Low NaCl Research Articles

The feasibility of hydrogen storage in aquifers: A molecular dynamics simulation

Geological hydrogen storage could be an effective method for solving energy demand and climate change challenges. We focus on hydrogen diffusion in carbonate slits via molecular dynamics under subsurface conditions. We investigate the influence of pore size, moisture content, and salinity on hydrogen diffusion process. The results demonstrate that high moisture content reduces the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen due to the form of water bridge and hydrogen cluster. The impact of salinity is observed only under high moisture content conditions. Specially, CaCl2 and MgCl2 are more suitable than NaCl for hydrogen storage. Hydrogen storage is more suitable in lower NaCl concentration while it is more suitable in a higher Na2SO4 concentration. Because interfacial tension of hydrogen-salt solution could be affected by ion concentration. These results demonstrate that hydrogen diffusion could be regulated by changing salinity for high water cut reservoir. This job could provide valuable guidance for underground hydrogen storage.

Template-assisted fabrication of polyether ether ketone hollow fiber membrane for highly efficient separation of binary dye mixtures

Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) is among the most reliable membrane materials in membrane-based separation processes due to its excellent properties especially under harsh environment. Successfully implementing the controllable construction of the pore structure into the fabrication process of PEEK hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) can make a significant contribution to addressing the issue of membrane selectivity and permeability. Herein, we developed a flexible route for manufacturing PEEK HFMs by melt-spinning technology combined with the template-assisted crystallization process. This route effectively reduced the amount of organic solvent in the membrane preparation process, and the crystallization induced strategy remarkably improved the connectivity of membrane pore structure and fixed pore structure of PEEK HFMs. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive investigation into the separation mechanism and performance stability of the prepared membranes in binary dye mixtures. The results unveiled that the suitable pore structure of the PEEK HFMs that maintained a high salt permeability with a high dye retention, synergized with strong negative charge contributed to excellent performance in dye/salts or dye/dye binary mixtures separations. A long-term stability of PEEK HFMs for treatment of the simulated textile wastewater with rejection coefficient of above 99% to dyes like congo red (CR) and a low NaCl rejection (<10%) indicated that PEEK HFMs have a bright prospect in dye/salt separation for water purification and resource reclamation.

Insight into the Relationship between the Causes of Off-Odour and Microorganism Communities in Xuanwei Ham.

To expound on the correlation between the microorganism communities and the formation of off-odour in Xuanwei ham, the microorganism communities and volatile compounds were investigated in the biceps femoris (BF) and semimembranosus (SM) of Xuanwei ham with different quality grades (normal ham and spoiled ham). The single molecule real-time sequencing showed that differential bacteria and fungi were more varied in normal hams than in spoiled hams. Headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography (HS-SPME-GC-MS) results indicated that aldehydes and alcohols were significantly higher in spoiled hams than those in normal hams (p < 0.05). The off-odour of spoiled hams was dominated by ichthyic, malodourous, sweaty, putrid, sour, and unpleasant odours produced by compounds such as trimethylamine (SM: 13.05 μg/kg), hexanal (BF: 206.46 μg/kg), octanal (BF: 59.52 μg/kg), methanethiol (SM: 12.85 μg/kg), and valeric acid (BF: 15.08 μg/kg), which are positively correlated with Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Pseudomonas sp., Aspergillus ruber, and Moraxella osloensis. Furthermore, the physicochemical property and quality characteristics results showed that high moisture (BF: 56.32 g/100 g), pH (BF: 6.63), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (SM: 1.98 MDA/kg), and low NaCl content (SM: 6.31%) were also responsible for the spoilage of hams with off-odour. This study provided a deep insight into the off-odour of Xuanwei ham from the perspective of microorganism communities and a theoretical basis for improving the flavour and overall quality of Xuanwei hams.

Characterization of Lower Paleozoic Water and Gas Distribution in Yan'an Gas Field, Ordos Basin.

The distribution of gas and water in the tight gas reservoirs is complex. This limits exploration and development compared to conventional resources. Elucidating the characteristics that control fluid distribution is critical to unlocking the tight gas potential. This study combines geologic analysis with production data to reveal the water chemistry, gas-water distribution, and factors controlling zoning in the study area. The results show that (a) extracted water includes formation brines, condensate, and residual drilling fluids; (b) formation water dominates production, and the salinity of Lower Paleozoic brines is as high as 169,689 mg/L; (c) low NaCl and high metamorphic coefficients indicate that the water bodies are disconnected and the hydrocarbons are well-preserved in several gas-water systems; and (d) paleomorphological features, tectonics, and lithologies control the distribution of gas water. Discrete water bodies are widely distributed.

