Ferrous Sulfate Heptahydrate Research Articles

Eco-Friendly Dyeing Processes of Nylon 6.6 Woven Fabrics with Used Coffee Grounds (UCG)

The increasing demand for sustainable practices in the textile industry has led to the exploration of natural dyes and eco-friendly dyeing processes. This study focuses on the potential of used coffee grounds (UCG) as an eco-friendly natural dye for Nylon 6.6 woven fabrics. Five dyeing processes were evaluated, varying in the use of mordants and acids, to assess their impact on the color saturation, colorfastness to laundering, and crocking resistance of Nylon 6.6. fabric. The processes included a control with no mordant or acid and others that incorporated tannic acid, acetic acid, and ferrous sulfate heptahydrate. The results demonstrated that process 4, which combined tannic acid pre-mordanting with acetic acid in the dye bath, provided the best balance between color saturation and colorfastness. Process 2, utilizing only tannic acid, offered some durability in laundering and crocking tests. Process 5, being the least eco-friendly process, demonstrated high color saturation, but it performed poorly in colorfastness to crocking, which means that it released the UCG-based dye after rubbing the dyed Nylon 6.6. fabric. The findings confirm that UCG can be an effective and sustainable natural dye for Nylon 6.6, with pre-mordanting and acid treatment significantly enhancing dye uptake and retention. However, further research is needed to optimize color intensity and expand the application of UCG in textile dyeing.

Biosynthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles by Marine Streptomyces sp. SMGL39 with Antibiofilm Activity: In Vitro and In Silico Study

One of the major global health threats in the present era is antibiotic resistance. Biosynthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (FeNPs) can combat microbial infections and can be synthesized without harmful chemicals. In the present investigation, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to discover Streptomyces sp. SMGL39, an actinomycete isolate utilized to reduce ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4.7H2O) to biosynthesize FeNPs, which were then characterized using UV–Vis, XRD, FTIR, and TEM analyses. Furthermore, in our current study, the biosynthesized FeNPs were tested for antimicrobial and antibiofilm characteristics against different Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and fungal strains. Additionally, our work examines the biosynthesized FeNPs’ molecular docking and binding affinity to key enzymes, which contributed to bacterial infection cooperation via quorum sensing (QS) processes. A bright yellow to dark brown color shift indicated the production of FeNPs, which have polydispersed forms with particle sizes ranging from 80 to 180 nm and UV absorbance ranging from 220 to 280 nm. Biosynthesized FeNPs from actinobacteria significantly reduced the microbial growth of Fusarium oxysporum and L. monocytogenes, while they showed weak antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa and no activity against E. coli, MRSA, or Aspergillus niger. On the other hand, biosynthesized FeNPs showed strong antibiofilm activity against P. aeruginosa while showing mild and weak activity against B. subtilis and E. coli, respectively. The collaboration of biosynthesized FeNPs and key enzymes for bacterial infection exhibits hydrophobic and/or hydrogen bonding, according to this research. These results show that actinobacteria-biosynthesized FeNPs prevent biofilm development in bacteria.

Nitrogen Requirement and Nitrogen Form Preference by Radermachera hainanensis and R. sinica Plug Seedlings

Abstract Radermachera hainanensis Merr. and R. sinica Hemsl. are popular foliage plants raised from seeds. Nitrogen fertilizer can significantly influence medium pH and EC, plug seedling growth, and photosynthesis. Plug seedlings of both species, each with one pair of leaves, were subjected weekly to nutrient solutions with nitrogen (N) concentrations ranging from 0 to 32 mM. Nitrogen-deficient plants exhibited the lowest leaf area, SPAD-502 value, and shoot dry weight but the highest root-to-shoot ratio. Leaf area, SPAD-502 value, and root and shoot dry weights increased with increasing N concentration up to 12-16 mM, and gradually decreased thereafter. Well-grown plants with 12-16 mM N exhibited peak maximal fluorescence (Fm), photochemical quenching (qP) and the lowest minimal fluorescence (Fo) and non-photochemical quenching (qN). Seedlings received nutrient solutions with varying proportions of NH4-N: NO3-N (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0, in percentages) at 16 mM N. Both species exhibited reduced leaf area, SPAD-502 value, and plant dry weights when supplied with only NO3-N or NH4-N. Maximum growth was achieved at a 50% NH4-N: 50% NO3-N ratio. Species used in this study: Golden jasmine tree, Radermachera hainanensis Merr.; China Doll, Radermachera sinica Hemsl. Chemicals used in this study: ammonium nitrate; sodium dihydrogen phosphate; potassium sulphate; potassium nitrate; magnesium sulfate heptahydrate; calcium sulfate dihydrate; calcium nitrate tetrahydrate; ammonium sulfate; boric acid anhydrous; potassium chloride; ferrous sulfate heptahydrate; disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dihydrate; copper sulfate pentahydrate; zinc sulfate heptahydrate; molybdic acid; manganese sulfate monohydrate; nickel sulfate hexahydrate; sodium hydroxide.

