In this paper, a pelletizing method has been researched to enhance the subsequent iron-making process applying Guisha limonite, with advantages including large reserves and low price. The purpose is to provide an alternative for the sinter, thus reducing the greenhouse gas emission during the iron-making process. The response surface method is used to optimize the experimental design of the pelleting process. A multivariate regression model for estimating the compressive strength of pellets was developed using Box-Behnken experimental methodology, where the relevant factors were the roasting temperature, pellet diameter, and bentonite content. The maximum influencing factors of each experimental design response are determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Under optimum conditions, the compressive strength of pure limonite pellets is 2705 N, similar to the response goal value of 2570.3 N, with a relative error of 5.20%. Since the high-grade iron ore resources are depleted, the comprehensive utilization of ore resources is becoming increasingly important. The aim of this paper was to provide a valuable technical foundation for lignite pellet-roasting processes in the iron and steel industries, since steel companies is increasing its imports of Guisha limonite.

High concentrations of nutrients are observed in the effluent of different wastewater treatment plants, while additional costs of post-treatment systems and low-value sludge are the main reasons for releasing such effluents. The present study aims to introduce an increased procedure for simultaneous nutrient recovery and biomass production using an algae-based post-treatment technique. The procedure has been utilized by two well-known strains (Scenedesmus dimorphus and Chlorella vulgaris) cultivated in different N/P ratios (16, 62, and 108) and trace metals (0, 50%, and 100%) in a synthetic meat processing wastewater as a model to investigate effects of the factors on microalgal cultivation and nutrient removal. Pareto statistical analysis and Multi Response Surface methodology were applied to determine the priority of factors and their optimum values, respectively. The unbalanced N/P ratio and lack of trace metals were introduced as two main reasons for the significant decrease of about 60% and 120% in nutrient removal and biomass production. The optimized procedure resulted in significant increases in the removal efficiencies where 90%, 83%, and 65% were achieved for ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate, respectively. Moreover, a 72% increase in biomass production was reported in the optimal points. The results of the Pareto analysis highlighted the significant superiority (about two times) of the trace metals in removal efficiencies. Finally, experimental data has also been modelled by Verhulst logistic model that successfully described the microalgae growth. This procedure showed promising results of microalgal systems to supersede the conventional post-treatment systems.

Computer-aided drug design provides broad structural modifications to evolving bioactive molecules without an immediate requirement to observe synthetic restraints or tedious protocols. Subsequently, the most promising guidelines with regard to synthetic and biological resources may be focused on upcoming steps. Molecular docking is common in-silico drug design techniques since it predicts ligand-receptor interaction modes and associated binding affinities. Current docking simulations suffer serious constraints in estimating accurate ligand-receptor binding affinities despite several advantages and historical results. Response surface method (RSM) is an efficient statistical approach for modeling and optimization of various pharmaceutical systems. With the aim of unveiling the full potential of RSM in optimizing molecular docking simulations, this study particularly focused on binding affinity prediction of citalopram-serotonin transporter (SERT) and donepezil-acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) complexes. For this purpose, Box-Behnken design of experiments (DOE) was used to develop a trial matrix for simultaneous variations of AutoDock4.2 driven binding affinity data with selected factor levels. Responses of all docking trials were considered as estimated protein inhibition constants with regard to validated data for each drug. The output matrix was subjected to statistical analysis and constructing polynomial quadratic models. Numerical optimization steps to attain ideal docking accuracies revealed that more accurate results might be envisaged through the best combination of factor levels and considering factor interactions. Results of the current study indicated that the application of RSM in molecular docking simulations might lead to optimized docking protocols with more stable estimates of ligand-target interactions and hence better correlation of in-silico in-vitro data.

