pH Value Of Water Research Articles

Solvothermal synthesis of g-C3N4 nanosheets modified carbon quantum dots for enhanced photocatalytic degradation

The incorrect disposal of industrial waste water has caused widespread concern of researchers due to its serious harm to people's health and ecological environment. Photocatalytic technology is widely used for wastewater purification owing to its simple operation, no secondary pollution and clean energy. In this study, carbonaceous composites were constructed by combining graphite-phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets with carbon quantum dots (CQDs) via hydrothermal method. The size of CQDs was about 8 nm, distributing over the surface of g-C3N4 nanosheets, and the existence of their interface interaction was confirmed. The photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) is considered to appraise the photocatalytic performance of the g-C3N4/CQDs composites under visible light. The obtained composites display better photocatalytic activity than the pure g-C3N4 nanosheets. The obtained g-C3N4/CQDs composite (CN-20) from 20 mL of the CQDs solution (∼1 mg mL−1) and 20 mg of g-C3N4 nanosheets displays the excellent photo-degradation efficiency and its apparent rate constant (kapp) is 4.0 times that of g-C3N4 nanosheets. In addition, CN-20 exhibits almost negligible influences of real environmental (pH value, inorganic anions, humic acid and source of water) on the degradation of MO, indicating potential in practical application. Furthermore, the g-C3N4/CQDs composite shows the enhanced cycle stability and the postulated mechanism of MO photocatalytic degradation is illustrated in detail.

PH-Dependent Solution Micellar Structure of Amphoteric Polypeptoid Block Copolymers with Positionally Controlled Ionizable Sites.

While solution micellization of ionic block copolymers (BCP) with randomly distributed ionization sites along the hydrophilic segments has been extensively studied, the roles of positionally controlled ionization sites along the BCP chains in their micellization and resulting micellar structure remain comparatively less understood. Herein, three amphoteric polypeptoid block copolymers carrying two oppositely charged ionizable sites, with one fixed at the hydrophobic terminus and the other varyingly positioned along the hydrophilic segment, have been synthesized by sequential ring-opening polymerization method. The presence of the ionizable site at the hydrophobic segment terminus is expected to promote polymer association toward equilibrium micellar structures in an aqueous solution. The concurrent presence of oppositely charged ionizable sites on the polymer chains allows the polymer association to be electrostatically modulated in a broad pH range (ca. 2-12). Micellization of the amphoteric polypeptoid BCP in dilute aqueous solution and the resulting micellar structure at different solution pHs was investigated by a combination of scattering and microscopic methods. Negative-stain transmission-electron microscopy (TEM), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analyses revealed the dominant presence of core-shell-type spherical micelles and occasional rod-like micelles with liquid crystalline (LC) domains in the micellar core. The micellar structures (e.g., aggregation number, radius of gyration, chain packing in the micelle) were found to be dependent on the solution pH and the position of the ionizable site along the chain. This study has highlighted the potential of controlling the position of ionizable sites along the BCP polymer to modulate the electrostatic and LC interactions, thus tailoring the micellar structure at different solution pH values in water.

CA/PEG/chitosan membrane incorporated with TiO2 nanoparticles for strengthening and permselectivity membrane for reverse osmosis desalination

In this paper, we describe the fabrication, characterization, and performance tests of CA/PEG/Chitosan membrane incorporated TiO2nanoparticlesin a ROD system to reduce salt content in seawater. The preparation of CA/PEG/Chitosan-TiO2-NPs was conducted by blending method under various masses of TiO2-NPs (0.5 g; 0.75 g; and 1.0 g). Based on our experiment, we report the presence functional group of Ti-O-Ti bonds shown under the wavenumber range of 671–711 cm−1. Several wavenumbers have also indicated the presence of functional groups from CA/PEG/chitosan such as –OH, C = O, C-H, and NH2. Uniquely, morphological analysis shows that the pore size formed is 10 nm-1000 nm (0.01 µm-1.00 µm) after adding TiO2-NPs to the CA/PEG/Chitosan membrane. This is evidenced by the XRD pattern, which shows an increased XRD pattern with a high crystallinity phase. Strengthening tests on the fabricated membranes were successfully evaluated and showed that the addition of TiO2 affected the strength of the membrane. The evaluation of the membrane performance test found that the addition of TiO2-NPs mass incorporated into the CA/PEG/Chitosan membrane decreased the value of water flux, pH, and salinity. Meanwhile, there was an increase in the percentage value of salt rejection. This proves that the performance of the CA/PEG/Chitosan-TiO2-NPs membrane increases durability and permselectivity as filter materials for the ROD system.

