Precious Metals Research Articles

Iron-catalyzed stereoselective C–H alkylation for simultaneous construction of C–N axial and C-central chirality

The assembly of chiral molecules with multiple stereogenic elements is challenging, and, despite of indisputable advances, largely limited to toxic, cost-intensive and precious metal catalysts. In sharp contrast, we herein disclose a versatile C–H alkylation using a non-toxic, low-cost iron catalyst for the synthesis of substituted indoles with two chiral elements. The key for achieving excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity was substitution on a chiral N-heterocyclic carbene ligand providing steric hindrance and extra represented by noncovalent interaction for the concomitant generation of C–N axial chirality and C-stereogenic center. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies have unraveled the origin of the catalytic efficacy and stereoselectivity.

Advanced polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis for power to gas applications

Abstract Water electrolysis fed by renewable energy is the foremost technology to generate green hydrogen. Relevant challenges regard decrease of precious metal loadings and performance enhancement while maintaining cutting edge efficiency. Next generation electrolysers must provide dynamic behaviour to improve grid-balancing services and thus integrate with the grid the intermittent renewable energy sources. The HPEM2GAS project developed a low-cost optimised PEM electrolyser for grid management through both stack and balance of plant innovations.

Material composition of copper slag of the Almalyk copper-smelting plant (Uzbekistan)

Relevance. Copper production is accompanied by release of a large volume of slag. Today, huge quantities of copper slags have accumulated all over the world, in which the copper content is even greater than that in original ores. The slags that result from the smelting of ores and concentrates of both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, together with other metallurgical wastes such as tailings, are increasingly the subject of significant environmental controversy. The only way to reduce the negative impact of slag waste on the environment can be their disposal, by complex extraction of valuable components from them and further use of slag waste for construction purposes. In addition to the main component of copper, copper slags contain elevated contents of gold, silver, zinc, iron, etc. The form of finding valuable metals such as iron, copper, lead and zinc in copper slags is complex. A detailed study of the mineral composition of slags is used in development of an effective technology for processing slags. Aim. To study mineral composition of copper slags, the form of finding valuable components. Object. Copper slag waste from the copper-smelting plant of the Almalyk MMC. Methods. Chemical composition of copper slags was established by phase analysis, atomic absorption, X-ray fluorescence research methods. Mineral composition of the ores was established as a result of complex studies, including: optical microscopy in transmitted and reflected light, X-ray diffraction, microprobe studies and electron microscopy. Results. Copper content in composition of copper slag samples is higher than in copper ores and it is 0.77–0.97%. In addition to copper, copper slags contain elevated contents of a complex of metals (g/t): Au – 0.17–0.26; Ag 8.42–10.64, Zn 4.288–10216, Pb – 2014-3360. Ferrous silicates (fayalite, ferrosillite), vitreous mass of ferruginous-silicate composition predominate in the composition of copper slags. Ore minerals are mainly represented by magnetite. The mineral content is approximately 10–15%. Among сopper sulfides minerals bornite, chalcocite, less often cubanite, chalcopyrite, covellite sharply predominate. Cuprite is observed in small amounts, and native copper is metallic. The mineral form of finding molybdenum is molybdenite. Among the native silver minerals, native silver was found in association with lead minerals. Gold is included in the composition of native copper and chalcocite as an impurity and passes into copper concentrate during processing slags.

Integration of lactic acid biorefinery with treatment of red mud from alumina refinery: win–win paradigm for waste valorization

The cost of detoxification and neutralization poses certain challenges to the development of an economically viable lactic acid biorefinery with lignocellulosic biomass as feedstock. Herein, red mud, an alkaline waste, was explored as both a detoxifying agent and a neutralizer. Red mud treatment of lignocellulosic hydrolysate effectively removed the inhibitors generated in dilute acid pretreatment, improving the lactic acid productivity from 1.0 g/L·h−1 to 1.9 g/L·h−1 in later fermentation. In addition, red mud could replace CaCO3 as a neutralizer in lactic acid fermentation, which in turn enabled simultaneous bioleaching of valuable metals (Sc, Y, Nd, and Al) from red mud. The neutralization of alkali in red mud by acids retained in lignocellulosic hydrolysate and lactic acid produced from fermentation led to effective dealkalization, rendering a maximum alkali removal efficiency of 92.2 %. Overall, this study offered a win–win strategy for the valorization of both lignocellulosic biomass and red mud.

