Hydrochloric Research Articles

From Field to Pharmacy: Isolation, Characterization and Tableting Behaviour of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Wheat and Corn Harvest Residues.

A lack of strategies for the utilization of harvest residues (HRs) has led to serious environmental problems due to an accumulation of these residues or their burning in the field. In this study, wheat and corn HRs were used as feedstock for the production of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) by treatment with 2-8% sodium hydroxide, 10% hydrogen peroxide and further hydrolysis with 1-2 M hydrochloric acid. The changes in the FT-IR spectra and PXRD diffractograms after chemical treatment confirmed the removal of most of the lignin, hemicellulose and amorphous fraction of cellulose. A higher degree of crystallinity was observed for MCC obtained from corn HRs, which was attributed to a more efficient removal of lignin and hemicellulose by a higher sodium hydroxide concentration, which facilitates the dissolution of amorphous cellulose during acid hydrolysis. MCC obtained from HRs exhibited lower bulk density and poorer flow properties but similar or better tableting properties compared to commercial MCC (CeolusTM PH101). The lower ejection and detachment stress suggests that MCC isolated from HRs requires less lubricant compared to commercial MCC. This study showed that MCC isolated from wheat and corn HRs exhibits comparable tableting behaviour like commercial sample, further supporting this type of agricultural waste utilization.

Influence of inherent mineral matrix on the geochemical reactions and pore structure evolution from shale oxidative dissolution

Oxidant stimulation presents a promising avenue for enhancing fluid mobility in shale reservoirs with ultra-low permeability and porosity. However, the effect of diverse minerals, major components of shale, on geochemical reactions and associated microstructures still warrants further exploration. In this study, we employed acid demineralization followed by oxidant stimulation to explore the impact of carbonate and silicate minerals on shale oxidative dissolution, considering both geochemical reactions and pore structures. Combined with artificial neural network (ANN) modeling, the dominance of shale composition on pore structures variation was further elucidated. Results demonstrated effective removal of carbonate and silicates minerals following treatment with HCl and HF acids. Interestingly, while silicate minerals exhibited greater mass loss in response to all oxidant stimulations, carbonate minerals only contributed to mass loss induced by Na2S2O8. Integration of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, water chemistry and total organic content analysis revealed mineral- and oxidant-dependent geochemical reactions within the stimulation process. These included preferential dissolution of K-feldspar, dedolomitization accompanied by different precipitates, and transformation from quartz to albite, among other conventional reactions. The alteration in mineral and organic matter composition also induced variation in shale nanopores structures, resulting in increased specific surface area, nanopore volume, and average pore diameter induced by acid treatment, while the effects of oxidants varied. To better understand the relationship between shale composition and micropore structure, an ANN model was established to quantify this underlying connection, emphasizing the significant role of carbonate, chlorite, pyrite, and organic matter in shale oxidative dissolution. Our study provides further evidence for the influence of minerals on shale oxidative dissolution, offering insights for the engineering application of oxidant stimulation in shale gas extraction.

The Effective Separation of Gallium, Vanadium, and Aluminum from a Simulated Bayer Solution by Resin Exchange.

The effective recovery of gallium from wastewater discharge in the Bayer process is promising for the long-term development of gallium resources. The adsorption and desorption behavior of gallium (Ga), vanadium (V), and aluminum (Al) ions on a strong acidic styrene cation exchange resin (JK resin) from a simulated Bayer solution was systematically investigated by static experiments. The results showed that the optimum conditions for separating Ga from V and Al were at low temperatures and short contact times, with 78.30%, 15.16%, and 6.63% of the adsorption efficiency at 25 °C and 60 min, respectively, for Ga, V, and Al. The adsorption kinetics of Ga3+ conformed to the pseudo-second order model, and the static saturation adsorption capacity was 18.25 mg/g. The Langmuir model fitted the adsorption isotherm of gallium well, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 1.11 mg/g at 25 °C. FT-IR spectroscopy and XPS showed that the mechanism of the Ga3+ adsorption was only related to the interaction of the oxygen atoms of the amide oxime group (C=NOH). The separation of Ga, V, and Al can be achieved by desorbing 98% of Al with low concentrations of ammonia and 90% of Ga with low concentrations of hydrochloric acid. The results indicate that JK resin is an efficient adsorbent for separating gallium and vanadium in alkaline solutions.

