Heavy metal and water quality at settling ponds of a post-mining area after reclamation and revegetation at Cibadak Sukabumi, Indonesia

We analyzed the heavy metals and water quality of a post-mining area of ​​silica for material of cement factory. The research was located in the Cibadak district, Sukabumi West Java Indonesia. The water sampling method was carried out in two locations, namely a large settling pond and a small settling pond. Water quality parameters were analyzed such as pH, alkalinity, turbidity, total organic matter, and total ammonia nitrogen. The results showed that the water in both pond contents heavy metals. The heavy metals in the form were Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Arsen (As), Ferrum (Fe), and Cromium (Cr6+) in the both settling ponds. However, in small ponds there was a higher Fe value so the water is yellowish. There is a difference in acidity showed in the two ponds, pH 3-4 in the small pond and the large pond pH 7-8. Total organic matter was higher in large pond. Small settling pond has a very low pH value, so they are classified as acidic waters and contain high iron content so they cannot be used for human needs or aquatic life. Large settling ponds can still be used for aquaculture activities.

Compositional Features and Nutritional Value of Pig Brain: Potential and Challenges as a Sustainable Source of Nutrients

The goal of this study was to establish the nutritional value and compositional properties of the brains of crossbred pigs (Landrace–Large white–Duroc (LLD)), in order to realize the zero-waste concept and increase the use of by-products in the sustainable meat industry. Fat (9.25% fresh weight (fw)) and protein (7.25% fw) were the principal dry matters of pig brain, followed by carbohydrate and ash. Phospholipid and cholesterol had a 3:1 ratio. Pig brain had a red tone (L* = 63.88, a* = 5.60, and b* = 15.43) and a high iron content (66 mg/kg) due to a total heme protein concentration of 1.31 g/100 g fw. The most prevalent macro-element was phosphorus (14 g/kg), followed by potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. Zinc, copper, and manganese were among the other trace elements discovered. The most prevalent nitrogenous constituents were alkali-soluble protein, followed by water-soluble protein, stromal protein, salt-soluble protein, and non-protein nitrogen. Essential amino acids were abundant in pig brain (44% of total amino acids), particularly leucine (28.57 mg/g protein), threonine, valine, and lysine. The total lipid, neutral, and polar lipid fractions of the pig brain had different fatty acid compositions. The largest amount was observed in saturated fatty acids (SFA), followed by monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Stearic acid and palmitic acid were the most common SFA. Oleic acid was the most prevalent MUFA, while docosahexaenoic acid was the most common PUFA. Thus, the pig brain can be used in food formulations as a source of nutrients.

The Deep Rocky Biosphere: New Geomicrobiological Insights and Prospects

Rocks that react with liquid water are widespread but spatiotemporally limited throughout the solar system, except for Earth. Rock-forming minerals with high iron content and accessory minerals with high amounts of radioactive elements are essential to support rock-hosted microbial life by supplying organics, molecular hydrogen, and/or oxidants. Recent technological advances have broadened our understanding of the rocky biosphere, where microbial inhabitation appears to be difficult without nutrient and energy inputs from minerals. In particular, microbial proliferation in igneous rock basements has been revealed using innovative geomicrobiological techniques. These recent findings have dramatically changed our perspective on the nature and the extent of microbial life in the rocky biosphere, microbial interactions with minerals, and the influence of external factors on habitability. This study aimed to gather information from scientific and/or technological innovations, such as omics-based and single-cell level characterizations, targeting deep rocky habitats of organisms with minimal dependence on photosynthesis. By synthesizing pieces of rock-hosted life, we can explore the evo-phylogeny and ecophysiology of microbial life on Earth and the life’s potential on other planetary bodies.

In Situ Control of Thermal Activation Conditions by Color for Serpentines with a High Iron Content

Serpentine heat treatment at temperatures of 650–750 °C yields magnesium–silicate reagent with high chemical activity. Precise and express control of roasting conditions in laboratory kilns and industrial aggregates is needed to derive thermally activated serpentines on a large scale. Color change in serpentines with a high iron content during roasting might be used to indicate the changes in chemical activity in the technological process. This study gives a scientific basis for the express control of roasting of such serpentines by comparing the colors of the obtained material and the reference sample. Serpentines with different chemical activity were studied by X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and optical spectroscopy. The color parameters were determined using RGB (red, green, blue), CIELAB (International Commission on Illumination 1976 L*a*b), and HSB (hue, brightness, saturation) color models. The color of heat-treated samples was found to be affected by changes in the crystallochemical characteristics of iron included in the structure of the serpentine minerals. The color characteristics given by the CIELAB model were in good coherence with the acid-neutralizing ability and optical spectra of heat-treated serpentines. Thus, in contrast to the long-term analysis by these methods, the control by color palette provides an express assessment of the quality of the resulting product.

