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Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient that participates in several plant metabolisms. Soil application of Zn is an effective strategy to increase the productivity and Zn concentration in maize grains, but the effect of Zn fertilizers on the nutrients uptake and biofortification still needs more studies. In this study, a greenhouse plot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the optimum Zn fertilizer doses (0, 5.7, and 11.4 kg ha−1) on the nutrients uptake and Zn biofortification of maize crops. Zn applications were found to increase significantly the transpiration rate; photosynthesis rate, Zn, and P concentration in the maize shoot at the VT (Tasseling) stage as well as the grain Zn and maize grain yield. P, Mg, and phytic acid (PA) concentration in grains was also increased with a Zn application of 11.4 kg ha−1. The PA/Zn molar ratio in grains decreased due to the Zn application doses as compared with the control treatment, but there was no significant difference between Zn 5.7 and 11.4 kg ha−1 doses, while Zn 5.7 kg ha−1 achieved a higher PA/Fe molar ratio in maize grains compared to other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-silica, a predominant byproduct of industrial silicon enterprises, presents a substantial opportunity for recycling within the production of industrial silicon. In this study, we used micro-silica from an industrial silicon facility and commercially accessible N991 carbon black as experimental materials. We scrutinized the influence of micro-silica and carbon black on the yield and velocity of SiC formation under varying conditions: temperatures of 1625 °C, 1650 °C, and 1675 °C (1898 K, 1923 K, and 1948 K), disparate CO partial pressures, and diverse SiO2 to C molar ratios. Our findings reveal that micro-silica initiates melting at a threshold of 1600 °C. At a temperature of 1650 °C, the loss rate of SiO is minimised, resulting in the highest reaction matching degree. Elevated temperatures and increased CO partial pressures correspond to accelerated reaction rates. The carbothermal reaction rate is accelerated by molten SiO2 and CO. A harmonious correlation was observed between the SiO2 reactivity of the micro-silica and the SiO reactivity of the carbon black. The reaction between SiO2 and SiC in the molten state increases the weight loss rate and the reaction rate. The optimal agglomerate composition was determined to be mol(SiO2): mol(C) = 1:3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of the current study were to investigate the adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solution by thiol‐functionalized SBA‐15 materials designed by SBA‐15‐SH (x) where x is the SH/SBA‐15 molar ratio, which corresponds to the introduced moles number of Mercapto moieties to that of siliceous of the SBA‐15 materials. Furthermore, these materials were synthesized using 3‐Mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) via post‐grafting approach. SBA‐15‐SH(x) materials were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption‐desorption and FT‐IR. The incorporation of SH fragments was proved by FT‐IR Spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and solid state 13C and 29Si NMR Spectroscopy. The removal of lead ions is more important than that of cadmium ions. Furthermore, the lead removal on SBA‐15‐SH(x) increased with the increase of SH/SBA‐15 molar ratio (removal rate of 28.5, 71.3, and 96.8 % for SH/SBA‐15 molar ratio=0.35, 0.7 and 1.4, respectively) while the removal of cadmium was not affected (around 57 % removal rate for all molar ratios). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting the yield of the epicatechin gallate (EGCG)–Cu complex as an indicator, the impact of four conditions, such as pH, reaction time, temperature and reactant ratio, on the synthesis of the target complex was analyzed to identify the optimal conditions on synthesizing the compound. The reactant ratio between EGCG and Cu2+ was explored, and the characteristic peaks and functional groups of the EGCG–Cu complex were scrutinized by UV–Visible and Fourier-Transform Infrared spectrophotometers. Finally, the efficacy difference of bactericidal properties against Escherichia coli suspensions between EGCG and its complex was evaluated as the criteria. Furthermore, comparative studies were performed to gauge the antimicrobial activity of EGCG and its complex at equivalent concentrations. The results demonstrated that the optimal experimental conditions for the complex reaction were a pH of 7, at 40 °C, in a reaction time of 60 min and a reactant ratio of 1:2. By the molar ratio method, the reactant ratio was determined as n(EGCG):n(Cu2+) = 1:2, and the complex reaction was at the phenolic hydroxyl group on the benzene ring of EGCG. Compared to EGCG, the complex demonstrated significant enhancement in bactericidal properties against E. coli and has lower chromaticity. HIGHLIGHTS The optimal parameters for complexation were determined.; The absorbance curve showed that the complex ratio of EGCG and Cu2+ was 1:2.; The changes in absorption peaks of functional groups indicated that EGCG's phenolic hydroxyl groups on the benzene ring formed complexes.; Complexing Cu2+ to EGCG enhances its antibacterial properties.; The EGCG–Cu complex solution has lower chromaticity than EGCG during disinfection.;

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Comprising a relatively large amount of industrial solid waste, the high-value utilization of phosphogypsum (PG) is closely related to the sustainable development of resource materials and the protection of the ecological environment. PG can improve some of the shortcomings of geopolymers, but there is a lack of systematic research on the specific influencing factors as well as the mechanism of the two in a hydration reaction. In this study, the effects of the Si/Al, Na/Al and Ca/Al ratios on the micropores as well as the hydration products of phosphogypsum-modified geopolymer material (PMGM) are systematically explored via macroscopic and microscopic tests from the molar ratios of the raw material's target components. By changing the molar ratio, the generation of hydration products is affected, thereby altering the properties of the material. The effects of each molar ratio on paste workability, capillary water absorption, drying shrinkage and self shrinkage are systematically analyzed, while the types, productions, and micropores of hydration products are analyzed via XRD and SEM. This study provides a new idea for the large-scale recycling of PG and makes a systematic investigation of its hydration mechanism, which can provide a reference for the reaction principle of PG with geopolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To disperse fatty acids in aqueous solution, choline, a quaternary ammonium ion, has been used recently. So far, only the self-assembly of myristic acid (MA) in the