Characterization of some nonmetallic resources in Bolivia: an overview of their potentiality and their application in specialized formulations
Bolivia has several nonmetallic occurrences widespread in the country. Unfortunately, they are poorly studied and slightly characterized. In the present work, several nonmetallic occurrences located in La Paz, Oruro, Potosí and Santa Cruz were studied. The results of the chemical and mineralogical characterization of the materials will be presented, in order to approach their applicability in specialized industrial formulations. A preliminary test of the final products besides an overview of their potentiality will be exposed and a current view of the commercialization as well.
Thermal behaviour of kaolinitic raw materials from San José (Oruro, Bolivia)
Kaolin is widespread as a result of the alteration in the San José Sn-Ag deposit located in Oruro, Bolivia. This study presents a chemical, mineralogical and thermal characterization of the San José kaolinitic deposit, which is necessary to determine their optimal applications. Mineral phases of these white silty kaolinitic materials were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and are quartz, kaolinite, K-feldspar, muscovite, illite and minor halloysite, dickite, plagioclase, jarosite, rutile, alunite and gypsum. The fraction < 63 µm contains 20–27 mass% of kaolinite. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) shows an endothermic peak at 520 °C associated with the dehydroxylation of kaolinite and an exothermic peak at ~ 980 °C related to the crystallization of mullite. TG curves show a total mass loss up to 1300 °C of about 8 mass%. The dilatometric curves show a shrinkage at about 890 °C produced by the collapse of metakaolinite into a spinel-like structure, and another shrinkage starts at 1010 °C, at the beginning of the sintering, when the spinel-like phase is transformed to mullite and amorphous SiO2. Lightness L* is 80–92, but only the mined materials have b* < 4, suitable for paper filling applications.
Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of moxisylyte after oral administration to healthy volunteers.
The pharmacokinetics of moxisylyte in plasma and urine was investigated after oral administration. Twelve subjects were treated orally, twice daily with 240 mg of the drug for 6 days; on day 7, the subjects received a last dose of 240 mg of moxisylyte. Moxisylyte was assayed in plasma and urine by a specific HPLC method with fluorimetric detection. Moxisylyte was absorbed rapidly and changed to its metabolites immediately after drug administration; unchanged moxisylyte was not found in plasma. Two metabolites were found in plasma and urine: conjugated desacetylmoxisylyte (DAM) and the conjugate of desmethylated DAM (MDAM). The pharmacokinetic parameters determined after the first oral administration were not modified on multiple dosing. The apparent elimination half-lives of conjugated DAM and MDAM were 2.3 and 3.5 h, respectively. Elimination of these two metabolites in urine averaged 50 and 10%, respectively.