Sulfate Formation Research Articles

The Role of Sulfur in Meeting 4R Nutrient Stewardship Goals

AbstractSulfur plays several roles in 4R plant nutrition. First, as an essential plant nutrient, it may need to be applied to optimize yields and quality of crops. Second, there may be a need to replenish the sulfur removed from the soil by crop harvests. Third, some forms of sulfur may have additional benefits through their effects on soil pH and on soil nitrogen processes. The three roles combine to support enhanced productivity with lower impacts on the environment. This article reviews basic sulfur nutrition, recent trends affecting the need for fertilizers, and the contribution of sulfur to improving productivity sustainably. Earn 1 CEU in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.

MOF-derived CoFe2O4/FeS2 Z-type heterojunctions for efficient degradation of tetracycline by visible-light activation of persulfate

CoFe2O4 was successfully prepared by calcination of bimetallic MOF precursors, and CoFe2O4/FeS2 nanocomposites were prepared by compounding it with FeS2. The catalysts were characterized for their photocatalytic ability using tetracycline (TC) as a target contaminant. The high adsorption due to the wide specific surface area of MOF-derived CoFe2O4/FeS2 led to its excellent photocatalytic performance. Furthermore, the optimum dosages of catalyst and persulfate in the M-CFO/FeS2/Na2S2O8/Vis system were determined. The variation of catalytic performance as a function of pH was also investigated. The degradation mechanism studies assisted by ESR technique and heterojunction structure analysis confirmed the Z-type heterojunction formation and generation of sulfate as well as superoxide free radicals, which played the main species responsible of TC degradation.

Post‐combustion carbon dioxide adsorption of concurrent activated and surface modified palm kernel shell‐derived activated carbon

AbstractThis research applied a concurrent activation and surface modification (CAM) process to synthesize palm kernel shell‐derived activated carbon (PKSdAC) to obtain CO2 affinity surface functionalization. The CAM process is a simplified activated carbon activation process that is cost‐effective. The CAM process used in this study integrates sulphuric acid activation and barium chloride functionalization. The formation of barium sulphate is targeted to incorporate barium through a reduction process with carbon‐containing material at elevated temperatures into PKSdAC to obtain basic metal surfaces functional group for chemical adsorption. The optimal temperature for CAM‐PKSdAC CO2 adsorption performance was at 40–60 °C, established through temperature‐programmed desorption of CO2 (TPD‐CO2) analysis. The CAM‐PKSdAC adsorption performance was tested using a lab‐scale adsorption system. The bed CO2 content was determined using gas chromatography coupled with a thermal conductivity detector (GC‐TCD) by manual syringe injection. CAM‐PKSdAC exhibited a high CO2 adsorption capacity of 0.89 mmol g−1 from TPD‐CO2, and 1.91 mmol g−1 from GC‐TCD at 40 °C and 1 bar. It showed comparable CO2 adsorption capacity to conventional surface modified‐activated PKSdAC (1.96 mmol g−1) while higher than commercial and modified ACs (1.14–1.60 mmol g−1), but lower than potassium hydroxide modified ACs (1.81–2.10 mmol g−1) at 40 °C and 1 bar. Barium promoted chemisorption of CO2 as supplementary reaction, which increases adsorption capacity. The non‐linear Dubinin Radushkevich model strongly correlates with the experimental adsorption data for CAM‐PKSdAC adsorption, indicating the physisorption process via micropore filling on CAM‐PKSdAC. CAM‐PKSdAC showed moderate reusability with negligible variation in adsorption capacity after 10 adsorption–desorption cycles. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Influence of the Nitrogen Fertilization on the Yield, Biometric Characteristics and Chemical Composition of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni Grown in Poland.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a plant native to South America that has gathered much interest in recent decades thanks to diterpene glycosides, called steviosides, which it produces. These compounds are characterised by their sweetness, which is 250-300 times higher than saccharose, and they contain almost no caloric value. Stevia is currently also grown outside the South American continent, in various countries characterised by warm weather. This research aimed to determine whether it is viable to grow Stevia rebaudiana plants in Poland, a country characterised by a cooler climate than the native regions for stevia plants. Additionally, the impact of adding various dosages and forms of nitrogen fertiliser was analysed. It was determined that Stevia rebaudiana grown in Poland is characterised by a rather low concentration of steviosides, although proper nitrogen fertilisation can improve various characteristics of the grown plants. The addition of 100 kg or 150 kg of nitrogen per hectare of the field in the form of urea or ammonium nitrate increased the yield of the stevia plants. The stevioside content can be increased by applying fertilisation using 100 kg or 150 kg of nitrogen per hectare in the form of ammonium sulfate. The total yield of the stevia plants grown in Poland was lower than the yield typically recorded in warmer countries, and the low concentration of steviosides in the plant suggests that more research about growing Stevia rebaudiana in Poland would be needed to develop profitable methods of stevia cultivation.