presence of choline hydroxide as a function of the molar ratio has been investigated, and, thus, the current understanding of these fatty acid systems is still limited. We investigated the self-assembly of palmitic acid (PA) in the presence of choline hydroxide (ChOH) as a function of the molar ratio (R) between ChOH and PA. The self-assemblies were characterized by phase contrast microscopy, cryo-TEM, small-angle X-ray scattering, and 2H NMR. The ionization state of PA was determined by pH, conductivity, and FT-IR measurements. With increase in R, various self-assembled structures, including vesicles, lamellar phase, rigid membranes (large sheets, tubules, cones, and polyhedrals), and micelles, form in the PA/ChOH system, different from those of the MA/ChOH system. The change in R induces pH variation and, consequently, a change in the PA ionization state, which, in turn, regulates the molecular interactions, including hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction, leading to various self-assemblies. Temperature is an important factor used to tune the self-assembly transitions. The fatty acid choline systems studied here potentially may be applicable in medicine, chemical engineering, and biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gas-liquid interface properties and molecular adsorption of the binary mixtures of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cationic surfactant dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DTAC) with different molar ratios were described through molecular dynamics (MD) method with the aim of providing supplements to the experiments at the molecular level. The simulation results showed that the anionic/cationic surfactant mixtures can form a denser interfacial monomolecular layer than single surfactants, and the interface will tend to form equimolar adsorption eventually. The entry barrier of the interface under different molar ratios was investigated, the system with a high SDS ratio has higher the entry barrier, which means that the initial non-equal molar ratio of the interface composition may be more conducive to prolonging the existence time of the interface. The rupture process of the microscopic liquid film was simulated, and it was found that the site not covered by surfactant molecules was the point where the liquid film was prone to rupture. The critical rupture thickness of each models was about 0.8 ∼ 1.2 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) contents were determined in oysters Saccostrea palmula and Crassostrea corteziensis soft tissues from four coastal lagoons of the southeastern Gulf of California. The annual Hg mean concentrations for S. palmula (0.09 ± 0.04 µg g− 1, wet weight) and C. corteziensis (0.08 ± 0.04 µg g− 1) were similar (p ˃ 0.05) among the lagoons and did not exceed the limit established by the Norma Oficial Mexicana and World Health Organization (< 1.0 µg g− 1 Hg). On the other hand, the annual mean concentrations of Se for S. palmula (3.34 ± 0.96 µg g− 1) and C. corteziensis (2.79 ± 0.89 µg g− 1) were higher (p < 0.05) in El Colorado lagoon. The Se/Hg molar ratios were above 1; the positive selenium health benefit value index suggested that Se load in oysters could reduce the Hg potential toxic effect. The hazard quotient for Hg in both species was below 1. Therefore, the consumption of oysters does not represent a risk due to Hg ingestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in the presence of almond oil at various molar ratios of zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide, including 0.5:1, 0.75:1, 1:1, 1.25:1, and 1.5:1, to obtain pH values of 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7, respectively. The XRD results revealed that ZnO NPs exhibit a hexagonal structure, with high crystallinity. SEM results showed that dense and large sized ZnO NPs were formed at pH 11, and relatively small (~30–40 nm) NPs were obtained at pH 9. The size distribution can be explained in terms of the presence of O H − ions at different pH levels. However, the larger size of the NPs at pH 7 compared to those at pH 8–11 were due to the coalescence of NPs suitable for antioxidant/antibacterial activities. ZnO NPs demonstrated a high degradation efficiency (~93%) in 90 min, with a high rate constant for Methyl Orange (MO), which is better than the previously reported rate. The larger sized almond oil capped ZnO NPs also showed excellent radical scavenging activity (94%) and are proven to be good carriers to resist Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer‐derived ceramic materials exhibit adjustable composition, microstructure, and dielectric properties and are widely used as high temperature microwave absorption materials in the aerospace field. In this study, polymer‐derived SiCN ceramic aerogels with excellent electromagnetic wave absorption (EMA) properties were successfully fabricated through a combination of the sol‐gel, freeze‐ drying, and polymer precursor conversion methods. The hydrosilylation reaction between the Si‐H bond in polysilazane (a polymer ceramic precursor) and the C = C bond in divinylbenzene (a cross‐linking agent) occurs to form a wet gel. The effects of the molar ratios of the two bonds (C = C/Si‐H) on the microstructure and EMA properties of the SiCN ceramic aerogels were systematically studied. At a C = C/Si–H molar ratio of 1.25:1, the minimum reflection loss of the SiCN ceramic aerogels is −37.57 dB at 10.88 GHz. Moreover, the corresponding effective absorption bandwidth covers almost the entire X‐band, showing excellent EMA properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to incorporate pyrazine in the synthesis of Ni(II)-tartrate-pyrazine metal-organic frameworks or Ni(II)-T-P MOF as candidates of porous material. Synthesis of the targeted MOF was conducted at room temperature in a methanolic solution by mixing Ni(II) solution, L-tartaric acid (T), and pyrazine (P) solutions sequentially in various molar ratios (Ni(II):T:P = 1:1:0; 1:0:2; 1:2:2; and 1:2:4) using two different Ni(II) salts (chloride and nitrate). Solid products were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, qualitative anion identification test, melting point test, and scanning electron microscopy. The result shows that type of nickel salt affects the precipitation of Ni(II) complex, in which pale blue solids were precipitated out only from the chloride reactions (1:0:2, 1:2:2, and 1:2:4). IR and SEM analyses from the 1:2:2 and 1:2:4 reactions show the identical result as also shown by the 1:0:2 reaction, whereas qualitative anion identification test result suggests that the chloride is uncoordinated to the Ni(II). The targeted Ni(II)-T-P is unsuccessfully obtained, instead, the product is proposed to be [Ni(pyrazine)x(H2O)(6-x)]Cl2. although the tartaric acid was doubled and firstly reacted with the Ni(II), the pyrazine still has a higher preference to coordinate to the Ni(II) center than the tartrate ligand.

