Acid Mine Research Articles

REVIEW: MATERIALS FOR IMPREGNATION OF POROUS METALLIZATION THERMAL SPRAYED ANTICORROSIVE COATINGS OF SUBMERSIBLEOILFIELD EQUIPMENT. Part 1

Submersible oilfield equipment undergoes aggressive corrosive effects of petroleum fluid, abrasive effects of mechanical impurities during operation, and also operates at elevated temperatures in the bottom. The most effective way to protect the outer surface of oilfield equipment is the use of metallization thermal sprayed coatings, and therefore the application of thermal spraying technology is becoming more and more in demand.However, the formation of a coating structure from many particles of molten material, due to their spraying, incomplete melting and loose packaging, leads to the formation of porosity, and porosity is one of the main disadvantages of thermal sprayed coatings. To eliminate this disadvantage, it is possible to use impregnation of porous coatings with various compositions, in which case the coating becomes composite. Depending on the operating environment, temperature conditions and operating conditions, metal, organic and inorganic impregnating compositions are used,but their use in the oil environment has been little studied, therefore the development of composite impregnated coatings is relevant for the protection of submersible oilfield equipment. The article highlights the influence of technological modes of its application on the porosity of thermal sprayed coating and the quality of substrate surface preparation. The main methods of sealing the porosity of thermal sprayed coatings by impregnation are described. The mechanism of impregnation (infiltration) of porous coatings, used methods of application and their classification are described, the determining role of wetting the coating with an impregnating material is emphasized. The effect of the rough surface of a thermal sprayed coating is shown, which consists in enhancing the wetting properties of the impregnating composition, the influence of roughness on the formation of adhesive bonds between the coating and the impregnating composition.The review presents traditional impregnating materials used in industry and their application modes.The application of metal and non-polymer inorganic impregnating compounds, represented mainly by salts of inorganic acids (nitrates, phosphates, silicates), is described. Specific test results are presented, including for the corrosion and abrasive resistance of thermal sprayed coatings after the application of impregnating compounds.

Sexually Dimorphic Gene Expression in Rat Proximal Tubules Suggests Activation of the Intrarenal Renin Angiotensin System and Elevated Transport Rates in Males

Introduction: Sexual dimorphism affects various organ systems, including renal and cardiovascular. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a pivotal role in regulating fluid homeostasis and blood pressure, with males being generally more sensitive to the hypertensive actions of angiotensin II (AngII). Proximal tubules (PT)s reabsorb 60-70% of filtered water, sodium, and bicarbonate and present sexually dimorphic biology. In addition, PTs are a key element of the intrarenal RAS and the production site of angiotensinogen ( Agt, AGT) and derived bioactive peptides. These peptides exert autocrine, as well as paracrine effects in distal portions of the nephron, regulating salt and water reabsorption. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that the increased sensitivity to the hypertensive actions of AngII in males is due to activation of the intrarenal RAS. Methods: We used 3 male and 3 female pools of whole kidney single-cell RNAseq transcriptomes to study gene expression differences across sexes in different segments of the nephron. Results: We identified sex-differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in all segments of the nephron, with the majority of DEG mapping to the PT. Analyzing all three PT segments together, we found 86 upregulated genes in females and 104 in males. Pathway enrichment analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) highlighted pathways associated with glutathione biosynthesis and metabolism in females, while males presented greater expression of genes associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle and mineral absorption, including the γ-subunit of the Na,K-ATPase ( Fxyd2). Differential expression of genes on each sub-segment of the PTs, namely S1, S2, and S3, showed the following number of upregulated genes: Females: 39, 37, and 73 in S1, S2, and S3, respectively; and Males: 67, 57, and 105 in S1, S2, and S3, respectively. This data indicates that S3 exhibits the largest sexually dimorphic transcriptomes. Pathway enrichment on S3 DEG in both males and females showed similar enrichment terms as in whole PTs. However, at this resolution, males also present upregulation of RAS genes, including Agt, and two proteases involved in the metabolism of angiotensin peptides: aminopeptidase A ( Enpep, APA) and prolyl endopeptidase ( Prep, PEP). APA and PEP can both cleave AngII to bioactive peptides AngIII and Ang(1-7), respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that the intrarenal RAS is upregulated in male PT.S3. The increase in AGT and proteases capable of metabolizing AngII suggest that this peptide may be elevated. Analyzing the expression of RAS genes alone does not allow us to infer a resultant effect on Na handling, as AngII, AngIII, and Ang(1-7) could exert both natriuretic and anti-natriuretic effects. However, enrichment terms associated with mineral transport and energy demands suggest active mineral transport prevails in males. Funding sources: This work was supported in part by CWRU BGT670107 and NIH-NIDDK DK128304 grants to AGV. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Five new heterocyclic disazo dyes derived from the 4-position: Synthesis, characterisation, and acute toxicity evaluation

