Article
Energy & Fuels
Peixin Zhao, Xiuxiu Sun, Xingyu Liang, Guoxi Jing, Teng Ma
Summary: A multi-component surrogate fuel was developed as an alternative to heavy fuel oil, with proportions determined based on the chemical and physical characteristics. The surrogate fuel was extensively validated and found to exhibit reliable overall performance for combustion behavior.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miroslava Nedyalkova, Vasil Simeonov
Summary: This study assessed the quality of marine sediment and identified pollution sources using intelligent data analysis methods. The results showed that there are different types and degrees of pollution sources in different coastal areas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Philip A. Pika, Dominik Hulse, Timothy I. Eglinton, Sandra Arndt
Summary: The degradation of organic matter (OM) in marine sediments is vital for understanding global biogeochemical cycling, with OM reactivity at its core. By using benthic diffusive oxygen uptake (DOU) rates as a proxy, we determined OM reactivities in marine sediments inversely. The reactivities varied significantly, ranging from high in polar regions to extremely low in the South Pacific. Furthermore, we developed transfer functions that can estimate OM reactivity based on DOU, OM content, and water depths, and used one of these functions to create the first global maps of benthic OM reactivity.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elena Romano, Antonella Ausili, Luisa Bergamin
Summary: This article illustrates the Italian approach to determining background values (BGVs) of metals and trace elements in marine sediments according to national legislation. The method is helpful for countries that need to assess contamination and chemical status in areas with geological and geochemical variability.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jakub Fojt, Tuomas P. Rossi, Tomasz J. Antosiewicz, Mikael Kuisma, Paul Erhart
Summary: This study demonstrates a subsystem approach that accurately predicts the optical spectra of nanoparticle-molecule assemblies with good computational efficiency, and can be extended to larger systems.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Milena Radomirovic, Bojan Tanaskovski, Lato Pezo, Federica Ceccotto, Chiara Cantaluppi, Antonije Onjia, Slavka Stankovic
Summary: A variety of pollution indices were used to assess the contamination of different metal elements in the Boka Kotorska Bay, with Cd and Hg identified as the highest risks and Tivat bay as the most polluted area. The study also found a decreasing trend of Hg over time and highlighted the major concern of Cd in the Bay environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jia Gao, Hua Su, Wei Wang
Summary: A method based on microwell array was developed to measure the photocatalytic kinetics of single CdS nanoparticles with high TOF. The study revealed two types of catalytical behaviors during single CdS photocatalysis: a rapid decline in activity for most CdS NPs and an initial increase in activity followed by a decrease for a minor population of individuals. This new method will facilitate the investigation of catalytic activities of single particles under realistic conditions and has great potential in various fields including photo/electro-catalysts, enzymes, and functional bacteria.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Reaha Goyetche, Leire Kortazar, Jose Manuel Amigo
Summary: Numerous studies have used spectral imaging and classification algorithms to directly detect microplastic pollution in environmental sediments. Spectral imaging is attractive due to its ability to provide spatial data quickly and with minimal sample processing. However, there are concerns about the spatial and spectral selectivity, as well as the appropriateness of classification algorithms. This study evaluates the performance of near infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) and four commonly used classification algorithms on a simple test case, revealing significant weaknesses and highlighting important concerns about the methodology's use in microplastic detection.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Norma Flores-Holguin, Juan Frau, Daniel Glossman-Mitnik
Summary: This study computationally investigated the chemical reactivity and bioactivity of Aspergillipeptide D using a CDFT-CP methodology. The results demonstrated the potential of Aspergillipeptide D as a therapeutic drug against herpes virus, and the computational approach improved the virtual screening procedure.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Thomas R. Savage, Fernando Almeida-Trasvina, Ehecatl A. Del-Rio Chanona, Robin Smith, Dondga Zhang
Summary: This study introduces an integrated surrogate modeling and optimization framework for modeling and optimizing the complex CryoMan Cascade refrigeration cycle. Dimensionality reduction techniques and Gaussian processes are used to simplify process decision variables and continually refine the data-driven surrogate model through iterative resampling, leading to process optimization.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Luisa Astolfi, Lorenzo Massimi, Mattia Rapa, Rita Rosa Pla, Raquel Clara Jasan, Mabel Beatriz Tudino, Silvia Canepari, Marcelo Enrique Conti
Summary: This study examines the distribution and accumulation of elements in peat deposits and Sphagnum moss in the Tierra del Fuego region of southern South America. The results show significant differences in element content between moss and peat samples, with some elements being more abundant in moss and others in peat. The findings highlight the role of moss as a facilitator for element entry into peat samples.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Ferrans, Yahya Jani, Juris Burlakovs, Maris Klavins, William Hogland
Summary: This study investigates the speciation of metals in sediments from Malmfjarden bay, Sweden, and assesses the potential risk of metal pollution during dredging and using dredged sediments. The results show low pollution risk for Cr, Ni, and Fe during dredging activities, and medium risk for Pb and Zn. Overall, the investigated metals in Malmfjarden sediments are found to pose low risks of spreading during beneficial uses.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Amy M. Jewell, Matthew J. Cooper, J. Andrew Milton, Rachael H. James, Anya J. Crocker, Paul A. Wilson