The pH values of pore solutions are of great significance for the durability of concrete, but the influencing factors and mechanisms of geopolymer pore solutions are still unclear and the composition of raw material elements has a great influence on the geological polymerization behavior of geopolymers. Therefore, we prepared geopolymers with different Al/Na and Si/Na molar ratios using metakaolin, and the pH and compressive strength values of the pore solutions were determined using solid–liquid extraction. Finally, the influencing mechanisms of sodium silica on the alkalinity and geological polymerization behavior of geopolymer pore solutions were also analyzed. The results showed that the pH values of the pore solutions decreased with an increase in the Al/Na ratio and increased with an increase in the Si/Na ratio. The compressive strength of the geopolymers first increased and then decreased with an increase in the Al/Na ratio and decreased with an increase in the Si/Na ratio. The exothermic rates of the geopolymers first increased and then slowed down with an increase in the Al/Na ratio, indicating that the reaction levels first increased and then decreased with an increase in the Al/Na ratio. The exothermic rates of the geopolymers gradually slowed down with an increase in the Si/Na ratio, indicating that an increase in the Si/Na ratio reduced the reaction levels. In addition, the results obtained from SEM, MIP, XRD and other test methods were consistent with the pH change laws of geopolymer pore solutions, i.e., the higher the reaction level, the denser the microstructure and the smaller the porosity, whereas the larger the pore size, the smaller the pH value of the pore solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite studies on the potential replacement of synthetic resins by bio-based adhesives such as proteins in recent years, there is still no reliable method for estimating the strength of wood products made using the combined parameters in the literature. This limitation is due to the nonlinear relationship between strength and the combined components. In the present research, the application of artificial intelligence techniques was studied to predict the bonding strength of glulam adhered by protein containing different ratios of MUF (melamine--urea--formaldehyde) resin with different F-to-U/M molar ratios at different press temperatures. For this purpose, the ANFIS artificial intelligence model was used as basic mode or combined with ant colony optimization (ACOR), particle swarm optimization (PSO), differential evaluation (DE) and genetic algorithms (GA) to develop an optimal trained model to predict the bonding strength of glulam based on experimental results. Comparison of the obtained results with the experimental results showed the ability of the above methods to estimate the bonding strength of glulam in a reliable manner. Although the basic ANFIS alone and in combination with other algorithms was not able to achieve an ideal performance prediction to estimate bonding strength, the combination of GA and ANFIS offered an excellent ability compared to the combination of other algorithms combined with ANFIS. Hence, the developed ANFIS-GA model is introduced as the best prediction technique to solve bonding strength problems of laminated products. In addition, using the developed optimal model, a precise attempt was made to show the nature of the parameters used to produce glulam and determine the optimum limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tocopherols are natural bioactive compounds with several health benefits. This study evaluated the effect of different ratios of α- and δ- tocopherol homologs to protect sunflower oil (SO) and olive pomace oil (OPO) against oxidation. A synergistic effect was recorded when the two tocopherols were combined at a ratio of 7:1 (α-T/δ-T). The oil samples were exposed to accelerated oxidation conditions using a Rancimat (90 °C and airflow of 15 L/h for 24 h) and protection from tocopherols was compared with that from butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Assessment of oil stability was examined using well-known parameters such as peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), p-anisidine value (p-AV), conjugated dienes (CD) and trienes (CT), and total oxidation (Totox) value, which were all significantly reduced when tocopherols were added at a ratio of 7:1 α-T/δ-T. Primary oxidative compounds measured according to PV were only reduced in SO samples (6.11%). Off-flavor compounds measured via TBARS assay in SO samples were reduced by above 20%, while p-AV was also reduced. CDvalue was correlated with PV in SO samples, while the 7:1 mixture was more effective than BHT for CTvalue. Total oxidation values in SO samples and OPO samples were reduced by 6.02% and 12.62%, respectively. These values in SO samples also provided a remarkable correlation (R2 > 0.95) with incubation time. Moreover, the synergistic effect was not only effective in reducing the oxidation values of oil samples, but also in lowering the degradation rate of tocopherols. Protective effects from tocopherols were mainly observed in SO samples, as OPO samples were more resistant to oxidation processes. This effect was even observed in fatty acid analysis, where the 7:1 mixture provided better results than BHT-spiked samples. Thus, it is suggested that tocopherol mixtures might be used as a natural preservative in the food industry to restrain lipid oxidation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although mineral chelates are widely produced to be used as food fortifiers, the proof that these complexes are chelates is still missing. In our present work, iron II complexes using citric acid in different ratios are produced, and the occurrence of chelation is investigated along with its behavior according to a molar ratio between the ligand and the mineral. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) were used for a non-structural characterization of these complexes. In contrast to published work, our findings show that the chelation of citric acid is achieved in the liquid form and at a low pH and that the molar ratio is very important in setting the direction of the reaction, either toward chelation or dimer formation. The ratio citric acid:iron 1:4 seems to be the most convenient ratio in which no free citric acid remains in the solution, while the 1:3 ratio behaves differently, requiring further investigations by such techniques as extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS), among others, in order to deeply identify the structural organization occurring in this ratio. NIR, extensively used in industries, proved to be very useful in the demonstration and characterization of chelates. These findings are particularly advantageous for pharmaceutical and food industries in offering an innovative competent fortifying agent to be used in combatting iron deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To disperse fatty acids in aqueous solution, choline, a quaternary ammonium ion, has been used recently. So far, only the self-assembly of myristic acid (MA) in the presence of choline hydroxide as a function of the molar ratio has been investigated, and, thus, the current understanding of these fatty acid systems is still limited. We investigated the self-assembly of palmitic acid (PA) in the presence of choline hydroxide (ChOH) as a function of the molar ratio (R) between ChOH and PA. The self-assemblies were characterized by phase contrast microscopy, cryo-TEM, small-angle X-ray scattering, and 2H NMR. The ionization state of PA was determined by pH, conductivity, and FT-IR measurements. With increase in R, various self-assembled structures, including vesicles, lamellar phase, rigid membranes (large sheets, tubules, cones, and polyhedrals), and micelles, form in the PA/ChOH system, different from those of the MA/ChOH system. The change in R induces pH variation and, consequently, a change in the PA ionization state, which, in turn, regulates the molecular interactions, including hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction, leading to various self-assemblies. Temperature is an important factor used to tune the self-assembly transitions. The fatty acid choline systems studied here potentially may be applicable in medicine, chemical engineering, and biotechnology.

