Addition Of NaCl Research Articles

NaCl-Responsive Ultrashort Peptide to Trigger Self-Assembly of TPE-Capped Supramolecular Hydrogelator.

With the advantages of less invasiveness and better shape adaptability, in situ-forming hydrogels are desired biomaterials as scaffolds, drug carriers, and so on. Herein, a negatively charged NaCl-responsive ultrashort peptide sequence (EEH) is reported whose electrostatic repulsion can be reduced through the charge-shielding effect. Under physiological conditions, its AIEgen-capped amphiphile TPE-GEEH of low concentration (1 mg/mL) presents NaCl-triggered morphological transformation from micelle to closely packed fiber with enhanced emission, which can be applied to biosense sodium ion (Na+) with high sensitivity and quick response. At a slightly acidic pH, 10 mg/mL TPE-GEEH undergoes sol-gel transition upon addition of NaCl (100 mM) with improved mechanical properties, which should be useful to develop an in situ-forming hydrogel. Overall, our report provides a simple strategy to construct NaCl-responsive assemblies for potential application in biosensors and drug delivery system.

Boosting Supramolecular Gelation Efficiency and Properties: Ionic Strength as a Key to Superior Hydrogels.

Controlling the minimum gelation concentration (MGC) of low molecular weight (LMW) hydrogelators is a key for modulating gel properties, such as mechanical strength, viscoelasticity, and stability, which are crucial for applications ranging from drug delivery to tissue engineering. However, tweaking the MGC under specific conditions, such as pH and/or temperature, poses a considerable challenge. Herein, we varied the ionic strength of buffer solutions using NaCl for several LMW hydrogelators, including Fmoc-Phe, Fmoc-Tyr, Fmoc-Trp, Fmoc-Met, and Fmoc-Cha, and assessed their gelation efficiency at pH 7.4 and ambient temperature. Interestingly, Fmoc-Phe demonstrated a ∼67% (3-fold) MGC reduction, from 0.24 to 0.08 wt %, at 500 mM NaCl, transforming it a "super hydrogelator" (MGC < 0.1 wt %), while Fmoc-Trp showed 60% MGC reduction. Higher ionic strength effectively shields the electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged (-COO-) groups on the Fmoc-Phe, promoting closer aggregation and more efficient self-assembly and allowing for gelation at lower concentrations. In contrast, Fmoc-Met, Fmoc-Cha, and Fmoc-Tyr precipitated in the presence of NaCl, suggesting that NaCl specifically modulates the MGC of Fmoc-amino acid gelators containing unsubstituted aromatic side chains. Furthermore, these results indicate that cation-π interactions likely play a role, alongside carboxylic acid neutralization. While Fmoc-Phe forms gels in the presence of other monovalent cations, it does not form a hydrogel in the presence of divalent (CaCl2) and trivalent (AlCl3), indicating that enhancement of hydrogelation is specific to monovalent cations. Although the fibrillar structure of Fmoc-Phe hydrogels remained consistent, addition of NaCl increased fibril stickiness, creating densely packed networks that modulate the mechanical strength. Unlike typical cases where increased ionic strength leads to precipitation, Fmoc-Phe gelation at high NaCl concentrations (150-500 mM) is significant, yielding a robust supramolecular hydrogel that remains stable in high ionic-strength environments. This outcome suggests that ionic strength could be a valuable factor to enhance the efficient gelation of LMW hydrogelators.

Evaluation of H2O2, H2, and bubble temperature in the sonolysis of water and aqueous t-butanol solution under Ar: Effects of solution temperatures and inorganic additives of NaCl and KI

The yields of H2O2 and H2 formed in the sonolysis of aqueous solution under noble gas are representative indexes for understanding the chemical effects of ultrasonic cavitation bubbles. In this study, the yields of H2O2 and H2 formed under Ar were evaluated as a function of the concentration of NaCl or KI. When these yields were analyzed by using a normalization technique, it was confirmed that the yields of H2 were more clearly related to Ar solubility than those of H2O2, suggesting that H2 is a more real probe to understand the chemical effects of cavitation bubbles in water. The effects of NaCl on sonochemical formation of oxidants were also compared with those of KI. When aqueous t-butanol solution was sonicated, the yields of H2 and the maximum temperature attained in a collapsing bubble (bubble temperature) decreased with increasing solution temperature and salt concentration, suggesting that these parameters affected the quantity related to the number (and/or size) of active bubbles as well as the quality related to the bubble temperatures.

