Restructuring thin film composite membrane interfaces using biopolymer as a sustainable alternative to prevent organic fouling

Replacing polyamide (PA) layer in commercially successful thin film composite (TFC) membranes prepared via interfacial polymerization has been challenging task. Lately, PA is under scrutiny due to its increasing fouling propensity for highly contaminated waters. To mitigate the bio and organic fouling on PA layer in nanofiltration (NF) membranes in a long run, present study attempts to create a new interfacial thin film asymmetric structure using biopolymer chitosan as sustainable alternative. Herein, the effect of chitosan-silver on porous support structure and filtration performance were systematically investigated. Further, the membranes were characterized for their functionality and surface characteristics using ATR-IR, FESEM, AFM, UV-vis spectroscopy and contact angle measurements, respectively. New asymmetric membrane performances in cross flow process were evaluated in terms of pure water flux, NaCl (∼40 %), red brown/organic dye (>98 %) and tannery wastewater flux and rejection (>98 %). With a higher pure water flux (>100 L m^-2 h^-1) compared to control (40 L m^-2 h^-1) at 4 bar, membrane showed exceptional antifouling behaviors in comparison to commercial PA membrane. Further, surface characteristics of the membranes before and after rigorous testing were evaluated using AFM micrographs and SEM imaging.

THU0438 INADEQUATE CARE FOR PATIENTS HOSPITALISED WITH GOUT: EVIDENCE THAT EULAR GUIDANCE IS NOT UTILISED

Background:

Hospitalisations due to gout have increased over the last decade, in direct contrast to declining admissions for other inflammatory arthritides including RA [1]. Gout is a treatable condition with recently published EULAR guidelines [2, 3]. Admissions could be avoided with effective use of urate-lowering therapies (ULT).

Objectives:

We hypothesised that the majority of patients attending hospital with acute gout attacks would not be on ULT. Furthermore, we hypothesised that the majority of patients would not be provided with a plan for ULT commencement and/or uptitration on discharge, leaving them at risk of further hospitalisations.

Methods:

We retrospectively analysed electronic health records for all patients presenting acutely with a primary admission diagnosis of gout (ICD-10 code: M10) at two hospitals in London, UK, from January – December 2017. Analyses of in-hospital gout management were performed for these patients, including to ascertain the number and proportion of patients who: i) had a known history of gout; ii) were receiving ULT at time of attendance; iii) were provided with a discharge plan for ULT commencement and/or uptitration.

Results:

Over a 12-month period, there were 234 emergency attendances for gout in 225 individuals. 80% were male, with a mean age of 58 years. 70/234 (30%) attendances resulted in admission to hospital (mean length of stay: 2 days; range: 0-31 days). 211 patients had routinely captured clinical data available for further analysis. 90/211 (43%) patients had prior diagnoses of gout, of whom 38% were on ULT at presentation (32 allopurinol, 2 febuxostat). 38% of patients were discharged with a plan for ULT commencement and/or uptitration. 20 patients re-presented to hospital with acute gout within 12 months (17/20 were not receiving ULT).

Conclusion:

Most patients hospitalised with gout were not receiving ULT, even those with a prior history of gout attacks. Few were provided with a ULT plan, leaving them at risk of re-admission to hospital. Hospital admissions are unpleasant for patients and incur a high economic burden for health services; if they are to be prevented, there must be a concerted effort to implement and follow gout management guidelines to ensure patients receive ULT at appropriate doses.

References:

[1]Russell M,et al. Return of the King: Rising Incidence of Acute Hospital Admissions due to Gout. J Rheum 2019 Sep 15.

[2]Richette P, et al. 2016 updated EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the management of gout. Ann Rheum Dis 2017;76:29-42.

[3]Richette P, et al. 2018 updated European League Against Rheumatism evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis of gout. Ann Rheum Dis 2020;79:31-38.

Disclosure of Interests: :

None declared

Solvent-free production of nano-FeS anchored graphene from Ulva fasciata: A scalable synthesis of super-adsorbent for lead, chromium and dyes

Here we demonstrate, a simple and solvent-free synthetic route for the production of FeS/Fe(0) functionalized graphene nanocomposite (G-Fe) via a one-step pyrolysis of seaweed biomass (Ulva fasciata). It is proposed that the natural abundance of both inorganic and organic sulfur in the seaweed induces the reduction of exfoliated graphitic sheets at elevated temperatures. FeCl₃ was employed both as the iron precursor as well as the templating agent. Iron doping played a dual-faceted role of exfoliating as well as activating agent, producing composite with high adsorption capacity for Pb²⁺ (645 ± 10 mg/g), CR (970 mg/g), CV(909 mg/g), MO (664 mg/g), MB (402 mg/g) dyes and good recyclability (8 cycles). Pb²⁺ adsorption was irreversible even at low pH values and the spent composite (G-Fe-Pb) was utilized for efficient Cr(IV) removal (̴100 mg/g). The adsorption data followed the pseudo second order kinetics while the equilibrium data fitted perfectly into the Langmuir adsorption equation. Further, a thin layer of composite was deposited on a filter paper by vacuum filtration which was tested under continuous filtration mode for RB5 dye removal. Preliminary results highlight the potential of this composite to be used in pretreatment steps in hybrid membrane processes for filtration of complex wastewater feeds.

