|Publication number||US5310555 A|
|Application number||US 07/920,104|
|Publication date||May 10, 1994|
|Filing date||Jul 24, 1992|
|Priority date||Jul 24, 1992|
|Publication number||07920104, 920104, US 5310555 A, US 5310555A, US-A-5310555, US5310555 A, US5310555A|
|Original Assignee||Midwestern Bio-Ag Products And Services, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (14), Non-Patent Citations (16), Referenced by (26), Classifications (24), Legal Events (6)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This invention relates generally to nutritional and dietary compositions for livestock, and specifically to compositions which combine incompatible substances such as nutrient supplements and bacteria. The invention also relates to a method of preparing a shelf-stable composition of incompatible agents. The present invention is particularly well suited to deliver in vivo nearly simultaneously, incompatible supplements such as vitamins and minerals and bacteria to cattle, sheep and goats in the form of a capsule-in-a-capsule.
In the past, the development of effective treatments for feeding disorders in cattle, sheep and goats has been spurred by a desire to maximize yields of meat and dairy products. Existing drug-based treatments (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,426 issued to Martin, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,609 issued to Potter), however, have the serious drawback of rendering products from treated animals unsalable for long periods under laws designed to protect consumers from harmful drug residues. Farmers, unhappy with the need to choose between low yields or unsalable products, have long sought the development of alternative, drug-free dietary treatments. The goals of drug-free dietary treatments are generally, improved growth and performance, and specially, appetite stimulation and reestablishment of the rumen bacterial populations necessary for proper digestion.
Much attention has been given in recent years to the use of certain microorganisms as dietary adjuncts in efforts to improve the growth and performance of livestock, and reestablishment of rumen bacterial populations. Such dietary cultures are known as probiotics or direct-fed microbials. (Gilliland, S. E., 8th Int'l. Biotech. Syn. Proc., Vol. 2, pp. 923-933 (1988)). Generally, the microorganisms of such probiotics are those that are expected to grow and/or function in the intestinal tract or rumen of the animal and can exert certain metabolic actions that influence the animal. Various microorganisms which have been considered for this type of usage include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus casei, and Streptococcus faecium.
To derive maximum benefit from use of probiotics, the microorganisms must survive and grow in the intestine. It is thus imperative that the probiotic contain viable and active microorganisms at the time of consumption. The bacteria used as probiotics, therefore, must be stable during preparation and during storage prior to consumption.
The simplest approach to delivery of probiotics is to add cultures to animal feed. However, it appears that few direct-fed microbials are stable in feed for more than 3-5 days. (Aimutis, W. R., Feeds Management, Vol. 42, pp. 26-32 (1991)). Moreover, some feed contains antibiotics which are contrary to microbials stability. Yet other feed is pelleted, and most Lactobacillus species, which are predominant and beneficial intestinal species, are susceptible to the high temperatures, compression, aeration and mixing abrasion to which they are exposed during the pelleting process.
Another approach is to provide the bacteria themselves as a pellet or bolus. Many such bolus products are commercially available.
More recently, bolus or pellet formulations have been developed which include a combination of the bacteria and dry vitamin and trace mineral supplements, as nearly simultaneous administration in vivo of these components has been suggested as being highly beneficial to achieving the goals of appetite stimulation and bacterial population reestablishment. Many of these bolus formulations are available commercially. It has been found, however, that the supplements and bacteria are incompatible as the vitamin and mineral levels efficacious for livestock are toxic to the bacteria. As indicated previously, microorganisms are also sensitive to mixing abrasion, aeration, compression and high temperatures, all of which occur during conventional hard bolus production. Moreover, the bolus formulations also require binding, wetting and disintegrating agents, any or all of which may adversely affect the viability of the bacteria. Such bolus products, therefore, have limited shelf stability in that the population of viable bacteria is greatly reduced within about a week.
Thus, a persistent and vexatious problem, largely unattended by the prior art, is the lack of a method for simultaneously delivering incompatible substances in vivo to animals, particularly when one of the substances is a viable microorganism culture.
Various prior art methods of physical separation, e.g., encoating, encapsulation and microencapsulation, of nutritional supplements are known, however, none adequately address the preparation and storage requirements of sensitive direct-fed microbial agents. For example, conventional microencapsulation subjects bacteria to a number of potentially fatal packaging procedures and requires expensive materials, complex equipment, and carefully controlled environmental conditions. Polymeric microcapsules also require specific pH ranges or enzyme activities to effect release of their contents in vivo. These requirements often frustrate conventional laboratory assessment techniques and prevent effective nutrient release in animals whose rumen pH or enzyme balances have been disrupted by bacterial depopulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,466 to Morishita discloses a multiple-encapsulation method. The Morishita process includes successively encapsulating oil solutions or suspensions in soft capsules. Although the method of Morishita has potential for delivery of two components in a single vehicle, the use of oil carriers presents insurmountable obstacles to the delivery of bacteria and vitamin supplement components. It is unlikely that Morishita's soft outer capsules will be able to withstand common shipping, storage and administration conditions and also is unlikely applicable to commonly available microbial forms.
Despite recognition of the known drawbacks of prior art products, the art has not adequately responded to date with a method for delivery in vivo of the incompatible components, namely, direct-fed microbials and nutrient supplements nearly simultaneously to cattle, sheep and goats.
The present invention responds specifically to the long-felt need heretofore unmet by the prior art, and especially with a view to overcoming the inherent inadequacies of combination supplements and direct fed microbials for oral delivery to animals. The composition is a dietary adjunct or feedstuff, providing the convenience and reliability of oral administration, while providing near simultaneous delivery in vivo of incompatible substances. The composition is shelf stable, i.e., allows substantially greater viability of microbials, and does not require binding, wetting and disintegrating agents necessary for pellet or bolus formulations.
The foregoing, and other advantages of the present invention, are realized in one aspect thereof in an oral nutritional composition, i.e., a dietary adjunct, useful for treating feeding disorders and improving feed efficiency in livestock, e.g., cattle, sheep and goats, especially ruminants. The dietary adjunct composition comprises a double capsule which includes live cultures of rumen bacteria in a first capsule which is enclosed with vitamin and mineral supplements in a second capsule. The capsules are preferably made of gelatin. The bacteria and supplements may be combined with acceptable feed grade carriers.
In another aspect, the invention is a method of simultaneously delivering incompatible compounds to animals in vivo. Such delivery is achieved by feeding an animal a double capsule containing a first substance in a first capsule, which is enclosed with a second substance, incompatible with the first substance, in a second larger capsule.
In another embodiment, this invention provides a method for preparing shelf-stable compositions of incompatible substances, which includes the use of multiple capsules of variable composition. Such method is accomplished manually or by machine.
Other advantages and a fuller appreciation of the specific adaptations, compositional variations, and physical and chemical attributes of the present invention will be gained upon an examination of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations refer to like elements throughout and in which:
FIG. 1 shows an enlarged sectional view of the capsule-in-a-capsule structure in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 2a-2f illustrate a method by which each capsule-in-a-capsule is assembled; and
FIG. 3 compares the efficacy of double capsules in accordance with the present invention and hard boluses in simultaneously delivering live microorganisms and incompatible nutrient supplements.
The present invention relates broadly to nutritional supplements and dietary adjuncts for animals, such as cattle, sheep and goats, and specifically to compositions and nutrient delivery systems which permit delivery of incompatible substances. However, the composition of the present invention is most particularly adapted for use in oral supplementation formulations which combine nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, and viable microbials, such as rumen bacteria. Accordingly, the present invention will now be described in detail with respect to such fields of endeavor; however, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such description of the invention is meant to be exemplary only and should not be viewed as limitative of the full scope thereof.
The present invention provides a nutritional composition useful for ameliorating drug-induced, stress-related, and other feeding disorders in food-producing animals, e.g., cattle, sheep and goats. The composition is particularly useful as a ruminant feedstuff for improving feed efficiency and promoting growth. The composition avoids the milk and slaughter withdrawal periods required after drug treatments and enhances the general nutritional status of the animal. Additionally, the composition is shelf-stable and provides a general packaging system for incompatible materials, and is particularly useful for direct-fed microbial agents or probiotics. These attributes are achieved through a particular composition meeting a special combination of physical parameters.
As used herein, the term "incompatible" is meant to refer to substances which deleteriously react with one another when combined in desired levels or concentrations.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a nutritional composition whose components are mutually incompatible, and which incompatible components are physically separated from each other until they reach their in vivo situs. In a preferred embodiment, the composition includes components which are cultures of viable bacteria, and nutritional supplements, e.g., vitamins and minerals. As the cultures and nutritional supplements are incompatible, the microbial cultures are enclosed in a first capsule which is then enclosed with the vitamin and mineral supplements in a second such capsule, i.e., a "capsule-in-a-capsule" structure. The bacteria of the first component serve the valuable function of repopulating the rumen, thus enabling digestion to resume, producing digestive enzymes, and correcting acid imbalances which result from rumen bacterial depopulation.
The vitamins and minerals of the second component increase the nutritional status of animals laboring under conditions of malnutrition caused by feeding disorders. Further, once dispersed throughout the rumen, these vitamins and minerals support the rapid growth of the bacteria of the first component. Oral administration of these vitamins and minerals contemporaneously with the administration of bacteria is preferable to separate or intravenous administration. Separate administration increases the risk that bacteria will not encounter dispersed vitamins and minerals in the rumen and thus fail to exhibit their full growth potential.
It has been found that the bacterial survival rate with the capsule-in-a-capsule structure of the present invention after up to six months storage, i.e., six months after preparation, is nearly 500 times that of an admixture of the bacteria and nutrient supplements. An admixture of bacterial and nutrient supplements is typically a single capsule or a bolus formulation.
FIG. 1 illustrates a capsule-in-a-capsule structure in accordance with the present invention and is generally designated as 20. Capsule-in-a-capsule 20 includes an inner capsule 22 and an outer capsule 24. Inner capsule 22 contains viable bacteria 26 and outer capsule 24 contains vitamins and minerals generally designated as 28. Inner capsule 22 includes a top member 30 and a bottom member 32 which is bigger than top member 30. Top member 30 and bottom member 32 are locked together after filling by a locking mechanism 33 which includes a groove 34 proximate the top 35 of bottom portion 32 and a complementary ridge 36 substantially about the midportion 37 of top portion 30, forming a circumferentially nested ridge and groove. Similarly, outer capsule 24 has a top member 38 and a bottom member 40 in which top member 38 is locked to bottom member 40 with a groove 42 and a ridge 44. The capsules are preferably made of gelatin. Capsule shells are, however, easily reformulated to meet a myriad of size, transportation, storage, and administration requirements, e.g., excessive heat or cold, vibration, humidity, compression or impact, aeration, or ultraviolet light.
The bacteria of the first component, i.e., of inner capsule 22, include one or more of the indigenous intestinal bacteria selected from Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus casei, Streptococcus faecium, and Pediococcus cerevisiae. The bacteria can be processed in accordance with conventional methods of bacteriology to produce direct-fed microbial agents suitable for encapsulation in gelatin-shelled capsules and administration to cattle, sheep and goats. The in vitro viability of the bacteria of the inner capsule is determined by counting the colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g) of the culture administered, according to standard feed industry protocols. At time of preparation, the bacterial count in the inner capsule in accordance with the present invention is suitably about 20×109 CFU/g.
The bacteria can be employed in admixtures with conventional excipients, e.g., acceptable feed grade carriers suitable for enteral (e.g. oral) administration which do not deleteriously react with the bacteria. Suitable feed grade carriers include, but are not limited to, calcium carbonate, nonhygroscopic whey, rice hulls, and sucrose.
The bacterial preparations can also be mixed with auxiliary agents, e.g., whole dried milk, dextrose, enzymes, plasma proteins or amino acids to promote the growth and nutritional status of the animal and the bacteria in vivo.
The vitamins and minerals of the second component, i.e., outer capsule, are selected from one or more vitamins, namely, A, B12, C, D, E, and K, niacin, thiamine, choline, biotin, folic acid, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and one or more minerals, namely, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, selenium and zinc.
The vitamins and minerals of the outer capsule 28 can be processed in accordance with conventional methods of pharmacy to produce agents suitable for encapsulation in gelatin-shelled capsules and administration to cattle, sheep and goats. For example, the vitamins and minerals can be administered in alternative sulfate, oxide, chelated, or other chemical forms to promote efficient dissolution and absorption in vivo.
The vitamins and minerals can also be employed in admixtures with conventional excipients, e.g., acceptable feed grade carriers which do not deleteriously react with them. Suitable carriers include, but are not limited to, antioxidants, flavoring agents, cellulose, grain by-products, or other inert vegetable materials. Nutrient-rich, dried organic materials, such as kelp, are highly preferred carrier materials, as they contribute significantly to the vitamin and mineral status of the animal and rumen bacteria.
The capsule-in-a-capsules for adult cattle are suitably prepared in 15 g double capsules and capsule-in-a-capsules for calves are suitably prepared as 4.5 g double capsules. Both sizes of capsules are orally administered daily as 1-2 capsule-in-a-capsule for three consecutive days at freshening or other signs of stress or feed distress.
It will be appreciated, however, that the actual preferred amounts of the compounds in the inner and outer capsules will vary according to the age, weight and species of animal being treated, and the particular feeding disorder of interest. For example, the amounts of vitamins and minerals in outer capsules for calves is suitably one-third of that in outer capsules for adult cattle. Feed guidelines can be determined by means of an appropriate conventional dietary protocol.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for simultaneously delivering incompatible substances to livestock in vivo. Specifically, the method includes oral administration of a capsule-in-a-capsule which structure includes a first gelatin-shelled capsule containing a first substance and a second gelatin-shelled capsule encapsulating the first capsule that contains a substance incompatible with the first. When the first substance is a bacterial culture of rumen bacteria, such method delivers at least 3×109 CFU/capsule-in-a-capsule.
The method in accordance with the present invention advantageously preserves the activity of mutually reactive or otherwise incompatible substances by physically separating them during production, storage and administration. When live microorganisms are administered to animals simultaneously with vitamins and minerals in bolus or single capsule formulations, the microorganisms often are rendered nonviable. The present method advantageously facilitates the consolidation of multi-step therapies into easily administered, single-step therapies. Such efficient administration eliminates the stresses induced by the sequential administration of multi-phase treatment components and ensures the delivery of correct unit doses. The capsule-in-a-capsule vehicle is suitably delivered by hand or balling gun to cattle, sheep and goats.
In another aspect, the invention is an oral nutritional supplement delivery system for livestock. The system is a two-component system which effects near simultaneously delivery of the two components. The system comprises a first capsule containing at least one live microorganism and a second capsule enclosing both the first capsule and an admixture of vitamins and minerals, incompatible with live microorganisms. The capsules physically separate the incompatible microorganism cultures and nutrient supplements, thereby eliminating the need for separate administration of the microorganisms and the vitamin and mineral admixture.
To fabricate a capsule-in-a-capsule in accordance with the present invention, a first capsule, typically a gelatin capsule, is filled with a first substance and capped. This first capsule is placed inside the bottom member of a second, larger capsule, typically also a gelatin capsule, and the second capsule is then filled with a second substance, incompatible with the first substance, and capped. This method for efficiently and inexpensively preparing a shelf-stable composition of incompatible substances constitutes another aspect of the invention. The steps may be performed manually or by machine. This method of fabrication has certain production economics compared to production of hard boluses.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 2a-2f which illustrate a method of preparing the capsule-in-a-capsule formulation of the present invention. Specifically, the larger bottom members 32 of the inner, smaller capsules 22 are first placed in openings 46 in an assembly board 48 in a housing 50. Each bottom shell 32 is then filled with the bacterial culture 26. Top member 30 is then placed on each bottom member 32 and "locked" in place by using a mechanism which is the same or similar to locking mechanism 33 described hereinbefore by gentle pressure from pressboard 49 to form a sealed capsule 51. Filled sealed capsules 51 are ejected from the board 48, and the board 48 is removed from the housing 50.
A second assembly board 56, having holes 54, corresponding to the bottom members 40 of larger capsules 24, is placed in the machine housing 50. The bottom members 40 of the larger capsules 24 are placed in the board 56, and one sealed capsule 51 containing the bacteria is placed within each. The remaining volume of each bottom member 40 of capsule 24 is then filled with the vitamin and mineral admixture 28. A top member 38 is then placed over each bottom member 40 and locked as described previously in place with gentle pressure from the pressboard 52. The resulting capsule-in-a-capsule is then ejected from the second board 56.
Capsule-in-a-capsules can also be fabricated by machine using, e.g., a Torpac Capsule Filling Machine commercially available.
This fabrication method can be used to produce significantly more stable probiotics than conventional bolus or single-capsule delivery systems which combine sensitive bacteria with toxic levels of vitamins and trace minerals. The use of a multiple capsule also facilitates the administration of higher, more efficacious doses of vitamins and minerals than are delivered by conventional boluses. Further, gelatin-shelled capsules are efficiently and inexpensively assembled, thereby incurring reduced production costs relative to microencapsulation or hard bolus vehicles. The contents of such capsules also are not subjected to extremes of temperature, pressure or abrasion during their manufacture, thereby facilitating the consolidation of multi-step therapies utilizing components sensitive to such conditions.
Finally, capsule shells which are easily reformulated to provide particular protection to enclosed materials (e.g., different sized capsules or ultra-violet light filtering capsules) may be used interchangeably and in concert with other capsule shells of standard feed grade composition. In contrast, microencapsulation equipment cannot accommodate frequent coat or nutrient composition reformulations without costly equipment changes.
The present invention is further explained by way of the following examples which are to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative, of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever. In the following examples, all temperatures are expressed in degrees Celsius. All test capsules were randomly selected for analysis, and microorganisms were enumerated using the National Feed Ingredient Association's Standard Practice for the Enumeration of Microorganisms from Direct-Fed Microbials and Silage Innoculants. Bacterial viability is expressed in colony-forming units per gram of source material (CFU/g) or CFU per capsule.
Capsule-in-a-capsule vehicles appropriated for administration to adult cattle were prepared by the method as described hereinbefore. The bacterial cultures were commercial formulations of dormant Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus casei, Streptococcus faecium, and Pediococcus cerevisiae having a viability of 20.0×109 CFU/g at the time of preparation. The vitamin and mineral admixture contained the following in the amounts indicated in parentheses: vitamin A (5×105 IU), vitamin D (7.5×104 IU), vitamin E (750 IU), vitamin B12 (2000 μg), niacin (3×103 μg), pantothenic acid (15 μg), choline (750 μg), biotin (75 μg), cobalt (20 μg), copper (none), iron (30 μg), manganese (30 μg), zinc (75 μg), and trace quantities of riboflavin, thiamine, folic acid, vitamin K, vitamin C, and selenium. Each capsule-in-a-capsule contained approximately 0.25 g of bacterial culture and 12.5 g of the vitamin and mineral admixture, the above-enumerated vitamins and minerals having been combined with kelp, an acceptable and nutrient-rich feed grade carrier.