Effect of NaCl concentration on the interfacial and foaming properties of wheat aqueous phase protein

In this study, the structure, foaming properties, and air-water interfacial behavior of wheat aqueous phase protein (WAP) with different NaCl concentrations were investigated. With the addition of NaCl, the particle size and the β-sheet content increased, indicating the formation of larger aggregates. In the FT-IR spectrum NaCl also increased the peak intensity for WAP, this peak often associated with C-O and C-N stretching vibrations, indicating that NaCl may induce conformational changes, such as protein unfolding. As NaCl concentration increased, the foam capacity of WAP increased from 106.25 ± 1.41% to 142.38 ± 15.73%, while native WAP exhibited higher foam stability. Interfacial adsorption kinetics revealed that NaCl favored WAP adsorption at the air-water interface. The interfacial viscoelasticity modulus of all samples increased over time, forming an interfacial layer primarily characterized by elastic behavior. Native WAP exhibited a stronger viscoelasticity modulus, forming a stable adsorption layer at the air-water interface, which contributed to enhanced foam stability. This study provides valuable insights into the regulation of WAP structure and foaming properties by salt ions, which may offer a new strategy for improving the interfacial properties of wheat-based food products.

OPTIMIZATION OF LIQUIDSOAP FORMULATION

The quality of liquid soap for washing hands depends on its chemical composition, and it is evaluated by the physicochemical and functional characteristics of that product. The aim of the work is to prepare different series of liquid soap formulations by varying the concentrations of anionic and amphoteric surfactantsand sodium chloride, and to optimize the formulation. The effects of the optimization were evaluated based on the results of the analysis of the physico-chemical parameters of the prepared formulations, such as density, viscosity, surface tension and critical concentration of micelles. As amphoteric and anionic surfactant concentrations in liquid soap increase, density and viscosity values increase. The value of the surface tension decreases with the increase in the concentration of the surfactants present, with the amphoteric surfactant making a greater contribution to the decrease. Regardless of certain advantages that the anionic surfactant shows in relation to the amphoteric one, the best characteristics of the liquid soap are shown by the formulation thatcontains a combination of both used surfactants. The addition of NaCl to the liquid soap formulation has multiple significance, but also a different effect on the physical and chemical characteristics at lower and higher concentrations. Functional and some physico-chemical characteristics of liquid hand washing soap depend on the pH value of the formulation. As the pH value increases, the surface tension and CMC increase to certain values, so pH=5.5 is taken as the optimal pH value of liquid soap, as a compromise between the values of the measured characteristics and the pH value of human skin. This research showed that the formulation containing 5.4w/w%anionic surfactant, 1w/w%amphoteric surfactant and 4w/w% NaCl represents the optimal liquid soap formulation. KEYWORDS:liquid soap; content of liquid soap; surfactants; electrolyte in liquid soap; characteristics of liquid soap; optimization of formulation

Lead‐free Halide Perovskites With ≈100% PLQY and Dual‐Color Emission for White Light‐Emitting Diodes