Summary: The radiogenic isotope composition is commonly used to determine the provenance and transport history of sediments, but contamination by marine phases must be avoided in ocean sediments. Marine barite can bias measurements of terrigenous Sr-87/Sr-86, highlighting the importance of assessing the impact of barite contamination on terrigenous Sr-87/Sr-86 at specific locations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ling Zhang, Isabelle Levy, Emilia Vassileva
Summary: This study presents a new analytical procedure for precise and rapid determination of uranium isotopes in marine sediment and seawater. The method utilizes TK200 resin extraction, microwave digestion (for sediment), Fe(OH)(3) co-precipitation (for seawater), and SF ICP-MS measurement. The method shows accurate quantification of uranium isotope ratios with high decontamination factors and stable chemical recovery, making it suitable for emergency monitoring of nuclear accidents and marine environmental analysis.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jadranka Pelikan, Nina Majnaric, Maja Mauric Maljkovic, Kristina Pikelj, Bojan Hamer
Summary: There is a lack of comprehensive spatial and temporal data on sediment quality in the Adriatic Sea. In this study, the physicochemical and ecotoxicological analyses of five local coastal sediments were compared with regional averages and sediment quality guidelines of neighbouring countries. The results showed that, except for the open sea, some metals and PAH concentrations in the sediments were slightly higher than the regulated levels. The eluates from the sediments exhibited phytotoxicity, inhibiting the germination and growth of flax seeds. Overall, except for one site, there were no potential ecological impacts on the marine environment according to the applied guidelines.
Article
Biology
Dylan T. Wilmeth, Kimberly D. Myers, Stefan V. Lalonde, Kaarel Mand, Kurt O. Konhauser, Prisca Grandin, Mark A. van Zuilen
Summary: In El Tatio, Chile, microbial mats floating in hydrothermally sourced streams frequently exhibit siliceous crusts due to repeated cycles of evaporation and silica precipitation. The formation and preservation of these crusts are influenced by factors such as oxygenic photosynthesis, silica saturation, and aqueous silica concentrations in the water environment.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nana O. -A. Osafo, Jiri Jan, Astolfo Valero, Petr Porcal, Daniel A. Petrash, Jakub Borovec
Summary: This study investigates the fate of organic matter-iron complexes in anoxic sediments using sequential extractions and optical methods. The quality of organic matter influences the stability of OM-Fe aggregates, which is crucial for assessing their stability in sediments, soils, and/or wastewater treatment sludge.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Frantisek Buzek, Bohuslava Cejkova, Ivana Jackova, Radim Seibert, Jan Curik, Frantisek Veselovsky, Daniel A. Petrash
Summary: This study investigated the sources of airborne particulate matter (PM10) emissions in Ostrava, Czech Republic, with a focus on their organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) contents, and carbon stable isotope composition (813C). Emission sources were identified using OC-613C values and concentration measurements, and the extent of long-term deposition was tracked using the black carbon (BC) 613C values of soil samples. The main sources of emissions were determined to be coal combustion, automotive emissions, and biogenic particles, with coal combustion being the dominant source in winter and automotive emissions and biogenic production contributing more in summer.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Changle Wang, Leslie J. Robbins, Noah J. Planavsky, Nicolas J. Beukes, Laureline A. Patry, Stefan Lalonde, Maxwell A. Lechte, Dan Asael, Christopher T. Reinhard, Lianchang Zhang, Kurt O. Konhauser
Summary: This study provides new insights into Earth's early redox history and the processes leading to iron formation deposition. It suggests that the partial oxidation of Fe(II) played a central role in iron formation genesis, contradicting previous theories. It also indicates that oxygen production was relatively limited during the Archean, pointing to a model of restricted oxygen oases.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Astolfo Valero, Jiri Jan, Daniel A. A. Petrash
Summary: This study demonstrates the efficient removal of arsenite from water using a bioelectrochemical system (BES) with the help of redox reactive humic substances derivatives and reactive nitrogen species. Geobacter sp. utilizes humic derivatives as electron shuttles, facilitating the reduction of Fe(iii) and the scavenging of As(iii). These findings contribute to the development of effective BESs for arsenite removal.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
A. El Albani, K. O. Konhauser, A. Somogyi, J. Ngwalghoubou Ikouanga, A. Lamboux, J. Blichert-Toft, E. Chi-Fru, C. Fontaine, A. Mazurier, A. Riboulleau, A. -C. Pierson-Wickmann, F. Albarede
Summary: Sediments from the Francevillian Group in Gabon contain pyritized structures that suggest the presence of colonial organisms. Through a comprehensive study, including morphology, mineralogy, and geochemistry, these structures are considered putative biogenic traces, with no association with sulfate reduction. Anomalies in organic carbon and zinc content in the fillings of these structures further indicate their biogenicity.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
M. Afroz, P. W. Fralick, S. V. Lalonde
Summary: This study examines the oldest preserved carbonate platform, the Red Lake carbonate platform, in the Red Lake Greenstone Belt of Canada. It consists of a diverse assemblage of chemical and siliciclastic sedimentary rocks, including sandstone, siltstone, carbonaceous slate, pyritic carbonaceous slate, chert, and iron formation. These lithologies indicate temporal and spatial fluctuations in paleo-seawater chemistry and variable sedimentation rates on the platform margins.
