Recovery of Gold and Silver and Removal of Copper, Zinc and Lead Ions in Pregnant and Barren Cyanide Solutions

Over the past decade the concern about toxic metals in freshwater has increased. Environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act have forced industries that produce metal containing wastewater to treat their wastewater prior to discharge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of a novel method for the minimization of heavy metals in the wastewater from the mining industry. A very promising electrochemical treatment technique that does not require chemical additions is electrocoagulation (EC) and sulphide precipitation. The present study has been done for the recovery of gold and silver contained in pregnant solution from the cyanidation process using the electrocoagulation technology with iron electrodes;that is a developed alternative technology for the Merril-Crowe process. The average gold and silver content in pregnant solution was 4.27 and 283 ppm respectively and the recoveries were 92% for gold and 95% for silver, with optimum operating parameters of pH 10, residence time of 20 minutes and addition of sodium chloride of 4 gr/L. The results of precipitation process show that the elimination of lead, zinc, cooper and iron ions from the barren solution was successful, with optimum operating parameters of pH 3 and residence time of 15 minutes, and the recoveries were 99% of these ions. Finally the characterization of the solid products of gold and silver formed during the EC process with Scanning Electronic Microscope was performed. Results suggest that magnetite particles and amorphous iron oxyhydroxides (lepidocrocite) were present.

Impact Analysis of Microscopic Defect Types on the Macroscopic Crack Propagation in Sintered Silver Nanoparticles

Sintered silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)arewidely used in high-power electronics due to their exceptional properties.However,the material reliability is significantly affected by various microscopic defects.In this work,the three primary micro-defect types at potential stress concentrations in sintered AgNPs are identified,categorized,and quantified.Molecular dynamics(MD)simulations are employed to observe the failure evolution of different microscopic defects.The dominant mechanisms responsible for this evolution are dislocation nucleation and dislocation motion.At the same time,this paper clarifies the quantitative relationship between the tensile strain amount and the failure mechanism transitions of the three defect types by defining key strain points.The impact of defect types on the failure process is also discussed.Furthermore,traction-separation curves extracted from microscopic defect evolutions serve as a bridge to connect the macro-scale model.The validity of the crack propagation model is confirmed through tensile tests.Finally,we thoroughly analyze how micro-defect types influence macro-crack propagation and attempt to find supporting evidence from the MD model.Our findings provide a multi-perspective reference for the reliability analysis of sintered AgNPs.

CONTROL OBSERVATION OF THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS ON SYNDROME OF THE 3^(rd) LUMBAR TRANSVERSE PROCESS WITH THICK SILVER WARMING NEEDLING AND ELECTRIC ACUPUNCTURE

Objective: To compare the clinical therapeutic effects on the syndrome of L3 transverse process between thick silver warming needling and electric acupuncture. Methods: One hundred and twenty cases of the syndrome of L3 transverse process were randomized into observation group and the control, 60 cases for each one. Thick silver warming needling was applied in observation group and electric acupuncture in the control. Results: The curative rate was 81.7% in observation group and 58.3% in the control, indicating significant difference （P<0.01）. The significant difference in the therapeutic effects between two groups had not been discovered yet for the cases within 3 months of sickness （P>0.05）, but, the therapeutic effect in observation group was superior to that in the control for the cases over 3 months of sickness （P<0.01）. Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of thick silver warming needling and electric acupuncture were quite advantageous on the syndrome of L3 transverse process, but that of thick silver warming needling was superior to electric acupuncture.

U-Pb dating of monazite in the Bainiuchang silver polymetallic deposit,Yunnan Province,and its limitation on Mesozoic mineralization

1.Objective The Gejiu-Bozhushan-Laojunshan tin-tungsten polymetallic metallogenic belt is located in southeastern Yunnan.It is bounded by the Mile-Shizong Fault and the Yangzi Plate to the north and west,respectively,while the Honghe Fault represents its southwestern boundary.It is adjacent to the Ailaoshan Fault,and extends to Guangxi and Vietnam to the southeast(Fig.1a;Liu JP et al.,2021).