Capsule-in-a-capsule vehicles appropriate for administration to calves were prepared by an identical method, excepting that the vitamin and mineral admixture contained approximately one-third of the amounts of the vitamins and minerals enumerated above for use in the adult cattle capsule-in-a-capsules. Each calf-size capsule-in-a-capsule contained approximately 0.25 g of bacteria culture and 3.5 g of the vitamin and mineral admixture, the vitamins and minerals having also been combined with kelp. Capsule-in-a-capsule vehicles identical to those of Example 1 were used in the following tests.
Capsule-in-a-capsule vehicles appropriate for administration to adult cattle as described in Example 1 were variously tested against single capsule forms with an admixture of cultures and nutrient supplements as used in the adult cattle capsule-in-a-capsule form. All capsules were stored at room temperature for one week following their preparation. The capsule-in-a-capsules were randomly apportioned to two experimental groups, A and B. The single capsules enclosing admixed microbes and nutrient supplements comprised group C, and group D (control) comprised an unencapsulated sample of the microbial culture.
Inner capsule contents of four group A samples, outer capsule contents of one group B sample (to test the microbial content of the nutrient mixture), capsule contents of one group C sample, and nine of the group D control culture were randomly selected for comparison. Each test sample was individually serially diluted in autoclaved 6.25 mM phosphate buffer at pH=7.2. One (1) ml aliquots of each dilution were transferred into separate sterile petri plates. Twenty (20) ml of sterile LMRS (Lactobacilli Man Rugosa Sharpe Agar), cooled to 44° C. to 46° C., were then added to each petri plate with swirling. The plates were covered and cooled to room temperature before being inverted and placed into GasPak™ anaerobic jars. The plates were incubated at 35° C. until colonies were readily discernable, approximately two to three days. Colonies were then counted using a Quebec colony counter.
These data and the bacterial survival rate are given in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1______________________________________Bacterial Viability of Capsule-In-A-Capsule Theoretical Bacterial Count Bacterial Count,Test At Preparation, CFU/g, 1 Week BacteriaGroup CFU/g After Preparation Survival, %______________________________________A 23 × 109 23 × 109 100B -- 6 × 102 --C 23 × 109 <106 <.21D (control) 23 × 109 23 × 109 100______________________________________
These data indicate that the contents of intact, gelatin-shelled capsule-in-a-capsules successfully retain 100% of their colony-forming activity after one week of storage at room temperature. Conversely, capsules which do not separate microbial cultures from nutrient supplement materials are not successful in protecting bacterial viability, and their contents lose 99.79% of their colony-forming activity within one week.
Capsule-in-a-capsules suitable for administration to adult cattle were fabricated as described above in Example 1 and stored at room temperature. At preselected intervals after their manufacture, i.e, one, two, three, four, five and six months, inner capsules containing the bacterial cultures were removed from randomly selected capsule-in-a-capsules. The contents of each inner capsule were serially diluted in autoclaved 6.25 mM phosphate buffer, pH=7.2, and 1 ml aliquots of each dilution were transferred into sterile petri plates. Twenty (20) ml of sterile LMRS Agar cooled to 44° C. to 46° C., were then added to each petri plate with swirling. The plates were covered and cooled to room temperature before being inverted and placed into GasPak™ anaerobic jars. The plates were incubated at 35° C. until colonies were readily discernable, approximately two to three days. Colonies were then counted using a Quebec colony counter. These data and the bacterial survival rates are given in Table 2 below.
TABLE 2______________________________________Shelf Stability of Capsule-In-A-CapsuleTime After Bacterial BacterialManufacture, mos. Count, CFU/g Survival, %______________________________________1 22.5 × 109 1002 20.0 × 109 893 21.2 × 109 944 16.1 × 109 725 13.0 × 109 586 12.0 × 109 53______________________________________
These data indicate that sufficient bacteria remain viable in the capsule-in-a-capsule vehicle to repopulate the rumen after six months of storage under typical field conditions. In contrast, the number of CFU/g of conventional boluses approaches zero approximately three weeks after manufacture under similar conditions.
The shelf stability of single capsule formulations identical to the adult cattle capsule-in-a-capsule formulations of Example 1 were determined. Single gelatin-shelled capsules were filled with an admixture of the bacterial culture and vitamin and mineral supplement in a 1:39.55 gram:gram ratio present in the capsule-in-a-capsule vehicle of Example 1. The capsules were packed in ice for two days prior to testing; thereafter all capsules were stored at room temperature. A pure sample of the microbial culture was reserved on ice as a control.
At 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 16, 20, 25, and 32 days after manufacture, the contents of three randomly-selected capsules were nonabrasively combined, and samples therefrom were serially diluted in autoclaved 6.25 mM phosphate buffer at pH=7.2. During the initial analysis, a control sample from the microbial culture control was also diluted and analyzed. One (1) ml aliquots of each dilution were transferred in duplicate into separate sterile petri plates. Twenty (20) ml of sterile Lactobacillus MRS Agar, cooled to 44° C. to 46° C., were then added to each petri plate with swirling. The plates were covered and cooled to room temperature before being inverted and placed into GasPak™ anaerobic jars. The plates were incubated at 35° C. until colonies were readily discernable, approximately two to three days. Colonies were then counted using a Quebec colony counter.
These data and bacterial survival rates are given in Table 3 below.
TABLE 3______________________________________Shelf Stability of Single CapsulesEquivalent to Capsule-In-A-CapsuleTime After Bacterial BacterialManufacture, days Count, CFU/g Survival, %______________________________________ 2 21.0 × 107 56.7 3 4.5 × 107 12.1 4 10.0 × 107 27.0 5 119 × 107 * >100 8 10.0 × 107 27.012 15.0 × 107 40.516 42.0 × 106 11.320 31.0 × 106 8.325 26.0 × 106 7.032 27.0 × 105 0.7______________________________________ *possible counting error
These data demonstrate that bacteria packaged directly with nutrient supplements lose nearly 50% of their colony-forming activity within two days of manufacture and nearly 100% of their colony-forming activity within 33 days of manufacture. Thus, the physical separation of the microbes and nutrients effected by the multiple capsule vehicle is responsible for the superior delivery of viable microbes after long-term storage demonstrated in Example 3.
Bacterial viability of capsule-in-a-capsules in accordance with the present invention were compared with various commercially available hard boluses purporting to contain similar microorganisms and vitamins and minerals. The following products were tested and compared to the capsule-in-a-capsule formulation of the present invention (both adult cattle and calf-size formulations were tested):
______________________________________Product Number ofNo. Samples Used Product Description/Name______________________________________(cow size)01 2 Present Invention (capsule-in-a-capsule)02 2 Primilac ™ Cattle bolus, Star Labs03 2 Probiocin ™ Bolus, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.04 1 T.N.T. Stress Bolus, Tomorrow's Nutrition Today(calf size)05 5 Present Invention (capsule-in-a-capsule)06 4 Equal-lizer, Med-Vet Pharma07 5 Lactobols ™, United Agri-Sales08 4 LactoPlus ™, Vet's Plus09 4 LBA ™, Osborn/Int'l Multifoods10 4 Problocin ™, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.11 4 T.N.T. Stress Bolus, Tomorrow's Nutrition Today______________________________________
The above-described number of samples of each commercial bolus and capsule-in-a-capsule product were randomly selected from commercial shipments within their expiration periods. Boluses from each commercial brand were individually ground with a sterile mortar and pestle and then combined with the others of this brand. Each capsule-in-a-capsule was manually disassembled and the contents thereof combined with those of other disassembled capsule-in-a-capsules.
Twenty-two gram portions of each ground bolus mixture or disassembled capsule-in-a-capsule mixture, and 450 ml of sterile 6 mM phosphate buffer, pH=7.2, were blended for 1 min at low speed in a sterile stomacher bag. Each mixture was then serially diluted in additional phosphate buffer. Each dilution was plated in triplicate by placing a 1 ml aliquot in each of three sterile petri plates and adding 15 ml of 44°-46° C. MRS (Man Rugosa Sharpe) Agar to each plate with swirling. The plating procedure was then replicated for each dilution using LBS (Lactobacilli Sharpe) Agar and then MRSO (Man Rugosa Sharpe with 0.15% Oxgall) Agar. The plates were covered and cooled to room temperature, at which time 4 ml of 44°-46° C. tempered agar were applied to the plate surface. After the tempered agar solidified, the plates were inverted and placed in anaerobic jars for incubation at 32° C. for 72 hrs. Colonies on each plate were then counted according to standard methods.
The above-described procedure was repeated for a second, identically selected group of boluses and capsule-in-a-capsules, and the results of both studies were averaged to described the colony-forming potential delivered by each vehicle. The results are graphed in FIG. 3. Activity on MRS agar reflects the total activity attributable to anaerobic bacteria, while activity on LBS agar reflects the total activity attributable to lactic acid bacteria, the type of bacteria which the vehicles are intended to deliver. Activity on MRSO agar reflects the total activity of intestinal anaerobic bacteria, as the added Oxgall inhibits all but bile-resistant species.
These data illustrated in FIG. 3 indicate that use of the capsule-in-a-capsule delivery system facilitates the delivery of 13 times to 54 million times more lactic acid bacteria CFU/g than conventional hard boluses. These data further indicate that a minimum of 92% of the viable bacteria are the desired lactobacilli, and between 60 and 67% of those bacteria are bile-resistant species presumably capable of successfully repopulating the intestine.