Deep learning models based on hyperspectral data and time-series phenotypes for predicting quality attributes in lettuces under water stress

Efficiently analyzing the relationship between plant phenotypes, quality, and resistance remains challenging. In this study, deep learning models based on hyperspectral data and time-series phenotypes from the high-throughput plant phenotyping (HTPP) platform were proposed to predict quality attributes of lettuce under water stress, including SSC, pH value, nitrate (NO3–), and calcium (Ca2+). First, deep learning models were developed using the Inception module and raw hyperspectral data to non-destructively predict the above quality attributes. In addition, partial least squares regression (PLSR) and support vector regression (SVR) were used to develop prediction models to evaluate performance of the Inception module. Second, the residual and attention modules were implemented to enhance performance of the Inception module. Third, time-series phenotypes were fed into four recurrent neural networks (RNNs), such as TimeDistributed (TD), long short-term memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and Bidirectional RNN (BRNN) and combined with the optimal deep learning models based on hyperspectral data to enhance prediction precision. The optimal performance of the Inception-residual-attention-TD model was achieved with Rp2 of 0.8900 and 0.9435 for SSC and NO3–, respectively. The Inception-residual-TD model with Rp2 of 0.9583 provided the most accurate pH value prediction. With Rp2 of 0.8716, the Inception-attention-LSTM model provided the most accurate prediction of Ca2+. Meanwhile, the Inception-residual-TD model was used to detect water stress, producing an Accuracyp of 98.86%. The Inception-residual model based on pixel-wise hyperspectral data was used to visualize the spatial distribution of pH value, and the distribution map was used to detect early water stress. The results indicate that deep learning models can use hyperspectral data and time-series phenotypes to predict lettuce quality attributes and water stress in a non-destructive manner.

Potential Analysis of Brown Sugar Industry Liquid Waste as Raw Material on Making Nata de Coco

Brown sugar industry liquid waste is a type of waste that has potential as a medium for making nata. This is because coconut sugar industry liquid waste still contains a lot of sugar as a source of nutrition for the growth of Acetobacter xylinum. In this study, a comparative analysis will be carried out to determine the feasibility of brown sugar industry liquid waste as a medium for making nata. The research was conducted for 2 months at UKM Ngudi Lestari Jaya, Kalisalak Village. Samples were taken randomly using sterile plastic bottles. Sample analysis includes viscosity, color, aroma, degree of brix and pH. Observations on viscosity, color and aroma were carried out before and after boiling. Variable measurements were carried out 3 times. The sensory properties of the samples were analyzed by descriptive qualitative. Brix degree and pH value were analyzed using SPSS version 2.1 with the independent t test method at an alpha value of 5%. The sensory and chemical properties of brown sugar industry liquid waste were compared with coconut water as a standard. The results showed that the liquid waste from the brown sugar industry had a dilute to slightly thick viscosity, light brown to brown color and normal aroma. The results of a comparative analysis showed that there was no difference in sensory properties between the liquid waste and coconut water before and after boiling. The brix degree and the pH value of brown sugar industry liquid waste were respectively 4.3% and 6.3. Meanwhile, the degree of brix and the pH value of coconut water were 5.1% and 5.6, respectively. Based on this, it can be concluded that the liquid waste of brown sugar industry has very good potential as a medium for making nata.

Soil microbiocoenosis in the agricultural environment as a dynamic system: primary results of the assessment of changes

