Titanium Content Research Articles

The interplay of gut microbiota and heavy metals in multiple sclerosis patients.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by central nervous system (CNS). In this study, the concentration of heavy metals was measured in stool samples of MS patients by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) method and compared with healthy people. Also, another goal of this study is to investigate the alteration of the gut microbiome of MS patients by metagenomics technique based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The IL-10 ELISA assay showed no significant differences between the serum level of the IL-10 in the patients and the control group (p=0.510). Heavy metal measurement by ICP-MS showed significantly higher levels of arsenic (As, Mean=32.77μg/kg), nickel (Ni, Mean=7.154μg/kg), manganese (Mn, Mean=3723μg/kg), and zinc (Zn, Mean=5508μg/kg) in the stool samples of the MS group compared to the control group, while concentrations of iron (Fe, Mean=9585μg/kg), lead (Pb, Mean=18.54μg/kg), titanium (Ti, Mean=69.69μg/kg), and tin (Sn, Mean=13.92μg/kg) were significantly lower. The result of gut microbiome analysis showed an increase in the abundance of the Verrumicrobiaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae families was considerably increased in MS patients compared to the control group (p<0.05). This study reports that high levels of heavy metals such as Ars, Ni, Mn, and Zn, deficiency of Fe, Pb, Ti, and Sn, and alteration of the gut microbiome are involved in the pathogenesis of MS. The novelty of this study lies in its multi-faceted approach to understanding MS by integrating the measurement of heavy metals in stool samples with the analysis of gut microbiome alterations, thereby providing comprehensive insights into heavy metals, the gut microbiome, and potential therapeutic avenues. This study suggests several potential applications and practical implications based on its findings regarding heavy metals, gut microbiome alterations, and IL-10 levels in MS. First, the identification of elevated levels of specific heavy metals and deficiencies in others may lead to targeted screening and monitoring, informing preventive strategies for MS patients. Additionally, the observed gut microbiome changes could facilitate the development of microbiome-based therapies, such as probiotics or dietary interventions, aimed at restoring microbial balance. Finally, exploring the interplay between heavy metals, gut microbiome, and immune response may guide the creation of novel therapeutic interventions, ultimately enhancing treatment efficacy and providing new avenues for managing MS, thereby alleviating the burden of this chronic condition.

Surface Segregation Process and Its Influence on High-Temperature Corrosion of Iron-Based Alloys Containing Aluminium, Vanadium, Titanium and Germanium

The surface segregation process and its influence on high-temperature corrosion of five alloys—Fe0.95Al0.05, Fe0.95V0.05, Fe0.90Al0.05V0.05, Fe0.95Ti0.05 and Fe0.95Ge0.05—were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and 57Fe Transmission Mössbauer Spectroscopy (TMS). To prepare the alloys with the highest surface concentration of solutes, the samples were annealed at elevated temperatures to induce the surface segregation process. After that, they were exposed to air at 870 K for 1 and 5 h. It was found that the Fe0.95Ti0.05 sample annealed at 1073 K had much better anti–corrosion properties than other alloys studied. This finding can be correlated with the extremely high concentration of titanium on the surface, which was more than four times that of iron. In contrast to other alloys studied in this work, the passive layer formed on the surface of Fe0.95Ti0.05 greatly enhanced its resistance to corrosion.

Nano-TiO2 impairs the health of crabs Charybdis japonica under warming conditions through waterborne and dietary exposures.

The widespread use of nano titanium dioxide (nano-TiO₂) poses ecological risks to marine ecosystems, especially when combined with ocean warming. However, most previous studies have only examined water-related exposures, leaving a gap in research on the impact of food transfer on organisms. In this work, the harmful impacts of nano-TiO2 on the Japanese swimming crab Charybdis japonica were studied through three scenarios: direct exposure (DE) of the crabs to warming and nano-TiO2, indirect exposure (IE) via consumption of thick-shelled mussels Mytilus coruscus exposed to the same conditions, and combined exposure (CE), where crabs were directly subjected to warming and nano-TiO2 while feeding affected mussels. Moreover, a control group was established, consisting of Japanese swimming crab C. japonica and mussel M. coruscus that were raised under standard temperature (22 °C) and 0 mg L-1 nano-TiO2 concentration conditions. Immune, oxidative, and gene expression parameters were measured in gills and hepatopancreas after 7 exposure days. Furthermore, titanium bioaccumulation, along with the morphometrical and histological analyses, were assessed in gills. Bioaccumulation results (1.69-6.83 μg/g) suggested that foodborne stressors induced higher titanium contents. Additionally, there were deformities in gills morphometry and histology. The multivariate analyses showed that warming and nano-TiO2 combination had a pronounced effect on the overall profile of biological responses in crabs; moreover, the exposure through food alone had the greatest impact on gills immune-oxidative parameters and hepatopancreas gene expressions. The harmful impacts of nano-TiO2 are significant and can manifest through waterborne and dietary exposure pathways, especially when combined with other stressors, warranting further research.

