Ammonium Sulfate Research Articles

In situ purification of ammonium nitrogen wastewater in rare earth mine by native bacteria isolating from original mining area

Ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4) leaching method to extract rare earth elements (REEs) of mine has produced a large amount of NH4+-N-enriched wastewater derived from ore body, leading to many serious environmental pollution problems. This study was the first time to establish an in-situ treatment for real REEs wastewater outside and inside the ore body by an isolated indigenous microorganism. The results stated that Citrobacter sp. X-9 achieved the highest NH4+-N removal efficiency among the isolated six microbial strains. Moreover, the microbe to treat the REEs wastewater outside ore body gave the greatest NH4+-N removal efficiency under the optimized conditions in the Erlenmeyer flask (250-mL) and bioreactor (10-L). Furthermore, compared to the others’ modes, the in-situ treatment by cyclic mode with Citrobacter sp. X-9 possessed superior performance in NH4+-N removal efficiency for wastewater inside of ore body, showing that the established in-situ treatment was the potential approach for REEs wastewater purification.

Research note: Reduction of Salmonella enterica in simulated wastewater using electrochemical and photochemical processes.

Salmonella is a poultry-borne pathogen causing numerous human outbreaks in the U.S. Consequently, Salmonella, along with other pathogens, can be found in wastewater generated from poultry processing. It is essential to treat this wastewater before discharge, recycle, or reuse. Hence, this study investigated the utility of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) like electrochemical (EC) and photochemical processes (PC) to disinfect Salmonella in simulated wastewater (contaminated water). Three Salmonella serotypes: Kentucky (SK), Infantis (SI), and Typhimurium (ST) were chosen based on their ability to persist in poultry processing environments and cause infection. These serotypes, prepared in water at 6 to 7 Log10 CFU/mL were exposed to alternating current in EC with a voltage demand of 30 V, 40 V, and 50 V where ammonium sulfate was added as an electrolyte and ferrous sulfate to facilitate AOP production; and PC with curcumin, a photosensitizer at 0.40 % (1X) and 0.80 % (2X) to produce singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide that are lethal to pathogens. During the disinfection process, samples were collected every 20 min for 180 min and plated on XLD agar to assess Salmonella reduction. The data were analyzed using ANOVA in SAS. Bacterial reduction differed (P < 0.0001) between serotypes at 30 V and SK had the greatest reduction (3.13 Log10 CFU/mL), whereas there was no difference in reduction between the serotypes at 40 V (P = 0.98) where all the serotypes had more reduction than at 30 V. Complete attenuation of the serotypes was seen at 50 V (P < 0.0001), where SI reduced the most (5.96 Log10 CFU/mL) followed by ST (5.15 Log10 CFU/mL) after 140 min. SK was also attenuated (3.34 Log10 CFU/mL) after 60 min due to a lower starting concentration. This preliminary result suggests that Salmonella in poultry processing wastewater can be effectively attenuated through AOPs, offering a potential solution for enhancing poultry wastewater treatment.

Conductive polyacrylamide/pullulan/ammonium sulfate hydrogels with high toughness, low-hysteresis and tissue-like modulus as flexible strain sensors.

Conductive hydrogels have great potential for applications in flexible wearable sensors due to the combination of biocompatibility, mechanical flexibility and electrical conductivity. However, constructing conductive hydrogels with high toughness, low hysteresis and skin-like modulus simultaneously remains challenging. In the present study, we prepared a tough and conductive polyacrylamide/pullulan/ammonium sulfate hydrogel with a semi-interpenetrating network. Ammonium sulfate promoted the formation of low-energy-dissipating motifs between polymer chains, reinforcing the gel matrix and resulting in excellent mechanical properties, including a high stretchability of 2063 %, a high strength of 890 kPa, and a high toughness of 4268 kJ/m3. The hydrogen bonds formed within the network endowed the gels with low-hysteresis under deformation. The unique semi-interpenetrating network structure provided the gels with a tissue-like low modulus. Additionally, the resulting hydrogels exhibited a high conductivity of 2.39 S/m and excellent anti-freezing properties, making them suitable for flexible strain sensors. These sensors demonstrated high sensitivity over a broad strain window of 0.1-1500 %, enabling the detection of various human motions and the recognition of different languages. These findings emphasize the potential of the composite hydrogels as wearable strain sensors for flexible devices.