The size, distribution, and morphology of TiC particle in Fe–Ti–C system have a great influence on the mechanical properties of TiC/Fe composites. In this work, TiC/Fe composites were fabricated in the Fe–Ti–C system with different carbon source and molar ratio by combustion synthesis and hot-pressing method. Morphology and size of ceramic particles, as well as microstructure, interface bonding and mechanical properties of composites were compared. The results showed that the size of TiC particles decreased with increase of Fe content of Fe–Ti–C systems fabricated by the same carbon source, while the particles change from spherical shapes to cubic shapes which can reduce stress concentration between ceramic particles and matrix. Furthermore, TiC/Fe composites fabricated by 5Fe–Ti-carbon blacks (CBs) system exhibited superior yield strength (1523 MPa) compressive strength (2203 MPa) and microhardness (691.5 HV), caused by the high interface bonding strength and lamellar pearlite matrix which can commendably limit the dislocation slip. By comparison, TiC/Fe composites fabricated by 21Fe–Ti-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) system showed higher fracture strain (25.85%) on account of the ferrite matrix with favorable plastic. This work reveals the influence of carbon source and molar ratio of Fe–Ti–C system on TiC/Fe composites, which is helpful to further improve the properties of TiC/Fe composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc(II)-niacinamide complexes from various Zn(II) salts were prepared and their antibacterial activities toward the E. coli and S. aureus are reported here. The effect of the M: L molar ratio (1:2, 1:4, 1:6) on the yield was studied and a possible molecular formula of the products was also proposed. Sulfate, nitrate, chloride, and acetate were used as the Zn(II) salts. The solid products were characterized by SEM, FTIR, powder XRD, melting point test, and qualitative anion identification test. Experimental data shows that solid products were only yielded from the chloride and sulfate salts. The larger the molar ratio used, the higher the crystal yield obtained. The colorless crystals obtained from the sulfate and the chloride reactions are predicted to be complexes of [Zn(L)x(SO4)] and [Zn(L)x]Cl2, respectively. Antibacterial test of both metal complexes toward E. coli and S. aureus shows that the complexes have better activity than that of the niacinamide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigate the effect of converting Bacopa floribunda BF leaves into Bacopa florbunda black herbal tea BFHT on the mineral profile, antinutrients, antioxidants, Anticholinesterase and lipid peroxidation inhibitory properties of Bacopa floribunda leaves. Bacopa floribunda leaves were plucked, destalked, withered, rolled, fermented/oxidized, milled, dried, cooled and packaged. The antinutrients phytate, saponin and tannin content of B. floribunda leaves reduced significantly (P ˂ 0.05) after processing into BFHT. The mineral ratios and molar ratios of minerals BFHT were within the critical values making them available for absorption. BFHT exhibited a very high and significant (P ˂ 0.05) total phenolics (60.08 mg GAE/g), total flavonoids (12.96 mg QE/g) and reducing power (50.38mg AAE/g). The scavenging activities of BFHT extract against DPPH and Nitric oxide (NO) was significantly (P ˂ 0.05) higher than freshly harvested B. floribunda leaves. BFHT (IC50 = 74.26 μg/ml) demonstrated a high significant (P ˂ 0.05) inhibitory capacity against Acetyl cholinesterase enzymes. The inhibition capacity of BFHT (IC50 = 0.65 μg/ml) against Fe2+ induced lipid peroxidation was significantly (P ˂ 0.05) higher than freshly harvested B. floribunda leaves (IC50 = 0.78 μg/ml). The study has demonstrated that high quality herbal tea BFHT could be produced from B. floribunda leaves and also serves as another method of food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid accelerating urbanization, the extensive use of concrete poses significant environmental challenges, particularly from the generation of concrete slurry waste (CSW). The high alkalinity and substantial volumes of CSW escalate recycling costs. Existing strategies, focused on reusing CSW into concrete production, fall short of addressing environmental pollution fundamentally. Geopolymer, now viewed as a sustainable alternative to ordinary Portland cement, has validated fly ash (FA) as an effective aluminosilicate precursor (AP). Herein, this study introduces a novel methodology to incorporate CSW into FA-based geopolymer. The impacts of CSW replacement ratio, alkali concentration, and curing conditions on the mechanical properties of geopolymer are examined. It has been preliminarily observed that elevated curing poses a positive impact on the strength of CSW-FA geopolymer whilst the CSW addition poses a negative one. Notably, under elevated curing, geopolymer with a 25% CSW replacement ratio consistently maintains a strength activity index above 80%. Further, the crystalline & amorphous phase and elemental concentration under various CSW replacement ratios and curing conditions were characterized. Tests indicate that Calcite is a significant reaction product from the addition of CSW, whilst elevated curing can facilitate the formation of Albite and Anorthite but inhibits the generation of Larnite and Bavenite. Furthermore, this study innovatively explores the correlation between the elemental molar ratios in bulk and crystalline composition with the strength of the resultant CSW-FA geopolymer. The Na/Ca molar ratio in the crystalline composition exhibits a strong and positive correlation. • Mechanical and micro properties of CSW-FA geopolymer were investigated. • Increase in CSW ratio generally lowers the mechanical performance of geopolymer. • Elevated curing positively impacts the mechanical performance CSW-FA geopolymer. • Curing condition and CSW ratio affect crystalline phase of geopolymer significantly. • Elemental molar ratios in crystalline phase were found highly correlated to UCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in the presence of almond oil at various molar ratios of zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide, including 0.5:1, 0.75:1, 1:1, 1.25:1, and 1.5:1, to obtain pH values of 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7, respectively. The XRD results revealed that ZnO NPs exhibit a hexagonal structure, with high crystallinity. SEM results showed that dense and large sized ZnO NPs were formed at pH 11, and relatively small (~30–40 nm) NPs were obtained at pH 9. The size distribution can be explained in terms of the presence of OH− ions at different pH levels. However, the larger size of the NPs at pH 7 compared to those at pH 8–11 were due to the coalescence of NPs suitable for antioxidant/antibacterial activities. ZnO NPs demonstrated a high degradation efficiency (~93%) in 90 min, with a high rate constant for Methyl Orange (MO), which is better than the previously reported rate. The larger sized almond oil capped ZnO NPs also showed excellent radical scavenging activity (94%) and are proven to be good carriers to resist Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria.