In the present work, five novel heterocyclic disazo dyes (AA3a−AA3e) were synthesised. The characteristic properties of these synthesised dyes were examined, and their elemental analysis values were calculated. The dyes were characterised by the FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The impacts of several solvents on the absorption abilities of the synthesised compounds were analysed by a UV–vis spectrophotometer. Also, the absorption properties and tautomeric changes of the dyestuffs in the existence of inorganic acids and bases were investigated. Apart from these analyses and examinations, given the possibility of their release into the environment especially during their potential subsequent applications, the acute toxicity of each synthesised dyes to Gammarus roeseli (Crustacea: Amphipoda) was tested in the study. The current study is of great importance in the sense that it gives precious information on the acute toxicity levels of the dyestuffs AA3a−AA3e as well as their synthesis and spectral properties.

Use of a natural rock material as a precursor to inhibit corrosion of Ti alloy in an aggressive phosphoric acid medium

The mechanism of interaction between magnesite mineral and phosphoric acid (0.001–0.5 M) in addition to the determination of the protective properties for Ti alloy (working electrode) in phosphoric acid both with and without an inhibitor have been investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. Results of electrochemical tests show that the corrosion resistance of titanium alloy in phosphoric acid solution only increased and hydrogen production decreased by either decreasing acid concentration or increasing immersion time associated with the thickening of the oxide film formed on the alloy surface. On adding magnesite, the corrosion resistance of Ti alloy is enhanced by increasing the phosphoric acid concentration (0.001–0.5 M) due to the formation of sparingly soluble magnesium phosphate film on the alloy surface that inhibits the effect of increasing hydrogen evolution reaction due to the pH value decreases. The increasing adsorption behavior of the magnesite inhibitor and decreasing its diffusion were deduced from EIS measurements. Thus, the addition of 3% magnesite minimizes the corrosion by forming a new protective film (Mg3(PO4)2), which differs from the traditional passive film and prevents the effect of the increase of hydrogen evolution. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the tested alloy were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and In situ Raman spectroscopy.

Transmembrane Chemical Absorption Process for Recovering Ammonia as an Organic Fertilizer Using Citric Acid as the Trapping Solution.

Membrane contactors are among the available technologies that allow a reduction in the amount of ammoniacal nitrogen released into the environment through a process called transmembrane chemical absorption (TMCA). This process can be operated with different substances acting as trapping solutions; however, strong inorganic acids have been studied the most. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate, at laboratory scale, the performance of citric acid as a capturing solution in TMCA processes for recovering ammonia as an organic fertilizer from anaerobic digestor reject water using membrane contactors in a liquid-liquid configuration and to compare it with the most studied solution, sulfuric acid. The experiments were carried out at 22 °C and 40 °C and with a feed water pH of 10 and 10.5. When the system was operated at pH 10, the rates of recovered ammonia from the feed solution obtained with citric acid were 10.7-16.5 percentage points (pp) lower compared to sulfuric acid, and at pH 10.5, the difference decreased to 5-10 pp. Under all tested conditions, the water vapor transport in the system was lower when using citric acid as the trapping solution, and at pH 10 and 40 °C, it was 5.7 times lower. When estimating the operational costs for scaling up the system, citric acid appears to be a better option than sulfuric acid as a trapping solution, but in both cases, the process was not profitable under the studied conditions.