Bio-extraction of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium batteries using magnetotactic bacteria and its role in electronic waste management

Bio-extraction of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium batteries using magnetotactic bacteria and its role in electronic waste management

Примесный состав берилла из сподуменовых пегматитов месторождения Пашки (провинция Нуристан, Афганистан)

The SIMS method (secondary ions mass-spectrometry) determined the impurity composition of a beryl crystals (aquamarine) from the pegmatites of the Pashki lithium deposit (Nuristan province, Afghanistan). 12 local determinations of the content of 20 chemical elements (including halogens and water) were performed. In comparison with aquamarine from rare metals, including spodumene pegmatites from other regions of the world, the studied beryl is significantly enriched with large ion lithophile elements: Li (about 1100 ppm), Na (4500 ppm) and K (300 ppm). High concentrations of alkaline elements in the beryl of lithium pegmatites are considered as a genetic sign of the high potential of alkalis created during the crystallization of spodumene associated with beryl and other lithium minerals. This well-known genetically determined feature of beryl, characteristic of productive lithium pegmatites, therefore is promising in the development of search and evaluation criteria for lithium pegmatites of Nuristan and other pegmatite provinces.

Stellar populations with optical spectra: deep learning versus popular spectrum fitting codes

ABSTRACT We compare the performance of several popular spectrum fitting codes (firefly, starlight, pypipe3d, and ppxf), and a deep-learning convolutional neural network (starnet), in recovering known stellar population properties (mean stellar age, stellar metallicity, stellar mass-to-light ratio M*/Lr and the internal E(B−V)) of simulated galaxy spectra in optical wavelengths. Our mock spectra are constructed from star-formation histories from the IllustrisTNG100-1 simulation. These spectra mimic the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) through a novel method of including the noise, sky residuals, and emission lines taken directly from SDSS. We find that starnet vastly outperforms all conventional codes in both speed and recovery of stellar population properties (error scatter <0.08 dex, average biases <0.02 dex for all tested quantities), but it requires an appropriate training set. Of the non-machine-learning codes, ppxf was a factor of 3–4 times faster than the other codes, and was the best in recovering stellar population properties (error scatter of <0.11 dex, average biases <0.08 dex). However, the errors and biases are strongly dependent on both true and predicted values of stellar age and metallicity, and signal-to-noise ratio. The biases of all codes can approach 0.15 dex in stellar ages, metallicities and log M*/Lr, but remain ≲0.05 for E(B−V). Using unrealistic Gaussian noise in the construction of mock spectra will underestimate the errors in the metallicities by a factor of 2 or more, and mocks without emission lines will underestimate the errors in stellar age and M*/Lr by a factor of 2.

Application of Magnetic Separation Technology in Resource Utilization and Environmental Treatment

Magnetic separation technology is a physical separation method that uses the differences in magnetism between matter to separate them from each other by different motion behaviors in a non-uniform magnetic field. It is highly efficient, green, and environmentally friendly, with little change in the physical and chemical properties of raw materials. Magnetic separation technology is commonly used in the field of mineral processing engineering for magnetite, hematite, titanite, and other magnetic ferrous metal oxide minerals. This paper summarizes the application of magnetic separation technology for resource utilization and environmental treatment in different fields, such as non-metal decomposition, valuable metal recovery, use of magnetic carrier chemical separation, biomedical targeted magnetic separation, and use of magnetic species separation in water and wastewater treatment. We seek to review the application and potential of magnetic separation technology in various fields, emphasize their key role, and explore possible directions for their future development.