Optimization of industrial Fenton process of phenolic effluent using artificial neural network and design of experiments

This work aimed to optimize the homogeneous Fenton process used to remove phenol in a chemical industry located in Mauá (São Paulo, Brazil). Phenolic effluent exhibits significant variability in its chemical composition, which poses a great challenge in finding the optimal reagents ratio for conducting Fenton treatment. Often, there is a need for repetitions to treat the same batch, leading to increased reagent consumption and treatment time. Thus, to optimize the industrial process, the present work applied modern optimization techniques on real data, such as design of experiments (DoE) and artificial neural network (ANN). ANN was used to perform simulations in the company’s process, thereby predicting the quantities of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate and hydrogen peroxide. The following optimal conditions have been determined by DoE (phenol concentration ≤ 4 ppm): pH from 2.7 to 4 and temperature from 28 to 40 °C. Before the implementation of the optimized parameters, the efficiency for a single treatment was 45%. After, the efficiency was 82% and the company saved, on average, 51.6% of reagent costs. The main contribution of the present work is the development and industrial testing of data science methods that aims to optimize the industrial Fenton process.

Remediation of phenanthrene-contaminated soil by iron oxide/carboxylate-rich porous carbon composites from vinegar residue

Conversion of solid wastes into useful remediation materials is an encouraging strategy in resource recovery. Iron oxide/carboxylate-rich porous carbon composites (IOCRPC) can be synthesized by using vinegar residue (VR) and ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4∙7 H2O) recovered from a waste acid of a titanium dioxide factory. Characterization of FeSO4-impregnated VR exhibited a high proportion of ferricarboxylate complexes [i.e. FeII(R-COO)n2-n]. Pyrolysis temperature was the most important reaction parameter to define IOCRPC phase composition. Thermal decomposition of FeII(R-COO)n2-n produced Fe3O4 nanoparticles partly at a relatively lower pyrolysis temperature (350 ºC), while successful carbonization of VR formed the porous structures of carbon. Both Fe3O4 and ferricarboxylate complexes were the components of IOCRPC responsible for its excellent visible light absorption ability. Under visible light, phenanthrene in contaminated soil was efficiently degraded (90.1%) by IOCRPC at circumneutral pH. Phytotoxicity bioassays demonstrated significant removal of toxicity after treatment with IOCRPC, highlighting its application potential in revegetation strategies.

Study on Preparation of High-Performance Flake Silver Powder by Liquid Phase Reduction

Flake silver powder was prepared by liquid phase reduction method with silver nitrate as silver source, ferrous sulfate heptahydrate as reducing agent, citric acid and gum acacia as surfactants. The effects of reducing agent dosage, citric acid dosage, gum acacia dosage, silver nitrate dosage and reaction temperature on the properties of silver powder were studied. The results show that when the dosage of silver nitrate is 0.08 mol·L−1, the molar ratio of silver nitrate to ferrous sulfate heptahydrate is 1:2, the oxidizing solution is added to the reducing solution at the rate of 100 ml·min−1, the citric acid is added to the oxidizing solution at 7.5% of the mass of silver nitrate, the gum acacia is added equally dispersed to the oxidizing solution and the reducing solution, the addition amount is 20% of the mass of silver nitrate and the reaction temperature is 30 °C, the silver powder obtained is flake with good dispersion and narrow particle size distribution.

