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Sulfate is a critical component of schwertmannite. However, the sulfate content of schwertmannite decreases with the increase in AMD-polluted river pH value, and its impact on the surface properties and Cr(VI) adsorption of schwertmannite remains unclear. To address this issue, different methods, including batch adsorption, N 2 physisorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), potentiometric titration, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) in combination with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) analysis, and surface complexation modeling (SCM) were employed. Our results showed that sulfate existed as both non-protonated bidentate-binuclear complexes and non-protonated outer-sphere complexes in schwertmannite. The surface morphology and particle size of schwertmannite were unaffected by the sulfate content. However, a decrease in sulfate content resulted in a drop in the negative charge on the surface of schwertmannite, which is conducive to particle aggregation. An increase in pH, on the other hand, raised the negative charge and encouraged the dispersion of the particles. And then, reducing the sulfate content of schwertmannite led to a decrease in acid-base buffer and Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of schwertmannite. The adsorption process of Cr(VI) by schwertmannite can be divided into two stages. In the first stage, Cr(VI) was adsorbed primarily through anion exchange reactions with the sulfate; however, the contribution of surface complexation gradually increased as the initial sulfate content decreased because of a reduced likelihood of anion exchange and an increase in the specific surface area of schwertmannite. Additionally, the behavior of sulfate and Cr(VI) in this stage could be predicted based on the initial sulfate content of schwertmannite. In the second stage, surface complexation with hydroxyl sites became the predominant mechanism of adsorption, which still exhibited great potential at higher Cr(VI) concentrations. Finally, the aforementioned hypothesis was used to establish a CD-MUSIC model, and the fitting results demonstrated that the density and Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of the sulfate site dropped as the sulfate content decreased, while the hydroxyl site was less impacted. The findings have provided insights into further understanding the properties of schwertmannite and its adsorption of Cr(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Landfill has extremely strong MPs release capacity in the early stage. • The sedimentary phase of leachate is the main sink of MPs. • Leachate circulation accelerates MPs release and fragmentation. • Sulfate reduction process promotes the release of MPs. • MPs release behavior can be attenuated in advance by leachate circulation. Landfills are essential facilities for treating and disposing municipal solid waste. They emit sulfur-containing odors and serve as an important sink for a new type of pollutant called microplastics (MPs). This study focused on the initial stage of anaerobic degradation to establish the relationship between the release of MPs and odor generation. Our findings show the rapid release of MPs into the leachate in the early stage of landfill and their predominant accumulation in the leachate sediment. The circulating leachate contained 1.45 times higher concentrations of MPs than the noncirculating leachate, with a peak concentration of 39 items·L−1. In addition, fragmentation of MPs occurred. The percentage of MPs with particle sizes of 2.5–5 mm decreased from 66.70 % to 22.32 %, while those measuring 0.1–0.5 mm increased by 33.12 %. A positive correlation was observed between MP release and sulfate reduction. Although leachate circulation increased the release of MPs, it also reduced the overall release time and total amount of MPs exported from the landfill. Compared with the initial landfill waste, the leachate operation mode, regardless of circulation, resulted in a 6.15–8.93-fold increase in MP release. These findings provide a valuable foundation for the simultaneous regulation of traditional pollutant odor and new pollutants (MPs) in landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fe/Mg phyllosilicates and mono- and polyhydrated Mg sulfates are detected in Mikumi crater. • Possible desiccation/hydraulic fracturing on crater floor. • Phyllosilicates are on top of the sulfate units, meaning that they formed later than sulfates. • Mikumi crater is a key area in Meridiani Planum to investigate Mars' ancient climate. The region of Meridiani Planum on Mars retains the evidence of multiple surface and near-surface aqueous processes that span from the Noachian to the Hesperian. This makes it an interesting spot for better understanding the characteristics and the evolution of Mars' aqueous environment between these two fundamental epochs. Here we investigate the mineralogy, stratigraphy, and morphology of the Noachian–Hesperian sedimentary materials that fill a 16-km-wide crater named Mikumi, located in the northern part of Meridiani Planum. The analysis was carried out combining observations from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM), the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE), and the Context Imager (CTX). About 20–30 meters, on average, of Fe/Mg phyllosilicate-rich rocks and a thick sequence (75 m) of both mono- and polyhydrated Mg sulfates are detected on the crater floor. Both layers postdate the impact event. Most of the hydrated terrains are extensively polygonally fractured, suggesting the possible action of water-related processes such as desiccation and hydro fracturing on the sediments. Stratigraphic analysis clearly shows that Fe/Mg phyllosilicates were deposited on top of the sulfate sequence, meaning that they are younger than sulfates. This can have interesting implications on paleoclimatic studies of Mars as it shows that a simple timeline going from a clay-rich Noachian to a sulfate-rich Hesperian oversimplifies the evolution of Mars' mineralogy and related aqueous environment at the Noachian–Hesperian boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Stable isotopes of riverine sulfate in arid environment were investigated. • Contributions of riverine sulfate sources were identified by an inverse model. • Evaporites dissolution dominates riverine sulfate source with spatial variations. • Lithology, precipitation and temperature dominate sulfur behaviors in river basins. The fate of riverine sulfate ion (SO 4 2-) and its environmental effects in arid environment are difficult to evaluate due to its complicated sources and strongly coupled behaviors with water cycle which is significantly modified by humans. To understand the sulfur cycle in aquatic systems in arid environment, the chemical and sulfur and oxygen isotopic compositions (δ34S SO4 and δ18O SO4) of major rivers around the Badain Jaran Desert, northwestern China, were investigated. These rivers had averaged SO 4 2- content at 1336 µmol/L, over 10 times higher than the global average. The δ34S SO4 and δ18O SO4 values ranged from -5.3‰ to +11.8‰ and +1.6‰ to +12.8‰, respectively. The end-member analysis and the inverse model showed that riverine sulfate was mainly derived from evaporites dissolution (0-87%), sulfide oxidation (13%-100%) and precipitation (0-33%), indicating heterogeneity in sulfur sources and behaviors along the river drainage with the lithology variations and climate gradients. Multiple isotopic tools combining with hydro-chemistry compositions could be applied to reveal sulfur cycle in arid environment. Based on the calculation, sulfide oxidation plays the primary role in the headwater and upstream in the Qilian-Mountains area, where sulfide is widely exposed. While the proportion of evaporites dissolution contributing to riverine sulfate is much higher in downstream in a drier environment. Besides, less precipitation and higher temperature can lead to more intensive evaporation, affecting the process of sulfide oxidation and enhancing the rates of evaporites dissolution and sulfate precipitation in the basin. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fucoidan ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis through promoting autophagy. • Fucoidan-induced autophagy improved colon barrier and reshaped gut microbiota. • The present study supported the therapeutic potential of fucoidan for the adjuvant treatment of other autophagy-related diseases. Although previous research has unveiled the remedial effects of fucoidan, an extract from marine algae, on ulcerative colitis (UC), the precise mechanisms remain elusive. Animal studies have suggested a connection between autophagy and the beneficial influences of fucoidan intervention. We hypothesized that fucoidan's alleviative effects on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC could be ascribed to autophagy. For our study, we chose 36 male C57BL/6 mice and administered 100 or 400 mg/(kg/body weight/day) of fucoidan via gavage for 5 consecutive weeks. During the last week, the mice were given 3% DSS in drinking water to induce UC. In contrast to the DSS-induced UC model, fucoidan intervention prevented DSS-induced body weight loss, mitigated colon shortening, improved colon mucosa damage, enhanced the intestinal barrier, and reduced serum inflammatory factor concentrations. Furthermore, fucoidan intervention reshaped the gut microbiota compositions, increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Muribaculaceae_unclassified, Clostridiales_unclassified , and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group , and decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Escherichia-Shigella , which led to a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio. Additionally, fucoidan treatment enhanced autophagy, as evidenced by upregulated protein expressions of BECLIN1, ATG5, ATG7, and an increased microtubule-associated-proteinlight-chain-3-II/microtubule-associated-proteinlight-chain-3-I ratio. Our findings corroborated the ameliorating effects of fucoidan intervention on DSS-induced UC through autophagy activation, reorganization of gut microbiota, and fortification of the intestinal barrier. This lends support to the therapeutic potential of fucoidan as a natural bioactive ingredient for future UC treatments in humans. Rapidly increasing incidence of UC imposed an enormous burden on health care. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mechanisms of fucoidan to ameliorate DSS-induced UC. Fucoidan treatments improved the intestinal barrier, regulated gut microbiota composition, decreased serum inflammatory factors concentrations, and promoted autophagy by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby ameliorating DSS-induced UC. Abbreviations: AKT, protein kinase B; ATG5, autophagy-related gene 5; ATG7, autophagy-related gene 7; ATG16L1, autophagy-related protein 16-like 1; DSS, dextran sulfate sodium; IL-1β, interleukin-1β; LC3, microtubule-associated-proteinlight-chain-3; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; MUC-2, mucin-2; PI3K, phosphoinositide-3 kinase; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-alpha; UC, ulcerative colitis; ULK1, serine/threonine kinase Unc-51-like kinase 1; ZO-1, zonula occludens-1. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS)-based biowaiver monograph is presented for isavuconazonium sulfate. A BCS-based biowaiver is a regulatory option to substitute appropriate in vitro data for in vivo bioequivalence studies. Isavuconazonium sulfate is the prodrug of isavuconazole, a broad-spectrum azole antifungal indicated for invasive fungal infections. While the prodrug can be classified as a BCS Class III drug with high solubility but low permeability, the parent drug can be classified as a BCS Class II drug with low solubility but high permeability. Interestingly, the in vivo behavior of both is additive and leads isavuconazonium sulfate to act like a BCS class I drug substance after oral administration. In this work, experimental solubility and dissolution data were evaluated and compared with available literature data to investigate whether it is feasible to approve immediate release solid oral dosage forms containing isavuconazonium sulfate according to official guidance from the FDA, EMA and/or ICH. The risks associated with waiving a prodrug according to the BCS-based biowaiver guidelines are reviewed and discussed, noting that current regulations are quite restrictive on this point. Further, results show high solubility but instability of isavuconazonium sulfate in aqueous media. Although experiments on the dissolution of the capsule contents confirmed 'very rapid' dissolution of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) isavuconazonium sulfate, its release from the commercial marketed capsule formulation Cresemba is limited by the choice of capsule shell material, providing an additional impediment to approval of generic versions via the BCS-Biowaiver approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantification of anaerobic oxidation of organic matter in the global seabed is to a large extent based on transport-reaction modeling of pore water ions involved in the mineralization processes. As the predominant of these processes, sulfate reduction can be modeled from the depth distribution of sulfate and other relevant solutes. An active organoclastic sulfate reduction is typically characterized by sulfate profiles with a concave-down shape. We use here a comprehensive database to show that half of all competent sulfate profiles have an opposite, concave-up shape, which may appear inconsistent with this concept. We also show that there is a strong discrepancy between sulfate profiles obtained by gravity coring and by IODP coring, with generally much higher sulfate flux and shallower sulfate penetration depth in the gravity cores (the term IODP here covers the international ocean drilling programs, DSDP, ODP and IODP). The discrepancy is correlated with a selectivity for coring sites in the published studies, by which gravity coring is focused towards the ocean margins and continental shelf and towards high surface water productivity and high sedimentation rate. In contrast, IODP coring is more frequently done in low sedimentation regions and is largely absent from the continental shelf. As a result, estimates of sulfate reduction in the global seabed may be biased by a selection of only IODP core data for the modeling. Furthermore, the modeling of pore water profiles shows net rates of sulfate reduction, while 35S-radiotracer experiments show the higher gross rates of the process. Estimates from 35S-radiotracer measurements suggest that dissimilatory sulfate reduction oxidizes 77 Tmol yr−1 of organic carbon globally, which is 3- to 4-fold higher than recent data based on modeling of IODP data. The potential biases by global estimates of sulfate reduction in marine sediments are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pressure inhibits H 2 S and MM release, and the inhibition increases with pressure. • The peak concentration of H 2 S in pressure-bearing environment is about 10–70 mg·m−3. • Temperature significantly alters the bacterial community of landfill. • Pressure induces the enrichment of specific SRBs. • Sulfate reduction behavior at 25 °C and 50 °C is mediated by specific SRBs. The behavior of sulfate reduction, which was the source of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) odor, was investigated under changing pressure and temperature conditions inside landfills. The results showed that the release of H 2 S and methyl mercaptan (MM) was significantly inhibited at 25 °C and 50 °C under pressure, and the highest H 2 S and MM concentrations released were only 0.82 %-1.30 % and 1.87 %-4.32 % of atmospheric pressure, respectively. Analysis of the microbial community structure and identification of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) revealed that temperature significantly altered the microbial community in the landfill environment, while pressure inhibited some bacteria and induced the growth and reproduction of specific bacteria. Key SRB (Desulfosporosinus- ASV212, Desulfitibacter -ASV1744) mediated differentiated sulfate reduction behavior in the pressure-bearing environment at 25 °C, while key SRB (Dethiobacter -ASV177, Desulfitibacter -ASV2355 and ASV316) were involved at 50 °C. This study provides a theoretical basis for the formulation of landfill gas management and control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Systematical SO 4 •− oxidation of solid-phase pharmaceuticals was first explored. • SO 4 •− effectively oxidized different pharmaceuticals in solid and liquid phases. • Mechanistic differences between solid and liquid pharmaceuticals were proposed. • The degradation products of pharmaceuticals remained some environmental risks. As a class of organic micropollutants of global concern, pharmaceuticals have prevalent distributions in the aqueous environment (e.g., groundwater and surface water) and solid matrices (e.g., soil, sediments, and dried sludge). Their contamination levels have been further aggravated by the annually increased production of expired drugs as emerging harmful wastes worldwide. Sulfate radicals (SO 4 •−)-based oxidation has attracted increasing attention for abating pharmaceuticals in the environment, whereas the transformation mechanisms of solid-phase pharmaceuticals remain unknown thus far. This investigation presented for the first time that SO 4 •−, individually produced by mechanical force-activated and heat-activated persulfate treatments, could effectively oxidize three model pharmaceuticals (i.e., methotrexate, sitagliptin, and salbutamol) in both solid and liquid phases. The high-resolution mass spectrometric analysis suggested their distinct transformation products formed by different phases of SO 4 •− oxidation. Accordingly, the SO 4 •−-mediated mechanistic differences between the solid-phase and liquid-phase pharmaceuticals were proposed. It is noteworthy that the products from both systems were predicted with the remaining persistence, bioaccumulation, and multi-endpoint toxicity. Therefore, some post-treatment strategies need to be considered during practical applications of SO 4 •−-based technologies in remediating different phases of micropollutants. This work has environmental implications for understanding the comparative transformation mechanisms of pharmaceuticals by SO 4 •− oxidation in remediating the contaminated solid and aqueous matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphogypsum (PG), commonly known as calcium sulfate, is a waste by-product generated during the production of phosphoric acid by the wet phosphoric acid process (WPA). It is well known that every year the phosphate industries produce a large quantity of PG around the world (i.e., Currently, global production of this waste is estimated at 300 Mt/ year), but the valorization processes of this waste are limited and low valuable. In this study, we investigated the recycling of PG by-product, which can be considered very promising sources of sulfate ions (SO 4 2-) for the manufacturing of chloride-free KNS compound fertilizer based on potassium-ammonium sulfate ([K 1−x (NH 4) x ] 2 SO 4). The primary objective of this study was to develop a methodology for [K 1−x (NH 4) x ] 2 SO 4 synthesis and its separation process using the quaternary phase diagram K+, NH 4 + / Cl-, SO 4 2- - H 2 O at 25 °C. The experiment results show that it is possible to recover relatively pure (NH 4) 2 SO 4 from PG to re‐synthesize in presence of KCl the [K 1−x (NH 4) x ] 2 SO 4 phase, whose high quality and purity were confirmed by the combined use of several analytical and characterization techniques such as X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and gamma spectrometry analysis. The thermal decomposition was supplemented by Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) coupled with Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). The main findings of this study may assist in developing methods for valorizing PG waste by converting it into valuable fertilizer products, which are particularly suitable for cultivating chloride-sensitive crops. Thus, total or partial substitution of non-renewable resources by PG not only helps to solve the environmental pollution caused by this waste, but also reduces production costs and improves farm economics. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Al plating layer was deposited on the CoCrNiAlY–YSZ–RSZ dual - ceramic thermal barrier coating. The hot corrosion behaviors of these coatings in molten sulfate mixture were studied by the detail characterizations. This coating without Al plating possessed a fast mass gain trend, severe elemental diffusion and rapid TGO growth during the hot sulfate exposure, resulting in a significant increase in mass gain from 6.12 mg/cm2 at 20 h to 13.67 mg/cm2 at 100 h and aggravated coating fracture. In comparison, a continuously dense Al 2 O 3 barrier layer formed on the coating's surface, preventing or delaying the infiltration of the molten sulfate and oxygen, and eventually led to an enhanced corrosion resistance. This coating with Al plating showed a slight mass gain from 8.20 mg/cm2 at 20 h to 9.31 mg/cm2 at 100 h, but also exhibited very slow TGO growth and stable structure. The potential molten sulfate corrosion mechanisms of these coatings with and without Al plating were systematically discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molar tooth structures (MTS) comprise calcite microspar-filled voids in fine-grained shallow-water carbonate, and were commonly formed in the Mesoproterozoic and early Neoproterozoic. However, the origin of MTS and links between the temporal distribution of MTS and contemporaneous seawater chemistry remains poorly understood. Here we report elemental and isotopic data for MTS and host rocks from the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation (∼1,600–1,550 Ma), North China Craton. The results reveal similar C, S and Sr isotope signatures between MTS and host rocks, which are close to the isotopic compositions of contemporaneous global seawater, suggesting an early diagenetic, seawater-buffered origin for MTS. A small sulfur isotopic fractionation between seawater sulfate and pyrite (Δ34S CAS-Py) of 4.1 ± 1.5‰ in host rocks is consistent with previously reported data, providing support for sub-millimolar sulfate concentrations in Mesoproterozoic seawater. Our observations suggest that the widespread occurrence of MTS through the Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic was broadly linked to sulfate scarcity in the ocean. We further propose that in Proterozoic oceans with sub-millimolar seawater sulfate concentrations, where aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidation was likely inhibited, methane produced via methanogenesis may have been more prone to accumulate in sediments, creating voids during escape. The absence of MTS across periods of higher sulfate concentrations during the Palaeoproterozoic and after the mid-Neoproterozoic, suggests that elevated sulfate concentrations promoted consumption of methane via anaerobic methane oxidation, thus preventing methane accumulation and the formation of sediment voids. Rapid lithification of the substrate as a result of elevated carbonate saturation may have also hindered the formation of MTS during these intervals. The link between MTS and changes in both oceanic sulfate levels and benthic methane fluxes gives a new perspective on temporal fluctuations in Earth's redox state through time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis (AS), a chronic vascular inflammatory disease, has become a main focus of attention worldwide for its chronic progressing disease course and serious complications in the later period. Nevertheless, explanations for the exact molecular mechanisms of AS initiation and development remain to be an unsolved problem. The classic pathogenesis theories, such