The construction of Z-scheme heterojunction ZnIn2S4@CuO with enhanced charge transfer capability and its mechanism study for the visible light degradation of tetracycline

In this study, copper oxide (CuO) was prepared by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal technique subsequently, CuO was grown in situ onto different rare metal compounds to prepare Z-scheme heterojunctions to improve the degradation efficiency of tetracycline (TC) in water environments. Various characterization proved the successful synthesis of all composite materials, and the formation of tight heterojunction interfaces, among which, the core–shell structure ZnIn2S4@CuO exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation capability. Research results indicated that the degradation efficiency of ZnIn2S4@CuO for TC (50 mg/L) in the water environment reached 95.8 %, and the degradation rate is 2.41 times and 12.93 times that of CuO and ZnIn2S4 alone, respectively, the reason is because of the introduction of ZnIn2S4, Z-scheme heterojunction structures and internal electric field (IEF) is constructed and formed to extend the visible light response range of photocatalysts to improve electron-hole separation efficiency, and enhance charge transfer. In addition, ZnIn2S4@CuO-2 exhibited good stability and reproducibility, with no significant loss of activity after five cycles. Finally, the precise locations of free radical attack on TC were investigated by the combined use of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MC) and frontier electron densities (FEDs), and a reasonable degradation pathway was provided. The results of this research provide a new and viable approach to overcome the limitations of conventional photocatalytic materials in terms of limited visible light absorption range and fast carrier recombination rates, which offers promising prospects for a wide range of applications in the field of wastewater purification.

NiS modified SrTiO3:Al bifunctional photocatalyst for H2 generation and cathodic protection

Developing low-cost and high-efficiency non-precious metal cocatalysts is the key to the practical application of photocatalysis technology. Here, nickel sulfide (NiS) nanoparticles were synthesized on the surface of strontium titanate (SrTiO3) via a hydrothermal method, identifying the optimal loading molar concentration of NiS as 10 %. The solar-to-hydrogen efficiency (STH) of 10%NiS/SrTiO3:Al was enhanced by 97 times compared to SrTiO3:Al and by 1.62 times compared to RhCrCoOx/SrTiO3:Al. This improvement is primarily attributed to the metallic-like properties of NiS, which enhance the photocatalyst's light absorption capacity and charge transfer capability. Additionally, the STH value of samples loaded with both NiS and RhCrCoOx reached 0.436 %, indicating a positive synergistic effect in photocatalysis between NiS and RhCrCoOx. Their photocathodic protection capability was also studied in simulated seawater conditions, showing a reduced self-corrosion potential (−0.31V) and a low interface charge impedance (5962 KΩ). This work reveals the potential of NiS as an alternative to precious metal cocatalysts, offering new possibilities for developing cost-effective and high-performance materials for photocatalytic water splitting and photocathodic protection.

Solar-Driven Ion Confinement for Synergetic Pollutants Remediation and Valuable Metal Recovery in Wastewater

Solar-Driven Ion Confinement for Synergetic Pollutants Remediation and Valuable Metal Recovery in Wastewater

Enrichment mechanisms of Nb, Zr, and REY in the Late Permian coal-bearing strata in western Guizhou, SW China

Niobium, Zr, REE, and Y are widely enriched in the Upper Permian coal-bearing strata in southwestern China and are regarded as a substantial resource. To better understand the occurrence modes and enrichment mechanisms of these rare metals, comprehensive heavy-mineral separation, Micro-Raman spectroscopy, EPMA, and LA-ICP-MS analyses of primary and secondary metal minerals were conducted in the polymetallic beds in western Guizhou. In addition, the XRD, XRF, and ICP-MS analyses of bulk rocks were carried out. Our results suggest that Nb is primarily hosted in secondary TiO2 polymorphs which converted from primary Nb-rich rutile, and occurs as minor ilmenorutile and columbite-(Fe). The Zr is sequestered in both detrital zircon and secondary microcrystalline zircon. REE and Y (REY) are mainly incorporated into secondary florencite-(Ce), rhabdophane-(Ce), churchite-(Y), and zircon, also partially adsorbed by clay minerals. The assemblage of detrital zircon, Nb-rich rutile, and discrete Nb minerals reveals that rare metals are preconcentrated during the waning-stage Emeishan alkaline magmatisms. Complex zonings in rutile crystals may result from the diffusion of Nb5+ and Fe2+, and these grains are further overprinted by magmatic-hydrothermal and enveloped by ilmenorutile and columbite-(Fe). Furthermore, magmatic rutile is commonly converted into anatase, brookite, and leucoxene under supergene conditions, and then persisted as stable phases. Authigenic REY-rich (Al)-phosphates and zircon are sourced from the leaching, even decomposition of primary REY-phosphates and zircons. Their colloidal aggregates are precipitated from the acidic and oxidizing low-temperature fluids, which are superposed onto clay matrix. The mineralogical and geochemical features suggest that the polymetallic beds are enriched by both alkaline magmatic-hydrothermal processes in source rocks and supergene fluid alterations in sediments. This study gives new insights into the enrichment processes and conditions, and further extraction of critical metals in the coeval coal-bearing strata in southwestern China.