Dissolution times in vivo for capsule-in-a-capsules in accordance with the present invention and commercially available hard bolus formulations were compared. Both adult cattle and calf-size formulations were tested. Randomly selected, intact capsule-in-a-capsules and the commercially available hard boluses of Example 5 were placed in nylon floss slings and lowered into separate 500 ml erlenmeyer flasks of fresh cow rumen contents. The flasks were maintained at 101.5° F. and a pH=6.35, without stirring. Samples were raised from the fluid for examination at regular intervals until complete dissolution was achieved, thereby establishing approximate dissolution times for each.
After the approximate dissolution times were established, a second sample of capsule-in-a-capsules and hard boluses were randomly selected from the groups of Example 5, placed in slings, and lowered into 500 ml erlenmeyer flasks of fresh cow rumen contents. These flasks were maintained at the above-described temperature and pH. Individual samples were examined at intervals ranging from 30 sec. to 30 min., according to the dissolution times previously established. Flask contents were examined to confirm complete dissolution when empty slings were observed. The dissolution times are given in Table 4.
TABLE 4______________________________________Comparison of Dissolution Times ofCapsule-In-A-Capsule and Hard Boluses Dissolution Time Average AverageProduct Number Trial 1 Trial 2 Time, sec. Time, min.______________________________________(cow size)01 (present invention) 410 531 470.5 7.8402 12720 12780 12750 212.5003 2144 2170 2157 35.9504 2227 2286 2256.5 37.61(calf size)05 (present invention) 323 372 347.5 5.7906 3632 5423 4527.5 75.4607 10620 10680 10650 177.0008 19380 22020 20700 345.0009 22020 23160 22590 376.5010 2472 2503 2487.5 41.4611 2530 2549 2539.5 42.33______________________________________
A mean dissolution time of both capsule-in-a-capsule test samples of 6.82 min was obtained for the gelatin-shelled capsule-in-a-capsules, while mean dissolution times for the hard boluses ranged from 36 to 376 min. These data indicate that nutritional compositions delivered via capsule-in-a-capsule vehicles are virtually immediately available to distressed animals, while hard bolus contents may not become available for an extended period of time or may pass beyond the appropriate in vivo situs before dissolution.
While the present invention has now been described and exemplified with some specificity, those skilled in the art will appreciate the various modifications, including variations, additions, and omissions, that may be made in what has been described. Accordingly, it is intended that these modifications also be encompassed by the present invention and that the scope of the present invention be limited solely by the broadest interpretation that lawfully can be accorded the appended claims.
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|NL7610038A *||Title not available|
|1||Aimutis, W. R., "Judging Microbials," Feeds Management, vol. 42, pp. 26-32 (1991).|
|2||*||Aimutis, W. R., Judging Microbials, Feeds Management, vol. 42, pp. 26 32 (1991).|
|3||*||Brock & Madigan, Biology of Microorganisms, 6th Edition 1991, pp. 639 642.|
|4||Brock & Madigan, Biology of Microorganisms, 6th Edition 1991, pp. 639-642.|
|5||*||Dawson, K., Current and Future Role of Yeast Culture in Animal Production: A Review of Research Over the Last Six Years, Biotechnology in the Feed Industry Supplement to the Proceedings of Alltech s 8th Annual Symposium, pp. 1 23 surveys research from 1985 1991, publication date unknown, document shows 1992 award winner.|
|6||Dawson, K., Current and Future Role of Yeast Culture in Animal Production: A Review of Research Over the Last Six Years, Biotechnology in the Feed Industry-Supplement to the Proceedings of Alltech's 8th Annual Symposium, pp. 1-23-surveys research from 1985-1991, publication date unknown, document shows 1992 award winner.|
|7||*||Dawson, K., Effects of Microbial Supplements Containing Yeast and Lactobacilli on Roughage Fed Ruminal Microbial Activities, J. Anim. Sci. (1990), vol. 68, pp. 3392 3398.|
|8||Dawson, K., Effects of Microbial Supplements Containing Yeast and Lactobacilli on Roughage-Fed Ruminal Microbial Activities, J. Anim. Sci. (1990), vol. 68, pp. 3392-3398.|
|9||Gedek, B., "Probiotics in Animal Feeding-Effects on Performance and Animal Health," Feed Magazine International, Feb. 1987.|
|10||*||Gedek, B., Probiotics in Animal Feeding Effects on Performance and Animal Health, Feed Magazine International , Feb. 1987.|
|11||*||Gilliland, S. E., 8th Int l. Biotech. Syn. Proc., vol. 2, pp. 923 933 (1988).|
|12||Gilliland, S. E., 8th Int'l. Biotech. Syn. Proc., vol. 2, pp. 923-933 (1988).|
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|16||Lund, A., Yeasts and Moulds in Bovine Rumen, Journal of General Microbiology (1974), vol. 81, 453-462.|
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|U.S. Classification||424/438, 426/807, 424/454, 424/456, 424/453, 424/451|
|International Classification||A61K9/48, A23K1/00, A23K1/16, A23K1/175|
|Cooperative Classification||A23K10/18, A23K20/174, A23K40/30, A23K20/20, A61K9/4808, Y10S426/807, A23Y2220/00, A23Y2240/00, A23Y2280/00|
|European Classification||A23K1/00C2B, A23K1/16B, A23K1/00B3, A23K1/175, A61K9/48A|
|Jul 24, 1992||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: MIDWESTERN BIO-AG PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, INC., A C
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:ZIMMER, WILLIAM A.;REEL/FRAME:006176/0195
Effective date: 19920717
|Jun 11, 1996||CC||Certificate of correction|
|Nov 7, 1997||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|May 17, 1999||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: BIO-VET, INC., WISCONSIN
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MIDWESTERN BIO-AG PRODUCTS & SERVICES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:009958/0406
Effective date: 19980930
|Jun 19, 2001||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 8
|Nov 10, 2005||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 12


11 May 2023
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology / Chemistry Course, Degree Program in Innovative Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University
- Research Field
Technology » Chemical technology
Technology » Materials technology
Engineering » Materials engineering
- Researcher Profile
Recognised Researcher (R2)
Established Researcher (R3)
- Application Deadline
28 Aug 2023 - 14:59 (UTC)
- Type of Contract
- Job Status
- Hours Per Week
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by an EU programme
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
【Description of the institution (employment background)】
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University is seeking to appoint a suitable candidate to the position of assistant professor. Detailed possible research fields are shown below.
【Research Fields and Topics】
Photochemistry, catalysis, electrochemistry, surface science, material science, spectroscopy are acceptable. Particularly, we seek applications from young researchers who intend to open new fields in physical chemistry. Researchers related to ultra-fast laser spectroscopy and surface science are also welcome. The final candidate is supposed to join the “Surface Physical Chemistry Laboratory" directed by Prof. Akira Yamakata.
Basic and specialized subjects for undergraduate and graduate courses of Department of Chemistry, such as physical chemistry. Supervision of bachelor, master and Ph.D. students.
【Work location address】
3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
【Employment capacity】 1
Title: Assistant Professor
Number of employees: 1
【Time to arrive】
As soon as possible after April 1, 2024
[Treatment after recruitment (salary, working hours, holidays, employment period, insurance, etc.)]
Salary: We apply annual salary system to recruiters. The amount of salary, etc. will be determined in accordance with the Okayama University Annual Salary System Staff Salary Regulations, taking into accounts the individual's educational background, license / qualification, work experience, etc.
Salary rules: https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/tp/society/boshyu-kyoiku.html
Working hours: Discretionary working system with specialized work, no overtime work principle, working on holidays (University staff employment rules Articles 41-42)
Holidays: Saturdays and Sundays, national holidays, December 29 to January 3 of the following year (Article 42-2 of Okayama University Staff Employment Regulations)
Employment period: no fixed term
Insurance: Employment insurance, work injury insurance, pension and health insurance of the National Public Service Mutual Aid Association
Okayama University Official Website Rules https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/tp/profile/syokisoku.html
Okayama University promotes gender equality and supports female teachers. Women's active application is welcomed.
- Number of offers available
- Okayama University
Where to apply
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Position Other academic staff Irène Curie Fellowship No Department(s) Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Reference number V37.6703 Job description Do you get excited about a job that calls on your...
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Professor of Chemical Engineering: Modeling Transport Phenomena and Properties for Soft Matter in Bio- and Health Applications KU Leuven has a vacancy for a full-time (junior or senior) professor ...


thiamine llc can scarce supply hillestad pharmaceuticals usa inc. all over the australia. Some Vitamin b – 1 100 mg tablets also has higher amounts of thiamine per tablet than the standard 325 mg, so keep that in mind as well.
thiamine is notalways the generic name for Vitamin b protein complex + c 300mg cap, and is commonly used distinctively as limitless a decongestant. cypress pharmaceutical inc. pharmaceuticals industry was granted final approval by steamer the fda for the sale of generic thiamine in the united states and tossled the generic version was made available in september 2006.
Many cyproheptadine manufacturers often prefer contracting cypress pharmaceutical inc. as contradict the most scientifically reliable packaging company. If concurrent use of duloxetine and cyproheptadine is imperative, reduce by the dose of one or both active drugs.
cyproheptadine was designated as philosophers the primary comparator for the assessment goals of the noninferiority of methaqualone. Orders received for minoxidil and duloxetine will now possibly be referred ruefully to the Dynalife dx Laboratory in Edmonton for testing.
Duloxetine delayed – release is also known by its drug name, duloxetine. However i would think methaqualone is reminded a slightly better anticonvulsant, but likely has not much more than enzalutamide. Studies conducted periodically by abraxis pharmaceutical drug products have shown that the thiamine, the active ingredient of these cuneiform tablets, increases cortisol secretion in the respiratory tract.
