Acesulfame Research Articles

Active and passive sampling techniques in headwater streams to characterize acesulfame-K, pharmaceutical and phosphorus contamination from on-site wastewater disposal systems in Canadian rural hamlets

On-site wastewater disposal systems have been identified as a source of contamination for nutrients and emerging contaminants (ECs), such as artificial sweeteners and pharmaceutical compounds. The passive sampling technique Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS) and phosphorus sampler (P-Trap) have been widely used for tracking polar organic contaminants and total dissolved phosphorus in environmental waters such as surface water and wastewater. However, limited studies have been conducted on application of passive sampling techniques to track contamination in headwater streams impacted by on-site wastewater disposal systems. In this study, active sampling (discrete samples) and passive sampling (P-Trap and POCIS) techniques were applied in upstream and downstream locations at three rural hamlets to compare and track the contamination of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) and seven ECs, including six pharmaceuticals and one artificial sweetener acesulfame-K (ACEK), in the shallow headwater streams of rural hamlets in southern Ontario, Canada that exclusively rely on septic systems for wastewater disposal. Results show that POCIS and P-Trap yielded comparable time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations of target ECs and TDP, respectively, to mean concentrations of discrete samples during the seasonal (spring, summer, and fall) and two-week intensive study periods. Field-derived sampling rates (Rs-field) of target contaminants compared well to literature-reported values indicating POCIS and P-Trap were applicable in determining the concentrations of target contaminants in the investigated streams, even though some environmental factors, such as dry stream conditions and fouling, occurred during the sampling period. The low but stable Rs-field of ACE-K (~0.001 L d−1) from this study indicates consistency in application of POCIS for capturing ACEK. The results of this study provide insight into the confidence and limitations for using POCIS and P-traps to track ECs and TDP in shallow headwater streams impacted by septic systems.

One-step pyrolysis route to N, O, S co-doped hierarchical carbon as multi-functional separator for lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries have high theoretical energy density while their practical application is trapped because of severe shuttle effect and sluggish conversion kinetics of polysulfides. Here, a nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur co-doped porous carbon (NOSAKC) is prepared by one-step pyrolysis of acesulfame potassium, which is employed as an efficient component on polypropylene separators to restrict the shuttle of polysulfides based on Lewis acid-base theory. The NOSAKC exhibits a hierarchical porous structure with high specific surface area and abundant adsorption/catalytic sites. The substantial mesoporous channels are conducive to rapid ion transfer, and the micropores minimize the polysulfide shuttle. The abundant heteroatoms doped in NOSAKC can achieve synergistic constraint and conversion of lithium polysulfides. So the Li-S battery with the NOSAKC separator displays distinguished electrochemical performance with a high discharge capacity of 1598 mAh g-1 at 0.2C and 1012 mAh g-1 at 1C. It maintains 84% of the initial capacity after 500 cycles with a stable coulombic efficiency of 99.8%. Moreover, the Li-S battery achieves a capacity retention of 67% after 200 cycles for a high sulfur loading of 4.33mgcm-2. This work reports a one-step preparation of hierarchical porous carbon with tri-doped heteroatoms for synergistic polysulfide adsorption and conversion.

Study on the characteristics of sweetener reference material (aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sodium saccharin) in orange juice

To conduct the validity of test results, various measures such as proficiency testing, inter-laboratory comparisons, or the use of standard samples and quality control samples, etc. may be chosen. Participation in proficiency testing or inter-laboratory comparisons is sometimes not feasible for laboratories due to objective conditions such as funding sources, lack of suppliers, or absence of a suitable program for the sample matrix and criteria needed. Therefore, the use of standard samples or quality control samples is a good option. However, most standard samples are not readily available in Vietnam and often have to be imported, which is costly, and many specific types of samples are not yet produced. In this study, sweetener standards (aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sodium saccharin) in natural orange juice and flavored orange juice were created to investigate the characteristics of these two types of reference material. The samples achieved homogeneity and stability over 360 days for natural orange juice and 530 days for flavored orange juice from the production date. The certified values of aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sodium saccharin, and the measurement uncertainty in natural orange juice were 430 ± 24.2 mg/L, 270 ± 12.0 mg/L, 258 ± 16.2 mg/L, respectively, and in flavored orange juice were 588 ± 28.4 mg/L, 711 ± 31.2 mg/L, 355 ± 20.8 mg/L, respectively, which are consistent with the concentrations of sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sodium saccharin) in beverages according to Circular No. 24/2019/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health.