Soil biota is characterized by high structural, taxonomic and functional diversity and determines the leading trends in the process of soil formation, while the microorganisms content in the soil varies widely depending on its chemical composition, humidity, temperature, pH and other properties. On the other hand, the soil microbiome has a significant impact on soil fertility, participating in the conversion of nutrients inaccessible to plants into usable forms. Soil microbiota can promote or inhibit plant growth. The purpose of this work is to conduct a comparative analysis of the leading representatives of the microbiome for soil samples from the territory of the model field of the peasant (farm) economy Tsirulev E.P. (Privolzhsky District of the Samara Region). Soil sampling was carried out in accordance with the methods of sampling and sample preparation for chemical, bacteriological, helminthological analysis. For comparison, 15 samples were taken from the same points of the field in different years 2019 and 2020. Soil suspensions were prepared according to the serial dilution method. Sowing dilutions was carried out on potato-glucose agar. Microorganisms were identified by microscopic method. The test result was calculated separately for fungi and bacteria. The ratio of fungi and bacteria in % to their total number was determined by calculating the number (N) of microorganisms present in the sample. Chemical analysis of soil samples was carried out according to the following parameters: water pH, salt pH, mass fraction of organic matter, mobile potassium and mobile phosphorus, exchangeable calcium and exchangeable magnesium. Laboratory study of soil samples taken on a model field from the territory of a peasant (farm) economy Tsirulev E.P. showed a fairly stable level of water and salt pH values, moderate variability in the content of organic matter, mobile potassium, magnesium and calcium, with a high heterogeneity of the spatial distribution of mobile phosphorus in the soil. Identification of the presence and abundance in soil samples of typical representatives of soil microbiocoenosis (12 broad-spectrum phytopathogens and 2 phytopathogen antagonists) made it possible to detect microorganisms: common in this soil environment in both years of research (causative agents of phomosis, yellow mucous bacteriosis); found for samples of one year in the minimum number of samples, not detected in another year (causative agent of verticillium, gray mold) or significantly increased their presence (causative agents of rhizoctoniosis, anthracnose, cladosporiosis). The presence in a significant proportion of soil samples, from 20 to 5080% of the samples, was noted for a significant group of objects (Alternaria, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhisopus), in both years of research, the presence of the phytopathogen antagonist Trichoderma was detected in all samples. The question of the connection between the revealed changes in the composition of the soil microbiome and the species of plants that were cultivated in this field during a given growing season requires additional data to be clarified, which we will do in subsequent years. Nevertheless, the primary data obtained confirm the existing ideas about the lability of soil microbiocoenosis as a dynamic system that changes its state in response to the impact of abiotic (temperature, humidity) and biotic factors.

The Effect of Zeolite (Clinoptilolite) as a Feed Additive and Filter Material for Freshwater Aquariums

Ammonia, which occurs as a natural result of aquaculture in production facilities, has a negative effect on the quality of aquaculture water and aquatic organisms. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of zeolite in fish feed and in water, which has the ability to adsorb ammonium, on ammonia removal. In the study, 12 different experimental groups were organized by creating 0, 2, and 10% ratios for fish feed (G1-G3), groups that zeolite only in water (G4, G5), and combinations (zeolite and/or in water/in feed) of 0, 7, and 20 g/L amounts to water (G6-G12). When NH3 and TAN data of G1-G3 were examined, it was determined that although there was no statistical difference, it decreased proportionally with the increase in the amount of zeolite in the feed. The difference between water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, NH3 and TAN values in G4 and G5 groups was found to be insignificant. The dissolved oxygen, pH, NH3 and TAN values between the groups (G6-G12) were statistically different. As a result, it was determined that 10% addition of zeolite into the feed decreased the TAN values by 37%, and the addition of 10% into the feed and 20 g/L into the water decreased the TAN values by 45%. When the results are evaluated from another point of view, considering the economy and ease of use, it is concluded that 2% zeolite in feed and/or 7 g/L in water can be recommended for aquatic species with high tolerance to ammonia values.

Experimental Study on the Degradation of Acaricides on the Surface of Kumquat Cuimi by Nonthermal Air Plasma

Nonthermal air plasma, which can be generated by air discharge, contains large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and high-energy particles. The ROS and RNS have strong oxidizing properties, and the high-energy particles can break chemical bonds in organic compounds, a process which can be used to degrade organic matter such as pesticides. In the present study, the effects of nonthermal air plasma on the degradation of several pesticides were investigated. An air plasma processing system was designed and constructed to produce nonthermal air plasma and to degrade five commonly used acaricides, namely, avermectin, bifenazate, spirodiclofen, etoxazole, and lufenuron, during the production of kumquat cuimi. The experimental results showed that nonthermal air plasma could degrade all the acaricides on the surface of the kumquat cuimi effectively. After 20 min of plasma treatment, the residues of avermectin, bifenazate, spirodiclofen, etoxazole and lufenuron on the surface of the kumquat cuimi were reduced by 80.67%, 79.52%, 62.40%, 48.93% and 23.11%, respectively. Further analysis indicated that the primary chemical bonds, hydrophobicity, and the pH value of the plasma-activated water can all affect the efficiency of pesticide degradation.

