Concentration Of Free Radicals Research Articles

Modulating the γ-ray Protection Properties of Melanin via a Highly Conjugated Catechol Structure.

Melanin is a dark pigment found in many organisms that interacts with various forms of electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays, γ-rays, and Ultraviolet visible light, providing protection against radiation damage to the host. The mechanism by which melanin protects against ionizing radiation involves dissipating energy around the cell nucleus to form a perinuclear cap. Additionally, melanin reacts with the free radicals produced by the radiolysis of water, quenching reactive oxygen species. In this study, we introduced a conjugated monomer, hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP), which has a rigid planar structure, into selenomelanin. The aim was to increase the physical shielding ability of selenomelanin while increasing its free radical content. Our findings indicated that incorporating HHTP molecules into selenomelanin effectively increased the unpaired electron content of selenomelanin and protected immortalized human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells from 10 Gy γ-rays exposure. Additionally, eumelanin supplemented with HHTP molecules demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and offered similar protection to HaCaT cells exposed to 10 Gy γ-rays at high concentrations. This study is important for optimizing the functionality of melanin through the modulation of its conjugated structure.

Experimental study on controlled oxidation of active sites in closed fire zone thermal decomposition coal

ABSTRACT Reignition often occurs after the fire area is unsealed, many people attribute it to the reoxygenation of smoldering coal. However, there were also case of reignition after the fire area was extinguished. In this study, the optimal gas ratio was obtained and confirmed by controlled oxidation experiments under different ratios of O2-N2 and O2-CO2. The mechanism of controlled oxidation technology was investigated through experiments involving Multi-component Adsorption Breakthrough Curves, FTIR, and ESR. The results show that the thermal decomposition process of coal-generated numerous active sites, which led to the re-ignition of the closed fire zone. However, controlled oxidation technology can slowly consume the active sites without causing a drastic temperature rise. It is found that 5% O2 and 95% CO2 are the best atmospheres for controlled oxidation technology. Forty grams of coal was oxidized at room temperature under air conditions, and the coal core temperature rise rose 1.99°C. However, under controlled oxidizing gas atmosphere, the temperature rise was reduced by 71%. This was due to the controlled oxidized atmosphere impeding the reaction of coal with oxygen. The free radical content of the controlled oxidized coal was 3.01 × 1016 spins/g, which was lower than that of the air-oxidized coals. This difference was attributed to the suppression of free radical chain reactions in the controlled oxidized atmosphere. The research results provide a feasible idea to unseal the extinguished fire area safely.

The influence mechanism of thermal invasion on spontaneous combustion of different coals using continuous adiabatic heating and non-isothermal oxidation method

Within deep coal mines, the elevated ground temperature has the potential to induce thermal invasion, thereby exacerbating coal spontaneous combustion (CSC). To investigate the influence mechanism of thermal invasion on CSC, experiments were conducted using coals of different metamorphic degrees (lignite, bitumite, and anthracite) with a continuous adiabatic heating and non-isothermal oxidation method in an oxidation furnace and an in-situ ESR spectrometer. Thermal invasion markedly enhanced the inherent susceptibility of spontaneous combustion of coals by increasing the oxygen consumption rate and lowering the apparent activation energy. This enhancement results from active free radicals generated during thermal invasion which accelerated coal-oxygen reactions during non-isothermal oxidation. These free radicals were found to be mainly carbon-centred radicals adjacent to an oxygen atom (alkyl radicals). An increase in both the g-factor value and free radical concentration was observed with thermal invasion temperature and invasion duration, especially in lignite, leading to a surge of free radical concentration during non-isothermal oxidation. The active free radicals generated during thermal invasion can easily react with oxygen, providing heat for coal-oxygen reactions and enabling rapid free radical generation. These findings offer insights for developing CSC evaluation and prevention strategies in deep mines where high ground temperatures are encountered.