Enhanced coagulation of Microcystis aeruginosa using titanium xerogel coagulant.

Cyanobacterial blooms are prevalent globally and present a significant threat to water security. Titanium salt coagulants have garnered considerable attention due to their superior coagulation properties and the absence of metal residue risks. This paper explored the influencing factors in the coagulation process of titanium xerogel coagulant (TXC), the alterations in cell activity during floc storage, and the release of cyanobacterial organic matters, thereby determining the application scope of TXC for cyanobacterial water treatment. The findings indicated that at a TXC dosage of 8 mg Ti/L, the removal rate of Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) exceeded 86% across a pH range of 5-9. The coagulation performance with anions HCO3-, CO32- and H2PO4-/HPO42- was unsatisfactory at concentrations of 10, 20, and 50 mg/L, with corresponding chlorophyll a (Chl-a) levels of 168, 129, and 196 μg/L, respectively. While the presence of Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, K+, NH4+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ had little influence on the removal efficiency. At sodium alginate (SA) concentration of 6 mg/L, the Chl-a content was 116 μg/L, with humic acid (HA) not affecting M. aeruginosa removal but hindering turbidity reduction, leaving a residual turbidity of 11 NTU. Following TXC treatment, a floc storage study with cyanobacteria-laden surface water showed a decrease in microcystins (MCs) content. The low residual titanium concentration post-TXC coagulation (<0.06 mg/L) and MCs reduction contributed to reduced effluent toxicity, indicating TXC's versatile applicability for treating cyanobacterial-contaminated waters.

Potentially harmful elements in mining sites in Ghana: assessment of their carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks for children and adults

PurposePotentially harmful elements (PHEs) in the soil at gold mining sites can endanger the health and sustainability of the local community. We examined the potential health risks associated with the presence of PHEs (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Sb, Se and Ti) in the soils of active, closed/abandoned/former and profile gold mine sites in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachWe collected 102 soil samples from these mine sites, analysed them for their total element contents and calculated the geo-accumulation index, enrichment factor, contamination factor and pollution load index (PLI) (Igeo). We calculated the risks to human health by utilizing the hazard index (HI) and hazard quotient (HQ) for adult males, adult females and children who may ingest contaminated soil particles.FindingsThe average total Cd concentration in the soils was above the global average of 0.2 mg/kg for abandoned (2.86 mg/kg), active (3.93 mg/kg) and profile (4.04 mg/kg) areas. Mercury was detected at elevated concentrations in the soil of active mines (0.92 mg/kg), profiles (0.89 mg/kg) and abandoned mines (0.87 mg/kg). In the active, abandoned and profile soils, titanium concentrations were 14.18, 6.74 and 4.82 mg/kg, respectively, in several folds above the global average of 0.57 mg/kg. The majority of the sites were contaminated with Cd, Hg and Ti based on the calculated PLI values (active = 2.04, abandoned = 1.77 and profile = 2.7). Cadmium, mercury, lead and titanium in mine spoils were found to be correlated with aluminium, iron, manganese, pH, total carbon, clay content and phosphorus in a multivariate analysis using correlation and principal component analysis.Research limitations/implicationsBoth natural and anthropogenic processes contributed to the elevated metal contents in the mining sites, as indicated by the investigation’s results. The children’s hazard index values exceeded the threshold of 1.0, indicating the presence of non-carcinogenic risks.Practical implicationsGreen space technology (e.g. revegetation) may thus be critical for preserving public health and reviving the ecological integrity of the contaminated sites.Originality/valueThis study highlights health risks to local communities in southwest Ghana by investigating the presence of potentially harmful elements in soils from gold mining sites for the first time. It assesses non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks using a methodology recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency for soil-to-human health risk assessment, especially for children. The study highlights how contamination has been found, making green space technology essential for preserving ecological integrity and protecting public health. The inclusion of geospatial distribution mapping of PTEs offers a visual depiction of the spread of contamination at both active and closed mining sites.

