Stability criterion for the magnetic separation of rare-earth ions.

The stability criterion for the magnetic separation of rare-earth ions is studied, taking dysprosium Dy(iii) ions as an example. Emphasis is placed on quantifying the factors that limit the desired high enrichment. During magnetic separation, a layer enriched in Dy(iii) ions is generated via the surface evaporation of an aqueous solution which is levitated by the Kelvin force.

Gut Microbiota Modulation on Intestinal Mucosal Adaptive Immunity.

The mammalian intestine harbors a remarkable number of microbes and their components and metabolites, which are fundamental for the instigation and development of the host immune system. The intestinal innate and adaptive immunity coordinate and interact with the symbionts contributing to the intestinal homeostasis through establishment of a mutually beneficial relationship by tolerating to symbiotic microbiota and retaining the ability to exert proinflammatory response towards invasive pathogens. Imbalance between the intestinal immune system and commensal organisms disrupts the intestinal microbiological homeostasis, leading to microbiota dysbiosis, compromised integrity of the intestinal barrier, and proinflammatory immune responses towards symbionts.

Dissolution of Sessile Microdroplets of Electrolyte and Graphene Oxide Solutions in an Ouzo System.

Manipulating the way a droplet shrinks by evaporation or dissolution is an effective approach for assembling dissolved nanomaterials. In this work, we investigate the dissolution dynamics of a submicroliter sessile droplet of electrolyte aqueous solution and of graphene oxide suspension immersed in a binary mixture of solvents, among which one is miscible and the other is immiscible with water (i.e.

Effect of Treatment Methods on Chitin Structure and Its Transformation into Nitrogen-Containing Chemicals.

Chitin treatment using different methods, including ball mill grinding, steam explosion, alkaline treatment, phosphoric acid, and ionic liquid (IL) dissolution/reprecipitation have been systematically investigated. The chitin structures were thoroughly investigated by using a series of analytical techniques, and the reactivity after each treatment was evaluated in dehydration and liquefaction reactions. The parallel studies enable direct comparisons of these methods and help to establish the structure-activity correlations.

Catalytic effect of Ag⁺ on arsenic bioleaching from orpiment (As₂S₃) in batch tests with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Sulfobacillus sibiricus.

Orpiment is one of the major arsenic sulfide minerals which commonly occurs in the gold mine environment and the weathering of this mineral can lead to the contamination of arsenic. In this study, chemical leaching experiments using 10g/L Fe(3+) at 35°C and 50°C were carried out and the results show that orpiment can be leached by Fe(3+) and the leaching rate of orpiment was significantly enhanced in the presence of Ag(+). The bioleaching experiments with mesophilic bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and moderate thermophilic bacteria Sulfobacillus sibiricus were carried out, showing that these two strains can survive in the mineral pulp and oxidize Fe(2+) to regenerate Fe(3+).

Melt, hydration, and micellization of the PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer studied by FTIR spectroscopy.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to study the conformational changes of the polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide (PEO-PPO-PEO) block copolymer, Pluronic P104, in a large concentration range in a polymer-water system as a function of temperature. The melt in which the conformational transition of the PEO blocks occurs gives remarkable changes in the spectral behavior. A small amount of water in Pluronic P104 can induce the PEO block amorphism.