Faecal inorganic matter affects androgen metabolite levels in seals before migration

ABSTRACT The behavior of cesium in the presence of a natural sediment (NS) and its inorganic components (WS) was studied. The sediment was treated to remove the organic matter, and both materials were characterized. Albite, kaolinite, and quartz were found in the materials by X-ray diffraction; the surface areas were 20.1 and 4.9 m2/g for NS and WS, respectively; the points of zero charge were 5.8 and 5.2, and organic carbon percentages were 0.78 and <0.5% for NS and WS, respectively. The organic matter has a negative effect on the adsorption of cesium by the sediments, because WS (2.54 mg/g) shows better adsorption capacity than NS (1.51 mg/g) at pHinitial = 6.26. The Freundlich model described the adsorption isotherms, indicating heterogeneous materials. The adsorption capacity of cesium was similar from pH 4 to 8 whereas at pH = 2, the adsorption was lower for both materials. According to thermodynamic parameters, the adsorption processes were exothermic for both systems (Cs/NS and Cs/WS). The desorption process was evaluated using nitric acid, sodium chloride, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt dehydrate solutions in two adsorption-desorption cycles. NS and WS materials are potential materials to remove cesium from aqueous solutions, and cesium is adsorbed mainly by the inorganic matter.

Amorphous materials distinguish themselves from crystalline materials by lacking long-range order while retaining structural order at the local scale (2-5 Å). However, the complexity in topological and chemical order prevents current characterization tools from fully unveiling the structure in disordered materials. Consequently, the nature of medium-range order in amorphous materials has remained elusive. The Zachariasen and crystal competing models have been proposed to describe disordered phases and have both been verified through synthesis and characterization. The main difference between them is thought to be whether the amorphous phase shows medium-range order. Here we demonstrate a form of organized inorganic matter that is amorphous in two dimensions, while exhibiting long-range order and a high degree of crystallinity in the third. The structure consists of periodically stacked 2-dimensional amorphous Nb-W-O monolayers without long-range in-plane order. The unique periodic and therefore crystalline stacking along one principal axis enables direct imaging and revealed that the amorphous Nb-W-O monolayers formed in agreement with the Zachariasen model for 2 dimensions. Our findings show that the gap between crystalline and amorphous materials does not only depend on medium-range order but can also apply to principal dimensions within the same solid.

The impact of ammonia (NH3) emissions from animal agriculture on the secondary formation of inorganic fine particulate matter (i.e., iPM2.5) has become of great public concern. The formation of iPM2.5 from NH3 is known as the gas–particle partitioning of gaseous NH3 and aerosol ammonium (NH4+), which is assumed to be in a thermodynamic equilibrium. This research aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the impact of ambient NH3 on secondary iPM2.5 by analyzing the PM2.5 mass closure, atmospheric chemical conditions, and the gas particle partitioning of NH3-NH4+ in the near field of a poultry production unit in North Carolina. Samples of precursor gases (i.e., NH3, SO2, NO2) to iPM2.5 and PM2.5 were taken on this poultry production unit at four sampling stations in four wind directions through summer, autumn and winter seasons to determine gas concentrations and PM2.5 chemical compositions. It was discovered that this rural site contained low ambient concentrations of iPM2.5 precursor gases, and PM2.5 composition was dominated by organic carbon (OC) (80% to 94%) while iPM2.5 fraction was insignificant (0% to 2%). Low availability of H2SO4 and HNO3 gases (from SO2 and NO2 conversions) limited NH3 neutralization potential and iPM2.5 formation; moreover, high OC fraction may inhibit NH4+ formation. With the field measurements of ambient temperature, humidity, precursor gases and PM2.5 chemical speciation data, the ISORROPIA-II thermodynamic equilibrium model was used to conduct the sensitivity analysis, and we found that iPM2.5 was the most sensitive to increasing total HNO3 (gas + aerosol) at low temperatures. The formation potential of iPM2.5 at this rural site was at its highest during the wintertime when SO2 was extremely low.