Enhancing recovery of gold(III) from hydrochloric acid solutions using gemini surfactant microemulsions: The effect of spacer group

The recovery of precious metals from waste has garnered significant attention owing to their non-renewable nature and essential role in the burgeoning information industry. However, enhancing the extraction efficiency of microemulsions remains a significant challenge. In this study, three water-in-oil microemulsions were formulated using gemini surfactants with different spacers (14-OH-14, 14-SO4-14, and 14-3-14) as emulsifiers, supplemented with n-butanol as a cosurfactant, n-heptane as the oil phase, and NaCl aqueous solution as the internal aqueous phase. These microemulsions were employed for the extraction of gold(III) from hydrochloric acid solutions. The results illustrate that all three microemulsions effectively extracted gold(III) through a spontaneous, exothermic, enthalpy-driven anion-exchange mechanism, achieving notable extraction efficiency. In contrast to 14-3-14, incorporating –OH into the spacer significantly augments the positive electrostatic potential through the cationization of –OH in an HCl solution, resulting in a higher binding constant (2.43) and thereby improving the extraction efficiency. However, the presence of −SO4 diminishes the positive electrostatic potential through partial neutralization, resulting in a lower binding constant (1.17), which is detrimental to the extraction process. Response surface optimization revealed that concentrations of C(14-OH-14) and V(1-butanol) significantly influence extraction efficiency and exhibit pronounced interaction. At optimal conditions (C(14-OH-14) = 0.09 mol·L−1, V(1-butanol) = 47.41 %, R=20, and C(NaCl) = 1.57 mol·L−1), over 95.54 % of gold(III) can be extracted from actual e-waste solutions. This study offers an alternative approach for designing or selecting surfactants in microemulsion-based extraction of gold(III) from e-waste.

Effect of Cr on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of nickel-based alloys in hydrochloric acid

Nickel-base alloy is a type of metal material with excellent properties and is widely used in many fields. However, in the harsh environment of the acid solution, corrosion causes the reduction of the service life of the alloys, thereby limiting the alloys' use and development. In this paper, the effect of Chromium (Cr) content on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of nickel-based alloys in hydrochloric acid (HCl) was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and electrochemical workstation. Meanwhile, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the composition and properties of the surface passive films. For the Cr20 and Cr30 alloys with a single face-centered cubic (FCC) structure, the Cr2O3 content in the passive films increased with the Cr content, effectively improving the corrosion resistance. As the Cr content continued to increase, the second phases having a body-centered cubic (BCC) lattice were precipitated both in the Cr40 and Cr50 samples, inducing microgalvanic corrosion, thus deteriorating the corrosion resistance. XPS results showed that, in the Cr30 alloy, the relative content of Cr2O3 and the bound water were the highest, indicating that its passive film had the best corrosion resistance. For the passive film, the pitting resistance was related to Cr content, appropriate Cr content improved the corrosion resistance.

Green solutions for desalinated water drip irrigation systems: Organic acids outperform inorganic acids in fouling control

Desalinated saline water (DSW) has been widely applied in many fields due to global water scarcity. However, fouling formation in desalinated saline water distribution systems (DSWDS) raises serious technical concerns. The conventional approaches (e.g., inorganic acids) for DSWDS fouling control is not only ineffective sometimes but also lead to serious environmental and health risks. Accordingly, this study introduces a greener method utilizing organic acids for antifouling in DSWDS. The performances and influences of three types of inorganic acids (hydrochloric acid (HCl), phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and hydrofluoric acid (HF)) and three types of organic acids (citric acid (C6H8O7), formic acid (CH2O2) and oxalic acid (H2C2O4)) on DSWDS fouling control were investigated and compared. The obtained results indicated that in general, organic acids exhibited higher antifouling capacities than inorganic acids. Among the selected six acids, CH2O2 was the most effective, followed by H2C2O4, H3PO4, C6H8O7, HCl, and HF. In comparison with the most commonly used inorganic HCl, the fouling dry weights in the samples treated with C6H8O7, CH2O2, and H2C2O4 reduced by an average of 8.9 %, 45.3 %, and 33.2 %, respectively. Despite the higher acidity of inorganic acid solutions compared to organic acids, the latter exhibited a stronger chelating capacity for cations (e.g., Ca2+, Mg2+) in DSW, showing a lower tendency to form precipitation in their treated groups. Moreover, organic acids could increase the crystal cell volume and change the chemical bond length of chemical precipitation, resulting in lattice distortions. Furthermore, organic acids can slow down the flocculation and settling of suspended particulate matter, thereby alleviating the formation of particulate fouling. Overall, these findings suggest that the application of organic acids is a more effective and environmental-friendly approach for fouling control compared to inorganic acids, which provides qualitative and quantitative insights into developing greener antifouling protocol for DSW delivery in actual field practices.

Impact of anti-corrosion coatings and maintenance on high-strength bolt friction connections in C4 marine environment

High-strength bolt friction connections (HSBFCs) in steel constructions often employ exterior anti-corrosion coatings, and some connections in steel bridges extend these coatings to their friction surfaces. However, previous studies on HSBFCs have overlooked the influence of external anti-corrosion coatings and coatings on friction surfaces. This research investigates the impact of internal and external anti-corrosion coatings on shear performance through experimental testing. Shear tests were conducted on 43 connections under 17 different conditions, varying the presence of anti-corrosion coatings on friction surfaces and external coatings, including conditions of construction and maintenance. Calibration tests revealed varying anti-slip coefficients: sandblasted surfaces measured 0.44, below specification; epoxy zinc-rich primer coatings measured 0.27; and alcohol-soluble inorganic anti-rust primers measured 0.50, both meeting or exceeding specifications. Simulated C4 atmospheric corrosion environments and dry-wet alternating copper accelerated acetic acid salt spray tests were performed. Results indicate predictable indoor corrosion acceleration and significant shear capacity degradation (4.9 % to 19 %) despite external coating use. Coatings on friction surfaces delayed degradation, while external anti-corrosion coating effectiveness declined post-construction and maintenance. Analysis shows shear capacity degradation in unprotected connections was 1.5 to 1.8 times higher than protected counterparts, attributed to reduced anti-slip coefficients and bolt pre-tension loss.

Gold recovery from chloride leach solution of TCCA using D301 anion exchange resin and elution with thiourea

Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), which is used for gold leaching, is an alternative to cyanidation due to its lower toxicity and higher efficiency. This study investigated the gold recovery procedures from highly effective chloride leaching solution using the D301 resin. This approach prevented the inhibition of gold adsorption when using activated carbon. Herein, the optimal conditions for gold adsorption were discussed, including establishing adsorption kinetics and isotherms, and calculating adsorption activation energy. Additionally, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), and XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) techniques were used to reveal the mechanism of gold adsorption using D301 resin. Under optimal conditions (pH 4.0, temperature 25 °C, time 120 min), an average adsorption percentage of 99.2% was achieved. Analysis of the adsorption data confirmed that gold adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The calculated activation energy was 9.69 kJ mol−1, indicating a predominance of physical adsorption involving ion exchange reactions with protonated tertiary amine groups in the D301 resin beads. Furthermore, among various eluents tested in desorption experiments, a solution containing a mixture of thiourea and hydrochloric acid with 0.4 mol L−1 and 0.8 mol L−1, respectively, demonstrated superior efficiency, achieving a successful desorption percentage reaching 95.7 ± 0.3% within 80 min. After three cycles of resin regeneration, the regeneration efficiency reached 91.2% while maintaining an average adsorption percentage of 95.3%.

Dietary Intervention of Benzoic Acid for Intestinal Health and Growth of Nursery Pigs.