PRECAMBRIAN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geology
Vladislav Rapprich, Pavel Cap, Yulia V. Erban Kochergina, Eva Kadlecova, Zsolt Benko, Jakub Sakala, Zuzana Rodovska, Jan Mateju, Daniel A. Petrash
Summary: Late Oligocene volcano-sedimentary successions in western Doupovske Hory Volcanic Complex were significantly influenced by the decay of the alkali basalt volcanic edifice, resulting in abundant carbonate precipitation as evidenced by non-radiogenic Sr isotopes. The sediments of the initial shallow lake were deformed by a debris avalanche, altering the basin morphology. The presence of seasonal water-level fluctuations and O-18 enrichments suggests a humid climate during the Late Oligocene in Central Europe.
DEPOSITIONAL RECORD
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qin Huang, Shao-Yong Jiang, Dao-Hui Pi, Kurt O. Konhauser, Xing-Ping Wen, Liu-Yi Lu, Hao Yan
Summary: Rhodochrosite with very negative carbon isotope values is found in the Late Triassic Heqing deposit in Yunnan Province, China, and is believed to have formed through the high-temperature oxidation of methane during early diagenesis. The study suggests that hydrothermal Mn(IV) oxide-rich sediments may have acted as effective sinks for methane in Earth's ancient oceans, although the mechanisms are not fully understood.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Nagissa Mahmoudi, Andrew D. Steen, Galen P. Halverson, Kurt O. Konhauser
Summary: Heterotrophic microorganisms are crucial in the cycling of key elements in the ocean. They degrade organic matter produced by phytoplankton, redistributing nutrients and carbon in the water column. However, most organic matter is too large to be directly taken up by microorganisms, prompting the secretion of exoenzymes. This article explores the fate of organic matter in early oceans without exoenzymes and highlights their importance in unlocking previously inaccessible organic matter and transforming ocean geochemistry.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jialin Hou, Yinzhao Wang, Pengfei Zhu, Na Yang, Lewen Liang, Tiantian Yu, Mingyang Niu, Kurt Konhauser, Ben J. Woodcroft, Fengping Wang
Summary: This study reclassifies Bathyarchaeia based on the largest Bathyarchaeia metagenome dataset, revealing their important role in the global carbon cycle and their diverse and versatile carbon metabolism. Molecular dating suggests that Bathyarchaeia diverged 3.3 billion years ago, followed by three major diversifications at 3.0 billion years ago, 2.5 billion years ago, and 1.8 to 1.7 billion years ago, potentially influenced by continental emergence, growth, and submarine volcanism. The evolutionary history of Bathyarchaeia may have been shaped by geological forces, impacting Earth's surface environment.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bruce R. Sutherland, Maninderpal S. Dhaliwal, Dennis Thai, Yuhao Li, Murray Gingras, Kurt Konhauser
Summary: Most of the plastic waste in rivers and oceans is unaccounted for. The presence of surfactants can cause clay particles to adhere to plastic surfaces, enhancing the settling of microplastics even in the absence of biofouling.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel A. Petrash, Pavel Kram, Katherine X. Perez-Rivera, Frantisek Buzek, Jan Curik, Frantisek Veselovsky, Martin Novak
Summary: Soil solution chemistry is influenced by the mineralogy and organic matter properties of soil. Different lithologies in a catchment area can affect soil cation exchange capacities and solute transport. The study used lysimeters to evaluate solute transport in the topsoil and subsoil of three catchments with contrasting lithology. The hydrochemical data from lysimeters can be used to assess legacy subsoil pollution.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Corentin Jouault, Baptiste Coutret, Kurt O. Konhauser, Andre Nel
Summary: The research on the Paleocene Paskapoo Formation in Alberta, Canada provides valuable insights into insect diversity during that time period. Fossil insect specimens, including wings of Odonata related to the genus Alloaeschna, reveal that previously used morphological characters for species differentiation are actually the result of intraspecific variability. The study also introduces a new taxon, Albertalestes paskapooensis gen. et sp. nov., the first representative of the Synlestidae family found in North America.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Daniel A. Petrash, Ingrid M. Steenbergen, Astolfo Valero, Travis B. Meador, Tomas Paces, Christophe Thomazo
Summary: In the Lake Medard, the reductive Fe(III) dissolution is faster than the sulfide generation from MSR, resulting in ferruginous conditions without quantitative sulfate depletion. This unique feature provides scientific value for studying interlinked biogeochemical cycles during transitional redox states and understanding redox proxy signals of ferruginous sediments underlying a sulfatic and ferruginous water column. The lake also shows substrate competition between iron- and nitrogen-respiring prokaryotes and potential for chemolithotrophic sulfur oxidation.