The massive influx of Sargassum along Caribbean coastlines presents both an environmental challenge and an opportunity for biomass valorization. This study evaluated pretreatment consisting of washing and solar drying to adapt Sargassum biomass for thermochemical recovery. Biomass was collected from three coastal sites in the Mexican Caribbean, with an average morphotype composition of Sargassum natans III (88.3%), Sargassum fluitans I (10%), and Sargassum natans VIII (1.6%). Samples were divided into Control (untreated) and Wash-dry (pretreated) groups and analyzed through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, proximate analysis, and ultimate analysis. Statistical evaluation revealed that prior segregation by morphotype or morphological section does not significantly influence biomass composition or higher heating value (~14 MJ/kg), supporting large-scale processing strategies. FTIR spectra showed that both groups retained key functional groups such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, and polysaccharide-associated vibrations, indicating biochemical integrity. The intensity of the signals associated with marine salts and sand decreased in the Wash-dry sample, confirming effective removal of surface-bound inorganic matter. Proximate analysis revealed a reduction in both moisture content (from 57.9 to 18.1%) and fixed carbon content (from 3.5 to 0.9%). Volatile matter increased from 20.7 to 59.4%, enhancing the potential of Sargassum for oil and gas production. Ultimate analysis revealed statistically similar C, H, N, S, and O contents after pretreatment, confirming preservation of the internal chemical structure. These findings demonstrate that the Wash-dry protocol is a selective and non-destructive strategy that enhances Sargassum biomass quality, potentially enabling a less energy-intensive pathway for its thermochemical valorization.

High-performance polymeric aluminum ferric sulfate from Baihe pyrite slag: Enhanced coagulation in soil leaching alkaline wastewater and mechanistic insights.

Impact of ions co-occurring in water on antibiotics degradation by UV-based advanced oxidation process.

The composition of inorganic matter and the enrichment of trace and rare earth elements (TEs and REEs) in the Neogene organic matter-rich sediments in the Upper layer of the Aleksinac deposit (Dubrava block, Serbia) were analysed. Correlation analysis clearly showed that TEs and REEs are associated with SiO2, Al2O3, K2O, and TiO2, clastic minerals, clay, and feldspar, as well as zeolite minerals natrolite and analcime, indicating that the TEs and REEs were brought into the basin mainly by clastic material. Their distribution indicates certain changes in the depositional environment during the formation of these sediments. According to enrichment factors (calculated in relation to World Oil Shales, Upper Continental Crust, and Post-Archaean Australian Shale) and the degree of enrichment (relative to argillaceous rocks), the Aleksinac oil shale shows significant enrichment in Mo, a lesser degree in Sr, and possible enrichment in Cu. Therefore, there are no concerns regarding toxic trace elements in the Aleksinac oil shale.

Contrasting water quality trends are occurring within and across North America, with waterbodies experiencing increasing phytoplankton blooms, increasing dissolved organic matter, or both, while others are becoming clearer and bluer; dramatically changing water color. To assess the spatial and temporal variability in water color, we quantified trends in satellite-derived dominant wavelength (λ d ) from 1984 to 2020 for 484 reservoirs across the state of Missouri using the LimnoSat-US dataset. Currently, the vast majority of Missouri reservoirs are classified as green and within a range (538–555 nm) that lies closer to the brown color endmember. Nearly one-third of reservoirs ( n = 159) experienced significant temporal shifts in water color, with more ( n = 91) negative (e.g., bluer) than positive ( n = 68) λ d trends. Linear mixed-effect models indicate that periods of extreme wetness and drought are associated with browner and bluer waters, respectively, and boosted regression trees further reveal that waterbody and watershed characteristics are important predictors for water color trends. We also analyzed trends in summer water quality (WQ) parameters from two long-term monitoring programs to evaluate independent and synchronous changes with λ d . We provide analyses showing that particulate inorganic matter and Secchi depth most strongly correlated with λ d , and total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations that are not typically associated with satellite-derived data have greater co-variance with λ d than chlorophyll a . Although bluer waters often reflect reductions in inorganic turbidity, our findings show that they can at times coincide with increases in chlorophyll a . We further demonstrate that while λ d trends broadly align with changes in water quality, co-occurring water quality and color trends in Missouri reservoirs at times defy a simplistic canonical interpretation, particularly in eutrophic waterbodies where changes in nutrient concentrations, chlorophyll a and water color can occur independent of each other. Our results help explain some of the previously observed heterogeneous controls on water color and emphasize the importance of integrating water quality data alongside commonly used landscape and morphological features.