AbstractLead‐free halide perovskites (LHP) have attracted extensive attention in the field of next‐generation solid‐state lighting. However, single perovskite phosphor with tunable white‐light emission and ultra‐high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) are rare. Here, the tunable dual‐color emission LHP phosphor is developed with a near‐unity PLQY of 99.5%. The LHP phosphor comprises Cs2NaInCl6: Sb3+/Bi3+ and Cs2InCl5·H2O: Sb3+/Bi3+ crystals, with the transition between these two perovskite structures being adjustable by the concentration of Na+. The addition of NaCl inhibits the hydrolysis of the [Sb(H2O)Cl5]2− octahedron, resulting in 3D connected [SbCl6]3− octahedron with less Jahn‐Teller distortion, and the PLQY of LHP is greater than 90%. Finally, the white‐light diode device is fabricated by assembling the LHP with a ultraviolet light‐emitting diode chip and the white light‐emitting diode device achieved Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage color coordinates of (0.34, 0.33), correlated color temperature of 4936 K, and a high color rendering index of 92.9. The LHP perovskite exhibited multimodal luminescence when excited by 365, 335, and 310 nm UV light, showing the multi‐mode anti‐counterfeiting capabilities of the LHP crystals.

Determination of parabens and bisphenol A in sludge samples using hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and sample introduction via pyrolizer

This study reports on the development and use of hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDES) as environmentally-friendly solvents to address the demand for low-toxicity materials for analysts and the environment. The study involved the application of HDES in environmental matrices for extracting emerging contaminants. In this case, HDESs were used as extraction solvents in dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) to determine parabens and bisphenol A from sludge samples. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) featuring a pyrolizer was used for sample introduction. Chemometric tools were utilized to optimize analysis conditions, considering the sample introduction and DLLME parameters. HDESs were characterized using Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Univariate and multivariate strategies were employed to determine the optimal experimental conditions. In this case, the injection volume was fixed as 20 µL, with a temperature of 320 °C and a pyrolizer duration time of 0.5 min. For DLLME, full factorial design permitted identification of the best condition of each experimental variable, including the salting-out effect, pH, volume of dispersing solvent, and volume of extraction solvent. Optimal conditions for DLLME in sludge samples were determined as 300 µL of HDES, 350 µL of ACN, pH = 10, and the addition of NaCl at 27% m/v. Following optimization studies, a HDES was successfully applied as an extraction solvent to determine endocrine disruptors in sludge samples. Future work involves the analysis of additional sludge samples (both liquid and solid phases) using standard addition to quantify analytes using the developed methodology. The utilization of HDES within environmental samples facilitated the identification of emerging contaminants, aligning with the tenets of sustainable analytical chemistry. This was substantiated by applying the GREEnness Analytical (AGREE) evaluation metric system, yielding values of 0.72 and 0.76 for the employed methodology and sample preparation, respectively.

Effects of sodium chloride on the textural attributes, rheological properties, microstructure, and 3D printing performance of rice starch-curdlan composite gel

This study explores the impact of varying concentrations of salt ions (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, and 12.5 mmol) on the physicochemical properties and 3D-printing performance of rice starch-curdlan composite gel. The relationship between gel structure, properties, printability, and printing accuracy was clarified through the evaluation of each parameter. The inclusion of an appropriate concentration of NaCl positively influenced the properties and printing characteristics of the composite gel. Specifically, a NaCl concentration of 7.5 mmol yielded the highest printing performance, achieving 98.61 % accuracy. Microstructural analysis indicates that the addition of ions promoted the formation of a denser network structure in the composite gel. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy reveals enhanced hydrogen bonding in the rice starch-curdlan gels with the addition of NaCl. Lastly, dysphagia testing demonstrates that the composite gels with 0–5 mmol NaCl concentrations exhibited grade 5 characteristics (clastic and wet) with satisfactory swallowing performance.