Flexible polydimethylsiloxane pressure sensor with micro-pyramid structures and embedded silver nanowires:A novel application in urinary flow measurement

Flexible pressure sensors are lightweight and highly sensitive,making them suitable for use in small portable devices to achieve precise measurements of tiny forces.This article introduces a low-cost and easy-fabrication strategy for piezoresistive flexible pressure sensors.By embedding silver nanowires into a polydimethylsiloxane layer with micro-pyramids on its surface,a flexible pressure sensor is created that can detect low pressure (17.3 Pa) with fast response (<20 ms) and high sensitivity (69.6 mA kPa-1).Furthermore,the pressure sensor exhibits a sensitive and stable response to a small amount of water flowing on its surface.On this basis,the flexible pressure sensor is innovatively combined with a micro-rotor to fabricate a novel urinary flow-rate meter (uroflowmeter),and results from a simulated human urination experiment show that the uroflowmeter accurately captured all the essential shape characteristics that were present in the pump-simulated urination curves.Looking ahead,this research provides a new reference for using flexible pressure sensors in urinary flow-rate monitoring.

Curative effect of hydrogen peroxide combined with silver ion disinfection on pelvic floor dysfunction

BACKGROUND Pelvic floor dysfunction(PFD)is related to muscle fiber tearing during childbirth,negatively impacting postpartum quality of life of parturient.Appropriate and effective intervention is necessary to promote PFD recovery.AIM To analyze the use of hydrogen peroxide and silver ion disinfection for vaginal electrodes in conjunction with comprehensive rehabilitation therapy for postpartum women with PFD.METHODS A total of 59 women with PFD who were admitted to the hospital from May 2019 to July 2022 were divided into two groups:Control group(n=27)received comprehensive rehabilitation therapy and observation group(n=32)received intervention with pelvic floor biostimulation feedback instrument in addition to comprehensive rehabilitation therapy.The vaginal electrodes were disinfected with hydrogen peroxide and silver ion before treatment.Intervention for both groups was started 6 weeks postpartum,and rehabilitation lasted for 3 months.Pelvic floor muscle voltage,pelvic floor muscle strength,vaginal muscle voltage,vaginal muscle tone,pelvic floor function,quality of life,and incidence of postpartum PFD were compared between the two groups.RESULTS Before comprehensive rehabilitation treatment,basic data and pelvic floor function were not significantly different between the two groups.After treatment,the observation group showed significant improvements in the maximum voltage and average voltage of pelvic floor muscles,contraction time of type I and type II fibers,pelvic floor muscle strength,vaginal muscle tone,vaginal muscle voltage,and quality of life(GQOLI-74 reports),compared with the control group.The observation group had lower scores on the pelvic floor distress inventory(PFDI-20)and a lower incidence of postpartum PFD,indicating the effectiveness of the pelvic floor biostimulation feedback instrument in promoting the recovery of maternal pelvic floor function.CONCLUSION The combination of the pelvic floor biostimulation feedback instrument and comprehensive rehabilitation nursing can improve pelvic floor muscle strength,promote the recovery of vaginal muscle tone,and improve pelvic floor function and quality of life.The use of hydrogen peroxide and silver ion disinfectant demonstrated favorable antibacterial efficacy and is worthy of clinical application.

The Influence of Tartaric Acid in the Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis Using Response Surface Methodology

Silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)synthesized using tartaric acid as a capping agent have a great impact on the reaction kinetics and contribute significantly to the stability of AgNPs.The protective layer formed by tartaric acid is an important factor that protects the silver surface and reduces potential cytotoxicity problems.These attributes are critical for assessing the compatibility of AgNPs with biological systems and making them suitable for drug delivery applications.The aim of this research is to conduct a comprehensive study of the effect of tartaric acid concentration,sonication time and temperature on the formation of silver nanoparticles.Using Response Surface Methodology(RSM)with Face-Centered Central Composite Design(FCCD),the optimization process identifies the most favorable synthesis conditions.UV-Vis spectrum regression analysis shows that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid are more stable than AgNPs without tartaric acid.This highlights the increased stability that tartaric acid provides in AgNP ssssynthesis.Particle size distribution analysis showed a multimodal distribution for AgNPs with tartaric acid and showed the smallest size peak with an average size of 20.53 nm.The second peak with increasing intensity shows a dominant average size of 108.8 nm accompanied by one standard deviation of 4.225 nm and a zeta potential of−11.08 mV.In contrast,AgNPs synthesized with polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)showed a unimodal particle distribution with an average particle size of 81.62 nm and a zeta potential of−2.96 mV.The more negative zeta potential of AgNP-tartaric acid indicates its increased stability.Evaluation of antibacterial activity showed that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid showed better performance against E.coli and B.subtilis bacteria compared with AgNPs-PVP.In summary,this study highlights the potential of tartaric acid in AgNP synthesis and suggests an avenue for the development of stable AgNPs with versatile applications.