Abstract Purpose of Review The transit time of carbon quantifies the time that it takes carbon atoms to travel through an ecosystem, from fixation of atmospheric CO 2 via photosynthesis until loss of carbon, mostly via respiration by plants and microorganisms, but also by methane emissions, and by leaching as dissolved inorganic or organic matter. Transit times are relevant to predict the future behavior of carbon sinks and how they would respond to changes in the environment. As most carbon is lost to the atmosphere as CO 2 , measurements of radiocarbon in respired carbon dioxide can be used to approximate the mean transit time of carbon in ecosystems. We review here an increasing number of studies that use radiocarbon to obtain the age of respired carbon from ecosystems, and their use as a constraint for carbon cycle models. Recent Findings Measurements of radiocarbon from vegetation pools and soils indicate a mixture of ages of carbon in ecosystem respiration. For example, respiration to support metabolism and growth in trees comes from very recently fixed substrates in leaves, but organs like stems and roots can mix recent substrates with older storage reserves. From detrital necromass and soils, the age of respired carbon integrates large variations in the age of carbon in substrates available for decomposition, ranging from less than one year (leaf litter in tropical systems) to a few hundred years for slowly decaying wood, or carbon stabilized by mineral sorption. Integrated at the soil or ecosystem level, the age of respired carbon is generally a highly ‘right’ skewed distribution, with most CO 2 released through faster cycling processes (plant respiration and rapid decomposition), but with a small component derived from very slow processes (slower decomposition). Thus, the mean age of respired CO 2 can be one to two decades old, while the median age can be much younger. Linking measured radiocarbon to modeled processes requires translation of either measured values to transit times or prediction of radiocarbon by models. Summary Evidence from radiocarbon observations and models shows that the distribution of transit times of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems is key to understand what fraction of fixed carbon will be respired quickly, what fraction can be stored for decadal to century timescales, and what fraction can accumulate over longer timescales and influence long-term carbon storage.

Although biogas holds significant promise as a renewable energy resource worldwide, its development is limited by suboptimal yields from single biomass sources. This study examined the effects of combining dilution and supplemental additives on increasing biogas production. Two sets of experiments were conducted with varying substrate-to-water dilution ratios and the addition of different organic and inorganic matter, including fish waste, sugarcane bagasse, flaxseed, bamboo biochar, nanoparticles, vitamin C, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), and the weed (Wedelia trilobata). Supplementing with small amounts of fish waste, nanoparticles, and flaxseed raised the yield to 49 440 ml/kg, representing a 1.7-fold increase in biogas volume. The highest production of 70 880 ml/kg was observed when a 1:3 dilution was combined with a mixture of fish waste, bamboo biochar, and NaHCO3, resulting in a 2.36-fold increase compared to the 1:1 control. These results suggest that optimizing dilution and utilizing synergistic additives can enhance biogas production from cow manure.

The work is devoted to the analysis of changes in the structural and dynamic properties of natural water in the processes of its preparation for domestic and industrial use. For this purpose, typical patterns of subhourly, daily and longer multi-day fluctuations of time series of changes in turbidity were studied as a characteristic of reduced transparency of natural water due to the presence in it of inorganic and organic suspended matter of various origins, as well as conditioned air-conditioned liquid by way of coagulation and filtration. A search was carried out for possible cause-and-effect relationships that persist between the controlled indicators in water treatment processes. The analysis revealed the inheritance of such properties of data series as their increased variability, quasi-cyclicality, structural shifts, volatility clustering and long memory. The obtained results increase the possibility of assessing the change in empirical turbidity distribution functions, predicting its value for conditioned water and reduce the volatility of controlled indicators within a limited range.

A comparative study on hemolymph sampling methods: Monthly variations in hemocyte characteristics of farmed oyster Crassostrea corteziensis (Bivalvia: ostreidae).

