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19Increasing biofuel production on agricultural lands in tropical island nations will likely result 20 in increased deforestation [1], and also inflate food prices, especially in net food importing

This is a preprint of an article published in Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining Borines, M.G., McHenry, M.P. and de Leon, R.L. (2011)Integrated

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Recebido em 21/12/10; aceito em 22/3/11; publicado na web em 10/6/11This study compared properties of silica (SiO 2 ) from rice husk (RH) and rice husk ash (RHA) extracted by acid-and heat-treatment. The SiO 2 from RH was in amorphous phase with nearly 100% purity while that from RHA was in crystalline phase with 97.56% purity. Both extracted SiO 2 were used in the synthesis of zeolite NaY but that from RH was better due to the efficiency in product recovery and simplicity of extraction. After the NaY was exchanged to NH 4 Y and calcined to convert to HY, the product did not carry over the textural properties of the parent NaY and NH 4 Y.

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ObjectiveCalcium oxalate crystals are found in majority of kidney stones with calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) as one of the primary types of kidney stones. Various methods of treatment exist, including herbal treatment in the Philippines that uses the medicinal herb Blumea balsamifera (B. balsamifera).MethodsThe effect of B. balsamifera extract on the morphology of calcium oxalate crystals was studied by light microscopy, image analysis, powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.ResultsThe extract decreased the crystal size by 5.22%–82.62% depending on the degree of supersaturation. Through analysis of the projected area of the crystals, the extract was found to shift the phase of the crystals from COM to calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD). This shift in phase is significant with a COM to COD shift of 88.26% at 0.5 mg/mL of extract and 91.53% at 1.0 mg/mL of extract. Scanning election microscopic (SEM) images revealed aggregation of crystals at 0 mg/mL of extract. At 1.0 mg/mL of extract, the scanning electron micrographs showed discernible crystal unit boundaries.ConclusionB. balsamifera extract was observed to have decreased crystal size, shifted crystal phase from COM to COD and prevented the aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals.