High Fe Content Research Articles

Unveiling the genetic potential and diversity of rice landraces for grain Fe content

Addressing micronutrient deficiency is increasingly recognized as a critical aspect of food and nutrition security in developing nations. Leveraging diverse genetic resources offers a promising avenue for identifying and enhancing micronutrient-rich genotypes through breeding strategies, thus providing sustainable solutions to this pressing challenge. The study aimed to identify rice genotypes with high Fe content and to study the extent of genetic divergence based on morphological and grain quality traits in a set of 50 native rice landraces over 2 different locations. A wide range of variation for grain Fe content was observed among the studied genotypes, which varied from 9.28–14.45 mg kg-1 and 1.88–4.87 mg kg-1 in brown and polished rice respectively. Results showed that the genotypes Jaya, Kalanamak, Kottara Samba, Gandakasala and Gopalbhog recorded high grain Fe content before polishing whereas Kottara Samba, Kalapathi Black, Jyothi, Chinnar and Kalanamak were found to have high Fe content after polishing. Interestingly, landraces possessing red seed coat color and medium slender grain group were identified to possess high grain Fe content. This was further substantiated by the correlation study where kernel breadth recorded a negative association with Fe content after polishing. Clustering resulted in 5 groups where the high Fe content possessing genotypes were grouped into clusters 2 and 4. Thus, these genotypes could be utilized as donors in further bio-fortification breeding programs.

Nutritional and Functional Characterization of Chia Expeller and Gluten-Free Flours as Ingredients for Premixes.

The growing consumer demand for healthier foods that help reduce the risk of chronic diseases has driven the food industry to innovate with nutritionally and technologically viable products. This trend and the nutritional gaps in gluten-free diets have spurred the exploration of unconventional, high-quality ingredients like flour from pseudocereals, legumes, and oilseeds. This study evaluated the nutritional and functional profiles of chia expeller and flours from buckwheat, green/yellow peas, and rice to study their potential as techno-functional ingredients for new gluten-free premixes. Chia expeller, rich in protein, lipids, and fiber, with a notable fatty acid profile -particularly α-linolenic and linoleic acids- and significant levels of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, P, and Na, emerged as a standout ingredient. It also demonstrated remarkable water-binding functionality. Pea flours were notable for their high protein, Ca, Cl, Fe, and linoleic acid content. Meanwhile, rice and buckwheat flours were distinguished by their carbohydrate and oleic acid content. Buckwheat also provides substantial Mg and Zn, while rice flour stood out for its higher brightness. These findings underscore the potential of these flours to contribute to the development of functional foods tailored to meet specific nutritional needs and consumer preferences for healthier options. The distinct functional properties of each flour type can contribute to making targeted formulations, improving the technological properties of gluten-free products.

Mechanisms by Which Soil Solution Fe2+ Affects Seedling Growth of Rice Under Rice Straw Return

Rice straw return plays an important role in sustainable agricultural development, but the impact of rice straw return on rice growth remains inconclusive. In this experiment, we employed a combination of soil and water cultivation experiments to investigate the impact of rice straw return on seedling growth of rice in Northeast China. This study demonstrated that rice straw return inhibited rice plant growth within 37 days but was no longer significant after 37 days. Rice straw return resulted in an increase in iron(II) (Fe2+) concentration of soil solution. The hydroponic test demonstrated that a high concentration of Fe2+ significantly increased the uptake of Fe, reduced the H2O2 content in root, facilitated the formation of root iron plaque, and inhibited the dry weight at the rice seedling stage, in comparison to a nutrient solution with a normal Fe2+ concentration. The increased Fe2+ concentration of soil solution under rice straw return may be a significant factor in the inhibition of rice seedling growth. Moreover, in field management, this study also linked the amount of rice straw returned and soil solution Fe2+ to provide a clear quantitative guide without affecting plant growth.

Microstructural modification in an Al-Mg-Si (6082) alloy with high Fe content using inoculation and/or high-intensity ultrasonication

Microstructural modification in an Al-Mg-Si (6082) alloy with high Fe content using inoculation and/or high-intensity ultrasonication

Peroxidase (POD) Mimicking Activity of Different Types of Poly(ethyleneimine)-Mediated Prussian Blue Nanoparticles.

Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) have been identified as a promising candidate for biomimetic peroxidase (POD)-like activity, specifically due to the metal centres (Fe3+/Fe2+) of Prussian blue (PB), which have the potential to function as catalytically active centres. The decoration of PBNPs with desired functional polymers (such as amino- or carboxylate-based) primarily facilitates the subsequent linkage of biomolecules to the nanoparticles for their use in biosensor applications. Thus, the elucidation of the catalytic POD mimicry of these systems is of significant scientific interest but has not been investigated in depth yet. In this report, we studied a series of poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI)-mediated PBNPs (PB/PEI NPs) prepared using various synthesis protocols. The resulting range of particles with varying size (~19-92 nm) and shape combinations were characterised in order to gain insights into their physicochemical properties. The POD-like nanozyme activity of these nanoparticles was then investigated by utilising a 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)/H2O2 system, with the catalytic performance of the natural enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) serving as a point of comparison. It was shown that most PB/PEI NPs displayed higher catalytic activity than the PBNPs, with higher activity observed in particles of smaller size, higher Fe content, and higher Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio. Furthermore, the nanoparticles demonstrated enhanced chemical stability in the presence of acid, sodium azide, or high concentrations of H2O2 when compared to HRP, confirming the viability of PB/PEI NPs as a promising nanozymatic material. This study disseminates fundamental knowledge on PB/PEI NPs and their POD-like activities, which will facilitate the selection of an appropriate particle type for future biosensor applications.

Recovery of Different Cu-Phases from Industrial Wastewater

The dominant treatment process for removing heavy metals from industrial wastewater is chemical neutralisation precipitation using lime milk as a precipitation agent, resulting in a highly voluminous hydroxide sludge with a low heavy metal concentration. These sludges are predominantly landfilled, and the metals are lost to the circular economy. At the same time, metals are urgently needed as raw materials. A new approach is represented by the low-pressure, low-energy Specific Product-Oriented Precipitation process (SPOP). This approach, however, requires the adjustment of various reaction parameters for optimal operation. This study presents the impacts of the stirring rate during the reaction and the Fe concentration in the solution on the recovery of Cu from Cu-enriched electroplating wastewater. Three different recovery options are described: Option (1), the formation of CuO; Option (2), the generation of brochantite, a Cu-hydroxysulphate; and Option (3), the incorporation of Cu into ferrite. Tenorite (CuO) is precipitated at 40 °C reaction temperature at a low stirring rate of 100–200 rpm. At an accelerated stirring rate of 400–500 rpm, brochantite (Cu4(OH)6SO4) is formed. With high Fe concentrations and a molar ratio of Cu:Fe of 1:2, Cu-ferrite (CuFe2O4) is the precipitation product. In any case, the achieved recovery rates in the treated wastewater are better than 99.9%.

Hydrochemical characteristics of water quality of the Bystrytsia River basin (Lviv region)

The article investigates the hydrochemical composition of water in the Bystrytsia River basin. The ratio of the main water ions was determined and it was found that along the flow the hydrochemical facies of water changes from HCO3-–Ca2+ to HCO3-–Ca2+–Mg2+. River water has an average mineralization, which increases from 391 mg/l to 463 mg/l. The reaction of the environment in the Bystrytsia River basin is mostly slightly alkaline (pH=8.15) and changes to neutral (pH=7.2) in the village of Hrushiv. Permanganate oxidation of river water in the village of Velyka Ozymyna is higher than in other areas and is associated with the presence of lowland peatlands in this area, which are a source of humic acids. A tendency for a gradual increase in phosphates P–PO43- from the river source to its mouth and sudden changes in the concentration of nitrates N–NO3- has been noted. The contamination coefficients of such biogenic elements are less than 1. Ammonium ions, nitrites and many heavy metals (Zn, Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb) were not detected in the river water of the Bystrytsіa river basin. The water in the Bystrytsia River basin corresponds to class 1 according to the water pollution index (very clean, IW=0.02-0.16) and this indicator is 1.8 times lower than in the Dniester River. The increase in the water pollution index along the river is due to increases in the multiplicity of phosphates in the water. The ecological state of water in the Bystrytsia River basin using the complex indicator СPES was determined to be stable with features of instability (CPESmin=-0.61 and CPESav=0.87), instability was detected in the Novoshytska HPP reservoir, in the villages of Zalokot and Urizh. The negative complex indicator of the ecological state of water in these areas corresponds to the sanitary and toxicological indicators (CPES 3) and is due to the influence of magnesium ions, which dominate over Ca2+ ions in river water, form the HCO3- – Mg2+ or HCO3- – Mg2+ – Ca2+ hydrochemical facies and exceed the permissible content. A stable water state with features of instability has been established in the Dniester and Cherkhavka rivers. According to the IZV, the waters are very clean, but have increased mineralization (>500 mg/l), higher hardness (5.8 and 4.7 mmol-eq/l), stronger acidity (pH=7.2 especially in the Dniester), higher permanganate oxidation (4.2 mg O/l mostly in the Dniester), higher concentration of Fe3+ ions (4.9 μg/ml mostly in the Dniester). The hydrochemical composition of the water is different: HCO3- – Ca2+ – Mg2+ in the Dniester and Ca2+– HCO3- – Na+ in the Cherkhavka. These analytical results would be useful for building a hydrological conceptual model that ensures better use of the natural water system in the Bystrytsia River basin. Key words: Bystrytsia River basin; main ions; biogenic components; chemical oxygen demand; water pollution index; water quality assessment by a complex indicator.

