Treated municipal wastewater as option to the use of fresh water for the cultivation of valuable pastoral species Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.)

The increasing aridity exacerbated by climatic changes is leading to loss of perennial herbaceous plants Cenchrus ciliaris, an apomictic, polyploid grass used as forage in hot and dry areas, and is currently under threat for the increased scarcity of water. In this study, treated municipal wastewater (TWW) was used to irrigate two ploidy levels of C. ciliaris for two consecutive years. The objectives were (1) to assess the possibility of using unconventional water for watering C. ciliaris and (2) to identify at what extent TWW irrigation affected growth and nutritive properties of C. ciliaris that differed for polyploidy level. TWW irrigation positively affected growth and physiological plant parameters. In leaves of TWW watered C. ciliaris, the concentration of N_t, P and K significantly increased. The tetraploid C. ciliaris showed a better growth and quality than the hexaploid ones, appearing the most suitable cultivar to be irrigated with TWW for feed uses. In short, TWW can be strategically used for irrigating forage species with the double output of ameliorating soil properties, recovering degraded area and improving the nutritive values of fodder species contributing to the promotion of a green and sustainable circular economy, more in climatically under pressure developing countries.     

Preparation and UV/Vis Spectroscopic Characterization of N,N‐Disubstituted 2‐Amino‐5‐arylazoselenazoles and Some of Their Carbocyclic and Heterocyclic Analogues

By coupling of aryldiazonium salts 5 with N,N‐disubstituted 2‐amino‐5H‐selenazoles 4 deeply coloured 5‐arylazo‐substituted 2‐amino‐selenazoles 6a—6l have been prepared and their solvatochromic properties determined by means of UV/Vis spectroscopy, and compared with the ones of several other arylazosubstituted N,N‐dialkylanilines 7a—7d , 2‐(N,N‐dialkylamino)‐thiophenes 8a—8e , and 2‐(N,N‐dialkylamino)‐thiazoles 9a—9c .     

Organo-Pillared-Clay: Synthesis,Characterization, and Applications for Treatment of Perfluoroalkyl Substances

Anthropogenic toxic pollutants are ubiquitous and need to be removed from the environment. This study investigates the preparation of an inorganic-organic modified clay (organo-pillared-clay) for the removal of contaminants. The present work investigates the compositional, structural and sorption properties of modified clay materials for the removal of perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA). The chemical compositions of the clay materials used were determined by interlayer and surface analysis. The results showed changes in interlayer spacing and external surface area due to modification and surfactant addition during the cation exchange reaction. The combination of adsorption and irradiation increased removal efficiency, although photodegradation was partially inhibited. Modified clays show promise for PFHpA remediation, with potential for optimizing photodegradation processes.     

Efficient Synthesis of Benzothiazinone Analogues with Activity against Intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis

8-Nitrobenzothiazinones (BTZs) are a promising class of antimycobacterial agents currently under investigation in clinical trials. Starting from thiourea derivatives, a new synthetic pathway to BTZs was established. It allows the formation of the thiazinone ring system in one synthetic step and is applicable for preparation of a wide variety of BTZ analogues. The synthetic procedure furthermore facilitates the replacement of the sulphur atom in the thiazinone ring system by oxygen or nitrogen to afford the analogous benzoxazinone and quinazolinone systems. 36 BTZ analogues were prepared and tested in luminescence-based assays for in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) using the microdilution broth method and a high-throughput macrophage infection assay.     

The Influence of the Various Types of Binder on the burning characteristics of the magnesium-, boron-, and aluminum-based igniters

The behaviour of six different types of binders phenol-formaldehyde resin, shellac, polyvinylchloride, ethylcellulose, nitrocellulose, and fluorel was investigated in pyrotechnic compositions on the basis of magnesium, boron and aluminum. It has been found that the nature of the binder significantly influences the burning characteristics of the igniters. Correlation has been found between binder exothermicity and investigated characteristics. In addition, the influence of the contents of phenol-formaldehyde resin and of fluorel, in the range of 0% to 25% on the same performance characteristics was studied. Phenol-formaldehyde resin has been chosen as preferred binder for the investigated igniters in an amount of 5%.     

Probing the Mysterious Behavior of Tungsten as a Dopant Inside Pristine Cobalt-Free Nickel-Rich Cathode Materials

Nickel-rich cathode materials with small amounts of tungsten (W) dopants have attracted extensive attention in recent years. However, the chemical state, crystalline form, compound chemistry, and location of W in these layered cathodes are still not well-understood. In this study, these missing structural properties are determined through a combination of macro-, to atomic-sensitive characterization techniques and density functional theory (DFT). W-doped LiNiO₂ (LNO) particles, prepared with mechanofusion and coprecipitation methods, are used to probe changes in the structure and location of W-species. The results indicate that W is mainly distributed on the surfaces and inside grain boundaries of the secondary particles, regardless of the doping method. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) mapping confirms the simultaneous presence of W, O, with and without Ni in the grain boundaries as well as W- and O-rich regions on the very surface. The W-rich areas inside the grain boundaries are found to be in two forms, crystalline and amorphous. This paper suggests the presence of kinetically stabilized-Li_4+xNi_1-xWO₆ (x = 0, 0.1) with the possibility of Li_xW_yO_z phases in LNO which are consistent with the electron microscopy, X-ray absorption and diffraction data. The multiple roles of W in this complex microstructure are discussed considering the W distribution.