Bioleaching of a lateritic ore (Piauí, Brazil) in percolators

Heap leaching of laterites for extraction of nickel and cobalt is an attractive alternative to capital and energy intensive high pressure acid leaching, the dominant hydrometallurgical processing technology for limonitic laterites. Conventional approach for heap leaching of laterites is leaching with sulfuric acid. Consumption of sulfuric acid during heap leaching is substantial and industrial-scale operations require construction of a sulfuric acid production plant on site. In this study, heap bioleaching of laterites was simulated in laboratory scale column percolators and bioleaching of nickel and cobalt from lateritic material was successfully demonstrated for the first time. The process is based on biooxidation of the bacterially modified “wet sulfur” inside column percolators by sulfur-oxidizing acidophilic bacteria Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. The “wet sulfur“ was generated in a bioreactor with the bacterial culture, harvested, and mixed with lateritic ore before forming agglomerates to be filled in the percolator columns. Liquid was circulated with a flow rate of 8 mL/min. Maximum metal extraction was 66% nickel, 95% cobalt, 10% iron, 55% magnesium and 89% manganese from the Piauí lateritic ore after one month bioleaching. For comparison, chemical leaching with 1 M sulfuric acid with or without addition of 10 g/L of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate as reductant resulted in extraction of approximately 80% nickel, 86% cobalt, 33% iron, 50% magnesium and 81% manganese. With bioleaching a higher cobalt but lower nickel and iron extraction was achieved, i.e. a better selectivity of nickel over iron extraction, as well as a relatively higher pH of the pregnant leach solution requiring less limestone and, consequently, lower CO2 emission and generation of iron cake waste in case of laterite bioleaching. Overall, the results are promising and show potential of laterite heap bioleaching to be further developed to application on industrial scale.

USAGE OF BILECIK LEFKE STONE AND BENTONITE CLAY FOR PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL IN WATER

The rapid increase in the world population, the development of the industry, the excessive usage of fertilizers in agriculture, and the increase in detergents and chemicals used for cleaning accelerate the pollution of water resources. Conservation and recovery of damaged water resources along with the deteriorated ecosystem is of great importance for living things. An important part of water pollution in lakes and rivers is the increase in the content of nutrients. Nutrient elements, especially phosphorus, cause the transparency of water to decrease gradually. Over time, this situation, called eutrophication, causes an algae bloom and the aquatic ecosystem is disrupted. Uncontrolled discharge of wastewater containing phosphorus in high concentrations accelerates this process. These nutrients must be removed in order to maintain water quality and reduce the risk of eutrophication. The main ways of removing phosphorus from water are physical, chemical and biological methods. Among these, as an alternative to settling with chemical substances, the usage of clay (based on fixation) has an important place. In this study, different dosages of bentonite, lefke stone and ferrous sulphate heptahydrate (FeSO4.7H2O) were used in water with three different pH values (4, 7 and 10) and three different phosphorus contents (20, 40, 60 ppm). The per cent yields of the phosphorus removed with ferrous sulphate heptahydrate, lefke stone and bentonite are 72%, 57% and 39%, respectively. In addition, it was determined that the dosage of additives used should be renewed depending on the phosphorus content of the environment and that the high pH value of the environment increased the efficiency, especially in the usage of ferrous sulphate heptahydrate. In conclusion, as an alternative to the usage of chemicals, it has been revealed that lefke stone can be used for phosphorus removal in water, and its effectiveness can be further increased with further studies.

The role of iron-rich organic fertilizer in promoting the growth of Chinese cabbage and inhibiting the transformation of cadmium

The issue of heavy metal pollution caused by human production and living activities is progressively worsening. This study explored the effect of iron-rich organic fertilizer on the growth, quality, and cadmium (Cd) absorption of Chinese cabbage under Cd stress. The results showed that iron-rich organic fertilizer could increase the soluble protein content and root length of Chinese cabbage. Meanwhile, it could change the form of Cd to inhibit the enrichment of Cd in Chinese cabbage. The alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN), total potassium (TK), organic matter (OM), and moisture content (MC) of the Z3 treatment group (2 % ferrous sulfate heptahydrate) were significantly higher than those of other treatment groups. The microbial network of Z3 was more complex than the other three groups. PICRUSt analysis and correlation analysis showed that the genes related to protein synthesis (e.g., glutathione S-transferase, zinc and Cd transporter, outer membrane protein, ArsR family transcriptional regulator, catalase, etc.) can also promote microbial absorption. This study aims to provide theoretical insights into soil Cd pollution immobilization techniques.