Ultra Stable X‐Ray Imaging Through a Mutually Reinforcing Strategy Between Perovskite Nanocrystal‐Polymethyltrifluoropropylsiloxane

AbstractThe instability of halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) and related composite polymer films posed considerable challenges for application in flexible optoelectronic devices. Herein, perovskite nanocrystal‐polymethyltrifluoropropylsiloxane (PNCs‐PMFS) composites are developed that exhibit outstanding optical stability and irradiation resistance through a mutually reinforcing strategy. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of PNCs‐PMFS remained stable after four heating cycles, whereas perovskite nanocrystal‐polydimethylsiloxane (PNCs‐PDMS) composites exhibited a 31% decrease in PL intensity. Moreover, PNCs‐PMFS demonstrated superior luminescence stability under UV and X‐ray irradiation due to strong ion‐dipole interactions between PNCs and trifluoromethyl (CF3) dipoles. Under γ‐ray irradiation (300 kGy), PNCs‐PMFS retained 73% (2.86 MPa) of the initial mechanical strength, while PMFS without PNCs retained only 51%. This enhancement is attributed to the effective reduction of free radical concentration in the system by PNCs, as confirmed by electron spin resonance (ESR) and curing curve. Density‐functional theory (DFT) calculations further indicated that PNCs adsorbed free radicals, thereby facilitating interfacial charge transfer and forming a stable resonance structure. These advancements enabled PNCs‐PMFS to serve as scintillation screens for X‐ray detection and imaging, achieving a spatial resolution of 19.0 lp mm−1 and a detection limit of 3.78 µGy s−1, offering novel insights for designing of X‐ray detectors in high‐energy radiation environments.

Influence of Uric Acid on Vascular and Cognitive Functions: Evidence for an Ambivalent Relationship

The growing recognition of the public health impact of cognitive impairment and dementia has sparked a global initiative to identify risk factors and develop strategies to prevent or slow the progression of these cognitive disorders. Uric acid, the end product of the metabolism of purine nucleotides, has been reported as a key factor of many conditions potentially involved in cognitive dysfunction/dementia. In addition, some studies support the hypothesis that elevated uric acid levels could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, slow down the decline of cognition, and delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, while other evidence achieves opposite positions. These discrepancies might reflect a biological ambivalence for uric acid depending on a very complex interplay of factors that include its concentrations achieved in biological fluids, the nature, and concentration of free radicals, the presence and concentration of other antioxidant molecules, potentially responsible for bi-directional effects of uric acid on brain health/functioning. In this narrative review, we attempt to elucidate the influential role of uric acid metabolism in cognitive functioning by discussing pathophysiological mechanisms putatively involved, being well aware that none of them can be considered one-sided due to the complexity of the human organism.

Honey-Derived Hydrochar Containing 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl Free Radical for Degradation of Aqueous Organic Pollutants

The increasing demand for greener technologies in environmental remediation makes carbon materials from biomass and its derivatives some of the most attractive resources for a sustainable future. However, integrating these materials with stable free radicals remains challenging. This study presents a straightforward one-pot hydrothermal route using raw honey as the carbon source and 4-amino 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (4-amino-TEMPO) as the free radical. The addition of TEMPO derivative initiates Maillard reactions between its amino group and the carbonyl groups of the carbohydrates in honey, resulting in the formation of a functionalized hydrochar with a spherical morphology (~ 8 μm). The presence of free radicals within the carbonaceous matrix was confirmed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, supported by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The free radical content was estimated at 0.4 mmol∙g-1. The material effectively removed methylene blue, fluorescein, and doxorubicin from water in the presence of green oxidants like hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite. After 24 h, removal efficiencies reached 92% for doxorubicin, 73% for methylene blue, and 23% for fluorescein. Moreover, the hydrochar demonstrated good regeneration capability, maintaining its dye removal efficiency over several cycles.

Tracking Long-Lived Free Radicals in Dandelion Caused by Air Pollution Using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Studies on particulate air pollution indicate that a new type of pollutant should be considered from mainly fossil fuel combustion and automobile exhaust emissions, i.e., environmentally persistent free radicals. These radicals, ubiquitous in the environment, have a long life span and are capable of producing harmful reactive oxygen species. Samples of dandelion were collected in 2020 and 2021 in spring and late summer. Roots, leaves, flower stalks, and inflorescences of Taraxacum sp. were collected from six sites with three plants each, along with monitoring of particulate matter air pollution. Four sites were located at streets with heavy traffic and two were control sites in the rural part of the city. The free radical content in each part of the plant was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance. The leaf was selected as the most appropriate part of the plant for the measurement of carbon-derived free radicals. The geff value and the total number of spins were calculated. Relationships were found between location, season, and measurements. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum consists of at least two components, which can be attributed to C-type radicals and mixed C + O radicals. Their increase in numbers in the fall seasons, compared to the spring seasons, is also noticeable. It has also been observed that leaves collected in autumn have a higher geff value, which is probably related to the higher amount of oxygen- and carbon-derived free radicals.