Electrochemical Dehydration of Dicarboxylic Acids to Their Cyclic Anhydrides.

An intramolecular electrochemical dehydration reaction of dicarboxylic acids to their cyclic anhydrides is presented. This electrolysis allows dicarboxylic acids as naturally abundant, inexpensive, safe, and readily available starting materials to be transformed into carboxylic anhydrides under mild reaction conditions. No conventional dehydration reagent is required. The obtained cyclic anhydrides are highly valuable reagents in organic synthesis, and in this report, we use them in-situ for acylation reactions of amines to synthesize amides. This work is part of the recent progress in electrochemical dehydration, which - in contrast to electrochemical dehydrogenative reactions for example - is an underexplored field of research. The reaction mechanism was investigated by 18O isotope labeling, revealing the formation of sulfate by electrochemical oxidation and hydrolysis of the thiocyanate-supporting electrolyte. This transformation is not a classical Kolbe electrolysis, because it is non-decarboxylative, and all carbon atoms of the carboxylic acid starting material are contained in the carboxylic anhydride. In total, 20 examples are shown with NMR yields up to 71 %.

Foliar applied potassium nanoparticles (K-NPs) and potassium sulfate on growth, physiological, and phytochemical parameters in Melissa officinalis L. under salt stress.

Salinity stress significantly constrains agricultural productivity and vegetation decline worldwide, particularly in Iran. Potassium, the second most prevalent nutrient in plants, is well known to be essential for cell metabolism. Here, the effects of potassium fertilizer in two biogenic nanoparticles (K-NPs) and conventional (potassium sulfate) forms (0.1 mg/ml) on Melissa officinalis L. under salinity (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM) were investigated. The results demonstrated that stress markers (electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide) increased as salinity levels increased. Plant growth parameters (shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root) and physiological and photosynthetic parameters (stomatal conductance, relative water content, chlorophyll fluorescence, and photosynthetic pigments) were reduced in salinized plants. The highest reduction in fresh weight root, dry weight root, fresh weight shoot, dry weight shoot, root length, and shoot length was recorded under 150 mM NaCl by 30.2%, 51.6%, 30.5%, 24.7%, 26.4%, and 21%, respectively. In contrast, bulk potassium sulfate and K-NPs increased these parameters. Furthermore, K-NPs improved M. officinalis tolerance to NaCl toxicity by enhancing the content of osmolytes such as proline, soluble sugars, and antioxidant enzymes, improving antioxidant contents such as phenols, tannins, anthocyanins, and flavonoids; increasing total protein; and lowering stress markers in plant tissues. Given the results of the physiological, biochemical, and phytochemical parameters obtained from this study, it can be stated that K-NPs, in comparison to the conventional form of potassium fertilizer, exhibit a greater potential to mitigate damages caused by salinity stress in M. officinalis plants.

