Preliminary geochemical characterization of the Mts. Simbruini karst aquifer (Central Italy)

Mts. Simbruini karst aquifer feeds important springs whose capture contributes to the water supply of Rome City. To improve the geochemical characterization of this aquifer, we analyzed 36 groundwater samples, 29 from springs and 7 from shallow wells, collected in 1996 and 2019. Atomic adsorption spectroscopy, tritration, ionic chromatography and mass spectrometry were the used analytical methods. Ground waters are bicarbonate alkaline-earth type and HCO3 dominance confirms that the aquifer is hosted in carbonate rocks. Total alkalinity vs. cations plot indicates that CO2 driven weathering controls the water chemistry. The probability plots of HCO3, cations and Ca2+ +Mg2+ indicate four groundwater populations with the less represented one (9 samples) characterized by the highest PCO2 values (>0.3 atm). Most anomalous values of the dissolved PCO2 are from springs located near the center of the studied area. Four samples have negative values of d13CCO2 (about -22‰ vs. PDB), indicating its organic origin, but two other samples have positive values (1.6 and 2.6 ‰ vs. PDB), similar to those observed in the CO2 of deep origin discharged at the close Colli Albani volcano. Therefore, geochemical evidence indicates that the Mts. Simbruini aquifer is locally affected by the input of deep originated CO2, likely rising up along fractures, interacting with a recharge of meteoric origin, as evidenced by its d2H and d18O isotopic signatures.

Complete Assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR Spectra of Carthamin Potassium Salt Isolated from Carthamus tinctorius L.

Carthamin potassium salt isolated from Carthamus tinctorius L. was purified by an improved traditional Japanese method, without using column chromatography. The 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals of the pure product were fully assigned using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, while the high purity of the potassium salt and deprotonation at the 3′ position of carthamin were confirmed by atomic adsorption spectroscopy and nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Complete Assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR Spectra of Carthamin Potassium Salt Isolated from Carthamus Tinctorius L.

Carthamin potassium salt isolated from Carthamus tinctorius L. was purified by an improved traditional Japanese method, without using column chromatography. The 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals of the pure product were fully assigned using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, while the high purity of the potassium salt and deprotonation at the 3’ position of carthamin were confirmed by atomic adsorption spectroscopy and nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Seasonable Variation on Trace Metals Statistical Values of Groundwater in and Around Tannery Areas of Vellore District

This paper investigates the determination of seasonable variation of trace metals named Copper, Zinc, Iron, Cadmium, Chromium and Lead set down in the groundwater in and around area of tannery areas of Vellore district. The tanneries discharge untreated tannery effluents, which get mixed with the soil, water of the Palar River, and underground in this area. The determination of metals was performed for the groundwater samples which are collected from adjacent to tannery localities, which bears untreated tannery effluents at pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. The metals might be deposited into the plants and vegetables grown on that agricultural soil, which disturb human health. Somewhat risky amount of trace metals were found in some groundwater samples, especially in the case of in pre-monsoon. All these trace metals were analysed by the Atomic adsorption spectroscopy technique (AAS). These metals contamination in the groundwater is answerable for the support of harmfulness in farming crops and underground water.

Oil and Gas Chemistry

The textbook provides up-to-date data on the composition and properties of hydrocarbons and other oil and gas compounds, on the physical and chemical methods and methods for separating and identifying oil components (molecular spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, atomic adsorption spectroscopy, neutron activation analysis). The chemistry and mechanism of thermal and catalytic transformations of oil components in the main processes of oil raw materials processing, as well as the problems of the origin of oil and the transformation of oil in the environment are considered. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation. It is intended for training in the course "Chemistry of oil and gas", for the preparation of bachelors, masters and certified specialists in the field of training "Oil and Gas business". It can be used for training in other areas in oil and gas universities and be of interest to specialists working in the field of chemistry and technology of oil refining and in other areas of the oil and gas industry.