Plant secondary succession and soil degradation in humid red beds areas, South China

In South China, large amounts of strongly eroded badlands that are difficult for natural recovery formed in red beds soft rock, posing serious environmental hazards. This process is thought to be related to a unique nutrient cycle and plant-soil feedback in alkaline soil. In this study, we investigated 44 plant communities and some soil samples to explore the reasons for this erosion from the perspective of secondary succession and its driving factors. The results showed that the natural secondary succession (NSS) in red beds soft rock is the sequence of primary forest to scrub grass, xerophytes, and badlands. Masson pine and Masson pine/Schima superba communities have formed under the efforts of artificial intervention restoration. The community ecological gradient (CEG) and deciduosity rate substantially increased along the NSS, whereas the biomass, and diversity index rapidly decreased. The plantation community showed the opposite trend with increasing recovery years. Limitations in terms of soil water content, pH value, and available nitrogen (AN) for the community markedly increased, and we confirmed these were the largest contributors to redundancy analysis at the community scale. Compared with acidic soil, alkaline soil with a rough texture and high pH could not maintain enough water for plants during dry seasons, which inhibited the absorption of AN by plants. Therefore, in primary forests, the CEG and deciduosity rates need to be increased so that the plant community can adapt to harsh environments. plantation forests achieved soil acidification through litter accumulation. In the scrub grass and xerophyte, continuous reduction in litter and the intensification of soil erosion destroyed the balance between red argillaceous rock bed erosion and species invasion, leading to community degradation. Therefore, much attention should be given to primary forest protection and limiting factors mitigation in degraded communities.

Chemical weathering of small watersheds in the upper reaches of Jinsha river on the eastern edge of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Land chemical weathering is a crucial and common geological process on the Earth’s surface. Studying the surface chemical weathering process in basins is important to the net consumption rate of atmospheric CO2, climate change in geological history, and the global carbon cycle. In this study, a small watershed in the upper reaches of Jinsha River on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is selected as the study area. By measuring the physical and chemical properties and the main ion content of the water in the watershed and by using the factor analysis method, the source of the main ion components in the water in the alpine basin and the characteristics of the chemical weathering of the basin rocks are examined. Results show that the pH value of surface water in the study area varies from 7.4 to 8.2, and the overall performance is moderately to weakly alkaline. The total salinity in the basin is between 52.42 and 398.19 mg/L, with an average value of 180.06 mg/L. The concentration of main cations in surface water follows the order Ca2+>Mg2+>Na+>K+. The concentration relationship of the main anions is in the order HCO3−>SO42−>Cl−, and the hydrochemical type is HCO3_Ca. The main source of ions in the study area is rock weathering, which is controlled by the chemical weathering of carbonate rocks. The contribution rates of carbonate (mainly dolomite and calcite dissolution), evaporite, and silicate to the dissolved matter in the river are 59.40%, 7.30%, and 3.00% respectively, and the contribution rate of CO2 in the atmosphere to the dissolved matter in the river is 30.30%. The total chemical weathering rate in the study area is 29.09 t/km2 ⋅a, which is at a low level, indicating that weak hydrothermal conditions slow down the chemical weathering process of rock minerals.

Effect of Batak Onions (Allium chinense G. Don.) on Quality Parameters of Lamb Rendang

Aims: The aim of this research is to highlight Lamb Rendang Nutrition with The Addition of Batak Onions (Allium chinense G. Don.).
 Study Design: A qualitative description.
 Place and Duration of Study: LKPP Universitas Pembangunan Panca Budi, Medan.
 Methodology: This study used an experimental method with a non-factorial completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 3 replications. The parameters tested were water content and pH value.
 Results: The results showed that there was no significant effect (P>0.05) on the pH value and it was very significantly different (P<0.01) on the water content.
 Conclusion: Batak onions can increase the nutritional value of lamb rendang seen from the water content and pH values.

