Large whiskers of a new KAl9O14 polymorph with mullite-type structure were synthesized. The chemical composition of the crystals was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and the structure was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Nanosized twin domains and one-dimensional diffuse scattering were observed utilizing transmission electron microscopy. The compound crystal...

We report the first use of a non-frustrated block terpolymer for the synthesis of highly ordered oxide nanocomposites containing multiple plies. The morphological behavior of 15 ISO-oxide nanocomposites was investigated spanning a large range of compositions along the ƒ(I)=ƒ(S) isopleth using aluminosilicate and niobia sols. Morphologies were determined by TEM and SAXS measurements. Four morpho...

High-sensitivity radioluminescence (RL) and thermoluminescence (TL) measurements were carried out on samples of natural leucite (with 2.95% of Na2O) from Campania Vessa (Italy). Samples were annealed to modify the charge compensation through alkali metal self-diffusion and to produce luminescence centres. High-temperature powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and chemical analyses we...

The aim of this study was to determine the binding capacity of a hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) for aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)), and the efficacy of the HSCAS to reduce the concentrations of residual AFB(1) and its metabolites in the liver and kidney of broilers fed AFB(1). One hundred 1-d-old male broilers (Ross 708) were maintained in chick batteries and allowed ad libitum access...

We studied the dynamics of dissolved water in aluminosilicate glasses with the compositions NaAlSi3O8·0.3H2O, NaAlSi3O8·1.3H2O and Ca0.5AlSi3O8·1.3H2O using quasielastic neutron scattering. As shown by near-infrared spectroscopy on these samples, H2O molecules are the predominant hydrous species in the water-rich glasses whereas OH groups bound to tetrahedrally coordinated cations are predomina...

The aim of this work was to assess the ability of aqueous suspensions of surface-modified nanostructured aluminosilicate (NSAS) compounds to reduce the intestinal absorption of cholesterol in a rat model. The rats were divided into 10 treatment groups which included several NSAS compounds at various doses, ezetimibe at 10 mg/kg, stigmastanol at 50 mg/kg, and normal saline. All compounds and con...

In a computational study we addressed the adsorption of uranyl UO(2)(2+) on solvated (110) and (010) edge surfaces of pyrophyllite, applying a density functional approach to periodic slab models. We explored bidentate adsorption complexes on various partially deprotonated adsorption sites: octahedral Al(O,OH), tetrahedral Si(O,OH), and mixed AlO-SiO. Aluminol sites were determined to be most fa...

Whiteware compositions prepared using Pugu kaolin and industrial grade quartz and feldspar were studied with respect to varying sintering temperatures. The strength developed was correlated to mullite (3Al2O3.2SiO2) content and the microstructure. It was observed that within the vitrification temperature range, the strength mainly depended on the mullite content and the bulk density. Above the ...

Volcanic ash contains thallium (Tl), which is highly toxic to the biosphere. The aim of this study was to determine the Tl concentration in fractions of volcanic ash samples originating from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. A sequential extraction scheme allowed for a study of element migration in the environment. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry using a flow measuring system was se...