Low Copper Concentrations Research Articles

Evaluation of Copper Chelation Therapy in a Transgenic Rat Model of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by the accumulation of the amyloid β (Aβ) protein in blood vessels and leads to hemorrhages, strokes, and dementia in elderly individuals. Recent reports have shown elevated copper levels colocalized with vascular amyloid in human CAA and Alzheimer's disease patients, which have been suggested to contribute to cytotoxicity through the formation of reactive oxygen species. Here, we treated a transgenic rat model of CAA (rTg-DI) with the copper-specific chelator, tetrathiomolybdate (TTM), via intraperitoneal (IP) administration for 6 months to determine if it could lower copper content in vascular amyloid deposits and modify CAA pathology. Results showed that TTM treatment led to elevated Aβ load in the hippocampus of the rTg-DI rats and increased microbleeds in the wild type (WT) animals. X-ray fluorescence microscopy was performed to image the distribution of copper and revealed a surprising increase in copper colocalized with Aβ aggregates in TTM-treated rTg-DI rats. Unexpectedly, we also found an increase in the copper content in unaffected vessels of both rTg-DI and WT animals. These results show that IP administration of TTM was ineffective in removing copper from vascular Aβ aggregates in vivo and increased the development of disease pathology in CAA.

Oxygen-Enhanced Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization through the Formation of a Copper Superoxido Complex.

In controlled radical polymerization, oxygen is typically regarded as an undesirable component resulting in terminated polymer chains, deactivated catalysts, and subsequent cessation of the polymerization. Here, we report an unusual atom transfer radical polymerization whereby oxygen favors the polymerization by triggering the in situ transformation of CuBr/L to reactive superoxido species at room temperature. Through a superoxido ARGET-ATRP mechanism, an order of magnitude faster polymerization rate and a rapid and complete initiator consumption can be achieved as opposed to when unoxidized CuBr/L was instead employed. Very high end-group fidelity has been demonstrated by mass-spectrometry and one-pot synthesis of block and multiblock copolymers while pushing the reactions to reach near-quantitative conversions in all steps. A high molecular weight polymer could also be targeted (DPn = 6400) without compromising the control over the molar mass distributions (Đ < 1.20), even at an extremely low copper concentration (4.5 ppm). The versatility of the technique was demonstrated by the polymerization of various monomers in a controlled fashion. Notably, the efficiency of our methodology is unaffected by the purity of the starting CuBr, and even a brown highly-oxidized 15-year-old CuBr reagent enabled a rapid and controlled polymerization with a final dispersity of 1.07, thus not only reducing associated costs but also omitting the need for rigorous catalyst purification prior to polymerization.

Chemical composition of horse hooves with functional qualities for competing barefoot.

Barefoot racing is a common practice within the harness racing industry, but not all horses have hooves of sufficient quality to race sustainably without shoes. There is currently no objective approach available to assess whether a horse's hooves are suitable for barefoot racing, raising animal welfare issues if trainers misjudge the functional qualities of hooves. This study compared chemical composition of the hoof wall and fatty acid composition of the digital cushion in a group of horses that had raced barefoot often (RB) and a group of horses that could not race barefoot and therefore raced with shoes (RS). Trimmings from the hind hoof wall were collected from the lateral quarters in one sub-cohort post-mortem and in another sub-cohort of live horses and analysed for macro- and microelements, nitrogen, dry matter (DM), total and free amino acid content. For the post-mortem horses, samples of the digital cushion were also collected and analysed for total and free fatty acids. RB horses had lower concentrations of copper in the hoof wall (17.5 ± 3.9 vs 32.8 ± 4.7mg/kg DM, P=0.02) than RS horses. RB horses also tended (P<0.1) to have higher concentrations of nitrogen (164.2 ± 0.2 vs 163.5 ± 0.3g/kg DM) and sulphur (22.9 ± 0.2 vs 22.3 ± 0.3g/kg DM). RB horses had higher hoof wall concentrations of arginine (10.51 ± 0.05 vs 10.34 ± 0.06g/100g DM, P=0.03) and showed a trend (P<0.1) for higher hoof wall concentrations of cysteine (6.14 ± 0.10 vs 5.82 ± 0.13g/100g DM) and proline (4.62 ± 0.05 vs 4.49 ± 0.06g/100g DM). There were no differences between the groups for any other element or amino acid analysed. There were also no differences between the two groups in terms of fatty acid composition of the digital cushion. These results indicate that chemical composition, especially with respect to copper, arginine, nitrogen, sulphur, cysteine and proline, may be important for the functional qualities of the hoof capsule and the ability to race barefoot without wearing the hoof down. However, chemical analysis of hoof wall tissue and of the fat content of the digital cushion does not seem to be a definitive method for distinguishing horses that have hooves suitable for barefoot racing from those that do not.