Fe-bearing magnesium silicate glasses for potential supplementary cementitious applications

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) are used to minimize CO2 emissions associated with cement production. However, their global supply is insufficient to meet the growing market demand for cement and concrete, being essential to develop alternative SCMs based on abundant waste streams and low-cost resources. Fe-bearing Mg-based glasses are promising candidates with the potential to utilize high-volume feedstocks rich in Fe and Mg, but their effectiveness relies on deep understanding of the relationship between glass composition, reactivity, and pozzolanic properties. In this study, Fe-Mg silicate glasses with varying Fe concentrations were precisely engineered through a sol-gel route to better understand the impact of Fe on the glass structure and reactivity. While Fe3+ typically acts as a glass network former, it was observed to also function as an intermediate cation, behaving either as a network former or modifier. Glass reactivity was assessed through aqueous dissolution tests, revealing that the composition and chemical environment of Fe3+ within the glass network significantly influence the dissolution behavior. The introduction of Fe into Mg-Si glasses increased overall reactivity, potentially due to Fe-induced phase separation and the increasing of [FeO6] octahedra sites at higher Fe concentrations, which was also associated to network depolymerization. These findings deepen the understanding of the role of Fe3+ in magnesium silicate glasses, provide key insights into optimizing glass reactivity by fine-tuning the composition, and indicate the potential of these glasses as promising SCMs.

Micronutrient Content of Aboveground Biomass as Influenced by Different Proportions of Medicago media Pers. in Two-Component Alfalfa–Grass Mixtures

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different proportions of hybrid alfalfa (Medicago media Pers.) in two-component mixtures with festulolium (Festulolium braunii (K. Richt.) A. Camus) and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) on the micronutrient content of aboveground biomass. The study was conducted in 2011–2013 in Poland. The experiment had a split-plot design with four replications, and the experimental variables were as follows: (i) mixtures: Dactylis glomerata (Dg) + Medicago media (Mm) and Festulolium braunii (Fb) + Medicago media (Mm), and (ii) proportion of Medicago media seeds in the mixture: 30%, 50%, and 70%. Pure-sown Dactylis glomerata and pure-sown Festulolium braunii were the control treatments. The proportion of hybrid alfalfa in the biomass yield of mixtures increased throughout the study, and this species was the dominant component of the sward already in the second year, regardless of the proportion of sown seeds. Orchard grass exerted greater competitive pressure on alfalfa than festulolium. Pure-sown Dactylis glomerata accumulated more manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) than pure-sown Festulolium braunii; no significant differences in the copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) content of aboveground biomass were found between species. The aboveground biomass of mixtures was characterized by higher Cu content and lower Mn content than the biomass of grass monocultures. As a component of mixtures, alfalfa had a negative influence on the Fe content of aboveground biomass (dry matter basis). No significant differences in Cu and Mn content were observed between the mixtures. The Fb50% + Mm50% mixture had the highest Zn content, and the Fb70% + Mm30% mixture had the highest Fe content. The present findings suggest that practical two-component alfalfa–grass mixtures should be composed based on species competitiveness and selection of a grass component adapted to local agroecological conditions, rather than on the proportion of alfalfa seeds in the mixture.