Efficient green synthesis of n-amyl acetate in liquid phase over metal-organic framework catalysts

This investigation describes, for the first time, the efficient and selective liquid-phase green synthesis of n-amyl acetate over UiO-66 and NH2-UiO-66 metal-organic framework catalysts. By employing UiO-66 and NH2-UiO-66 solid acid catalysts, n-amyl acetate can be produced without the corrosive impact and separation problems associated with homogeneous catalysis by mineral acids. Thermal, structural, textural, and morphological properties of the catalysts were evaluated by TG-DTA, XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, BET-surface area, SEM and HRTEM. Their surface acidities were characterized by the dehydration of isopropanol and the chemical adsorption of suitable probs. The effects of reflux time, acid: alcohol molar ratio, and catalyst load were extensively studied. Under the optimized conditions, UiO-66, and NH2-UiO-66 catalysts, respectively offered 85 and 67 % conversions, and 100 % selectivity into n-amyl acetate. Activity of catalysts was well correlated with the total number of acidic sites, SBET and the kinetic rate constants of the esterification reaction. Analysis of the pre-adsorption studies of the reactants on the catalyst surface demonstrated that the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism was followed in this reaction. The UiO-66 catalyst was regenerated numerous times with nearly the same activity and 100 % selectivity.

The Influence of Location on the Nutritional Composition of the Rind of Watermelon (<i>C. lanatus</i>) in Parts of Selected Geographical Zones in Nigeria

Watermelon (C.lanatus)), which was formerly only grown in the Northern part of Nigeria, is now grown in Southern parts also. It is known that weather patterns and soil composition vary as we move from the northern to the southern parts of Nigeria. However, there is little to no data demonstrating how C.lanatus' nutritional composition is influenced by its geographic location. This study therefore sought to assess the nutritional composition of the rind of C.lanatus produced in parts of four states that corresponded to four geopolitical areas of Nigeria. Samples of C. lanatus were gathered from four geopolitical zones of Nigeria which include; North-East, South-West, South-East, and SouthSouth. Fruits were cleaned before the rind was removed, blended, and freeze-drying carried out. The freeze-dried samples were subjected to established methods for the determination of the amino acid profile, vitamins, proximate, and mineral components. The results of the amino acid profile showed that distinct amino acids were present in each zone, with the southwest sample providing the highest quantities and the south-south zone providing the lowest concentrations. The rind of C. lanatus contained calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, phosphorus, and manganese in varying amounts, and samples from the south- west and north-east having the highest concentrations of both vitamins and minerals. The results of the proximate composition determination showed that the southwest sample had the highest (p < 0.05) percentage of moisture, protein, and ash when compared to other zones, and that the northeast sample had a higher percentage composition of carbohydrate, ash, and fat when compared to other zones. Thus, the C. lanatus samples' nutritional value were distributed as follows: southwest > northeast > southeast > south-south. According to the findings, C.lanatus rind's nutritional qualities can vary depending on where it is cultivated.

Association of Acidotolerant Cyanobacteria to Microbial Mats below pH 1 in Acidic Mineral Precipitates in Río Tinto River in Spain.

This report describes acidic microbial mats containing cyanobacteria that are strongly associated to precipitated minerals in the source area of Río Tinto. Río Tinto (Huelva, Southwestern Spain) is an extreme acidic environment where iron and sulfur cycles play a fundamental role in sustaining the extremely low pH and the high concentration of heavy metals, while maintaining a high level of microbial diversity. These multi-layered mineral deposits are stable all year round and are characterized by a succession of thick greenish-blue and brownish layers mainly composed of natrojarosite. The temperature and absorbance above and below the mineral precipitates were followed and stable conditions were detected inside the mineral precipitates. Different methodologies, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, immunological detection, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and metagenomic analysis were used to describe the biodiversity existing in these microbial mats, demonstrating, for the first time, the existence of acid-tolerant cyanobacteria in a hyperacidic environment of below pH 1. Up to 0.46% of the classified sequences belong to cyanobacterial microorganisms, and 1.47% of the aligned DNA reads belong to the Cyanobacteria clade.