Associations of serum concentrations of metal nutrients with postpartum anemia among pregnant Chinese women: A large retrospective cohort study.

The association between serum concentrations of metal nutrients in pregnancy and postpartum anemia has not been widely studied. This study aimed to determine this association in a large retrospective cohort study. We included 14,829 Chinese women with singleton pregnancies. Serum concentrations of metals before 28 weeks of gestation, the occurrence of postpartum anemia and other potential covariates were obtained from their laboratory or medical records. Cox regression and restricted cubic spline regression models were used to explore the relationship between serum concentrations of metal nutrients in pregnancy and postpartum anemia. After adjustment for covariates, higher concentrations of iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) and lower concentrations of copper (Cu) were associated with a lower risk of postpartum anemia. Compared with those whose serum concentrations of metal nutrients were in the bottom quintile (Q1), the hazard ratios (HRs) of those whose serum concentrations of metal nutrients were in the top quintile (Q5) were 0.57 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50, 0.64) for Fe, 0.67 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.76) for Mg, 0.82 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.93) for Zn, and 1.44 (95% CI: 1.28, 1.63) for Cu. L-shaped curve relationships were found between increasing concentrations of Fe, Mg, and Zn and incidence of postpartum anemia. Higher serum concentrations of Cu were associated with an increased risk of postpartum anemia. Serum concentrations of Fe in Q5 were associated with a lower risk of postpartum anemia when they coincided with serum concentrations of Mg in Q5, Zn in Q5, or Cu in Q1. Higher serum concentrations of Fe, Mg, and Zn, and lower serum concentrations of Cu were associated with a lower risk of postpartum anemia among pregnant women.

Can we simultaneously decontaminate and cultivate? An urban cherry tomato story

AbstractUrban planners are increasingly focused on integrating urban farming as a creative strategy for producing sustainable, local food in underutilized spaces, once occupied by polluting industries, in peri‐urban areas. However, before urban farming's contribution to local self‐sufficiency can be determined, it is crucial to gather quantitative data on the effectiveness of tailored strategies, including polyculture, and the suitability of different vegetables, to adequately assess the value of brownfields. This study aims to provide quantitative agronomic data on a copper‐contaminated urban garden with the dual objective of assessing its capacity for food production and mitigating the spread of soil contamination. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants were grown for one growing season in brownfield soils with different copper concentrations (up to 2000 mg kg−1), accompanied by different plant species assemblages typically used in phytoremediation (Achillea millefolium, Salix discolor, and Trifolium repens). The most successful assemblage yielded over 800 fruits per square meter with low copper concentrations (&lt;5 mg kg−1), indicating that one square meter could satisfy the annual fresh tomato weight requirement of an average individual. Although some amendments can improve adaptability to local soils, the highest fruit‐producing assemblage consisting of S. lycopersicum, S. discolor, and T. repens also proved to be the one of the most effective for copper phytoextraction, removing over 30 g ha−1 from the contaminated soils. Overall, the data indicated that all assemblages phytostabilized copper. The quantitative results of this study provide a valuable benchmark for urban planners and researchers to implement large‐scale urban agriculture on brownfield sites.

Increasing yield of paddy rice on peat soil using steel slag

Peat soil is one marginal soil having the potential for paddy rice cultivation. Peat soil has a low content of total Si and available copper and zinc. Steel slag is the typical source of Si elements. Two experiments were carried out to determine steel slag supplementation effects on the growth and development of paddy rice on peat soil. Experiment 1 was a greenhouse pot experiment to evaluate three steel slag dosages (i.e., 0.0, 2.5, and 5.0 %). Experiment 2 was a field experiment to validate the effects of five steel slag dosages (i.e., 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10-tons ha−1). In experiment 1, applying steel slag at 2.5 and 5.0 % dosages significantly increased paddy rice development. In experiment 2, paddy rice development was significantly increased with steel slag. Grain yield increased from 65 to 96 % with steel slag 2.5 to 10 tons ha−1. The response of paddy rice on peat soil to steel slag in experiments 1 and 2 was associated with increasing soil pH and availability of Si, Mg, and Ca.