Ultrasonication-flotation-advanced oxidation tertiary treatment of oil-based drilling cuttings

The treatment of oil-based drilling cuttings (OBDCs) with high oil content is difficult. In this study, a tertiary treatment of ultrasonication–flotation–advanced oxidation for treating OBDCs with a high oil content of 20.10 wt% was proposed for the first time. All stages of the treatment processes were optimised. The recommended parameters for ultrasonication at room temperature were a mass ratio of OBDCs to the degreaser of 1:8, an ultrasonication power of 600 W and treatment time of 30 min. After the ultrasonication treatment, the oil content of the OBDCs decreased from 20.10 wt% to 5.00 wt%. Flotation was performed at room temperature with a mass ratio of OBDCs to the degreaser of 1:10, a stirring speed of 400 rpm, an aeration head aperture of 3 μm and airflow rate of 400 mL/min under N2 injection for 60 min. After the flotation treatment, the oil content of the OBDCs decreased from 5.00 wt% to 2.01 wt%. Advanced oxidation was performed at room temperature with a mass ratio of OBDCs to water of 1:10, 3.57 wt% sodium persulphate in water, 4.17 wt% ferrous sulphate heptahydrate in water and ultrasonication power of 1000 W for 100 min. Following the advanced oxidation treatment, the oil content of the OBDCs decreased from 2.01 wt% to 0.58 wt%. The results of this study provide a new method and idea for treating OBDCs with high oil content.

Fabrication of Robust Superhydrophobic Polyester Fabrics with Photothermal Conversion and Oil-Water Separation Performance through Deposition of Natural Polyphenols.

Superhydrophobic polyester (PET) fabrics were created by increasing fabric surface roughness and decreasing surface energy through interactions between natural polyphenols, ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane. The superhydrophobic fabric can be obtained with different natural polyphenols, including tannic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, guaiacol, and caffeic acid. Durability tests were carried out on the superhydrophobic PET fabric, investigating resistance to washing, rubbing, UV aging, acids, alkalis, and organic reagents. The results demonstrate the stability and versatility of modified PET in complex environments. The modified superhydrophobic PET fabric exhibited exceptional oil-water separation and self-cleaning properties, exhibiting a water contact angle of 161.3° and a sliding angle of 4°. In addition, the modified fabric demonstrated a remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency, with the surface temperature increasing from 29.1 to 72 °C in 300 s, and it maintained a degree of photothermal conversion capability even upon completion of four cycles. This study offers novel perspectives on extending the utilization of natural polyphenols for constructing durable, robust, and multifunctional superhydrophobic fabrics.

Safe and effective delivery of supplemental iron to healthy adults: a two-phase, randomized, double-blind trial - the safe iron study.

The safety of novel forms of iron in healthy, iron-replete adults as might occur if used in population-based iron supplementation programs was examined. We tested the hypotheses that supplementation with nanoparticulate iron hydroxide adipate tartrate (IHAT), an iron-enriched Aspergillus oryzae product (ASP), or ferrous sulphate heptahydrate (FS) are safe as indicated by erythrocyte susceptibility to malarial infection, bacterial proliferation, and gut inflammation. Responses to FS administered daily or weekly, and with or without other micronutrients were compared. Two phases of randomized, double-blinded trials were conducted in Boston, MA. Phase I randomized 160 volunteers to six treatments: placebo, IHAT, ASP, FS, and FS plus a micronutrient powder (MNP) administrated daily at 60 mg Fe/day; and FS administered as a single weekly dose of 420 mg Fe. Phase II randomized 86 volunteers to IHAT, ASP, or FS administered at 120 mg Fe/day. Completing these phases were 151 and 77 participants, respectively. The study was powered to detect effects on primary endpoints: susceptibility of participant erythrocytes to infection by Plasmodium falciparum, the proliferation potential of selected pathogenic bacteria in sera, and markers of gut inflammation. Secondary endpoints for which the study was not powered included indicators of iron status and gastrointestinal symptoms. Supplementation with any form of iron did not affect any primary endpoint. In Phase I, the frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with FS was unaffected by dosing with MNP or weekly administration; but participants taking IHAT more frequently reported abdominal pain (27%, p < 0.008) and nausea (4%, p = 0.009) than those taking FS, while those taking ASP more frequently reported nausea (8%, p = 0.009). Surprisingly, only 9% of participants taking IHAT at 120 mg Fe/day (Phase II) reported abdominal pain and no other group reported that symptom. With respect to the primary endpoints, few differences were found when comparing these forms of iron, indicating that 28 days of 60 or 120 mg/day of IHAT, ASP, or FS may be safe for healthy, iron-replete adults. With respect to other endpoints, subjects receiving IHAT more frequently reported abdominal pain and nausea, suggesting the need for further study. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03212677; registered: 11 July 2017.