Produção e qualidade da couve folha hidropônica sob estresse salino e concentrações de KNO3

ABSTRACT Potassium is a nutrient with the potential to increase plant tolerance to salt stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the production and quality of kale subjected to salt stress and potassium concentrations in a protected environment. The experimental design was in split plots, with plots composed of five nutrient solutions (control treatment, S1 - standard nutrient solution prepared in low-salinity water, 0.5 dS m-1 (500 mg L-1 of KNO3), and four nutrient solutions prepared in brackish waters (3.5 dS m-1) containing four concentrations of KNO3 (S2 - 500 mg L-1, S3 - 625 mg L-1, S4 - 750 mg L-1, S5 - 1,000 mg L-1), and subplots represented by two leaf kale cultivars (Manteiga and Manteiga da Geórgia). Leaf production variables and post-harvest physical and chemical qualities were evaluated. The saline nutrient solution with the addition of NaCl (S2) reduced production but did not reduce the post-harvest quality of kale. The extra addition of KNO3 at 25% (S3) was efficient in reducing the deleterious effects of salt stress on the variables leaf length, leaf area, leaf production, and number of bunches. The cv. Manteiga da Geórgia was more tolerant to salt stress than the cv. Manteiga.

Synergist effect of thermosonication and NaCl on inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella flexneri in lettuce: The effect of acoustic field and reaction kinetics

The study aimed to investigate the effect of thermosonication (TS; 37 KHz, 300 W; 30, 40, 50, and 60 °C for 10 min) and NaCl (12 % w/v) on the inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella flexneri in lettuce, as well as to examine the kinetics of inactivation and the thermodynamic behaviors of the process. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed to analyze the acoustic pressure field, velocity contours, and streamlines. The results showed that NaCl addition had the least impact on inactivation compared to TS and combined NaCl + TS. Increasing the temperature led to higher inactivation of both bacteria, with a more significant effect at 60 °C. Thermosonication treatment had a more consistent effect on inactivation compared to the addition of NaCl. When exposed to thermosonication, the population of S. aureus and S. flexneri could be reduced by 5.1 to 6.9 log CFU/g and 5.5 to 7.4 log CFU/g, respectively, at temperature levels of 30 and 60 °C. Additionally, no significant relationship between entropy reduction and type of microorganisms was observed. The samples that were treated only with NaCl had higher energy absorption than the other samples

Effect of Salinity on the Growth and Biochemical Profile of Hedypnois cretica and Plantago coronopus Plants in Relation to the Cropping System and Growth Environment

The aim of the present work is to study the impact of salinity (i.e., 2 dS/m without addition of NaCl (control); 5 dS/m (EC-5); and 10 dS/m (EC-10) with the addition of 30 and 80 mM NaCl, respectively) on yield, organoleptic quality and the content of antioxidant compounds in Plantago coronopus and Hedypnois cretica plants in relation to different cropping systems and environmental conditions during growth (i.e., pots or floating hydroponics systems in the greenhouse and pots in the field (GPs, GH and FPs, respectively)). Almost all the growth parameters of the H. cretica plants in the greenhouse were impaired by both moderate (EC-5) and high (EC-10) salinity levels, especially in the floating hydroponics system, where, compared to EC-2, a reduction was observed of 33% in EC-5 and 76% in EC-10 in leaf area and of 24% and 75%, respectively, in fresh weight. On the contrary, the growth of the P. coronopus plants was negatively affected by salinity only in the GP system. However, salinity had no effect on most growth characteristics of both species grown in the field, suggesting a strong environmental effect on the impact of salinity in the tested species. On the other hand, the content of pigments, proline and total phenolics in the P. coronopus leaves, as well as their antioxidant capacity, were not affected by salinity in most cases, whereas in H. cretica the salinity effect was significant even at moderate levels (EC-5) in relation to the cropping system and growth environment. Moreover, both salinity levels reduced the nitrate content of P. coronopus plants in all cases (up to 61% in GP plants at EC-10) and of H. cretica GH plants (up to 67% in EC-10). Finally, regardless of the salinity level, the field-grown plants of both species showed a considerably higher content of total phenolics (by 59% in H. cretica and 58% in P. coronopus) and antioxidant activity (by 63% in H. cretica and 53% in P. coronopus, FRAP values), compared to the greenhouse ones. In conclusion, our results indicate that the tested combinations of cropping systems and growth environments could be used as an eco-friendly and sustainable agronomic tool to mitigate the negative effects of salinity and to regulate the organoleptic and biochemical properties of the tested species, allowing small-scale farmers in the affected areas to cope with the ongoing climate change and the environmental pressures they currently face through the exploitation of alternative/underexploited species of high added value.