Prospects of using MOF/TiO2 nanocomposites for photocatalytic degradation of pesticides

Cleaning water bodies from fourth-generation pesticides is an urgent problem today. In this study, a series of nanocomposites based on MOF (NH2-MIL-125) and commercial titanium (IV) oxide P25 were synthesized and characterized, and their photocatalytic activity towards imidacloprid was determined. MOF and MOF/TiO2 composites were synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. The synthesized MOF and MOF/TiO2 composite were characterized by XRD, electron microscopy, UV-visible, infrared and FTIR spectroscopy, and TGA analysis. The studies showed that TiO2 and MOF have typical properties, and the properties of the composite were similar to those of MOF. The found band gap values of MOF and MOF/TiO2 composite (2.68 eV and 2.58 eV) indicate their potential use visible light photocatalytic processes. The photocatalytic activity study indicates a two-step degradation of imidacloprid, which is quite efficient for the MOF/TiO2 composite with the highest titanium (IV) oxide content, reaching almost 100% after 2 h our of photocatalytic reaction.

Rapid Determination of Ti in Quartz Using a Portable/Handheld Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Instrumentation: A Case Study on Quartz Veinlets in Hornfels from Italy

Recent advances in the use of portable/handheld laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrumentation have allowed its use directly in the field. In this study, a portable/handheld LIBS demo kit was tested to detect the titanium (Ti) content in some quartz veinlets hosted by hornfels collected from the contact aureole of a Pliocene granite from Italy. Results of the present study demonstrate the promising potential of LIBS in the rapid detection of low and very variable Ti contents in quartz, which can be used as a preliminary test for the estimation of the temperature of quartz crystallization in the laboratory. However, to date, the limited availability of matrix-matched calibration samples, the refinement of sampling protocols, as well as the development of suitable algorithms for data processing and spectral analysis still require further investigation.

TiO2/Polysulfone Composite Membrane for Enhanced Removal of Acetaminophen from Water

There has been a significant rise in the worldwide usage of acetaminophen (ACT), particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to concerns regarding its possible discharge into the environment. Even at low levels, the gradual buildup of ACT can present a significant risk to both aquatic ecosystems and human health, especially when consumed through drinking water. The advanced oxidation process (AOP) is an excellent treatment technique for removing ACT. However, it is a complex and expensive procedure that consumes a significant amount of energy. Membrane technology has evolved as a viable and efficient method to eliminate ACT, offering a simpler and more energy-efficient approach. This study examined the impact of different concentrations of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofiller on the elimination of ACT from a water-based solution. The membrane containing the highest concentration of TiO2 (2 wt.%) demonstrated the greatest water flux and ACT removal rate at 32 L/m2h and 97%, respectively. The inclusion of TiO2 had a substantial impact on the structure of the membrane, leading to the formation of evenly distributed finger-like pores throughout a spongy framework. This modification resulted in enhanced flow rate and increased efficiency in terms of the flux and rejection rate

Prediction of the thermal degradation–induced colour change of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene products as a function of temperature and titanium dioxide content

In this study, we examined the thermal degradation–induced colour change of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)–based titanium dioxide (TiO2)–doped products as a function of TiO2 content and temperature. Based on the time–temperature superposition (tTS) principle and the CIELAB colour space, we proposed a methodology for developing a robust model to estimate the long-term colour change of polymers doped with TiO2 at elevated temperatures. We used 800 h of measurement data to develop the model and validated the colour change predictions of the model in 1600 h. The average colour difference between the measured and modelled results at the application temperature range (below 80 °C) was <1.5, smaller than the just noticeable difference (JND) in the CIELAB colour space. We found that above a certain TiO2 content (approximately 3 wt%), the colour retention of the ABS/TiO2 specimens can no longer be improved by increasing their TiO2 content. To show the applicability of the model, we present two simple case studies predicting the colour and appearance of a polymer product under constant and variable heat loads. The proposed methodology provides an excellent tool for design, as it can be used to determine the optimum amount of TiO2. Moreover, it accelerates and simplifies the design process.