Granitic‐melt and carbonic‐fluid inclusions in diopside megacrysts from ankaramitic basalt dikes at Kamisano, Yamanashi prefecture, northeastern Japan

AbstractLarge phenocrysts, known as megacrysts, are focal points for research due to their ability to encapsulate large inclusions suitable for precise chemical analyses. Ankaramite, a distinctive type of undifferentiated volcanic rock, stands out due to its high MgO and CaO contents and the presence of abundant Ca‐rich clinopyroxene (diopside) and less common Mg‐rich olivine phenocrysts. In this study, granitic melt inclusions together with carbonic fluid inclusions were identified within diopside megacrysts of ankaramitic basalt dikes in the Kamisano region, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The identified melt inclusions are completely crystallized and primarily composed of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase, with smaller amounts of pargasite, augite, apatite, and sulfides. Small amounts of residual glass were also occasionally observed in the inclusions. The average chemical composition of these granitic melts within the inclusions corresponds to that of calc‐alkaline granodiorite and the melts are characterized by low water content (0.38 wt%) and high concentrations of sulfur (7000 ppm), copper, and iron. The findings suggested that the composition of granitic melt inclusions may provide insights into the characteristics of near‐surface hydrothermal metal ore deposits. The diopside megacrysts also contain CO2H2O fluid inclusions, which are completely crystallized and mainly comprised of calcite and chlorite, along with small amounts of quartz. The crystals are interpreted to have formed by the reaction of original CO2H2O fluids and host diopside. The diopside megacrysts are estimated to have started crystallization from tholeiitic basalt at a depth of ~30 km in the lower crust, and trapped fluids and granitic melts as inclusions at a shallower depth when the tholeiitic magma ascended.

Wilson’s Disease with Late Hepatic Involvement

Wilson’s Disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive condition that affects copper metabolism and manifests itself clinically in different ways. The diagnosis is indicated by low serum copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations, increased urine copper excretion and/ or increased hepatic copper concentrations. The present case report is about a 55-year-old male with chief complaints of loss of appetite, abdominal swelling, tremors in hand and head, slurring of speech for 10 days. Ultrasound (USG) findings were suggestive of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension and liver function tests were also deranged. He was prescribed diuretics and asked to review after 10 days. Kayser-Fleischer ring was observed through slit lamp examination in both the eyes, which is a hallmark of WD. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of brain also revealed positive findings-hyperintensity throughout the mesencephalon for WD. Thereafter, the patient was treated with penicillamine and his symptoms improved after few days

Fatal congenital copper transport defect caused by a homozygous likely pathogenic variant of SLC31A1.

Known hereditary human diseases featuring impaired copper trafficking across cellular membranes involve ATP7A (Menkes disease, occipital horn disease, X-linked spinal muscular atrophy type 3) and ATP7B (Wilson disease). Herein, we report a newborn infant of consanguineous parents with a homozygous pathogenic variant in a highly conserved sequence of SLC31A1, coding for the copper influx transporter 1, CTR1. This missense variant, c.236T > C, was detected by whole exome sequencing. The infant was born with pulmonary hypoplasia and suffered from severe respiratory distress immediately after birth, necessitating aggressive mechanical ventilation. At 2 weeks of age, multifocal brain hemorrhages were diagnosed by cerebral ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, together with increased tortuosity of cerebral arteries. Ensuing seizures were only partly controlled by antiepileptic drugs, and the infant became progressively comatose. Laboratory investigations revealed very low serum concentrations of copper and ceruloplasmin. No hair shaft abnormalities were detected by dermatoscopy or light microscopic analyses of embedded hair shafts obtained at 4 weeks of life. The infant died after redirection of care and elective cessation of invasive mechanical ventilation at 1 month of age. This case adds SLC31A1 to the genes implicated in severe hereditary disorders of copper transport in humans.