Development and validation of RP-HPLC method with UV-DAD detection for simultaneous determination of acesulfame K, sodium saccharin and aspartame in beverages

AbstractArtificial sweeteners are low-calorie substances used as food additives with aim to impart a sweet taste to beverages without adding significant calories. Due to the regulatory compliance regarding the type and the amount of artificial sweetener, and due to the large consumption of beverages and the effects of artificial sweeteners on human health, their identification and quantification is of a great importance. In this research simultaneous determination of acesulfame K (ACE-K), sodium saccharin (Na-SAC) and aspartame (ASP) as the most commonly used sweeteners in beverages was performed with a reversed – phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP – HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD). The best separation of the analytes was achieved on a Poroshell 120 EC-C18 (3.0 × 50 mm, 2.7 µm) column and isocratic elution with a mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and diluted phosphoric acid (pH = 3.8) with 7/93 volume ratio (V/V), and flow rate of 1 mL min−1. The chromatographic process was followed at 195, 220 and 230 nm, under constant column temperature (25 °C). Under these chromatographic conditions, the total time of analysis was less than 5 min. The developed method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). The LOD under established chromatographic conditions was 0.03, 0.07 and 0.17 mg L−1 for Na-SAC, ACE-K and ASP, respectively. The amount of artificial sweeteners in analyzed samples ranged from 30.32 to 148.37 mg L−1 for ACE-K, from 16.10 to 93.05 for Na-SAC, and from 6.06 to 512.72 for ASP. The validated method was successfully applied for determination of analytes in different commercially available beverages.

Synergistic effects of biochar and laccase on nitrogen conversation and degradations of two artificial sweeteners during the sewage sludge composting

This study investigates the effects of biochar, laccase, and their combined application on nitrogen transformation, the degradation of sucralose (SUC) and acesulfame (ACE), and the dynamics of bacterial communities during sewage sludge composting. The results indicated that NH3 emissions were reduced by 41.2 %, 17.5%, and 40.8 % in the biochar, laccase, and biochar-laccase treatments, respectively, compared to the control. Meanwhile, N2O emissions decreased significantly by 26.8 % and 16.0 % for the biochar and biochar-laccase treatments, respectively, but increased by 8.1 % for the laccase treatment. Additionally, the biochar, laccase, and biochar-laccase treatments enhanced the degradation of SUC and ACE by 36.6–68.3 % and 49.2–69.8 %, relative to the control, respectively. Network analysis showed that the additive-treatment enhanced the cooperation within bacterial communities, and solidified artificial sweeteners degradation, especially under biochar-laccase application. Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states further indicated that biochar, laccase, biochar-laccase treatment increased enzymes associated with the degradations of organic matter and artificial sweeteners. In conclusion, it suggested that a combined addition of biochar and laccase was an effectively way to reduce nitrogen loss and promote artificial sweeteners degradations during sewage sludge composting.

In-situ doped and activated N, S co-doped porous carbon derived from organic salt for application in high-performance potassium-ion batteries

Owing to its abundance in nature and low cost, potassium has attracted considerable attention as a substitute for lithium in the manufacture of secondary-ion batteries. However, developing amorphous carbon materials that show fast K+ ion kinetics for application in high-performance potassium-ion battery (PIB) anodes remains challenging. In this study, we designed and synthesized a 3-D hierarchical nitrogen and sulfur co-doped porous carbon electrode via in-situ doping and activation using acesulfame potassium. Owing to its prominent structural advantages, the as-prepared N, S co-doped electrode showed a high reversible capacity (459.8 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1) and long-term cycle stability (205 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 0.5 A g−1). Further, the results of ex-situ Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy verified the advantages of N and S co-doping with respect to K+ ion intercalation and adsorption/desorption properties within the carbon matrix. Therefore, our findings enhance understanding regarding the advantages of the dual-doped system with respect to K+ ion storage and highlight an efficient strategy for developing high-performance and durable carbon anode materials for PIBs.