Textile waste subjected to acid hydrolysis as raw materials for biogas production

Textile waste is a high-volume group of municipal waste that is difficult to dispose of due to synthetic additives and chemicals that give natural fibers the properties preferred by consumers. The paper presents a method of treating textile waste based on natural fibers (cotton and wool) with mineral acids and further biological conversion of obtained hydrolysates into biogas. It was found that the hydrolysates of cotton contain a pool of sugars (≥8 g/L of glucose), which are necessary for the growth of microorganism's consortium. The hydrolysates of the mixture of natural and synthetic fibers do not contain fermentation inhibitors (even when cotton was dotted with polyesters and polyamides), and the addition of an appropriate number of wool hydrolysates (up to 5 % v/v) favours the production of biogas. The results indicate that a moderate methane production from waste textiles composed of both cotton and synthetic materials can be achieved with no need of separation, which would significantly increase the cost of their processing.

Physicochemical composition, centesimal, and phytochemical profile of umbu seed flour (Spondias tuberosa Arruda)

This study aimed to investigate the nutritional potential of umbu (Spondias tuberosa Arruda) seed flours. This was an experimental study. The seeds of the umbu fruit were subjected to an oven-drying process in order to obtain the flour. Subsequently, the analysis of the centesimal composition, physicochemical, mineral, and fatty acid profile, microbiological investigation, and the screening of bioactive phytochemicals of the umbu seed flours in hydroethanolic extracts were carried out. A completely randomized design (CID) was used, with three replications, and the results were expressed as means followed by standard deviation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out, and the Tukey’s test was applied at a 5% probability level. It was possible to obtain flour from umbu seeds. It was observed that they contained significant amounts of insoluble dietary fiber (80.9 ± 0.55a g.100-1), protein (6.95 ± 0.10a g.100-1), and lipids (5.54 ± 1.13a g.100-1). The minerals present included zinc (1.87 ± 0.05b mg.100 g-1), manganese (14.36 ± 0.34c mg.100 g-1), and calcium (104.79 ± 0.92c mg.100 g-1). The flours had high levels of oleic monounsaturated fatty acids (33.10 ± 0.13a g.100-1), linoleic polyunsaturated fatty acids (38.06 ± 0.06b g.100-1), and palmitic saturated fatty acids (19.1 ± 0.04b g.100-1), in addition to considerable levels of phenolic compounds (276.21 ± 14.01a mg.g-1 GAE) and flavonoids (891.09 ± 9.01ª mg.g-1 rutin), with satisfactory sanitary conditions for Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Bacillus cereus molds, and yeasts. This study suggests that umbu seed meals can be considered relevant sources of dietary fiber, minerals, and natural antioxidants.

Effect of roasting on the oil content, bioactive components, fatty acid composition and mineral content of purslane seeds

SummaryIn this study, the effect of microwave on oil contents, bioactive components, antioxidant activity, polyphenols, tocopherols, fatty acid compositions and nutrients of purslane seeds was investigated. The moisture amount of the purslane seeds decreased significantly, while the oil and bioactive properties of the seeds increased compared to the control. Raw (control) and purslane seeds roasted in microwave contained 24.72 and 26.27 mg/100 g gallic acid, 34.12 and 38.30 mg/100 g 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid, 111.57 and 118.55 mg/100 g catechin, 8.70 and 3.46 caffeic acid, 5.95 and 5.09 mg/100 g syringic acid, 18.73 and 8.34 mg/100 g rutin and 3.07 and 2.26 mg/100 g quercetin, respectively. Stearic, linoleic, arachidic, linolenic, behenic and erucic acid results of the oils of raw and purslane seeds roasted in microwave were partially increased compared to raw seed oil. The applied heat treatment had a positive effect on the tocopherol results of the purslane seed oils, and the tocopherol contents of the oils obtained from the roasted seeds increased compared to the control. In general, the protein and mineral values of heat‐treated purslane seeds increased (except Ca, Fe and Mn).

Mineral Acid Co-Extraction in Reactive Extraction of Lactic Acid Using a Thymol-Menthol Deep Eutectic Solvent as a Green Modifier.