Biogeochemical properties of soils play a crucial role in soil and stream chemistry throughout a watershed. How water interacts with soils during subsurface flow can have impacts on water quality, thus, it is fundamental to understand where and how certain soil water chemical processes occur within a catchment. In this study, ~200 soil samples were evaluated throughout a small catchment in the Front Range of Colorado, USA to examine spatial and vertical patterns in major soil solutes among different landscape units: riparian areas, alluvial/colluvial fans, and steep hillslopes. Solutes were extracted from the soil samples in the laboratory and analyzed for major cation (Li, K, Mg, Br, and Ca) and anion (F, Cl, NO2, NO3, PO4, and SO4) concentrations using ion chromatography. Concentrations of most solutes were greater in near surface soils (10 cm) than in deeper soils (100 cm) across all landscape units, except for F which increased with depth, suggestive of surface accumulation processes such as dust deposition or enrichment due to biotic cycling. Potassium had the highest variation between depths, ranging from 1.04 mg/l (100 cm) to 3.13 mg/l (10 cm) sampled from riparian landscape units. Nearly every solute was found to be enriched in riparian areas where vegetation was visibly denser, with higher mean concentrations than the hillslopes and fans, except for NO3 which had higher concentrations in the fans. Br, NO2, and PO4 concentrations were often below the detectable limit, and Li and Na were not variable between depths or landscape units. Ratioed stream water concentrations (K:Na, Ca:Mg, and NO3:Cl) vs. discharge relationships compared to the soil solute ratios indicated a hydraulic disconnection between the shallow soils (

Ti2AlCx ceramic was produced by reactive hot pressing (RHP) of Ti:Al:C powder mixtures with a molar ratio of 2:1:1–.5 at 10–20 MPa, 1200–1300°C for 60 min. X‐ray diffraction analysis confirmed the Ti2AlC with TiC, Ti3Al as minor phases in samples produced at 10–20 MPa, 1200°C. The samples RHPed at 10 MPa, 1300°C exhibited ≥95 vol.% Ti2AlC with TiC as a minor phase. The density of samples increased from 3.69 to 4.04 g/cm3 at 10 MPa, 1200°C, whereas an increase of pressure to 20 MPa resulted from 3.84 to 4.07 g/cm3 (2:1:1 to 2:1:.5). The samples made at 10 MPa, 1300°C exhibited a density from 3.95 to 4.07 g/cm3. Reaction and densification were studied for 2Ti–Al–.67C composition at 10 MPa, 700–1300°C for 5 min showed the formation of Ti–Al intermetallic and TiC phases up to 900°C with Ti, Al, and carbon. The appearance of the Ti2AlC phase was ≥1000°C; further, as the temperature increased, Ti2AlC peak intensity was raised, and other phase intensities were reduced. The sample made at 700°C showed a density of 2.87 g/cm3, whereas at 1300°C it exhibited 3.98 g/cm3; further, soaking for 60 min resulted in a density of 4.07 g/cm3. Microhardness and flexural strength of Ti2AlC0.8 sample were 5.81 ±.21 GPa and 445 ± 35 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon (C) and silicon (Si) are essential lake ecosystem components, impacting both phytoplankton growth and other available elements and nutrients. In this study, we selected a typical floodplain-lake system to explore the seasonal role of coupled C and Si as matter is imported and exported through lotic water processes. Results showed considerably higher dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and dissolved total carbon (DTC) concentrations during the transitional stage between the dry and wet season (here referred to as TDW) compared to the other seasonal stages (5.81 mg/L–28.80 mg/L), indicating that imported runoff significantly effects the transport of C and Si. Rock weathering was the main source of dissolved silicon (DSi). The dilution effect and water temperature may also impact DIC, DOC, and DTC concentrations. Except for the wet season, Bacillariophyta was the dominant phytoplankton taxon, and diatom growth as well as the growth of other algae taxon may influence DSi and DTC concentrations through several biochemical processes. This study describes effects of coupled C and Si and highlights variation in environmental variables driven by the resident phytoplankton communities in a lake ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed at optimizing the two-stage transesterification efficiency of the production of C. inophyllum biodiesel using artificial neural network and Kriging predictive models. Response surface methodology was used to develop the central rotatable composite design of 27 trial experimental runs with variations in the input process parameters like methanol to oil molar ratio, potassium hydroxide catalyst loading, and reaction time. A multi-layered non-linear regressive artificial neural network model with feed-forward propagation and a numerical surrogate Kriging model was used to predict the C. inophyllum biodiesel yield. The efficacy of the developed model was verified using analysis of variance by comparing its coefficient of determination and the mean relative percentage deviation values. The optimized C. inophyllum biodiesel as 98.1% is derived with 0.94 v/v of methanol to oil molar ratio, 0.98 wt.% of potassium hydroxide catalyst loading, and 80 minutes reaction time with 70 °C constant reaction temperature as predicted by Kriging model. The optimized parameters were also verified experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of red mud on the performance of geopolymer concrete in regard to fresh and mechanical properties. Red mud was used as a binder, and GGBS replaced the binder. Different proportions of red mud ranging from 0 to 30% with an interval of 2% and activator agents such as KOH and K2SiO3 for various alkaline-to-binder ratios such as 0.30, 0.40, and 0.50 were used; their effect on the fresh and mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete were the focusing parameter on the current study. Fresh properties such as setting time, slump, compaction factor, and vee-bee consistometer test, and mechanical properties such as compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, and impact energy were studied. ANOVA and radar plot analysis were studied for various alkaline to binder (A/B) compressive strength results tested for 7 to 90 days. The increase of red mud quantity caused the decline of workability, but there was continuous enhancement of mechanical properties of GPC up to a specific limit. An alkaline-to-binder ratio of 0.4 shows excellent results compared with other ratios at ambient conditions for strength properties. ANOVA and radar plot reveal that A/B of 0.40 for 90 days shows excellent results compared with other ratios, and CS values vary in a linear manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