Cu-MOF-derived Cu nanoparticles decorated porous N-doped biochar for low-temperature H2S desulfurization

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a highly toxic and corrosive gas that poses significant risks to human health and the environment. Therefore, the development of an adsorbent capable of efficiently purifying H2S at room temperature remains a challenging task. In this study, a novel composite adsorbent with a specific surface area of 434 m2·g−1 was fabricated by modifying porous N-doped biochar with Cu nanoparticles (Cu/NBC) derived from Cu-MOFs for low-temperature desulfurization of H2S. The effect of pyrolysis temperature and the doping ratio of Cu-MOFs to biochar on the desulfurization performance of H2S for the as-prepared Cu/NBC was comprehensively investigated. Experimental results indicated that the desulfurization capability of the optimized Cu/NBC-600-1 adsorbent (synthesized at a pyrolysis temperature of 600 °C and a doping ratio of 1:1) was significantly affected by the desulfurization conditions, and the optimal conditions were determined to be at 25 °C, with 20 % oxygen content and 70 % relative humidity. Under the optimized conditions, the Cu/NBC-600-1 adsorbent exhibited a high H2S removal capacity of 158.28 mg·g−1, which was about 3.8 times higher than that of the pristine N-doped biochar. The desulfurization mechanism of the Cu/NBC composite was demonstrated to involve reactive adsorption and catalytic oxidation, resulting in the formation of elemental sulfur and copper sulfides as the main products. This study not only provides a promising approach to modify porous biochar with MOF derivatives, but also offers an effective strategy to remove low concentration H2S at room temperature.

Pollution characteristics and transformation mechanisms of secondary inorganic components during winter heavy pollution in Handan city in 2018–2020

The mechanism of secondary transformation of nitrate and sulfate under different relative humidity (RH), and different atmospheric oxidizing conditions is still controversial. This study focuses on the winter heavy pollution process in Handan city from 2018 to 2020, and the following results were obtained: The average concentration of PM2.5 showed a decreasing trend from year to year, but the SNA (SO42−, NO3− and NH4+) showed an increasing trend from year to year, and the concentration of nitrate exceeded that of sulfate. During the haze formation period from 2018 to 2020, a significant disparity was observed in NO2 and SO2 emissions, with NO2 emissions surpassing those of SO2. Mobile sources were found to contribute more emissions than fixed sources, particularly during the haze persistence period (HP). However, sulfate conversion outweighed nitrate conversion. HighRH and photochemical reactions induced by ozone favored the formation of nitrate and sulfate, which formated heavy haze. When 40% ≤ RH ≤ 70%, atmospheric oxidants (Ox = O3 + NO2) concentration was the highest, nitrogen oxidation ratio (NOR) and sulfur oxidation ratio (SOR) increased rapidly, and nitrate was mainly generated by photochemical reactions during daytime. When RH > 70% and the concentration of Ox was low, RH will weaken the photochemical intensity. Therefore, the liquid-phase oxidation reaction of N2O5 contributed significantly to atmospheric nitrate at night, and the liquid-phase oxidation reaction of sulfate was faster than the gas-phase one. Local emissions contributed significantly to particulate matter pollution during heavy pollution in 2018–2020, and the main sources were secondary conversion, coal combustion, biomass burning, and road dust.

Role of Sulphur Nutrition in Oilseed Crops: A Review

India is a significant importer of edible oils and an important producer of oilseed. India stands as fourth leading oilseeds producing countries after USA, China and Brazil. Oilseed has become one of the most valuable agricultural commodities. Sulphur (S) plays an important role in determining the quality of oil seed from these crops. It is referred to as the fourth major nutrient after N, P and K because crops need sulphur slightly less than they require P. It is required for the formation of proteins, vitamins and chlorophyll. It is an integral part of amino acid such as cystine, cysteine and methionine which are essential components of protein. Plant can absorb sulphur in the form of sulphate (SO4 2-) which is decomposes into sulphur. It is a factor for the determination of higher yield seed and quality of seed that content oil in oilseed crops. Since, sulphur is immobile in plants, it must be continuously supplied from crop emergence till maturity. So, reduced yield can come sulphur shortage at any stage of growth. It can be overcome by supplying sulphur containing fertilizers to plant by soil application and foliar application. Among the source of sulphur, elemental sulphur and gypsum are widely utilized in sulphur deficiency.

