composites for efficient uptake of Fe(III), Mn(II) and As(V) from water.

In the present study, various grades of sodium alginates were extracted from different brown macro-algae and their characteristics were investigated using FTIR, UV-vis and EA. The alginates were used in combination with different proportions of calcareous soil to develop new composite microparticles as potential sorbents for efficient uptake of Fe(III), Mn(II) and As(V) from water. Under the investigated conditions (1g of composite equilibrated in 100ml of standard metal ion solution), the composites have removed almost 100% of Fe(III) in the concentration range of 0.

Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in hemodialysis patients from egypt with or without hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: While prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) who are undergoing dialysis has decreased significantly during the past few decades, it still remains a distinct clinical problem. The immunosuppressive nature of renal disease often leads to chronicity of the HBV infection and an opportunity for nosocomial spread of the infection among dialysis patients. Egypt is among the countries with intermediate endemicity of HBsAg (range, 2%-7%).