Characteristics of trace elements and potential environmental risks of the ash from agricultural straw direct combustion biomass power plant

The rapid expansion of biomass power generation has resulted in a large amount of ash, which need to be treated urgently. The trace elements in ash also have environmental risks during treatment. Therefore, the essential characteristics and potential environmental risks of biomass ash generated by direct combustion of agricultural straw were studied. The leaching characteristics of elements, including major elements (Mg, K, Ca) and trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, As, Pb and Ba), in fly ash and slag produced by biomass power plant were analyzed through the static leaching experiments of simulating the possible pH value of natural water in the laboratory. The results show that the trace elements are enriched in fly ash and slag, which may be related to the volatility of elements during combustion. And during the leaching test, the leaching concentration of major and trace elements in fly ash is higher than that in slag. Sequential chemical extraction is used to reveal the occurrence forms of trace elements in biomass ash. Except for residue, Mn, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb in fly ash mainly exist in carbonate bound, V and As are Fe–Mn oxides bound, and Cr, Ni, Cu, and Ba are mainly organic matter bound. In the slag, Cd is mainly carbonate bound, Cu is mainly organic matter bound, while other elements are mainly Fe–Mn oxides bound. The Risk Assessment Code values calculated based on the existing forms of elements show that As and Cd in slag and Mn, Co, Pb and Cd in fly ash need special attention during utilization. The research results can provide reference for the management and utilization of biomass ash.

Removal of Manganese and Iron from Groundwater by using Chlorination and Rapid Sand Filtration: A Case Study

The average groundwater extraction from Murunkan well field, Mannar, is around 3.4 MCM/year, and it was triggered by extensive development projects and resettlements that took place in the last decade. Manganese and Iron variations in Murunkan groundwater reported during some periods created various operational and aesthetic issues in the potable water supply. This study is focused on treating iron and manganese in groundwater using chlorination and Rapid Sand Filtration (RSF) techniques. Pebble layers, height of 205 mm with the particle sizes ranging from 2-25 mm, were filled at the bottom of RSF model filter. Filter media, height of 700 mm with 0.45 mm effective size (D10) and a uniformity coefficient (Cu) of 1.33, was placed above the pebble layers. The filter was operated continuously for 15 days, and influent and effluent water samples were collected from 15 trials. Filter backwashing was performed after every two trials to maintain a consistent filtration rate. Raw water pH values ranged from 6.74 – 7.48. Chlorine solution (1.08-1.26 ppm) was added at the inlet point, and a 2.88 m water column was maintained, allowing adequate mixing and oxidation time. The results revealed that average removals of iron and manganese as 60% and 73%, respectively, while maximum removals of 93% and 91% were observed for iron and manganese, respectively.

Mini-hydrocyclone performance enhancement in removing small-size microplastics using flocculants

The presence of microplastics (MPs) poses a threat to organisms. However, an effective method is still lacking to remove small-size MPs (5 < d < 20 μm). Mini-hydrocyclones provide a promising solution to this problem but suffer low removal efficiency. Therefore, this paper proposes using flocculants to improve the removal efficiency of mini-hydrocyclones. For these purposes, experimental studies are conducted using a 10-mm hydrocyclone with the addition of flocculants. The considered MPs have a size of 10 μm. The effects of a few key variables on the flocculation and separation performance are quantified, including flocculant concentration, initial water pH value, flocculant type, and the inlet feed velocity. Additionally, numerical results are also conducted to better understand the effect of flocculant additions. The results show that the flocculant addition increases the removal efficiency by 14 % and the concentration ratio by 0.24 to the maximum. The optimum performance is identified for a medium dosage of flocculant concentration and an initial pH of 3 and 9. Aluminum flocculant type affects cyclone performance the least compared with other variables. Moreover, a moderate inlet feed velocity generates adequate centrifugal forces for separation while avoiding floc breakage, which helps achieve high removal efficiency.

Barrier function and ultrastructure characteristics of epidermis in patients with primary cutaneous amyloidosis.

