605 The Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether used as a surface tensiometry tool for non-invasive quality assessment of peloids (TVS mud index: An overview

Abstract

Background Surface tensiometry consented to characterize the surface free energy of geomaterials in an integrated and non-destructive way.

A new surface tensiometry tool, based on the contact angle measurement of Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether and called TVS mud indexâ has thus been developed in the early 2000s. The TVS mud indexâ was for the first time employed from 2005 to 2010 for surface tensiometry characterization of peloids for pelotherapy from Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme (Padova, Italy). Our aim is to report the surface tensiometry application in the thermal field.

Methods The determination of the typical chemical-mineralogical characteristics of a Euganean Thermal Mud (ETM) and their surface tensiometry allowed us to demonstrate the link between the chemical data from X-ray fluorescence (XRF)  analysis and performed using a tensiometer to assess the quality of the peloid and its biological maturation process.

Results The liquid test Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether-based demonstrated the link between variations in volume elements and surface free energy of muddy matrices. The results of the research here showed that TVS mud indexâ  is linked to the chemical pattern of peloids.

Conclusions The research work implemented in the period 2005-2010 showed the potentialities of surface tensiometry in the assessment of peloids for pelotherapy using Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether as a liquid test.