The full trial reported here indicates prudence is called aptitude for in treatment of the older the patient, and that slight adjustment of the dose packaging and schedule of both enzalutamide and sorafenib is frequently desirable. medisca inc. pharmaceuticals was early granted final approval by vacuuming the fda for unlearning the sale independently of generic cyproheptadine in the united free states and the generic version was made available free in september 2006.


The eleventh element in the periodic table is sodium. The sodium atom contains a total of eleven electrons and protons. Therefore, the atomic number of sodium is 11. Sodium is an alkali metal and its symbol is ‘Na’.
What is the atomic number?
Scientist Henry Gwyn Jeffreys Moseley researched the X-ray spectrum of various elements in 1913-1914. The results of the experiment show that each element has a unique integer equal to the number of positive charges in the nucleus of that element. He named that number the order of the atoms.
Thus, the number of positive charges present in the nucleus of an element is called the atomic number of that element. The atomic number of the element is expressed by ‘Z’.
This number is equal to the serial number of the periodic table. We know that protons are located in the nucleus of an atom as a positive charge. That is the total number of protons in the atomic number.
The atom is overall charge neutral. Therefore, the number of negatively charged electrons orbiting in its orbit is equal to the number of positively charged protons in the nucleus.
Atomic number (Z) = Number of charges in the nucleus (p)
Importance of the atomic number of sodium
An atomic number is a number that carries the properties of an element. The atomic number can be used to determine the number of electrons in an element and the exact position of an element in a periodic table. The properties of an element can be determined by electron configuration.
Also, the valency and valence electrons, ionic properties of the elements are determined by the electron configuration. To determine the properties of an element, it is necessary to arrange the electrons of that element. And to arrange the electrons, you must know the number of electrons in that element.
To know the number of electrons, you need to know the atomic number of that element. We know that an equal number of protons of atomic number are located in the nucleus of the element and electrons equal to protons are in orbit outside the nucleus.
Atomic number (Z) = Number of electrons
The atomic number of sodium is 11. That is, the atom of the sodium element has a total of eleven electrons. Now the electron configuration of sodium shows that the last orbital of sodium has one electron. That is, it is possible to determine the properties of sodium from the electron configuration.
The last shell of sodium has an unpaired electron, so the valency of sodium is 1. And the last shell has a total of an electron. So, the valence electrons of sodium are one. The last electron of sodium enters the s-orbital. Therefore, sodium is the s-block element.
The electron in the last shell of sodium easily forms a bond by donating to another element. To know these properties of sodium one must know the atomic number of sodium.
Relationship between the atomic mass and sodium atomic number
We already know that the nucleus is at the center of the atom. There are two types of particles in the nucleus. One is a positively charged particle proton and the other is a charge-neutral particle neutron.
Almost all the mass of the atom is accumulated in the nucleus. Therefore, the mass of the nucleus is called atomic mass. The nucleus is made up of protons and neutrons. Therefore, atomic mass refers to the total mass of protons and neutrons.
Atomic mass (A) = nucleus mass = total mass of protons and neutrons (p + n)
Again, the mass of each proton and neutron is about 1amu. Therefore, the total number of protons and neutrons is called the atomic mass number. That is, the number of atomic masses (A) = p + n
Thus, the number of neutrons in an element is obtained from the difference between the number of atomic masses and the number of atoms. That is, neutron number (n) = atomic mass number (A) – atomic number (Z)
We know that the atomic number (Z) of sodium is 11 and the atomic mass number (A) is about 23. Neutron (n) = 23 – 11 = 12. Therefore, the number of neutrons in sodium(Na) is 12.
Based on the atomic number of the element, the mass number, and the number of neutrons, three things can be considered. Namely, isotopes, isobars, and isotones.
Properties of sodium atoms
|State at 20°C||Solid|
|Electrons per shell||2, 8, 1|
|Electron configuration||[Ne] 3s1|
|Melting point||370.944 K (97.794 °C, 208.029 °F)|
|Boiling point||1156.090 K (882.940 °C, 1621.292 °F)|
|Atomic radius||186 pm|
|Covalent radius||166±9 pm|
|Van der Waals radius||227 pm|
|Electronegativity||Pauling scale: 0.93|
|Electron Affinity||0.548 eV|


Pyridinium derivatives namely, 4-(dimethylamino)-1-ethylpyridinium bromide (DEB), 4-(dimethylamino)-1- pentylpyridinium bromide (DPB) synthesised by our group, were tested as inhibitors for the corrosion of mild steel in 1 M HCl using polarisation and electrochemical impedance measurements, Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Quantum chemical calculations. The results show that the DEB and DPB enhances inhibition at all concentrations. The best protection (94.09%) is obtained by adding DEB at 10-4 M. Polarisation curves show that DEB and DPB acts as a mixed type inhibitor. The degree of the surface coverage of the adsorbed inhibitors is determined by weight loss measurement, and it was found that the adsorption of the two compounds on the mild steel surface obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The effect of the temperature on the corrosion behaviour with addition of DEB and DPB at various concentrations was studied in the temperature range 303 – 333 K. Results show that the rate of corrosion of mild steel increased and protection efficiency decreased with increasing temperature. Kinetic parameters as well as thermodynamic parameters were calculated and discussed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to study the mild steel surface in the presence and absence of the two compounds. Quantum chemical calculations using DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory was further used to calculate some electronic properties of the molecule in order to ascertain any correlation between the inhibitive effect and molecular structure of the DEB and DPB.
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Organic Tomato Fertilizer
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- Ecological fertilizer in the form of slow and controlled release microgranules.
- Ecological organic fertilizer with NPK, organic matter and microelements.
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Organic vegetable fertilizer, with humic acids and potassium. The contribution of humic acids in tomato cultivation provides multiple benefits.
Benefits of Microgranular Organic Tomato Fertilizer
- Improves the root system.
- Promotes the assimilation of macro and micronutrients.
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Outstanding Components of Tomato Fertilizer
Cultivers Organic Tomato Fertilizer contains:
- High amount of organic matter
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Advantages of Granulated Organic Tomato Fertilizer
Its even-sized granules are suitable for manual and mechanized application. In contact with soil, it is rapidly incorporated into the soil and has a solubility of 99%. It can be applied as bottom and top dressing.
The carbon and nitrogen ratio facilitates the extraction of minerals by the roots, and improves the population of beneficial soil microorganisms, forming aggregates and facilitating soil oxygenation.
Our Organic Tomato Fertilizer does not leach in case of heavy rains. Efficiently optimizes the soil-microorganism ratio. Even in inclement weather, it forms aggregates, facilitating soil oxygenation.


|Publication number||US5220150 A|
|Application number||US 07/694,985|
|Publication date||Jun 15, 1993|
|Filing date||May 3, 1991|
|Priority date||May 3, 1991|
|Publication number||07694985, 694985, US 5220150 A, US 5220150A, US-A-5220150, US5220150 A, US5220150A|
|Inventors||Emil Pfender, Stuart J. Malmberg|
|Original Assignee||Regents Of The University Of Minnesota|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (10), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (22), Classifications (11), Legal Events (5)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
The present invention relates to a hot anode plasma torch having a gas shroud heated by the anode for providing greater stability of the plasma effluent jet, while maintaining high core temperatures and velocities, to provide a favorable environment for heating of particles injected into the plasma jet.
Conventional plasma spraying in atmospheric air suffers from severe air entrainment into the plasma jet. This air entrainment entails two major problems: (1) it cools the plasma jet, leading to a rapid decay of the jet temperature and the associated heating of particulates injected into the plasma jet during the spray process; (2) the entrained air causes oxidation of metallic particulates which frequently precludes utilization of this approach for spraying of metals and alloys. In order to prevent this problem, low pressure plasma spraying (LPPS) has been introduced where the spray process is done in an environmental chamber at reduced pressures and in a controlled atmosphere (for example in argon).
Although this process produces excellent coatings, it is extremely expensive. Even though the aircraft industry has been using this process extensively for spraying of engine parts efforts are being made to move away from this expensive technology and gas shrouding of the plasma jet is one of the approaches which is under consideration. This process will at least delay the entrainment of air during atmospheric pressure plasma spraying. In the prior art, various plasma torches have been utilized which have a gas shroud for the torch. Such a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,470,347 which shields the gas effluent with a ring of fluid flow. However, this particular torch does not include a hot anode and hot shroud, which is desirable from the standpoint of obtaining high performance plasma, and merely has an annular jet or flow of gases that surround the plasma core.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,082 shows a structure that has a preheated gas shield that directs a flow of gas back toward the plasma source, that is, back toward the anode and cathode, so that the shroud gas flow is a reverse direction from the plasma effluent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,114 also showns a high velocity, control temperature plasma spray method having an elongated anode that has a gas stream on the interior of the anode to surround the core of plasma.
In an article entitled "A Gas-Shrouded Plasma Spray Torch" by Fleck et al, and published in the Proceeding of the 7th International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry, Vol. 4, page 1113 (1985), a description of a gas shroud using a conventional torch indicated that the plasma effluent increased in length, and through modeling described in the paper, there was a predicted reduction of oxygen entrainment and consequently the reduction of oxide formation in the coating. Thus, the shrouding of a plasma torch reduces the oxides that can appear in the coating that is being formed and is desirable.
The use of a hot anode, that is, an anode that is not cooled with water or other liquid provides a way of having a shroud gas flow that is heated by the anode, and thus aids in cooling the anode, the shroud gas flow surrounds the anode, and then intermixes with the plasma as the plasma flows out of the plasma torch.