Heavy metals assessment in water, soil, vegetables and their associated health risks via consumption of vegetables, District Kasur, Pakistan

The consumption of contaminated vegetables has a great impact on human health. Due to this fact, we conduct the study to estimate the heavy metals in groundwater, soil, and vegetables by using the atomic adsorption spectroscopy (AAS) and find out the health risk using THQ and TCR caused by using these vegetables. The mean concentrations of As (0.015–0.40 mg/L), Cd (0.02–0.029 mg/L), Co (0.31–0.38 mg/L), Cr (1.02–1.09 mg/L), Cu (2.14–2.17 mg/L), and Hg (0.01–0.04 mg/L) are high in groundwater from threshold values given by WHO. The mean concentrations of As (22.17–23.14 mg/kg), Cd (4.21–4.54 mg/kg), Cu (21.24–24.36 mg/kg), and Pb (32.12–33.48 mg/kg) are high in soil samples from threshold values given by WHO. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Fe, Hg, and Mn values exceeded the recommended values with concentration ranges: 1.75–4.56, 0.41–0.67, 2.12–3.12, 1.44–4.56, 87.12–135.25, 2.09–2.64, and 33.41–129.32 mg/Kg, respectively. The vegetable sample’s average concentration of heavy metals was in decreasing order cabbage ˃ brinjal ˃ okra ˃ tomato. The EDI values for As, Co, and Hg calculated for both adults and children is high. The target hazard quotients (THQ) for As, Co, and Hg are greater than the threshold value by consuming vegetables, which indicated the health risk for both adults and children. Similarly, HI due to tomato, cabbage, okra, and brinjal’s consumption is ˃ 1, with HI values 8.1975, 15.3077, 8.7312, and 10.2306, respectively. This advised the possible health effect in this area by using these vegetables. Target Cancer risk (TCR) exposed the adverse cancer risk persuaded by As, Cr, and Hg as their values exceeded the normal range by USEPA by consumption of these vegetables. This study concluded that vegetables imply the total health risk on local people, and regular monitoring of heavy metals is strongly suggested in this region.

Iron metabolism is disturbed and anti-copper treatment improves but does not normalize iron metabolism in Wilson’s disease

Wilson’s disease (WD) is a rare hereditary disorder of copper metabolism. Some data suggest that iron metabolism is disturbed in WD and this may affect the course of the disease. The current study aimed to determine whether anti-copper treatment could affect iron metabolism in WD. One hundred thirty-eight WD patients and 102 controls were examined. Serum ceruloplasmin and copper were measured by colorimetric enzyme assay or atomic adsorption spectroscopy, respectively. Routine and non-routine parameters of iron metabolism were measured by standard laboratory methods or enzyme immunoassay, respectively. WD patients, both newly diagnosed and treated, had less serum copper and ceruloplasmin than controls (90.0, 63.0, 22.0 mg/dL, respectively, p < 0.001); in the treated patients blood copper and ceruloplasmin were lower than in untreated patients (p < 0.001). Untreated patients (n = 39) had a higher median blood iron (126.0 vs 103.5 ug/dL, p < 0.05), ferritin (158.9 vs 47.5 ng/mL, p < 0.001), hepcidin (32, 6 vs 12.1 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and sTfR (0.8 vs. 0.7 ug/mL, p < 0.001) and lower blood transferrin (2.4 vs. 2.7 g/L, p < 0.001), TIBC (303.0 vs 338.0 ug/dL, p < 0.001), hemoglobin (13.1 vs 13.9 g/dL, p < 0.01) and RBC (4.3 vs. 4.6, p < 0.002) than controls. Treated patients (n = 99) had a significantly lower median iron (88.0 vs. 126.0 ug/dL, p < 0.001), ferritin (77.0 vs. 158.9 ng/mL, p < 0.005) and hepcidin (16.7 vs. 32.6 ng/mL, p < 001) and higher transferrin (2.8 vs. 2.4 g/L, p < 0.005), TIBC (336.0 vs 303.0 ug/dL, p < 0.001), RBC (4.8 vs. 4.3 M/L, p < 0.001) and hemoglobin (14.4 vs. 13.1 g/dL, p < 0.001) than untreated; the median iron (p < 0.005) was lower, and ferritin (p < 0.005), RBC (p < 0.005) and hepcidin (p < 0.002) were higher in them than in the control group. Changes in copper metabolism are accompanied by changes in iron metabolism in WD. Anti-copper treatment improves but does not normalize iron metabolism.