Copper monitoring in vineyard soils of the Tikvesh region, North Macedonia

This research studies the copper contents in vineyard soils under vineyards affected by the long-term use of copper-based fungicides and evaluates the extent of this influence on the super accumulation in the main viniculture growing regions in North Macedonia. The soil samples were taken from individual vineyards located in the Tikvesh region, from two depths: 0-30 and 30-60 cm. At the same time, control samples were collected from each of the visited sites. The control samples were taken from untreated nearby locations under natural conditions in order to determine the background concentrations. The available copper (Cu) contents were analysed on soil samples taken from 100 locations, 50 of which represent vineyard soils (organic and conventional farming) and 50 control samples from nearby forests and sites. The main finding is that the average available copper concentrations are significantly higher in soils under vineyards, compared to the background concentration in control samples, especially in these with organic farming where the use of coper-based fungicides is more intensive. A comparison of the copper contents in vineyards to the background concentrations of control samples clearly confirmed the anthropogenic influence. A significantly very high level of copper (10.70-18.77 mg/kg) was measured in the soil samples from organic farming. The control samples contained a significantly lower concentration of copper, between average 1.39- 1.62 mg/kg (0-30 cm) and 0.68-0.88 mg/kg (30-60 cm). According to the micronutrient rating as related to a soil test with the DTPA extraction reagent (Jones, 2001) applied in this study, a significant potential ecological risk has been noticed in the agricultural soil samples (organic and conventional production).

Generating crosslinking network in XNBR based on copper (I)–carboxylate interaction

AbstractCarboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR) is crosslinked via metal–ligand coordination bond by simple mixing and compounding as an alternate to chemically rich traditional vulcanization route. Basis of the generation of reversible non‐covalent crosslinks, in the rubber matrix, is copper (I)–carboxylate metal–ligand interaction that is evidenced by XPS, FTIR, and rheological studies. At low copper content (5 phr), self‐healing property is exhibited by the composite while adequate mechanical strength is obtained at higher copper content (20 phr). For 20 phr filled composite (XNBR–Cu20), the tensile strength reaches up to 5.41 ± 0.28 MPa, which is almost 19 times higher than that of pure XNBR (0.29 ± 0.02 MPa). On the other hand, tensile strength is not so high (1.95 ± 0.20 MPa) for composite XNBR–Cu5, however, this one shows the self‐healing efficiency of around 75% for the first cycle, 71% for second cycle, and 56% for the third cycle. The positive shift of glass transition temperature (Tg) takes place with the increasing content of copper (I)–carboxylate crosslinking that is caused by the lowering in segmental mobility of the rubber chains. Reversible nature of the metal–ligand coordination, recoverability, and hysteresis in the XNBR–Cu (I) composite are studied by cyclic stress–strain loading. The CuCl content greatly influences the inherent crosslinking nature of the elastomeric network and the ultimate properties of the composites.

Diverse strategies for copper production in Chalcolithic Iberia

Our understanding of early copper metallurgy in the Iberian Peninsula is mostly based on analysis from well-studied regions in the Southeast and Southwest. This paper focuses on two recently recovered Chalcolithic metallurgical assemblages outside these traditional research foci: two slagged crucibles from Lugar Viejo III (Zaragoza) and two large slag cakes from Cueva del Cañaveralejo (Córdoba). Analysis of the compositions and microstructures of the artifacts using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) suggests they are related to primary copper production, namely smelting in crucible-furnaces under relatively oxidizing conditions, as is standard for this period. The slag layers on crucibles from Lugar Viejo indicate the production of copper with minor amounts of arsenic, also typical for this period. Of special note is the use of organic temper in the crucibles from Lugar Viejo, a practice found at the nearby site of Moncín but rare at other sites in Iberia. However, the slags from Cueva del Cañaveralejo are atypical in their large size (approx. 125 g each), fayalitic composition, unusual efficiency as demonstrated by a low copper content, and lack of arsenic; furthermore, the high sulfur content raises the possibility of the use of sulfidic ores. Results from both sites are compared against published data from well-known sites such as Los Millares, Las Pilas, Almizaraque, and Bauma del Serrat del Pont. The new data from Lugar Viejo and Cueva del Cañaveralejo reinforce the interpretation of metallurgy in the Iberian Peninsula as a low-skilled, conservative technology but also indicate the need for more research into regional variations. (See Supplementary Data 1 for a summary in Spanish).