Effect of SO2 on the soot oxidation activity of flame spray pyrolysis-made manganese oxide catalyst in gasoline model exhaust

AbstractThis study deals with the effect of SO2 on the soot oxidation activity of flame spray pyrolysis-prepared manganese oxide in gasoline model exhaust. The catalyst was exposed to 15 and 30 ppm SO2 at 250 °C and was characterized by N2 physisorption, SO2-TPD, O2-TPD, DRIFTS, XPS and PXRD. It was shown that the SO2 adsorption results in the formation of surface sulfate, while the uptake increased from 26 to 45 μmol/g with growing sulfur content of the model exhaust. The sulfur adsorption reduces the mobility and availability of oxygen on the catalyst thus inhibiting the oxygen transport from gas phase over the catalyst to the contact points of the soot. Consequently, the soot oxidation activity, investigated with tight contact blends of catalyst and soot, decreases with inclining amount of sulfate. Finally, the sulfate species were mostly removed by thermal treatment at 705 °C, which additionally provoked catalyst sintering. As a result, the catalytic performance of the de-sulfated catalyst was slightly lower compared to the sulfated sample.

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and their combination regimen in the management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study was aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of two oral Symptomatic Slow Acting Drugs for Osteoarthritis (SYSADOAs)-Glucosamine Sulfate, Chondroitin Sulfate, and their combination regimen in the management of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A detailed literature search was performed from 03/1994 to 31/12/2022 using various electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, using the search terms-Glucosamine sulfate (GS), Chondroitin sulfate (CS), Knee osteoarthritis, Joint pain, Joint disease, and Joint structure, for literature concerning glucosamine, chondroitin, and their combination in knee osteoarthritis treatment. Cochrane Collaboration's Risk assessment tool (version 5.4.1) was used for assessing the risk of bias and the quality of the literature. The data was extracted from the included studies and subjected to statistical analysis to determine the beneficial effect of Glucosamine Sulfate, Chondroitin Sulfate, and their combination. Twenty-five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this systematic review. In short, exclusively 9 RCTs for GS, 13 RCTs for CS, and 3 RCTs for the combination of GS and CS. All these studies had their treatment groups compared with placebo. In the meta-analysis, CS showed a significant reduction in pain intensity, and improved physical function compared to the placebo; GS showed a significant reduction in tibiofemoral joint space narrowing. While the combination of GS and CS showed neither a reduction in pain intensity, nor any improvement in the physical function. However, the combinationexhibited a non-significant reduction in joint space narrowing. In the safety evaluation, both CS and GS have shown good safety profile and were well tolerated. This meta-analysis revealed that the CS (with decreased pain intensity and improvement in the physical function), and GS (with significant reduction in the joint space narrowing) have significant therapeutic benefits. However, their combination did not significantly improve the symptoms or modify the disease. This may be due to the limited trials that are available on the combination of the sulfate forms of the intervention. Hence, there is a scope for conducting multicentric randomised controlled trials to evaluate and conclude the therapeutic role of CS and GS combination in the management of KOA.

Investigation of long-term anti-sulfur and deactivation mechanism of monolithic Mn-Fe-Ce/Al2O3 catalysts for NH3-SCR: Changes in physicochemical and adsorption properties