Effective Enrichment of Free Radicals through Nanoconfinement Boosts Electrochemiluminescence of Carbon Dots Derived from Luminol.

Local enrichment of free radicals at the electrode interface may open new opportunities for the development of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) applications. The sensing platform was constructed by assembling ECL-emitting luminol derived carbon dots (Lu CDs) onto the heterojunction Tungsten disulfide/Covalent organic frameworks (WS2@COF) for the first time, establishing a nanoconfinement-reactor with significantly heightened ECL intensity and stability compared to the Lu CDs-H2O2 system. This enhanced performance is credited to the COF domain's restricted pore environment, where WS2@COF exhibits a more negative adsorption energy for H2O2, effectively enriching H2O2 in the catalytic edge sites of WS2. Furthermore, the internal electric field at the WS2 and COF interface accelerates electron flow, boosting WS2's catalytic activity and achieving domain-limited catalytic enhancement of ECL. Self-designed DNA nanomachines combined with cascading molecular keypad locking mechanisms are integrated into the biosensors, effectively guaranteeing the accuracy of the sensing process while providing crucial safeguards for molecular diagnostics and information security applications. In essence, this innovative approach represents the first system to enhance local free radical concentrations by enriching co-reactants on the electrode surface through nanoconfinement catalysis, yielding heightened ECL intensity. The potential impact of this novel strategy and sensing mechanism on real-bioanalysis applications is promising.

Effective Enrichment of Free Radicals through Nanoconfinement Boosts Electrochemiluminescence of Carbon Dots Derived from Luminol

AbstractLocal enrichment of free radicals at the electrode interface may open new opportunities for the development of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) applications. The sensing platform was constructed by assembling ECL‐emitting luminol derived carbon dots (Lu CDs) onto the heterojunction Tungsten disulfide/Covalent organic frameworks (WS2@COF) for the first time, establishing a nanoconfinement‐reactor with significantly heightened ECL intensity and stability compared to the Lu CDs‐H2O2 system. This enhanced performance is credited to the COF domain‘s restricted pore environment, where WS2@COF exhibits a more negative adsorption energy for H2O2, effectively enriching H2O2 in the catalytic edge sites of WS2. Furthermore, the internal electric field at the WS2 and COF interface accelerates electron flow, boosting WS2′s catalytic activity and achieving domain‐limited catalytic enhancement of ECL. Self‐designed DNA nanomachines combined with cascading molecular keypad locking mechanisms are integrated into the biosensors, effectively guaranteeing the accuracy of the sensing process while providing crucial safeguards for molecular diagnostics and information security applications. In essence, this innovative approach represents the first system to enhance local free radical concentrations by enriching co‐reactants on the electrode surface through nanoconfinement catalysis, yielding heightened ECL intensity. The potential impact of this novel strategy and sensing mechanism on real‐bioanalysis applications is promising.

Vitamin D Supplementation: Shedding Light on the Role of the Sunshine Vitamin in the Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Its Complications.

As the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) continues to increase globally, researchers are keen to investigate various interventions to mitigate its impact. Among these, vitamin D supplementation has attracted significant attention due to its influence on insulin secretion from the pancreas and insulin receptors in body cells. A substantial body of evidence indicates that vitamin D supplementation can reduce low-grade inflammation, a critical factor in developing insulin resistance. In addition, vitamin D aids in sustaining low resting concentrations of reactive oxygen species and free radicals, normalizes Ca2+ signaling, diminishes the expression of cytokines that are pro-inflammatory, and enhances the production of cytokines that are anti-inflammatory. This review discusses the effects of vitamin D on the glycemic control of individuals with T2DM and evaluates the impact of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic markers in this population. The investigation employs a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature with a special focus on recent studies published in the past decade. Based on the findings in the literature, it can be concluded that vitamin D supplementation alongside anti-diabetic medications may enhance glycemic control and potentially reduce the risk of diabetic complications. The evidence supports the notion that vitamin D supplementation can be a valuable addition to pharmacological agents for the management of T2DM, potentially enhancing glycemic control and overall health outcomes in affected individuals.