Selection and validation of reference genes for RT-qPCR in ophiocordyceps sinensis under different experimental conditions.

The Chinese caterpillar mushroom, Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis), is a rarely medicinal fungus in traditional chinese herbal medicine due to its unique medicinal values, and the expression stability of reference genes is essential to normalize its gene expression analysis. In this study, BestKeeper, NormFinder and geNorm, three authoritative statistical arithmetics, were applied to evaluate the expression stability of sixteen candidate reference genes (CRGs) in O. sinensis under different stress [low temperature (4°C), light treatment (300 lx), NaCl (3.8%)] and different development stages (mycelia, primordia and fruit bodies) and formation of morphologic mycelium (aeriasubstrate, hyphae knot mycelium). The paired variation values indicated that two genes could be enough to accurate standardization exposed to different conditions of O.sinensis. Among these sixteen CRGs, 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) and beta-Tubulin (β-TUB) showed the topmost expression stability in O.sinensis exposed to all conditions, while glutathione hydrolase proenzym (GGT) and Phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) showed the least expression stability. The optimal reference gene in different conditions was various. β-TUB and Ubiquitin (UBQ) were identified as the two most stable genes in different primordia developmental stage, while phosphoglucomutase (PGM) with elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-α) and 18S rRNA with UBQ were the most stably expressed for differentially morphologic mycelium stages and different stresses, respectively. These results will contribute to more accurate evaluation of the gene relative expression levels in O.sinensis under different conditions using the optimal reference gene in real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis.

Cytokinin deficiency confers enhanced tolerance to mild, but decreased tolerance to severe salinity stress in in vitro grown potato.

Cytokinin (CK) is a plant hormone that plays crucial roles in regulating plant growth and development. CK-deficient plants are widely used as model systems for investigating the numerous physiological roles of CK. Since it was previously shown that transgenic or mutant CK-deficient Arabidopsis and Centaurium plants show superior tolerance to salinity, we examined the tolerance of three CK-deficient potato lines overexpressing the Arabidopsis thaliana CYTOKININ OXIDASE/DEHYDROGENASE2 (AtCKX2) gene to 50 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM, and 200 mM NaCl applied in vitro. Quantification of visible salinity injury, rooting and acclimatization efficiency, shoot growth, water saturation deficit, and chlorophyll content confirmed that the CK-deficient potato plants were more tolerant to low (50 mM) and moderate (100 mM) NaCl concentrations, but exhibited increased sensitivity to severe salinity stress (150 and 200 mM NaCl) compared to non-transformed control plants. These findings were corroborated by the data distribution patterns according to principal component analysis. Quantification of the activity of superoxide dismutases, peroxidases, and catalases revealed an impaired ability of AtCKX2-transgenic lines to upregulate the activity of antioxidant enzymes in response to salinity, which might contribute to the enhanced sensitivity of these potato lines to severe salt stress. Our results add complexity to the existing knowledge on the regulation of salinity tolerance by CK, as we show for the first time that CK-deficient plants can exhibit reduced rather than increased tolerance to severe salt stress.

Effects of exogenous melatonin on the osmotic regulation and antioxidant capacity of Ginkgo biloba seedlings under salt stress.

We investigated the effects of exogenous melatonin on the osmotic regulation and antioxidant capacity of 4-year-old Ginkgo biloba seedlings under salt stress. There were three treatments, with low (50 mmol·L-1), medium (100 mmol·L-1), and high (200 mmol·L-1) NaCl stress. Leaves were sprayed and the soil was watered with melatonin solution (0, 0.02, 0.1, 0.5 mmol·L-1). The results showed that saline stress significantly inhibited the osmoregulation and antioxidant capacities of G. biloba seedlings. Application of exogenous melatonin at appropriate concentrations (0.02, 0.1 mmol·L-1) under salt stress could promote plant growth, reduce the rate of electrolyte leakage, decrease the content of flavonoids and malonic dialdehyde, and enhance peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in leaves. High concentration (0.5 mmol·L-1) of exogenous melatonin would aggravate the oxidative and osmotic stresses. The 0.02 and 0.1 mmol·L-1 exogenous melatonin alleviated osmotic stress and oxidative stress in G. biloba seedlings under salt stress, while the 0.02 mmol·L-1 exogenous melatonin treatment had the best effect on NaCl stress alleviation. Ground diameter, branch width, branch length, electrolyte leakage rate, superoxide dismutase activity, and flavonoids content could be used as the key indices for rapid identification of the degree of salt stress in G. biloba seedlings.