The objectives of this review are to investigate how benzoic acid can mitigate the negative effects of weaning stress, improve the intestinal microbiota, intestinal health, and growth of nursery pigs, determine the optimal dose level of benzoic acid for the growth rate in nursery pigs, and compare the efficacy of benzoic acid and other acids in pig feeds. After weaning, pigs are exposed to less lactose and solid feed with high acid-binding capacity at infrequent intervals, causing an increase in digesta pH, reducing protein digestion, and increasing ammonia-producing bacteria in the stomach. Benzoic acid supplementation has improved the intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs through its antimicrobial properties and pH reduction in the digesta. The positive modulation of luminal microbiota in the small intestine of pigs by benzoic acid improves intestinal morphology and enhances nutrient utilization, especially nitrogen, of nursery pigs. Benzoic acid supplementation of up to 1% in feeds also increases hippuric acid contents in the urine of nursery pigs, decreasing urinary pH, which is related to ammonia emission and barn conditions in intensive pig production. Supported by the beneficial impacts of benzoic acid, the growth performance of nursery pigs was also improved. However, excessive benzoic acid (over 2.5% up to 5%) in feeds reduces the growth performance of nursery pigs. Thus, this review conducted a meta-analysis of the results from 16 papers to determine the optimal dose level of benzoic acid for body weight gain of nursery pigs, which was found to be 0.60%. The efficacy of benzoic acid was similar to that of other organic acids, including citric acid, fumaric acid, formic acid, and formate salts. Collectively, benzoic acid supplementation can positively modulate the luminal and mucosal microbiota in the small intestine, increase nutrient utilization and intestinal health, decrease urinary pH, and improve the growth performance of nursery pigs.

A novel water-in-deep eutectic solvent microemulsions for chemical polishing of single crystal KDP

Microemulsion (ME) has been investigated as a chemical polishing (CP) fluid for effective polishing of single crystal potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), perfectly avoiding the generation of mechanical stress. In this work, a water-in-deep eutectic solvent ME was proposed as the polishing fluid for CP of single crystal KDP. Deep eutectic solvent (DES) is formulated using n-octanol as hydrogen bond donor and methyltrioctylammonium chloride (MTOAC) as hydrogen bond acceptor, with a mass ratio of 2:1. The ME was prepared by mixing DES as the oil phase (12.5 %, wt.), a hydrochloric acid solution as the water phase (12.5 %, wt.), and isopropanol as the cosolvent (75 %, wt.), without adding any other surfactants. The properties of the ME were characterized by conductivity measurements and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. The reactivity of ME with KDP was measured by the conductivity method, and it was higher at low pH values. A hydrochloric acid solution with a pH of 3 was selected as aqueous phase, considering its effects on particle size, salt loading, and static etching rate. The water content affects the polarity of ME and the final water content was determined to be 12.5 % to ensure high polarity of ME. The surface quality of the KDP crystals before and after polishing was examined using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) analysis. The average roughness of the KDP crystal surface was decreased from 1.96 nm to 1.43 nm, and the root-mean-square (RMS) roughness was reduced from 2.81 nm to 1.86 nm, demonstrating a significant polishing effect. Finally, the polishing mechanism was elucidated in terms of the irreversible chemical reaction between the active components in the microemulsion and the KDP crystals.

Fluorescent EEM-PARAFAC considerations of Aldrich humic acid salt as an aquatic or terrestrial organic matter surrogate

The fluorescence of “long dead” terrestrially sourced organic carbon (Aldrich humic acid salt) was compared to “recently dead or excreted” aquatically sourced organic carbon (ornamental pond). This research eliminated the “living” (biologically active) category of organic carbon (by azide treatment and filtration) which prevented organic matter continuing to metabolize due to microbial activity during storage and analysis. The focus in this context is on the diagenetic (fulvic and humic) substances, which are considered the most recalcitrant organic carbon forms in water treatment. The purposes of this research were to investigate (a) what excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy and PARAllel FACtor (PARAFAC) analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) modeling reveals about the limitations to the use of terrestrially derived Aldrich Humic Acid as an aquatic organic matter surrogate, (b) potential flaws observed in EEM spectra and incorrect PARAFAC component assignments gathered in contemporaneous studies, and (c) how EEM-PARAFAC modeling can be used to illustrate the continuum in organic matter aging or maturity. Additionally, to expand the analysis, data were compared to previously published PARAFAC models derived from other freshwater sources. An important result of this research was discovery of a PARAFAC component peak observed at the emission (EM) wavelength at 540 nm in Aldrich Humic Acid which has been rarely noted in the literature, and not previously recognized for its potential importance. This research implies that Aldrich humic acid should only be used as an aquatic surrogate with caution, and that it can be a surrogate for terrestrial soil or ore samples.