Impacts of iron on ultrastructural features of NCI-H295R cell line related to steroidogenesis

The current study was intended to evaluate impacts of both iron (Fe) enrichment and overload (in the form of ferrous sulphate heptahydrate, FeSO4.7H2O) on ultrastructural characteristics of human adrenocarcinoma NCI-H295R cell line. Here, the NCI-H295R cells were treated with 0, 3.90, and 1000 µM FeSO4.7H2O, and consequently proceeded for purposes of ultrastructural studies. Micrographs taken under transmission electron microscope (TEM) were investigated from the qualitative and quantitative (unbiased stereological approaches) aspects, and obtained findings were compared among the three groups of the cells. The ultrastructural features related to the steroidogenic process were found to be similar between the untreated and both Fe-exposed cell populations, with conspicuous mitochondria with well-defined lamellar cristae (creating clusters of varying sizes in the regions of increased energy demands) and concentric whorls of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) being the most noticeable characteristics. The precise estimates of the component (volume, surface) fractions of the nucleus, mitochondria, and lipid droplets (LDs), as well as of the nucleus/cytoplasm (N/C) ratio have revealed close similarities (P > 0.05) in all cell groups investigated. Nonetheless, the low concentration of FeSO4.7H2O exhibited beneficial action on ultrastructural organization of the NCI-H295R cells. In effect, these cells were distinguished by mitochondria with smoother surfaces and clearer outlines, higher density of thin, parallel lamellar cristae (deeply extending into the mitochondrial matrix), and more widespread distribution of fine SER tubules as compared to the control ones, all of them suggesting higher level of energy requirements and metabolic activity, and more intensive rate of steroidogenesis. Interestingly, no obvious ultrastructural modifications were observed in the NCI-H295R cells treated with high FeSO4.7H2O concentration. This finding can be linked to either an adaptive ultrastructural machinery of these cells to cope with the adverse effect of the element or to insufficient dose of FeSO4.7H2O (1000 µM) to induce ultrastructural signs of cytotoxicity. Purposefully, the results of the current study complement our previous paper dealing with impacts of FeSO4.7H2O on the NCI-H295R cell viability and steroidogenesis at the molecular level. Hence, they fill a knowledge gap considering structure-function coupling in this cellular model system upon the metal exposure. This integrated approach can enhance our understanding of the cellular responses to Fe enrichment and overload which can be helpful for individuals with reproductive health concerns.

Magnetic hydrochar from the extract and residue of herbal medicines for adsorption and Fenton reaction

Residues of herbs medicines are potential resources to prepare hydrochar. However, problems such as limited adsorption capacity and difficulty in recovery restrict the application of residues. Here, Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4·H2O) was used to load Fe3O4 to prepare Fe3O4-modified hydrochar (Fe-CBC). Herbal extract (silymarin) was used to prepare functionalized hydrochar (Sil-Fe-CBC) for the first time by using the residue of clematis. Sil-Fe-CBC was used to remove methylene blue (MB) and tetracycline (TC) from water. The MB adsorption quantity was increased to 124.7 mg/g within 30 min, and the removal was increased to 84.26%. The TC removal was achieved approximately 91% in 120 min at an optimum pH of 3, an H2O2 dosage of 0.4 mL, a Sil-Fe-CBC dosage of 0.6 g/L, and a temperature of 30 °C. The FTIR spectra and XRD spectrum studies confirm that the form of ·OH is linked to Fe2+ in the catalysis process via the reduction of silymarin. Silymarin functionalization is a new approach to promote the efficiency of Fenton. Herbal medicine residues are potential raw materials in hydrochar preparation, and the extracts can improve hydrochars' performance.