Efficient secretory expression, purification, and characterization of lipase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa M18, with multifunctional applications in diagnostics.

Lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) is a crucial hydrolase with broad industrial and clinical applications. In this study, the lipA and lipH genes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were cloned into the pBBR1MCS-2 vector and expressed under the regulation of the highly efficient BSFP_0720 promoter from Burkholderia stabilis FERMP-21014. This system allowed for efficient secretory expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa without requiring an inducer. The recombinant lipase exhibited both lipase and cholesteryl esterase activities, making it suitable for triglyceride and cholesterol assay kits. Additionally, gene editing was used to knock out the endogenous cholesterol oxidase gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, eliminating cross-interference in different assay kits. High-density fermentation using glucose as the carbon source resulted in lipase activity reaching 68 kU/L and cholesteryl esterase activity reaching 214 kU/L after 30h of fermentation, representing a 356-fold increase compared to natural production. By combining ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and anion exchange chromatography, a purity of 94.32% was achieved (as determined by CE-SDS). Accelerated stability tests showed that the lyophilized lipase retained over 96% residual activity after storage at 37°C for 21 days and at 45°C for 7 days, suggesting its suitability for long-term storage. The enzymatic properties of the lipase demonstrated resistance to common chemicals, high activity in buffers with pH values between 7 and 9, and short-term tolerance to high temperatures (60°C). These characteristics make the lipase highly adaptable for use in complex clinical samples and various industrial applications. The successful high-efficiency expression and multifunctional utility of this lipase highlight its significant commercial potential in diagnostics and other fields.

Azurin a potent anticancer and antimicrobial agent isolated from a novel Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain

Azurin, a bacterial blue-copper protein, has garnered significant attention as a potential anticancer drug in recent years. Among twenty Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, we identified one isolate that demonstrated potent and remarkable azurin synthesis using the VITEK 2 system and 16S rRNA sequencing. The presence of the azurin gene was confirmed in the genomic DNA using specific oligonucleotide primers, and azurin expression was also detected in the synthesized cDNA, which revealed that the azurin expression is active. Furthermore, crude azurin protein was extracted, precipitated using 70% ammonium sulfate, dialyzed, and subjected to purification using carboxymethyl-Sephadex in affinity chromatography as a cheap method for purification. The partially purified azurin protein was characterized using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Notably, qualitative elemental analysis by EDX showed the presence of copper and sulfur, corresponding to the copper-core and disulfide-bridge, respectively, in the purified azurin fraction. Moreover, FTIR spectroscopy revealed characteristic amide I and II absorption peaks (1500–1700 cm− 1), revealing the possible secondary structure of azurin. The results of NMR revealed the presence of characteristic amino acids such as methionine and cysteine, which confirmed the EDX results for sulfur-containing amino acids. Purified azurin exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Additionally, its anticancer properties were determined using the MTT assay and cell cycle analysis, revealing a preference for inhibiting the MCF7 breast cancer cell line where breast cancer is most common in Egypt. Overall, the research findings suggest that the local isolate, P. aeruginosa strain 105, could be a potential source of azurin protein for incorporation into cancer treatment strategies.

Efficient degradation of neomycin by Bacillus velezensis and Cupriavidus basilensis isolated from mangrove soil and pharmaceutical wastewater

Neomycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is widely utilized for veterinary medicine in disease prevention. Biodegradation is a key pathway for the removal of neomycin from the environment. To date, only the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor and the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoscyphus ericae have been documented to efficiently degrade neomycin. However, no bacterial species with neomycin-degrading capabilities have been reported, underscoring a significant gap in microbial research related to neomycin remediation. In this study, Cupriavidus basilensis and Bacillus velezensis were isolated from pharmaceutical wastewater and neomycin-free mangrove soil through enrichment culture and gradual acclimatization, respectively. These isolates demonstrated neomycin degradation rates of 46.4 and 37.6% in 96 h with 100 mg·L−1 neomycin as the sole carbon source. Cupriavidus basilensis achieved a degradation rate of 50.83% with ammonium sulfate supplementation, while Bacillus velezensis exhibited a superior degradation efficiency of 58.44% with soluble starch. Our findings offer valuable insights into the microbial degradation of neomycin. Two neomycin-degrading bacteria were isolated for the first time. Both species degraded neomycin as the sole carbon source or under co-metabolic conditions within 4 days. Microorganisms from neomycin-free environments adapted to neomycin stress and outperformed those from contaminated sources. This challenges the assumption that antibiotic-degrading microorganisms mainly originate from polluted environments. The findings expand the diversity of known neomycin-degrading microorganisms and demonstrate their potential for removing refractory neomycin from pharmaceutical wastewater.

