Search

Background: Current methods used for the detection of residual proteinaceous contamination vary in sensitivity and specificity. This is of concern because it increases the risk for transmission of neurodegenerative diseases such as spongiform encephalopathies., Aim: To determine the effectiveness of electrolysis-assisted sonication (EAS) for removing residual proteinaceous contamination from surgical grade stainless steel., Methods: EAS was used to clean surgical grade 316L stainless steel that had been contaminated with the protein bovine serum albumin. Using nitrogen, an abundant element in proteins, as a marker for the presence of protein, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to quantify the amount of protein remaining on the substrate surface. Cathodic, anodic and dual polarization modes of EAS were investigated using 0.1% NaCl solution (w/v, in deionized water) as the electrolyte medium and 13 V as the polarization voltage., Finding: EAS under dual polarization was found to be the most effective method for removing the residual protein layer down to an estimated XPS detection limit of 10 ng/cm(2). Surface roughness and hardness of the stainless steel remained unchanged following EAS treatment, indicating that the procedure does not compromise the material's properties., Conclusion: This relatively inexpensive and quick method of cleaning medical devices using an easily accessible salt-based electrolyte solution may offer a cost-effective strategy for cleaning medical and dental devices made of stainless steel in the future., (Copyright © 2012 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Treatment of real reactive dyebath effluent comprising of an exhausted reactive dyebath and its sequential rinses with electrocoagulation (EC) using aluminum (Al) and stainless steel (SS) electrodes was investigated. The experimental study focused on the effect of applied current density (22-87 mA/cm(2); at an initial, optimum pH of 5.5) on decolorization and COD removal rates using Al and SS as electrode materials. Results have indicated that the treatment efficiency was enhanced appreciably by increasing the applied current density when Al electrodes were used for EC, whereas no clear correlation existed between current density and removal rates for EC with SS electrodes the treatment efficiency could only be improved when the applied current density was in the range of 33-65 mA/cm(2). It was established that EC with SS electrodes was superior in terms of decolorization kinetics (99-100% color removal after 10-15 min EC at all studied current densities), whereas EC with Al electrodes was more beneficial for COD removal in terms of electrical energy consumption (5 kWh/m(3) wastewater for EC with Al electrodes instead of 9 kWh/m(3) wastewater for EC with SS electrodes).