Electrochemical reduction mechanism of Zn^(2+)in molten NaCl-KCl eutectic

A process comprising selective chlorination and molten salt electrolysis was proposed to develop an efficient and environmental-friendly technology for zinc recovery from metallurgical dusts.The theoretical feasibility of this technology was firstly estimated based on thermodynamic fundamentals.Subsequently,the electrochemical behavior of Zn^(2+)on tungsten electrode was investigated in molten NaCl-KCl eutectic at 973 K by many electrochemical transient methods.The results showed that the reduction of Zn^(2+)on tungsten electrode was found to be a one-step process exchanging two electrons with the initial reduction potential of-0.74 V(vs Ag/AgCl),and the electrode process was considered as quasi-reversible and controlled by diffusion.The diffusion coefficient of Zn^(2+)ions in the melts was determined in the order of 10^(-5)cm^(2)/s.Finally,the electrolytic preparation of zinc was carried out by potentiostatic electrolysis in molten NaCl-KCl-ZnCl_(2)eutectic at-1.6 V(vs Ag/AgCl).Spheroidic granular metal with silver-white luster was attained after electrolysis for 9.5 h,and identified as pure Zn.The present study confirms that it is practically feasible to extract pure zinc metal by direct electrolysis of ZnCl_(2)in molten NaCl-KCl eutectic,and provides a valuable theoretical reference for the efficient recovery of zinc from metallurgical dusts.

Role of the surface chemistry of activated carbons in dye removal from aqueous solution

Commercial activated carbons were modified by a series of chemical or physical treatments using H202, NH3, and heating under N2 flow without notably changing their pore structures. The resultant carbons were characterized by N2 adsorption and Bohem titration and then used to remove Ponceau 4R, methyl orange and brilliant blue from aqueous solutions. Surface chemistry was found to play a signifi- cantly different role in removing these three compounds. The removal of anionic Ponceau 4R increases with increasing carbon surface ba- sicity due to the predominant dispersive interaction mechanism. In contrast, surface chemistry has little effect on the removal of anionic methyl orange, which can be explained by two parallel mechanisms involving electrostatic and dispersive interactions due to the basic amine group in a dye molecule. The influence of surface chemistry on the removal of amphoteric brilliant blue dye can also be ignored due to a weak interaction between the carbons and dye molecules, which is resulted from strong cohesive energy from electrostatic forces inside amphoteric dye molecules.

Multidisciplinary team therapy for left giant adrenocortical carcinoma: A case report

BACKGROUND Adrenocortical carcinoma(ACC)is a rare malignant epithelial tumor originating from adrenocortical cells that carries a very poor prognosis.Metastatic or inoperable diseases are often considered incurable,and treatment remains a challenge.Especially for advanced cases such as ACC complicated with renal venous cancer thrombus,there are few cumulative cases in the literature.CASE SUMMARY The patient in this case was a 39-year-old middle-aged male who was admitted to the hospital for more than half a month due to dizziness and chest tightness.Computed tomography(CT)findings after admission revealed a left retroperitoneal malignant space-occupying lesion,but the origin of the formation of the left renal vein cancer thrombus remained to be determined.It was speculated that it originated from the left adrenal gland,perhaps a retroperitoneal source,and left adrenal mass+left nephrectomy+left renal vein tumor thrombus removal+angioplasty were performed under general anesthesia.Postoperative pathology results indicated a diagnosis of ACC.Postoperative steroid therapy was administered.At 3 mo after surgery,abdominal CT reexamination revealed multiple enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes and multiple low-density shadows in the liver,and palliative radiotherapy and mitotane were administered,considering the possibility of metastasis.The patient is currently being followed up.CONCLUSION ACC is a highly malignant tumor.Even if the tumor is removed surgically,there is still the possibility of recurrence.Postoperative mitotane and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy have certain benefits for patients,but they cannot fully offset the poor prognosis of this disease.