Improving pressure ulcer care in intensive care units:Evaluating the impact of bundled care and silver nanoparticle dressings

BACKGROUND Pressure ulcer(PU)are prevalent among critically ill trauma patients,posing substantial risks.Bundled care strategies and silver nanoparticle dressings offer potential solutions,yet their combined effectiveness and impact on patient satisfaction remain insufficiently investigated.AIM To assess the impact of bundled care along with silver nanoparticle dressing on PUs management and family satisfaction in critically ill trauma patients.METHODS A total of 98 critically ill trauma patients with PUs in intensive care unit(ICU)were included in this study.Patients were randomly assigned to either the control group(conventional care with silver nanoparticle dressing,n=49)or the intervention group(bundled care with silver nanoparticle dressing,n=49).The PU Scale for Healing(PUSH)tool was used to monitor changes in status of pressure injuries over time.Assessments were conducted at various time points:Baseline(day 0)and subsequent assessments on day 3,day 6,day 9,and day 12.Family satisfaction was assessed using the Family Satisfaction ICU 24 ques-tionnaire.RESULTS No significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed between the two groups.In the intervention group,there were significant reductions in total PUSH scores over the assessment period.Specifically,surface area,exudate,and tissue type parameters all showed significant improvements compared to the control group.Family satisfaction with care and decision-making was notably higher in the intervention group.Overall family satisfaction was significantly better in the intervention group.CONCLUSION Bundled care in combination with silver nanoparticle dressings effectively alleviated PUs and enhances family satisfaction in critically ill trauma patients.This approach holds promise for improving PUs management in the ICU,benefiting both patients and their families.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Orange and Lemon Peel Extract and Evaluation of Their Antimicrobial Properties

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous extracts of orange and lemon peels, as a reducing agent, and silver nitrate salts as a source of silver ions is a promising field of research due to the versatility of biomedical applications of metal nanoparticles. In this paper, AgNPs were synthetized at different reaction parameters such as the type and concentration of the extracts, metal salt concentration, temperature, speed stirring, and pH. The antibacterial properties of the obtained silver nanoparticles against E. coli, as well as the physical and chemical characteristics of the synthesized silver nanoparticles, were investigated. UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to confirm the formation of AgNPs. In addition to green biogenic synthesis, chemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles was also carried out. The optimal temperature for extraction was 65˚C, while for the synthesis of AgNPs was 35˚C. The synthesis is carried out in an acidic environment (pH = 4.7 orange and pH = 3.8 lemon), neutral (pH = 7) and alkaline (pH = 10), then for different concentrations of silver nitrate solution (0.5 mM - 1 mM), optimal time duration of the reaction was 60 min and optimal stirring speed rotation was 250 rpm on the magnetic stirrer. The physical properties of the synthesized silver nanoparticles (conductivity, density and refractive index) were also studied, and the passage of laser light through the obtained solution and distilled water was compared. Positive inhibitory effect on the growth of new Escherichia coli colonies have shown AgNPs synthesized at a basic pH value and at a 0.1 mM AgNO3 using orange or lemon peel extract, while for a 0.5 mM AgNO3 using lemon peel extract.

Diversified Elderly Care Services to Promote the Silver Economy

China is striving to build an elderly-friendly society,with comfortable living facilities,convenient transportation,and accessible leisure services.THE Chinese path to modernization entails the modernization of a huge population.Part of this,as was declared at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China(CPC),means China will pursue a proactive national strategy in response to population aging,and develop elderly care programs and services.To actively respond to population aging,there is more to care than just the physical health of the elderly.Their needs are multi-level and diverse.To some extent,it’s fair to say that a society’s happiness is largely dependent on whether or not the elderly are happy.The silver economy,which meets the needs of the elderly for a better life,therefore has enormous development potentials.

The Silver Economy:New Opportunities for China’s Aging Population

Developing the silver economy is not only a requirement for enhancing services for the elderly,but also an important part of achieving China's high-quality development.CHINA’s latest Central Economic Work Conference held in December 2023 emphasized the need to accelerate the improvement of a childbearing supportive policy system and develop the silver economy.As a result of the rapidly aging population in China,the silver economy has risen to an unprecedented height in China’s development strategy.From concept to action,the silver economy has become a significant part of China’s active response to such national issues as population aging,boosting domestic demands,and achieving high-quality development.