A novel carbonyl reductase for the synthesis of (R)-tolvaptan

Screening carbonyl reductases with the ability to catalyze the reduction of complex carbonyl compounds is of great significance for the biosynthesis of R-tolvaptan(R-TVP). In this study, the target carbonyl reductase in the crude enzyme extract of rabbit liver was separated, purified, and identified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel-filtration chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, and protein mass spectrometry. With the rabbit liver genome as the template, the gene encoding the carbonyl reductase rlsr5 was amplified by PCR and the recombinant strain was successfully constructed. After RLSR5 was purified by affinity chromatography, its enzymatic properties were characterized. The results indicated that the gene sequence of rlsr5 was 972 bp, encoding a protein with a molecular weight of 40 kDa. RLSR5 was a dimeric protein, and each monomer was composed of a (α/β)8-barrel structure. RLSR5 could asymmetrically reduce 7-chloro-1-[2-methyl-4-[(2- methylbenzoyl)amino]benzoyl]-5-oxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepine (prochiral ketone, PK) to synthesize R-TVP. The specific activity of the enzyme was 36.64 U/mg, and the optical purity of the product was 99%. This enzyme showcased the optimal performance at pH 6.0 and 30 °C. It was independent of metal ions, with the activity enhanced by Mn2+. This study lays a foundation for the biosynthesis of tolvaptan of optical grade.

Production of Bacillus subtilis Amylases via Agroresidues and Their Application in Cassava Starch Hydrolysis

Amylases are highly important for biotechnology, represent a class of industrial enzymes and occupy the world enzyme market. The aim of this work was to isolate bacteria for the production of amylase. Freshly caught R. kanagurta fish samples were purchased from the Vizhinjam fish port, Kerala. Bacteria isolated from the intestines of R. kanagurta were cultured on a culture medium containing starch (1%) and kept in an incubator at 30 °C for 48 h. After the incubation period, the growth of bacteria on starch agar plates was analysed, and the samples that were able to grow in this medium were selected for further analyses. The α-amylase enzyme-producing bacteria, which produced a stronger halo in the primary screening stage, were selected for secondary screening and enzyme activity measurement. On the basis of these biochemical and morphological characteristics, isolate A3 was identified as Bacillus subtilis. A high amount of amylase wasproduced by the B. subtilis strain isolated from the gut sample (120 U/ml). Among the tested carbon sources, starch had the greatest influence on amylase (158 ± 2.5 U/ml) production by B. subtilis(A3), whereas a minimum amount of amylase was produced by B. subtiliswhen it utilized sucrose as a carbon source (111 ± 5.1 U/ml) (p&lt;0.01). Among the tested nitrogen sources, ammonium sulfate had the greatest influence on amylase (152 ± 2.9 U/ml) production by B. subtilis, whereas the minimum amount of amylase produced by this organismwas when it utilized casein as a nitrogen source (134 ± 13 U/ml) (p&lt;0.01). The maximum amylase yield (205 ± 1.5 U/ml) was obtained using the culture containing Mn2+ compared with all the other tested elements and the control (p&lt;0.01).

Recovery of Scandium from Bauxite Residue Using Sulfation Roasting-Assisted Water Leaching Process

ABSTRACT This study presents a method for recovering scandium from Indonesian bauxite residue (red mud) through a sulfation roasting-assisted water leaching process. Ammonium sulfate, (NH4)2SO4, was chosen as the sulfate source for its lower melting point, less corrosivity, decreased toxicity, and the potential for ammonia recovery. A modified mixing system was introduced to improve the distribution of (NH4)2SO4 on red mud particles by combining them in water. A series of experiments were conducted to optimize the sulfation roasting process by examining the effects of the (NH4)2SO4/red mud ratio, temperature, and roasting time. Subsequently, water leaching was optimized while considering the effect of leaching time and liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratio. The leaching of scandium from the roasted red mud showed rapid kinetics, even when using only water. Under the roasting conditions of 1/1 (g/g) (NH4)2SO4/red mud ratio, 700°C, 60 min roasting time, and the leaching conditions of 65°C, 60 min, and 10 mL/g (L/S), over 90% of scandium was recovered, along with 64.4% Al leaching and below 8% Fe leaching. These results were further corroborated through comprehensive analyses such as x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). This study offers insights into an alternative, more environmentally friendly method for Sc recovery from red mud, promoting the sustainable use of hazardous waste like red mud.