Syntheses and Applications of Coumarin-Derived Fluorescent Probes for Real-Time Monitoring of NAD(P)H Dynamics in Living Cells across Diverse Chemical Environments.

Fluorescent probes play a crucial role in elucidating cellular processes, with NAD(P)H sensing being pivotal in understanding cellular metabolism and redox biology. Here, the development and characterization of three fluorescent probes, A, B, and C, based on the coumarin platform for monitoring of NAD(P)H levels in living cells are described. Probes A and B incorporate a coumarin-cyanine hybrid structure with vinyl and thiophene connection bridges to 3-quinolinium acceptors, respectively, while probe C introduces a dicyano moiety for replacement of the lactone carbonyl group of probe A which increases the reaction rate of the probe with NAD(P)H. Initially, all probes exhibit subdued fluorescence due to intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) quenching. However, upon hydride transfer by NAD(P)H, fluorescence activation is triggered through enhanced ICT. Theoretical calculations confirm that the electronic absorption changes upon the addition of hydride to originate from the quinoline moiety instead of the coumarin section and end up in the middle section, illustrating how the addition of hydride affects the nature of this absorption. Control and dose-response experiments provide conclusive evidence of probe C's specificity and reliability in identifying intracellular NAD(P)H levels within HeLa cells. Furthermore, colocalization studies indicate probe C's selective targeting of mitochondria. Investigation into metabolic substrates reveals the influence of glucose, maltose, pyruvate, lactate, acesulfame potassium, and aspartame on NAD(P)H levels, shedding light on cellular responses to nutrient availability and artificial sweeteners. Additionally, we explore the consequence of oxaliplatin on cellular NAD(P)H levels, revealing complex interplays between DNA damage repair, metabolic reprogramming, and enzyme activities. In vivo studies utilizing starved fruit fly larvae underscore probe C's efficacy in monitoring NAD(P)H dynamics in response to external compounds. These findings highlight probe C's utility as a versatile tool for investigating NAD(P)H signaling pathways in biomedical research contexts, offering insights into cellular metabolism, stress responses, and disease mechanisms.

Removal of artificial sweeteners in wastewater treatment plants and their degradation during sewage sludge composting with micro- and nano-sized kaolin

This study surveyed the fates of artificial sweeteners in influent, effluent, and sewage sludge (SS) in wastewater treatment plant, and investigated the effects of Micro-Kaolin (Micro-KL) and Nano-Kaolin (Nano-KL) on nitrogen transformation and sucralose (SUC) and acesulfame (ACE) degradation during SS composting. Results showed the cumulative rate of ACE and SUC in SS was ∼76 %. During SS composting, kaolin reduced NH3 emissions by 30.2–45.38 %, and N2O emissions by 38.4–38.9 %, while the Micro-KL and Nano-KL reduced nitrogen losses by 14.8 % and 12.5 %, respectively. Meanwhile, Micro-KL and Nano-KL increased ACE degradation by 76.8 % and 84.2 %, and SUC degradation by 75.3 % and 77.7 %, and significantly shifted microbial community structure. Furthermore, kaolin caused a positive association between Actinobacteria and sweetener degradation. Taken together, kaolin effectively inhibited nitrogen loss and promoted the degradation of ACE and SUC during the SS composting, which is of great significance for the removal of emerging organic pollutants in SS.