Carboxylic acids can be isolated from fermentation broths using reactive liquid-liquid extraction, offering an alternative to the environmentally harmful state-of-the-art process of precipitating calcium lactate. To enhance the sustainability of liquid-liquid extraction processes, greener solvents, such as natural deep eutectic solvents, are investigated. However, fermentation broths often exhibit pH values unsuitable for carboxylic acid extraction, which can be adjusted using mineral acids, though mineral acids may be co-extracted. In this study, we systematically examine the co-extraction of hydrochloric, nitric, sulfuric, and phosphoric acid during extraction and back-extraction of lactic acid. The solvent phase consisted of tri-n-octylamine, trioctylphosphine oxide, or tributyl phosphate diluted in a thymol-menthol deep eutectic solvent. The back-extraction was conducted using a diluent swing with p-cymene as the antisolvent and water as the receiving phase. Tri-n-octylamine showed the highest efficiency for lactic acid (up to 29.8%) but also the highest co-extraction of mineral acids (up to 50.9%). In contrast, trioctylphosphine oxide exhibited a lower but more selective lactic acid extraction (5.94%) with low mineral acids co-extraction (0.135%). Overall, the highest co-extraction was observed for phosphoric acid and the lowest for nitric acid. In conclusion, the selected solvent phase composition and mineral acid influence the co-extraction and, thus, final product purity. The successful application of the natural deep eutectic solvent as the modifier enhances the sustainability of liquid-liquid extraction processes.

Tumor Microenvironment‐Selective Sol–Gel Mineralization of ROS‐Responsive Stretchable and Conductive Hydrogel

AbstractCancer cell‐triggered sol–gel transformation of mineralized hydrogel (PAA‐MnO2) is designed as a facile strategy for cancer detection by manipulating the mineralization process in the presence of cancer cells. The mineralization of polyacrylic acid (PAA) with calcium phosphate via carboxyl‐Ca2+ complex is initially inhibited by the incorporation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐sensitive manganese oxide (MnO2) with polymer dots (PDs). In this system, the mineralization can be induced after cleaving MnO2 into Mn2+ by high ROS levels in cancer cells, forming a PAA‐MnO2 mineralized hydrogel and resulting in a naked‐eye system for cancer monitoring. Naked‐eye monitoring of ROS‐responsive sol–gel transformation is performed using a circulator device containing circulating cells to discriminate cancer (HeLa, PC‐3, B16F10) from normal cells (CHO‐K1). With the incorporation of PDs, PAA‐MnO2 mineralized hydrogel not only provides physical transformation (stretchability, viscosity) but also fluorescence‐recovery and electroconductivity changes at different cancer‐cell concentrations (104–106 cells mL−1), including distinct strain–pressure responses that can be wirelessly monitored via smartphones. Furthermore, in vivo, experiments suggest that PAA‐MnO2 mineralized hydrogel can be formed in tumor‐bearing mice owing to its excellent ROS‐scavenging activity at the tumor site, as confirmed by SOD2 and gene‐expression analysis. Thus, this unique approach can potentially enable simple and effective cancer detection in future point‐of‐care diagnostics.

Influence of the fruit parts on bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, polyphenols, fatty acid and mineral contents of the pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima L.) fruits

SummaryIn the current work, the effect of pumpkin parts on the oil content, total phenol, flavonoid, carotenoid quantities, antioxidant capacity, phenolic components, fatty acid profiles and mineral profiles of pumpkin parts was investigated. Total carotenoid and phenolic amounts of pumpkin parts were recorded to be from 36.84 (seed) and 29.92 μg g−1 (pulp) to 28.75 (pulp) and 67.68 mgGAE/100 g (peel) respectively. Also, total flavonoid quantities of the parts of pumpkin were assigned between 21.07 mg/100 g (pulp) and 220.36 mg/100 g (seed), while antioxidant activities of pumpkin samples range from 0.04 mmol kg−1 (pulp) to 0.82 mmol kg−1 (seed). Catechin and caffeic acid amounts of pumpkin parts varied from 13.25 (seed) and 77.31 mg/100 g (peel) to 4.70 (seed) and 7.60 mg/100 g (peel) respectively. The amount of catechin detected in the pumpkin peel was approximately two and five times higher than the pulp part. Resveratrol content was lowest in the pulp part of the pumpkin. Oleic and linoleic acid values of the oils ranged from 19.23% (peel) to 29.16% (seed) and from 18.15% (peel) to 51.06% (seed) respectively. Stearic, oleic and linoleic acids of pumpkin pulp oil were higher than pumpkin peel oil. Pumpkin seed oils are rich in oleic and linoleic acids. P, K, Mg, S and Fe were the dominant biogenic minerals of pumpkin parts. The most of total carotenoids and total phenols were accumulated in the peel part of the pumpkin fruit. The total flavonoid quantity of pumpkin seeds was approximately three times higher than the pumpkin peel part and ten times higher than the pulp part.