OBJECTIVE: Phytate, an important component of plant origin foods, works as a chelator for mineral nutrients such as iron. Estimating the phytate‐iron molar ratio is a traditional method to assess the bioavailability of dietary iron, and a ratio >1 is suggestive of poor absorption of iron through the intestinal mucosa. In Bangladesh, the ratio is considerably higher; nonetheless, the haemoglobin and ferritin status are satisfactory. Hence, we appraised phytate‐iron molar ratios and concomitant haemoglobin and ferritin status. METHODS: Dietary intake of iron and phytate was estimated in non‐pregnant non‐lactating women and school‐age children from a nationally representative survey. The phytate‐iron molar ratios were estimated. Linear regressions on haemoglobin for the phytate‐iron molar ratios and on molar ratios predicting inflammation‐adjusted ferritin were performed. RESULTS: The median ratios were 6.12 in women and 5.47 in children, with corresponding haemoglobin concentrations of 12.6 and 12.5 g/dl. Hypothetical lowering of the ratios by ~50% revealed a nominal increment of haemoglobin and ferritin. CONCLUSION: The standard cut‐off phytate‐iron molar ratio of >1 is inconsistent with the iron and haemoglobin status of the Bangladeshi population. One plausible explanation for the inconsistency is a non‐dietary environmental factor—groundwater iron. Isotope studies incorporating the iron from dietary and the drinking groundwater sources are needed to establish a ratio which might better explain iron bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to incorporate pyrazine in the synthesis of Ni(II)-tartrate-pyrazine metal organic frameworks or Ni(II)-T-P MOF as candidate of porous material. Synthesis of the targeted MOF was conducted at room temperature in a methanolic solution by mixing Ni(II) solution, L-tartaric acid (T), and pyrazine (P) solutions sequentially in various molar ratios (Ni(II):T:P = 1:1:0; 1:0:2; 1:2:2; and 1:2:4) using two different Ni(II) salts (chloride and nitrate). Solid products were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, qualitative anion identification test, melting point test, and scanning electron microscopy. The result shows that type of nickel salt affects the precipitation of Ni(II) complex, in which pale blue solids were precipitated out only from the chloride reactions (1:0:2, 1:2:2, and 1:2:4). IR and SEM analyses from the 1:2:2 and 1:2:4 reactions show identical result as also shown by the 1:0:2 reaction, whereas qualitative anion identification test result suggests that the chloride is uncoordinated to the Ni(II). The targeted Ni(II)-T-P is unsuccessfully obtained, instead the product is proposed to be [Ni(pyrazine)x(H2O)(6-x)]Cl2. although the tartaric acid was doubled and firstly reacted with the Ni(II), the pyrazine still has higher preference to coordinate to the Ni(II) center than the tartrate ligand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fate of β-glucan (BG) health promoting properties during food production is crucial, but not predictable yet. Therefore, high molar mass BG (hBG) and control BG (cBG) were extracted from two barley varieties, characterized and added to wheat breads at levels of 3% and 6%. Bread quality criteria, carbohydrate contents and BG content and structural properties were determined. Additionally, breads were subjected to an in vitro digestion. The BG content in the chyme, molar mass, molar ratio, viscosity and bile acid retention were determined. The hBG and the cBG decreased loaf volume and increased crumb hardness with increasing BG content. The reduction in BG content during bread making was similar for hBG and cBG, but the molar mass of cBG decreased to a greater extent. As a result, only 10% of cBG entering in vitro digestion were found in the chyme afterwards, while 40% of the ingested hBG were detected. Molar mass reduction was much more severe for cBG compared to hBG. The use of hBG showed higher viscosity and better bile acid retention, indicating cholesterol lowering properties, compared to similar or higher amounts of cBG. These results provide valuable knowledge on the criteria to select BG-rich raw materials for ideal health promoting properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the influence of molar ratio of the synthetic solution of methylammonium iodide (MAI) and PbI2 on perovskite solar cells. The complete perovskite crystals must be produced in a low-humidity environment. The substrate is spin-coated in the adjusted MAPbI3 synthesis solution and annealed by using a nitrogen furnace tube to form perovskite crystals. During the crystallization of MAPbI3, some of the PbI2 remains, which improves the efficiency of the perovskite solar cell. Therefore, we adjust the molar concentration of MAI to find the appropriate amount of the PbI2 residual. We fix the MAI molar concentration at 1 M and adjust the PbI2 molar concentration from 0.8 M to 1.4 M. The molar ratios of MAI and PbI2 are, then, 1:0.8, 1:1, 1:1.2, and 1:1.4, respectively. Then, we use UV–vis, FE-SEM, and photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) measurements for comparing the growth of perovskite crystals and their photoelectric characteristics. The results show that 1.2 M of PbI2 is the most appropriate concentration for perovskite solar cells among the adjusted concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is endowed with several indigenous foods (IFs), that hold special cultural significance among local and ethnic caommunities, yet no attempts have been made till date to systematically compile their nutritive values. As per FAO's recent mandate on creation of “Global-Hub on Indigenous Food Systems,” IFs have received renewed global recognition for their potential to contribute to improved food security while enhancing biodiversity across the world. Hence, the useful properties of wild IFs require proper study and documentation in order to bridge the gap between scientific evidence generation and indigenous peoples' ancestral knowledge. For this purpose, we conducted a literature search in two scientific databases: PubMed and Google Scholar, between July 2020 and December 2021, to identify studies