Owing to the different reaction properties and deactivation mechanisms caused by the structural discrepancy of monolithic catalysts, abundant scientific results of powder or granular NH3-SCR catalysts have still not sufficiently robustly applied in recent years. Furthermore, minimal research has been focused on monolithic catalysts. As a result, this work prepared monolithic Mn-Fe-Ce/Al2O3 catalysts by active component impregnation (ACI-Mn-Fe-Ce/Al2O3) and precursor impregnation methods (PI-Mn-Fe-Ce/Al2O3) and investigates the long-term SO2 and H2O resistance of the catalysts. Compared with the PI-Mn-Fe-Ce/Al2O3 catalyst, the monolithic ACI-Mn-Fe-Ce/Al2O3 catalyst showed better performance. The catalytic activity follows a bell-shaped curve with an optimal performance at a drug loading of 5 %. The ACI-Mn-Fe-Ce/Al2O3 catalyst exhibits long-term resistance to SO2 and H2O and can still convert more than 70 % NOx after 168 h of SO2 and H2O resistance test. Characterization of the ACI-Mn-Fe-Ce/Al2O3 catalysts before and after the reaction showed that the reducibility decreased after the reaction, and more Mn4+ was transformed into Mn2+ to weaken the catalytic activity. However, more Fe2+ and Ce3+ were generated during the reaction, increasing the number of oxygen vacancies, oxygen defects, and hydroxyl-like groups, all of which would contribute to a certain extent to counteract the passivation effect of SO2 on the catalysts. In situ DRIFTs analysis shows that the formation of surface sulfates has a minimal effect on the adsorption of NO, but it does affect the adsorption of coordinated NH3 on Lewis acid sites. This work elucidates the deactivation details of Mn-Fe-Ce/Al2O3 catalysts from the perspective of physicochemical properties, which provides a reference for the development of better low-temperature SO2-resistance catalysts for industrial applications.

Marine sulfated glycans inhibit the interaction of heparin with S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB variant.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, leading to 6.8million deaths. Numerous variants have emerged since its outbreak, resulting in its significantly enhanced ability to spread among humans. As with many other viruses, SARS‑CoV‑2 utilizes heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycan (GAG) on the surface of host cells to facilitate viral attachment and initiate cellular entry through the ACE2 receptor. Therefore, interfering with virion-HS interactions represents a promising target to develop broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics. Sulfated glycans derived from marine organisms have been proven to be exceptional reservoirs of naturally existing HS mimetics, which exhibit remarkable therapeutic properties encompassing antiviral/microbial, antitumor, anticoagulant, and anti-inflammatory activities. In the current study, the interactions between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 (both WT and XBB.1.5 variants) and heparin were applied to assess the inhibitory activity of 10 marine-sourced glycans including three sulfated fucans, three fucosylated chondroitin sulfates and two fucoidans derived from sea cucumbers, sea urchin and seaweed Saccharina japonica, respectively. The inhibitory activity of these marine derived sulfated glycans on the interactions between RBD of S-protein and heparin was evaluated using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). The RBDs of S-proteins from both Omicrion XBB.1.5 and wild-type (WT) were found to bind to heparin, which is a highly sulfated form of HS. All the tested marine-sourced sulfated glycans exhibited strong inhibition of WT and XBB.1.5S-protein binding to heparin. We believe the study on the molecular interactions between S-proteins and host cell glycosaminoglycans provides valuable insight for the development of marine-sourced, glycan-based inhibitors as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents.

Lithological and geochemical characteristics and sedimentary environments of the Cambrian high-carbon deposits in the east of the Siberian platform (Kyulenke river basin)

Relevance. The need to study high-carbon deposits as potential sources of hydrocarbons and ore minerals that can significantly increase the mineral resource of Russia. In addition, the analysis of lithological and geochemical features and the reconstruction of the sedimentation conditions of the Kuonamka Formation make it possible to more accurately judge the nature of the Lower and Middle Cambrian paleobasin in the east of the Siberian Platform. Aim. To identify lithological and geochemical features of the composition and determine the sedimentation environment of the Kuonamka Formation. Object. High-carbon deposits of the Kuonamka Formation uncovered by exploration wells on the eastern margin of the Mun arch of the Siberian platform in the Kulenke river basin. Methods. Lithological description of core material; mineralogical and petrographic analysis; X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and microelement analysis; determination of the content of sulfur and iron forms by wet chemistry; scanning electron microscopy using X-ray spectral microprobe; analysis of petrochemical modules. Results. It was established that the Kuonamka Formation in the studied sections has a consistent structure of four well-defined lithological-stratigraphic horizons. The composition of the deposits is predominantly mixed and is determined by variations in three main mineral groups: clay, carbonate and siliceous, in addition organic matter. The paper demonstrates different forms of organic matter confirming the mixed algal-bacterial genesis of the biocenosis of the Kuonamka basin. The revealed lithological features and lithochemical data indicate the accumulation of high-carbon deposits at a considerable distance from the drift sources in the depression zone of the open sea basin with weak circulation of bottom waters in anoxic conditions. The geochemical euxinic environment was dominant in carbonate-siliceous muds. Sedimentation occurred during one major transgressive-regressive sedimentation cycle being a typical sequence of filling a uncompensated deep depression.