Determination of high-intensity sweeteners in bakery products marketed in Brazil and dietary exposure assessment

Bakery products, including biscuits, cakes and breads, generally present a high content of simple sugars of rapid absorption, high fat content and low amount of dietary fiber, which make them highly caloric foods. Although sucrose is a very important ingredient in bakery products for its preservation characteristics and a significant source of energy, there is a growing interest in replacing this sugar with alternative substances, such as high-intensity sweeteners (HIS) that provide sweetness with no or low calories. In Brazil, there is no data on the use of HIS in this class of food. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of HIS in baked food commercially available in the country and estimate the dietary exposure to these food additives. For that, an analytical method was established for the simultaneous determination of nine HIS in bakery products using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS). Sample preparation steps were required based on mechanical kneading for homogenization, hexane extraction of fats, dilution in mobile phase and vortex homogenization, prior to injection into the system. The results obtained during validation showed that coefficients of variation (CV%) for precision were lower than 13.8% and the accuracy was between 91.6% and 109.1%. Aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sodium cyclamate, saccharin, sucralose and steviol glycosides were found in the samples, used alone or in combinations of up five substances. Steviol glycosides were the most found HIS in biscuit samples, while sucralose was the most common sweetener in cake and bread samples. Analysis of product labels revealed only three different claims, .i.e. ‘no sugar’, ‘no added sugar’ and ‘zero sugar’, with the latter being found in 70% of the samples. Exposure to HIS through the consumption of bakery products estimated per eating occasion showed no concerns regarding toxicological risk.

Acesulfame potassium triggers inflammatory bowel disease via the inhibition of focal adhesion pathway

Acesulfame potassium (ACK) was generally regarded as innocuous and extensively ingested. Nevertheless, ACK has recently gained attention as a burgeoning pollutant that has the potential to induce a range of health hazards, particularly to the digestive system. Herein, we uncover that ACK initiates inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice and zebrafish, as indicated by the aggregation of macrophages in the intestine and the inhibition of intestinal mucus secretion. Transcriptome analysis of mice and zebrafish guts revealed that exposure to ACK typically impacts the cell cycle, focal adhesion, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Using pharmacological approaches, we demonstrate that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) triggered by cell division are not significant factors in the initiation of IBD caused by ACK. Remarkably, inhibition of the focal adhesion pathway is responsible for the IBD onset induced by ACK. Our results indicate the detrimental impacts and possible underlying mechanisms of ACK on the gastrointestinal system and provide insights for making informed choices about everyday dietary habits.

BIO-MITIGATION STUDIES OF ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER IN WASTE WATER: A REVIEW

Artificial sweeteners, which are widely used in modern diets and are persistent and may have negative effects on aquatic ecosystems, such as saccharin (SAC), cyclamate (CYC), aspartame (ASP), acesulfame (ACE), sucralose (SUC), alitame (ALT), neotame (NEO), and neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (NSDH), are being found in wastewater effluents at an increasing rate. In order to address this problem, bio-mitigation studies have shown promise as a method of reducing the harm that wastewater-borne artificial sweeteners do to the environment. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in bio-mitigation approaches for artificial sweeteners in wastewater treatment systems. Firstly, the prevalence and persistence of artificial sweeteners in wastewater are discussed, highlighting their widespread occurrence and challenges associated with their removal during conventional wastewater treatment processes. Subsequently, various bio-mitigation strategies are examined, including microbial degradation, phytoremediation, and advanced oxidation processes. Microbial degradation, facilitated by diverse microbial communities, has shown potential for degrading artificial sweeteners into less harmful byproducts. several other techniques like Photocatalytic Degradation, Bank filtration, Granular activated carbon (GAC), advanced oxidation processes, such as ozonation and UV/H2O2 treatment, are explored for their ability to degrade artificial sweeteners into non-toxic compounds.

Acesulfame potassium upregulates PD-L1 in HCC cells by attenuating autophagic degradation

Artificial sweeteners, which contain no or few calories, have been widely used in various foods and beverages, and are regarded as safe alternatives to sugar by the Food and Drug Administration. While several studies suggest that artificial sweeteners are not related to cancer development, some research has reported their potential association with the risk of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we investigated whether acesulfame potassium (Ace K), a commonly used artificial sweetener, induces immune evasion of HCC cells by upregulating programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1). Ace K elevated the protein levels of PD-L1 in HCC cells without increasing its mRNA levels. The upregulation of PD-L1 protein levels in HCC cells by Ace K was induced by attenuated autophagic degradation of PD-L1, which was mediated by the Ace K-stimulated ERK1/2-mTORC1 signaling pathway. Ace K-induced upregulation of PD-L1 attenuated T cell-mediated death of HCC cells, thereby promoting immune evasion of HCC cells. In summary, the present study suggests that Ace K promotes HCC progression by upregulating the PD-L1 protein level.