Tailoring the structural and magnetic traits of copper modified BaFe12O19 nanostructured hexaferrites for recording media application

Barium nanohexaferrites, with a chemical composition of Ba1-0.5xCu0.5xFe12O19 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) have been successfully produced using the sol–gel auto-combustion approach for tuning its structural, morphological, optical and magnetic properties. The current work has been carried out to control the coercivity of synthesized specimens, with the modification of copper ions at the barium sites of BaFe12O19 hexaferrites. The XRD patterns of synthesized specimens’ shows the formational of hexagonal-like crystal structure with P63/mmc space geometry. In the XRD diffraction patterns, the characteristic peaks (110), (008), (107), (114), (108), (203), (205), (206), (1011), (300), (217), (2011), (220), (2014)along with some impurity phases of hematite (α-Fe2O3) were observed. The crystallite size “D” was estimated from the observed XRD patterns using the Debye-Scherrer formula in the range of 41.94–83.91 nm respectively. The FESEM studies of the BM2 and BM3 specimens reveal the presence of agglomerated grains with a hexagonal shape and an average size of ∼ 277 and ∼ 469 nm respectively. The energy dispersive X-ray spectra of synthesized nanohexaferrites shows only peaks of copper, iron, barium, and oxygen which clearly confirms the higher purity of pure and doped barium hexagonal nanoferrites. The transmission electron micrograph of BM1 nanohexaferrite illustrates the production of the nanoparticles that are agglomeratedand spherical, and have an average particle size of 53.32 nm. The Raman spectrum of undoped and copper doped BaFe12O19 hexagonal nanoferrites shows the formation of seven Raman active vibrational modes in the frequency range of 200–800 cm−1. At room temperature (300 K), the magnetic traits of the produced barium hexagonal nanoferrites were measured, and using these measurements, a variety of magnetic parameters (Ms, Hc, Mr, and Ha) were reported. The value of saturation magnetization (Ms) increases from 37.75 emu/g to 59.97 emu/g with increased low copper content up to x = 0.1. In contrast, with the increasing copper content up to x = 0.3, the value of Ms shows a decline to 28.31 emu/g. In this work, admirable values of Ms (28.31–59.97 emu/g) and Hc (684–2563 Oe) were obtained, making these nanohexaferrites as beneficial candidates for the recording media and EMI shielding applications.

Copper induces a downregulation of the Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) and Copper-transporting ATPase-RAN1 (RAN1) genes in red pine (Pinus resinosa) at low concentrations

ABSTRACT Copper is required in plant tissues at small concentrations for several physiological processes; however, excess metal can cause toxicity. The main objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate Pinus resinosa resistance to different concentrations of copper, and (2) assess changes induced by copper ions on gene expression. The targeted genes include the Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) and Copper-transporting ATPase-RAN1 (RAN1). P. resinosa seedlings were treated with different concentrations of copper sulphate and corresponding salt controls in growth chamber screening tests. These concentrations include 13, 130 mg and 1300 mg of copper per 1 kg of dry soil. Potassium sulfate and water were used as controls. The expression of MRP4 and RANI genes was assessed using RT-qPCR. All the genotypes tested were resistant to copper. There was a significant suppression of the MRP4 and RANI genes at the lowest concentration of copper (13 mg/kg) in comparison to the water control. Further increases in the copper concentrations (130 mg /kg and 1300 mg/kg) did not induce any significant change in gene expression. Overall, this study showed that P. resinosa is in general resistant to copper contaminants. However, copper ions affect gene expression, even at low concentrations.

ATP7B-Deficient Hepatocytes Reveal the Importance of Protein Misfolding Induced at Low Copper Concentration.