Determination the Anti –Oxidant Capacity, Total Phenols, Minerals and Evaluation the Anti- Bacteria Activity of Leafs and Stems of Gaper Plant Extracts

In this study, Caper plant were collected from Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar region (Libya) during the spring season (2023), the leaves and stems of the plant were separated and dried in the open air. The contents of minerals and metals (Na, K, Ca, Fe and Ni) were determined. The strength of antioxidants was determined using the Prussian blue method. Also, phenol compounds were estimated by the Folin Ciacalteu Method. The results showed that the metal values were showed higher contents in the leaves comparing with their contents in the stems, where a relative increase was found in the leaves of capers with a value of (1.83 ppm) compared to its value in the stems (0.94 ppm), the phenol contents were recorded in leaves (0.530 ppm), and stems (0.362 ppm). The anti-bacterial activity using different concentrations of the plant extract concentrations of (25,50,75 and100%) on two types of bacteria (Bacilli and Escherichia Coli) was applied for the extracts. The results showed that the inhibition zone of the leave extracts was recorded in all concentrations of Bacilli, in the stems the high inhibitaion zone were observed for concentrations (75%, &100%). The leaves and stems extract didn't showed any effect on Escherichia coli except for high concentrations of leaves (100%).

Using Bottom Marine Sediments as Environmental Indicator State of (Tolmaitha – Toukra) Region at Eastern North Coast of Libya

This study was carried out on sediment samples collected from the region extended between Tolmaitha and Toukra towns at (Libya) North eastern coast. The study aimed to use the marine sediment as indicator pollution of the studied area. Different heavy metals of (Fe‚ Mn‚ Zn‚ Cu‚ pb‚ Cd‚ Co and Cr) beside the organic matter (O.M)‚ Total phosphorus (T.P) and total nitrogen (T.N) were determined. The results showed variations in concentrations of total phosphorus (T.P) contents and ranged between (0.0037-0.319 ppm) and (0.007-0.240 ppm) during winter and summer seasons‚ respectively. The total nitrogen contents were fluctuated in the ranges of (0.0017-0.370 ppm) and (0.014 – 710ppm) during winter and summer seasons‚ respectively. Also the results showed that the organic matter (O.M) values were ranged between (0.072-0.720%) and (0.097-0.502%) during winter and summer seasons‚ respectively. The contents of heavy metals in sediment samples during summer season were ranged as follows:(16.5 – 398.1 µg/g)¸ (10.436 – 33.879 µg/g)¸ (13.8 – 287.6 µg/g)¸ (0.78 – 31.56 µg/g)¸ (1.34 – 46.72 µg/g)¸ (2.36 – 128.76 µg/g)¸ (9.15 – 28.16 µg/g)¸ (2.17 – 323.41 µg/g) ¸ for Fe¸ Mn¸ Zn¸ Cu¸ Pb¸ Cd¸ Co¸ and Cr¸ respectively. The results showed high values of calcium in the studied sediment samples compared to the potassium and sodium contents. The results of the studied gave indication that area under investigated contain high values of heavy metals, total phosphorus and total nitrogen, this is mainly attribute to the human activities at the studied locations.

Dehydroxylative radical N-glycosylation of heterocycles with 1-hydroxycarbohydrates enabled by copper metallaphotoredox catalysis

N-Glycosylated heterocycles play important roles in biological systems and drug development. The synthesis of these compounds heavily relies on ionic N-glycosylation, which is usually constrained by factors such as labile glycosyl donors, precious metal catalysts, and stringent conditions. Herein, we report a dehydroxylative radical method for synthesizing N-glycosides by leveraging copper metallaphotoredox catalysis, in which stable and readily available 1-hydroxy carbohydrates are activated for direct N-glycosylation. Our method employs inexpensive photo- and copper- catalysts and can tolerate some extent of water. The reaction exhibits a broad substrate scope, encompassing 76 examples, and demonstrates high stereoselectivity, favoring 1,2-trans selectivity for furanoses and α-selectivity for pyranoses. It also exhibits high site-selectivity for substrates containing multiple N-atoms. The synthetic utility is showcased through the late-stage functionalization of bioactive compounds and pharmaceuticals like Olaparib, Axitinib, and Metaxalone. Mechanistic studies prove the presence of glycosyl radicals and the importance of copper metallaphotoredox catalysis.