ABSTRACTCave microbiomes represent a rich yet understudied source of chemical diversity with biotechnological properties. Microorganisms in these environments thrive under extreme conditions such as darkness, oligotrophy, and high concentrations of inorganic matter like iron ore. In this study, sediment samples were collected from the aphotic zone of a ferruginous cave in the National Forest of Carajás (Brazilian Amazon). Eight bacterial strains were isolated and taxonomically classified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, revealing five genera: Serratia, Bacillus, Enterococcus, Aneurinibacillus, and Comamonas. Crude extracts from liquid cultures were analyzed using untargeted LC–MS/MS and processed through feature‐based molecular networking on the GNPS platform. The resulting network highlighted the production of structurally similar compound classes across different genera, including cyclopeptides, cholic acid derivatives, and indole alkaloids. Crude extracts were tested for cytotoxicity against HCT‐116 and 501mel tumor cell lines, with significant inhibition observed for extracts from Aneurinibacillus, Comamonas, and Enterococcus. Multivariate analysis linked cyclopeptide derivatives to cytotoxic activity. This study offers one of the first insights into the chemical potential of cave‐dwelling bacteria in Brazil and underscores their promise for future biotechnological exploration.

• Inorganic coatings and biofilm formation enhance E. coli retention in slow sand filters. • Water source and upstream processes affect organic and inorganic matter accumulation. • Optimizing sand selection and upstream processes can enhance SSF pathogen removal. Access to safe drinking water is essential for public health, making pathogen removal a key objective in water treatment. Slow sand filtration (SSF) is a widely used water treatment method due to its operational simplicity and cost-effectiveness. While biological activity is considered a key factor in SSF performance, the roles of accumulated organic and inorganic matter in pathogen removal remain unclear. This study investigated their contributions to Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) retention using sand columns from three mature SSF systems in the Netherlands. Baseline E. coli removal was assessed in all filters. In two filters, selective extractions were applied using: (i) sodium hypochlorite to eliminate organic matter, and (ii) sodium dithionite–citrate and acid ammonium oxalate to remove accumulated inorganic matter (e.g., metal (oxyhydr)oxide coatings and calcites). Results show that both organic and inorganic matter contribute to E. coli retention, with varying importance across filters. In the sand columns where organic or inorganic coatings were selectively removed, log removal of E. coli decreased, indicating their mechanistic roles in retention. In a filter with high biological activity and low metal (oxyhydr)oxide content, mechanisms like predation and biofilm formation appeared to dominate retention. Conversely, in a filter with low biological activity, retention was primarily linked to calcium carbonate and iron and manganese (oxyhydr)oxide coatings. Variations in organic and inorganic matter content reflect both the characteristics of the original sand and subsequent accumulation, particularly in the filter’s top layer (the schmutzdecke). These accumulations are shaped by source water and upstream treatment, highlighting the need to consider the full treatment train when optimizing SSF performance.

In this work, an attempt is made to study the boundary area between organic and inorganic matter in the area of their contact in artificial systems created by man. Such systems are conventionally called ES-systems, and their components «Org» and «InOrg» are subsystems, the boundary of interaction of which is of the nature of coexistence or conflict. depending on the conditions of the interaction under study. The conditions for thermodynamic relations in the boundary region of the ES system are determined, and, depending on the degree of thermodynamic disequilibrium, the entropy of each of the subsystems is determined. It has been established that at the boundary of two boundary subsystems, a thermodynamic potential arises in artificial ES systems in the form of a range of changing entropy for these environments. The area of transient processes associated with changes in entropy at the conditional boundary of the biological and inorganic worlds in a variety of variants relevant in connection with the development of human needs is considered, and has certain synergetic properties that affect their existence. to characterize the stability of the ES system, and hence the ability to programmatic states that ensure their operability. The most common ES systems based on biological and inorganic components are considered, and on the basis of our own calculations, as well as the data available in the literature, an attempt is made to generalize the regularities of such transient processes in the field of thermodynamics of ES systems as an indicator of their efficiency. It is shown that the minimal thermodynamic disorder between «InOrg» and «Org» is the basis of functional coordinated interaction in ES systems. It has been established that at the boundary of two media - organic and inorganic, as two boundary subsystems, a thermodynamic potential arises in the form of a range of variable entropy in artificial ES systems. The minimal thermodynamic disorder between «InOrg» and «Org» underlies the functional coordinated interaction in ES systems and their system properties. Such and similar qualities in already known ES systems include, in particular, increased mechanical strength of implants, high catalytic activity at the interface of organic and inorganic, high selectivity of organic semiconductors and organic LEDs, the ability to modify the surfaces of inorganic matter using atomized organic molecules, etc.

Palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) and eucalyptus bark (EB) were leached with room-temperature water, hot water, or hydrochloric acid (HCl) to remove inorganics, then characterized for ash/elemental content and pyrolysis behavior using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and thermogravimetric analysis–mass spectrometry (TG–MS). Potassium dominated in EFB, while calcium was predominant in EB. Water removed alkali metals but not alkaline earths; HCl removed both (80%–99%). Leaching shifted the main weight loss of EFB to higher temperatures by 20 °C–30 °C, confirming that K catalyses early degradation and promotes char formation. For EB, Ca removal accelerated devolatilization. Gas evolution during pyrolysis decreased after HCl leaching (CO2, CO, H2O), whereas the liquid yield increased markedly: for EFB, it ranged from 24.5 to 40.9 g/100 g raw, and for EB, it ranged from 18.9 to 25.4 g/100 g raw. Overall, selective removal of inorganic species explains the distinct pyrolysis pathways of these biomasses and offers a practical way to improve liquid production.

In the context of a severe global water scarcity, seawater desalination technologies have undergone rapid advancements. Among these, the freeze-thaw method, as a novel and emerging desalination technique, has garnered increasing attention.In this study, we investigated the desalination of seawater using the freeze-thaw method. Specifically, we systematically analyzed the migration patterns of inorganic ions and organic matter during the desalination process, aiming to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Our findings indicate that the freeze-thaw method can effectively reduce the typical salinity levels in seawater through the freezing and thawing cycles. The freezing process facilitates the concentration of a substantial portion of inorganic ions and organic substances in seawater into subglacial water. Meanwhile, pollutants that remain trapped within the ice can be effectively expelled during the initial thawing phase.The results indicate that initial freezing alone can achieve a salinity reduction of 63.75%, prior to the melting process. Futhermore, when the ice undergoes an initial melting process, the salinity removal rate increases significantly to 86.62%. Microscopic examination of the ice revealed the presence of “brine channels” within the ice matrix, which facilitate the discharge of pollutants during the melting process. This ensures the production of subsequent clean ice meltwater. The binding energies of three common ions in seawater with ice molecules and water clusters were calculated using density functional theory (DFT). Furthermore, the mechanism of seawater desalination was elucidated from the perspective of energy-driven processes. This study provides a theoretical framework for the application of the freeze thaw method in seawater desalination, thereby, advancing .the development of efficient desalination techniques.

The inorganic matter of solid biofuels can be categorized into three different ash types: type-S (Si, Al, Fe, Ti), type-K (K, Na, P, Cl, S) and type-C (Ca, Mg, Mn). A total of 9 different biofuels (3 for each ash type) has been analyzed and then combusted in a 25 kW grate fired boiler. Emission factors and partitioning of typical particle forming elements (Ca, K, Na, P and Zn) were determined and show a strong correlation (R 2 = 0.88) with their content in the feedstock. Additionally, gaseous emissions, particle size distribution and emission factors of other major and trace elements were also established. The total ash content of the tested biofuels varied from 0.4 % for spruce up to 32.9 % for paper, however most fuels contained between 5 and 10 %. The emission factors show that the most prevalent element in the flue gas was K (generally contributing over 25 % to total particulate emissions). The release of K into the flue gas varied, with type-K fuels reaching values over 10 %, while type-S fuels only around 6 %, most likely due to the formation of refractory aluminosilicate phases. Moreover, with growing K release, the particle size distribution gradually shifted from 0.14 up to 0.59 μm. • Biofuels prone to slagging show lower KCl and K 2 SO 4 emissions than those without slagging tendencies. • The aerodynamic diameter of particles emitted from small-scale boilers does generally not exceed 1 μm • Zn is among the most volatile contributors to total PM emissions • Ca, Mn and refractory compounds (Fe, Al, Ti, Mg) contribute little to total PM emissions • Total inorganic matter emissions are linearly proportional to the content of K, Cl, S, P, Na and Zn in the feedstock

Threshold effect of seagrass transplantation density on blue carbon sequestration.