Microbial protein production during fermentation of starch-rich legume flours using Aspergillus oryzae and Lactobacillus plantarum starter cultures.

Starch-rich faba bean, yellow lentil, and yellow field pea flours were subjected to submerged fermentation using Aspergillus oryzae and Lactobacillus plantarum starter mono- or co-cultures, to increase protein contents of the flours. Fermentation mixes were supplemented with up to 35g/L urea, ammonium sulfate and/or monoammonium phosphate as nitrogen sources. Protein contents of the flours increased 2-2.5-fold, i.e., total protein contents of up to 33% were achieved following fermentation with A.oryzae monoculture or A.oryzae‒L.plantarum co-culture. Therefore, A.oryzae was capable of efficient legume starch utilization and protein production. Using A.oryzae‒L.plantarum co-culture led to the highest yields of at least six of microbially produced amino acids. After fermentation by L.plantarum monoculture, protein contents remained largely unchanged. However, invitro protein digestibility of flours improved to a greater extent after fermentation with L.plantarum monoculture than with either A.oryzae monoculture or the co-culture. Hence, during fermentation with L.plantarum monoculture, microbially mediated hydrolysis of legume protein (generating smaller and easier digestible peptides), rather than microbial starch utilization, was the predominant process.

(NH4)4[SO4][CB11H12]2: a new double salt with carbaborate anions crystallizing in a monoclinic variant of the anti-K2NiF4-type structure

Abstract The new double salt with the empirical formula (NH4)4[SO4][CB11H12]2 can be obtained by the reaction between an aqueous solution of the free acid of the closo-carbaborate (H3O)[CB11H12] and aqueous ammonia (NH3), when the incorporated sulfate anions are introduced by a cation exchanger due to its regeneration with sulfuric acid (H2SO4). (NH4)4[SO4][CB11H12]2 is yielded as colorless, prismatically shaped crystals with a considerable size up to 1 mm. This ammonium sulfate carbaborate crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with the lattice parameters a = 2715.32(9), b = 713.91(2), c = 1391.24(5) pm and β = 109.203(2)° with four formula units per unit cell. Due to the formation of bridging hydrogen bonds, the [SO4]2− anions and the (NH4)+ cations form ∞ 2 $\overset{2}{\infty }$ {([(N1)H4]2/2[(N2)H4]2/2[(N3)H4]2/1[SO4]2+} layers parallel to the bc plane. Between these positively charged layers, the [CB11H12]− anions are placed in fashion of the anti-K2NiF4-type structure, where K+ is replaced with [CB11H12]− and [SO4]2−-centered [(NH4)+]6 octahedra, which share four coplanar corners, arrange to the above-mentioned layers. In the Raman spectra of (NH4)4[SO4][CB11H12]2, the dominating bands correspond to the well-known vibration modes of the closo-carbaborate cage. The bands resulting from the (NH4)+ and [SO4]2− ions are visible, but significantly less intense as compared to the vibrations of [CB11H12]−, which can be explained by the formation of hydrogen bonds.

The Impact of Viral Concentration Method on Quantification and Long Amplicon Nanopore Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and Noroviruses in Wastewater

Wastewater-based surveillance has gained attention in the four years following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accurate pathogen detection, quantification and characterisation rely on the selection of appropriate methodologies. Here, we explore the impact of viral concentration method on RT-qPCR inhibition and quantification of norovirus genogroups I and II (GI and GII), crAssphage, phi6 and SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, their impact on long amplicon sequencing for typing noroviruses and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) SARS-CoV-2 was explored. RT-qPCR inhibition for each viral concentration method was significantly different apart from the two ultrafiltration methods, InnovaPrep® concentrating pipette (IP) and Vivaspin® (VS) centrifugal concentrators. Using an ultrafiltration method reduced inhibition by 62.0% to 96.0% compared to the ammonium sulphate (AS) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation-based methods. Viral quantification was significantly impacted by concentration method with the highest concentrations (copies/L) observed for VS with 7.2- to 83.2-fold differences from AS depending on the target. Norovirus long amplicon sequencing showed genotype-dependent differences with IP performing best for GI and VS for GII although IP performance gains for GI were relatively small. VS outperformed AS and IP across all metrics during SARS-CoV-2 WGS. Overall, VS performed the best when considering all the areas of investigation.