reporting nutritive values and/or antinutrient content of IFs (not included in Indian food composition database), consumed by Indian indigenous communities. A total of 52 Indian research articles were included, from which data was selected and extracted, to create a compendium on nutrient (n = 508) and antinutrient (n = 123) content of IFs, followed by computation of antinutrient-to-mineral molar ratios for 98 IFs to predict their mineral bioavailability. Maximum nutritive values were available for green leafy vegetables (n = 154), followed by other vegetables (n = 98), fruits (n = 66), cereals (n = 63), roots & tubers (n = 51) and nuts and legumes (n = 36). Several IFs seen to have better nutritional content than conventional foods and were found to be rich (i.e., >20% Indian recommended dietary allowances per reference food serve) in iron (54%), calcium (35%), protein (30%), vitamin C (27%), vitamin A (18%), zinc (14%) and folate (13%). Some IFs displayed high levels of antinutrients, however, anti-nutrient-to-mineral molar ratios were found to be low (for mainly leafy vegetables, other vegetables, and roots and tubers), thus indicating high mineral bioavailability. Hence, efforts are desirable to encourage the inclusion of these nutritionally superior IFs into the usual diets of indigenous communities. The IF database collated in our review can serve as a resource for researchers and policymakers to better understand the nutritional properties of region-specific IFs and promote them through contextual food-based interventions for improved dietary quality and nutrition outcomes in indigenous population of India.

Despite studies on the potential replacement of synthetic resins by bio-based adhesives such as proteins in recent years, there is still no reliable method for estimating the strength of wood products made using the combined parameters in the literature. This limitation is due to the nonlinear relationship between strength and the combined components. In the present research, the application of artificial intelligence techniques was studied to predict the bonding strength of glulam adhered by protein containing different ratios of MUF (melamine–urea–formaldehyde) resin with different F-to-U/M molar ratios at different press temperatures. For this purpose, the ANFIS artificial intelligence model was used as basic mode or combined with ant colony optimization (ACOR), particle swarm optimization (PSO), differential evaluation (DE) and genetic algorithms (GA) to develop an optimal trained model to predict the bonding strength of glulam based on experimental results. Comparison of the obtained results with the experimental results showed the ability of the above methods to estimate the bonding strength of glulam in a reliable manner. Although the basic ANFIS alone and in combination with other algorithms was not able to achieve an ideal performance prediction to estimate bonding strength, the combination of GA and ANFIS offered an excellent ability compared to the combination of other algorithms combined with ANFIS. Hence, the developed ANFIS-GA model is introduced as the best prediction technique to solve bonding strength problems of laminated products. In addition, using the developed optimal model, a precise attempt was made to show the nature of the parameters used to produce glulam and determine the optimum limit.

The pH values of pore solutions are of great significance for the durability of concrete, but the influencing factors and mechanisms of geopolymer pore solutions are still unclear and the composition of raw material elements has a great influence on the geological polymerization behavior of geopolymers. Therefore, we prepared geopolymers with different Al/Na and Si/Na molar ratios using metakaolin, and the pH and compressive strength values of the pore solutions were determined using solid–liquid extraction. Finally, the influencing mechanisms of sodium silica on the alkalinity and geological polymerization behavior of geopolymer pore solutions were also analyzed. The results showed that the pH values of the pore solutions decreased with an increase in the Al/Na ratio and increased with an increase in the Si/Na ratio. The compressive strength of the geopolymers first increased and then decreased with an increase in the Al/Na ratio and decreased with an increase in the Si/Na ratio. The exothermic rates of the geopolymers first increased and then slowed down with an increase in the Al/Na ratio, indicating that the reaction levels first increased and then decreased with an increase in the Al/Na ratio. The exothermic rates of the geopolymers gradually slowed down with an increase in the Si/Na ratio, indicating that an increase in the Si/Na ratio reduced the reaction levels. In addition, the results obtained from SEM, MIP, XRD and other test methods were consistent with the pH change laws of geopolymer pore solutions, i.e., the higher the reaction level, the denser the microstructure and the smaller the porosity, whereas the larger the pore size, the smaller the pH value of the pore solution.

Although mineral chelates are widely produced to be used as food fortifiers, the proof that these complexes are chelates is still missing. In our present work, iron II complexes using citric acid in different ratios are produced, and the occurrence of chelation is investigated along with its behavior according to a molar ratio between the ligand and the mineral. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) were used for a non-structural characterization of these complexes. In contrast to published work, our findings show that the chelation of citric acid is achieved in the liquid form and at a low pH and that the molar ratio is very important in setting the direction of the reaction, either toward chelation or dimer formation. The ratio citric acid:iron 1:4 seems to be the most convenient ratio in which no free citric acid remains in the solution, while the 1:3 ratio behaves differently, requiring further investigations by such techniques as extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS), among others, in order to deeply identify the structural organization occurring in this ratio. NIR, extensively used in industries, proved to be very useful in the demonstration and characterization of chelates. These findings are particularly advantageous for pharmaceutical and food industries in offering an innovative competent fortifying agent to be used in combatting iron deficiency.