Biobased, degradable and directional porous carboxymethyl chitosan/lignosulfonate sodium aerogel-based piezoresistive pressure sensor with dual-conductive network for human motion detection

The rapid growth of wearable electronics, healthcare monitoring, and human–computer interaction has sparked growing interest in flexible piezoresistive pressure sensors, which in turn raised considerable concerns about the increasingly serious environmental pollution caused by electronic waste. Herein, a radial inward directional freezing-drying method was proposed to prepare biobased, degradable and directional porous carboxymethyl chitosan/lignosulfonate sodium aerogel with dual-conductive network constructed by carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (C-CNTs) and MXene for piezoresistive pressure sensor. Owing to the synergistic conductive network of C-CNTs and MXene as well as directional porous structure, the sensor exhibited high sensitivity (2.33 kPa−1 in 0–10 kPa, 1.04 kPa−1 in 10–31 kPa, 0.53 kPa−1 in 31–53 kPa), fast response (response/recovery time of 140/60 ms), and excellent repeatability (2,000 loading–unloading cycles). Moreover, the sensor was successfully applied for human motion detection, healthy monitoring, micro-expression identification, and speech recognition. In addition, the aerogel for sensor was able to be completely degraded within 70 h in 1 M hydrochloric acid solution or partially degraded in boiling water within 2.5 h for the recycling of conductive materials, which was beneficial for not only environment protection but also saving resource. Our findings conceivably stand out as a new strategy to prepare environmentally friendly and high-performance piezoresistive pressure sensor and will promote the further development and application of flexible electronics.

Sustainable route for silica preparation from silica fume

ABSTRACT Silica fume (SF) is a major voluminous and bulky by-product of the ferrosilicon industry, and its disposal poses a significant environmental concern. To address this issue, a sustainable approach was employed to transform SF into silica powder using a precipitation method. The process involved calcination, acid precipitation, aging, and drying, utilising industrial by-products such as silica fume and calcium oxide. Various parameters, including hydrochloric acid concentration, water bath temperature, aging pH, aging temperature, and aging time, were systematically investigated to optimise the properties of the resulting silica product. The physical and chemical attributes of the processed silica were thoroughly examined using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), laser particle size analysis, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) absorption tests. Under optimal conditions (hydrochloric acid concentration of 20%, water bath temperature of 90℃, aging pH 3-4, aging temperature of 90℃, and aging time of 8 hours), the resulting silica product achieved a purity of 98.5866%, a DBP absorption value of 2.85 mL/g, and a particle size of 6.07 µm, meeting national industry standards. This environmentally benign and cost-efficient synthesis route offers a practical solution for large-scale production.

Comprehensive assessment of Zingiber sianginensis: Phytometabolomic analysis and its impact on oxidative stress biomarkers

In India, ginger is highly valued for cultural and medicinal purposes. Besides traditional uses, ginger has been proven for its efficacy in cancer, chemotherapy-induced nausea, bacterial infections, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. This study focuses on Zingiber sianginensis, a rare ginger species in the Siang region of Arunachal Pradesh, India. This study studied pharmacognostical evaluation, phytometabolomics analysis, and its effect on oxidative stress biomarkers. Microscopic and chemical tests were employed for pharmacognostical evaluation, revealing distinctive characteristics of Zingiber sianginensis, such as non-close collateral vascular bundles and unique cork layers. Chemical tests, including the phloroglucinol and hydrochloric acid test, differentiated Zingiber sianginensis from Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Phytometabolomics analysis, using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionisation-Quadrupole Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) techniques, identified a diverse range of metabolites in Zingiber sianginensis, including polyphenols, monoterpenoids, diterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and organic compounds. The LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis revealed 158 compounds, verified through cross-referencing with established databases. Heavy metal analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) confirmed that Zingiber sianginensis complies with safety standards, showing concentrations of heavy metals within acceptable limits. The isolation and characterization of compounds from Zingiber sianginensis identified natural products such as (R)-(-)- alpha-Curcumene (1), 1-Dehydro-[10]-gingerdione (2), 6-Shogaol (3), and 6-Gingerol (4). Quantification of 6-gingerol revealed that Zingiber sianginensis contains approximately twice the amount compared to Zingiber officinale Roscoe's, suggesting its potential as a source for higher 6-gingerol content. The hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiber sianginensis exhibited antioxidant properties, reducing oxidative stress biomarkers in human dermal fibroblast cells treated with rotenone. Allantoin and 3-bromotyrosine levels significantly decreased, indicating the extract's potential in combating oxidative stress-related disorders. Overall, this comprehensive study provides valuable insights into the pharmacognostical, phytometabolomic, and safety aspects of Zingiber sianginensis, highlighting its potential as a source of bioactive compounds with health benefits.