The recovery of microalgae by means of coagulation-flocculation is efficient, simple and low operating costs. The addition of coagulants makes it possible to destabilize the microalgae surface loads and recover their biomass. Chemical coagulants can contaminate the environment and negatively affect human health. Thus, the exploration of natural coagulants, such as Moringa oleifera and Guazuma ulmifolia, are innovative. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of biomass separation from the microalgae Scenedesmus obliquuos by means of coagulation-flocculation. M. oleifera and G. ulmifolia were used in order to optimize the variables dose, pH and settling time, through a central composite rotational design, which presented recovery efficiencies above 80.0% and 60.0%, respectively. In relation to M. oleifera, optimum regions were obtained for biomass recovery at both pH 4.0 with a dose of 40.0 mg L-1 and pH 9.0 with a dose of 80.0 mg L-1, both in 30 min of settling times. For G. ulmifolia, an optimum dose of 30.0 mg L-1 at pH 4.0 with a 3 min settling time demonstrated that this new coagulant for microalgae recovery has potential for application. Thus, these natural coagulants are promising and can be used in coagulation-flocculation to recover biomass from Scenedesmus obliquuos and, thus, minimize the use of synthetic or metallic products.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a widely used compound, is harmful to the environment and human health. In this study, a facile one pot solvothermal method of integrating BiOCl with Zn-Al hydrotalcite to form spherical-shaped BiOCl/Zn-Al hydrotalcite (B-BHZA) sample is reported. The characteristics and main factors affecting photocatalytic PFOA and photocatalytic mechanism of BiOCl/Zn-Al hydrotalcite (B-BHZA) are systematically investigated. It is found that spherical-shaped B-BHZA possesses abundant defects and a larger surface area of 64.4 m2 g-1. The factors affecting photocatalytic removal PFOA (e.g., time, pH, initial concentration and dosage) are investigated by modeling the 3D surface response. The removal rate of PFOA is over 90 % in 6 h under UV light at an optimal pH of 2, an initial concentration of 500 μg/L and a dose of dosage 0.5 g/L. The main mechanism occurs by photo-generated h+ oxidation and synergistic effects from the photocatalysis process. Though investigating the intermediates of PFOA degradation and F-, a possibility was proposed that h+ initiated the rapidly decarboxylation of PFOA. The unstable perfluoroheptyl group is formatted and further conversed to short chain perfluorocarboxylic acid. This study provides a new insight for the preparation of highly efficient photocatalysts to the treatment of halogenated compounds in UV system.

Wear and corrosion in total hip replacement negatively impact implant service-life and patient well-being. The aim of this study was to generate a statistical response surface of material loss using an apparatus, capable of testing the effect of wear and corrosion products in situ on cells, such as macrophages. The test chamber of a ball-on-flat tribometer operating inside a CO2 incubator was integrated with an electrochemical setup and adapted for cell culture work. A 20-test series, following a 2-level 3-factor design of experiments, was performed with a ceramic head in reciprocating rotational motion against a CoCrMo-alloy disc, under constant load. The lubricant was cell culture medium (RPMI-1640+10vol% bovine serum). Response surfaces were generated, which statistically showed the influence of motion amplitude, load, and potential on the total mass loss and wear scar volume of the metallic discs. Potential had the highest impact on the total mass loss, while motion amplitude and load significantly influenced the wear scar volume. The concentrations of the alloy elements found in the lubricants reflected the bulk-alloy stoichiometry. The total concentration of Co released into the lubricant (2.3-63 ppm by total mass loss, 1.5 to 62 ppm by ICP-MS) corresponded well with the known range to trigger cell response. Tribocorrosion tests in the presence of cells and tissues, such as macrophages, lymphocytes and/or synovium, will be carried out in the future.

Methyl laurate was synthesized from lauric acid (LA) and methanol via an esterification reaction using ionic liquids (ILs) as catalysts. The efficiencies of three different catalysts, 1-methylimidazole hydrogen sulfate ([Hmim]HSO4), 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidonium hydrogen sulfate ([Hnmp]HSO4) and H2SO4, were compared. The effect of the methanol/LA molar ratio, reaction temperature, reaction time and catalyst dosage on the esterification rate of LA was investigated by single-factor experiments. Based on the single-factor experiments, the esterification of LA and methanol was optimized using response surface methodology. The results showed that the most effective catalyst was the IL [Hnmp]HSO4. The optimal conditions were as follows: [Hnmp]HSO4 dosage of 5.23%, methanol/LA molar ratio of 7.68 : 1, reaction time of 2.27 h and reaction temperature of 70°C. Under these conditions, the LA conversion of the esterification reached 98.58%. A kinetic study indicated that the esterification was a second-order reaction with an activation energy and a frequency factor of 68.45 kJ mol-1 and 1.9189 × 109 min-1, respectively. The catalytic activity of [Hnmp]HSO4 remained high after five cycles.

In this article, we check and develop further some postulates of the theory and mathematical modeling of combined toxic effect that we proposed earlier [1]. To this end, we have analyzed the results of an experiment on rats exposed during 6 weeks to repeated intraperitoneal injections of lead acetate, sodium fluoride or both. The development of intoxication was estimated quantitatively with 54 functional, biochemical and morphometric indices. For mathematical description of the effect that lead and fluorine doses produced alone or in combination, we used a response surface regression model containing linear and cross terms (hyperbolic paraboloid). It is shown that the combination of lead and fluoride features the same 10 types of combined effect that we found previously for the lead and cadmium combination. Special attention is given to indices on which lead and fluorine produce an opposite effect.