Golden Opportunities in The Silver Economy

The government work report delivered at the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress(NPC)in Beijing on March 5 stated that“a further push will be made to develop the silver economy.”Before this,on January 15,the State Council issued Opinions on Developing the Silver Economy to Enhance the Well-being of the Elderly.The first in China dedicated to supporting the“silver economy,”the document outlines goals and measures for the development of the sector.So what can be done to seize the new opportunities emerging alongside the growing aging population to advance high-quality economic development?

Miao Silver CraftingTechniques of Fenghuang County

WOMEN of the Miao ethnic group in China love silver ornaments.In ancient times,the Miao people were always traveling rather than settling down.Legend has it that Miao people reforged their valuables by placing them into furnaces and crafting them into wearable accessories,enabling them to carry their assets with them when they traveled.This tradition continues to this day.The craftsmanship of silver ornaments by the Miao was rated as one of the representative items of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.Miao people living in Fenghuang County of Hunan Province excel in this craftsmanship.

Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with Clerodendron phlomoides Leave Extract:Particle Morphology,Antimicrobial Potential and Application

Silver nanoparticles are versatile nanomaterials that have found numerous applications in various fields.The use of plant extract for the synthesis of silver is a green and sustainable approach.Clerodendron phlomoides leaves extract has been found to contain various phytochemicals,such as phenols,flavonoids,tannins,and alkaloids,which possess reducing and stabilizing properties that can aid the production of silver particles.In this paper,morphological and topographical analyses were performed on silver nanoparticles.The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles showed antimicrobial potential against wound pathogens.SEM and TEM micrographs revealed that the particles were sphere and nanosized,which makes them suitable for various biomedical applications.

Antimicrobial Activity, Structural, Crystallographic and Thermal Characteristics of Alpha-Titanium Phosphate Promoted by Silver Ions

The recent global spread of the pandemic underscores the necessity of seeking new materials effective against microorganisms. Nanotechnology offers avenues for developing multifunctional materials. In this study, alpha-titanium phosphate (α-TiP) nanoparticles were synthesized and treated with silver salt to enhance their antimicrobial properties. The physicochemical characteristics and antimicrobial activity were evaluated. It was revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis that the structural integrity of α-TiP was influenced by ethylenediamine and silver ions. Distinct degradation profiles for each chemical modification were shown by thermogravimetric analysis. Infrared spectroscopy detected shifts and new absorption peaks in the spectra depending on the type of modification. Energy dispersive spectroscopy confirmed the disaggregation of α-TiP galleries following the addition of silver salt, which increased their effectiveness against microorganisms. Notably, only the sample treated with silver ions exhibited antimicrobial action. Antimicrobial activity was tested against the bacteria of medical importance Escherichia coli, Salmonella Enteritidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria momocytogenes and the yeast Candida albicans. All microorganisms were inhibited by sample containing silver. Minor inhibition was observed against the Gram-positive bacteria L. monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus, while the greatest inhibition occurred against the fungus (yeast) C. albicans. The results revealed a potential application of the nanoparticles for control of microorganisms in public health.

Cyanide-free silver electroplating process in thiosulfate bath and microstructure analysis of Ag coatings

Cyanide-free silver electroplating was conducted in thiosulfate baths containing AgNO3 and AgBr major salts, respectively. The effects of major salt content and current density on surface quality, deposition rate and microhardness of Ag coatings were investigated. The optimized electroplating parameters were established. The adhesion strength of Ag coating on Cu substrate was evaluated and the grain size of Ag coating was measured under optimized electroplating parameters. The optimized AgNO3 content is 40 g/L with current density of 0.25 A/dm2. The deposited bright, smooth, and well adhered Ag coating had nanocrystalline grains with mean size of 35 nm. The optimized AgBr content was 30 g/L with current density of 0.20 A/dm2. The resultant Ag coating had nanocrystalline grains with mean size of 55 nm. Compared with the bath containing AgBr main salt, the bath containing AgNO3 main salt had a wider current density range, and corresponding Ag coating had a higher microhardness and a smaller grain size.

