Adverse neurological events after sodium tetradecyl sulfate foam sclerotherapy – A prospective, observational study of 8056 treatments

Background Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) is a flexible and highly utilised tool in the treatment of varicose veins (VVs), both as a primary treatment and as an adjunct to other treatments. Concern remains regarding the risk of neurological adverse events (AEs) such as migraine, visual disturbance and serious adverse events (SAEs) such as cerebrovascular accident that have been reported after UGFS treatments. Aim To determine the incidence of neurological AEs and SAEs after UGFS. Methods A prospective, multicentre, post-authorisation safety study across Europe (both private and government) was performed between January 2015–2020. Neurological adverse events after UGFS with Fibrovein® (Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate) 1 and 3% physician generated foam. Results 8056 patients underwent treatment. There were 46 AE (including 5 SAEs), 30 (65%) SAEs were in female patients. Mean age was 55 years with mean body mass index (BMI) of 27. Univariable logistic regression demonstrate that UGFS only treatment (i.e. no adjunctive treatment), liquid-to-gas ratio, gas type and total foam volume (1% sodium tetradecyl sulfate, STS) were significantly associated with the odds of experiencing the outcome. Multivariable logistic regression model exhibits that migraine and total foam volume (1% STS) maintained statistical significance thus associated with the odds of adverse events. Conclusions This study demonstrates that UGFS with Fibrovein is safe with a very low incidence of neurological AEs and SAEs. Past history of migraine, use of physiological gas (O2/CO2) and increasing volumes of 1% foam increase the risk of AEs.

Preparation and the Foaming Activity Study of Hydroxymethyl Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Chloride

In this paper, hydroxymethyl cetyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (HM-CTAC) was prepared from cetyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC) and formaldehyde with different molar ratios (1:1 to 1: 4). The effects of reaction conditions (molar ratio) on surface properties were studied, including surface tension, foaming ability, high temperature resistance, methanol resistance and salt resistance. The results show that the minimum surface tension of HM-CTAC is lower than that of CTAC, and HM-CTAC (1:1) has the lowest surface tension of 31.89 mN · m–1. The foam volume of HM-CTAC with different molar ratios is higher than that of CTAC, and HM-CTAC (1:4) has a high foam volume of 435 mL. Compared to CTAC, the HM-CTAC under different reaction conditions has higher temperature resistance. At the methanol content of 10 wt.%, the initial foam volume of HM-CTAC is higher than that of CTAC, and the initial foam volume of HM-CTAC (1:2) is the highest with a volume of 21.5 mL. Among all the surfactants prepared under different reaction conditions, HM-CTAC (1:3) has the highest salt resistance with a relatively stable change in foam volume under different salt contents.

Amine Structure-Foam Behavior Relationship and Its Predictive Foam Model Used for Amine Selection for Design of Amine-based Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Capture Process

Background: The use of an amine solution to capture CO2 from flue gases is one of the methods applied commercially to clean up the exhaust gas stream of a power plant. One of the issues in this process is foaming which should be known in order to select a suitable amine for design. Objectives: In this work, all possible types of amines used for CO2 capture, namely, alkanolamines, sterically hindered alkanolamines, multi-alkylamines and cyclic amines, were investigated to elucidate their chemical structure–foaming relationships. Methods: Foam volume produced by each type of 2M amine solution with its equilibrium CO2 loading was measured at 40°C using 94 mL/min of N2 flow. Results: Amines with a higher number or a longer chain of the alkyl group exhibited higher foam volume because of alkyl group’s ability to decrease the surface tension while increasing the viscosity of the solution. An increase in the number of hydroxyl or amino groups in the amine led to the reduction of foam formation due to the increase in surface tension and a decrease in viscosity of the solution. The predictive foam models for non-cyclic and cyclic-amines developed based on the structural variations, surface tension and viscosity of 29 amines predicted the foam volume very well with average absolute deviations (AAD) of 12.7 and 0.001%, respectively. The model accurately predicted the foam volume of BDEA, which was not used in model development with 13.3 %AD. Conclusion: This foam model is, therefore, indispensable in selecting a suitable amine for an amine-based CO2 capture plant design and operation.