as lipid percolation and deposition, endothelium injury, inflammation and immune damage, provide the foundation for discovering the new key molecules or signaling mechanisms. Recently, indoxyl sulfate (IS), one of non-free uremia toxins, has been noticeable for its multiple atherogenic effects. IS exists at high concentration in plasma for its great albumin binding rate. Patients with uremia have markedly elevated serum levels of IS due both to the deterioration of renal function and to the high binding affinity of IS to albumin. Nowadays, elevated incidence of circulatory disease among patients with renal dysfunction indicates correlation of uremic toxins with cardiovascular damage. In this review, the atherogenic effects of IS and the underlying mechanisms are summarized with emphasis on several key pathological events associated with AS developments, such as vascular endothelium dysfunction, arterial medial lesions, vascular oxidative stress, excessive inflammatory responses, calcification, thrombosis and foam cell formation. Although recent studies have proved the great correlation between IS and AS, deciphering cellular and pathophysiological signaling by confirming key factors involved in IS-mediated atherosclerosis development may enable identification of novel therapeutic targets. • Indoxyl sulfate is involved in atherosclerosis-related pathological processes. • The precise molecular mechanisms of indoxyl sulfate during the atherosclerosis process deserve to be further explored. • Indoxyl sulfate as specific biomarkers for atherosclerosis will be explored in prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Long-term oral tofacitinib (TOF) administration has been linked to serious side effects majorly immunological suppression. The aim of this work was to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of TOF by chondroitin sulphate (CS) coated proglycosomes through the anchoring of high-affinity CS to CD44 receptors on immune cells in the inflammatory region. The CS was coated onto the TOF-loaded proglycosomes (CS-TOF-PG) formulations and they were evaluated for in vitro drug release, ex vivo (permeation, dermatokinetics) studies. In vivo efficacy studies were carried out in Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis model. The optimized CS-TOF-PG showed particle sizes of 181.13 ± 7.21 nm with an entrapment efficiency of 78.85 ± 3.65 %. Ex-vivo studies of CS-TOF-PG gel exhibited 1.5-fold high flux and 1.4-fold dermal retention compared to FD-gel. The efficacy study revealed that CS-TOF-PG showed a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in inflammation in arthritic rat paws compared to the TOF oral and FD gel. The current study ensured that the CS-TOF-PG topical gel system would provide a safe and effective formulation for localization and site-specific delivery of TOF at the RA site and overcome the adverse effects associated with the TOF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trace mineral (TM) source can potentially alter nutrient digestibility through effects on microbial populations. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether sulfate versus hydroxy (IntelliBond) sources of supplemental Cu, Zn, and Mn had any effect on dry matter intake (DMI), dry matter digestibility, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. All available cattle studies (8 studies, 12 comparisons) were used to estimate the effect size (hydroxy mean − sulfate mean). Factors included in the analysis were method of digestibility analysis (total collection, marker-based, or 24 h in situ), study design (randomized design or Latin square), beef (n = 5) versus dairy (n = 7) cattle, and days on treatment; these factors were retained when P < 0.05. Dry matter digestibility was increased by hydroxy TM in beef (1.64 ± 0.35 units) but not in dairy models (0.16 ± 0.13 units) relative to sulfate TM. The NDF digestibility increased significantly with hydroxy versus sulfate TM, but digestibility assessment method influenced this response. Studies using total collection or undigested NDF as a flow marker showed a significant increase (2.68 ± 0.40 units and 1.08 ± 0.31 units, respectively) in NDF digestibility for hydroxy versus sulfate TM; but studies utilizing 24-h in situ incubation did not detect any change (−0.03 ± 0.23 units). These observations may reveal differences in precision of measurement or may indicate mineral effects beyond the rumen; total collection is considered the gold standard method. Hydroxy TM did not affect DMI per animal or per unit of body weight relative to sulfate TM. In conclusion, feeding hydroxy versus sulfate TM does not appear to affect DMI but, depending on type of cattle and method of measurement, can increase dry matter digestibility and NDF digestibility, which may be explained by differences in solubility of the TM sources in rumen, differentially affecting fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strongly 13C-depleted calcite in the Doushantuo cap dolostones (∼635 Ma) of South China is considered to form via thermochemical or biological oxidation of methane by sulfate in an environment with sulfate concentrations close to that of modern seawater (∼28 mM). Here we demonstrate that the coeval seawater sulfate levels were indeed low (∼1 to 3 mM) because all bulk δ34S values of pyrites are close to and higher than the coeval seawater, with only a few showing a wide in situ δ34S range from 5 to 62‰. Such low sulfate concentrations were initially consumed by sulfate reducing microorganisms to extremely low levels (<∼0.2 mM), and thus Mn-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) by sulfate occurred in pore water to produce H 2 S, which was in turn oxidized by Mn oxides back to sulfate. Consequently, with increasing Mn reduction and decreasing sulfate concentrations in pore waters, the produced pyrite shows an increase of in situ δ34S values, and is in association with calcite with more negative δ13C values, and an inherited positive Ce anomaly from Mn oxides. Finally, the pyrite with the highest δ34S value may have co-precipitated with the 13C-depelted calcite (with a nadir of −58‰), and thus show similarly high Mn concentrations (∼20000 μg/g). This is the first report of sulfate-dependent AOM driven by Mn- or Fe- oxides from the entire Precambrian record. Such a previously unrecognized biogeochemical cycling during Marinoan global deglaciation may serve as the mechanism for major methane sink during the Proterozoic and Archean with low sulfate concentrations in the oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention should be paid to the sulfate reduction behavior in a pressure-bearing leachate saturated zone. In this study, within the relative pressure range of 0–0.6 MPa, the ambient temperature with the highest sulfate reduction rate of 50°C was selected to explore the difference in sulfate reduction behavior in a pressure-bearing leachate saturated zone. The results showed that the sulfate reduction rate might further increase with an increase in pressure; however, owing to the effect of pressure increase, the generated hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) could not be released on time, thereby decreasing its highest concentration by approximately 85%, and the duration extended to about two times that of the atmospheric pressure. Microbial community structure and functional gene abundance analyses showed that the community distribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria was significantly affected by pressure conditions, and there was a negative correlation between disulfide reductase B (dsrB) gene abundance and H 2 S release rate. Other sulfate reduction processes that do not require disulfide reductase A (dsrA) and dsrB genes may be the key pathways affecting the sulfate reduction rate in the pressure-bearing leachate saturated zone. This study improves the understanding of sulfate reduction in landfills as well as provides a theoretical basis for the operation and management of landfills. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine how potassium nitrate (KNO 3) effect apple roots and sulfate assimilation in the presence of wood biochar in soil, KNO 3 was applied to the root-zone soil without or with 150-day naturally aged wood biochar (1% w/w) in soil. Soil properties, root architecture, root activity, the accumulation and distribution of sulfur (S), enzyme activity, and gene expression related to sulfate uptake and assimilation in apple trees were analyzed. Results showed that KNO 3 and wood biochar application exhibited synergistic effects on improving S accumulation and root growth. Meanwhile, KNO 3 application increased the activities of ATPS, APR, SAT, OASTL and upregulated the expression of ATPS , APR , Sultr3;1 , Sultr2;1 , Sultr3;4, and Sultr3;5 in both roots and leaves, and the positive effects of KNO 3 addition on both genes and enzyme activity were enhanced by wood biochar. Wood biochar amendment alone promoted the activities of enzymes described above, upregulated the expression of ATPS , APR , Sultr3;1 , Sultr2;1 , Sultr3;4, and Sultr4;2 in leaves, and enhanced S distribution in roots. KNO 3 addition alone decreased S distribution in roots and increased that in stems. In the presence of wood biochar in soil, KNO 3 application decreased S distribution in roots but increased that in both stems and leaves. These results indicated that the wood biochar in soil enhances the effect of KNO 3 on S accumulation by promoting root growth and sulfate assimilation in apple trees. • KNO 3 and aged wood biochar improved S accumulation and root growth of apple trees. • Aging wood biochar enhanced the sulfate assimilation of KNO 3 by apple trees. • KNO 3 promoted S distribution into stems by upregulating sulfate transporter genes. • Aged biochar enhanced KNO 3 's stimulatory effect on S distribution in apple trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A sulfide oxidizing strain Paenibacillus naphthalenovorans LYH-3 was isolated. • Strain LYH-3 had efficient sulfide oxidation capacity in thermophilic conditions. • The highest sulfate formation rate (27.35% ± 0.86%) was predicted by RSM design. • The maximum specific growth rate (0.5274 hr−1) in 22 hr was obtained at 50°C. • Strain LYH-3 promised a potential application in controlling H 2 S odors of compost. The sulfur-containing odor emitted from sludge composting could be controlled by sulfide oxidizing bacteria, yet mesophilic strains show inactivation during the thermophilic stage of composting. Aimed to investigate and characterize the thermotolerant bacterium that could oxidize sulfide into sulfate, a heterotrophic strain was isolated from sewage sludge composting and identified as Paenibacillus naphthalenovorans LYH-3. The effects of various environmental factors on sulfide oxidation capacities were studied to optimize the sulfate production, and the highest production rate (27.35% ± 0.86%) was obtained at pH 7.34, the rotation speed of 161.14 r/min, and the inoculation amount of 5.83% by employing Box-Behnken design. The results of serial sulfide substrates experiments indicated that strain LYH-3 could survive up to 400 mg/L of sulfide with the highest sulfide removal rate (88.79% ± 0.35%) obtained at 50 mg/L of sulfide. Growth kinetic analysis presented the maximum specific growth rate µ m (0.5274 hr−1) after 22 hr cultivation at 50°C. The highest enzyme activities of sulfide quinone oxidoreductase (0.369 ± 0.052 U/mg) and sulfur dioxygenase (0.255 ± 0.014 U/mg) were both obtained at 40°C, and the highest enzyme activity of sulfite acceptor oxidoreductase (1.302 ± 0.035 U/mg) was assessed at 50°C. The results indicated that P. naphthalenovorans possessed a rapid growth rate and efficient sulfide oxidation capacities under thermophilic conditions, promising a potential application in controlling sulfur-containing odors during the thermophilic stage of sludge composting. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report new results from inorganic experiments in which the effects of several oxyanions on the concentration and isotopic composition of boron (B/Ca and δ11B, respectively) in calcite were explored. The oxyanions examined here (sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, and nitrite) differ in their size, charge, and geometric configuration, but they are all common dissolved constituents in natural aqueous solutions including seawater. Of those, sulfate and phosphate which are known to inhibit calcite nucleation/precipitation had pronounced impacts on the B incorporation and isotope fractionation during calcite precipitation. Additions of up to 5 mmol sulfate and up to 2 μmol phosphate into experimental solutions of otherwise unaltered condition caused comparable declines in calcite precipitation rates R , increases in B/Ca, and decreases in calcite δ11B towards the calculated δ11B of B(OH) 4 −. The pattern of changes in B/Ca and δ11B as a function of R observed here is at odds with normal kinetic effects confirmed in previous studies, where B/Ca and δ11B were shown to increase and decrease, respectively, with an increase in degrees of calcite saturation in solutions and thus R. We argue that the paradoxical and apparently reversed kinetic trends in B/Ca and δ11B in the presence of sulfate and phosphate can be attributed to deformations of the calcite lattice structure due to their substitutions for lattice CO 3 , which in turn enhances the retainment and eventual incorporation of B(OH) 4 −. Our new findings could have important implications for paleo-reconstructions of ocean carbonate chemistry using B/Ca and δ11B, if the mechanism proposed above is similarly in effect during natural precipitation of biogenic calcite (e.g., foraminiferal tests) in seawater. Though this needs further testing, if true, the gradual but sizable increase in seawater sulfate over the Cenozoic could have biased foraminiferal B/Ca and δ11B. Our experimental data additionally indicate that Na+ has the capability of providing charge compensations for substitutions of CO 3 by B(OH) 4 −. However, our data also demonstrate that changes in Na+ concentration do not control the degrees of B incorporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of steady-state phospholipid liposomes requires cholesterol as a stabilizer, but excessive intake of cholesterol may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The sulfated sterols extracted from sea cucumber, mainly including sulfated 24-methylene cholesterol and cholesterol sulfate, have been reported to have a variety of physiological activities. Sulfated sterols are similar to cholesterol in structure and have the potential to replace cholesterol to prepare novel stable multifunctional liposomes, allowing the liposomes to act as carriers for the delivery of less bioavailable nutrients while allowing sulfated sterols in the lipid bilayer to exert physiologically active effects. This study aimed to prepare a novel multifunctional nanoliposome stabilized with sulfated sterols from sea cucumber instead of cholesterol by ultrasound-assisted thin-film dispersion method. The results showed that stable and uniformly dispersed nanoliposomes could be formed when the substitution ratio of sea cucumber-derived cholesterol sulfate was 100% and the ratio of lecithin to cholesterol sulfate was 3:1. Fucoxanthin encapsulated liposome with egg yolk lecithin/sea cucumber-derived cholesterol sulfate/fucoxanthin mass ratio of 6:2:3 was successfully prepared, with an average particle size of 214 ± 3 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) value of 0.297 ± 0.006, the zeta potential of −57.2 ± 1.10 mV, and the encapsulation efficiency of 85.5 ± 0.8%. The results of digestion and absorption in vitro and in vivo showed that liposomes could significantly improve the bioavailability of fucoxanthin and prolong its residence time in serum. As an efficient multifunctional carrier, this novel liposome has great potential for applications in functional foods and biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The viscosity of carrageenan solutions in the coil state was greater for α-carrageenan (α-Car) compared with that for κ-carrageenan (κ-Car); thus, the impact of one sulfate group on 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose was compared with the impact of one sulfate group on D-galactose units of the carrabiose residues. The thermal expansion coefficient of the solutions, B 2 × T c , characterizes the way the viscosity decreases because of extension of the physical bonds of the systems to their rupture point (T c) under increasing temperature. The T c and B 2 × T c of water were equal to (100 ± 5) °C and (1.57 ± 0.05) × 10−2/°C, respectively. The T c of the α-Car and κ-Car systems increased after the addition of CaCl 2 and KCl, respectively, and with increasing polysaccharide concentration. However, the B 2 × T c of the α-Car and κ-Car systems were rather sensitive to CaCl 2 and KCl, respectively. In the overall solutions examined, the expansion of α-Car systems was found to be between 1.5 × 10−2/°C and 1.61 × 10−2/°C, greater than the expansion of κ-Car systems, which was between 1.5 × 10−2/°C and 1.2 × 10−2/°C. Thus, α-Car is a good alternative to κ-Car for reducing syneresis phenomena, and its sensitivity as ι-Car to divalent cations would be due to the anhydro cycle. • α-Carrageenan (α-Car) and κ-Carrageenan (κ-Car) differ by the sulfate group position. • α-Car gives a greater viscosity than κ-Car (no salt added). • The sulfate group position determines the intramolecular interactions in carrageenan. • α-Car and κ-Car chains have similar thermal expansion in solution (no salt added). • Salt decreases the thermal expansion in function of the sulfate group position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids are the secondary metabolites widely used in pharmaceutical industries due to their several health benefits. Quercetin and rutin, well known flavonoids possesses various pharmacological properties but the constraints of poor aqueous solubility and impermeability across cell membranes restricts their use in formulation development. Moreover, the rising problem of antimicrobial resistance has also caused a serious threat to human life, thus demanding the urgent need of developing more effective antimicrobial formulations. In view of this, the present research work is focused on utilizing the most feasible flavonoid-surfactant concentrations obtained from the already reported physico-chemical analysis in developing an improved neomycin topical formulation through drug combinatorial approach. The formulations were subjected for assessment of physical parameters such as determination of pH, viscosity and spreadability. The drug release profile of the formulations was studied through different mathematical models. After evaluation of all the parameters, two best formulations (NQ-T2 [HE] and NR-T1 [HE]) were selected for antimicrobial evaluation studies against different bacterial and fungal clinical isolates. Among the two formulations, NQ-T2 [HE] showed excellent antibacterial activity against the bacterial strains while NR-T1 [HE] also exhibited promising results when compared with the standard formulations. Overall, this study represents a possible solution to enhance the antimicrobial efficacy of neomycin formulations by combining them with flavonoids through micelles assisted drug combination approach. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solubility of sulfur as sulfate (SO 4 2− or S6+) in silicate melts has been measured experimentally under oxidizing conditions at 1200 to 1500 °C, using SO 2 -O 2 and SO 2 -CO 2 as the input gas mixtures, with S and major elements determined on the quenched glasses by electron microprobe. The silicate melts investigated range from simple systems to natural magmatic compositions. Eighteen compositions in CMAS (CaO-MgO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2) were studied at 1400 °C and varying sulfur trioxide fugacity, fSO 3 , to demonstrate that [S6+]/fSO 3 remains constant within the limits of fSO 3 accessed, where [S6+] is the concentration of S6+. This observation validates the concept of the "Sulfate Capacity" defined as C S 6 + = [S6+]/(fSO 3). Fitting C S 6 + to a model derived from reciprocal solution theory as a function of temperature and melt composition from 232 experiments gives: l n C S 6 + = - 8.02 + (21100 + 44000 X Na + 18700 X Mg + 4300 X Al + 44200 X K + 35600 X Ca + 12600 X Mn + 16500 X F e 2 +) / T Here X M are the mole fractions of the cation oxide components on the single-cation basis, [S6+] is in parts per million by weight, and fSO 3 is in bars referenced to the conventional standard state. As this equation shows, C S 6 + is so sensitive to melt composition that the analytical uncertainties in the major-element compositions of the glasses dominate fitting the data to the model. Combining C S 6 + with the analogous Sulfide Capacity, C S 2 - , from previously published work allows the ratio of S oxidation states, S6+/S2−, to be calculated in silicate melts as a function of oxygen fugacity (fO 2), temperature and melt composition. These calculations are in reasonable agreement with spectroscopic measurements on experimental glasses at known fO 2 , and on natural volcanic glasses where measured Fe3+/∑Fe can be used to calculate fO 2 , despite the presence of H 2 O in both kinds of glasses. This implies that other S possible melt species like S4+, HS−, etcetera are insignificant. The fugacity of SO 2 , the main S species degassing from magma on eruption, in equilibrium with a melt of a given total S content varies markedly with fO 2 , with a maximum at S6+/S2− = 3 (S6+/∑S = 0.75), which corresponds approximately to Fe3+/∑Fe ≈ 0.2 for typical basaltic compositions. Sulfur degassing from magma as SO 2 causes oxidation or reduction depending on whether S6+/∑S is greater or less than 0.75, with strong negative feedback on the magnitude of fSO 2 in both cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the increasing interest that is being paid to polysaccharides derived from algae as plant natural defense stimulators, the degree of sulfation of exopolysaccharides produced by P. sordidum for inducing defense responses in date palm vitroplants was investigated. Firstly, the culture parameters of P. sordidum were optimized to maximize the amount of sulfate in EPS using a Box–Behnken experimental design and the elicitor effects of two EPS which differ in the sulfation degrees were compared. Results demonstrated that the concentrations of NaCl, NaNO 3 and MgSO 4 set at 28, 0.54 and 16.31 g/L, respectively yielded the best sulfate contents. To elucidate defense-inducing activities in date palm vitroplants, EPS with the highest sulfate content (EPS1) were prepared for comparison with those obtained under standard conditions (EPS0). A fucoidan extracted from Cystoseira compressa was used as positive control and MgSO 4 as negative control. Both EPS and the fucoidan displayed H 2 O 2 accumulation and expression of PR1, SOD, PAL and WRKY genes. Interestingly, EPS1 was significantly more bioactive than EPS0 and the fucoidan suggesting that the elicitor activity is positively correlated with the sulfate groups content of this polysaccharide. • Optimize the culture conditions of P. sordidum to maximize the sulfate content in EPS. • Comparison of the elicitor effect of two EPS which differ in the degree of sulfation on date palm vitroplants. • The elicitor activities is positively correlated with the degree of sulfation in EPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulphate resistance is an important index for evaluating geopolymer durability. This study investigates the beneficial effects of silane coupling agent (SCA) addition on the sulphate corrosion resistance of metakaolin-based geopolymer composites via strength tests and various characterisation techniques such as XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDS, and 29Si NMR. The results show that the compressive and tensile strengths and corrosion resistance coefficient of the geopolymer first increased, then decreased with increasing SCA dosages. The geopolymer incorporated with the optimum dosage of 0.1 wt% SCA exhibits the highest strengths, fluidity, and sulphate resistance coefficient. SCA addition effectively compacts the pore structure, thus making it difficult for SO 4 2− to invade the matrix. The SEM-EDS diagram reveals that before and after sulphate attack, the Na content of the pure geopolymer decreased from 7.37 wt% to 3.84 wt%, and the mass ratio decreased by 47%. However, the Na content of the geopolymer composite modified with SCA decreased from 5.64 wt% to 4.85 wt%, and the mass ratio only decreased by 14%, indicating that the addition of SCA reduced the Na precipitation rate of the geopolymer in the sulphate environment. The 29Si NMR spectrum also reveals that the addition of SCA inhibits the resonance peak shift from Q4 to Q3 after 56 d of sulphate attack, which indicates improvement in the stability of the three-dimensional network structure in the geopolymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advances in technology have led to the identification of a greater number of metabolites related to diet. Although fruit intake biomarkers have been reported in some studies, these findings require further replication, considering the relevance of fruits for diet quality and health.Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the associations of a set of potential urinary biomarkers of diet, assessed using a targeted metabolomics approach, with self-reported fruit intake data in participants of a computer-assisted 24-h dietary recall (GloboDiet software) validation study.Methods: A total of 93 individuals aged 43-72 y, 54% female, participated in this study. The subjects were a subsample of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). A 24-h dietary recall was obtained with the aid of GloboDiet software matching a 24-h urine sample from each participant. Candidate biomarkers were selected in a literature search and identified in urine by LC coupled to high-resolution MS. Spearman correlation analyses were performed between fruit intake and each biomarker.Results: Spearman correlation analysis showed that total fruits intake was significantly correlated with citric acid (ρ = 0.213, P = 0.041), ferulic acid sulfate I (ρ = 0.240, P = 0.020), hesperetin glucuronide/homoeriodictyol glucuronide (ρ = 0.303, P = 0.003), hydroxyhippuric acid (ρ = 0.239, P = 0.021), homovanillic alcohol sulfate (ρ = 0.339, P = 0.001), methylgallic acid sulfate (ρ = 0.268, P = 0.009), naringenin glucuronide (NG; ρ = 0.278, P = 0.007), proline betaine (PB; ρ = 0.305, P = 0.003), syringic acid sulfate (ρ = 0.210, P = 0.044), and sinapic acid sulfate (ρ = 0.412, P < 0.001). Among them, 3 have been described in literature as promising biomarkers for intake of total fruit, oranges, and citrus fruit: NG, hesperetin glucuronide, and PB.Conclusions: Associations of total fruits intake with urinary measurements indicate the potential usefulness of dietary biomarkers in the Brazilian population as a complement to self-reported dietary assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfate anion plays an important role in the development of inorganic phosphors and is considered as the path for for the enhancement of the luminescent properties. The heterovalent [PO 4 ]3– → [SO 4 ]2– anion substitution in the β-Ca 3 (PO 4) 2 -type compounds was realized using the "ellestadite"-type strategy called by the analogy with the apatite-type structures. The novel compounds belonging to the Ca 10.5–0.5 x – y M y (PO 4) 7– x (SO 4) x , M = Ca2+, Mg2+ and Zn2+ series have been synthesized using high-temperature solid state reaction. The used isomorphous scheme was [PO 4 ]3– + ½ Ca2+ = [SO 4 ]2– + ½ □ with the formation of the vacancy for the charge compensation. The successful incorporation of [SO 4 ]2– groups was approved by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, EDX method, and powder X-ray diffraction analysis. It was found that the sulfur atoms predominantly occupied T2 sites in the anionic sublattice according to crystal structure refinement based on the analysis of interatomic distances. The photoluminescent properties were studied for the Eu3+-doped samples and it was shown that Zn2+-containing samples exhibit a 1.5 times higher intensity in comparison with Mg2+-containing substituted phosphates. Thus, a new "ellestadite"-type substitution in β-Ca 3 (PO 4) 2 -type structure significantly expands the crystal chemistry and give more insights into the deeper understanding of the dependence of luminescent properties on the cation distribution. The pathways of the [SO 4 ]2– incorporation into the crystal structures are discussed in details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uremic cardiomyopathy (UCM) is a common complication in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and an important risk factor for death. P-Cresyl sulfate (PCS) is a damaging factor in UCM, and Klotho is a protective factor. However, the molecular mechanisms of Klotho and PCS in UCM and the relationship between PCS and Klotho are unclear. In vitro, Klotho treatment inhibited PCS-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis by blocking mTOR phosphorylation and inhibiting DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), respectively. Moreover, PCS increased SIRT6 protein ubiquitination and downregulated SIRT6 protein expression, while Klotho inhibited SIRT6 protein ubiquitination and upregulated SIRT6 protein expression. In a mouse model of 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx)-induced UCM, the expression of Klotho in the kidney and serum was decreased, and the expression of SIRT6 protein in myocardial tissues was lower. PCS further reduced Klotho and SIRT6 expression, aggravated heart structure and function abnormalities, and increased myocardial cell apoptosis in UCM mice. Administration of Klotho protein inhibited the downregulation of SIRT6 protein expression and improved cardiac structure and function. Furthermore, serum PCS level was associated with the left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in hemodialysis patients. In conclusion, the uremic toxin PCS injures cardiomyocytes via mTOR phosphorylation and DSBs, and Klotho antagonizes the damaging effects of PCS. Moreover, the SIRT6 protein plays an important role in UCM, and Klotho suppresses SIRT6 ubiquitination induced by PCS, further improves cardiac structure and function in UCM and exerts protective effects. • PCS induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis. • Klotho relieves cardiac damage induced by PCS. • The mechanism underlying Klotho protecting against PCS-induced cardiac injury is inhibition of SIRT6 ubiquitination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Physicochemical studies of SMS in aqueous sorbitol solutions are computed. • These studies shows the effect of SMS concentration and temperature on aqueous sorbitol solutions. • There is existence of molecular interactions between SMS and sorbitol in these solutions. • The volumetric, acoustic and viscometric studies shows the kosmotropic nature of the drug SMS. The various molecular interactions present between streptomycin sulphate and sorbitol were evaluated using density (ρ), speed of sound (u) and viscosity (η) studies. All these studies have been obtained at different temperatures (300.15, 305.15, 310.15 ad 315.15) K and at 0.1 MPa pressure. The values obtained from these studies have been utilized to calculate the various thermodynamic parameters such as apparent molar volume (Φ V), apparent molar isentropic compression (Φ K), partial molar volume (Φ V o), partial molar isentropic compression (Φ K o), partial molar expansibility (Φ E o) of solute for SMS in various solutions of sorbitol. The data obtained from viscosity studies have been utilized to determine Falkenhagen coefficient (A), Jones- Dole coefficient (B), dB/dT and viscosity B-coefficient of transfer (B tr). A complete discernment into the physicochemical interactions present in the studied system have been redeemed through the scrutiny of above calculated parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• >150 organic metabolites are oxidised over chloride and urea in unconcentrated, non-hydrolysed urine acidified to pH 3.0. • Heat-activated peroxydisulphate removed >50% TOC and degraded >40% ΣOMs with <10% nitrogen loss. • Heating real, unconcentrated urine acidified to pH 3.0 at 90 °C for 1 h activated >90% of 60 mM peroxydisulphate. • Concentrated urine had lower persulfate activation but higher chloride & urea degradation compared to unconcentrated urine. The human urine metabolome is complex, containing a wide range of organic metabolites that affect treatment of urine collected in resource-oriented sanitation systems. In this study, an advanced oxidation process involving heat-activated peroxydisulphate was used to selectively oxidise organic metabolites in urine over urea and chloride. Initial experiments evaluated optimal conditions (peroxydisulphate dose, temperature, time, pH) for activation of peroxydisulphate in unconcentrated, non-hydrolysed synthetic urine and real urine acidified to pH 3.0. Subsequent experiments determined the fate of 268 endogenous organic metabolites (OMs) and removal of COD from unconcentrated and concentrated real urine (80–90% mass reduced by evaporation). The results revealed >90% activation of 60 mM peroxydisulphate in real unconcentrated urine heated to 90 °C for 1 h, resulting in 43% ΣOMs degradation, 22% COD removal and 56% total organic carbon removal, while >94% of total nitrogen and >97% of urea in real unconcentrated urine were recovered. The mechanism of urea degradation was identified to be chemical hydrolysis to ammonia, with the rate constant for this reaction determined to be 1.9 × 10−6 s−1 at pH 3.0 and 90 °C. Treating concentrated real urine resulted in similar removal of COD, ΣOMs degradation and total nitrogen loss as observed for unconcentrated urine, but with significantly higher chloride oxidation and chemical hydrolysis of urea. Targeted metabolomic analysis revealed that peroxydisulphate treatment degraded 157 organic metabolites in urine, of which 67 metabolites were degraded by >80%. The rate constant for the reaction of sulphate radicals with oxidisable endogenous organic metabolites in urine was estimated to exceed 108 M−1 s−1. These metabolites were preferentially oxidised over chloride and urea in acidified, non-hydrolysed urine treated with peroxydisulphate. Overall, the findings support the development of emerging urine recycling technologies, including alkaline/acid dehydration and reverse osmosis, where the presence of endogenous organic urine metabolites significantly influences treatment parameters such as energy demand and product purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding an appropriate amount of chloride or sulfate salts to molten nitrates is an effective way to improve the thermal stability temperature and energy density of solar salts. However, the corrosivity of the mixed solar salts is enhanced significantly. In this paper, the effect of chlorides and sulfates on the corrosion of SS347 and GH3539 in molten solar salt is investigated. The high oxygen pressure and basic environment in molten nitrates causes the formation of an external Fe oxides layer and inner FeCr 2 O 4 layer for SS347. Unlike SS347, the corroded GH3539 presents an exclusive film of NiO and many core-shell structured nodules with Ni as core and NiO as shell, followed by a region of internal oxidation involving Ni, W and Cr. The additives chlorides produce an oxidation-chlorination environment, causing spallation of oxide scale from SS347, but without significant effect on GH3539 due to lower thermodynamic stabilities of Ni and W chlorides than Fe and Cr chlorides. The addition of sulfates to solar salt also harms the adhesion of the scale on SS347 to a certain extent. While the additives sulfides accelerate the corrosion of GH3539, forming a thick porous NiO layer and a serious internal sulfidation zone. • The corrosion of SS347 and GH3539 at 600 ℃ in molten solar salt without and with chlorides and sulfates is studied. • The high oxygen partial pressure and the highly basic property are the main reasons for high corrosivity of molten nitrates. • The addition ofchlorides to solar salt produces an oxidation-chlorination environment, causing separation and spallation of the oxide scale from SS347. • Apart from the outer NiO layer, a region of internal oxidation involving Ni, W and Cr are also formed for GH3539. • The additives sulfates accelerate greatly the corrosion of GH3539, but without significant effect on SS347. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic-loaded calcium phosphate cement (CPC) has emerged as a promising biomaterial for drug delivery in orthopedics. However, there are problems such as the burst release of antibiotics, low cumulative release ratio, inappropriate release cycle, inferior mechanical strength, and poor anti-collapse properties. In this research, montmorillonite-gentamicin (MMT-GS) was fabricated by solution intercalation method and served as the drug release pathways in CPC to avoid burst release of GS, achieving promoted cumulative release ratios and a release cycle matched the time of inflammatory response. The results indicated that the highest cumulative release ratio and release concentration of GS in CPC/MMT-GS was 94.1 ± 2.8 % and 1183.05 μg/mL, and the release cycle was up to 504 h. In addition, the hierarchical GS delivery system was divided into three stages, and the kinetics followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, the zero-order model, and the diffusion-dissolution model, respectively. Meanwhile, the compressive strength of CPC/MMT-GS was up to 51.33 ± 3.62 MPa. Antibacterial results demonstrated that CPC/MMT-GS exhibited excellent in vitro long-lasting antibacterial properties to E. coli and S. aureus. Furthermore, CPC/MMT-GS promoted osteoblast proliferation and exhibited excellent in vivo histocompatibility. Therefore, CPC/MMT-GS has favorable application prospects in the treatment of bone defects with bacterial infections and inflammatory reactions. • MMT-GS was fabricated by solution intercalation and served as release pathway in CPC. • CPC/MMT-GS avoided the burst GS release, achieving a high cumulative release ratio. • The release cycle of GS was consistent with the inflammatory response time. • The mechanism of hierarchical GS release followed the different kinetic models. • CPC/MMT-GS showed long-lasting antibacterial capacity and excellent biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic sulfate loading into otherwise low-sulfate freshwater systems can cause significant ecological consequences as a biogeochemical stressor. To address this challenge, in situ bioremediation technologies have been developed to leverage naturally occurring microorganisms that transform sulfate into sulfide rather than implementing resource-intensive physio-chemical processes. However, bioremediation technologies often require the supply of electron donors to facilitate biological sulfate reduction. Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) can be an alternative approach for supplying molecular hydrogen as an electron donor for sulfate-reducing bacteria through water electrolysis. Although the fundamental mechanisms behind BESs have been studied, limited research has evaluated the design and operational parameters of treatment systems when developing BESs on a scale relevant to environmental systems. This study aimed to develop an application-based mathematical model to evaluate the performance of BESs across a range of reactor configurations and operational modes. The model was based on sulfate transformation by hydrogenotrophic sulfate-reducing bacteria coupled with the recovery of solid iron sulfide species formed by the oxidative dissolution of dissolved ferrous iron from a stainless steel anode. Sulfate removal closely corresponded to the rate of electrolytic hydrogen production and hydraulic residence time but was less sensitive to specific microbial rate constants. The mathematical model results were compared to experimental data from a pilot-scale BES tested with nonacidic mine drainage as a case study. The close agreement between the mathematical model and the pilot-scale BES experiment highlights the efficacy of using a mathematical model as a tool to develop a conceptual design of a scaled-up treatment system. [Display omitted] • Low electrical potential promoted desired biogeochemical reactions to treat sulfate pollution. • Sulfate removal in the BES corresponded closely to the rate of electrolytic hydrogen production. • Sulfate removal in the BES was less sensitive to biokinetics of sulfate reducers. • The model validated with experimental data is a useful tool to develop a scale-up BES system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current methods for separation of nickel from cobalt sulphate solutions have drawbacks of long flowsheets, release of large volumes of wastewater and incomplete separation of two metals. A synergistic solvent extraction (SSX) system consisting of dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid (DNNSA) and decyl 4-picolinate (4PC) is proposed in this work to extract nickel from cobalt sulphate solutions selectively. The extraction of nickel reached 99.7% after five-stage counter current extraction with an A/O volume ratio of 1/6 at 30 °C, resulting in a large increase of Co/Ni mass ratio to 25,700 in raffinate from 56 in feed. The loaded organic phase can be easily stripped using a dilute H 2 SO 4 solution. Application of this process in industry is expected to make an important impact on the production of high-purity cobalt sulphate solutions and to deliver economic benefits. • The SSX system consisting of DNNSA and 4PC was used to separate trace nickel from cobalt. • Re99.99 purity of CoSO 4 solution was obtained. • The process is short, economical and environmentally friendly without producing wastewater. • A potential success for industrialisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Carboxyl isosteric analogues of lithocholic acid were designed and synthesized. • Sulfate analogues selectively target the N -specific ST6GAL1 over O-specific ST3GAL1. • Sulfate derivative inhibited breast cancer cell migration, adhesion, and invasion. • Antimetastatic activity may be due to suppression of FAK/paxillin signaling pathway. The naturally occurring bile acid lithocholic acid (LCA) has been a crucial core structure for many non-sugar-containing sialyltranferase (ST) inhibitors documented in literature. With the aim of elucidating the impact of the terminal carboxyl acid substituent of LCA on its ST inhibition, in this present study, we report the (bio)isosteric replacement-based design and synthesis of sulfonate and sulfate analogues of LCA. Among these compounds, the sulfate analogue SPP-002 was found to selectively inhibit N -glycan sialylation by at least an order of magnitude, indicating a substantial improvement in both potency and selectivity when compared to the unmodified parent bile acid. Molecular docking analysis supported the stronger binding of the synthetic analogue in the enzyme active site. Treatment with SPP-002 also hampered the migration, adhesion, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro by suppressing the expression of signaling proteins involved in the cancer metastasis-associated integrin/FAK/paxillin pathway. In totality, these findings offer not only a novel structural scaffold but also valuable insights for the future development of more potent and selective ST inhibitors with potential therapeutic effects against tumor cancer metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saccharomycopsis species are natural organic sulphur auxotrophs. Their genomes do not encode genes for the uptake and assimilation of sulphate and thus these species cannot grow on media lacking e.g. methionine. Due to the similarity between sulphate and selenate, uptake and assimilation of selenate occurs through the same pathway starting from sulphate transporters encoded by the homologs of the SUL1 and SUL2 genes in S. cerevisiae. Lack of these transporters renders Saccharomycopsis species resistant to selenate levels that are toxic to other microorganisms. We used this feature to enrich environmental samples for Saccharomycopsis species. This led to the isolation of S. schoenii , S. lassenensis and a hitherto undescribed Saccharomycopsis species with limited by-catch of other yeasts, mainly belonging to Metschnikowia and Hanseniaspora. We performed growth and predation assays to characterize the potential of these new isolates as predacious yeasts. Most Saccharomycopsis species are temperature sensitive and cannot grow at 37°C; with the exception of S. lassenensis strains. Predation assays with S. schoenii and S. cerevisiae as prey indicated that predation was enhanced at 20°C compared to 30°C. We crossed an American isolate of S. schoenii with our German isolate using marker directed breeding. Viable progeny indicated that both strains are interfertile and belong to the same biological species. S. lassenensis is heterothallic, while S. schoenii and the new Saccharomycopsis isolate, for which we suggest the name S. geisenheimensis sp. nov., are homothallic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the ongoing debate concerning the origin of ambient sulfate in northern China, and provides more evidence for primary sulfate from the perspective of source emission. An extensive field experiment was conducted, involving the collection of size-segregated particulate matter emitted under various coal types and combustion conditions for subsequent analysis. Our findings reveal that residential coal combustion (RCC) emits significant amounts of primary sulfate, constituting approximately 26.48 ± 15.43% of the particulate mass. Moreover, these emissions exhibit a strong association with NH 4 +, leading to the formation of stable ammonium sulfate compounds. The emission of sulfate is intricately linked to both coal quality and combustion conditions. Notably, the oversight of δ34S isotope enrichment in RCC particulate matter, which distinctly differs from the raw coal, introduces uncertainties in the quantitative assessment of sulfate sources and formation pathways. Therefore, more in-depth explorations are necessary to elucidate the precise processes involved in RCC sulfate transformation and to accurately determine its environmental impact. • Increase knowledge of RCC sulfate emission characteristics and influences. • Demonstrate RCC emits stable primary sulfate from multiple evidences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, anti-perovskites have drawn significant attention as potential solid-electrolytes for solid-state batteries. Due to the increase in consumption of lithium, there has been a push towards next generation batteries, including sodium-ion batteries. The first representative of the material class of sulphate hydride anti-perovskites, Na 3 SO 4 H, was synthesized by solid-state methods as a possible electrolyte for sodium solid-state batteries. Structural characterization confirms the results reported in literature with P 4/ nmm space group Thermal measurements (DSC and TGA) reveal the stability of the material up to 633 K with H 2 release beginning shortly after. Here were report the first electrochemical measurements of this new sulphate hydride anti-perovskite with room temperature conductivity of 4.0 × 10−7 S/cm. Similarly, the electronic conductivity was also measured by Direct Current (DC) experiments to understand a non-linear Arrhenius plot of the conductivity. From the EIS and DC measurements, it is suggested that the electronic and ionic conductivities of this material fall in the same range at room temperature. Upon heating, the material becomes a mainly ionic conductor, explaining the change in the activation energy values in the Arrhenius plot (0.83 eV at low T and 0.24 eV at high T). Solid-state NMR hints at defects in