Tocopherols are natural bioactive compounds with several health benefits. This study evaluated the effect of different ratios of α- and δ- tocopherol homologs to protect sunflower oil (SO) and olive pomace oil (OPO) against oxidation. A synergistic effect was recorded when the two tocopherols were combined at a ratio of 7:1 (α-T/δ-T). The oil samples were exposed to accelerated oxidation conditions using a Rancimat (90 °C and airflow of 15 L/h for 24 h) and protection from tocopherols was compared with that from butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Assessment of oil stability was examined using well-known parameters such as peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), p-anisidine value (p-AV), conjugated dienes (CD) and trienes (CT), and total oxidation (Totox) value, which were all significantly reduced when tocopherols were added at a ratio of 7:1 α-T/δ-T. Primary oxidative compounds measured according to PV were only reduced in SO samples (6.11%). Off-flavor compounds measured via TBARS assay in SO samples were reduced by above 20%, while p-AV was also reduced. CDvalue was correlated with PV in SO samples, while the 7:1 mixture was more effective than BHT for CTvalue. Total oxidation values in SO samples and OPO samples were reduced by 6.02% and 12.62%, respectively. These values in SO samples also provided a remarkable correlation (R2 > 0.95) with incubation time. Moreover, the synergistic effect was not only effective in reducing the oxidation values of oil samples, but also in lowering the degradation rate of tocopherols. Protective effects from tocopherols were mainly observed in SO samples, as OPO samples were more resistant to oxidation processes. This effect was even observed in fatty acid analysis, where the 7:1 mixture provided better results than BHT-spiked samples. Thus, it is suggested that tocopherol mixtures might be used as a natural preservative in the food industry to restrain lipid oxidation processes.

Optimization biodiesel production from tree borne, non-edible Madhuca longifolia oil was experimentally investigated in the present study. Madhuca longifolia, categorised under second generation of feedstock for biodiesel production, has wide scope in the future. As the Free Fatty Acid (FFA) content of Madhuca longifolia oil was 19% the biodiesel production was carried out by using two stage esterification and transesterification processes. In the first stage acid catalysed esterification was done using H2SO4 and the FFA content of Madhuca longifolia oil was brought down to less than 2%. The second stage of transesterification was carried out using NaOH as base catalyst. During the transesterification, the observation was made on various operating parameters like reaction time, catalyst concentration and methanol to oil molar ratio at three different reaction temperatures 55°C, 60°C and 65°C. The optimised process parameters for the maximum yield of 87.8% of Madhuca longifolia biodiesel were methanol to oil molar ratio of 1:6 % weight of catalyst to oil of 3.00 for a reaction time of 60 minutes at reaction temperature 60°C. In order to use the produced Madhuca longifolia biodiesel in the existing engines, the physiochemical properties were measured for its compliance with American Standard for Testing Materials and found to be in accordance with ASTM D6751 standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fides et Ratio is the property of Universidad La Salle de Bolivia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We describe herein a detailed study on the effect of molar ratio MR = n(OH−)/n(Ca2+) on the Phosphogypsum (PG) waste ammonia-carbonation process. The use of an aqueous NH3 solution/gaseous CO2 mixture as an alternative and environmental medium compared with other mediums [(NH4)2CO3 for example] is proposed for CO2 capture and PG recycling. The main purity, reaction time, and production efficiency of the obtained products were systematically studied for the different molar ratios using several physicochemical techniques: XRD, XRF, FTIR, SEM/EDX, pH, and electrical conductivity meters. For economic reasons, the molar ratio was varied to obtain values close to those of the stoichiometry, MR (2 ≤ MR ≤ 4). The obtained results show that the MR presents an important effect on the conversion process. In parallel, a comparative study between the conversion process of the synthetic gypsum (SG) and PG shows that the two samples are similar. All these findings revealed that PG waste could be used as a substituent to the SG in the general application of this last useful product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid growth of the world's informatics innovation, printed circuit boards (PCBs) processing produces wastewaters with copper and nickel ions. This study aims to remove and recover copper and nickel ions from synthetic PCB wastewater using a fluidized-bed homogeneous granulation process (FBHGP). FBHGP is an advanced green technology that removes copper and nickel and transforms the sludge into a hard granule. The impacts on the removal and granulation of copper and nickel of the initial operating pH, molar ratio (MR) of precipitant to metal, and precipitant flow rate have been evaluated. The highest copper removal was attained at 97% at pH of 6.5 and 98% copper removal at an MR of 2.0 and 10 mL·min-1. A 93% copper granulation was achieved at the same pH, while a 94% copper granulation was also achieved at the same MR and precipitant flow rate. At a pH of 7.5, 85% nickel removal and 74% granulation were attained for a nickel. At an MR of 1.75, 82% and 74% were the highest removal and granulation. While at 25 mL·min-1, the highest removal was 83%, and 73% nickel granulation was achieved. Copper has been successfully recovered from synthetic PCB wastewater using FBHGP. At the same time, nickel needs a multi-step FBR, which is more suitable for the recovery of nickel under the same conditions applied during the same period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the reduction of CO2 using magnesium and calcium hydride (AeH2, Ae = Mg or Ca), in the process of which clean H2‐mixed CH4 fuel is produced. The result of this investigation shows that the particle size of AeH2 and AeH2/CO2 molar ratio can greatly affect the molar percentage value and reaction yield of methane. In general, the magnesium or calcium hydride as‐milled for 2 hr is enough active for reduction of CO2 to CH4. When the molar ratio of AeH2/CO2 is set to 2:1, the methanation effect is optimal for both reaction systems. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]