Towards a low-emission resource circulation of valuable metals from municipal solid waste incineration fly ash

The incineration fly ash (IFA) resulting from municipal solid waste combustion is laden with heavy metals, necessitating proper treatment not only for environmental management but also to reclaim the metal values. The surge in non-traditional metals like cobalt as emerging contaminant within IFA samples further attracts to address this issue. In response, the hydrometallurgical recycling of a cobalt-bearing IFA has been studied. Thereby, approximately 98 % zinc and 96 % cobalt were leached using a 1.0 mol/L H2SO4 solution at 90 °C and 1 h of leaching time. In-depth analysis of the leaching process unveiled metals' dissolution primarily via the ion-exclusion mechanism, as evidenced by lower diffusion coefficients (between 10−9 and 10−11 m2/s) and activation energies (9.6–14.9 kJ/mol). Above 99 % separation of zinc from the cobalt-bearing leach liquor was achieved by extraction with 1.0 mol/L D2EHPA at an equilibrium pH below 3.0, followed by stripping with a 2.0 mol/L H2SO4 solution. Cobalt, remained in the raffinate was efficiently precipitated by adding a 20 % excess dosage of oxalic acid to the stoichiometric ratio of C2O42−:Co2+, resulting in only 5 mg/L cobalt left in the solution when precipitation occurred at a pH of 2.8. Additionally, the conversion of CoC2O4 to high-purity Co3O4 was conducted through heat-treatment at 600 °C. The resulting Co3O4 was mixed with Li2CO3 at a Li/Co molar ratio of 1.1, yielding a LiCoO2 precursor that exhibited good electrochemical properties with a capacity of 128 mAh/g, thus affirming the high quality of the recycled cobalt. A comprehensive life-cycle assessment of the recycling process revealed that cobalt precipitation alone contributes approximately 50 % of the total global warming potential (GWP = 4.2624 kg CO2-eq). Notably, this value is remarkably lower than the GWP reported for primary cobalt production, highlighting the environmentally-friendly approach of this recycling endeavor.

Trophodynamics and health risk assessment of heavy metals in seafood from a tropical estuary in the gulf of Guinea

Seafood is an essential protein source for coastal communities. However, they can accumulate heavy metals from human activities which could pose a potential health risk to consumers. In this study, we investigated the distribution, bioaccumulation, trophic transfer and potential human health risk of heavy metals in sediments, shell and fin fish collected from the Escravos Estuary in southern Nigeria. Heavy metals (Ni, Cd, V, Pb and Cu) in sediments, periwinkles and tongue soles from the two study sites were lower than the permissible limits for fishery products. The metal distribution in fish tissues was in the decreasing order of liver > gills > muscles > gonads > rest of the fish. Moderate to high BSAF (>1) was reported for Cd, Pb and Cu. All the studied metals, except Pb, showed evidence of biomagnification from periwinkle to tongue sole. The estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard ratio (HR) for metals in periwinkles from both study sites were lower or within the USEPA reference doses (RfD) for the respective daily intake and HR value < 1, except for Cd, V and Pb for children. In contrast, EDI values in the muscle of tongue soles were higher than the RfD values for heavy metals except for Ni and Pb, whereas HR values > 1 except for Ni, Cd and V. In the whole fish, EDI and HR values were disproportionately high in both study sites with higher values reported for children. This study provides the first insights on the trophic transfer and risk assessment of heavy metals from petroleum and gas operations impacting the Escravos Estuary and the implications to public health.