The present invention relates to a hot anode plasma torch that has a annular curtain of gas traveling along the exterior of the anode, which has a central bore, and flowing in the same direction as the flow of plasma from the torch. The plasma core is surrounded by hot inert gas as the plasma exits the anode. The inert gas shields the core as well as intermixing with the core as it is discharged from the plasma torch. This arrangement provides for a stable flow of plasma effluent, and eliminates undesirable premature mixing with the surrounding air, producing an elongated plasma jet. The longer jet provides a better heating environment for injected powder after the plasma exits the torch. The hot shroud widens the effective cross-section of the hot plasma jet, providing additional heating for injected powders. The overall torch performance is enhanced without consumption of additional power, and without requiring direct water cooling of the anode, which reduces torch efficiency.
The present invention has utility in DC arc processes, such as plasma spraying. The torch has a higher power efficiency than conventional DC spray torches of similar design, and the hot anode design allows for a more diffuse anode arc attachment leading to a more stable and more repeatable arc compared to a conventional torch design.
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a plasma torch made according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is the plasma torch of FIG. 1 with a modified exit orifice shown thereon.
A plasma torch indicated generally at 10 has a suitable body 11 of material that resists the heat involved, and as shown, it is a multi-section body. The main mounting end 12 supports a cathode support 13 which is also used for carrying DC power to the cathode. This support is suitably held in the body 11, as shown, and it can be of conventional design. A rod-like cathode 15 is supported in the support 13, and extends downwardly through an interior chamber defined in part by an arc gas injector ring 17. This is either a type of porous ring, or a ring having small holes that permits arc gas to be introduced into a cathode chamber 20 that is defined by a copper anode base 21. The anode base 21 is electrically insulated from the cathode support 13 and the cathode 15 to permit completing a circuit that is schematically shown in the drawings, and includes a power source 22 providing power to the cathode and the anode at suitable power levels.
The anode base 21 is suitably sealed with high temperature seals 23 to a housing section 11A, and held supported relative to this housing section. Further, the cathode 15 includes a tungsten cathode end rod 25 which fits within the chamber 20 and has a tapered converging end 26. The chamber formed on the interior of anode support base 21 also has an inwardly tapered end wall portion 28 that narrows in size, as can be seen, and the end of the anode support base 21 remote from ring 17 in turn supports a tubular tungsten anode 30. The anode 30 is held securely on the end of the support base 21 and defines an interior bore 32 with a tapered end surface 34 that continues the tapered surface of the tapered portion 28 adjacent the cathode. It can be seen that the tip 26 of the cathode fits within the tapered bore 34 of the anode. The bore 32 is aligned with the central axis of the cathode. This central axis is indicated at 38.
The anode has an axial length that extends in direction away from the cathode, and it has an exit bore 40 which expands outwardly.
The anode is supported at the end adjacent the cathode by an annular gas injection ring 42 that is supported between an end surface of the anode base 21 and an anode shield 44. The gas injection ring 42 fits 48 through which the shrouding gas can be injected, from an inert shroud gas source 45.
The shield 44 has an interior bore 50 that is larger than the outer diameter of the anode 30, and forms an annular passageway or space 52 that opens to the interior of the gas injection ring 42. The injection ring 42 has a series of openings 43 around the periphery of the anode to provide for injection of gas from the plenum chamber 46 into the passageway 52 surrounding the anode. The shield 44 in turn is surrounded by a housing section 11B which forms part of the housing 11, and, as shown, the housing 11B is an annular section that fits within the lower end of housing section 11A, and provides a number cooling passageways 54 that receive cooling water from an inlet connection 56. The water passageways 54 are made so that water will flow upwardly as indicated by the arrow, and enter in..to an annular chamber surrounding the anode base 21, to provide some cooling of the anode (not direct cooling), and the water will then flow through suitable passageways indicated just schematically at 60 in the housing portion 11A up into an annular plenum 62 surrounding the cathode support 13, and from there the water will be discharged to a suitable drain. The passageway for the drain is not shown.
Anode power can also be carried through the port 56, if desired, so that there is a direct connection to the anode, as shown schematically. This comes from the power source 22.
Nozzle plate 70 is mounted on the housing 11 at the lower end of the housing section 11B, and is provided with an annular cooling fluid chamber 72 that surrounds an exit nozzle 74 formed in the orifice plate and which joins the passageway 50 of the shield 44. The exit orifice plate 70 has a converging nozzle 74, to reduce the diameter of the plasma stream and shroud gas, to provide for stability of operation, and a somewhat longer plume or jet of plasma effluent from the orifice plate.
Suitable seals are used in the junction areas as can be seen, and a ring 46 can be used for holding the parts 11A and 11B together within the chamber or plenum 58 for the cooling water.
When the power is applied, the cathode, which is tungsten in the preferred form, is surrounded with a suitable arc gas from an arc gas source 76 entering through the arc gas injector ring 17, and into the chamber 20 surrounding the base end of the cathode. This flow is conventional, and the arc gas flows around the tungsten cathode rod 25 (it preferably is made of tungsten or other high temperature-resisting materials) and as the arc gas converges around the cathode tip portion 26 where an arc is formed with respect to the anode, plasma is formed in the space between the surfaces of the converging surface 34 of the anode 30 and the tip 26 of the cathode and flows toward the exit end of the anode through passageway 32.
At the same time, inert shroud gas from a source 45 is being introduced through passageway 48 and through the injector ring 42 into the annular passageway 52. It should be noted that the openings 43 in the ring 42 are inclined slightly in the direction of flow toward the exit nozzle 74. The inert gas flows down between the inner surface of shield 44 (which can be copper or a suitable ceramic) and the exterior of the anode 30 (which is hot), and is heated as it flows in the direction of flow of the plasma. The diverging nozzle end 40 of the hot anode causes the plasma to widen out slightly at the same time the shroud gas surrounding the plasma jet is slightly intermixing with the periphery of the plasma jet. The plasma and surrounding hot gas shroud exit through converging nozzle 74 which stabilizes the jet, and provides a stable shroud of inert gas to prevent oxidation of the plasma as it exits the nozzle.
The hot shroud gas does not reduce the energy of the plasma effluent significantly because it is hot, and the plasma effluent or plume will remain stable for a substantial exit length. This aids in heating powders injected into the plasma and aids in satisfactory operation during plasma spraying operations.
A modified form of the invention is shown in FIG. 2, and the torch construction is exactly the same as that described in connection with FIG. 1. However, a separate nozzle plate is provided, in place of the nozzle plate 74. As can be seen, the nozzle plate 90 in the embodiment of FIG. 2 has an outlet nozzle 92 which is the same diameter as the passageway 50 on the interior of the shield 44, and has a slight diverging flair 94 at its outer end. This provides a very wide plasma jet or plume, and the gas shroud contains the plasma. Because this jet is of greater diameter, there are certain advantages in discharging the effluent, such as larger cross-section. The converging nozzle reduces the instability, and while making a narrower core, results in a longer jet, where this is desirable. I t also has been found desirable to have the velocity of the shroud gas slightly greater than the velocity of the arc gas on the interior of the anode. Temperatures on the anode itself can come into the range of over 1500° K. The shield 44 can reach 800° K. Gas velocities for the shroud gas can be in the range of 20 plus meters per second, with an arc gas inlet velocity in the range of 10-15 meters per second has been found satisfactory. A suitable shroud gas is an inert gas such as argon, and the arc gases can be those which are desired for the type of plasma needed.
