NaCl Water Research Articles

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Deep-Sea Mineral Water on LPS-Induced Inflammation in Raw 264.7 Murine Macrophage Cells and Zebrafish Larvae

Deep-sea mineral water (DSW) consists of different compositions and properties. The composition can be varied in different seas all around the world. However, previous studies have investigated that DSW is a potential candidate that can be used to prevent different inflammatory diseases. Even though inflammation is an important protective mechanism in an animal, excessive inflammation causes organ failure and ultimate death. Therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of DSW extracted from the South Korean Sea to unveil its potential as an anti-inflammatory drug. To perform this, first, we have compared the cytotoxic effect of DSW on RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells with NaCl and normal-sea water (NSW). Results reveal that DSW enhances cell survival while other treatments negatively affect cell survival. Furthermore, we have investigated that DSW reduces the LPS-induced cell apoptosis compared to the NaCl- and NSW-treated cells. Moreover, DSW has the ability to suppress the pro-inflammatory cytokine transcription (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and NO production upon LPS treatment. In-vivo survival assay in zebrafish larvae shows a more than 50% survival rate in 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50% concentrations of DSW-treated larvae compared to NaCl- or NSW-treated larvae. Further investigations unveiled that DSW can negatively regulate the neutrophil and macrophage recruitment to the inflammatory site, which was induced by fin-fold amputation in zebrafish larvae and pro-inflammatory cytokine (tnf-α, il-1β, and il-6) secretion. Taken together, the present study concluded that DSW may have the ability to act as an anti-inflammatory drug to suppress excessive inflammation and subsequent consequences.

Microstructure and properties of a HIP manufactured B4Cp reinforced highly alloyed Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr aluminum matrix composite

In this study, an aluminum matrix composite with good mechanical property and excellent corrosion resistance, B4C particles (B4Cp) reinforced highly alloyed Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr matrix composite, was successfully fabricated through ball-milling, cold isostatic pressing, vacuum degassing, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), homogenization, hot extrusion, solution treatment, and aging treatment. It was found that the B4C/MgAl2O4/Al was the dominant interface structure, which was coherent and enhanced the bonding between the particles and the matrix considerably, while the B4C/Al2O3/Al was the minor interface structure. The grain boundary was very clean in both T4 and T6 aging states, without aging precipitates and O element segregation. In T4 aging state, the composite exhibited superior properties, with the mass density of 2.84 g·cm-3, the elastic modulus of 119.18 GPa, the yield strength of 576.08 MPa, the ultimate tensile strength of 655.27 MPa, the tensile elongation of 1.48%, and the very low electrochemical corrosion current density of 4.4581×10-8 A·cm-2 in 3.5 wt.% NaCl water solution. The MgAl2O4 and BO3-rich interface phases, the strengthening mechanisms and the anti-corrosion mechanisms of the composite were discussed in detail.

Unveiling nitrate contamination and health risks: Insights from groundwater quality assessment and Monte Carlo simulation along the Southern Caspian Sea Coasts

Groundwater resources are at great risk of contamination due to increased industrial and agricultural activities, population growth and urban expansion. This study investigated factors controlling spatio-temporal variability in groundwater quality and nitrate concentration at the southern coast of Caspian Sea, Iran to provide public health risk assessment. Na-Cl (44.8%) and Ca-HCO3 (58.6%) types water were the dominant hydrogeochemical facies in dry and wet seasons, respectively. Most of the examined groundwater samples were found unfit for drinking but appropriate for agricultural irrigation. The chemistry of groundwater predominantly influenced by combination of local lithology and ion exchange in aquifer as well as seawater intrsuin. Nitrate concentration varied from 0.05 to 200 mg/L with a mean value of 33.1 mg/L in which 13.7% and 27.5% of samples showed concentration higher than WHO's recommended value in dry and wet seasons, respectively. The highest nitrate concentrations were observed at locations in proximity to human settlements including cities, villages as well as agricultural lands. The identified pollution hotspots confirm nitrate contributions from un-treated wastewater effluents and agricultural practices with minimum contribution from industrial activities. The result of Monte Carlo simulation revealed that children were at highest risk from drinking of groundwater containing nitrate. This study highlights the urgent need for action to address the growing threat to groundwater quality and public health posed by contamination from various sources in the southern coasts of Caspian Sea.