Synergistic inhibition effect and mechanism of an inhibitor for entire process inhibition of coal spontaneous combustion

Traditional coal spontaneous combustion (CSC) inhibitors, while effective, have limitations such as frequent application or short-term efficacy. To this end, we developed a slow-release and water-soluble synergistic inhibitor (SWSI) to achieve long-term CSC inhibition. The SWSI was formulated by integrating synergistic antioxidants (SA) composed of ascorbic acid (AsA) and Fe-superoxide dismutase (Fe-SOD) dissolved in a super absorbent polymer (SAP) encapsulated within hydrogel microcapsules. The effectiveness of SWSI was evaluated through simultaneous thermal analysis and in-situ free radical tests. The formulation optimization demonstrated that AsA and Fe-SOD had the maximum synergistic inhibition effect at a 1:1 molar ratio. The optimal SA: SAP ratio of 3:1 achieved the lowest oxygen consumption rate and highest inhibition rate. The encapsulation formulation, consisting of 3% SA, 6% PAM, 1% CaCl2, and 0.5% citric acid, generated the highest swelling ratio. Simultaneous thermal analysis and in-situ free radical tests indicated that SWSI greatly increased feature temperatures and the apparent activation energy, lowered reaction heat, and substantially reduced free radical concentration in the full oxidation process. The newly developed SWSI offers a significant advancement in long-term CSC prevention by integrating physical and chemical inhibition, which provides sustained and effective inhibition throughout the entire oxidation process.

Numerical Study on the Explosion Reaction Mechanism of Multicomponent Combustible Gas in Coal Mines

Combustible gases, such as CO, CH4, and H2, are produced during spontaneous coal combustion in goaf, which may cause an explosion under the stimulation of an external fire source. It is of great significance to study the influence of combustible gases, such as CO and H2, on the characteristics of a gas explosion. In this study, CHEMKIN software (Version 17.0) and the GRI-Mech 3.0 reaction mechanism were used to study the influences of different concentration ratios between CO and H2 on the ignition delay time, free radical concentration, and key reaction step of a gas explosion. The results show that the increase in the initial CH4 and CO concentrations prolonged the ignition delay time, while the increase in the H2 concentration shortened the time and accelerated the explosion reaction. The addition of H2 promoted the generation of free radicals (H⸱, O⸱, ⸱OH) and accelerated the occurrence of the gas explosion. CO generated ⸱OH free radicals and dominated the methane consumption through the R119 and R156 reactions. As the concentrations of CO and H2 increased, the R38 reaction gradually became the main driving factor of the gas explosion.

Direct liquefaction behavior of Shenhua Shangwan coal under CO containing atmosphere

Direct coal liquefaction (DCL) under CO or syngas atmosphere is beneficial to reduce the cost of hydrogen production. Effects of CO on liquefaction process of Shangwan coal were investigated by comparing the liquefaction behavior in three atmospheres of CO, H2, and N2. Then, effects of different CO/H2 ratios and catalysts on the liquefaction process in syngas were investigated. The results indicated that the oil yield under CO atmosphere reached 43.1%, which was 4.2% lower than that under H2, but 10.2% higher than that under N2. The liquefaction performance was further improved by adding the Shenhua 863 catalyst. It is analyzed that CO promoted liquefaction in two ways: water-gas shift reaction and the reaction between CO and organic structures of coal. Through characterization of the products by GC-MS and FT-IR, it was found that CO makes benzenes, aliphatics, and oxygen-containing compounds in liquefied oil simultaneously increased. The effect on functional groups and free radicals concentration in the solid products was not obvious. The experimental results under syngas showed that the highest oil yield, 57.4%, can be obtained in DCL with 20% CO syngas, and further improved by increasing moisture content of coal appropriately. In addition, the Shenhua 863 catalyst had a good catalytic effect on the liquefaction process and also water-gas shift reaction.

Correlating color with free radical concentration in irradiated poly(ethylene terephthalate)

When polymers are irradiated, free radicals form, often accompanied by yellowing in the material. This color gradually fades after active irradiation due to the decay of free radicals. This study analyzed the kinetics of post-irradiated PET discoloration under different temperatures using a UV–visible spectrophotometer. Meanwhile, the free radical decay was also monitored using the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements, and then both experiments were compared. The results illustrate the potential of readily available spectrophotometry as an alternative method to track free radical evolution in irradiated polymers because free radical decay leads to the disappearance of annealable color centers over time. Furthermore, PET structure modification by irradiation was studied using extensional rheological analysis. The observed strain hardening suggests the evolution of long-chain branching structures in post-irradiated PET, especially at 50 kGy irradiation absorbed dose.