Growth processes of zircon crystals in a granitic magma chamber, variation in U Pb age, titanium concentration, and Th/U in relation to internal texture

Growth processes of zircon crystals in a granitic magma chamber, variation in U Pb age, titanium concentration, and Th/U in relation to internal texture

Development of TiF4-Dendrimer Complex Gel as an Anti-Demineralization Agent for Dentin: An In Vitro Study

ObjectiveThe anti-caries effects of titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) are well-documented, but its low pH challenges clinical application. This study evaluated PEG citrate dendrimer as a carrier to enhance TiF4 stability and efficacy. MethodsPEG-citrate dendrimer and TiF4-dendrimer gel were synthesized, and their structures confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Hydrogen Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H NMR), and Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). Thirty-six intact human teeth were prepared, randomly divided into three groups (n=12) and subjected to pH cycling with the following treatments: titanium tetrafluoride (T), dendrimer (D), and dendrimer with TiF4 (TD). Vickers microhardness and Raman spectroscopy evaluated dentin demineralization. EDS analysis measured titanium and fluoride penetration into dentin in T and TD groups and mineral content (calcium and phosphorus) in all groups compared to controls. ResultsThe T group showed the highest microhardness loss (p<0.001), followed by D and TD groups. EDS analysis revealed no significant difference in titanium and fluorine content between the surface and subsurface in TD (p=0.344), while T had more titanium on the surface (p<0.001). TD had higher subsurface calcium content than T (p=0.008). Raman spectroscopy revealed significant changes in phosphate-to-amide and carbonate-to-amide ratios before and after pH cycling in all groups (p<0.001), with no statistical differences among groups. ConclusionUsing dendrimer as a carrier for TiF4 increased pH and enhanced TiF44 ability to limit dentin demineralization and microhardness loss. Clinical RelevanceThe application of the newly-developed TiF4-dendrimer gel might be an effective approach to prevent/ limit dentin demineralization and dentin caries.

Enthalpy increments and redox energetics of titanium-substituted strontium ferrites SrTi1-xFexO3-δ

For three perovskites from the Sr(Ti,Fe)O3-δ (STF) system—SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3-δ (STF30), SrTi0.5Fe0.5O3-δ (STF50), and SrTi0.3Fe0.7O3-δ (STF70)—the enthalpy of oxidation, ΔHox, measured by Calvet calorimetry, was found to be an almost temperature-independent function of δ. The data on ΔHox(δ) allowed subtracting the redox contribution from the drop calorimetric measurement results, yielding the enthalpy increments of STF with fixed oxygen content. The heat capacities of these STF oxides were successfully described by the single Einstein term, with the fitted Einstein temperatures depending almost linearly on titanium content. The additional dilatometric and thermogravimetric measurements were used to estimate the thermal (TEC) and chemical expansion coefficients of STF. While TEC somewhat decreases with titanium content, the chemical expansion remains rather high for all STF. Finally, the obtained thermochemical data were used to compare the energy and oxygen storage capacities of different STF with those of undoped strontium ferrite; both were found to decrease noticeably with titanium substitution. Hence, in applications such as chemical looping, e.g., in solar energy conversion and storage, the STF with lower titanium content would possess better functional properties, although they might be less chemically stable than titanium-rich STF oxides.

Effect of titanium oxide nano‐filler on mechanical and sliding wear properties of hairy cotton grass fibre reinforced epoxy composites

AbstractThis study explores the synergistic influence of hybridizing titanium oxide (TiO2) filler on the mechanical properties and sliding wear behavior of epoxy composites reinforced with hairy cotton grass (HCG) fibres. The experimental results reveals that the combination with 9 wt‐% HCG/4 wt‐% titanium oxide observed better mechanical results (tensile‐51.03 MPa, flexural‐28.66 MPa, and impact energy‐3.1 J) whereas higher hardness (40.77 HV) achieved at 9 wt‐% hairy cotton grass/6 wt‐% titanium oxide composites. There is deterioration in mechanical results at higher titanium oxide (6 wt‐%) loading due to uneven distribution and particle agglomeration in hairy cotton grass‐epoxy composites. The design of expert was generated by using control parameters, sliding velocity (1 m ⋅ s−1–4 m ⋅ s−1), TiO2 content (0 wt‐%–6 wt‐%), and normal load (15 N–30 N) respectively. The optimization of the sliding wear rate was analysed by the Taguchi approach followed by an analysis of variance used for evaluating the significant of control parameters. The results showed a combination with significance sliding velocity of 1 ms−1 (78.15 %)&gt;titanium oxide content of 6 wt‐% (20.28 %) &gt;normal load of 30 N (1.57 %) exhibited an optimum value of specific wear rate.