Analysis of the sensitization activity of Moringa oleifera leaves protein

The determination of allergenic proteins in Moringa oleifera leaves, which is the main components of immune activity, has enabled the development of a more effective method for evaluating the activity of extracted Moringa oleifera leaves protein. In this study, the extraction process of Moringa oleifera leaves protein was optimized based on a single factor experiment. The hemagglutination-related properties of Moringa oleifera leaves protein, such as (thermal, acid–base) stability, sugar binding specificity, ion binding characteristics, and hemolytic activity, were detected. The optimal combination of extraction process was: extraction time of 6 h, material-liquid ratio of 1:8, and ammonium sulfate saturation of 60%. The extraction rate of moringa leaf protein under this condition was 14.37 mg/g. The molecular weight of moringa leaf protein was analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and the molecular weight was mainly concentrated around 23 kDa~70 kDa, with the highest content of 35 kDa (major allergen). The study of the hemagglutination characteristics of Moringa oleifera leaves protein revealed that the protein exhibited high stability at temperatures below 60°C, with complete loss of activity occurring at temperatures above 110°C for 20 min. The effect of different pH conditions on the hemagglutination capacity of Moringa oleifera leaves protein was readily discernible. The hemagglutination activity of Moringa oleifera leaves protein was 104 in a pH value from 3.7 to 7.8, and the hemagglutination activity was completely lost at a pH value higher than 11.9. D(+) anhydrous glucose is the specific inhibitory sugar of Moringa oleifera leaves protein lectin. Moringa oleifera leaves protein exhibits hemolytic activity at a concentration of at least 20 mg/mL, and α-methyl-mannoside, galactoside, raffinose and Al3+ can inhibit the hemolysis of Moringa oleifera leaves protein. The present study identified the effects of different factors on the coagulation activity and hemolytic ability of Moringa oleifera leaves protein, thereby providing a theoretical basis for further purification and application of Moringa oleifera lectin. However, it should be noted that the results of the mixture have certain limitations, and further purification of lectin is needed to obtain more targeted research results.

Differential Cytotoxicity and Inflammatory Responses to Particulate Matter Components in Airway Structural Cells.

Particulate matter (PM) is a major component of ambient air pollution. PM exposure is linked to numerous adverse health effects, including chronic lung diseases. Air quality guidelines designed to regulate levels of ambient PM are currently based on the mass concentration of different particle sizes, independent of their origin and chemical composition. The objective of this study was to assess the relative hazardous effects of carbonaceous particles (soot), ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and copper oxide (CuO), which are standard components of ambient air, reflecting contributions from primary combustion, secondary inorganic constituents, and non-exhaust emissions (NEE) from vehicular traffic. Human epithelial cells representing bronchial (BEAS-2B) and alveolar locations (H441 and A549) in the airways, human lung fibroblasts (HFL-1), and rat precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) were exposed in submerged cultures to different concentrations of particles for 5-72 h. Following exposure, cell viability, metabolic activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and inflammatory responses were analyzed. CuO and, to a lesser extent, soot reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, increased ROS formation, and induced inflammatory responses. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate did not elicit any significant cytotoxic responses but induced immunomodulatory alterations at very high concentrations. Our findings demonstrate that secondary inorganic components of PM have a lower hazard cytotoxicity compared with combustion-derived and indicative NEE components, and alveolar epithelial cells are more sensitive to PM exposure. This information should help to inform which sources of PM to target and feed into improved, targeted air quality guidelines.