Phase diagram of NaCl–water by computer simulations: performance of non-polarizable force-fields

This study evaluates the capabilities of two new ion force fields (Tanaka [Yagasaki et al. JCTC 2020] and Madrid-2019 [Zerón et al. JCP 2019]) in conjunction with the TIP4P/2005 model for water in reproducing the NaCl–water phase diagram using molecular dynamics direct coexistence simulations. The performance of those force-fields is critically compared with the phase diagram recently reported for the Joung Cheatham-TIP4P/2005 force-field [Bianco et al. JCP 2022]. Excellent agreement between the three force-fields and experiments is found for the ice-solution line due to the dominance of the water model in the location of this line. For the NaCl-solution line, the Tanaka and the Madrid-2019 models accurately predict solubility at ambient temperature, but they underestimate somewhat the experimental line as temperature increases. The JC model underestimates NaCl solubility both at ambient and at high temperatures. All models underestimate the stability of the NaCl·2H 2 O solid, which remains metastable with respect to NaCl. Equilibration of the NaCl·2H 2 O-solution system is challenging at low temperatures due to the slow diffusion of concentrated NaCl solutions. The phase diagrams obtained serve as a foundation for studying crystal nucleation, and solid-solution interfaces, and provide very valuable information for the development of imporved NaCl–H 2 O force-fields.

Identifying seawater interaction with coastal aquifers using hydrochemical and GIS for Nagapattinam district, southeast coast of India

Groundwater chemistry of the two different seasons collected between 2020–2021 from the coastal areas of Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and Karaikal in Tamil Nadu state of southeast India were evaluated for seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers. Groundwater types, its classification was evaluated to know the extension of seawater intrusions into coastal aquifers using the Groundwater Quality Indices (GQI) such as GQIPiper(mix), GQIPiper(dom), fsea, GQIfsea and GQISWI. Piper diagram grouped most samples (GQIPiper(mix) and GQIPiper(dom)) in domain-II, representing Na-Cl water type, followed by domain-IV, indicating mixed Ca-Mg-Cl water for both the seasons. As measured by the saltwater Intrusion as Groundwater Quality Index (GQISWI), about 62.5 % and 37.5 % of the pre-monsoon samples showed low saltwater intrusion and moderate seawater intrusion, respectively. In the post-monsoon samples, the low saltwater intrusion increased to around 82.5 % and the moderate seawater intrusion decreased to 17.5 % of the groundwater samples. The GIS framework was used to display the geographical distribution of groundwater types as well as the delineation of vulnerable zones from seawater intrusion.

Major Ions and Trace Elements Characterization of Groundwater in Shallow Aquifers, Yaoundé Urban City, Cameroon

Purpose: This study assessed the suitability of groundwater in parts of Yaoundé city for drinking and domestic purposes, investigating the factors controlling its composition. Materials and Methods: Water samples were collected during the dry season and analyzed for physicochemical parameters and major ions. Findings: Results showed an acidic aquifer with generally fresh water, dominated by Ca-HCO3, Na-Cl, Ca-NaHCO3, and Ca-Cl water types. While most major ions were within WHO guidelines, nitrates exceeded safe limits in most samples, and some trace elements like aluminum, manganese, and iron were also above recommended levels. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study concludes that groundwater quality is influenced by water-rock interaction, ion exchange, and anthropogenic activities, particularly nitrate and chloride pollution. Therefore, proper groundwater management strategies are crucial to ensure the sustainability and safety of this vital resource.