The mechanism underlying increased myosin solubility in pearl mussels (Hyriopsis cumingii) by epigallocatechin gallate at low NaCl level

The poor water solubility of myosin hinders the full utilization of its functions and limits its application in the food industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the solubility of myosin in pearl mussel (Hyriopsis cumingii) muscle at low NaCl level and the underlying action mechanism. The results showed that myosin solubility increased with the increase of EGCG concentration at 0.2 M NaCl level. The polyphenol binding equivalent and thermodynamic characterization analysis implied that EGCG was mainly bound to myosin via hydrogen bonding and van der Waals force to form an EGCG-myosin complex, and compared with 0.5 M NaCl, the binding affinity of EGCG and myosin decreased at low NaCl level. Structural analysis suggested that EGCG caused myosin endogenous fluorescence quenching, a wavelength redshift and a β-sheet content increase, exposing the aromatic amino acid residues inside myosin molecules to the surface in a polar environment. Scanning electron microscopy observation and particle size result indicated that the introduction of EGCG reduced the particle size of myosin, which was more distinct at 0.2 M NaCl level. Therefore, EGCG ordered and stabilized the myosin structure at low NaCl level by forming a complex with myosin, effectively improving the myosin solubility.

An impact of l-histidine on the phosphorylation and stability of pyruvate kinase at low NaCl level

As one of the key rate limiting enzymes in glycolysis process, the characteristics of pyruvate kinase (PK) play an important role in regulating the muscle quality. Given the close relationship between kinase phosphorylation level and its stability, the present study investigated the impact of exogenous l-histidine (l-his) on PK phosphorylation and activity at 1% NaCl level in the early postmortem. An incubation system was also constructed and the results showed that the introduction of 0.06% l-his caused the dephosphorylation and increased the activity of PK at 1% NaCl. Compared with 1% NaCl treatment, three differential phosphorylation sites were produced when l-his was introduced. The PK secondary structure was shift from order to disorder, leading to a distinct degradation. This present study provided us with inspiration that meat quality could be improved by exogenous l-his at early postmortem under low NaCl conditions.

Soil crust development on playa surfaces of Lake Urmia and its controlling factors: New insights to combat dust sources

The recession of lake shores, including the ones of Lake Urmia (LU), and later exposure of the lake bed sediments to wind erosion as a consequence of climate change and drought, is a devastating phenomenon worldwide. In the absence of stable surface crusts, these areas can be the source of airborne dust causing health and environmental issues. The present study aims at investigating the crust formation and development on Lake Urmia playa (LUP) surfaces through physicochemical and morphological studies and to determine the major factors affecting crust stability. To achieve the above goals, 50 soil crust samples from playa surfaces of the western LU playa were collected. The soil crust thickness and compressive strength were determined by a digital micro penetrometer. By means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the main morphological and chemical factors responsible for the crust development and evolution in LUP were identified. Results showed that crust samples from clay flats (CFs) and clay flats-salt crusts (CF-SC) possessed the most stable crusts with a thickness of 2.2 and 1.9 cm and maximum compressive strength of 6709 and 7399 kPa, respectively, while sand sheets (Sa-sheets) showed weak and locally restricted crust development. Evaluation of correlation coefficients (CC) between soil crust physicochemical properties and crust stability parameters revealed that clay, silt, and organic matter enhance the crust stability and decrease the erodible fraction by increasing the crust thickness, while salt content quantified as Na+ concentration and electrical conductivity increase the firmness of the crusts. Interestingly, total carbonates quantified as calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) correlated negatively with crust stability although pedogenic calcite is known as cementing agent in soils. XRD together with FTIR spectroscopy revealed that calcite is indeed the predominant mineral form in most soils with the exception of Sa-sheets with the highest share of carbonates, in which aragonite prevailed over calcite. While carbonates of pedogenic origin act as cementing agent, geologic carbonates present as coarse aragonite particles decrease soil stability. Therefore, samples with the highest total carbonate content exhibited the weakest crust, which explains the negative correlation between soil crust and CCE. SEM coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and elemental mapping revealed that NaCl is the major cementing agent of the soil particles in crusts developed on LU playa surfaces. Its coexistence with phyllosilicates has increased the crust stability and resilience against wind erosion in CF and CF-SC samples while in the Sa-sheet samples, the absence of clay-size minerals (silt and clay) along with the prevalence of geologic carbonates (dolomite and aragonite) and lower NaCl content, limited crust formation and stability. This study emphasizes the importance of the intrinsic soil physicochemical properties together with the secondary (pedogenic) carbonate formation and more importantly the presence of NaCl, as the best determining factors controlling crust formation over LU playa surfaces.

