Biomedical subjects

Carlo Gessa

Publications and source records attributed to Carlo Gessa.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Characterisation of Ca- and Al-pectate gels by thermal analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy.

Thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and FT-IR spectroscopy have been performed on calcium-pectate membranes to investigate their structure and the consequent variation caused by aluminium sorption. Calcium-polygalacturonate (Ca-PG) membranes, model systems of the soil-root interface, were exposed to aluminium solutions at different concentrations (25-800 microM). Three different pHs (3.50, 4.00 and 4.50) were chosen to study the influence of different aluminium species, such as [Al(H2O)6]3+, [Al(OH)(H2O)5]2+ and [Al(OH)2(H2O)(4)]+, on the structure of the Ca-PG membrane. The DTA profiles and FT-IR spectra showed how aluminium sorption induces structural modifications leading to a reorganisation of the chain aggregates and a weakening of the structure. Higher pH, that is, 4.00 and 4.50, and thus hydrolytic aluminium species and related higher calcium content maintain a more regular structure than at pH 3.50. At pH 3.50, both the effect of [Al(H2O)6]3+ and a major calcium release had a greater impact and thus induced a greater weakening of the structure.

Aluminum↗

PubMed2004

Sorption and degradation of azimsulfuron on iron(III)-rich soil colloids.

The sorption of N-[[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]-1-methyl-4-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazole-5-yl)1H-pyrazole-5-sulfonamide (AZS) on an iron oxide, iron(III)-humate, and an Fe3+-saturated clay was studied using a batch equilibrium method. Generally, 20 mg of each colloid was equilibrated with 20 mL of AZS solution (1.5-12.7 microM). The sorption on iron-montmorillonite and iron oxide was rapid, and the equilibrium was attained within 1.5 and 5 h, respectively. In the case of Fe-saturated humic acid the equilibrium time was 20 h. After equilibration, the phases were centrifuged (19000g, 15 min) and the supernatant was sampled and analyzed by HPLC. The values of Freundlich constants indicate that iron oxide (Kads = 199.5) shows the highest sorptive capacity toward AZS, followed by iron(III)-clay (Kads = 146.6) and iron(III)-humate (Kads = 108.2). With elapsing time, AZS degradation was observed in all colloidal suspensions. Iron-humate (t(1/2) = 136 h) is most effective in promoting AZS degradation, followed by iron oxide (t(1/2) = 204 h) and iron-clay (t(1/2) = 385 h). The metabolites 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidine and 1-methyl-4-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazole-5-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-sulfonamide, arising from a hydrolytic cleavage of the sulfonylurea bridge, were the only byproducts observed. A Fourier transform infrared study suggests that the sorption of AZS on iron-clay involves the protonation of one of the two basic pyrimidine nitrogens induced by the acidic water surrounding the saturating Fe3+ ions. Instead, the formation of a six-membered chelated complex favors the sorption of AZS on iron oxide.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2004

Azimsulfuron sorption--desorption on soil.

The sorption and desorption of the herbicide azimsulfuron, N-[[(4-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]1-methyl-4-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazole-5-yl)1H-pyrazole-5-sulfonamide, were studied using five soils. Sorption isotherms conformed to the Freundlich equation. It was found that pH is the main factor influencing the sorption and that the sorption on soils was negatively correlated with pH. The highest level of sorption was measured on soils with low pH and high organic carbon content. Moreover, inorganic soil colloids, for example, smectite clay minerals and iron oxides, contributed to the sorption of azimsulfuron. Desorption was hysteretic on soils with high organic and inorganic colloid contents.

Carbon↗

PubMed2004

Evolution of organic matter from sewage sludge and garden trimming during composting.

To use compost appropriately in agriculture it is extremely important to estimate the stabilization level of the organic matter. In this work, two different piles of compost were studied by means of (i) humification parameters (degree of humification--DH, humification rate--HR, humification index--HI) prior to and after enzymatic hydrolysis of the extracted organic carbon, (ii) water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and (iii) water-soluble nitrogen. A significant relationship between composting time, WSOC and humification parameters after enzymatic hydrolysis (DHenz; HRenz; HIenz) was found.

Agriculture↗

PubMed2003

Adsorption and desorption of triasulfuron by soil.

The adsorption and desorption of the herbicide triasulfuron [2-(2-chloroethoxy)-N-[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]benzenesulfonamide] by three soils, soil organic matter (H(+) and Ca(2+)-saturated), and an amorphous iron oxide were studied. Adsorption isotherms conformed to the Freundlich equation. It was found that pH is the main factor influencing the adsorption in all of the systems. Indeed, the adsorption on soils was negatively correlated with pH. The highest level of adsorption was measured on soils with low pH and high organic carbon content. Moreover, it was found that humic acid is more effective in the adsorption compared with calcium humate (the pH values of the suspensions being 3.5 and 6, respectively). Experiments on amorphous iron oxide confirmed the pH dependence. Desorption was hysteretic on soils having high organic carbon content.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2003

Determination of free L- and D-alanine in hydrolysed protein fertilisers by capillary electrophoresis.

of racemisation of hydrolysed protein fertilisers (HPFs) using an The objective of this study was to determine the degree inexpensive and easy to handle analytical method for qualitative control of the products. Using a polyacrylamide coated capillary and a run buffer containing 0.1 M Tris-borate+2.5 mM EDTA-Na2+0.1% sodium dodecylsulfate+10 mM beta-cyclodextrin a quantitative separation of D- and L-alanine (Ala) was made from an not treated HPF sample derivatised with dansyl chlorine by capillary electrophoresis. The D-Ala:[D-Ala+L-Ala] ratio, called degree of racemisation (RD), was calculated. The analysis of ten commercial HPFs has shown that more than 60% of HPFs have an RD > or = 40%. while only one product has shown an RD <5%. These results showed that most of the HPFs on the market are obtained with strong hydrolytic processes and high contents of D-amino acids are probably less effective as plant nutrients or even potentially dangerous to plants.

Alanine↗