Dual-functional ionic liquids additive enables dendrite-free Zn anode with ultra-long cycle life over one year

Zn anodes suffer from the formation of uncontrolled dendrites aggravated by the uneven electric field and the insulating by-product accumulation in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). Here, an effective strategy implemented by 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate (BMIHSO4) additive is proposed to synergistically tune the crystallographic orientation of zinc deposition and suppress the formation of zinc hydroxide sulfate for enhancing the reversibility on Zn anode surface. As a competing cation, BMI+ is proved to preferably adsorb on Zn-electrode compared with H2O molecules, which shields the “tip effect” and inhibits the Zn-deposition agglomerations to inducing the horizontal growth along Zn (002) crystallographic texture. Simultaneously, the protonated BMIHSO4 additives could remove the detrimental OH– in real-time to fundamentally eliminate the accumulation of 6Zn(OH)2·ZnSO4·4H2O and Zn4SO4(OH)6·H2O on Zn anode surface. Consequently, Zn anode exhibits an ultra-long cycling stability of one year (8762 h) at 0.2 mA cm−2/0.2 mAh cm−2, 3600 h at 2 mA cm−2/2 mAh cm−2 with a high plating cumulative capacity of 3.6 Ah cm−2, and a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.6 % throughout 1000 cycles. This work of regulating Zn deposition texture combined with eliminating notorious by-products could offer a desirable way for stabilizing the Zn-anode/electrolyte interface in AZIBs.

Recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries into SO2‑tolerant low temperature NH3-SCR catalyst

Lithium-ion batteries will usher in a large-scale decommissioning wave, and how to resourcefully recycle spent lithium-ion batteries is a hot issue in today's environmental protection business. In this work, a catalyst with excellent catalytic activity and SO2 resistance was designed by modulating the morphology of the catalyst through the mixed solvent of water-polyethylene glycol using the spent lithium-ion batteries cathode materials, analyzed the impact of the ratio of water to polyethylene glycol on the anti-H2O, anti-SO2 and physicochemical properties of the catalysts. The NiCoMnOx-20PEG catalysts prepared when the polyethylene glycol: deionized water ratio was 1:3 showed a spherical structure assembled by needles and flakes, with smooth surfaces and uniform distribution, which resulted in stable catalysts and avoided pore clogging during the reaction process, and achieved near 100% NOx conversion at 80 ∼ 250 °C. The NOx conversion remained at 87.31% after 12 h of SO2 and H2O at 170 °C. The addition of polyethylene glycol can significantly delay the combination the sulfur dioxide and active sites and reduce the formation of sulfate, thus improving the catalyst's resistance to sulfur toxicity.

More evidence on primary sulfate emission from residential coal combustion in northern China: Insights from the size-segregated chemical profile, morphology, and sulfur isotope

This study addresses the ongoing debate concerning the origin of ambient sulfate in northern China, and provides more evidence for primary sulfate from the perspective of source emission. An extensive field experiment was conducted, involving the collection of size-segregated particulate matter emitted under various coal types and combustion conditions for subsequent analysis. Our findings reveal that residential coal combustion (RCC) emits significant amounts of primary sulfate, constituting approximately 26.48 ± 15.43% of the particulate mass. Moreover, these emissions exhibit a strong association with NH4+, leading to the formation of stable ammonium sulfate compounds. The emission of sulfate is intricately linked to both coal quality and combustion conditions. Notably, the oversight of δ34S isotope enrichment in RCC particulate matter, which distinctly differs from the raw coal, introduces uncertainties in the quantitative assessment of sulfate sources and formation pathways. Therefore, more in-depth explorations are necessary to elucidate the precise processes involved in RCC sulfate transformation and to accurately determine its environmental impact.