Fatty acid composition of Kashkaval cheese with reduced sodium chloride content

The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in the fatty acid profile and acid value of milkfat during ripening of Kashkaval cheese with reduced sodium chloride content. Three batches of Kashkaval cheese (with low 0.7%; medium 1.5% and standard 3.1% NaCl content) were produced. Analyses were carried out on days 1 and 45 of ripening. Based on the results obtained, it was established that lipolysis in Kashkaval cheese during ripening was significantly delayed (p&lt;0.05) in all samples. A slight increase in Kashkaval fatty acid value during ripening was established. Not statistically significant changes in the fatty acid composition of the tested samples during the 45-day ripening period were found. The average values for saturated fatty acids (SFA) were 81.08 mg/100g and for the monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were 11.03 and 1.04 mg/100g between control group (KSs with 3.1% NaCl content) and experimental groups (KMs with reduced NaCl content of 1.5% and KLs with a low NaCl content of 0.7 %) respectively. The predominant fatty acids (FA) were palmitic (C16, 37.56±1.13 mg/100g), myristic (C14, 16.98±0.51 mg/100g), stearic (C18, 15.35±0.46 mg/100g) and oleic acid (C18:1, 10.47±0.31 mg/100g). At the end of the ripening period, Kashkaval cheese with low content of NaCl had a slightly higher acid value of 3.03±0.58 mg KOH/g in comparison with cheese samples with medium and standard NaCl content of 1.72±0.01 and 1.11±0.01 mg KOH/g respectively.

Aggregation behavior of polystyrene nanoplastics: Role of surface functional groups and protein and electrolyte variation

Aggregation kinetics of plastics are affected by the surface functional groups and exposure orders (electrolyte and protein) with kinds of mechanisms in aquatic environment. This study investigates the aggregation of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) with varying surface functional groups in the presence of common electrolytes (NaCl, CaCl2, Na2SO4) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). It also examines the impact of different exposure orders, namely BSA + NaCl (adding them together), BSA → NaCl (adding BSA firstly and then NaCl), and NaCl → BSA (adding NaCl firstly and then BSA), on PSNPs aggregation. The presence of BSA decreased the critical coagulation concentration in NaCl (CCCNa+) of the non-modified PS-Bare from 222.17 to 142.81 mM (35.72%), but increased that of the carboxyl-modified PS-COOH from 157.34 to 160.03 mM (1.71%). This might be ascribed to the thicker absorbed layer of BSA onto the PS-Bare surface, known from Ohshima's soft particle theory. Their aggregation in CaCl2 was both increased because of Ca2+ bridging. Different from the monotonous effects of BSA on PS-Bare and PS-COOH, BSA initially facilitated PS-NH2 aggregation via patch-charge attraction, then inhibited it at higher salt levels through steric repulsion. Furthermore, exposure orders had no significant effect on PS-Bare and PS-COOH, but had a NaCl concentration-dependent impact on PS-NH2. At the low NaCl concentrations (10 and 100 mM), no obvious influence could be observed. While, at 300 mM NaCl, the high concentrations of BSA could not totally stabilize the salt-induced aggregates in NaCl → BSA, but could achieve it in the other two orders. These might be attributed to the electrical double layer compression by NaCl, “patch-charge” force and steric hindrance by BSA. These experimental findings shed light on the potential fate and transport of nanoparticles in aquatic environments.