Simultaneous Oxidation of Emerging Pollutants in Real Wastewater by the Advanced Fenton Oxidation Process

Since the conventional processes employed in most wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) worldwide are not designed to entirely remove or oxidize emerging pollutants, which, due to their incidence and persistence, can cause damage to both the environment and human health, several options for their degradation and removal have emerged. Coupling the advanced Fenton oxidation process as a polishing or tertiary wastewater treatment alternative within conventional WWTP processes stands out among the treatment options. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to evaluate, at the laboratory level, the ability of the advanced Fenton oxidation process to oxidize triclosan, ibuprofen, DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), carbamazepine, caffeine, and acesulfame-K, which represent several groups of emerging pollutants in real wastewater from the second settling tank of a municipal WWTP. The compound used as a catalyst (Fe2+) supplier in the advanced Fenton oxidation process was ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4•7H2O). The results obtained upon application showed that the advanced Fenton oxidation process could simultaneously oxidize and remove practically the total concentration of the above-mentioned emerging pollutants, except for DEET (85.21%), in conjunction with the chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and fecal coliforms (FC, pathogen group) in the effluent generated by the advanced Fenton oxidation process.

Efficient removal of synthetic dye by employing H2O2/nZVI-rGO nanocomposite system

We reported a method for the removal of crystal violet (CV) dye from wastewater excreted by textile industries. Here, we employed the use of reduced graphene oxide-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI/rGO) nanocomposite along with H2O2 for CV removal. For this purpose, nZVI/rGO nanocomposite was prepared by reduction of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4·7H2O) and graphene oxide (GO) with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and used as a potential sorbent for removal and/ or minimization of CV from aqueous solution. Zeta, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–Visible spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed to characterize nZVI/rGO nanocomposite. Further, the chemical method for dye removal was also investigated using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a chemical reductant. The effects of nanocomposite concentration, temperature, and time were examined to evaluate their role in dye elimination. The concentration of CV in the aqueous solution was calculated by studying absorbance using a UV–Visible spectrophotometer. The use of both H2O2/ nZVI-rGO provided a synergistic effect and resulted in efficient and fast removal of CV from an aqueous solution.

Iron requirements of broiler chickens as affected by supplemental phytase.

Iron is routinely supplemented in broiler feeds intending to prevent dietary deficiencies. The present research was conducted with the objective of assessing Fe requirements of broilers when fed supplemental phytase. A total of 1,280 1-d-old male Cobb × Cobb 500 were distributed in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement (phytase-supplemented feeds × 5 graded increases of supplemental Fe) in 80 battery cages, eight replications of eight chicks each. The trial was replicated once. Chicks were fed a Fe-deficient diet without phytase (Fe analyzed at 31.30 ± 3.79 mg/kg) from placement to 7 d and then randomly distributed into battery cages with corresponding dieting treatments with or without phytase and graded increases of supplemental Fe. Feeds were formulated with corn and soybean meal (SBM), laboratory-grade calcium carbonate, and phosphoric acid; therefore, the vast majority of dietary Fe originated from corn and SBM (analyzed diet had 53.3 ± 1.41 mg/kg Fe). Phytase was added in excess to the producer recommendation of 1,000 FYT (4,452 ± 487 FYT/kg analyzed) such that phytate degradation was expected to be maximized. Supplemental Fe was from laboratory-grade ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO47H2O) which was increasingly added to the feeds (analyzed Fe in the supplemented feeds were: 53.3 ± 1.41, 65.5 ± 0.59, 77.2 ± 1.97, 87.6 ± 1.72, 97.7 ± 1.33 mg/kg). There were no interactions between phytase and dietary Fe for any response throughout the study (P > 0.05). Supplementing phytase had no effects on Fe intake or Fe excretion, as well as on hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, Fe contents in the liver or thigh muscle color (P > 0.05). However, phytase-supplemented feeds produced better live performance as well as higher ileal digestible energy and Fe digestibility (P < 0.05). No effects were found for dietary Fe in live performance at day 28 (P > 0.05). On the other hand, increasing dietary Fe led to linear increases in Fe retention and excretion, Fe contents in livers, as well as Ht and Hb at 14 d (P < 0.05). Quadratic responses (P < 0.05) were observed for Hb at 21 d, serum ferritin on days 14, 21, and 28 (maximum responses were 83.3, 104.0, 91.9, and 88.3 mg/kg Fe, respectively). In conclusion, supplementing Fe adding to a total of 97.7 mg/kg dietary Fe did not affect live performance traits. However, the average of Fe-related blood parameters was maximized at 91.9 mg/kg dietary Fe. Supplementing phytase provided a significant increase in Fe digestibility.

Ultrasound‐assisted synthesis of silica‐coated magnetite material decorated with silver nanoparticles for the detoxification of 4‐nitrophenol

Among phenolic pollutants, 4‐nitrophenol is a common organic pollutant readily discharged in water bodies. It causes an adverse effect on the lives of human beings and aquatic species. Therefore, it is essential to remove this pollutant from water resources. Herein, we report an eco‐friendly approach for the synthesis of silica‐coated magnetite material decorated with ultra‐fine silver nanoparticles, as a magnetically recyclable catalyst for the detoxification of 4‐nitrophenol. This synthetic strategy employs only ultrasound waves throughout the preparation of catalyst material. Further, no stabilizer was added in any of the steps involved in synthesis. Initially, iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized from ferrous sulphate heptahydrate precursor and coated with silica matrix. Subsequently, silver nanoparticles were deposited over it. Silver was chosen among the noble metal nanoparticles, as it is abundantly available and economical and exhibits good catalytic properties. This catalyst material was well characterized using HRTEM, XRD, VSM and FTIR techniques. HRTEM studies revealed that Ag nanoparticles of size between 2 and 5 nm were dispersed over the silica‐coated magnetite. The significant merits of this approach are usage of ultrasound waves, stabilizer‐free and reduced time consumption in the synthesis of catalyst. Furthermore, a facile magnetic separation of catalyst using bar magnet is noteworthy to this method. The catalyst was successfully recycled for eight times without any significant loss in the activity. This can be a promising catalyst for the treatment of wastewater contaminated with 4‐nitrophenol.

Study on the green decontamination method of riot dyeing agent rhodamine B

The riot dyeing agent Rhodamine B is a dyeing agent loaded in riot ammunition, which can produce serious environmental pollution after use. In order to eliminate the environmental pollution of rhodamine B, a decontamination method with simple operation, wide material sources and green environment protection was studied. First, an orthogonal experiment was used to obtain a concentration ratio of decontaminant with excellent performance, that is, the best decontamination effect of rhodamine B when the concentration of hydrogen peroxide was 15%, the concentration of boric acid was 3.5% and the concentration of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate was 0.4%. Then, the actual decontamination effect of the formulated decontaminants on rhodamine B was examined by test tube decontamination method and immersion decontamination method. The results of the decontamination experiments showed that the decontaminants formulated according to the optimal results of the orthogonal experiments had significant decontamination effects on both the rhodamine B powder and the non-woven masks contaminated with rhodamine B. This decontamination method has good application value and can be used for the decontamination of riot dyeing ammunition contaminated sites and clothes to eliminate the environmental hazards of dyeing agent rhodamine B.

Micronutrients Improve Growth and Development of HLB-Affected Citrus Trees in Florida.

Enhanced nutritional programs (ENPs) have improved citrus trees' growth and development in the era of Huanglongbing (HLB). Studies conducted with variable rates of manganese (Mn) and Iron (Fe) on young HLB-affected citrus trees showed that applying double the standard recommendation increased growth and biomass accumulation. Since HLB is believed to cause deficiency symptoms of micronutrients in citrus trees, it is critical to ensure their optimal levels in the leaves. This could be achieved by soil application of either a Mn rate of 8.9 to 11.5 kg ha-1 as MnSO4 (31%) for young HLB-affected 'Valencia' (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) citrus trees or an Fe rate of 9.6 to 11.8 kg ha-1 as Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (20%) for 'Bingo' (Citrus reticulata, Blanco) citrus trees. Maintaining optimal levels of these micronutrients may enable citrus trees to carry out photosynthetic activities to ensure growth and development. It may also help the tree in the regulation of various physiological processes as part of the antioxidant enzyme Mn-superoxidase dismutase (SOD). Micronutrient manipulation through variable rates of fertilizer application to influence nutrient availability is an important mitigating factor for HLB-affected citrus trees and an integral component of citrus production in Florida.