Geochemistry and microbiology of boreal alluvial soil under salinisation

Soil salinisation in taiga landscapes is in most cases caused by anthropogenic activities. The study was carried out in Perm region (Russia) on the territory of the Verkhnekamskoe Potash Deposit. The inflow of sodium chloride drainage water into ground and surface waters during the production of potash fertilisers contributed to the technogenic salinisation of river valleys in the taiga zone. The purpose of the research was to investigate the microbial composition and chemical properties of alluvial soils in the area affected by NaCl waters in the Lyonva River valley. The chemical properties of soils were determined standard methods such as potentiometric method, titration, and spectrophotometry. The microbial community was determined by 16 s rRNA gene metagenomic analysis. The soil's mineralogical composition was determined using a binocular microscope and diffractometer for XRD. The morphology and microstructure of the samples has been studied using an analytical scanning electron microscope. In Solonchaks, an interdependence of salinity and bacterial species composition was discovered, along with the bacteria's geochemical processes. The topsoil contains a considerable amount of toxic salts, ranging from 5.9 to 17%. The ratio of exchangeable cations in the soil absorption complex changes when exchangeable calcium is replaced by sodium. Salinisation caused the neutralisation of acidic alluvial soils. Bacteria originating from marine and highly mineralised environments predominate in the soil. The soils are dominated by bacteria originating from marine and highly mineralised environments, such as Proteobacteria, Shewanella (75–79%), Thiomicrospira (26%), Desulfuromonas, Marinomonas and Idiomarina (9–10%), Alicyclobacillus (4%). The correlation revealed the connection of some taxa with ions of aqueous extract, as well as with exchangeable sodium, mobile iron and total sulphur. Some bacteria promote azonal geochemical processes within alluvial forest soil, such as the reduction of iron and manganese, the production of sulphides, and the oxidation of sulphur, hydrogen, and iron. Sulphide accumulation resulting in the formation of a hydrotroilite horizon (FeS × nH2O) and iron-bearing formations were found on the soil surface. Studying the properties and degree of soil disturbance makes it possible to identify the contribution of enterprises to environmental pollution, as well as to apply new methods for monitoring, purifying, and storing potassium waste.

Germination Biology of Three Cyperaceae Weeds and Their Response to Pre- and Post-Emergence Herbicides in Paddy Fields

(1) Background: Cyperaceae weeds have become a major type of weed in local paddy fields in China. (2) Methods: We assessed the impact of environmental factors, including temperature, light, salinity, water stress and soil depth, on the germination and emergence of three dominant Cyperaceae weeds: Cyperus difformis L., C. iria L. and Fimbristylis littoralis Gaudich. Using the dish dipping method, the performances of the pre- and post-emergence herbicides commonly used in paddy fields on three Cyperaceae weeds were evaluated using the pot method. (3) Results: The seeds optimally germinated at 35 °C in constant conditions and 25 °C/40 °C in alternating conditions. The seeds of the three Cyperaceae weeds were sensitive to light and could not germinate under dark conditions. The germination rate of the three weeds decreased with the increase in the NaCl concentration and water potential; the three weeds could not germinate at a 320 mmol·L−1 NaCl concentration and −0.1 MPa water potential. When the pH levels were 4 to 9, the germination rates of the three weeds were all greater than 80%. The burial depths to inhibit 50% of the emergence of C. difformis, C. iria and F. littoralis were 0.27, 1.06 and 0.42 cm, respectively. The control efficacy of the pre-emergence herbicides of pretilachlor, butachlor and oxyfluorfen on the three weeds were all above 90% at the recommended dose in the field. Halosulfuron-methyl, florpyrauxifen-benzyl and bentazone could effectively control the three Cyperaceae weeds; their performances on the three weeds at the 3- to 4-leaf stage were all above 82%. (4) Conclusions: The three Cyperaceae weed seeds have a strong adaptability to temperature, water potential, salinity and soil depth, and these weeds are sensitive to most pre- and post-emergence herbicides. Therefore, taking Cyperaceae weed seeds into the deep soil layer by tillage or selecting appropriate herbicides according to their growth stages can effectively control Cyperaceae weeds in rice fields.

Effect of hygrothermal aging on the friction behavior and wear mechanism of the multi-filler reinforced epoxy composites for coated steel

Polymer-based composites for steel structure coating are an effective strategy to improve tribological properties and service durability under hygrothermal aging conditions. In the present paper, epoxy resin was improved by mechanical reinforcement and frictional lubrication fillers, and a kind of multi-filler reinforced epoxy composite (MFREC) was successfully prepared. Water uptake behavior, mechanical and thermal property evolution, friction behavior and wear mechanism as well as micro-topography analysis of MFREC under hygrothermal aging were conducted and discussed in detail. The research results showed that the water uptake curve of MFREC after distilled water and 5 wt% NaCl water solution immersions confirmed the two-stage diffusion model, where the quasi-equilibrium water uptakes were 4.23% and 3.67%, respectively. Additionally, the fundamental reason for the degradation of the mechanical and thermal properties of MFREC was the hydrolysis of the resin and the de-bonding of the fillers/matrix interface. The interface shear strength of MFREC adhesive and steel gradually decreased with the hygrothermal aging, but did not lose the bonding property, because the uniformly dispersed multi-fillers can fill the internal defects of the matrix and prolong the crack propagation path to block the effect. Before hygrothermal aging, MFREC had excellent friction and wear resistance compared to resin matrix, especially under water lubrication conditions. The anti-wear rate of MFREC increased by up to 59.6% compared to the room temperature dry test environment due to the coupling effects of the water lubrication and anti-friction characteristics of modified fillers. Hygrothermal aging had little effect (＜12%) on the friction coefficient of MFREC, but the anti-wear properties decreased significantly, especially the Ws increased by 255.1% under the 60 °C immersion condition. Because the degradation of thermal/mechanical properties was not enough to resist the high shear stress of the steel ball, leading to severe fatigue wear.