Development of high-performance supercapacitor electrode derived from sugar industry spent wash waste

This study aims at developing supercapacitor materials from sugar and distillery industry wastes, thereby mediating waste disposal problem through reuse. In a two-step process, biomethanated spent wash (BMSW) was acid treated to produce solid waste sludge and waste water with significantly reduced total organic carbon (TOC) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) content. Further, waste sludge was directly calcined in presence of activating agent ZnCl₂ in inert atmosphere resulting in high surface area (730-900m²g^-1) carbon of unique hexagonal morphology. Present technique resulted in achieving two-faceted target of liquid-solid waste remediation and production of high-performance carbon material. The resulted high surface area carbon was tested in both three and two electrode systems. Electrochemical tests viz. cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and impedance measurement were carried out in aqueous KOH electrolyte yielding specific capacitance as high as 120Fg^-1, whereas all solid supercapacitor devised using PVA/H₃PO₄ polyelectrolyte showed stable capacitance of 105Fg^-1 at 0.2Ag^-1. The presence of transition metal particles and hetero-atoms on carbon surface were confirmed by XPS, EDX and TEM analysis which enhanced the conductivity and imparted pseudocapacitance to some extent into the working electrode. The present study successfully demonstrated production of high-performance electrode material from dirtiest wastewater making process green, sustainable and economically viable.

Fabrication of carbon and sulphur-doped nanocomposites with seaweed polymer carrageenan as an efficient catalyst for rapid degradation of dye pollutants using a solar concentrator

Here we demonstrate direct use of sulphate rich seaweed polysaccharides, carrageenans, namely kappa (κ-), iota (ι-) and lambda (λ-) as a source of sulphur and carbon doping in TiO₂ photocatalysts.

Correction: Deep eutectic solvents as a new class of draw agent to enrich low abundance DNA and proteins using forward osmosis

Correction for ‘Deep eutectic solvents as a new class of draw agent to enrich low abundance DNA and proteins using forward osmosis’ by Dibyendu Mondal et al., RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 89539–89544.

Deep eutectic solvents as a new class of draw agent to enrich low abundance DNA and proteins using forward osmosis

The present study explores the osmotic energy potentials of deep eutectic solvents as an efficient and sustainable alternative energy source for protein and DNA enrichment using forward osmosis (FO).

Late-onset pretibial recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa

Pretibial epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare form of localized dystrophic EB, characterized by recurrent blistering and scarring plaques occurring predominantly in the pretibial area. In most cases, nail dystrophy, especially of the toenails, is also present. Often there are no clinical abnormalities at birth, and the disorder may only appear after several years. We report a patient who developed symptoms in his fifth decade. Genetic testing identified compound heterozygosity for two pathogenic mutations in the COL7A1 gene. This case highlights a rare variant of mechanobullous disease, and stresses the importance of molecular screening in establishing a correct diagnosis. Precisely why the disorder specifically localizes to the shins or why it may only become apparent in later life is not known.

Mycophenolate mofetil inducing remission of lupus enteritis

We report the case of a young woman with a background history of discoid lupus who presented with abdominal pain, vomiting and intermittent diarrhoea. Physical examination revealed tenderness in the right upper quadrant with a palpable right inguinal lymph node without any other clinical signs of active lupus. Laboratory investigations showed normal inflammatory markers, positive ANA and Anti-Ro antibodies, persistent hypocomplementemia and lymphopenia, CT showed marked bowel oedema involving the small and large bowel (halo sign) with massive ascites and moderate right-sided pleural effusion. Mantoux test, AFB and TB cultures were negative. A diagnosis of lupus enteritis was made and treatment with high-dose steroids was commenced with little improvement. Treatment with cyclophosphamide was discussed but declined by the patient. Mycophenolate mofetil was commenced and resulted in significant clinical and radiological resolution. To the best of the authors’ knowledge this is the first report of the successful use of mycophenolate mofetil in inducing and maintaining remission in lupus enteritis.