Contribution of Anthropogenic and Lithogenic Aerosol Fe in the East China Sea

AbstractAerosol deposition is one of the major processes providing bioavailable Fe to the surface ocean. However, the quantification of aerosol Fe flux in the surface ocean is highly challenging operationally. In this study, we measured both Fe isotopic composition and specific elemental ratios in 5 size‐fraction aerosols collected over the East China Sea (ECS) to quantify the relative contribution of lithogenic and anthropogenic aerosol Fe. Both the isotopic and elemental ratios indicate that anthropogenic aerosol Fe mainly originates from high‐temperature combustion activities with the end member of the δ56Fe to be −4.5‰. We found that the Cd/Ti ratio is a much more reliable proxy to quantify the contribution of anthropogenic aerosol Fe in coarse aerosols than δ56Fe in the ECS. Attributed to extremely high deposition velocities and high total Fe concentrations for large size aerosols, lithogenic aerosols are still the dominant dissolved aerosol Fe source in the ECS.

Sustainable alloy design: Fe-enhanced Ti alloys for superior mechanical performance in additive manufacturing

The use of titanium (Ti) in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry has been steadily increasing. However, iron (Fe), a significant impurity originating from the sponge production process, is difficult to remove due to high energy requirements. Consequently, fully eliminating Fe from Ti is challenging and expensive. Understanding the role of Fe in Ti alloys and determining a maximum allowable threshold for AM is therefore critical. This knowledge could potentially relax current industry standards and enable the development of more sustainable Ti alloys. This study investigated the effect of Fe on the microstructure development and mechanical properties of Ti-Fe alloys, with a focus on their suitability for additive manufacturing. Through an in-situ alloying approach, Fe content was systematically increased from 0 to 3 wt%, leading to significant grain size reduction, from over 100 μm to less than 5 μm. These modifications in grain size and morphology, achieved by adjusting the Fe content in laser-based powder bed fusion (LPBF) fabricated Ti alloys, are directly related to substantial enhancements in the mechanical properties. The hardness increased from 171 to 366 HV, and the tensile strength effectively doubled from 426 to 1026 MPa while maintaining ductility. XRD analysis revealed the presence of a full α phase when the Fe content was ≤ 0.75 wt%. However, at higher Fe concentrations, small β peaks were observed. To identify the strengthening mechanisms, theoretical frameworks such as the Hall-Petch relationship and Labusch model were employed. Two significant inflection points were identified at Fe concentrations of 0.1 % and 1 wt%, indicating three important compositional ranges: Region #1 (Fe ≤ 0.1 wt%), Region #2 (0.1–1 wt% Fe), and Region #3 (1–3 wt% Fe). The strengthening mechanism in each region is discussed in detail.

Role of Glycine in the Electroless Fe-Ni-B Alloy Process for Power Semiconductor Devices

Pyrometallurgically produced Invar Fe-Ni alloys possessing an Fe content of 55–70 mass% exhibit a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Therefore, one can expect electroless deposited Invar Fe-Ni alloy films to also exhibit a low CTE comparable to those of semiconductor chips and insulating substrates used in semiconductor devices. However, a process for producing an Invar Fe-Ni alloy film by electroless plating has not been established and the thermal expansion properties of the obtained film have not been sufficiently investigated.We prepared electroless Fe-Ni-B alloy thin films using a citrate-pyrophosphate bath as a complexing agent and dimethylamine borane (DMAB) as a reducing agent, whereupon the thermal stress behavior of the thin films was evaluated [1]. In a previously reported plating process [1], the deposition rate of the Invar alloy plated film was 0.6 µm·h−1, which is too slow for practical applications. This deterioration in reaction rate of the electroless plating is caused by the high concentration of Fe2+, known as a stabilizer [2], in the plating bath. It is therefore necessary to improve the process to obtain the ~5–10 μm thickness required for high-density semiconductor packaging.In general, an increase in bath temperature and pH value improves the deposition rate, but this process limits the optimization of these operation conditions owing to the promotion of Fe2+ oxidation and the absence of stable complexes. Therefore, control of the deposition rate was attempted in this study by selecting a complexing agent in the plating bath. Here, we chose glycine [2], which is known to form a complex with Ni2+ in an electroless Ni plating bath and improve the deposition rate of electroless Ni. The glycine was added to the electroless Fe-Ni-B alloy plating bath, and the effect on the deposition of the Fe-Ni-B alloy film was investigated.Table 1 shows the electroless plating bath and plating conditions. The total metal-ion concentration was 50 mmol·L−1. A pure copper plate was used for the substrate, and a contact plating method was used where an aluminum plate was brought into contact with the substrate to initiate the deposition reaction. A 1 h plating time was used in each case.Fig. 1 shows Fe content and deposition rate of the electroless Fe-Ni-B alloy film obtained from the plating bath without or with addition of 1 to 100 mmol·L− 1 glycine, where ratios of Fe2+ / (Fe2+ + Ni2+) were 0.3 and 0.8. In both ratios of Fe2+ / (Fe2+ + Ni2+), Fe content was significantly reduced by adding of glycine of 10 mmol·L-1 or more. The deposition rate increased when glycine was added to the plating bath compared to that in the bath without glycine. When 100 mmol·L-1 of glycine was added, the deposition rate decreased compared to that when 10 mmol·L-1 was added.Using the stability constants of the complexes formed in the bath, it is estimated that when the glycine concentration is up to 10 mmol·L-1, it predominantly coordinates with Ni2+, whereas upon the addition of 100 mmol·L-1, it also forms complexes with Fe2+. As previously mentioned, the electroless plating process utilizing Ni2+ complex ions with glycine as a ligand exhibits a faster rate compared to deposition reactions involving other stable complex ions [2]. It is assumed that the Ni-glycine complex ion species with a high reduction rate becomes dominant in the plating bath containing 10 mmol·L-1 of glycine, so that the reduction rate of the Fe and Ni alloy is accelerated accompanied by acceleration of Ni2+ reduction and reached the maximum value.It turns out that by using glycine as a second complexing agent and optimizing its addition amount in an electroless Fe-Ni-B alloy plating bath, complex ions with a high reduction rate are formed, resulting in the improving of the deposition rate. Acknowledgement This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP24K08121.