Study of a nano-coated hydrophilic polymer for indirect evaporative cooler from wetting, thermal and corrosion resistance performance

Hydrophilicity and evaporation rate of the wet channels play crucial effects on the cooling performance of an indirect evaporative cooler (IEC). Thus, great efforts are made to develop high-performance wet surface materials for IECs. However, current studies of hydrophilic coatings focus on the moisture diffusion ability of the material itself or the overall thermal performance of an IEC, with less in-depth research on the internal local thermal and quantitative wetting performance under various operating conditions. In this study, a TiO2/SiO2 nano-coating is applied to polypropylene (PP) by three treatment methods to develop a hydrophilic durable and corrosion-resistant PP for IEC application. Firstly, the hydrophilic durability of various samples was tested for 30 days. Secondly, test rigs were built for wetting and thermal performance investigation. The wetting performance was studied by both the drop-impact interaction test and the falling film experiment. The flow pattern, water film thickness, and wettability ratio were investigated under varying water flow rates, air velocity, and water distribution strategies (continuous spray, intermittent spray). The thermal performance including the internal wall temperature and supply air temperature of non-coated and coated IEC were comparatively tested. Finally, the corrosion resistance ability of samples was tested by acid salt spray. The results show that primer-aided TiO2/SiO2 coating on PP can provide durable hydrophilicity and corrosion resistance. Gaining better water retention ability, the thermal performance of nano-coated IEC can be enhanced under intermittent spray with 1.1 °C lower plate temperature and wet-bulb efficiency improved from 74.4 % to 81.4 % compared to the non-coated one.

Green fabrication and efficiency of activated biochar-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites against toxic Pink-XFG dye

Removal of dyes has been a matter of great interest for researchers because of health and toxicity issues. In this research work, green biochar was produced using precipitation technique, and by the adsorption process, it was supported on layered double hydroxide (LDH). Biochar/LDH composites were synthesized from Neem, Amaltas, and Keekar stems, eggshells, and Eucalyptus (N, A, K, Egg, and Eu’s biochar/LDH-composite). These composites were employed to remove synthetic dyes from an aqueous solution. Recent studies have identified optimal conditions for LDH-composites under various parameters: pH 9 or 10 with a dosage of 0.05 g/50 mL yields higher adsorption capacities across different LDH composites, ranging from 40.74 to 48.30 mg/g at a reaction time of 90 min using a Pink-XFG dye concentration of 10 ppm, which is favorable. Temperatures of 303–308 K are suitable. Second-order kinetics, along with the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, along with exothermic reactions, presented good-fit results on adsorption kinetics and equilibrium data. The adsorption potential was significantly affected by various concentrations of electrolytes, surfactants, detergents, and heavy metal ions. 0.5 N hydrochloric acid was determined to be the most efficient agent for the process of desorption. These methods are very cost-effective, eco-friendly, and easy to manufacture.

Transformation of phosphorus speciation during hydrothermal treatment of digestate of rural animal manure

Digestate of rural animal manures (DM) contain valuable P resource, but when they are directly used on land, they can cause soil and water pollution. Hydrothermal treatment (HT) has been widely applied as an effective method of waste treatment and P recycling. This study aims to realize the P recovery in DM by illustrating the migration and transformation of phosphorus (P) species during HT process of DM. Two acids (e.g., hydrochloric acid and oxalic acid) were compared in terms of their abilities to extract P from solid products after HT process. The results revealed that organic phosphorus (OP) was converted into inorganic phosphorus (IP), whereas non-apatite phosphorus (NAIP, mainly AlPO4) was transformed to apatite phosphorus (AP, Ca3(PO4)2) during HT at different temperatures. Specifically, the percentage of IP increased from 30.4% in DDM to 90.6% after HT process at 220 °C (HT220). The P leaching efficiency of HT220 reached 94.8% during HCl extraction. The study indicated that P bioavailability and solubility could be improved by HT process. This study would provide deeper insights into the application of HT technology for recovery of P in DM, as well as provide guidance for P recovery and recycling from P containing wastes.