Optimized extraction and kinetic study of cholesterol oxidase from a newly isolated Escherichia fergusonii strain from local whey samples: insights through a combined experimental study and artificial neural network modeling

BackgroundMicrobial cholesterol oxidase (ChoX) has wide clinical and industrial applications; therefore, many efforts are being made to identify promising sources. This study aimed to isolate a novel ChoX-producing bacterial strain from whey samples.ResultsThe most efficient strain was selected based on extracellular ChoX-producing ability and characterized as Escherichia fergusonii (E. fergusonii) through molecular and biochemical analysis. The maximum production of ChoX was obtained at the optimum condition of 48 h of incubation under shaking conditions (130 rpm) at 35 °C in a basal medium adjusted to pH 6.5, including 1.4 g/L cholesterol as a sole carbon. The crude product was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and followed by ion exchange chromatography utilizing Q-Sepharose, resulting in 5.35-fold and 13.86-fold purification, respectively, with a final specific activity of 15.8 U/mg. Additionally, molecular weight was determined by SDS-PAGE to be 49.0 kDa. The optimum conditions required for the higher cholesterol decomposition ability of purified ChoX were suggested to be 30 °C and pH 7.5 in the presence of MgSo4 with a Km value of 0.71 mM. However, other case studies of metal ions showed an unfavorable effect on enzymatic performance. The enzyme retained almost 72.0% of its initial activity after 80 days of storage at 4 °C. Furthermore, the ChoX enzyme revealed acceptable stability at a pH value of 6.5 to 8.5, maintaining its initial activity of more than 50.0%. Finally, an artificial neural network (ANN) was designed to predict the most effective factor in the fermentation process for enzyme production and the purified ChoX activity.ConclusionsConsidering the properties of the extracted enzyme from E. fergusonii, it would be regarded as a potential ChoX source for commercial applications.

Effect of impurity cations on the growth behavior of calcium sulfate hemihydrate whiskers

This study explores the effects of impurity cations (Mg²+, La³+, Ce³+, and La-Ce systems) in industrial ammonium sulfate wastewater on the morphology and growth mechanism of hemihydrate calcium sulfate whiskers (HH-CSW). HH-CSW was synthesized via the hydrothermal method using analytical-grade reagents and characterized by XRD and SEM. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that low concentrations of Mg²+ (5–10 g/L) and La³+/Ce³+ (0.02–0.03 g/L) promote whisker growth with high aspect ratios, while high concentrations inhibit it. Interaction energy rankings indicated preferential growth along the c-axis, yielding needle-like structures. These findings emphasize the importance of controlling cation concentrations to optimize whisker morphology.

Enhanced efficiency fertilizers, potato production, and nitrate leaching in the Wisconsin Central Sands.

Maintaining yield goals while reducing nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) leaching to groundwater is a challenge for potato (Solanum tuberosum) production in the Wisconsin Central Sands as well as across the United States. The objectives of this study were to quantify the effect of conventional and enhanced efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilizers on NO3-N leaching, crop yield, and N uptake in potatoes. We compared five N treatments, which include a 0 N control and 280kg ha-1 as ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate (AS/AN), polymer-coated urea (PCU), urea with a urease inhibitor (Urea+UI), or urea with a UI and a nitrification inhibitor (Urea+UI+NI). The study occurred on grower fields during the 2009, 2010, and 2011 growing seasons, and NO3-N leaching was measured with equilibrium tension lysimeters. PCU resulted in a reduction in NO3-N leaching and an increase in yield compared to AS/AN in a year with large early-season rainfall; Urea+UI also reduced NO3-N leaching in this year. In 2010, large plot-to-plot variation and 250kg ha-1 of additional N applied by the grower masked our ability to see differences among fertilized treatments. In 2011, a year with less intense rainfall events, no differences among treatments were observed. Collectively, these results show a potential benefit to PCU, but these benefits are only realized under specific seasonal weather conditions. Overall, the percentage of applied N lost to leaching during the growing season and removed in biomass was relatively low, suggesting substantial amounts of NO3-N leaching outside of the growing season.