Surface plasmon resonance-induced visible-light photocatalytic performance of silver/silver molybdate composites

Novel silver/silver molybdate（Ag/Ag2MoO4） composites with surface plasmon resonance（SPR）-enhanced photocatalytic performance were successfully fabricated via a facile one-pot hydrothermal route with the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate（SDS） in this study.The as prepared silver/silver molybdate（Ag/Ag2MoO4） composites were systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction（XRD）,scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance absorption spectroscopy（DRS） in order to investigate their crystal structure,morphology and optical property as well.The photocatalytic activities of the composites were subsequently evaluated by their ability to degrade rhodamine B（RhB） under visible-light irradiation.Varies of controlled experiments were then carefully operated to gain a deep insight into the assembling of Ag/Ag2MoO4composites.It was found that preparation conditions such as pH,reaction time,and the amount of surfactant played important roles in the formation of composites with octahedral microstructures.And the composite obtained at 160 ℃ using 0.5 g of sodium dodecyl sulfate exhibited the highest photocatalytic performance under visible-light irradiation.Capture experiments were also conducted to clarify the function of different active species generated on the surface of Ag/Ag2MoO4during the photocatalytic process,in which both holes and ·OH radicals were found to play crucial role in photocatalytic removal of RhB under visible light irradiation.A possible photocatalytic mechanism of Ag/Ag2MoO4 was finally proposed on the basis of all the results to explain the higher photocatalytic activity of the octahedral Ag/Ag2MoO4 composites.It was inferred that the photoinduced ＂hot＂ electrons can quickly transfer from the Ag NPs to the conduction band of Ag2MoO4 and react with oxygen and H2O to generate a large quality of active radicals such as ·OH and ·O2^- because of the SPR effects.Besides,this SPR effects of Ag nanoparticles deposited on the surface of Ag2MoO4 can not only dramatically amplify its light absorption,especially in the visible region,but also promote the separation of photoexcited electron-hole pairs and effectively decrease electron-hole recombination.

Silver-ion HPLC测定1,3-二油酸-2-棕榈酸三酰甘油的含量

准确测定1,3-二油酸-2-棕榈酸三酰甘油(OPO)的含量,建立了一种以高效液相色谱结合银离子交换柱(Silver-ion HPLC)的测定方法。以ChromSpher 5 Lipid(25 cm×4.6 mm,5μm)银离子交换柱通过HPLC正相系统分离三酰甘油,配合蒸发光散射检测器(ELSD),以毒性较小的二氯甲烷和丙酮为流动相。流速0.6 mL/min,柱温30℃。漂移管温度30℃,空气压力0.35 MPa。在此条件下,1,3-二油酸-2-棕榈酸三酰甘油和1,2-二油酸-3-棕榈酸三酰甘油两种同分异构体基本达到分离,样品出峰完整,峰形良好。OPO色谱峰面积的自然对数与浓度的自然对数呈良好的线性关系(R2=0.998 8)。用该方法测定了母乳脂肪、实验室合成结构油脂样品、商品结构油脂、棕榈油和山茶油中OPO的含量。结果表明该方法的灵敏度高、重现性良好。

Analysis of electrochemical impedance and XRD spectroscopy for complex self-assembled film on silver

Self-assembled monolayers （SAMs） of （3-mercaptopropy） trimethoxysilane （3-MtrF） chemisorbed on silver surfaces were chemically ＂modified by 1-octadecanethiol to form self-assembled mixed-monolayers （SAMM） and the co-polymer of N-vinylcarbazole and methyl methacrylate ester （to form complex selfassembled film （CSAF））. The oxidation resistance of these barriers on silver surfaces and some influential factors concerned processes were analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS） in a 10% NaOH aqueous solution at oxidation potential. X-ray diffraction （XRD） spectroscopy shows that the oxidation occurring on the silver surface may be restrained effectively due to the coating barrier, and CSAF（Ⅱ） is the best one. Studies also reveal that oxide processes of bare silver and a series of modified silver electrodes in a 10% NaOH aqueous solution are of more than two relaxation time constants.

A novel and facile wet-chemical method for synthesis of silver microwires

A novel and facile wet-chemical method for synthesis of silver microwires was developed.The well-defined particles were prepared by adding an iron（Ⅱ） sulfate heptahydrate solution into a silver nitrate solution containing citric acid drop by drop at 50 °C.The resulting products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.It was found that the particles consisted of numerous silver microwires.The reaction temperature greatly affected the morphologies of the as-prepared particles.Both of the mean length and width of the silver microwires increased with the decrease of the concentration of silver nitrate.And the lower concentration was unfavorable for the formation of more silver microwires.Similar findings were also observed when the concentration of iron（Ⅱ） sulfate was decreased.The amount of citric acid also greatly affected the shape of the as-prepared particles.It was concluded that citric acid was the key role in the formation of silver microwires via the Oswald ripening mechanism.