Previous studies on primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA) have mainly focused on exploring genetic mutation and components of amyloid in patients with PCA. However, studies on skin barrier function in PCA patients are scarce. Here, we detected the skin barrier function in PCA patients and healthy people by using noninvasive techniques and characterized ultrastructural features of PCA lesions compared with healthy people using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression of proteins related to skin barrier function was examined by immunohistochemistry staining. A total of 191 patients with clinically diagnosed PCA and 168 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Our analysis revealed that all investigated lesion areas displayed higher transepidermal water loss and pH values, and lower Sebum levels and stratum corneum hydration levels in PCA patients compared with the same site area in healthy individuals. The TEM results showed that the intercellular spaces between the basal cells were enlarged and the number of hemidesmosomes decreased in PCA lesions. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of integrin α6 and E-cadherin in PCA patients was less than that in healthy controls, while no differences in the expression of loricrin and filaggrin were observed. Our study revealed that individuals with PCA displayed skin barrier dysfunction, which may be related to alterations in epidermal ultrastructure and a decrease in the skin barrier-related protein E-cadherin. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying skin barrier dysfunction in PCA remain to be elucidated.

Geochemical Survey and Estimation of Baseline Concentrations of Major and Trace Elements in Stream Water, Uttar Pradesh, India: Implication for Environmental Studies

Abstract Stream water plays an important role in the development of habitats. It is one of the important sources of water used for drinking and irrigation in the region. Before using, it is necessary to test the quality of all types of surface water available for various use. A geochemical study of stream water has been conducted in parts of Pratapgarh, Raebareli, and Allahabad districts of Uttar Pradesh to assess its suitability for domestic purposes and establish the baseline concentration of major ions, trace and REEs. 20 samples of stream water from different locations of 1st or 2nd order streams were collected during post-monsoon period, from 18th to 31st October 2021. Different hydrochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), major cations and anions were analysed. In order to obtain maximum quality and purity of water, the stream water samples were analyzed by ICP-MS analytical method in the chemical lab for 47 trace elements including REEs contents. The obtained values of each parameter have been compared with the standard values recommended by BIS and WHO. The value of each element except uranium has been found to be within the desirable and permissible limits prescribed by BIS (2012) and WHO (2006). Selenium and arsenic have been found to be marginally exceed the permissible limits. The pH values of all stream waters in the study area range from 7.14 to 8.86 with an average value of 7.86 indicating an alkaline nature of stream water. The concentration of uranium in stream water varied from 1.5 ppb to 48.67 ppb with a mean value of 7.9 ppb. It is observed that wherever concentration of uranium in the samples increased, the pH as well as the bicarbonate level increased accordingly. Correlation coefficient revealed that uranium is strongly correlated with bicarbonate (r=0.67), moderately with sodium (r=6.1), and low positively correlated with the concentration of pH (r=0.34), EC (r=0.52), and salinity (r=0.52), indicates the same origin. Water quality index (WQI) of water was determined for suitability of drinking purpose, revealed that 65% water samples fall in excellent category and 30% water samples fall in good category while only 5% water sample are in poor category. Trilinear plot of sample shows that most of the stream water samples are Ca-Mg-HCO3 type.

Pengembangan Water Quality Checker untuk Tambak Budidaya Pesisir

Water Quality Checker is a water quality measuring device designed to use a microcontroller system and sensors as parameters for measuring the water quality. The aim is to facilitate the implementation of water quality monitoring from previously traditionally to using aids. The test method directly measures pH and salinity and experiments in collecting data. System workflow in tool design, Arduino orders sensors and sensor detection results are processed back to Arduino. The work results of the tool are calibrated with other standardized tools for pH and salinity values. The software used is limited to Arduino Uno and supporting devices and design applications for casing manufacturing, namely Solidwork. Using a pHE4502C sensor, a salinity sensor as a measuring tool, Arduino Uno as a microcontroller, and a LCD as a monitor that displays the value and status of the detected pH and traffic. By using the provisions that the pH value of coastal pond water is less than 6.5 which is acidic, more than 7.5 is alkaline, and the pH value is more than 6.5 and less than 7.5 which is neutral, at the time of testing it was obtained a pH value of 7.1 – 8.04 so that the solution is neutral and base. The results of the salinity sensor test for coastal pond water are 23.64 – 24.20 which indicates that this value is the normal value for brackish water salinity.