Corrosion behavior of low melting glass modified potassium silicate coating under the synergy of solid NaCl deposit and water vapor at 700 °C

The effects of LMG (SiO2–BaO–Al2O3–TiO2–Na2O–K2O–ZnO) modification on the performance of potassium silicate coatings on Ti–6Al–4V alloy during tests of either H2O/O2- or NaCl/H2O/O2- corrosion were investigated at 700 °C for 500 h using thermogravimetric, SEM, EPMA, and XRD. Adding 10-30 wt% LMG particles into the potassium silicate solution did not impair the intact and the surface roughness of the coatings and improved the resistance of the coatings against humid oxygen corrosion and NaCl/H2O/O2-induced corrosion. For the humid oxygen corrosion, the improvement was enhanced when the amounts of LMG was increased. However, the LMG10 coating with 30 vol% LMG had the most excellent corrosion resistance, the formation of titanate was prohibited; the coatings with more LMG additions were less protective than LMG10 though better than the coating without LMG.

Current Overview of Corrosion Inhibition of API Steel in Different Environments.

API (American Petroleum Institute) steels are the most employed metal alloys in the oil industry due to their outstanding mechanical properties; however, their protection is considered as an imperative matter because of their corrosion damage vulnerability when exposed to different surroundings that provoke a rate increase in the concomitant redox reactions. This problematic situation becomes more relevant when the generation and/or use of one or various aqueous corrosive environments occur, in addition to process conditions, the result of which is extremely difficult to be controlled. For these reasons, the internal and external protection of exposed metallic systems are considered as a fundamental concern, where internal corrosion is often controlled through the addition of corrosion inhibitors (CIs). The present review analyzes researchers' contributions in the last years to the study and evaluation of CIs for API steel in different corrosive media featuring HCl, H2SO4, H3NSO3H, CO2, H2S, NaCl, and production water under different temperature and flow conditions. Different CIs derived from plant extracts, drugs, nanoparticles, or ionic liquids, mainly destined for acid media, were found. Throughout the review, an exhaustive analysis of inhibition process results is carried out based on gravimetric and/or electrochemical techniques that consider the weight loss of the metallic material and electrical behavior (current density, resistance, capacitance, frequency, impedance, etc.). Likewise, the results of computational analyses and those of surface analysis techniques were taken into account to reinforce the study of CIs.

Imbalance of thalamic metabolites in an experimental model of hypertension: role of bergamot polyphenols

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Hypertension is emerging as a pathogenic factor in vascular-based cognitive impairment, altering the structure and function of cerebral vasculature, and representing the main risk factor for cerebral small vessel diseases and neuronal loss. Some studies correlated a reduction in regional cerebral blood flow in the thalamus of elderly hypertensive brains with the decrease in certain cerebral metabolites, because of hypoperfusion. Patients with severe hypertension show a reduced oxygen consumption in regions with reduced cerebral blood flow suggesting that, the vascular dysfunction and the reduced cerebral blood flow could be related to reduced metabolic demands due to brain dysfunction and damage. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion is associated with increased inflammatory state and oxidative stress. Herein, we hypothesized to prevent or reduce the onset of oxidative stress using natural occurring antioxidant compounds could be of particular importance for the management of hypertension-induced cerebral complications. Hypertension was induced on Wistar male rats by left renal artery ligation (RAL). After complete recovery from surgery, the animals were treated with 20 mg/kg deoxycorticosterone acetate twice a week for 4 weeks, and 1% sodium chloride (NaCl) water. A subgroup of hypertensive rats received Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction (BPF) by gavage. A control group was treated with sub-cutaneous injection of saline. At baseline (T0), after 2 weeks (T1) and at the end of the experimental period (T2), the thalamic neurochemical profile were evaluated using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), performed with a Bruker Pharmascan 70/16 7T. VAPOR water-suppression module was used and optimized to reduce residual water, then thalamic spectra were acquired using a short echo time single voxel point-resolved spectroscopy technique (voxel size 3x3x3 mm). The absolute quantification of metabolite concentrations has been performed using TARQUIN (v.4.3.10). A reduction tending to significance of the tNAA/tCr ratio, emerged in the thalamus of RAL DOCA-Salt rats compared to control rats at T2. A significant reduction of the tNAA/tCr ratio was observed in the group of RAL DOCA-Salt rats at the T2 compared to the same animals at the T1. In addition, a significantly decrease of the tCho/tCr ratio was highlighted in the RAL DOCA-Salt animals compared to the CTRL rats starting from the T1. The administration of BPF ameliorates the tNAA/tCr ratios in the thalamus of RAL DOCA-Salt rats. Such evidence of the influence of hypertension on tNAA/tCr and tCho/tCr ratios could better explain the relationship between brain structure and modulation of some metabolites, providing new insights into hypertension-induced brain complications and the contribution that the use of natural compounds could give to their management.