Amelioration of Iron Deficiency in Direct Seeded Aerobic Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) with Iron Seed Priming in Textually Different Soils

ABSTRACT Deficiency of iron (Fe) in direct seeded aerobic rice (DSR) is a severe issue resulting in improper growth and low yield due to poor crop establishment. The Fe seed priming has potential to ensure enhanced growth and optimal Fe concentration in aerobic rice. Hence, field experiments were conducted in sandy loam and sandy clay loam soils with eight treatments i.e. T1-Control, T2-foliar application of ferrous sulfate (FeSO4.7 h2O-1.0%), T3-seed priming (FeSO4.7 h2O-0.5%Fe), T4-seed priming (FeSO4.7 h2O-1.0%Fe), T5-seed priming with ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid chelated iron (Fe-EDTA-0.25% Fe), T6-seed priming (EDTA-0.5% Fe), T7-seed priming with iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO NPs-0.025%Fe) and T8-seed priming (FeO NPs-0.05%Fe). The Fe seed priming resulted in considerable improvement in rice growth with maximum grain and straw yield of 6.23 and 11.9 t ha−1 in treatment T4, respectively. However, the treatment T6 showed significant increase in Fe concentration in paddy grain and straw over control. Similarly, higher Fe content in paddy foliage at 35and 70 days after sowing was observed in treatment T6.The percent increase in grain and straw yield of DSR was more in sandy loam soil than sandy clay loam soils. The Fe content in grain, straw and paddy foliage was higher in sandy clay loam soils than sandy loam soils. The sandy loam soil was more responsive than sandy clay loam soils. Thus, present study concluded that Fe seed priming with FeSO4.7 h2O (1.0%) is best forproper growth, adequate Fe content during growth stages and also to reduce the Fe deficiency in DSR.

Effect of Impact Energy on High Temperature Erosion-Corrosion Behavior of Ni-xFe Alloys in Fluidized Silica Sand

