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Fluorapatite nanopowders with different amounts of fluoride ions were prepared using the surfactant-assisted microwave method under isothermal conditions. Microwave irradiation was applied for the rapid formation of crystals. A micellar solution of polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether was used as a regulator of nucleation and crystal growth. Characterization studies from X-ray diffraction, field-emission scaning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectra showed that crystals have an apatite structure and particles of all samples are nano size, with an average length of 50 nm and about 15-25 nm in diameter. Antimicrobial studies have demonstrated that synthesized fluorapatite nanopowders exhibit activity against tested pathogens: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Activity increased with the amount of fluoride ions. The synthesized fluorapatite nanomaterials are promising as materials in environmental protection and medicine for orthopedics and dental restorations. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III 43009]

In a semi-ideal gas, entropy changes cannot be determined through the medium specific heat capacity in a manner as determined by the change of internal energy and enthalpy, i.e. the amount of heat exchanged. Taking this into account, the authors conducted two models through which it is possible to determine the change in the specific entropy of a semi-ideal gas for arbitrary temperature interval using the spread sheet method, using the mean values of the appropriate functions. The idea is to replace integration, which occurs here in evitably, with mean values of the previous functions. The models are derived based on the functional dependence of the actual specific heat capacity on the temperature. The theorem used is that of the mean value of a function as well as the mathematical properties of the definite integral. The mean value of a fractional function is determined via its integrand while the logarithmic functions were performed by applying a suitable transformation of the differential calculus. The relations derived relation, using the computer program, have enabled the design of appropriate thermodynamic tables through which it is possible to determine the change in entropy of arbitrary state changes in an efficient and rational manner, without the use of calculus or finished forms. In this way, the change in the entropy of a semi-ideal gas is determined for an arbitrary temperature interval using the method which is analogous to that applied in determining the change of internal energy and enthalpy or the amount of heat exchanged, which was the goal of the work. Verification of the proposed method for both the above functions was performed for a a few characteristic semi-ideal gases where change c(T) is significant, for the three adopted temperature intervals, for the characteristic change of state. This was compared to the results of the classical integral and the proposed method through the prepared tables. In certain or special cases, it is possible to apply the presented method also in determining the change in entropy of the real gas. Apart from that, the paper shows that the change in entropy for the observed characteristic case can be represented or graphically determined using the planimetric method of diagrams with suitably selected coordinates.

Due to their remarkable magnetic properties, such as a high maximum energy product, high remanence, and high coercivity, NdFeB magnets are used in a variety of technological applications. Because of their very limited recycling, high numbers of spent NdFeB magnets are widely available in the market. In addition to China's monopoly on the supply of most rare earth elements, there is a need for the recovery of these critical metals, as their high import price poses an economic and environmental challenge for manufacturers. This paper proposes a pyrometallurgical recycling method for end-of-life NdFeB magnets by oxidizing them in air as first required step. The main goal of this method is to oxidize rare earth elements from NdFeB magnets in order to prepare them for the carbothermic reduction. The experimental conditions, such as the oxidation temperature and time, were studied in order to establish the phase transformation during oxidation using the Factsage Database and experimental conditions. Our thermogravimetric analysis TGA analysis revealed an increased sample mass by 35% between room temperature and 1100 °C, which is very close to the total calculated theoretical value of oxygen (36.8% for all elements, and only 3.6% for rare earth elements REE), confirming the complete oxidation of the material. The obtained quantitative analysis of the oxidation product, in (%), demonstrated values of 53.41 Fe2O3, 10.37 Fe3O4; 16.45 NdFeO3; 0.45 Nd2O3, 1.28 Dy2O3, 1.07 Pr2O3, and 5.22 α-Fe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents results of the measurements of the sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration and meteorological parameters: temperature, air pressure, relative humidity and wind speed. The data were collected from January 2019 to December 2020 at two stations, namely Center and Heating plant, in the City of Bijeljina, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. SO2 and NO2 are one of the major air pollutants that could negatively affect the human health. Levels of SO2 and NO2 in air samples and meteorological variables from urban zone of Bijeljina were determined at both localities, which represent a highly-populated area with intensive traffic. This topic has not been studied up to now in Bijeljina, although the recent research data indicates that there is a correlation between meteorological parameters and air pollutants. Statistical analysis confirms direct corelation between SO2 and NO2 and meteorological parameters, specially temperature in locality Center (r = -0.639), the wind speed in locality Heating plant (r = 0.399) and relative humidity (r = 0.162). Correlation of NO2 with temperature is not confirmed in both localities. The wind speed increase is followed by rises of the NO2 concentration values and vice versa. Correlation of NO2 with pressure is confirmed in locality Center (r = 0.128) but it is not confirmed in locality Heating plant. Correlation between NO2 and relative humidity found to be negative in locality Center (r = -0.062). These parameters are the most important meteorological factors influencing the variation in SO2 and NO2 concentration in the air during the research. Depending on the obtained correlation, meteorological parameters had a positive or negative impact on air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of cadmium (Cd) concentration in the soil on its uptake by tobacco plants, and to compare the ability of diverse extraction procedures for determining Cd bioavailability and predicting soil-to-plant transfer and Cd plant concentrations. The pseudo-total digestion procedure, modified Tessier sequential extraction and six standard single-extraction tests for estimation of metal mobility and bioavailability were used for the leaching of Cd from a native soil, as well as samples artificially contaminated over a wide range of Cd concentrations. The results of various leaching tests were compared between each other, as well as with the amounts of Cd taken up by tobacco plants in pot experiments. In the native soil sample, most of the Cd was found in fractions not readily available under natural conditions, but with increasing pollution level, Cd amounts in readily available forms increased. With increasing concentrations of Cd in the soil, the quantity of pollutant taken up in tobacco also increased, while the transfer factor (TF) decreased. Linear and non-linear empirical models were developed for predicting the uptake of Cd by tobacco plants based on the results of selected leaching tests. The non-linear equations for ISO 14870 (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid extraction – DTPA), ISO/TS 21268-2 (CaCl2leaching procedure), US EPA 1311 (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure – TCLP) single step extractions, and the sum of the first two fractions of the sequential extraction, exhibited the best correlation with the experimentally determined concentrations of Cd in plants over the entire range of pollutant concentrations. This approach can improve and facilitate the assessment of human exposure to Cd by tobacco smoking, but may also have wider applicability in predicting soil-to-plant transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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