Genome-wide identification of RNA recognition motif (RRM1) in Brassica rapa and functional analysis of RNA-binding protein (BrRBP) under low-temperature stress

BackgroundThe RNA recognition motif (RRM) is primarily engaged in the processing of mRNA and rRNA following gene transcription as well as the regulation of RNA transport; it is critical in preserving RNA stability.ResultsIn this study, we identified 102 members of the RRM1 gene family in Brassica rapa, which were dispersed across 10 chromosomes with the ninth chromosome being the most extensively distributed. The RRM1 gene family members of Brassica rapa and Arabidopsis thaliana were grouped into 14 subclades (I–XIV) using phylogenetic analysis. Moreover, the results of transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR indicated that the expression of Brapa05T000840 was upregulated in the cultivars ‘Longyou 7’ and ‘Longyou 99’ following exposure to cold stress at a temperature of 4 °C for 24 h. The levels of expression in the leaves and growth cones of the ‘Longyou 7’ variety were found to be significantly higher than those observed in the ‘Longyou 99’ variety under conditions of low temperature and NaCl stress. It illustrates the involvement of the RRM1 gene in the physiological response to both low temperature and salt stress. In addition, it was observed that the survival rate of transgenic BrRBP (Brapa05T000840) Arabidopsis thaliana plants was notably higher compared to that of wild-type plants when subjected to varying durations of low temperature treatment. Furthermore, the expression of the BrRBP gene in transgenic plants exhibited an upward trend as the duration of low temperature treatment increased, reaching its peak at 24 h. The in-vivo enzymatic activity of reactive oxygen species-scavenging enzymes were found to be significantly elevated in comparison to wild-type plants, suggesting that the BrRBP gene may enhance the cold tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana.ConclusionsThis study offers a significant foundation for comprehending the regulation mechanism of the RRM1 gene family in winter Brassica rapa subjected to cold stress, as well as for finding key genes associated with cold resistance.

Pemurnian Garam Rakyat Menjadi Garam Industri dengan Alat Hidroekstraktor

Garam rakyat (krosok) yang ada di Indonesia dapat dimanfaatkan menjadi garam industri dengan meningkatkan kemurniannya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membuat garam industri dari garam rakyat dengan menggunakan alat hidroekstraktor. Penelitian ini juga bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh variabel jumlah pencucian, perbandingan feed dan solvent terhadap kadar NaCl dan %losses yang dihasilkan. Penelitian ini mengaplikasikan metode hi-droekstraksi dalam proses pemurnian garam rakyat. Metode hidroekstraksi mampu memisahkan pengotor dalam garam rakyat dengan menggunakan larutan garam jenuh sehingga garam yang dihasilkan lebih murni. Pembuatan garam industri dilakukan dengan menggunakan hidroekstraktor yang dilengkapi motor pengaduk berupa screw se-bagai tempat terjadinya ekstraksi antara garam rakyat dan larutan garam jenuh sesuai variabel yang sudah diten-tukan. Hasil analisa menunjukkan kadar NaCl tertinggi yaitu pada perbandingan feed dan solvent 3:3 dengan 3 kali pencucian yaitu sebesar 95.6%, sedangkan kadar NaCl terendah yaitu pada perbandingan feed dan solvent 2:4 dengan 1 kali pencucian yaitu sebesar 84.6%.

Roseateles amylovorans sp. nov., isolated from freshwater.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, amylolytic bacterial strain, designated as bsSlp3-1T, was isolated from the Slepian water system, a freshwater reservoir. Strain bsSlp3-1T was found to be aerobic, oxidase-positive and catalase-negative, grew at 5-37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 5.0-9.5 (optimum, pH 7.0) and low NaCl concentration (up to 1.0 %). Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity revealed that strain bsSlp3-1T clustered with Roseateles species and is closely related to Roseateles depolymerans KCTC 42856T (98.7 %) and Roseateles terrae CCUG 52222T (98.6 %). Whole-genome comparisons using average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values suggested that strain bsSlp3-1T represents a novel species within the genus Roseateles and is most closely related to Roseateles aquatilis CCUG 48205T (81.2 and 25.6 %, respectively). The genome of strain bsSlp3-1T consisted of a single circular chromosome with size 6 289 366 bp and DNA G+C content of 66.8 mol%. The predominant cellular fatty acids of bsSlp3-1T were cis-9-hexadecanoic and hexadecenoic acids. According to the data obtained in this work, strain bsSlp3-1T represents a novel Roseateles species for which the name Roseateles amylovorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is bsSlp3-1T (=BIM B-1768T=NBIMCC 9098T=VKM B-3671T).