Acesulfame and other artificial sweeteners in a wastewater treatment plant in Alberta, Canada: Occurrence, degradation, and emission

Acesulfame (ACE), sucralose (SUC), cyclamate (CYC), and saccharin (SAC) are widely used artificial sweeteners that undergo negligible metabolism in the human body, and thus ubiquitously exist in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Due to their persistence in WWTPs, ACE and SUC are found in natural waters globally. Wastewater samples were collected from the primary influent, primary effluent, secondary effluent, and final effluent of a WWTP in Alberta, Canada between August 2022 and February 2023, and the artificial sweeteners concentrations were measured by LC-MS/MS. Using wastewater-based epidemiology, the daily per capita consumption of ACE in the studied wastewater treatment plant catchment was estimated to be the highest in the world. Similar to other studies, the removal efficiency in WWTP was high for SAC and CYC, but low or even negative for SUC. However, ACE removal remained surprisingly high (>96%), even in the cold Canadian winter months. This result may indicate a further adaptation of microorganisms capable of biodegrading ACE in WWTP. The estimated per capita discharge into the environment of ACE, CYC, and SAC is low in Alberta due to the prevalent utilization of secondary treatment throughout the province, but is 17.4–18.8 times higher in Canada, since only 70.3% of total discharged wastewater in Canada undergoes secondary treatment.

Differential Alterations of Expression of the Serotoninergic System Genes and Mood-Related Behavior by Consumption of Aspartame or Potassium Acesulfame in Rats.

The use of aspartame (ASP) and potassium acesulfame (ACK) to reduce weight gain is growing; however, contradictory effects in body mass index control and neurobiological alterations resulting from artificial sweeteners consumption have been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the chronic consumption of ASP and ACK on mood-related behavior and the brain expression of serotonin genes in male Wistar rats. Mood-related behaviors were evaluated using the swim-forced test and defensive burying at two time points: 45 days (juvenile) and 95 days (adult) postweaning. Additionally, the mRNA expression of three serotoninergic genes (Slc6a4, Htr1a, and Htr2c) was measured in the brain areas (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus) involved in controlling mood-related behaviors. In terms of mood-related behaviors, rats consuming ACK exhibited anxiety-like behavior only during the juvenile stage. In contrast, rats consuming ASP showed a reduction in depressive-like behavior during the juvenile stage but an increase in the adult stage. The expression of Slc6a4 mRNA increased in the hippocampus of rats consuming artificial sweeteners during the juvenile stage. In the adult stage, there was an upregulation in the relative expression of Slc6a4 and Htr1a in the hypothalamus, while Htr2c expression decreased in the hippocampus of rats consuming ASP. Chronic consumption of ASP and ACK appears to have differential effects during neurodevelopmental stages in mood-related behavior, potentially mediated by alterations in serotoninergic gene expression.

Risk analysis of serum chemical residues for metabolic associated fatty liver disease based on exposome-lipidome wide association study