Why Bubbles Coalesce Faster than Droplets: The Effects of Interface Mobility and Surface Charge.

Air bubbles in pure water appear to coalesce much faster compared to oil emulsion droplets at the same water solution conditions. The main factors explaining this difference in coalescence times could be interface mobility and/or pH-dependent surface charge at the water interface. To quantify the relative importance of these effects, we use high-speed imaging to monitor the coalescence of free-rising air bubbles with the water-air interface as well as free-falling fluorocarbon-oil emulsion droplets with a water-oil interface. We measure the coalescence times of such bubbles and droplets over a range of different water pH values (3.0, 5.6, 11.0). In the case of bubbles, a very fast coalescence (milliseconds) is observed for the entire pH range in pure water, consistent with the hydrodynamics of fully mobile interfaces. However, when the water-air interface is immobilized by the deposition of a monolayer of arachidic acid, the coalescence is significantly delayed. Furthermore, the coalescence times increase with increasing pH. In the case of fluorocarbon-oil droplets, the coalescence is always much slower (seconds) and consistent with immobile interface coalescence. The fluorocarbon droplet's coalescence time is also pH-dependent, with a complete stabilization (no coalescence) observed at pH 11. In the high electrolyte concentration, a 0.6 M NaCl water solution, bubbles, and droplets have similar coalescence times, which could be related to the bubble interface immobilization at the late stage of the coalescence process. Numerical simulations are used to evaluate the time scale of mobile and immobile interface film drainage.

Groundwater assessment for sustainable development in the Wadi Al-Hamd Basin, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, KSA

This study relied on well monitoring many drilled wells data in the Wadi Al-Hamd Basin to determine water level and chemical properties from field measurements. The characteristics of groundwater must be assessed in terms of present and future eases and stresses to ensure sustainable development. Hydrogeological, hydrochemical, groundwater quality indices and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data sets have been integrated to assess the groundwater aquifer in the study area. To implement this work, we measured the depth to the water table from eighty-eight drilled wells. Also, the major ions were determined from 82 water samples to evaluate the physicochemical properties, groundwater facies, and controlling mechanisms using diagrams such as the modified Piper proposed by Chadha, Total Ionic Salinity (TIS), and Gibbs. In this study, five irrigation water quality indicators (IWQI), including total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), potential salinity (PS), magnesium hazard (MH), and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) have been determined to assess the suitability of groundwater for irrigation. Based on the findings of this study, groundwater flows from the southeast and northwest to the west and south, respectively. In this basin, 56% of water samples have TDS greater than 2000 mg/L, while 62% of water points are categorised as Na–Cl water type, which indicates that evaporation and rock–groundwater interaction influenced groundwater quality evolution. Almost 87% of samples were rated good to excellent for irrigation use with respect to SAR. On the other hand, all water points are suitable for irrigation based on RSC. Likewise, groundwater is suitable for irrigation purposes despite the relatively high PS levels (>5 meq/L in about 49% of samples) and some small spots with high levels of MH (>50% in about 12% of samples), especially in the southern and central portions of the studied basin.