Mechanism of Salt Tolerance and Plant Growth Promotion in Priestia megaterium ZS-3 Revealed by Cellular Metabolism and Whole-Genome Studies

Approximately one-third of agricultural land worldwide is affected by salinity, which limits the productivity and sustainability of crop ecosystems. Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a potential solution to this problem, as PGPR increases crop yield through improving soil fertility and stress resistance. Previous studies have shown that Priestia megaterium ZS-3(ZS-3) can effectively help plants tolerate salinity stress. However, how ZS-3 regulates its metabolic adaptations in saline environments remains unclear. In this study, we monitored the metabolic rearrangement of compatibilisers in ZS-3 and combined the findings with genomic data to reveal how ZS-3 survives in stressful environments, induces plant growth, and tolerates stress. The results showed that ZS-3 tolerated salinity levels up to 9%. In addition, glutamate and trehalose help ZS-3 adapt to osmotic stress under low NaCl stress, whereas proline, K+, and extracellular polysaccharides regulate the osmotic responses of ZS-3 exposed to high salt stress. Potting experiments showed that applying the ZS-3 strain in saline and neutral soils could effectively increase the activities of soil acid phosphatase, urease, and invertase in both soils, thus improving soil fertility and promoting plant growth. In addition, strain ZS-3-GFP colonised the rhizosphere and leaves of Cinnamomum camphora well, as confirmed by confocal microscopy and resistance plate count analysis. Genomic studies and in vitro experiments have shown that ZS-3 exhibits a variety of beneficial traits, including plant-promoting, antagonistic, and other related traits (such as resistance to saline and heavy metal stress/tolerance, amino acid synthesis and transport, volatile compound synthesis, micronutrient utilisation, and phytohormone biosynthesis/regulatory potential). The results support that ZS-3 can induce plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. These data provide important clues to further reveal the interactions between plants and microbiomes, as well as the mechanisms by which micro-organisms control plant health.

A New Natural Processing System Based on Slight Carbon Dioxide Pressure for Producing Black Table Olives with Low Salt Content.

Naturally fermented black table olives are usually processed in brine with low pH and high NaCl content. Because salt is responsible for several cardiovascular problems, methods are needed to decrease the salt (NaCl) content in olive pulp. This study investigated a new natural processing system wherein microorganism growth is inhibited by slight pressure of CO2 (spCO2), in addition to low pH and NaCl, in brine with decreased salt content. The fermentation performed under spCO2 with a low-salt brine with 6% (w v-1) NaCl and 0.5% (w v-1) citric acid, unlike the traditional system, inhibited the growth of bacteria and fungi and decreased the concentration of yeasts. Processing tests with spCO2 in the presence of different salt and citric acid concentrations indicated a slight decrease in yeasts in brines containing 6% (w v-1) NaCl and 0.6% (w v-1) citric acid but not after inoculation of the same brines with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In contrast, in the presence of 11% (w v-1) NaCl and 0.3% or 0.6% (w v-1) citric acid, the inhibitory effect of brines was greater compared to those with low-salt and it was also confirmed in the same brines inoculated with S. cerevisiae.

The Morphological Parameters and Cytosolic pH of Cells of Root Zones in Tobacco Plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.): Nonlinear Effects of NaCl Concentrations

Salinity impacts important processes in plants, reducing their yield. The effect of salinity on the cytosolic pH (pHcyt) has been little studied. In this research, we employed transgenic tobacco plants expressing the pH sensor Pt-GFP to investigate the alterations in pHcyt in cells across various root zones. Furthermore, we examined a wide spectrum of NaCl concentrations (ranging from 0 to 150 mM) and assessed morphological parameters and plant development. Our findings revealed a pattern of cytosolic acidification in cells across all root zones at lower NaCl concentrations (50, 100 mM). Interestingly, at 150 mM NaCl, pHcyt levels either increased or returned to normal, indicating a nonlinear effect of salinity on pHcyt. Most studied parameters related to development and morphology exhibited an inhibitory influence in response to NaCl. Notably, a nonlinear relationship was observed in the cell length within the elongation and differentiation zones. While cell elongation occurred at 50 and 100 mM NaCl, it was not evident at 150 mM NaCl. This suggests a complex interplay between stimulating and inhibitory effects of salinity, contributing to the nonlinear relationship observed between pHcyt, cell length, and NaCl concentration.

