BACKGROUND Diatomaceous earth (DE) is mined globally and is potentially of occupational respiratory health concern due to the high crystalline silica content in processed material. DE toxicity, in terms of variability related to global source and processing technique, is poorly understood. This study addresses this variability using physicochemical characterisation and in vitro toxicology assay...

The paper reviews progress for a program of research on alumina ceramics processing, with particular reference to diffraction results achieved using tube x-rays, neutrons and synchrotron radiation. Outcomes from three related studies are examined. l Calcination of alumina hydrates to o-alumina via intermediate aluminas, including some new results indicating the co-existence of cubic and tetrago...

An efficient and green protocol for the synthesis of αaminonitriles derivatives by one-pot reaction of different aldehydes with amines and trimethylsilyl cyanides has been developed using natural alumina, alumina sulfuric acid (ASA), nano-γ-alumina, nanoalumina sulfuric acid (nano-ASA) under microwave irradiation and solvent-free conditions. The advantages of methods are short reaction times, h...

The influence of the vanadium load and calcination temperature on the structural characteristics of the V2O5/TiO2 system was studied by X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques. Samples of the V2O5/TiO2 system were prepared by the sol–gel method under acid conditions and calcined at different temperatures. The rutile phase was found to predominate in pure TiO2 calcin...

We report on adsorption and release of the anticancer drugs cisplatin and transplatin from mesoporous silica nanomaterials, emphasizing the differences between cisplatin and its much less toxic isomer. Two types of particles, MCM-41 and SBA-15, were used, either as just synthesized or after calcination to remove the templates. The particles were characterized by TEM, nitrogen physisorption, and...

Interpenetrating Al O /Al composites were created by liquid metal infiltration of alumina structures with three-dimensional periodicity produced by a robotic deposition method. Volume-averaged lattice strains in the alumina phase were measured by synchrotron X-ray diffraction at various uniaxial compression stresses up to 200 MPa. Load transfer was observed to occur from the aluminum to the alu...

Simple nanoporous alumina matrix modification procedure, in which the electrically highly insulating alumina barrier layer at the bottom of the pores is replaced with the conductive layer of the gold beds, was described. This modification makes possible the direct electron exchange between the underlying aluminum support and the redox species encapsulated in the alumina pores, thus, providing t...

BACKGROUND Numerous studies have reported that microgrooves on metal and polymer materials can affect cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation and guidance. However, our knowledge of the cell activity associated with microgrooves on ceramics, such as alumina, zirconia, hydroxyapatite and etc, is very incomplete, owing to difficulties in the engraving of microgrooves on the hard surface of ...

Lanthanide (Ln3+) doping in alumina has shown great promise for stabilizing and promoting desirable phase formation to achieve optimized physical and chemical properties. However, doping alumina with Ln elements is generally accompanied by formation of new phases (i.e. LnAlO3, Ln2O3), and therefore inclusion of Ln-doping mechanisms for phase stabilization of the alumina lattice is indispensable...