Heat Transfer Enhancement Through Array Jet Impingement on Strategically Placed High Porosity High Pore-Density Thin Copper Foams

High porosity, high pore-density (pores per inch: PPI) metal foams are a popular choice in high heat flux cooling applications as they offer large heat transfer area over a given volume, however, accompanied by a concomitant increase in pumping power requirements. Present experimental study aims towards developing a novel metal-foam based cooling configuration featuring thin copper foams (3 mm) subjected to orthogonal air jet array impingement. The foam configurations allowed strategic and selective placement of high pore-density (90 PPI) and high porosity (~ 96%) copper foam on the heated surface with respect to the jet array in the form of foam stripes aiming to enhance heat transfer and reduce pressure drop penalty. The thermal-hydraulic performance was evaluated over range of Reynolds numbers, jet-to-jet (x/dj ,y/dj) and jet-to-target (z/dj) spacings and compared with a baseline smooth surface. The effect of pore-density was further analyzed by studying 40 PPI copper foam and compared with corresponding 90 PPI foam arrangement. The thermal-hydraulic performance was found to be governed by combinational interaction of three major factors: heat transfer area, ease of jet penetration and foam volume usage. Strategic placement of metal foam stripes allowed better utilization of the foam heat transfer area and available foam volume by aiding penetration of coolant fluid through available foam thickness. Thus, performing better than the case where entire heat transfer area was covered with foam. For a fixed pumping power of 10 W, the optimal metal foam-jet configuration showed ~50% higher heat transfer with negligible increase in pumping power requirements.

Extreme Foaming Modes for SCF-Plasticized Polylactides: Quasi-Adiabatic and Quasi-Isothermal Foam Expansion

The experimental evidence on depressurization foaming of the amorphous D,L-polylactide, which is plasticized by subcritical (initial pressures below the critical value) or supercritical (initial pressures above the critical value) carbon dioxide at a temperature above the critical value, relates to two extreme cases: a slow quasi-isothermal foam expansion, and a rapid quasi-adiabatic expansion. Under certain conditions, the quasi-isothermal mode is characterized by the non-monotonic dependencies of the foam volume on the external pressure that are associated with the expansion-to-shrinkage transition. The quasi-adiabatic and quasi-isothermal expansions are characterized by a significant increase in the degree of foam expansion under conditions where the CO2 initial pressure approaches the critical value. The observed features are interpreted in terms of the energy balance in the foam volume and the phenomenological model based on the equation of the foam state. The expansion-to-shrinkage condition is based on the relationship between the average bubble radius and the pressure derivative of the surface tension for the plasticized polylactide. The maximum expansion ratio of the rapidly foamed polylactide in the vicinity of the critical point is interpreted in terms of the maximum decrement of the specific internal energy of the foaming agent (carbon dioxide) in the course of depressurization.

Role of Counterions and Nature of Spacer on Foaming Properties of Novel Polyoxyethylene Cationic Gemini Surfactants

Application of foam in various upstream operations, such as in enhanced oil recovery, has gained significant attention in recent years. A good foaming agent should generate a stable foam, must be thermally stable (>90 °C, typical reservoir temperature), must have a high tolerance to salinity, and should have low adsorption on the reservoir rock. In view of this, four thermally stable and salt-tolerant polyoxyethylene cationic gemini surfactants were synthesized with different spacers (mono phenyl and biphenyl) and different counterions (Br− and Cl−). Foaming properties were evaluated using initial foam generation, foam volume stability at a given time, bubble count, and average foam bubble radius. The effect of counterions and nature of spacers, with and without the presence of salts, on foaming properties was evaluated. It was found that number of phenyl rings (mono phenyl and biphenyl) had no significant effect on foamability and foam stability in the presence or absence of salts. However, the effect of counterions was prominent in deionized water. In deionized water, foam generated by gemini surfactants with bromide as a counterion was more stable compared to the foam generated using the surfactant containing chloride as the counterion. In saline solution, the type of counterion had no effect on the foamability or foam stability of the foam generated using synthesized cationic gemini surfactants. The foam volume stability decreased by the addition of salts; however, a further increase in salt concentration enhanced the foam volume stability. The synthesized surfactants showed good thermal stability, salt tolerance, and foaming properties and can be an attractive choice for upstream applications.

Air Permeability of Thick Foams: Flow Numerical Simulations

From measured data are determined permeability parameters of thick perforated foam samples, used as car seats cushions. Parameters are used for numerical flow simulations in foam samples. Model of detailed geometry gives good view about detailed flow field (pressure and velocity) in foam volume, influenced by perforations and grooves. However, simulated flow is several times different from measured one. The main flow is through perforations (99%) and flow through foam is of two orders lower. Using homogenous geometry with “averaged” permeability parameters, evaluated from measured values, the coincidence of measured and simulated flow is very good, difference of 1-5%. However, it is not possible to get any details of flow in foam volume. Using inlet layer, the flow is decreasing, first in perforations and the ratio between perforation and foam flows is more balanced.