Exploring effects of molybdenum and titanium contents on microstructure and mechanical properties of CoCrNi medium entropy alloy films

Medium entropy alloys (MEAs), such as CoCrNi, have demonstrated a unique combination of high hardness and excellent ductility, surpassing many high entropy alloys reported to date. In this study, we investigated the effects of Mo and Ti additions on the microstructures and mechanical properties of (CoCrNi)100–x–yMoxTiy MEA films (MEAFs). Mo/Ti-doped CoCrNi MEAFs were deposited on Si substrates using magnetron three-target co-sputtering. While the power applied on CoCrNi target was fixed at 200 W, the same power was applied on Mo and Ti targets which varied from 0 to 90 W. For simplicity, the film was denoted as MoTi80 when Mo and Ti targets were subjected to 80 W power, and so on. X-ray diffraction and TEM SAED results revealed a structural transformation from FCC to FCC + HCP at MoTi50 (x = 3.52, y = 1.36) due to HCP Ni3Ti precipitation. With further increases in Mo and Ti contents, MoTi80 (x = 6.48, y = 2.52) exhibited a mixed nanocrystalline and amorphous structure, while MoTi90 (x = 8.98, y = 3.59) became fully amorphous. The mechanical properties of the films were investigated using nanoindentation and micropillar compression tests. With the additions of Mo and Ti, the maximum yield strength of 5.87 GPa and hardness of 11.96 GPa were obtained at MoTi70 (x = 6.27, y = 2.44) and then decreased with the higher Mo and Ti contents. The addition of small amounts of Mo and Ti strengthened CoCrNi MEAFs mainly due to solid solution strengthening and grain boundary strengthening.

A comparative study on the chronic responses of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on aerobic granular sludge and algal-bacterial granular sludge processes.

The chronic effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) on aerobic granular sludge (AGS) and algal-bacterial granular sludge (ABGS) was examined in this study. Sequencing batch bioreactors (SBRs) and photo sequencing batch bioreactors (PSBRs) were operated with synthetic wastewater containing 0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50mg L-1 TiO2 NPs for 10days. Nanoparticles at concentrations of 1 and 5mg L-1 did not impact nutrient removal but led to an increase in extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), primarily in protein (PN). With increasing nanoparticle concentration, the negative effect became more pronounced, mainly in the AGS SBRs. At 50mg L-1 TiO2, chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), and phosphorus (PO43-) removal decreased by 20.9%, 12.2%, and 35.1% in AGS, respectively, while in ABGS, they reached only 13.4%, 5.7%, and 14.2%. ABGS exhibited steady-state nutrient removal at 30 and 50mg L-1 TiO2 NPs after around 5days. The higher microbial activity and EPS content in the sludge, coupled with the symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria, contributed to the higher tolerance of ABGS to nanoparticles. Finally, although nanoparticles reduced biomass in both types of bioreactors, the accumulation of TiO2 NPs in the sludge, confirmed by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, and the absence of detectable titanium concentrations in the effluent wastewater, measured by Inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry, may be attributed to the specific operational conditions of this study, including the relatively short operation period (10days) and high initial MLSS concentration (6g L-1).

Controlling titanium incorporation in hydrogenated amorphous carbon films via closed-loop feedback in reactive high power impulse magnetron sputtering

A closed-loop feedback approach has been developed to control titanium incorporation in hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films during reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (R-HiPIMS). The average discharge current measured at the magnetron target is used as the primary feedback signal to regulate the target coverage state. Hence, the titanium concentration in the films can be controlled. Significant changes were observed in the film microstructure and properties as the target state evolved with increasing target coverage. This causes the film transition from metallic titanium to a-C:H films with decreasing titanium concentration. For example, the XRD and Raman analyses indicated a microstructural change from hexagonal titanium to cubic titanium carbide and finally to amorphous carbon. The change in microstructure aligned with the density decreasing from 4.7 g∙cm‒3 to 1.6 g∙cm‒3 measured by XRR technique. In addition, a decrease in the Ti/C atomic ratio, from 1.53 to 0.03, clearly demonstrates that the titanium content can precisely be controlled. A simplified model was proposed to explain the relationship between the average HiPIMS current and the carbon coverage fraction on the target surface. The suggested relationship clarifies how adjusting the average discharge current effectively regulates the target coverage state and the consequent titanium concentration. The approach not only enhances process stability, but also offers an alternative to traditional control techniques during the deposition process.

Investigating the variation of iron-titanium content in lunar farside regolith along the route of the Yutu-2 rover with lunar penetrating radar.