Toward an Enhanced Hydrophilic TiO2 Nanoparticles Adsorption at Air-Liquid Interface Through Ion Regulation.

This study investigates the dynamic properties of air-liquid interfacial tension for hydrophilic TiO2 P25 utilizing the pendant drop method. Additionally, it examines the interfacial adsorption mechanism of hydrophilic TiO2 particles, considering the characteristics of particle surface charge distribution in relation to ion regulation to enhance particle interface adsorption. Experimental results reveal that in the absence of ion addition, the TiO2 P25 suspension system exhibits limited interfacial adsorption due to its superhydrophilicity, regardless of particle concentration. The addition of NaCl increases the surface charge density of the particles, strengthens the electrostatic attraction between particles and the interface, and enhances particle adsorption. Specifically, at a low NaCl concentration (0.01 wt %), the increased surface charge density and contact angle of the particles elevate particle activity and high interfacial packing density. At a higher NaCl concentration (0.1 wt %), while NaCl further increases the particle contact angle, the increased effective cross-sectional area of the air-liquid interface occupied by individual particles leads to a reduction in surface free energy. Despite the enhanced electrostatic attraction, this results in a lower packing density.

Excellent properties of NaF and NaBr induced DNA/gold nanoparticle conjugation system: Better stability, shorter modified time, and higher loading capacity

The functionalization of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) is the key procedure for the biochemical and biomedical application. The conventional salt-aging method requires the stepwise additions of NaCl and excessive thiolated DNA, mainly due to the poor tolerance of the DNA/AuNP mixture toward NaCl. Herein, we found that NaF is capable of improving the stability for the modification of AuNP with different bases of DNA sequences (poly A/T/C/G), and allows for adding up with a high concentration of 200 mM at one time, which greatly reduces the total modification time to 0.5–1 h. Intriguingly, the introduction of NaBr effectively increases the DNA loading capacity. Besides the advantages of NaF and NaBr, the modification performance is improved via the introduction of the oligo A/T spacer for the G-rich DNA sequences. Furthermore, this method shows the superiority to another two methods (pH 3-based and salt-aging) in terms of the loading capacity or sequence components.

Mechanism governing textural changes of low-moisture tofu induced by NaCl addition in soymilk

This study aimed to investigate the impact of NaCl (0–1 g/100 mL) on the textural properties of calcium-coagulated low-moisture tofu (LM-tofu) and explore the underlying mechanism governing the NaCl-induced changes of relevant properties. Increasing the NaCl level in soymilk led to higher yield (134.2–192.2 g/100 g soybean) of LM-tofu with higher water content (69.2–76.7%), reduced protein (11.3–16.3%) and lipid (6.87–9.22%) levels, and enhanced water binding capacity (WBC, 4.26–6.78 g H2O/g protein) and water holding capacity (WHC, 3.63–5.49 g H2O/g protein) of soy proteins. Although NaCl had a minor effect on the interactions between proteins and mobilized water or tightly bound water, it significantly improved the proteins' ability to bind loosely bound water due to electrostatic interactions between the charged groups of proteins and hydrated Cl− and Na+ ions. Moreover, the amounts of loosely bound water were highly correlated with both WBC and WHC of proteins (correlation coefficient: 0.999 and 0.995, respectively). The enhanced water binding capacity of proteins for loosely bound water due to an increased salt level resulted in LM-tofu with a less dense protein network structure, weaker strength and reduced deformation ability. This study provides insights for the development of high-calcium, soy protein-based foods to meet the growing demands for healthy and convenient plant-based snacks or meals.