An internally circulating fluidized-bed boiler is composed of a combustion chamber and a heat recovery cell. The heat exchange tubes are exposed to complex erosive and corrosive conditions due to impact of sand particles under high-temperature corrosion in chlorine containing atmospheres, which results in the severe degradation of the materials. In general, protective coatings are applied on the heat exchange tubes to improve an erosion-corrosion (E-C) resistance. In our previous study, high-temperature E-C resistance of Ni-xFe alloys (x = 0, 10, and 30 wt.%) was found to increase with increasing Fe content because of a formation of the Fe-rich oxide scale, which is harder than a Ni oxide scale. However, factors affecting an E-C behavior such as the impact energy of sand particles and the salt concentration have yet to be sufficiently evaluated. In this study, the effect of the impact energy of silica sand on the high-temperature erosion-corrosion of Ni-xFe alloys was investigated.Pure Ni, Ni-10Fe and Ni-30Fe (wt%) alloys were prepared by Ar arc melting. Samples with a thickness of approximately 1mm were cut from the homogenized ingots and polished down to a 1200 grit using SiC papers. Figure 1 shows the schematic of the E-C test rig. The sample holder with affixed samples was inserted into the quartz tube containing silica sand (average particle size 500μm). The silica sand was heated to 700°C, and fluidized by compressed air preheated to 400°C at a flow rate of 25 L/min. The impact angle of the sand to the surface was set to be 45°, and the sample temperature was maintained at 360-380°C by water cooling of the sample holder. The salt vapor of KCl-40 mol.%NaCl-20 mol.%CaCl2 was continuously supplied from the bottom of quartz tube into sand by a compressed air. The impact energy of sand particles was set at 540 J/m2 and 1150 J/m2, which were calculated by a fluidized bed analysis. The high-temperature E-C test was stopped every 25 h or 50 h to change the silica sand and salt crucible , and continued for up to 100 h. After the E-C tests, the samples were analyzed by XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, and STEM. The STEM samples were prepared by using FIB.Figure 2 shows the relationship between the impact energy of silica sand and the mass change of each sample after 50 h of E-C test. The mass change at 0 J/m2 was defined as the mass change after the embedded corrosion test for 50 h in silica sand with 0.01 wt.% of KCl-40 mol.%NaCl-20 mol.%CaCl2 salts. The slope of the graph decreased with increasing Fe content, suggesting that the effect of impact energy on the E-C resistance became less pronounced for the alloy with higher Fe content. Regardless of the impact energy, no oxide scale formation was observed on the pure Ni after the E-C test, which indicates that mass loss might be caused by the erosion of the metal substrate. In Ni-10Fe, a thin (Fe, Ni) spinel was remained on outermost surface of the oxide scale and NiO containing several percent of Fe was remained beneath the spinel layer after the test at 540 J/m2, but no oxide scale was remained after the test at 1150 J/m2, which indicates that the mode of high temperature E-C might have changed from erosion of the oxide scale to that of the metal substrate as impact energy increased. In Ni-30Fe, Fe3O4 and (Fe, Ni) spinel was remained on most of the alloy surface after the test at 540 J/m2, suggesting that the E-C is predominated by erosion of oxide scale. However, some scratches due to the impact of sand particles were observed after the test at 1150 J/m2, and EDS analysis confirmed that the signals from oxygen was very weak on the scratched area, which indicates that not only the erosion of oxide scale but also the erosion of alloy substrate could occur in Ni-30Fe. These results suggest that the influence of impact energy depends on the type of oxide scale formed, and the dependence of the erosion rate constant on impact energy could be smaller for the Fe-rich oxide scale. Figure 1

Effects of Al Substitution for Fe in Na₅FeSi₄O₁₂ (5.1.8) Glasses: Structure and Crystallization

In this study, the effects of substituting Al for Fe in 5Na2O∙(Al2O3)x∙(Fe2O3)1-x∙8SiO2 glass, x=0 to 1, and Na5AlxFe1-xSi4O12 (5.1.8) crystal, were investigated using thermal analysis, Fe K-edge X-ray absorption, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and Electron Probe Microanalysis. In both glass and crystallized glass, nearly all the Fe was tetrahedrally coordinated Fe3+, as expected from the high concentration of Na2O. The substitution of Al for Fe in the glasses caused the glass transition temperature to increase as polymerization increased, as evidenced by Raman, likely due to both field strength differences of Al vs Fe and a small amount of Fe2+ network modifier present with Fe. After heat treatment at 700 °C for 24 hours, the glasses had crystallized, forming Na2SiO3 and NaAlSiO4 in compositions with high Al concentrations and the 5.1.8 crystal in compositions with high Fe concentrations. Through electron microprobe, it was determined that <0.04 formula unit Al incorporated into the 5.1.8 crystal, i.e. Na5Fe0.96Al0.04Si4O12. The 5.1.8 crystal only formed when Fe concentration was higher than Al in the starting glass.