Copper is a transition metal essential for human life. Its homeostasis is regulated in the liver, which delivers copper to the whole body and excretes its excess outside the organism in the feces through the bile. These functions are regulated within hepatocytes, and the ATP7B copper transporter is central to making the switch between copper use and excretion. In Wilson disease, the gene coding for ATP7B is mutated, leading to copper overload, firstly, in the liver and the brain. To better understand the role of ATP7B in hepatocytes and to provide a smart tool for the development of novel therapies against Wilson disease, we used the CrispR/Cas9 tool to generate hepatocyte cell lines with the abolished expression of ATP7B. These cell lines revealed that ATP7B plays a major role at low copper concentrations starting in the micromolar range. Moreover, metal stress markers are induced at lower copper concentrations compared to parental cells, while redox stress remains not activated. As shown recently, the main drawback induced by copper exposure is protein unfolding that is drastically exacerbated in ATP7B-deficient cells. Our data enabled us to propose that the zinc finger domain of DNAJ-A1 would serve as a sensor of Cu stress. Therefore, these Wilson-like hepatocytes are of high interest to explore in more detail the role of ATP7B.

Inhibitory mechanism of nano-copper carbon composite on Microcystis aeruginosa

Nano‑copper carbon composite (NCCC), a typical core-shell-structure carbon-coated nano‑copper material was prepared to investigate its inhibitory effect and toxicity on Microcystis aeruginosa. The two indices (Chlorophyll-a concentration and dehydrogenase activity level/biomass) indicated that NCCC remarkably suppressed the growth of algal cells in a dosage-dependent way. The NCCC group (20 mg·L−1) showed the similar inhibitory effect of 6 mg·L−1 CuSO4. However, the Cu concentration in 20 mg·L−1 NCCC containing Cu element about 22 % (mass ratio) was much lower than that of 6 mg·L−1 CuSO4, indicating that toxicity of NCCC on algal cells was not only due to the toxic effect of Cu2+. The changes of enzymatic antioxidant activities and lipid peroxidation damage demonstrated that under the stress of NCCC, Microcystis aeruginosa cells were exposed to oxidative damage. The formation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) by NCCC was much higher than a comparable amount of Cu2+, pointing out that exceeded ROS was not only generated by the released Cu2+ but probably also induced by the photocatalytic activity of Cu2O. Moreover, the fluorescein diacetate (FDA)-propidium iodide (PI) double staining method was applied to explore the toxicity mechanisms, illustrating that NCCC resulted in the damage of membrane integrity, and the cell death mode of algal cells under the inhibition of NCCC was necrosis-like. In general, compared with CuSO4, NCCC had a more efficient and durable inhibitory effect, and released a lower concentration of copper in water, resulting in less secondary contamination to water. Therefore, NCCC is a novel environmental friendly inhibitor for cyanobacterial bloom control instead of CuSO4.

The Epidemiology and Control of “Olive Quick Decline Syndrome” in Salento (Apulia, Italy)

Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca sequence type 53 was found to be associated with olive trees showing extensive twig and branch dieback and plant death in the Gallipoli area of Salento and the common name of “olive quick decline syndrome” (OQDS) was given to the disease. Repeated interceptions in Europe and Italy of ornamental coffee plants originated from Central America, jointly in phylogenetic analyses of many strains of the pathogen, indicated this origin as the most probable source of its introduction in Salento. Drought events could have been conducive to the initial outbreaks of the disease. Subsequently, the pathogen largely spread over the territory according to a “stratified dispersal” model. The high susceptibility of the local cultivars Ogliarola salentina and Cellina di Nardò, a low soil content of zinc, copper, and manganese, improper pruning, and adverse climatic events could have further contributed to the spread of the pathogen. The polyphagous insect Philaenus spumarius L. is the main vector of the bacterium in the area. The adults were detected X. f. subsp. pauca-positive in early May, and their incidence was higher during spring and early autumn when they efficiently spread the bacterium among the olive trees. Many other host plant species can host the bacterium, and some of them can act as a “reservoir” for the disease spread. The aggressive fungus Neofusicoccum mediterraneum Crous, M.J. Wingf. And A.J.L. Philips, could also be involved in OQDS. A sustainable control strategy for reducing the incidence and severity of X. f. subsp. pauca in the olive groves of Salento that allows the trees to produce is presented and discussed. Resilient trees of Ogliarola salentina and Cellina di Nardò have been observed in the heavily infected areas of Salento.