Black garlic production: The influence of ageing temperature and duration on some physicochemical and antioxidant properties, and sugar content

SummaryHerein, some quality characteristics (water content, pH, antioxidant activity and sugar contents) of fresh garlic (Taşköprü, Türkiye) and black garlic, which were produced under various ageing temperatures (60 °C, 70 °C and 80 °C) and durations (30, 45 and 60 days), and the effect of ageing processes on these quality characteristics were determined. The ageing process caused a reduction (P &lt; 0.01) in the water content and pH value of the samples, while enhanced (P &lt; 0.01) antioxidant activity and increased (P &lt; 0.01) the content of glucose, fructose, sucrose and reducing sugar. Both the water content and pH value of the black garlic declined significantly with increasing ageing temperature, while only pH value of the black garlic declined significantly with increasing ageing duration. Ageing samples at 60 °C and 70 °C exhibited higher antioxidant activity than those aged at 80 °C, which had similar activity to the fresh samples. A similar status was observed when the ageing temperature was prolonged to 60 days. Sucrose concentration of the black garlic samples raised with elevating the ageing temperature and declined with prolonging the duration. While a remarkable decline in the reducing sugars of the black garlic samples was observed with elevating the ageing temperature, the maximum concentration was recorded on the 45th day of the ageing process. However, the black garlic samples produced at 60 °C for 60 days or 70 °C for 30 days could be recommended to get a final product with good antioxidant capacity, adequate amount of free sugars, pH value and water content.

Enrichment and response of iron-metabolizing microorganisms and metabolic genes in the contaminated area of stratified stacking coal gangue dumps, Northern China.

In the Xishan coalfield of northern China, the stratified stacking of soil and gangue was applied to limit the acid pollution from high-sulfur coal gangue. In this study, we found that stratified stacking can effectively neutralize the acidity, with the pH value of gangue-leaching water being 6.02-8.13. In contrast to the acidic contaminated area, most of the microorganisms in the study area sediment were neutrophilic, with the main genera being Arthrobacter, Pseudorhodobacter, Pseudomonas, and Rhodoferax. A variety of iron- and sulfur-metabolizing bacteria was discovered in the gangue-leaching sediment, with the total relative abundance ranging from 4.20 to 23.75%, of which the iron-reducing bacteria (FeRB) accounted for the highest percentage. The distributions of these functional microorganisms in the samples were significantly influenced by Fe and S. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the iron- and sulfur-metabolizing bacteria in the sediment (93.75%), indicating a strong reciprocal symbiotic relationship between these bacteria. The iron and sulfur metabolism genes in the sediment were predicted and compared based on the Tax4Fun functional prediction method. Results showed that functional genes related to iron metabolism were highly expressed in the gangue-leaching sediment. This study enhances the understanding of iron and sulfur metabolism in gangue-leaching contaminated areas.

Simulation of Surface and Subsurface Water Quality in Hyper-Arid Environments

Forty-eight water samples (30 groundwater and 18 surface water samples) were collected from the study region. Physical and chemical examinations were performed on the water samples to determine the values of various variables. Several graphs, sheets, and statistical measures, including the sodium solubility percentage (SSP), the sodium absorption ratio (SAR), and Piper’s diagram, were used to plot the concentration of the principal ions and the chloride mass balance (CMB). The contents of the variables were compared with the contents in other local areas and the standard allowable safe limits as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Water pH values were neutral for all water samples. Electric conductivity (EC) readings revealed that water samples vacillated from slightly mineralized to excessively mineralized. Water salinities were fresh and very fresh according to the total dissolved solids (TDS) amounts. The hardness of water ranged from medium to hard in the surface water and from medium to very hard in the groundwater samples. Bicarbonate, sodium, and calcium made up the highest amounts in the surface water samples. The highest concentrations of bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, and sodium were found in the groundwater. Diagrams show the major ion relationships as well as the type and origin of the water. According to Piper’s plots, most of the water samples under investigation were Ca-HCO3 type, Mg water types, followed by SO4.Ca-Cl water types. This highlighted the elemental preponderance of bicarbonate and alkaline earth (Ca2+ + Mg2+). This dominance is caused by evaporite and carbonate minerals dissolving in water because of anthropogenic activities and interaction processes. The groundwater recharge was estimated to be 0.89–1.6 mm/yr based on Chloride Mass Balance. The examined water samples can also be used for cattle, poultry, and irrigation. Additionally, the groundwater is of poorer quality than the surface water, although both types of water are adequate for various industries, with a range of 14 to 94 percent. With the exception of a few groundwater samples, the tested water samples are suitable for a number of applications.