Effects of iron overload in human joint tissue explant cultures and animal models.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease affecting over 530 million individuals worldwide. Recent studies suggest a potential link between iron overload, a condition characterised by the excessive accumulation of iron in the body, and the onset of OA. Iron is essential for various biological processes, and any disruption in its homeostasis can trigger significant health effects, including OA. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of excess iron on joint tissue and the underlying mechanisms associated with excess iron and OA development. Human articular cartilage (n = 6) and synovium (n = 4) were collected from patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. Cartilage and synovium explants were incubated with a gradually increasing concentration of ferric ammonium citrate for 3days respectively. The effects of iron homeostasis in tissue explants were analysed using a Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). To further study the effects of iron excess on OA initiation and development, male 3-week-old Hfe-/- and 5-week-old Tfr2-/- mice, animal models of hereditary haemochromatosis were established. Littermate wild-type mice were fed a high-iron diet to induce dietary overload. All animals were sacrificed at 8weeks of age, and knee joints were harvested for histological analysis. The LA-ICP-MS analysis unveiled changes in the elemental composition related to iron metabolism, which included alterations in FTH1, FPN1, and HAMP within iron(III)-treated cartilage explants. While chondrocyte viability remained stable under different iron concentrations, ex vivo treatment with a high concentration of Fe3+ increased the catabolic gene expression of MMP13. Similar alterations were observed in the synovium, with added increases in GAG content and inflammation markers. In vivo studies further supported the role of iron overload in OA development as evidenced by spontaneous OA symptoms, proteoglycan loss, increased Mankin scores, synovial thickening, and enhanced immunohistochemical expression of MMP13, ADAMTS5, and P21 in Hfe-/-, Tfr2-/-, and diet-induced iron overload mouse models. Our findings elucidate the specific pathways through which excess iron accelerates OA progression and highlights potential targets for therapeutic intervention aimed at modulating iron levels to mitigate OA symptoms. KEY MESSAGES: Iron overload alters joint iron metabolism, increasing OA markers in cartilage and synovium. High iron levels in mice accelerate OA, highlighting genetic and dietary impacts. Excess iron prompts chondrocyte iron storage response, signalling potential OA pathways. Iron dysregulation linked to increased cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation. Our findings support targeted therapies for OA based on iron modulation strategies.

Influence of P and C co-alloying on soft magnetic properties and crystallization behavior of FeSiBPCCu nanocrystalline alloys

In this study, multicomponent synergistic effects were adopted to enhance the glass-forming ability (GFA), processing window (PW), thermal stability, and soft magnetic properties (SMPs) of FeCuSiB nanocrystalline alloys (NAs) with high Fe and Cu contents via P and C co-alloying. The co-addition of P and C is beneficial for enhancing the GFA, expanding the PW, and increasing the crystallization resistance of the compound phases in present FeCuSiBPC alloys. Consequently, the Fe81.5Cu1.7Si3.8B9P3C1 alloy exhibited a large optimum TA window of up to 100 °C and a large tA window of 40 min for nanocrystallization. Crystallization kinetic analysis showed that the co-addition of P and C led to a high-frequency factor (v) in the precipitation of α-Fe crystals, which was related to the high nanocrystal density (Nd) of α-Fe. This result may be attributed to the nucleation of α-Fe by Cu and CuP clusters. Additionally, the co-addition of P and C increased the growth active energy (Ep) of the α-Fe crystals because of their larger atomic diffusion resistance. The high Nd and Ep values led to the formation of fine nanostructures and excellent SMPs in FeCuSiBPC alloys. Therefore, the Fe81.5Cu1.7Si3.8B9P3C1 NA obtained by annealing at 420 °C for 30 min exhibited excellent SMPs with a Bs of up to 1.78 T, a low Hc of 7.5 A/m, and a high μe of 9863 (@1kHz). This study provides technical and theoretical guidance for optimizing the composition and processability of NAs with high Fe and Cu contents, paving the way for mass production of high-performance soft magnetic NAs.

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the multistage magmatic processes of the Lianhuashan batholith, South China: Implications for the petrogenesis and polymetallic mineralization