Fermented licorice extract alleviates ulcerative colitis by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and rebuilding intestinal microbiota in mice

There was limited research on investigating the suitable lactic acid bacteria genera for fermentation of on licorice extract and studying the effects of the fermentation products on ulcerative colitis (UC). The purpose of this study was to preliminarily investigate the therapeutic effects of licorice extract fermented by probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum ZKLp100 on UC and its underlying mechanisms. Therefore, time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS), Western blot, immunohistochemical and 16S rRNA sequencing were performed. Results shown that Lactobacillus plantarum ZKLp100 exhibited strong tolerance to acid and bile salts and antibacterial capabilities. The optimal conditions for fermenting licorice extract involved an inoculum of ZKLp100 at 3.2 × 108 CFU/mL, licorice extract concentration of 75%, yeast extract addition of 0.4%, fermentation duration of 20 h, resulting in a viable bacterial count of 4.0 × 108 CFU/mL. Fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum ZKLp100 significantly enhanced the proportion of beneficial components in licorice extract. Fermented licorice extract significantly alleviated clinical symptoms (P < 0.05), inflammation (P < 0.05), oxidative stress (P < 0.05), and intestinal damage (P < 0.05), while rebuilt the intestinal microbiota in UC mice. Mechanistic study revealed that fermented licorice extract significantly inhibited the activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway in colon tissues (P < 0.05). Additionally, under equivalent concentrations, the therapeutic efficacy of fermented licorice extract was significantly superior to that of licorice extract (P < 0.05). In conclusion, licorice extract fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum ZKLp100 alleviated UC by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and rebuilding intestinal microbiota in mice.

Evaluation and Development of Analytical Procedures to Assess Buffering Capacity of Carbonate Ruminant Feed Buffers.

The inclusion of rumen buffers in ruminant feeds has gained widespread adoption for the prevention of rumen acidosis, thereby avoiding the negative production and health consequences of low rumen pH and resulting in improved feed efficiency. Benchmarking and quality controlling the performance of rumen buffer materials is of significant interest to feed mills and end-user producers. The aim of this study was to evaluate, develop and optimise a laboratory protocol to consistently and robustly evaluate rumen buffering materials in order to predict their in vivo efficacy. Three different methods were evaluated for determining the buffering potential of carbonate buffer materials: (a) 2 and 8 h static pH, (b) 8 h fixed HCl acid load addition and (c) 3 h acidotic diet simulation using acetic acid. Buffer material, threshold pH, test duration and interactions between all three variables were significant (p < 0.001) in evaluating the performance of the buffer materials. The acidotic diet simulation was found to provide a different ranking of materials to the 8 h fixed HCl acid load methodology. The results highlight the importance of method selection and test parameters for accurately evaluating the potential efficacy of rumen buffer materials.

Alternative Electrochemical Determination of Cyanide Using a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified by Natural Clay in Contact with Moringa Oleifera

Cyanide is increasingly released into the environment as a result of human activities. Once ingested into the body, it blocks vital functions and can lead to death. The aim of this work is to detect cyanide using cathodic stripping voltammetry employing a carbon paste electrode modified with 5% Agban Bingerville clay. Two electrochemical sensors were developed for the detection of cyanide: one with a bare carbon paste electrode and the other with a clay-modified carbon paste electrode. The modified electrode detects cyanide in a hydrochloric acid (pH 1) supporting electrolyte seven times more effectively than the bare carbon paste electrode. Its detection limit is 1.41 µmol/L or 0.04 mg/L, and its sensitivity is 4458 μA cm−2μM−1. This value is below the cyanide concentration limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. This sensor can therefore contribute to the routine monitoring of environmental matrices. After detection, Moringa oleifera seed powder helps eliminate the cyanide from the solution. The optimum mass of seed powder, which removes 77% of cyanide, is 0.08 g for a 10 mL cell after stirring for 10 min. The elimination occurs as a result of electrostatic interactions between positively charged Moringa proteins and cyanide.