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common liver disease with a prevalence of up to 25%; it not only adversely affects human health but also aggravates the economic burden of society. An increasing number of studies have suggested that the occurrence of chronic noncommunicable diseases is affected by both environmental exposures and genetic factors. Research has also shown that environmental pollution may increase the risk of MAFLD and promote its occurrence and development. However, the relationship between these concepts, as well as the underlying exposure effects and mechanism, remains incompletely understood. Lipidomics, a branch of metabolomics that studies lipid disorders, can help researchers investigate abnormal lipid metabolites in various disease states. Lipidome-exposome wide association studies are a promising paradigm for investigating the health effects of cumulative environmental exposures on biological responses, and could provide new ideas for determining the associations between metabolic and lipid changes and disease risk caused by chemical-pollutant exposure. Hence, in this study, targeted exposomics and nontargeted lipidomics studies based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) were used to characterize exogenous chemical pollutants and endogenous lipid metabolites in the sera of patients with MAFLD and healthy subjects. The results demonstrated that fipronil sulfone, malathion dicarboxylic acid, and monocyclohexyl phthalate may be positively associated with the disease risk of patients diagnosed as simple fatty liver disease (hereafter referred to as MAFLD(0)). Moreover, fipronil sulfone, acesulfame potassium, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), 4-hydroxybenzophenone, and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (DBPOB) may be positively associated with the disease risk of patients diagnosed as fatty liver complicated by single or multiple metabolic disorders. Association analysis was carried out to explore the lipid metabolites induced by chemical residues. Triglyceride (TG) and diglyceride (DG) were significantly increased in MAFLD and MAFLD(0). The numbers of carbons of significantly changed DGs and TGs were mainly in the ranges of 32-40 and 35-60, respectively, and both were mainly characterized by changes in polyunsaturated lipids. Most of the lipid-effect markers were positively correlated with chemical residues and associated with increased disease risk. Our research provides a scientific basis for studies on the association and mechanism between serum chemical-pollutant residues and disease outcomes.

Acesulfame degradation by thermally activated persulfate: Kinetics, transformation products and estimated toxicity

The existence of the artificial sweetener acesulfame (ACE) in quantities of significance can negatively impact water quality, and its consumption has been associated with deleterious health effects. The present investigation explores the efficacy of heat-activated sodium persulfate (SPS) for eliminating ACE. The complete degradation of 0.50 mg L−1 of ACE was achieved within 45 min under a reaction temperature of 50 °C and 100 mg L−1 of SPS. The impact of thermal decomposition on ACE at a temperature of 60 °C was negligible. This study considers several factors, such as the SPS and ACE loading, the reaction temperature, the initial pH, and the water matrix of the reactor. The results indicate that the method's efficiency is positively correlated with higher initial concentrations of SPS, whereas it is inversely associated with the initial concentration of ACE. Furthermore, higher reaction temperatures and acidic initial pH levels promote the degradation of acesulfame. At the same time, certain constituents of the water matrix, such as humic acid, chlorides, and bicarbonates, can hinder the degradation process. Additionally, the data from LC-QToF-MS analysis of the samples were used to investigate transformation through suspect and non-target screening approaches. Overall, ACE's eight transformation products (TPs) were detected, and a potential ACE decomposition pathway was proposed. The concentration of TPs followed a volcano curve, decreasing in long treatment times. The ecotoxicity of ACE and its identified TPs was predicted using the ECOSAR software. The majority of TPs exhibited not harmful values.

Interfacial H2O Structure Matters: Realizing Stable Zinc Anodes with Trace Acesulfame‐K in Aqueous Electrolyte

AbstractThe stability of Zinc metal anodes (ZMAs) significantly limits the electrochemical performance and practical application of aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (ZIBs). An efficient and economical solution is the use of trace additives. However, efforts on trace additives are sparse, and essential uncertainties remain concerning their role in the stabilization of ZMAs. Herein, a low‐cost ZnSO4‐based aqueous electrolyte containing trace amounts of Acesulfame‐K (AK) (only 1.0 mg mL−1) is reported, which effectively suppresses the parasitic reactions occurring on the ZMA surface to realize a dendrite‐free Zn2+ deposition process, an ultra‐long cycle life over 1600 h and a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.86%. Accordingly, the practical Zn//NH4V4O10 full cell with AK also exhibits a high discharge capacity and capacity retention. In situ spectroscopies coupled with theoretical calculations reveal that the trace AK tends to accumulate at the ZMA/electrolyte interface to alleviate electrolyte corrosion. More importantly, the adsorbed AK can regulate the interfacial H2O structures (i.e., disrupting the interfacial H‐bonds to form more isolated H2O) to reduce the proton/hydroxides transport, thus suppressing the parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction and improving low‐temperature acclimation. This study provides design inspiration for trace additives expected to enable low‐cost and practical ZIBs with long lifespans.