Durability of Ternary Blended Concrete Incorporating Rice Husk Ash and Calcined Clay

Research on the combined substitution of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) has already demonstrated that it might be one of the few viable options to produce low-carbon concrete at scale. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the performance and durability of rice husk ash (RHA) and calcined clay (CC) in ternary blended concrete exposed to chloride attacks under wet/dry cycles. Portland cement (PC) was replaced by RHA and CC up to 50% by weight to produce low-carbon concrete. Samples were subjected to wet/dry cycles in 3.5% NaCl water, with mineralogical composition and microstructure development before and after exposure analysed by TGA-DSC, MIP, XRD, and SEM. The durability of the concrete against wet/dry cycles was investigated in terms of compressive strength, water absorption, open porosity, density, thermal conductivity, and electrical resistivity. The results showed that concrete mixes with CC and RHA up to 60% exhibited an increase of 33% in compressive strength, followed by minimal changes in water absorption. While a decrease in electrical resistivity was measured in all samples with RHA and CC, increasing the CC content to 50% resulted in improved resistance to chloride penetration. Increasing the CC content resulted in a more refined microstructure, with an overall decrease in porosity of up to 32% compared to the control series. While RHA alone did not contribute to significant improvements after wet/dry cycles, the combined substitution of RHA and CC at SCM replacement levels of 60% showed an overall improvement in hardened properties and durability. This investigation provides valuable insights into the long-term performance and strength of innovative low-carbon concrete.

Graphical, statistical and index-based techniques integrated for identifying the hydrochemical fingerprints and groundwater quality of In Salah, Algerian Sahara.

Groundwater, a predominant reservoir of freshwater, plays a critical role in providing a sustainable potable water and water for agricultural and industry uses in the In Salah desert region of Algeria. This research collected 82 underground water samples from Albian aquifers to assess water quality and identify hydrogeochemical processes influencing mineralization. To achieve this objective, various methods were employed to evaluate water quality based on its intended uses. The drinking water quality index utilized revealed the water potability status, while the indicators of irrigation potability were employed to evaluate its quality for agricultural purposes. Additionally, an assessment of groundwater susceptibility to corrosion and scaling in an industrial context was conducted using several indices, e.g., Langelier index, Larson-Skold index, Ryznar index, chloride-sulfate mass ratio, Puckorius index, aggressiveness index, and the Revelle index. The findings of this study revealed thatthe groundwater quality for consumption fell into four categories: good (2.44%), fair (29.27%), poor (65.85%), and non-potable (2.44%). Concerning agricultural irrigation, the indexical results indicated that 15.85% of the waters exhibited adequate quality, while 84.15% were questionable for irrigation. Calculations based on various corrosion and scaling evaluation indices showed that most wells were prone to corrosion, with a tendency for calcium bicarbonate deposit formation. Furthermore, the hydrochemical study identified three water types: Na-Cl (53.66%), Ca-Mg-Cl (37.80%), and Ca-Cl (8.54%) waters. Analyses of correlation matrices, R-type clustering, factor loadings, Gibbs diagrams, scatterplots, and chloro-alkaline indices highlighted that the chemistry of the Albian groundwater is fundamentally impacted by a number of processes such as silicate weathering, evaporite dissolution, ionic exchange, and anthropogenic inputs, that played impactful role in the aquifer's water chemistry.

Response of leaf photosynthesis, chlorophyll content and yield of hydroponic tomatoes to different water salinity levels.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important vegetable crop that grows easily under controlled conditions, such as in greenhouses and hydroponics. To overcome freshwater scarcity, researchers are searching for alternatives to groundwater sources such as desalinated water (saline water) for irrigation. High salinity in irrigation water alters physiological functions and crop development, thereby reducing the yield. Best management practices and the use of grafted tomato plants on salt-tolerant rootstocks can alleviate salinity stress. The present study was conducted to address the impact of salinity stress on leaf transpiration (Tr), stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthesis (Pn), leaf chlorophyll content, proline content, and yield of hydroponically cultivated tomato plants. Saline (NaCl) water was used for the preparation of nutrient solution with three salinity levels, electrical conductivity (EC, dS m-1) of 2.5 (control), 6.0, and 9.5. Three commercial tomato cultivars (Valouro-RZ, Ghandora-F1, and Feisty-Red) were used. Both self-rooted plants and plants grafted onto Maxifort rootstocks were transplanted onto a perlite substrate. The recorded data revealed that all studied cultivars were critically affected by higher salinity (≈ 9.5 dS m-1) compared to low (≈ 2.5 dS m-1) and medium (≈ 6.0 dS m-1) salinity levels. The Variations in Tr, Pn, gs, chlorophyll content of leaf, and yield between medium and high salinity trials were reported at 3%, 5%, 9%, 5%, and 7.1%, respectively, whereas no significant differences were observed between low and medium salinities. However, at medium salinity levels, grafted plants performed better in photosynthesis than non-grafted plants. This is due to the accumulation of leaf proline, which maintains osmotic regulation and photosynthetic activity by preventing cell damage at medium salinities. Hence, this study confirmed the use of saline water for growing tomatoes under hydroponic conditions up to an EC of 6.0 dS m-1 including the EC of nutrient fertilizers.