Extraction of Trace Quantities of Copper Using Novel Modified Magnetite Nanoparticles for Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Analysis

Background: Copper is one of several heavy metals. A low concentration of copper is vital for animals and plants, whereas it is highly toxic to aquatic plants and bacteria in a high concentration. Therefore, copper ions in water and food must be controlled, and as a result, the development of novel methods for the determination of copper in water samples is of interest. Objective: Different techniques have been proposed for copper ions extraction and determination. The magnetic solid-phase extraction method is considered superior to the other method for simplicity, its higher enrichment, and the need for lower quantities of solvents. The novel modified magnetite nanoparticles as the sorbent, along with the atomic absorption spectrometry analysis, can be a low-cost, simple and rapid method for this propose. Methods: Traces of Cu(II) in environmental samples were preconcentrated using a novel magnetic adsorbent developed based on 2,2´-((1E,1´E)-hydrazine-1,2-diylidenebis(methanylylidene)) diphenol coated magnetite nanoparticles. The influence of ligand concentration, amount of adsorbent, pH, type of eluent, sample volume, and effects of interfering ions were optimized. The adsorbed species were eluted for analysis through atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: A linear calibration curve was recorded from 2 to 40 μg ml-1 (r2= 0.999) under optimal conditions, and the detection limit of the method was as low as 1.6 μg ml-1. Also, good recoveries were obtained for the real sample analysis. Conclusion: The developed procedure constituted a rapid extraction, a low-cost and efficient method, and was used for the analysis of copper ions in the tap, river, and lake water.

AVAILABILITY OF MICRONUTRIENTS IN A TAKEN SOIL SAMPLE FROM SELECTED VILLAGES OF MORBI, GUJARAT INDIA

In order to be healthy, plants often require a constant flow of nutrients. Any nutritional shortfall leads to the development of nutrient deficiency symptoms. Metal can be considered of as a nutrition for plants. When the nutrient supply exceeds the necessary levels, plants may suffer damage, and in rare situations, excessively high levels of nutrition loaded with heavy metals may even result in plant death. The presence of Micronutrients in small quantities is responsible for healthy growth and development of plants. This paper focuses on the analysis of micronutrients through DTPA –CaCl2-TEA method present in the soil collected from Morbi region. Fifteen samples from different villages of Morbi region were collected in which the micronutrients like Zinc, Iron, Copper and Manganese were analyzed. According to the data, Sajjanpur has the highest and lowest concentrations of copper, whereas Jetpur and Ghuntu have the highest and lowest concentrations of zinc, respectively. In a similar manner, significant levels of Fe have been found in Jambudiya, while Mn levels in Dharampur are also somewhat elevated. Jasmathgadh has a lower concentration of Fe and Mn than other villages. The concentration ratio has a direct impact on soil fertility and is related to crop output, crop production, and plant health.

Assessing the potential use of composite titanium-containing coagulants, when treating wastewater from copper compounds

Wastewater treatment from heavy metals is a complicated and currently relevant task. Electrochemical coating processes are undoubtedly a main source of heavy metal compounds in wastewater. The second major source of heavy metal input to the environment is mining and processing of various ores. As part of the conducted research, the author assessed a potential intensification of wastewater treatment from copper compounds, using conventional and titanium-containing chemical agents. The samples taken for research were wastewater from electroplating facilities, containing copper compounds, rinse waters after neutralization and sedimentation, and mine waters. It is found that the use of pure titanium salts (titanyl sulfate) contributes to achieving the minimum residual concentration of copper compounds for all the wastewater samples under study; however, their extremely high cost makes this process economically impractical. Composite titanium-containing chemical agents produced by modification of aluminum sulfate with added titanium compounds significantly increased efficiency of the base chemical agent and reduced the residual concentration of copper in wastewater by almost 30%. Iron-containing coagulant was not efficient for the task. Factoring into a minimum amount of added titanium compounds (5&ndash;10 % wt.), the cost of composite titanium-containing chemical agents is slightly higher than the cost of pure aluminum sulfate, while the lower residual concentration of copper will significantly reduce the amount of penalties from the regulatory authorities for discharging pollutants into the city drainage main above the limit. It is stated that composite titanium-containing coagulants also contribute to a significant increase in efficiency of removing suspended particles and the coagulation sludge sedimentation rate, entailing reduced sizes of wastewater treatment facilities or their increased performance.The author gratefully acknowledges Natalia E. Kruchinina, research advisor,&nbsp;Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Professor, Head of the Industrial Ecology&nbsp;Department.The measurements were made using equipment of the Mendeleev Research&nbsp;Equipment Sharing Center.