Abstract The Chang’e-4 lander successfully landed in the Von Kármán crater on the farside of the Moon in 2019, collecting a large amount of scientific data to analyze the surface material and subsurface structures of the Von Kármán crater. In this study, we processed the high-frequency radar data from the first 25 lunar days collected by the Lunar Penetrating Radar along the route of the Yutu-2 rover. Using the peak frequency shift method, we calculated the loss tangent of the shallow regolith layer ranged from 3×10−3 to 5.5×10−3. The estimated TiO2 and FeO content in the regolith is 11.2 wt% - 14.7 wt%, revealing a heterogeneous distribution of iron and titanium content along the CE-4 landing site.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE ALLOY STRUCTURE OF THE Ni-Cr-Со-W-Mo-Al-Ti-C SYSTEM

Purpose. Establishing the specifics of the influence of alloying elements on the formation of carbides in the structure, their shape and the possibility of separating TLC phases for the system of the Ni-Cr-Co-W-Mo-Al-Ti-C type using the CALPHAD calculation method of prediction in comparison with data obtained by the method of raster electron microscopy. Research methods. The results of experimental and calculated data, formed on the basis of experimental and results taken from open sources, are presented. The chemical composition was determined on a REM-106I scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive analysis. Experimental values were processed by the method of least squares with obtaining correlation dependencies of the “parameter-property” type and establishing mathematical equations of regression models that optimally describe these dependencies. Results. It was established that when the concentration of titanium is more than 4 % and molybdenum is more than 6 % and 15 % chromium, the formation of TSC phases (Р, s and m- phases) is possible, which reduce the operational properties of the alloy. It was found that when the alloy contains more than 25 % chromium, a solid chromium-based solution is formed, which reduces the properties of the alloy (mechanical and corrosion). It is shown that the obtained dependences correspond to reality and coincide with experimental data at the level of 10 %. Scientific novelty. Obtained dependences of the influence of alloying elements on the chemical composition of carbides will allow predicting properties without conducting experiments. It was established that changes in the course of dependencies are closely correlated with the processes occurring in the structure of alloys. Practical value. The obtained dependencies can be used both for the development of new heat-resistant alloys and for the improvement of the compositions of industrial alloys.

Potential for the Recovery of Selected Metals and Critical Raw Materials from Slags from Polymineral Zn–Pb Ore Metallurgy—Part I

Slags from the Silesia–Cracow Upland (Poland), including ten historical slags (deposited in waste dumps) and four contemporary slags (from current production), were examined to compare their chemical and mineralogical properties as well as to assess their potential for the recovery of selected metals and critical raw materials. The historical slags associated with the smelting of polymetallic ores originating from Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits consisted primarily of gypsum. The contemporary slags, obtained from industrial waste rich in zinc and lead, were predominantly spinels (magnesium-aluminate and ferric) that exhibited higher iron content (up to 46.6 wt% of Fe2O3) compared to the historical slags (up to 26.1 wt% of Fe2O3). The zinc content was similar for both the slag types (3.5 wt% Zn). The average titanium and arsenic contents in the old and contemporary slags were at the same level as well, with 0.21 wt% (Ti) and 0.13 wt% (As), respectively. The contemporary slags contained higher levels of critical raw materials, such as cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese, compared to the historical slags. Rare earth elements (REEs) were also more abundant in the contemporary slags, with an average content of 212 ppm, while the historical slags averaged 124 ppm. These findings underscore the potential for recovering valuable metals and critical raw materials from such slags, presenting opportunities for resource optimisation and environmental management.

Elastic mechanical thermodynamic and thermoelectric properties of pristine and titanium doped Mg2Si: a density functional theory study

Herein, we report a systematic investigation of the effect of Titanium doping on the structural, elastic, mechanical, thermodynamic, and thermoelectric (TE) dynamics of Mg2Si Compounds using first-principle investigation. The present study has been carried out using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method as implemented inWien2kcode undermBJexchange potentials. The investigations revealed that Mg2-xTixSi compounds have structural stability with cubic phase (Fm-3msymmetry) and possess degenerate semiconducting nature. The analysis of elastic constants revealed mechanical stability of the investigated compounds following Born criteria. Thermodynamic investigations have been carried out in the temperature range of 100-1500 K at zero pressure and the quantities like heat capacity, Debye temperature, Grüneisen constant, and thermal expansion coefficient have been critically analyzed. Lastly, the TE performance of Mg2-xTixSi compounds has been predicted by estimating the thermopower (S2σ) and TE figure of merit (zT) in the temperature range of 300-1500 K. The predicted value ofzTmaxfor Mg2-xTixSi compound is 0.67 at 800 K forx= 0.25 titanium content, suggesting materials promising application for TE energy harvesting and mechanical devices.