Highly permeable PA@GO loose nanofiltration membranes enabled by hierarchical transport channels for efficient dye removal

Graphene oxide (GO) membranes exhibit ultrafast water permeation properties, which have been employed in various membrane-based separations including nanofiltration for dye removal from textile wastewater. However, it’s still a great challenge to achieve precise control over the microstructure of GO membranes and obtain ultrathin GO membranes with exceptional separation efficiency and robust membrane structure. Herein, in-situ confined interfacial polymerization (IP) is proposed for fabricating loose polyamide (PA)@GO hybrid membranes with high permeance and dye rejection as well as robust membrane stability. A new diamine of sulfadiazine (SA) with intrinsic hydrophilic and conjugated sulfonamide groups is employed as cross-linker of GO membranes and monomer of PA in IP process, simultaneously. PA is in-situ synthesized in confined GO interlayer via IP process and intercalated into GO interlayer, which enlarges the interlayer spacing of GO membranes gradiently. The combination of hydrophilic PA nanofiltration layer on GO membrane surface and the PA intercalated GO membrane with varying interlayer spacing creates hierarchical transport channels for water molecules, which contributes to the high water permeance. Moreover, the less reactive SA monomer endows PA@GO selective layer with appropriate negative charge and loose transport channels, which contributes to both of high permeance and dye rejection due to Donnon effect and size exclusion effect. The PA@GO hybrid membrane exhibits high permeance of 75.5 L/(m2·h·bar) with TB dye rejection of 99.8 %, and exhibits low NaCl rejection of 11.6 %. Moreover, PA@GO hybrid membrane shows good fouling resistance and long-term stability as well as stable separation performance under harsh conditions. Both of high permeance and dye rejection of PA@GO hybrid membrane suggests that the integration of PA nanofiltration layer and GO membrane via in-situ confined interfacial polymerization can achieve the delicate control over the interlayer channel structure and the physicochemical properties of the membrane surface of GO membranes, which offers a promising method to break through the trade-off effect between permeability and selectivity of GO membranes.

Seed Germination and Seedling Growth in Suaeda salsa (Linn.) Pall. (Amaranthaceae) Demonstrate Varying Salinity Tolerance among Different Provenances.

Salinity is a pressing and widespread abiotic stress, adversely affecting agriculture productivity and plant growth worldwide. Seed germination is the most critical stage to seedling growth and establishing plant species in harsh environments, including saline stress. However, seed germination characteristics and stress tolerance may vary among geographical locations, such as various provenances. Suaeda salsa (Linn.) Pall. (S. salsa) is a halophytic plant that exhibits high salt tolerance and is often considered a pioneer species for the restoration of grasslands. Understanding the germination characteristics and stress tolerance of the species could be helpful in the vegetation restoration of saline-alkali land. In this study, we collected S. salsa seeds from seven different saline-alkali habitats (S1-S7) in the Songnen Plain region to assess the germination and seedling growth responses to NaCl, Na2CO3, and NaHCO3, and to observe the recovery of seed germination after relieving the salt stress. We observed significant differences in germination and seedling growth under three salt stresses and among seven provenances. Resistance to Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 stress was considerably higher during seedling growth than seed germination, while the opposite responses were observed for NaCl resistance. Seeds from S1 and S7 showed the highest tolerance to all three salt stress treatments, while S6 exhibited the lowest tolerance. Seeds from S2 exhibited low germination under control conditions, while low NaCl concentration and pretreatment improved germination. Ungerminated seeds under high salt concentrations germinated after relieving the salt stress. Germination of ungerminated seeds after the abatement of salt stress is an important adaptation strategy for black S. salsa seeds. While seeds from most provenances regerminated under NaCl, under Na2CO3 and NaHCO3, only seeds from S4 and S7 regerminated. These findings highlight the importance of soil salinity in the maternal environment for successful seed germination and seedling growth under various salinity-alkali stresses. Therefore, seed sources and provenance should be considered for vegetation restoration.