the structure that correspond to Na1 and Hb-c-d dynamics. • Anti-Perovskite sulfate Hydride as Solid State electrolytes. • High temperature stability. • Moderate Na ionic conductivity at room Temperature. • Solid state NMR and EXSY revealed the presence of Na & H defects in the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Anoxic waters from a post-mining lake allowed the enrichment of weak electricigens. • Electrogenicity of planktonic cells was mainly driven by formate consumption. • Sulfate reducers outcompeted electroactivity of nitrate and iron reducers. • Electrochemical sulfide oxidation likely resulted in anode passivation. • Enriched species could be used for metal recovery from post-mining lakes. Electroactive microorganisms are pivotal players in mineral transformation within redox interfaces characterized by pronounced oxygen and dissolved metal gradients. Yet, their systematic cultivation from such environments remains elusive. Here, we conducted an anodic enrichment using anoxic ferruginous waters from a post-mining lake as inoculum. Weak electrogenicity (j = ∼5 µA cm−2) depended on electroactive planktonic cells rather than anodic biofilms, with a preference for formate as electron donor. Addition of yeast extract decreased the lag phase but did not increase current densities. The enriched bacterial community varied depending on the substrate composition but mainly comprised of sulfate- and nitrate-reducing bacteria (e.g., Desulfatomaculum spp. and Stenotrophomonas spp.). A secondary enrichment strategy resulted in different bacterial communities composed of iron-reducing (e.g., Klebsiella spp.) and fermentative bacteria (e.g., Paeniclostridium spp.). Secondary electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results indicate the precipitation of sulfur- and iron-rich organomineral aggregates at the anode surface, presumably impeding current production. Our findings indicate that (i) anoxic waters containing geogenically derived metals can be used to enrich weak electricigens, and (ii) it is necessary to specifically inhibit sulfate reducers. Otherwise, sulfate reducers tend to dominate over EAM during cultivation, which can lead to anode passivation due to biomineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chondroitin sulphates (CSs) are the most well-known glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) found in any living organism, from microorganisms to invertebrates and vertebrates (including humans), and provide several health benefits. The applications of CSs are numerous including tissue engineering, osteoarthritis treatment, antiviral, cosmetics, and skincare applications. The current commercial production of CSs mostly uses animal, bovine, porcine, and avian tissues as well as marine organisms, marine mammals, sharks, and other fish. The production process consists of tissue hydrolysis, protein removal, and purification using various methods. Mostly, these are chemical-dependent and are complex, multi-step processes. There is a developing trend for abandonment of harsh extraction chemicals and their substitution with different green-extraction technologies, however, these are still in their infancy. The quality of CSs is the first and foremost requirement for end-applications and is dependent on the extraction and purification methodologies used. The final products will show different bio-functional properties, depending on their origin and production methodology. This is a comprehensive review of the characteristics, properties, uses, sources, and extraction methods of CSs. This review emphasises the need for extraction and purification processes to be environmentally friendly and gentle, followed by product analysis and quality control to ensure the expected bioactivity of CSs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional herbal medicines have been considered as a novel and effective way to treat many diseases. Lizhong decoction (LZD), a classical prescription composed of Z ingiber officinale Rosc., Panax ginseng C. A. Mey., Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders in clinical practices for thousands of years. However, the mechanism of LZD in alleviating ulcerative colitis (UC) is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the potential molecular mechanism of LZD in improving UC. The amelioration of LZD on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC mice was evaluated by body weight, colon length, pathology of colon tissues, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and intestinal tight junction (TJ) proteins. Moreover, the gene expression profiles of UC patients were extracted to investigate potential pathological mechanisms of UC. The influence of LZD on ferroptosis was analyzed by iron load, malondialdehyde (MDA), and the expression of ferroptosis-associated proteins. Meanwhile, the inhibition of LZD on oxidative stress (OS) was assessed by the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, as well as the expression levels of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG). Furthermore, the influence of LZD on ferroptosis was assessed by inhibiting nuclear factor (erythroid-derived-2)-like 2 (Nrf2). LZD showed significant therapeutic effects in UC mice, including reduction of intestinal injury and inflammation. Moreover, LZD treatment notably upregulated the expression of TJ proteins. Further investigation indicated that LZD significantly inhibited the ferroptosis of enterocytes by decreasing iron load and MDA, and increasing the expression levels of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in colon tissues. Furthermore, the decreased activity of SOD, reduced level of GSH, and increased content of GSSG in UC mice were notably reversed by LZD. Consistent with in vivo results, LZD could markedly inhibit ferroptosis and OS in RSL3-induced Caco-2 cells. Mechanistically, LZD alleviated ferroptosis by suppressing OS through the activation of Nrf2 signaling. Collectively, LZD remarkably improved intestinal pathological injury in UC mice, and its potential mechanism was the suppression of ferroptosis in enterocytes by the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway. [Display omitted] • Enterocyte ferroptosis is closely associated with the pathogenesis of UC. • The mechanism of LZD improving UC was first revealed from enterocyte ferroptosis. • LZD could notably alleviate ferroptosis-induced intestinal injury via the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schwertmannite is a metastable sulfate-rich ferric iron Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxide and a common mineral in acid mine drainage sites and acid sulfate soils. Schwertmannite is also used as a sorbent in various industrial applications, including phosphate removal in water treatment and environmental remediation. Phosphate sorption to schwertmannite, however, is complex and likely involves ligand exchange for inner- and outer-spherically coordinated sulfate groups, both on the surface and in the tunnel structure of the mineral. Here, we investigated phosphate sorption, concomitant sulfate release and their impact on the structure of schwertmannite as a function of pH and phosphate concentration. Kinetic and equilibrium batch experiments with synthetic schwertmannite were carried out at pH 3, 6, and 8, and the solid-phase was analyzed using a combination of microscopic, spectroscopic, and X-ray diffraction techniques. We found a strong correlation between phosphate sorption and sulfate release, with both following a two-step sorption model. The kinetics of phosphate sorption and sulfate release were faster at higher pH levels. Maximum phosphate sorption was found at pH 6 (1.7 mmol PO 4 3− g−1), which decreased to 1.5 and 1.2 mmol PO 4 3− g−1 at pH 3 and 8, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed a shift from inner- to outer-spherical coordination of sulfate with increasing pH. 57Fe-Mössbauer analyses of schwertmannite demonstrated an initial transformation of schwertmannite at neutral to alkaline pH, characterized by a rise in a partially ordered sextet area. This change was interpreted as an increase in crystallinity resulting from the transition from Fe-SO 4 to Fe O domains. The emerging phase differed from the original schwertmannite, but did not represent a complete change to a new crystalline phase, thus indicating a proto-transformation of schwertmannite. This pH-induced proto-transformation was inhibited in the presence of phosphate. We concluded that the phosphate sorption rate and maximum as well as the proto-transformation of schwertmannite were strongly affected by the mineral's affinity for sulfate. Sorption to schwertmannite should primarily be regarded as a competitive exchange reaction between the sorbing oxyanion and the bound sulfate. As a result, the highest phosphate sorption occurred at circumneutral pH, in stark contrast to non-sulfate-containing Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides, where phosphate sorption is highest at acidic pH. Our findings are important for a fundamental understanding of the sorption properties of schwertmannite in phosphate-rich environments as they point towards the central role of sulfate coordination for phosphate immobilization. • Phosphate sorption rates and maxima peaked at pH 6. • pH altered phosphate sorption by changing schwertmannite's sulfate affinity. • Sulfate loss at high pH increased schwertmannite crystallinity during equilibration. • Sorbed phosphate stabilized schwertmannite, preventing structural transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-MoS 2 exhibit oxidoreductase-like activities, and has been shown to effectively eliminate excessive intracellular ROS and inhibit Aβ aggregation, thus demonstrating promising potential for anti-Alzheimer's disease (anti-AD) intervention. However, the low water dispersibility and high toxicity of nano-MoS 2 limits its further application. In this study, we developed a chondroitin sulphate (CS)-modified MoS 2 nanoenzyme (CS@MoS 2) by harnessing the excellent biocompatibility of CS and the exceptional activities of nano-MoS 2 to explore its potential in anti-AD research. Promisingly, CS@MoS 2 significantly inhibited Aβ 1 – 40 aggregation and prevented toxic injury in SH-SY5Y cells caused by Aβ 1 – 40. In addition, CS@MoS 2 protected these cells from oxidative stress damage by regulating ROS production, as well as promoting the activities of SOD and GSH-Px. CS@MoS 2 also modulated the intracellular Ca2+ imbalance and downregulated Tau hyperphosphorylation by activating GSK-3β. CS@MoS 2 suppressed p-NF-κB (p65) translocation to the nucleus by inhibiting MAPK phosphorylation, and modulated the expression of downstream anti- and proinflammatory cytokines. Owing to its multifunctional activities, CS@MoS 2 effectively improved spatial learning, memory, and anxiety in D-gal/AlCl 3 -induced AD mice. Taken together, these results indicate that CS@MoS 2 has significant potential for improving the therapeutic efficacy of the prevention and treatment of AD, while also presenting a novel framework for the application of nanoenzymes. • CS modified MoS 2 nanoenzyme with excellent water dispersibility and biocompatibility. • CS@MoS 2 could inhibit aggregation of Aβ 1 – 40 , decline oxidative stress damage and modulate Ca2+ homeostasis. • CS@MoS 2 could regulate the abnormal expression of Tau and inflammatory factors. • CS@MoS 2 improved spatial learning memory and anxiety in D-gal/AlCl 3 -induced AD mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are a promising approach for treating acid mine drainage (AMD). However, the extreme acidity and high loads of heavy metals in AMD can easily lead to the collapse of CWs without proper pre-treatment. Therefore, it is considered essential to maintain efficient and stable performance for AMD treatment in CWs. In this study, pre-prepared attapulgite-soda residue (ASR) composites were used to improve the substrate of CWs. Compared with CWs filled with gravel (CWs-G), the removal efficiencies of sulfate and Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn Cd and Pb in CWs filled with ASR composites (CWs-ASR) were increased by 30% and 10–70%, respectively. These metals were mainly retained in the substrate in stable forms, such as carbonate-, Fe/Mn (oxide)hydroxide-, and sulfide-bound forms. Additionally, higher levels of photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant enzyme activities in plants, along with a richer microbial community, were observed in CWs-ASR than in CWs-G. The application of ASR composites alleviated the adverse effects of AMD stresses on wetland plants and microorganisms. In return, the increased bacteria abundance, particularly SRB genera (e.g., Thermodesulfovibrionia and Desulfobacca), promoted the formation of metal sulfides, enabling the saturated ASR adsorbed with metals to regenerate and continuously capture heavy metals. The synergistic adsorption of ASR composites and microbial sulfate reduction maintained the stable and efficient operation of CWs. This study contributes to the resource utilization of industrial alkaline by-products and promotes the breakthrough of new techniques for low-cost and passive treatment systems such as CWs. [Display omitted] • ASR composites were used to improve the substrate of constructed wetlands (CWs). • Application of ASR composites enhanced the removal of sulfate and metals in CWs. • ASR composites alleviated the AMD stresses on plants and microorganisms. • ASR composites increased the relative abundance of SRB genera in CWs. • Synergistic adsorption by ASR composites and microbial sulfate reduction controls successful operation of CWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling methane emission sources is important for the sustainable application of energy from the deep sea to alleviate methane-induced global warming. The anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) process coupled with sulfate reduction (SR) plays a key role in seafloor methane biofiltration. However, the mechanisms for the enhancement of the methane abatement efficiency in an AOM reaction system and the responses of temperature and sulfate concentration remain known. To cover the knowledge gap, this study investigated the enhancement of methane abatement in a self-manufactured AOMB system for 230 days via increasing temperatures and sulfate concentrations. The primary conclusions are as follows: (a) AOM and SR rates were significantly elevated at the conditions of temperature increase (8 to 15 °C) and sulfate addition (+15 mM). (b) Sulfate and temperature were key factors influencing the diversity of archaea and bacterial communities. (c) ANME-2c , ANME-1b , SEEP-SRB1 , and Halodesulfovibrio were dominant genera of methane‑sulfur cycling in the system. (d) Functional gene prediction revealed that the coupling of methane oxidation and dissimilatory sulfate reduction was responsible for the methane abatement. Our findings provide new insights into the enhancement of methane abatement efficiency in the deep sea and the application of AOM reaction systems. [Display omitted] • Methane consumption rate in the AOMB system at 15 °C were enhanced by 30.1–63.72% compared to 8 °C. • Sulfate and temperature as key drivers of variation in diversity of archaeal and bacterial communities in the system. • ANME-2c , ANME-1b , SEEP-SRB1 , and Halodesulfovibrio dominated the communities as functional genera of the methane‑sulfur cycle. • Seafloor methane abatement was mediated by the pathways of coupled methane oxidation and dissimilatory sulfate reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both pristine and Eu3+-doped scandium-potassium complex sulfate KSc(SO 4) 2 has been obtained with 99% yield via crystallization from solutions. The high-temperature XRPD and thermal studies revealed an enantiotropic first-order phase transition at 700–725 K and standard pressure. In the temperature region 724–754 K, the low-temperature stable monoclinic polymorph, β- KSc(SO 4) 2 (sp.gr. С 2/ m), coexists with the high-temperature trigonal modification, α -KSc(SO 4) 2 (sp.gr. P 321), with decomposition at ∼1120 K. DFT calculations confirmed this rank of polymorphs and a low hospitality of their Sc-sublattices for Eu3+ cations. Under UV excitation, the KSc 0.98 Eu 0.02 (SO 4) 2 sample exhibits Eu3+ luminescence at 570−720 nm. Heating of the sample from 298 K to 423 K leads to a luminescence fading of 13% and to its a sharp decline at elevated temperatures. Kinetic studies have shown that the lifetime depends on the chosen excitation wavelength and temperature. An Х -band resonance in the sample of KSc(SO 4) 2 :Eu3+ has been detected in the temperature range of 299–500 K. The EPR spectra are interpreted assuming the presence of sulfate radicals. [Display omitted] • Eu3+–doped and undoped KSc(SO 4) 2 was prepared in a high yield on scandium by hydrochemical method. • Polymorphism of KSc(SO 4) 2 was unveiled throughout high-temperature XRPD and thermal studies. • Relative stability and electronic properties of KSc(SO 4) 2 polymorphs were analyzed by DFT calculations. • Optical characteristics of KSc(SO 4) 2 :Eu3+ have been studied in the range of 298–473 K. • EPR spectra are interpreted under the assumption of the presence of sulfate radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury (Hg) pollution poses a significant environmental challenge. One promising method for its removal is the sorption of mercuric ions using biochar. FeS-doped biochar (FBC) exhibits effective mercury adsorption, however may release excess iron into the surrounding water. To address this issue, a novel magnetic pyrrhotite/magnetite-doped biochar with a core-shell structure was synthesized for the adsorption of 2-valent mercury (Hg(II)). The proposed synthesis process involved the use of algae powder and ferric sulfate in a one-step method. By varying the ratio of ferric sulfate and alga powder (within the range of 0.18 - 2.5) had a notable impact on the composition of FBC. As the ferric sulfate content increased, the FBC exhibited a higher concentration of oxygen-containing groups. To assess the adsorption capacity, Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were applied to the experimental data. The most effective adsorption was achieved with FBC-4, reaching a maximum capacity (Q m) of 95.51 mg/g. In particular, at low Hg(II) concentrations, FBC-5 demonstrated the ability to reduce Hg(II) concentrations to less than 0.05 mg/L within 30 min. Additionally, the stability of FBC was confirmed within the pH range of 3.8 - 7.2. The study also introduced a model to analyze the adsorption preference for different Hg(II) species. Calomel was identified in the mercury saturated FBC, whereas the core-shell structure exhibited excellent conductivity, which most likely contributed to the minimal release of iron. In summary, this research presents a novel and promising method for synthesizing core-shell structured biochar and provides a novel approach to explore the adsorption contribution of different metal species. [Display omitted] • Pyrrhotite/magnetite and biochar formed core-shell structure in FBC. • High sorption effective at low Hg(II) concentration by FBC-5. • Sorption preference of different Hg(II) species investigated by a new model. • FBCs have almost no iron release within pH range of 3.8-7.2. • FBCs can adsorb multiple heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damage induced in mass transfer process is a ubiquitous phenomenon in nature and living systems. A coupled physical–chemical modeling framework is proposed to clarify the mass transfer in damaged media. Such a theoretical framework shows that the mass transfer problem is no longer linear but non-linear, due to the mass transfer behavior is influenced not only by transport driving mechanisms but also by physical consumption mechanisms, chemical consumption mechanisms, and damage evolution. Based on the theoretical framework presented in this paper, one can choose specific mechanisms in each category, different mass transfer theories can be constructed to meet specific practical applications requirements. To verify the correctness and validity of this theoretical framework, we choose the theoretical model of sulfate ion transport in cement-based materials. This is because sulfate ions are the main cause to induce the corrosion cracks in concrete in the marine environment. The following mechanisms are considered: concentration gradient driven transfer, chemical reaction, continued hydration, filling effect, and expansion damage. 3D nonlinear partial differential equations with variable coefficients are derived for the system. The numerical results show that the chemical reaction has the dual characteristics of self-stagnation and acceleration of sulfate ion transport. The chemical reaction products consume the free ions and fill the pore structure, which reflects the self-stagnation of mass transfer, while the expansion force generated by the chemical products leads to the initiation of corrosion crack, which reflects the acceleration of mass transfer. The competitive outcome of the two mechanisms is acceleration feature as the dominant one. Finally, the proposed model efficacy is validated by comparing the numerical results with previously reported experimental data. [Display omitted] • Based on damage evolution, a coupled physical–chemical model for mass transfer is established. • Corrosion cracks is induced by the expansive stress of ettringite. • Corrosion cracks significantly accelerate corrosive ions transport. • Sulfate ions can be transported in the pores of the C-S-H gel. • 1D and 3D spatial–temporal distributions of damage and sulfate ions are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Establishing the Raman quantification curves of alkali sulfates at 25 °C to 250 °C. • Obtaining the correlation of quantitative calibration coefficient k and the temperature T. • Evaluating the potential application in determining sulfate content of FIs. The quantitative study of the sulfate content in natural fluid inclusions (FIs) will help our understanding of the processes of metal transport and related mineralization. The sulfate-rich FIs typically contain several types of sulfates with diverse cations such as Na+, K+, and so on. In order to get the sulfates contents in natural FIs, in situ Raman spectral quantitative calibration method is used to calibrate the Li 2 SO 4 , Na 2 SO 4 , K 2 SO 4 and Cs 2 SO 4 solutions at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 250 °C in our study. The results show that the A (SO 4 2−)/ A (H 2 O) ratio increases linearly with increasing m SO 4 2− in sulfate solutions containing single cation of Li, Na, K or Cs at the set temperatures, where A is Raman peak area and m is molality (mol/kg H 2 O), and a negative linear relationship exists between k (quantitative calibration coefficient) and temperature for sulfate solutions with specific cations up to 250 °C. Meanwhile, the slopes and the intercepts of the k-T correlation curves are obviously different among sulfate solutions with different cations, and the coefficients k of these sulfate solutions at certain temperature decrease with the increase of atomic number of the cation, in accordance with the following order: Li+ > Na+ > K+ > Cs+. As Na+ and K+ are the main cations in the natural sulfate-bearing FIs, the quantification of the multi-cation (Na ± K ± Li) sulfate solutions was evaluated by using the Raman quantitative calibration curves of Li 2 SO 4 , Na 2 SO 4 , K 2 SO 4 and Cs 2 SO 4 separately, the errors exist due to the use of calibration curves with different cations; the average concentration errors derived from the use of Na 2 SO 4 or K 2 SO 4 Raman quantitative calibration curves are within about 5 %, while those from the use of Li 2 SO 4 or Cs 2 SO 4 Raman quantitative calibration curves are within about 15 %. Therefore, the acceptable errors suggest that the calibration curves of individual sulfates can be applied to the determination of sulfate content of natural sulfate-bearing FIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]