Changes in Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Parameters Caused by Addition of Amphotericin B to Cladosporium cladosporioides Melanin and DOPA-Melanin-Free Radical Studies.

Cladosporium cladosporioides are the pigmented soil fungi containing melanin. The aim of this work was to determine the influence of amphotericin B on free radicals in the natural melanin isolated from pigmented fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and to compare it with the effect in synthetic DOPA-melanin. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra were measured at X-band (9.3 GHz) with microwave power in the range of 2.2-70 mW. Amplitudes, integral intensities, linewidths of the EPR spectra, and g factors, were analyzed. The concentrations of free radicals in the tested melanin samples were determined. Microwave saturation of EPR lines indicates the presence of pheomelanin in addition to eumelanin in Cladosporium cladosporioides. o-Semiquinone free radicals in concentrations ~1020 [spin/g] exist in the tested melanin samples and in their complexes with amphotericin B. Changes in concentrations of free radicals in the examined synthetic and natural melanin point out their participation in the formation of amphotericin B binding to melanin. A different influence of amphotericin B on free radical concentration in Cladosporium cladosporioides melanin and in DOPA-melanin may be caused by the occurrence of pheomelanin in addition to eumelanin in Cladosporium cladosporioides. The advanced spectral analysis in the wide range of microwave powers made it possible to compare changes in the free radical systems of different melanin polymers. This study is important for knowledge about the role of free radicals in the interactions of melanin with drugs.

Free radical quantification in chemical systems: Challenges and future perspectives

The importance of free radicals in several chemical and biological systems has been extensively documented in the literature. Free radical detection is possible through techniques such as electron spin resonance (ESR), chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP), and biochemiluminescence. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of free radical detection, with an emphasis on free radical quantification. The ability to control free radical reactions of various matrices necessitates measuring free radical concentration, which can be obtained by quantifying free radicals. In the current work, we provide a review of various methods and procedures employed for free radical quantification in chemical systems. Procedures were discussed in detail and then grouped based on the instrument used, the operating conditions, and the methodology employed to convert the ESR signal obtained to free radical spins per unit mass of sample. We also provide a comparison with free radical quantification in biological systems. It was found that there is a notable dearth of work focused on quantification in chemical systems despite its potential to enhance control over free radicals. In the last part of this manuscript, we provide a summary and suggested methodology for free radical quantification in chemical systems using ESR focusing on factors affecting quantification.

Visible-light-driven Bi2WO6/biochar composite photocatalyst efficiently degrades 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and 17β-estradiol (E2) under persulfate synergy

Biochar (BC) composite photocatalysts have attracted much attention by virtue of their high efficiency in removing endocrine disruptors (EDCs). However, there has been a lack of systematic research on the mechanism and constitutive relationship of BC on photocatalysts, which has seriously impeded the development process in this field. In this study, Bi2WO6–BC2% composite photocatalysts were prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and used for degradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and 17β-estradiol (E2) in conjunction with persulfate synergy (PS). The removal rate of EE2 and E2 by Bi2WO6–BC2% was as high as 99.41 % (12 min) and 97.84 % (15 min), respectively. Systematic studies have shown that BC enhances the catalytic activity mainly through the following ways, increasing the specific surface area of the photocatalytic system, enriching the types of functional groups, enhancing the separation ability of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and promoting the concentration of active free radicals. The results of the phytotoxicity experiments showed that compared to the EE2 or E2 pollutant solutions, the stem and root lengths of V. radiata increased by 93.63 % and 389.58 % in EE2 metabolites, and by 117.35 % and 160.38 % in E2 metabolites. Similarly, the stem and root lengths of P. vulgaris increased by 80.08 % and 174.91 % in EE2 metabolites, and by 188.92 % and 345.75 % in E2 metabolites. This work not only fills the gap in the study of the mechanism of action of BC, but also provides a green catalyst with very excellent photocatalytic efficiency and detoxification properties.