Effects of Different Nitrogenous Fertilizers and Potassium Doses on Yield, Yield Components, and Fruit Quality of Tomato Grown in Alkaline and Acidic Soils

Different nitrogen fertilizers and potassium applications have an important impact on the yield and yield components and fruit-quality parameters of tomatoes in both alkaline and acidic reaction soils. This study investigated the effects of different nitrogenous fertilizers and potassium doses on the yield, yield components, and fruit quality of tomatoes grown on alkaline and acidic soils. The experiment was carried out in the research greenhouse of the Agriculture Faculty, at Selcuk University. It was performed by using two different soil types, three nitrogen fertilizers [ammonium sulfate (AS), ammonium sulfate with inhibitor (AS+inh.), and calcium nitrate (CaNit)], and three different concentrations of potassium sulfate (0, 240, and 480 mg K2O kg-1). We conducted the study by using a randomized experimental plot design with four replications. According to the research results, the highest fruit yield in alkaline soil was 'inh. AS and 480 mg K2O kg-1', while the highest fruit yield in acid soils was obtained with 'calcium nitrate and 240 mg K2O kg-1'. Furthermore, different nitrogen sources and potassium doses significantly affected tomato yield components such as stem diameter, plant height, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit hardness, fruit pH, and Brix values. According to the results of the completed soil analysis, the applications demonstrated the importance of accurate and balanced fertilization for high-yield and quality tomato production in different soils. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate nitrogen fertilizers and potassium doses to increase tomato yield and yield components in alkaline and acidic soils. It provides valuable insights for tomato farmers and researchers seeking to improve tomato cultivation techniques in different soil conditions.

Optimizing Pyroxasulfone-Coated Fertilizer in Cotton

Abstract Two studies were conducted in 2022 and 2023 near Rocky Mount and Clayton, NC, to determine the optimal granular ammonium sulfate (AMS) rate and application timing for pyroxasulfone-coated AMS. In the rate study, AMS rates included 161, 214, 267, 321, 374, 428, and 481 kg ha-1, equivalent to 34, 45, 56, 67, 79, 90, and 101 kg N ha-1, respectively. All rates were coated with pyroxasulfone at 118 g ai ha-1 and top-dressed onto 5- to 7-leaf cotton. In the timing study, pyroxasulfone (118 g ai ha-1) was coated on AMS and top-dressed at 321 kg ha-1 (67 kg N ha-1) onto 5- to 7-leaf, 9- to 11-leaf, and first bloom cotton. In both studies, weed control and cotton tolerance to pyroxasulfone-coated AMS was compared to pyroxasulfone applied postemergence (POST) and postemergence-directed (POST-directed). The check in both studies received non-herbicide-treated AMS (321 kg ha-1). Before treatment applications, all plots (including the check) were maintained weed-free with glyphosate and glufosinate. In both studies, pyroxasulfone applied POST was most injurious (8 to 16%), while pyroxasulfone-coated AMS resulted in ≤ 4% injury. Additionally, no differences in cotton lint yield were observed in both studies. With the exception of the lowest rate of AMS (161 kg ha-1; 79%), all AMS rates coated with pyroxasulfone controlled Palmer amaranth ≥ 83%, comparable to pyroxasulfone applied POST (92%) and POST-directed (89%). In the timing study, the application method did not affect Palmer amaranth control; however, applications made at the mid- and late timings outperformed early applications. These results indicate pyroxasulfone-coated AMS can control Palmer amaranth comparable to pyroxasulfone applied POST and POST-directed, with minimal risk of cotton injury. However, the application timing could warrant additional treatment to achieve adequate late-season weed control.

A comparison between different chemical fractionation methods for immunoglobulin preparation

ABSTRACT Background Application of antibodies in therapeutics and diagnostics are growing Continually. Herein, we aimed to find the most qualified immunoglobulin (Ig) chemical preparation method. Methods A rabbit was immunized against recombinant SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (NP) and reactive polyclonal antibodies were prepared using the ammonium sulfate (AS), caprylic acid (CA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and caprylic acid/ammonium sulfate (CA/AS) methods. Different antibody solutions were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and subsequently quantified by ImageJ software for further analysis in terms of Ig purity, Ig recovery, and albumin impurity. Ultimately, the prepared antibodies were assessed via Western blotting and ELISA to evaluate their ability to bind NP. Results Prepared Ig solutions via the CA/AS method had the highest Ig purity (followed by CA, PEG, and AS) and lowest albumin impurity (followed by CA, AS, and PEG). The PEG method had the highest recovery followed by AS, CA, and CA/AS methods. Moreover, antibodies prepared via different methods demonstrated comparable binding capacities to NP in ELISA and Western blotting. Conclusions CA/AS, closely followed by CA, proved to be the most qualified method for the preparation of Ig yielding the highest Ig purity while the PEG method resulted in the highest Ig recovery rate.