Incipient carbonate melting drives metal and sulfur mobilization in the mantle.

We present results from high-pressure, high-temperature experiments that generate incipient carbonate melts at mantle conditions (~90 kilometers depth and temperatures between 750° and 1050°C). We show that these primitive carbonate melts can sequester sulfur in its oxidized form of sulfate, as well as base and precious metals from mantle lithologies of peridotite and pyroxenite. It is proposed that these carbonate sulfur-rich melts may be more widespread than previously thought and that they may play a first-order role in the metallogenic enhancement of localized lithospheric domains. They act as effective agents to dissolve, redistribute, and concentrate metals within discrete domains of the mantle and into shallower regions within Earth, where dynamic physicochemical processes can lead to ore genesis at various crustal depths.

Dietary Zn Deficiency Inhibits Cell Proliferation via the GPR39-Mediated Suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway in the Jejunum of Broilers.

A prior investigation revealed that a lack of Zinc (Zn) could hinder intestinal cell proliferation in broiler chickens; however, the mechanisms responsible for this effect remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the possible mechanisms of dietary Zn deficiency in inhibiting the jejunal cell proliferation of broilers. For this study, a total of 112 chickens (21 days old) were randomly divided into two treatments (seven replicate cages per treatment, eight chickens per replicate cage): the control group (CON) and the Zn deficiency group. The duration of feeding was 21 d. Chickens in the control group were provided with a basal diet containing an extra addition of 40 mg Zn/kg in the form of Zn sulfate, whereas chickens in the Zn deficiency group were given the basal diet with no Zn supplementation. The results indicated that, in comparison to the CON, Zn deficiency increased (p < 0.05) the duodenal and jejunal crypt depth (CD) of broilers on d 28 and jejunal and ileal CD on d 35, and decreased (p < 0.05) the duodenal, jejunal, and ileal villus height/crypt depth (VH/CD) on d 28 and the jejunal VH, jejunal and ileal villus surface area, and VH/CD on d 35. Furthermore, Zn deficiency decreased (p < 0.0001) the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells and downregulated (p < 0.01) the mRNA or protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated PI3K, phosphorylated serine-threonine kinase (AKT), phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39), and extracellular-regulated protein kinase, but upregulated (p < 0.05) the mRNA or protein expression levels of P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) 1 and JNK2, and phosphorylated protein kinase C in the jejunum of the broilers on d 42. It was concluded that dietary Zn deficiency inhibited cell proliferation possibly via the GPR39-mediated suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in the jejunum of broilers.

Life cycle assessment of ammonium sulfate recovery from urban wastewater

ABSTRACT Anthropogenic nitrogen fluxes are profoundly altering the global biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. Better management of these nitrogen fluxes is essential. Recovering nitrogen from urban wastewater reduces both the energy and resources required to produce nitrogen-based fertilizer and to remove nitrogen from wastewater collected. Nitrogen can be recovered from wastewater in the form of ammonium sulfate, a common nitrogen-based fertilizer. In the urban setting, the technology can be applied to target source-separated urine or municipal wastewater. To assess the environmental sustainability of this approach, this study compared the life cycle environmental impacts of ammonium sulfate recovered from urban wastewater (through eight different recovery technology trains) and ammonium sulfate produced by six different industrial processes. The results show that wastewater-derived ammonium sulfate generally has lower potential environmental impacts than industrially produced ammonium sulfate in most of the impact categories assessed. The impact for the source-separated urine centralized recovery train is the smallest. The contribution analysis shows that energy, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide use are the major contributors, while the background inventory analysis shows that the results can be sensitive to the choice of region-specific background inventory. In the future, nitrogen recovery from urban wastewater is promising for the circular economy in cities.