EFFECT OF ADDING N2/H2O TO ETHYLENE LAMINAR DIFFUSION FLAME ON SOOT FORMATION

Abstract The method of adding exhaust gas to fuel to reduce soot and NOX is called Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR). This paper was carried out to investigate the effect of adding N2 and H2O to the fuel side to dilute ethylene on soot generation in laminar diffusion flame by combining experiment and numerical simulation. In the experiment, the flame was optically detected, and the volume fraction of soot and temperature was reconstructed. The numerical simulation adopts a simplified GRI-Mech 3.0 ethylene 23-step combustion reaction mechanism. It introduces virtual species FX (F1H2O, F2H2O, F3H2O) to isolate the effects of H2O addition on thermal, transport, chemical, and density effects. The results show that the numerical values agree well with the experimental results. At the same dilution ratio, the direct involvement of H2O in the reaction affects the flame temperature and intermediate products, leading to a more significant suppressing effect on soot than N2 dilution. After decoupling the effects of H2O, it was found that there are two main reasons for the decrease of soot caused by the addition of H2O. The first is the dilution effect and thermal effect, which hinder the HACA reaction by reducing the concentration of intermediate component C2H2, greatly inhibiting the surface growth rate of soot, and playing a decisive role in reducing the formation of soot. The second is the chemical effect, which mainly enhances the oxidation process of soot by increasing the concentration of OH free radicals during combustion through the elementary reaction OH+H2↔H+H2O. Additionally, the degree of influence of various effects on soot was qualitatively determined as follows: dilution effect > chemical effect > thermal effect > density effect > transport effect.

Biostimulation of humic acids on Lepidium sativum L. regulated by their content of stable phenolic O⋅ radicals

BackgroundHumic acid affects plant growth. Its source and structure may play a central role to its functionality. The relationship between humic acid and plant bioactivity is still unclear. This study investigated the biostimulation effects of two natural humic acids derived from soil (SHA) and lignite (LHA) on Lepidium sativum in comparison to a synthetic humic acid model (HALP) with known structure.ResultsAll humic acids positively affected cress seed germination and root elongation. Greater root hairs density and dry matter, compared to control, were observed using concentration of 5 mg L−1 for HALP, 50 mg L−1 for LHA, and 100 mg L−1 for SHA. The germination index was the largest (698% more effective than control) with 50 mg L−1 of SHA, while it was 528% for LHA, and 493% for HALP at 5 mg L−1. SHA contained the lowest aromatic and phenolic C content, the largest pK2 value of 9.0 (7.7 for LHA and 7.6 for HALP), the least ratio between the aromaticity index and lignin ratio (ARM/LigR) of 0.15 (0.66 for LHA and 129.92 for HALP), and at pH 6.3 the lowest amount of free radicals with a value of 0.567 × 1017 spin g−1 (1.670 × 1017 and 1.780 × 1017 spin g−1 for LHA and HALP, respectively), with the greatest g value of 2.0039 (2.0035 for LHA and 2.0037 for HALP).ConclusionsThe overall chemical structure of humic acids exerted a biostimulation of cress plantlets. The level of the intrinsic stable free radicals identified by EPR in the humic acids resulted well correlated to the ARM/LigR ratio calculated by NMR. Our results suggested that HA biostimulation effect is related to its applied concentration, which is limited by its free radical content. The modulation of the humic supramolecular structure by ROS and organic acids in root exudates can determine the release of bioactive humic molecules. When the content of the intrinsic humic free radicals is high, possible molecular coupling of the bioactive humic molecules may hinder their biostimulation activity. In such cases, a low humic acid concentration appears to be required to achieve the optimum biostimulation effects.Graphical

Numerical investigation of NO generation reaction pathway with novel embedded flue-gas internal recirculation combustion loop consisting of flue-gas and CH4-air mixture

The novel embedded flue-gas internal recirculation (FIR) combustion technology has garnered increasing attention in gas burners due to its notable advantages in combustion efficiency and ultra-low NOx emissions. In this study, we design FIR channels for a gas burner and investigate the impact of recirculation ratio (R) on temperature, combustion efficiency, concentrations of free radicals (H, O, CH), and NO concentration via Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. In addition, this paper explores and elucidates the dynamics of four NO production pathways, namely, thermal NO, prompt NO, N2O, and NNH, as well as the contributions of the four pathways to total NO. Observations indicate a constrained range of FIR recirculation ratios, specifically between 23.2 % and 35 %. The combustion efficiency of the FIR burner is 96 % and 99.8 % at R = 23.8 % and R = 35.0 %, which is superior to conventional burners. Moreover, as R increases, both pathways for NO generation from N2O and NNH are intensified as R exceeds 23.8 %. In the embedded FIR combustion system, the contribution of N2O to total NO increases from 0.23 % to 0.78 %, while the percentage of prompt NO decreases to 0.19 %. These findings provide a development direction and technical guidance for the practical implementation of the embedded FIR technology.