Effect on the reduction of bacterial load after surgical hand antisepsis with triclosan 0.5% compared to triclosan 0.5% followed by 70% alcoholic solution.

Triclosan 0.5% by scrubbing does not meet the UNE-EN12791 criteria to be used in the surgical hand preparation (SHP). Triclosan 0.5% by scrubbing followed by ethanol 70% hand rubbing is suitable without the additional characteristic of sustained effect. This limited effectiveness implies that triclosan should be avoided in SHP given the restrictions on its use in consumer antiseptic products. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04538365).

Nanoflakes of chloride zinc-iron-aluminum-based layered double hydroxides obtained from industrial waste: a green approach to mass-scale production.

A greener technology aiming at a smarter industrial waste treatment is proposed to produce chloride iron-zinc-aluminum layered double hydroxides (LDHs). Waste Pickling Acid (WPA) and sodium aluminate (NaAlO2) from secondary sources were meticulously mixed under mild experimental conditions using a sodium hydroxide solution as a pH-regulator. A set of characterization techniques (XRD, SEM, TGA, FTIR, AAS and adsorption-desorption of N2) indicated the formation of highly-dispersed nanoflake crystallites with textural characteristics and thermal stability similar to syntheses with high-quality chemicals. An interesting discussion on chemical composition and M2+/M3+ molar ratio is presented. Although the co-precipitation synthesis was conducted without control of environmental CO2, complete intercalation of the chloride anion was achieved, making these particles more favorable for further anion exchange applications. The experimental variables temperature of reaction and WPA/NaAlO2 volume ratio showed the strongest influence on the LDHs crystallinity and porosity. LDHs architected with iron and zinc have the potential to be applied in systems for removing sulfur gases for cleaner energy production, e.g. in the refining process of biogas to produce biomethane.