Type of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae frass influences the nutritional value when included in a prepared diet for Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) farming is expected to increase, and a by-product is the ‘frass’. The dietary inclusion of BSFL frass has been shown to enhance tilapia and catfish growth/immunity. However, the composition of BSFL frass, and potentially their nutritive value to fish, may depend on the initial provided substrate. In this 8-week nutrition trial, BSFL frass made from either expired fish diet (EFD; 45% crude protein) or a combination of fruits/vegetable peels (FV; 9.3% crude protein) were included in the diets of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mozambicus) at 5% or 10%. The EFD and FV frass had a different nitrogen, mineral, and amino acid profile, and this information was used to formulate the diets. Results showed that EFD frass at 10% significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced tilapia growth compared to fish fed the control diet, but performance of fish fed the other test diets were not different (P > 0.05) from the control. There was no significant difference in the crude protein or lipid content of tilapia, but some differences were observed in the amino acid and fatty acid composition. Among the test minerals, only phosphorus was significantly affected, which was higher in tilapia fed the FV frass diets. Liver histology showed some minor inflammation and blood vessel congestion in tilapia fed the 10% frass diets, while the intestinal histology had a better cumulative score among all the frass diets compared to the control. Results indicate that the initial substrate provided to the BSFL can influence the nutritive value of the frass to fish.

Glutamate Leaching of Spent Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode in Weak Acidic-Neutral Condition: New Insight on Kinetics and Dissolution Mechanism

ABSTRACT Organic acid leaching receives less attention than inorganic acids for Li-ion battery recycling process at the industrial scale due to the high consumption rate of the acids as leaching reagents. This paper reports an effective leaching of cobalt (Co) and lithium (Li) from spent battery cathode using low concentration of monosodium glutamate as lixiviants. More than 95% of Co and Li could be dissolved at leaching conditions MSG 0.1 M (18 g/L), pH 5, sodium sulfite 0.5 M as reductant, pulp density 20 g/L, room temperature and leaching time 6 h. Increasing the temperature to 80°C sped up the leaching process, where maximum recovery could be attained within 1 h. pH played a major role in the leaching efficiency (effective range pH 4–6). pH lower than 4 led to neutral and cationic glutamate species, which were ineffective in attracting cobalt ion. pH higher than 6 initiated the surface passivation by Co(OH)2. In the absence of a passivation layer, cobalt dissolution mechanism followed the chemical reaction-controlled model, while in the presence of the layer, the mechanism switched to diffusion through product layer. Kinetic studies demonstrated that aside from pH, the formation of passivation layer was hypothetically regulated by adjusting the other leaching parameters. Aside from the observation on kinetic study, the proposed leaching mechanism was supported by characterization (particle size analysis, SEM-EDS, FT-IR) results.

Comparative analysis of fatty acid profiles, phytochemical and mineral contents of pepper spice types in Türkiye

Peppers are significant crops frequently used in cooking or as spice. Numerous phytochemicals, including capsaicinoids, phenolics, and carotenoids are found in peppers. Capsaicinoids are responsible for the distinctively pungent flavor. A comparative study of the proximate, mineral, fatty acid composition, and phytochemical components of 15 types of pepper spices (1 Isot Pepper Flake, 4 Chili Powders, and 10 Chili Pepper Flakes) were investigated. Analysis of the proximate composition included moisture content (6.54-19.49%), ash content (6.53-22.48%) and acid insoluble ash content (0.41-1.12%). Total phenolic content ranged from 9.72 to 20.05 mg GAE g-1. The lowest and highest capsaicinoid content were found in S15 (10247.6 Scoville Heat Unit (SHU)) and S9 (38861.7 SHU) samples, respectively. Total carotenoid content ranged from 739.8–1941.7 mg kg-1. Phytochemical analyses revealed that these spices are high in phytonutrients such as carotenoid and capsaicinoid. Mineral elements such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, manganese, and sodium were also present in the spices, which are essential for human nutrition.