Emulsification in nearly Newtonian and non-Newtonian media of wormlike micelles

Emulsification experiments with four silicone oils, having viscosities ranging from 0.01 to 30 Pa.s, were conducted in two types of media: nearly Newtonian polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solutions and non-Newtonian mixtures induced by worm-like micelles in solutions of sodium laureth sulfate and cocoamidopropyl betaine (BS) with NaCl. The increased viscosity of BS solutions upon the addition of NaCl did not significantly affect the drop size in the formed emulsions. In contrast, the increased viscosity of solutions with higher PVA concentrations significantly reduced the drop sizes for all silicone oils. A theoretical expression predicting the maximum drop size in both types of media (nearly Newtonian and non-Newtonian) was derived and validated against experimental data. The expression accounts for shear-thinning behavior in both the aqueous and oil phases. Interfacial stress dominates the breakage of less viscous oils, while viscous stress inside the breaking drop plays a leading role for more viscous oils. The formation of emulsions with similar sizes in non-Newtonian solutions of BS with different NaCl concentrations was explained by their strongly shear-thinning behavior, which leads to nearly similar viscosity at high shear rates, despite their zero-shear viscosities differing by more than two orders of magnitude.

Locally Synthesized Zwitterionic Surfactants as EOR Chemicals in Sandstone and Carbonate.

Zwitterionic surfactants are found to be highly effective in reducing the IFT and changing the wettability. This work studied the solubility and wettability alteration performance of locally synthesized zwitterionic surfactants in Berea sandstone and Indiana limestone. Contact angle measurements were conducted to study the wettability under different conditions. SEM images and TGA results were combined to reflect on the wettability alteration mechanism. The zeta potential test was adopted to study the surface charge of the Indian limestone powder. Results showed that five of the six surfactants dissolved in deionized water to form 1.0 wt % solution, indicating efficient solubility for EOR purposes. Although its wettability alteration performance on oil-aged Berea sandstone is weak to moderate, the performance of ZW6 on Indiana limestone is excellent. ZW6 can change the strongly oil-wet (162°) rock back to water-wet (62.9°) conditions. Increasing its concentration from 0.01 to 0.5 wt % continuously enhanced the performance. The addition of NaCl to 150000 ppm did not affect the wettability alteration. However, the addition of CaCl2 largely suppressed the wettability alteration, while Na2SO4 and MgCl2 both enhanced the performance. With the same headgroup, a more hydrophobic tail group impairs the wettability alteration. The quite different wettability alteration performance of MgCl2 and CaCl2 cases (which had approximately the same amount of calcite dissolution), and the comparable wettability alteration performance of Na2SO4 and MgCl2 (which had very different calcite dissolution amounts) indicate that calcite dissolution is unrelated to wettability alteration.

Synchronously improving intracellular electron transfer in electron-donating bacteria and electron-accepting methanogens for facilitating direct interspecies electron transfer during anaerobic digestion of kitchen wastes

Two major issues generally limit the effectiveness of direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) during anaerobic digestion: 1) lack of essential electrical connection component, electrically conductive pili (e-pili) or multi-heme c-type cytochrome (MHC); 2) the thermodynamic limitations of combining electrons with protons for reducing carbon dioxide to methane. To address both issues, a strategy for facilitating DIET via combining ethanol-type fermentation pretreatment (EFP) with NaCl addition during anaerobic digestion of kitchen wastes was proposed. Combining EFP with NaCl addition dramatically increased methane yield rates (531.3 ± 11.4 vs 410.5 ± 8.7 mL/gVSadded/d) and efficiencies of conversion of organic substrates to methane (571.2 ± 13.8 vs 488.7 ± 11.7 mL/gVSremoval). The increased performances by combining EFP with NaCl addition were higher than that by independent EFP or NaCl addition. Paludibacter sp., Petrimonas sp. and Syntrophomonas wolfei were the predominant and metabolically active electron-donating bacteria, and their expression of genes for e-pili/MHCs by combining EFP with NaCl addition was higher than that by independent EFP or NaCl addition. Methanothrix soehngenii and Methanoculleus bourgensis were the predominant and metabolically active electron-accepting methanogens, and their expression of genes for carbon dioxide reduction pathway for methanogenesis by combining EFP with NaCl addition was higher than that by independent EFP or NaCl addition. In addition, EFP specifically increased the transcript abundance of genes for NAD+/NADH transformation closely associated with the formation of e-pili/MHCs, while NaCl addition specifically increased the transcript abundance of genes for coenzyme F420/F420H2 transformation known to participate in reduction of carbon dioxide to methane.