Characterization of Fe(III) Adsorption onto Zeolite and Bentonite

In this study, the adsorption of Fe(III) from aqueous solution on zeolite and bentonite was investigated by combining batch adsorption technique, Atomic adsorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. Although iron is commonly found in water and is an essential bioelement, many industrial processes require efficient removal of iron from water. Two types of zeolite and two types of bentonite were used. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacities for removal of Fe (III) by Zeolite Micro 20, Zeolite Micro 50, blue bentonite, and brown bentonite were 10.19, 9.73, 11.64, and 16.65 mg.g−1, respectively. Based on the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses of the raw samples and the solid residues after sorption at low and high initial Fe concentrations, the Fe content is different in the surface layer and in the bulk of the material. In the case of lower initial Fe concentration (200 mg.dm−3), more than 95% of Fe is adsorbed in the surface layer. In the case of higher initial Fe concentration (4000 mg.dm−3), only about 45% and 61% of Fe is adsorbent in the surface layer of zeolite and bentonite, respectively; the rest is adsorbed in deeper layers.

ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS BY PULSE CROPS UNDER THE APPLICATION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN THE VOLGA REGION FOREST-STEPPE

The aim of study is reduction of accumulation of heavy metals in agrocenosis of pulse crops due to the action of biologically active substances in the conditions of the middle Volga forest. An experiment study in order to reveal the effect of pre-sowing seed treatment with biologically active substances on the accumulation of heavy metals by soils and plants in agrocenoses of peas and soybeans was conducted in 2013-2015. The results of pre – sowing treatment of soybean seeds of the Samer 3 breed and peas of the Flagman 12 with the Rizotorfin and Rizotorfin in combination with analogues – Agrica and Humariz biologically active substance are presented. The analysis of heavy metals content in soil and plant samples was performed in the laboratory of the «Samara agrochemical ser-vice» Station by method of atomic adsorption spectroscopy. It is established that the introduction of biologically ac-tive substances into the soil containing heavy metals can reduce the concentration of their mobile forms and restrict access to grain. The content of mobile forms of elements in the soil under soybean growing areas, in comparison with the control, decreases: lead by 1.14 times when treated with Rhizotorphin+Humariz, cadmium – 1.18 times when treated with Rhizotorphin, copper – 1.2 times and cobalt – 2.0 times under the influence of the combination of Rhizotorphin and Agrica. According to the coefficients of biological absorption of pea and soy grains, the studied heavy metals are referred to the elements of biological capture of CАB<1. An effective inactivating effect on heavy metals is provided by pre-sowing treatment of pea and soy seeds with biologically active substances combined with Rhizotorphin+Agrica and Rhizotorphin+Humariz.

Application of Mangifera indica (mango) and Phoenix dactylifera (dates) seeds powders as coagulants in wastewater treatment

This research was aimed at studying the possibility of efficiently combining Mangifera indica and Phoenix dactylifera seeds powders as coagulants in wastewater treatment. The seeds were characterized for their composition, active compounds and proximate constituents using atomic adsorption spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and X-ray Diffraction analysis. Jar test was carried out using the seeds extracts separately and in combination at varying dosages and the Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Turbidity, Temperature, pH, and Total coliform were measured with every varying dosage. Statistical tools were used to validate the results of the Jar test. The sludge from the Jar test experiment was analyzed for its total nitrogen, organic carbon, organic matter, total volatile solids, and carbon: nitrogen ratio. Mangifera indica removed 89% turbidity, 96% BOD, 84% COD and 99% total coliform of the wastewater. Phoenix dactylifera removed 75% turbidity, 85% BOD, 78% COD and 88% total coliform of the wastewater. Their combination removed 96% turbidity, 96% BOD, 87% COD and 98% total coliform of the wastewater. Keywords: Mangifera indica, Phoenix Dactylifera, Coagulants, Wastewater