A cleaner-sustainable process for recovering valuable elements from steel slag with acetic acid: Leaching studies and multi-value-added products

Steel slag (SS), a hazardous solid waste produced by the steelmaking industry, contains a large number of valuable metals but generates a potential threat to the environment. This research focuses on a cleaner-sustainable process to recover valuable elements, including calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe), from SS by acetic acid leaching, and develop new products. The single-factor experiment and kinetic analysis were employed to determine the leaching characteristics of SS, optimize the leaching processes, investigate the influence of various leaching conditions, and clarify the constraints of leaching kinetics. The results indicated that the leaching rate of Ca, Mg, Al, and Fe was 76.24 %, 67.19 %, 54.97 %, and 28.91 %, respectively, under the optimal leaching conditions. Besides, the apparent activation energies of Ca, Mg, Al, and Fe were 26.20 kJ/mol, 26.26 kJ/mol, 23.37 kJ/mol, and 14.76 kJ/mol, respectively, and the whole leaching process was found to be controlled by the diffusion and interfacial chemical reaction. Meanwhile, a residue with admirable surface areas was obtained after the leaching stage. The leachate was co-precipitated by sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and multi-value-added Mg-Fe layered double hydroxide (Mg-Fe LDH) was synthesized. This work demonstrates the potential of hydrometallurgical processes for the treatment of SS, which is of considerable importance to the harmless treatment of industrial solid waste and provides insights into strategies for the utilization of secondary resources.

"Two-in-One" PtPdCu Trimetallic Multifunctional Nanoparticles-Mediated Dual-Signal-Integrated Aptasensor for Ultradetection of Enrofloxacin.

Balancing the accuracy and simplicity of aptasensors is a challenge in their construction. This study addresses this issue by leveraging the remarkable loading capacity and peroxidase-like catalytic activity of PtPdCu trimetallic nanoparticles, which reduces the reliance on precious metals. A dual-signal readout aptasensor for enrofloxacin (ENR) detection is designed, incorporating DNA dynamic network cascade reactions to further amplify the output signal. Exploiting the strong loading capacity of PtPdCu nanoparticles, they are self-assembled with thionine (Thi) to form a signal label capable of generating signals in two independent modes. The label exhibits excellent enzyme-like catalytic activity and enhances electron transfer capabilities. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV) are employed to independently read signals from the oxidation-reduction reaction of Thi and the catalytic oxidation of hydroquinone (HQ) to benzoquinone (BQ) by H2O2. The introduced DNA dynamic network cascade reaction modularizes sample processing and electrode surface signal generation, avoiding electrode contamination and efficiently increasing the output of the catalyzed hairpin assembly (CHA) cycle. Under optimized conditions, the developed aptasensor demonstrates detection limits of 0.112 (DPV mode) and 0.0203 pg/mL (SWV mode). Additionally, the sensor successfully detected enrofloxacin in real samples, expanding avenues for designing dual-mode signal amplification strategies.

Fuel Characteristics and Phytotoxicity Assay of Biochar Derived from Rose Pruning Waste.

The aim of this study was the characterization and evaluation of applicability as a soil amendment of biochar derived from rose pruning waste at different pyrolysis temperatures (200-500 °C) and process durations (20-60 min). The biochar properties were compared to the raw material. The biochars produced at 300 °C for 40 and 60 min demonstrated the best fuel properties. These variants showed high energy gain rates (77.6 ± 1.5% and 74.8 ± 1.5%, respectively), energy densification ratios (1.35 ± 0.00 and 1.37 ± 0.00, respectively), high heating values (24,720 ± 267 J × g-1 and 25,113 ± 731 J × g-1, respectively), and relative low ash contents (5.9 ± 0.5% and 7.1 ± 0.3%, respectively). Regarding fertilizer properties, such as pH value, ash content, heavy metal content, and pollutant elution, the biochars showed better qualities than the raw material. All tested biochar did not exceed the permissible values for heavy metals, including Cr, Cd, Ni, and Pb. The most optimal properties for soil amendments were noted for biochar variants of 400 °C for 40 min, 450 °C for 20 min, and 500 °C for 20 min. Generally, biochars produced at temperatures ≥400 °C did not inhibit root elongation, except for the material produced at 450 °C for 60 min (4.08 ± 23.34%). Biochars obtained at ≥300 °C showed a positive impact on seed germination (86.67 ± 18.48-100 ± 24.14%).