Effect of odontoplasty on intake, nutrient digestibility, and intake time of tifton hay in ponies

We aimed to evaluate the effects of dental correction on voluntary nutrient intake, time of intake, apparent digestibility and fecal particle size in Brazilian ponies. Twelve mares, with no history of previous dental treatments, housed in individual pens and fed a diet based on tifton 85 were used. The study comprised two consecutive experimental phases, pre and post dental treatment. Each phase consisted of 15 days for adaptation to the pen and treatment and 5 days for data collection, totaling 20 days. To calculate nutrient intake and digestibility coefficients, samples of diets, leftovers, and feces were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude fat (CF), mineral matter (MM), organic matter (OM), and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC). Food intake time was recorded using a digital video recorder. Fecal particles were analyzed by wet sieving. Dental correction did not influence the intake of DM, CP, NDF, CF, and OM by the animals. However, there was an increase in NFC intake from 0.12 kg to 0.14 kg and in food intake time from 654.50 ± 138.98 to 774.95 ± 167.14. There was a decrease in the digestibility of CP from 0.08 kg to 0.04 kg and an increase in the digestibility of NDF from 0.65 kg to 0.82 kg. Although odontoplasty increased the time of hay intake and the digestibility of the fibrous fractions of the feed of ponies, it did not influence the intake of nutrients and the size of the fecal particles.

Use of Limestone Sludge in the Preparation of ɩ-Carrageenan/Alginate-Based Films.

The use of processed limestone sludge as a crosslinking agent for films based on Na-alginate and ɩ-carrageenan/Na-alginate blends was studied. Sorbitol was tested as a plasticizer. The produced gel formulations included alginate/sorbitol and carrageenan/alginate/sorbitol mixtures, with tested sorbitol concentrations of 0.0, 0.5 and 1.0 wt%. The limestone sludge waste obtained from the processing of quarried limestone was converted into an aqueous solution of Ca2+ by dissolution with mineral acid. This solution was then diluted in water and used to induce gel crosslinking. The necessity of using sorbitol as a component of the crosslinking solution was also assessed. The resulting films were characterized regarding their dimensional stability, microstructure, chemical structure, mechanical performance and antifungal properties. Alginate/sorbitol films displayed poor dimensional stability and were deemed not viable. Carrageenan/alginate/sorbitol films exhibited higher dimensional stability and smooth and flat surfaces, especially in compositions with 0.5 wt% sorbitol. However, an increasing amount of plasticizer appears to result in severe surface cracking, the development of a segregation phenomenon affecting carrageenan and an overall decrease in films' mechanical resistance. Although further studies regarding film composition-including plasticizer fraction, film optimal thickness and film/mold material interaction-are mandatory, the attained results show the potential of the reported ɩ-carrageenan/alginate/sorbitol films to be used towards the development of viable films derived from algal polysaccharides.

Reaction of SO3 with H2SO4 and its implications for aerosol particle formation in the gas phase and at the air–water interface

Abstract. The reactions between SO3 and atmospheric acids are indispensable in improving the formation of aerosol particles. However, relative to those of SO3 with organic acids, the reaction of SO3 with inorganic acids has not received much attention. Here, we explore the atmospheric reaction between SO3 and H2SO4, a typical inorganic acid, in the gas phase and at the air–water interface using quantum chemical (QC) calculations and Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations. We also report the effect of H2S2O7, the product of the reaction between SO3 and H2SO4, on new particle formation (NPF) in various environments using the Atmospheric Cluster Dynamics Code (ACDC) kinetic model and QC calculations. The present findings show that the gas-phase reactions of SO3 + H2SO4 without and with water molecules are both low-energy-barrier processes. With the involvement of interfacial water molecules, H2O induced the formation of the S2O72-⋯H3O+ ion pair, HSO4- mediated the formation of the HSO4-⋯H3O+ ion pair, and the deprotonation of H2S2O7 was observed and proceeded on the picosecond timescale. The present findings suggest the potential contribution of the SO3–H2SO4 reaction to NPF and aerosol particle growth, showing that (i) although H2S2O7 is easily hydrolyzed with water to form H2SO4, it can directly participate in H2SO4–NH3-based cluster formation and can present a more obvious enhancement effect on SA–A-based cluster formation, and (ii) the formed interfacial S2O72- can attract candidate species from the gas phase to the water surface and, thus, accelerate particle growth.