Study on the corrosion of refractory materials by coal blended with the extraction residue of direct coal liquefaction in a simulated gasification atmosphere

Utilizing the extraction residue (ER) of direct coal liquefaction residue as a gasification feedstock has significant economic value. But the characteristic of high ash and iron in the ER would increase the risk of corrosion of the refractory materials and affect the long-term operation of the gasifier. In this work, corrosion experiments of molten slag derived from a mixture of 20 wt% ER and 80 wt% coal on a high-chromia refractory brick and SiC brick were carried out using a rotary-drum furnace in a simulated gasification atmosphere. The experimental results show that the viscosity of the poured slag is larger as compared to the initial ash sample at the same temperature, which suggests that the viscosity–temperature relationship of the poured slag should be used as the reference for the operation temperature of the gasifier to ensure that the slag can flow during operation. For a high-chromia refractory brick, iron oxides in molten slag could react with Cr2O3 in the refractory matrix but, because the aggregate was not found to be damaged, the damage to the matrix structure was the key factor for causing the corrosion of the high-chromia refractory brick. Metallic iron was observed in the exposed SiC brick, which indicated that the reaction between the iron oxides in the slag and SiC occurred, forming metallic iron and SiO2. The corrosion of a SiC brick by molten slag depended mainly on the dissolution of Al2O3 particles and the reaction between iron oxides in the molten slag and SiC particles. Therefore, the high iron content in coal ash had a serious influence on the corrosion of refractory materials. More efforts need to be made on coal blended with ER as a gasification feedstock in the future.

EXPRESS: Evidence supporting a role for circulating macrophages in the regression of vascular remodeling following sub-chronic exposure to hemoglobin plus hypoxia

Macrophages are a heterogeneous population with both pro, and anti-inflammatory functions play an essential role in maintaining tissue homeostasis, promoting inflammation under pathological conditions, and tissue repair after injury. In pulmonary hypertension (PH), the M1 phenotype is more pro-inflammatory compared to the M2 phenotype, which is involved in tissue repair. The role of macrophages in the initiation and progression of PH is well studied. However, their role in the regression of established PH is not well known. Rats chronically exposed to hemoglobin (Hb) plus hypoxia (HX) share similarities to humans with PH associated with hemolytic disease, including the presence of a unique macrophage phenotype surrounding distal vessels that are associated with vascular remodeling. These lung macrophages are characterized by high iron content, HO-1, ET-1, and IL-6 and are recruited from the circulation. Depletion of macrophages in this model prevents the development of PH and vascular remodeling. In this study, we specifically investigate the regression of PH over a four-week duration after rats were removed from Hb+HX exposure with and without gadolinium chloride administration. Withdrawal of Hb+HX reversed systolic pressures and right ventricular function after Hb+Hx exposure in 4 weeks. Our data show that depleting circulating monocytes/macrophages during reversal prevents complete recovery of right ventricular systolic pressure and vascular remodeling in this rat model of PH at 4 weeks post exposure. The data presented offer a novel insight into the role of macrophages in the processes of PH regression in a rodent model of Hb+Hx-driven disease

Phase Composition, Nanohardness and Young’s Modulus in Ti-Fe Alloys after Heat Treatment and High Pressure Torsion

Four titanium-iron binary alloys were studied. They were preliminarily annealed in the (α + b) and (α + TiFe) regions of the Ti-Fe phase diagram. The changes in the phase composition, nanohardness, and Young’s modulus of the annealed alloys before and after high pressure torsion (HPT) were investigated. Alloys with high iron content after HPT contain a large fraction of the ω phase. The nanohardness of the material in the middle of the radius of the HPT samples varies in the same range of values between 4.4 and 5.8 GPa, regardless of the preliminary annealing. Young’s modulus is a parameter sensitive to structural and phase changes in the material. After HPT, it increases by a factor of 1.5 after preliminary annealing in the (α + b) region in comparison with that in (α + TiFe) region.

High iron content in river waters: environmental risks for aquatic biota and human health

This study assessed the concentrations of metals in the Dourados and Brilhante Rivers, investigated the influence of landscape features surrounding these rivers on water quality, and evaluated the risks associated with metal contamination for aquatic biota and human health. Sampling was conducted at eighteen sites distributed along the rivers in June 2016. The concentrations of metals (Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cr, Al and Co) in the water were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. All the samples possessed Fe concentrations above the threshold value for aquatic biota (0.3 mg L-1). Moreover, land use and land cover assessment of the study area revealed extensive agriculture activity, particularly in areas surrounding the Dourados River headwaters. Fe bioavailability for both rivers indicated risks for aquatic biota and human health. Overall, the elevated Fe content in these rivers was attributed to anthropogenic activity in the vicinity of these water bodies and the soil characteristics of the area. Considering the importance of river basins, it is necessary to implement public policies for their conservation, especially those related to the cultivation of forests of native species and sustainable agricultural practices, in addition to improving the effluent treatment infrastructure, which is essential to minimize the adverse effects of contamination by chemical elements in water bodies. Keywords: aquatic ecosystems, environmental contaminants, forest fragments.