Research has shown that, when ingested as a food additive, titanium dioxide and its nanoparticles can impact, alter, and/or damage important protective bacteria in the gut, along with the metabolic pathways of gut bacteria.
Australian researchers examined how titanium dioxide as a food additive affected gut microbiota in mice by orally administering it in drinking water. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition in 2019, found the treatment could “alter the release of bacterial metabolites in vivo and affect the spatial distribution of commensal bacteria in vitro by promoting biofilm formation. We also found reduced expression of the colonic mucin 2 gene, a key component of the intestinal mucus layer, and increased expression of the beta defensin gene, indicating that titanium dioxide significantly impacts gut homeostasis.” The changes were then linked to colonic inflammation, along with a higher expression of inflammatory cytokines, which are signal proteins that help with regulation. The researchers concluded that titanium dioxide “impairs gut homeostasis which may in turn prime the host for disease development.”
For a review published in 2023 in the journal Environmental Pollution, researchers examined E171 as a possible factor promoting obesity-related metabolic disorders. Because gut microbiota play an important role in immune function maintenance and development, and because titanium dioxide as a food additive has been shown to alter gut microbiota, researchers wanted to review “the dysregulations along the gut microbiota-immune system axis after oral TiO2 exposure compared to those reported in obese or diabetic patients, and to highlight potential mechanisms by which foodborne TiO2 nanoparticles may increase the susceptibility to develop obesity-related metabolic disorders.” The study authors discovered recurrent changes in the gut microbiota composition when exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles, with an imbalance of intestinal symbiotic microbiota. These changes and imbalances were also reported and played a role in the development of obesity, the authors wrote. This highlights “foodborne TiO2 nanoparticles as an endocrine disruptor-like chemical promoting obesity-related disorders,” the authors concluded.
1. Impeller
Wear Factors: Continuous contact with the slurry and seals can cause wear on the shaft sleeves.
Moreover, the volute's cross-sectional area is carefully calculated to match the flow rate and pressure requirements of the system. An oversized volute may lead to low efficiency, as the fluid may not maintain its velocity to generate adequate pressure. Conversely, a volute that is too small can cause excessive pressure buildup, risking damage to the pump and downstream equipment.
4. Shaft Sleeves
The head, or the height to which a pump can raise the slurry, is another vital performance indicator for horizontal centrifugal slurry pumps. The head is directly related to the pump’s ability to overcome the pressure within the slurry transport system. This metric is typically measured in meters (m) and provides insight into the pump’s power to move slurry through pipelines and other components. The head is crucial for applications involving slurry transport using centrifugal pumps because it determines how efficiently the pump can transport slurry over long distances or through systems with varying elevations. Regular testing of head and pressure ensures that the horizontal centrifugal slurry pump meets the operational demands and maintains system efficiency.
- Select the impeller design that best handles the slurry's characteristics (e.g., closed impellers for abrasive slurries, open impellers for large particles).