Assessment of salt-free electrodialysis metathesis: A novel process for brine management in brackish water desalination using monovalent selective ion exchange membranes

Since reverse osmosis (RO) is often limited to a water recovery of 70–85 %, implementing a secondary process like electrodialysis metathesis (EDM) to treat concentrate can increase system water recovery. This study explores salt-free electrodialysis metathesis (SF-EDM) as an alternative to conventional EDM to investigate its performance in the zero discharge desalination (ZDD) process. SF-EDM utilizes monovalent-selective ion exchange membranes, eliminating the need for sodium chloride (NaCl) as a substitution solution. This approach generates one diluate stream and two highly soluble concentrate streams enriched in calcium and sulfate, respectively. In this article, a series of lab-scale tests based on synthetic and real RO concentrate were performed to investigate how SF-EDM performs operating at high water recovery with a feedwater with high scaling potential. We critically analyze the performance in terms of salinity reduction, selectivity, and energy consumption. Results of the study show that without the addition of NaCl, the process was able to selectively separate sulfate and calcium into two concentrate streams achieve a salinity reduction of 93 % and a total system water recovery (RO and SF-EDM) of 90 %. A technoeconomic analysis found SF-EDM to be 80 % of the cost of conventional EDM making it a competitive technology for brackish water RO concentrate management.

Enhancing Electrospinnability of Chitosan Membranes in Low-Humidity Environments by Sodium Chloride Addition.

The electrospinning of pure chitosan nanofibers is highly sensitive to environmental humidity, which limits their production consistency and applicability. This study investigates the addition of sodium chloride (NaCl) to chitosan solutions to enhance spinnability and mitigate the effigurefects of low humidity. NaCl was incorporated into the electrospun chitosan solution, leading to increased conductivity and decreased viscosity. These modifications improved the electrospinning process. Comparative analyses between chitosan membranes (CM) and sodium-chloride-added chitosan membranes (SCM) revealed no significant differences in chemical structure, mechanical strength, or in vitro cell proliferation. This indicates that the addition of 1% (w/v) NaCl does not adversely affect the fundamental properties of the chitosan membranes. The findings demonstrate that NaCl addition is a viable strategy for producing electrospun chitosan nanofibers in low-humidity environments, maintaining their physicochemical properties while enhancing spinnability.

The Impact of Adding a Cationic Metal Salt and Curcumin to Monoammonium Glycyrrhizic Acid on Its Solubilizing Capacity and Gelation.

Monoammonium glycyrrhizic acid (MAG), a glycyrrhizic acid monoammonium salt, is a naturally derived low-molecular-weight gelling agent with surface-active properties. It has the capacity to individually facilitate the preparation of gel-solubilized drugs. As MAG is an anionic surfactant with carboxyl groups, the addition of counterions may affect micelle formation and gelation. In this study, the solubilization and gelling properties of MAG were investigated following the addition of metal salts (NaCl and KCl). The addition of metal salts resulted in a decrease in the critical micelle concentration and an increase in gel hardness. Supersaturation of curcumin (CUR) was maintained by the addition of metal salts because of increased micelle number and viscosity. When the gel hardness was compared between formulations with and without CUR, a significant reduction in hardness was observed with the solubilization of CUR. The addition of KCl prevented the decrease in the hardness of gels containing CUR compared to the addition of NaCl. Put together, the addition of metal salts had a noteworthy impact on micelle and gel formation of MAG. In particular, the addition of KCl was more effective in the preparation of gel-solubilized CUR.