Physicochemical, mechanical and biological properties of nano-calcium silicate-based cements: a systematic review.

This systematic review evaluated the effects of nano-sized cement particles on the properties of calcium silicate-based cements (CSCs). Using defined keywords, a literature search was conducted to identify studies that investigated properties of nano-calcium silicate-based cements (NCSCs). A total of 17 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results indicated that NCSC formulations have favourable physical (setting time, pH and solubility), mechanical (push out bond strength, compressive strength and indentation hardness) and biological (bone regeneration and foreign body reaction) properties compared with commonly used CSCs. However, the characterization and verification for the nano-particle size of NCSCs were deficient in some studies. Furthermore, the nanosizing was not limited to the cement particles and a number of additives were present. In conclusion, the evidence available for the properties of CSC particles in the nano-range is deficient-such properties could be a result of additives which may have enhanced the properties of the material.

Comparison of plant extract-derived nano-zinc particles with different zinc sources and effects of different Zn sources on egg yield and quality traits.

This study aimed to compare the zinc (Zn) nanoparticles obtained from plant extracts with different zinc sources and to reveal the effects of different Zn sources on growth performance, egg quality traits and blood serum parameters of laying quail. Treatment groups as follows: control and 3 and 6 mg/kg inorganic, organic, and plant extract-derived nano-Zn particles to quail diet supplementation. Animals were fed on experimental diets for 6 weeks. Different Zn sources supplemented into quail diets did not significantly affect live weights (P > 0.05). On the other hand, different Zn sources increased egg yields (P < 0.05). Plant extract-derived nano-Zn supplementations into quail diets increased feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, and egg weights (P < 0.05). However, 6 mg/kg plant extract-derived nano-Zn supplementations reduced egg weights. Different Zn sources did not have any significant effects on egg yolk weight (g) and egg yolk color L*b* values (P > 0.05). For blood serum parameters, 6 mg/kg plant extract-derived nano-Zn supplementations increased blood serum AST, ALT, and Zn values (P < 0.05). No adverse effect was observed on the measured values in laying Japanese quails. The findings suggest that plant extract-derived nano-Zn particles could reliably be used in quail feeding.

Improvement of anaerobic digestion of food waste by addition of synthesized allophane.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) of food waste (FW) always confronts the challenges of over-acidification in application. This work evaluated the effectiveness of synthesized allophane, a mineral with desirable physicochemical properties (e.g., high pH buffer and organic matter adsorption capacity, and high porosity and specific surface area), in increasing biogas yield during AD of FW as an additive. Results showed that allophane addition (0 to 10 g total solid (TS)) increased the cumulative biogas yield from 409.69 ± 20.77 mL/g TS to 624.06 ± 6.63 mL/g TS, and methane production from 224.12 ± 9.26 mL/g TS to 391.52 ± 0.87 mL/g TS. Improved AD performance was mainly attributed to mitigating over-acidification during the start-up period, and favoring microbial growth, particularly the acetotrophic methanogen of Methanosarcina, indicating an intensified acetoclastic methanogenic pathway. The findings provided a mechanistic insight into the improved AD performance with allophane addition, and offered a potential strategy to stabilize AD of FW in application.