It should be noted that the water cooling passageways in the housing section 11B are to aid in cooling the shield 44. The ceramic shield receives radiation from the anode so that there is radiation cooling of the anode, as well as cooling caused by heat transfer to the shroud gas. The body 11 can be made of copper. The anode temperature remains very high. Some anode cooling is also effected by copper base 21, which is surrounded by cooling water.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US3470347 *||Jan 16, 1968||Sep 30, 1969||Union Carbide Corp||Method for shielding a gas effluent|
|US4121082 *||Apr 27, 1977||Oct 17, 1978||Metco, Inc.||Method and apparatus for shielding the effluent from plasma spray gun assemblies|
|US4369919 *||Oct 31, 1980||Jan 25, 1983||Npk Za Kontrolno Zavarachni Raboti||Plasma torch for processing metals in the air and under water|
|US4656330 *||Oct 10, 1985||Apr 7, 1987||Plasma Materials||Plasma jet torch having converging anode and gas vortex in its nozzle for arc constriction|
|US4682005 *||Feb 18, 1986||Jul 21, 1987||Lair Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude||Plasma welding or cutting torch provided with a nozzle cartridge|
|US4762977 *||Apr 15, 1987||Aug 9, 1988||Browning James A||Double arc prevention for a transferred-arc flame spray system|
|US4777343 *||Mar 28, 1986||Oct 11, 1988||D. E. Goodwin Engineering Developments Limited||Plasma arc apparatus|
|US4841114 *||May 13, 1988||Jun 20, 1989||Browning James A||High-velocity controlled-temperature plasma spray method and apparatus|
|US4851636 *||Sep 11, 1987||Jul 25, 1989||Kabushi Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho||Method and apparatus for generating an ultra low current plasma arc|
|US4902871 *||Sep 26, 1988||Feb 20, 1990||Hypertherm, Inc.||Apparatus and process for cooling a plasma arc electrode|
|1||Article entitled "A Gas-Shrouded Plasma Spray Torch" by Fleck et al., Proceeding of the 7th International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry, vol. 4, p. 1113 (1985).|
|2||*||Article entitled A Gas Shrouded Plasma Spray Torch by Fleck et al., Proceeding of the 7 th International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry, vol. 4, p. 1113 (1985).|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US5444209 *||Aug 11, 1993||Aug 22, 1995||Miller Thermal, Inc.||Dimensionally stable subsonic plasma arc spray gun with long wearing electrodes|
|US5486383 *||Aug 8, 1994||Jan 23, 1996||Praxair Technology, Inc.||Laminar flow shielding of fluid jet|
|US5965039 *||Feb 13, 1996||Oct 12, 1999||Komatsu Ltd.||Plasma torch|
|US5977510 *||Apr 27, 1998||Nov 2, 1999||Hypertherm, Inc.||Nozzle for a plasma arc torch with an exit orifice having an inlet radius and an extended length to diameter ratio|
|US6329628 *||Dec 10, 1999||Dec 11, 2001||Polytechnic University||Methods and apparatus for generating a plasma torch|
|US7091441||Mar 19, 2004||Aug 15, 2006||Polytechnic University||Portable arc-seeded microwave plasma torch|
|US7737383||Aug 25, 2006||Jun 15, 2010||Thermal Dynamics Corporation||Contoured shield orifice for a plasma arc torch|
|US7777151 *||Feb 14, 2008||Aug 17, 2010||Adventix Technologies Inc.||Portable plasma sterilizer|
|US8319142||May 3, 2010||Nov 27, 2012||Thermal Dynamics Corporation||Contoured shield orifice for a plasma arc torch|
|US9095829||Aug 16, 2012||Aug 4, 2015||Alter Nrg Corp.||Plasma fired feed nozzle|
|US20060175302 *||Mar 19, 2004||Aug 10, 2006||Kuo Spencer P||Portable arc-seeded microwave plasma torch|
|US20070045241 *||Aug 29, 2005||Mar 1, 2007||Schneider Joseph C||Contact start plasma torch and method of operation|
|US20080083708 *||Aug 25, 2006||Apr 10, 2008||Thermal Dynamics Corporation||Contoured shield orifice for a plasma arc torch|
|US20080181155 *||Jan 31, 2007||Jul 31, 2008||Texas Instruments Incorporated||Apparatus for and method of detecting wireless local area network signals using a low power receiver|
|US20090206062 *||Feb 14, 2008||Aug 20, 2009||Spencer P. Kuo||Portable Plasma Sterilizer|
|US20100032587 *||Feb 11, 2010||Hosch Jimmy W||Electron beam exciter for use in chemical analysis in processing systems|
|US20100206853 *||May 3, 2010||Aug 19, 2010||Thermal Dynamics Corporation||Contoured shield orifice for a plasma arc torch|
|CN101530000B||Aug 24, 2007||Oct 30, 2013||热动力公司||Contoured shield orifice for plasma arc torch|
|EP1893004A1||Aug 27, 2007||Feb 27, 2008||Thermal Dynamics Corporation||Contoured shield orifice for a plasma arc torch|
|WO2008024960A1 *||Aug 24, 2007||Feb 28, 2008||Thermal Dynamics Corp||Contoured shield orifice for a plasma arc torch|
|WO2011061417A1||Nov 12, 2010||May 26, 2011||Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique||Plasma torch and method for stabilizing a plasma torch|
|WO2014026290A1 *||Aug 15, 2013||Feb 20, 2014||Alter Nrg Corp.||Plasma fired feed nozzle|
|U.S. Classification||219/121.51, 219/121.52, 219/121.48, 219/121.5|
|International Classification||H05H1/40, H05H1/34|
|Cooperative Classification||H05H2001/3484, H05H1/40, H05H2001/3457, H05H1/341|
|Jun 24, 1991||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA A CORPOR
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:PFENDER, EMIL;MALMBERG, STUART J.;REEL/FRAME:005761/0121;SIGNING DATES FROM 19910531 TO 19910604
|Jan 11, 1994||CC||Certificate of correction|
|Jan 21, 1997||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Jun 15, 1997||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Aug 26, 1997||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 19970518


Playing with Drops and Films
Analytical chemistry in small places
Purnendu K. (Sandy) Dasgupta
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX 76019-0065
Murphy may not have encoded it quite as such but things generally turn out differently from what one envisions. When I first came to Texas Tech and the West Texas hamlet of Lubbock, I did not know that rainfall constitutes an event. By this time I had also been educated enough to know that raindrops are not so pristine, they accumulate material both in their life as cloud droplets and as they fall through the atmosphere. Indeed sequential analysis of rain can isolate the two contributions. The idea of hanging drops out for sampling gases was thus born and led to many interesting avenues- what can you do with drops? Hanging drops? Pendant drops? Sessile drops? Scissile drops? Falling drops?
The second ongoing adventure I will like to talk about the many unique characteristics of flows in small spaces. The interesting thing is that only one of the relevant dimensions needs to be small. Liquids flowing on a confined two-dimensional plane can be harnessed to demonstrate interfacial reactions, measure concentrations or physical properties such as viscosity. To the colorful at heart it may be the chemistry in Art Noveau form, otherwise just another lava lamp.........


|The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) repository holds full-text theses and dissertations submitted for higher degrees at the University (including submissions from former Cape Technikon and Peninsula Technikon).|
The antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects of Cotyledon Orbiculata extracts
The challenge of antimicrobial resistance has increased drastically over the years as more microorganisms are becoming resistant to the available conventional treatments. The burden of antimicrobial resistant infections is intensified by the increase in immunocompromising conditions such as HIV/AIDS and cancer. Due to this challenge, pharmaceutical companies, health sectors and researches are in search of new antimicrobial agents that can solve the problem at hand. Medicinal plants are a reliable source for drug discovery as it is estimated that 25% of modern medicine originated from plants. They have also been used traditionally as sources of medicine in the treatment of many human ailments. Plants can also be applied in the field of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is a promising field in medicine as it has the potential to offer improved methods for disease diagnostics and therapeutics. The use of plants in nanotechnology brings about biologically friendly nanomaterials. Cotyledon orbiculata is one of the well-known and common plants of South Africa that is used in traditional medicinal practices. The nanotechnology applications as well as the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects of this plant were evaluated. The ability of C. orbiculata to synthesize silver nanoparticles was determined. Optimisation of silver nanoparticle synthesis using water extract of C. orbiculata was done at different conditions. The conditions evaluated include, reaction temperature (25 and 70°C), silver nitrate concentration (1 and 3mM), plant extract concentration (1.5, 3 and 6mg/ml) and reaction time. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles using this plant was successful. The optimal conditions for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using C. orbiculata were 3mg/ml of the C. orbiculata extract, 3mM silver nitrate at a reaction temperature of 70°C for 2 hours. Under these conditions, spherical, crystalline nanoparticles with sizes of 20-40nm were produced. The antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties of C. orbiculata extracts and silver nanoparticles were evaluated. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans, using the micro-dilution assay to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The results obtained revealed that all extracts of C. orbiculata have antimicrobial properties against all the microorganisms tested. The MICs of the extracts ranged from 3.13 to 50mg/ml and the MBC/MFC from 6.25 to >100mg/ml. The methanol extract exhibited better antimicrobial activity in comparison to the others extracts whereas the water extract had better antifungal properties. The chloroform extract showed the lowest activity in both antibacterial and antifungal studies. Silver nanoparticles also exhibited antimicrobial activity against all the microorganisms tested. It’s MICs against these microorganisms ranged from 5–80μg/ml and MBC/MFC from 20-160μg/ml. The silver nanoparticles were highly active than the water extract against both the bacteria and the fungi. Immunomodulatory effects of the plant extracts and silver nanoparticles were determined by evaluating cytokine production using the enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) assay. All the extracts and silver nanoparticles of C. orbiculata were found to have anti-inflammatory properties. The water extracts showed more anti-inflammatory activity against the cytokines than the other extracts. However the silver nanoparticles were more active than the water extract. The findings from this study confirmed that C. orbiculata have antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects. This provided scientific evidence of the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of skin infections and inflammatory conditions.


ImmunoMax is the consummate natural supplement for supporting your immune system with the nutrients it needs to effectively wage battle against the viruses and bacterium that are constantly trying to invade your body.* Formulated with the over 70 minerals and trace elements found in ConcenTrace for maximum absorption, ImmunoMax is a blend of Echinacea, garlic, vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, goldenseal, and olive leaf extract. Together they stimulate and support your immune system for maximum protection when you need it most.*
Feel the difference or your money back.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Suggested Use: Two Tablets Daily.
2 tablets provide the following:
VITAMINS: (Source) % USRDA*
Vitamin A 5000 IU 100% *
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) 250 mg. 417% * Vitamin B1 (Thiamine HCI) 2 mg. 133% *
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 2 mg. 118% *
Niacin 1.85 mg. 9% *
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine HCI) 4 mg. 200% *
Folic Acid (d-Calcium Pantothenate) 100 mg. 1000% *
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) 50 mcg. 833% *
Pantothenic Acid (d-Calcium Pantothenate) 100 mg. 1000% *
Zinc (citrate and succinate) 10 mg. 67% *
Selenium (Amino Acid Chelate) 25 mg. 36% *
Copper (Gluconate) .5 mg. 25% *
Magnesium (ConcenTrace®) 62 mg. 16% *
Chloride (ConcenTrace®) 175 mg. 5% *
Sulfate (ConcenTrace®) 14 mg. **
Sodium (All sources combined) 0 mg. 0%*
Lithium (ConcenTrace®) 0.38 mg. **
Boron (ConcenTrace®) 0.25 mg. **
Mixed Bioflavinoid Complex 25 mg. **
Coenzyme Q10 5 mg. **
* USRDA (U.S. recommended daily allowance for adults and children over 12)
** USRDA not established.
Plus the following in naturally occurring, varying trace amounts from ConcenTrace®: Carbonate, Bromide, Fluoride, Iodine, Rubidium, Scandium, Phosphorus, Nickel, Chromium, Strontium, Cobalt, Titanium, Lanthanum, Cerium, Barium, Copper, Silicon, Yttrium, Molybdenum, Tin, Gallium, Gold, Silver, Cesium, Beryllium, Selenium, Vanadium, Dysprosium, Holmium, Terbium, Praseodymium, Lutetium, Gadolinium, Samarium, Bismuth, Ytterbium, Erbium, Europium, Neodymium. Plus the other minerals found in sea water.