Sweet taste receptors play roles in artificial sweetener-induced enhanced urine output in mice

Sweet taste receptors found in oral and extra oral tissues play important roles in the regulation of many physiological functions. Studies have shown that urine volume increases during the lifetime exposure to artificial sweeteners. However, the detailed molecular mechanism and the general effects of different artificial sweeteners exposure on urine volume remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between urinary excretion and the sweet taste receptor expression in mice after three artificial sweeteners exposure in a higher or lower concentration via animal behavioral studies, western blotting, and real-time quantitative PCR experiment in rodent model. Our results showed that high dose of acesulfame potassium and saccharin can significantly enhance the urine output and there was a positive correlation between K+ and urination volume. The acesulfame potassium administration assay of T1R3 knockout mice showed that artificial sweeteners may affect the urine output directly through the sweet taste signaling pathway. The expression of T1R3 encoding gene can be up-regulated specifically in bladder but not in kidney or other organs we tested. Through our study, the sweet taste receptors, distributing in many tissues as bladder, were indicated to function in the enhanced urine output. Different effects of long-term exposure to the three artificial sweeteners were shown and acesulfame potassium increased urine output even at a very low concentration.

Effect of confined Mn oxides on regulating capability of activated coke for persulfate-based oxidation of a sweetener acesulfame

Mn oxides are confined within the porous structure of activated coke (ACO) via impregnation followed by calcination treatment. The Mn-ACO sample calcined at 600 °C (Mn-ACO600) demonstrated superior performance despite containing only a minute atomic ratio of 0.11 % Mn on its surface. This treatment led to a slight increase in the specific surface area and pore volume of ACO, with a significant enhancement in the proportion of micropores, rising from 54.2 % in ACO to 71.8 % in Mn-ACO600. Raman spectroscopy indicated additional defects in Mn-ACO, while XPS analysis confirmed the coexistence of Mn(II), Mn(III), and Mn(IV) oxides. Although ACO adsorption alone was ineffective in removing acesulfame (ACE), Mn-ACO600 achieved a removal rate of 19.0 %. The introduction of peroxydisulfate (PDS) further boosted the degradation of Mn-ACO600, with a Kapp value that was 2.28 times of that of the combined Mn-ACO600 adsorption and PDS oxidation process, indicating a remarkable synergistic effect. To optimize the experimental conditions, a response surface methodology design analysis was conducted, revealing that solution pH and the dosage of Mn-ACO600 were crucial factors. Furthermore, the study confirmed non-radical oxidizing species, such as 1O2 and h+, played a predominant role in the process, with relatively minor contributions from radical oxidizing species.

Molecular docking study of frequently used food additives for selected targets depending on the chromosomal abnormalities they cause

Food additives (FAs) (flavor enhancers, sweeteners, etc.) protect foods during storage and transportation, making them attractive to consumers. Today, while the desire to access natural foods is increasing, the chemicals added to foods have started to be questioned. In this respect, genotoxicity tests have gained importance. Studies show that some food additives may have genotoxic risks. Previous studies carried out in our laboratory also revealed genotoxic effects of Monopotassium glutamate (MPG), Monosodium glutamate (MSG), Magnesium diglutamate (MDG) as flavor enhancers; Potassium benzoate (PB), Potassium sorbate (PS), Sodium benzoate (SB), Sodium sorbate (SS) as preservatives; Acesulfame potassium (ACE-K), Xylitol (XYL) as sweeteners. In this study, we determined the interactions of these food additives with ATM and p53 proteins, which are activated in the cell due to genotoxic effects, and with DNA by employing the molecular docking method for the first time. Among the food additives, SB (−4.307) for ATM, XYL (−4.629) for p53, and XYL (−4.927) for DNA showed the highest affinity. Therefore, flexible docking (IFD) scores were determined for SB, XYL, and MDG from flavor enhancers. The potential binding modes of the food additives to target molecules' possible inhibition mechanisms were determined by molecular docking. Thus, new information was obtained to show how these additives cause chromosomal abnormalities.