The Lianhuashan batholith, which is a composite pluton located in the middle part of a world-class giant tungsten (W) polymetallic belt of South China, hosts a huge reserve of more than 50000 t of W. Despite this great economic significance, the petrogenesis of each phases of the Lianhuashan batholith, as well as its temporal and genetic relationships to the W polymetallic mineralization, is still unclear. To address these questions, we conducted a comprehensive study for the Lianhuashan batholith, including LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating, whole-rock geochemical and in-situ mineral trace element analyses. Different from previous studies, four main granitic phases (G1 to G4) were identified. The biotite granite (G1) formed from 168.6 to 165.3 Ma, has the lowest Si content and high Al and Fe contents, and is significantly depleted in Ba, Sr, Ti, P, and Nb whereas enriched in U, Hf, Zr, and Y contents. In contrast, the two-mica granite (G2) and fine-grained muscovite granite (G3), formed from 162.8 to 160.5 Ma, exhibit similar characteristics including enrichment in La, Y, Hf, Th, U, and depletion in Ba, Sr, and P. The porphyritic granite (G4) is the latest magmatic phase and formed at 158.3 Ma. It is characterized by high K, Si, Th, U, Zr, Hf contents but low Al, Fe, Sr, P, and Ti contents. These features support that four main phases of the Lianhuashan batholith belong to S-type granites that experienced significant fractional crystallization, and display reduced and low temperature features. Combined with previously published studies, we suggest that the Lianhuashan batholith formed in an intraplate extensional setting triggered by the high-angle rollback subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate. The three early phases (i.e., G1–G3) are in turn more oxidized and are responsible for the transition from Sn- to W-dominated mineralization. In contrast, the G4 granite, characterized by lower oxygen fugacity, is resposible for Pb-Zn-Ag-U polymetallic mineralization.

Enhancing sulfamerazine degradation via peroxymonosulfate with Fe-doped Mo2C materials: Catalytic performance and mechanistic insights

Sulfonamide antibiotics are a common group of drugs that have the potential to induce the generation of resistance genes even at low concentrations. Herein, a novel Fe3Mo3C/Mo2C/Mo composite (Fe-Mo2C-1.0) was prepared by modifying the synthesis process of Fe-doped Mo2C and used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade sulfamerazine (SMR). The optimal performance catalyst was obtained at Fe/Mo = 1.0 and a calcination temperature of 900 ℃. Fe-Mo2C-1.0 achieved 98.8 % SMR removal in 20 min, which was 4.5 and 44.3 times higher than that of Fe-Mo2C-0.5/PMS and Mo2C/PMS systems, respectively. In Fe-Mo2C-1.0, multiple low-valent forms of the element Mo, including Mo, Mo(II) and Mo(IV), which are highly reductive, participated in and contributed to the regeneration of Fe(II). The proportion of Fe(II) on the surface of Fe-Mo2C-1.0 before and after the reaction was maintained at a stable level. In addition, the high Fe content and sp2 hybridized carbon in Fe-Mo2C-1.0 promoted the role of mediated electron transfer during catalysis process. Electrochemical characterization indicated that Fe-Mo2C-1.0 had better redox properties, smaller electron transfer resistance and a faster corrosion rate than Fe-Mo2C-0.5 and Mo2C. Other SMR oxidation mechanisms included SO4∙-, O2∙- and 1O2, with 1O2 contributing the most. Finally, three possible degradation pathways of SMR were proposed. This work provided thoughts on the synthesis of Fe/Mo bimetallic carbide catalysts as well as reference for the removal of SMR by PMS activation.

Rapid-annealed FeSiBPCu nanocrystalline alloy with high Bs approaching 1.9 T and good bendability

To promote energy savings, high efficiency and miniaturization of power electronic devices, Fe–Si–B–P–Cu nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials with high saturation magnetization (Bs) parallel to that of the 6.5 wt% Si steel and low coercivity (Hc) are desired. In this work, 30 μm-thick Fe84Si3B10P2Cu1 and Fe84.5Si3B9.5P2Cu1 (at.%) amorphous/nanocrystalline precursor ribbons were melt-spun, which has high Fe contents comparable to that of the 6.5 wt% Si steel. These ribbons consist of an amorphous matrix and pre-existing α-Fe of approximately 28–30 nm in size possessed relatively low and similar-value activation energy of nucleation and growth in the range of 224–249 kJ/mol. Which could induce strong crystallization competition and effectively suppress coarsening of the pre-existing α-Fe. The Fe84Si3B10P2Cu1 nanocrystalline alloy obtained by rapid-annealing (∼100 °C/s) the amorphous/nanocrystalline precursor at 480 °C for 30 s (Fe84-480) exhibited a fine and uniform nanostructure containing α-Fe with small average grain size of approximately 23.1 nm and high volume fraction. The Fe84-480 alloy possessed a high Bs of approximately 1.88 T, a low Hc of 8.6 A/m, and good bendability revealed by relatively large bending fracture strain of ∼1.65%, making it a promising soft magnetic material for power electronic devices.