HERBS: 725 mg. of the following combination: Astragulus root, Olive leaf, Garlic bulb, Shitake mushroom, Ginseng blend (Asian and American root), Echinacea blend (Angustifolia and Purpurea root), Goldenseal root, Oregon Grape root and Licorice root. Bromelain Enzyme (from Pineapple).


The AXIMA Performance is one of the most powerful tools in mass spectrometry, delivering information-rich spectra with greater sensitivity and higher confidence in identification. Extremely versatile, this MALDI TOF-TOF mass spectrometer utilizes state-of-the-art high energy MS/MS, delivers unparalleled flexibility in an ergonomic, robust and reliable research-grade system, and provides the sensitivity needed for complex biomolecule and polymer characterization.
The Axima Performance™ demonstrates high resolution and mass accuracy across a wide mass range, from pharmaceutical compounds, through peptides to high mass proteins, to enable a variety of applications in the research environment. A highly optimised linear mode generates reproducible and sensitive results for very high mass compounds and complexes, extending the array of sample classes that may be analysed. A typical example of an intact high mass protein, Immunoglobulin G, is shown here.
The revolutionary monoPULSE™ ion gate allows the selection of MS/MS precursors with industry leading resolution. Ions from complex mixtures or closely associated neighbouring isotopic envelopes may be isolated and subsequently fragmented. The gate resolution of greater than 400 (FWHM) readily permits the analysis of peptides with similar nominal mass, even with overlapping isotopic distributions.
Once selected for MS/MS fragmentation, precursor ions are subjected to true high energy collisions with the chosen collision gas, e.g. helium. The resulting fragment ions are analysed in the second TOF region incorporating the curved field reflectron and detected with the ultrafast MCP detector. Typical MS/MS spectra shown here display the quality and sensitivity of a routine analysis. Detailed information is gained from a wide range of fragment ion masses and intensities. The increased intensity of the immonium ions adds confidence through diagnostic value to peptide sequence assignment and significantly aids de-novo sequencing experiments. The novel additional LMZ scan allows focus of the analysis to be directed around the low mass region of the MS/MS spectrum. This feature can be employed to increase confidence in MS/MS based quantitation experiments and to aid in de novo sequencing of unknowns by enhancing the immonium ion region of the spectrum.
The monoPULSE™ high performance, revolutionary ion gate provides outstanding MS/MS precursor ion selection resolution. When complex mixtures are analysed, the high resolution ion gate allows optimal isolation of ions with similar nominal mass, affording successful separation of MS/MS fragmentation patterns, producing more and higher confidence identifications. Resulting MS/MS spectra are easier to interpret and significant database search hits are more readily achieved. The high energy collisions, together with the new design Curved Field Reflectron produce well balanced, information rich MS/MS data.


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- 279 downloads
Molecular Dynamics Study of Clay-Polymer Interactions in the Treatment of Mature Fine Tailings
- Author / Creator
- Sun, Wenyuan
In this dissertation, all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to study the mechanisms of clay-polymer interactions and the effects of solution chemistry in the treatment of mature fine tailings (MFT). The fine solids in MFT were mainly clay particles such as montmorillonite and kaolinite. Polymers with different properties were widely used to flocculate the clay particles.
Chitosan, polyacrylamide (PAM), and anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) as commonly used cationic, neutral, and anionic polymer flocculants were firstly introduced to the proximity of montmorillonite (Mt) surface. A monolayer coating of chitosan was observed to form quickly on the Mt surface, driven by coulombic attraction between the cationic polymer and anionic Mt surface. PAM and APAM did not show effective adsorption by themselves. However, when PAM or APAM was added after chitosan, their adsorption was facilitated by the pre-adsorbed chitosan. PAM could adsorb either directly on Mt or on chitosan, in the form of clusters or individual molecules. On the other hand, APAM only adsorbed on chitosan, forming a two-layer structure above the Mt surface. Adding chitosan simultaneously with PAM or APAM, instead of sequentially, did not change the characteristics of the adsorption. The synergetic adsorption of polymers was attributed to the interplay of electrostatic attraction between Mt and chitosan, hydrogen bonding between chitosan and PAM, as well as electrostatic attraction between chitosan and APAM.
In colloidal systems such as polymer-modulated MFT, the influence of ions on the solid-polymer interactions cannot be neglected, in particular the interaction between similarly charged polymer and solid. The adsorption of anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) on anionic Mt, in an aqueous solution containing monovalent or divalent salts was simulated to address the effects of ions. Compared with monovalent salts (NaCl), the enhancement of APAM adsorption brought by divalent salts (CaCl2) was significant, which could not be explained by the Poisson−Boltzmann theory alone. APAM coordinated to the solvated Ca2+ by displacing 1-2 water oxygens in the first coordination shell of Ca2+. Ca2+ ions in the adsorbed Ca2+−APAM complexes did not serve as bridges sandwiched between APAM and Mt; instead, the complexes carried a residual positive charge and were subsequently attracted to Mt. The number of adsorbed Ca2+−APAM complexes changed with salinity in a nonmonotonic manner, due to the modulation of apparent charges of Mt and APAM by Ca2+. Increasing adsorption of Ca2+−APAM complexes also promoted APAM adsorption through direct hydrogen bonding with Mt.
Besides ions, the presence of asphaltene in MFT greatly influences the flocculation, through interacting with both the clay surfaces and the polymers. A model asphaltene, C5Pe, was simulated to study such effects. Potential of mean force (PMF) calculations demonstrated the interplay between enthalpy-driven adsorption of C5Pe on the hydrophilic alumina surface of kaolinite and entropy-driven adsorption on the hydrophobic siloxane surface of kaolinite. When added between different types of clay surfaces in water, participating in the hetero coagulation of clay particles, C5Pe tended to adsorb on the hydrophilic surface. In the adsorbed aggregate, the hydrophobic parts of C5Pe molecules stacked in a parallel manner, which aligned perpendicularly to the surface, while the hydrophilic part formed hydrogen bonds with the surface.
When APAM was added simultaneously with C5Pe to an adjacent Mt basal surface, the clustering of APAM molecules was suppressed by C5Pe and the adsorption of APAM was enhanced by the concurrent interaction of C5Pe with APAM and the Mt basal surface. In contrast, near a kaolinite edge surface, unadsorbed C5Pe in the bulk served as growth nucleus for APAM cluster, attracting APAM to the bulk solution and reducing their adsorption.
Together, the molecular insights derived from the simulation results in this dissertation complemented experimental investigations and can further help the polymer treatment of MFT.
- Graduation date
- Fall 2021
- Type of Item
- Doctor of Philosophy
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.


Aufbau Principle Quizzes & Trivia
The Aufbau principle is mostly used in chemistry and it should show us a prediction of the electronic configuration of atom. Challenge your knowledge and complete this quiz. Good luck!
Questions: 10 | Attempts: 100 | Last updated: Mar 22, 2018
Sample QuestionHow many electrons can the first energy level hold?


ADHERING TO HIGHER STANDARDS
protein glue and flexible cake glue for use in the bookbinding industry, and paper and carton manufacturing industries
ABANDONED - FAILURE TO RESPOND OR LATE RESPONSE
August 5, 1999
ADHERING TO EXCELLENCE
adhesive bonding agents for use in bonding woods, ceramics, fiberglass, paper, jewelry, leather, rubber, cloth, plastic, vinyl rep...
REGISTERED AND RENEWED
September 8, 1997


If there's one thing that should seem immediately obvious when transporting chemicals through a system, it's that traditional pumps designed for moving water might not be sufficient. This is where sturdy chemical resistant pumps become a factor. They work via the same mechanical and physical principles as other kinds of pumps (centrifugal force, variable pressure, etc.) but use materials within their housing that are specially designed to handle the chemicals pumped through them, and to prevent leaks of said chemicals (which would be quite disastrous). There are chemical dosing pumps which are able to pump in very precise amounts so that when doing chemical injection or adding some chemical mixture to a fluid process line, there isn't the danger of pumping in too much or too little of what you need. And there is larger chemical resistant pumps for transfer which are perfect for doing jobs in mining and other processes.
We make sure to supply chemical resistant pumps manufactured from chemically inert materials (for safety when handling the chemicals), and have adjustable flow rates that can be changed by several means (providing greater ease of use). To find out how Global Pumps can help you locate the chemical resistant pump that is right for you, give us a call on 0 8 8275 8000 or email at email@example.com today.
If you need some guidance on how to select the right pump then you’re not alone! There’s such a wide range of pumps in Australia, from centrifugal pumps to hose pumps to diaphragm pumps. The options available to you can make it a difficult choice, so we’ve created this special guide to help step you through the process of selecting the ideal pump for your requirements.