Study of Environmental Isotopes and Hydrochemical Characteristics of Groundwater from Springs at Archaeological Sites in Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

The existence of groundwater sources in several springs at archaeological sites in Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, has been widely used by the surrounding community for various needs. However, from a number of the springs, there are springs whose water discharge has decreased. Meanwhile, from a number of existing springs, there is one spring whose groundwater is used every day even though it tastes a bit brackish. For this reason, it is important to conduct a groundwater study in the area with the aim of knowing the characteristics, preliminary identification of recharge areas and quality of groundwater in the study area through an environmental isotope and hydrochemical. The study was conducted by taking a number of groundwater samples from several archaeological sites in Dompu Regency. The results of environmental isotope and hydrochemical analysis show that there are 2 springs (2 archaeological sites), namely the Riwo and Ncona springs, because these two areas are part of the recharge area, which must be preserved by not clearing forest land. Meanwhile, for the quality of groundwater, of the 5 springs located at the archaeological sites, only the Hodo spring is of “poor quality” with the Na–Cl water type; it is unfit for drinking water.

Stunning/slaughtering by cold shock in saline water: Effects on fish stress, post-mortem changes, and product quality in rainbow trout

This study evaluated the effects of two stunning/slaughtering methods, percussion vs. immersion in cold saline (−6 °C, 5% NaCl) water, on stress status and freshness evolution in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Stress indicators (cortisol, malondialdehyde-MDA) were measured in plasma, muscle, fin and skin mucus of 30 fish (15 per treatment), while freshness evolution and quality (pH, rigor mortis index, fillet and skin colour, and muscle texture) were assessed in 70 fish (whole fish and fillets; 35 per treatment) at 3, 48, 168, and 264 h of storage.Compared with percussion, cold immersion resulted in lower cortisol levels in skin mucus (−58%; P < 0.001), muscle (−53%; P < 0.01), and fin (−51%; P < 0.01), and higher muscle MDA (+90%; P < 0.001), while cortisol (184 ng/ml, on average) and MDA (13.7 nmol/mg protein) of plasma were not affected. Skin colour was darker in fish subjected to cold immersion compared with percussion. As for fillet, no differences were found in pH (6.46), L* (47.3), a* (−0.89), b* (10.1), TVB-N (17.6 mg/100 g of fillet), fatty acid profile, or texture, where only chewiness was higher (+28% and + 32% for whole fish and fillet, respectively; P < 0.05) when cold immersion was used compared with percussion. Over time, TVB-N showed the highest value at 264 h of storage (26.5 mg/100 g of fillet), and pH decreased from 6.57 at 3 h of storage to 6.39 at 48 h and 6.37 at 168 h, before increasing to 6.50 at 264 h (P < 0.001). Immersion in cold saline water was proved to be a viable alternative to percussion for stunning/slaughtering rainbow trout, being an ease technique, cost-effective, and with reduced labour, while producing a similar stress response amplitude and no relevant changes on product quality.

A facile method for synthesis of bismuth oxide nanoparticles on anion exchange resin and its salt removal ability for saline water

In this work, a method was applied to produce bismuth oxide nanoparticles on anion exchange resin (AR@Bi2O3), which was then applied effectively for removing salts in aqueous solution of NaCl and real-world saline water. The results from SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR confirm the preparation of AR@Bi2O3 with a crystalline structure and high purity as well as the effective adsorption of salt on the surface of the material. The salt removal was investigated under various conditions of contact time, solution pH, adsorbent mass, initial salt concentration, and solution temperature. The salt adsorption of AR@Bi2O3 reached an equilibrium capacity of 280 mg/g after 45 min, which is best described by the intraparticle diffusion model. Moreover, pH 5 was found to be the optimal value for salt adsorption and Freundlich is the best model for describing the adsorption process, which was a spontaneous process (∆G < 0). The adsorption capacity of the AR@Bi2O3 material likely remained stable at over 260 mg/g even after 10 cycles of adsorption-regeneration, indicating a great potential for practical application of AR@Bi2O3 in saline water treatment.