The formation of sulfate-green rust through Fe(II) sorption to montmorillonite: Impacts on abiotic nitrate reduction.

Green rust (GR) minerals are generally considered to be effective reductants of pollutants and the electron transfer from aqueous Fe(II) to structural Fe(III) in montmorillonite has recently been discovered to be a pathway to GR formation at pH ∼7.8. In this study, we have further delineated the pH conditions and examined the effect of aqueous sulfate concentrations that allow for the formation of sulfate-GR through this unique pathway.

HearNPV susceptibility in Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa punctigera strains resistant to Bt toxins Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab, and Vip3Aa.

Genetically engineered crops expressing insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have improved the management of targeted lepidopteran pests and reduced the use of insecticide sprays. These benefits explain an increasing adoption of Bt crops worldwide, intensifying the selection pressure on target species and the risk of resistance. Nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) are effective bioinsecticides against numerous important lepidopteran pests.

Flow-Electrode CDI Removes the Uncharged Ca-UO-CO Ternary Complex from Brackish Potable Groundwater: Complex Dissociation, Transport, and Sorption.

Unacceptably high uranium concentrations in decentralized and remote potable groundwater resources, especially those of high hardness (e.g ., high Ca, Mg, and CO concentrations), are a common worldwide problem.

Ligand-mediated contaminant degradation by bare and carboxymethyl cellulose-coated bimetallic palladium-zero valent iron nanoparticles in high salinity environments.

The application of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) for the degradation of contaminants has been extensively investigated, however, few studies have focused on degradation in high salinity environments. In this study, the ability of bare and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-coated bimetallic Pd-nZVI particles to degrade 33'44'-tetrachlorobiphenyl in high saline water (SW) is examined with particular attention given to the effects of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the rate of degradation. EDTA enhances the reactivity of Pd-nZVI in SW, with evidence provided to link this to the removal of the passivating layer.

Oxidant Generation Resulting from the Interaction of Copper with Menadione (Vitamin K3)-a Model for Metal-mediated Oxidant Generation in Living Systems.

The oxidation of hydroquinones is of interest both due to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and to the implications to trace metal redox state. Menadione (MNQ), a typical toxicant quinone used extensively for studying the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress, is known to be an effective source of exogenous ROS. In this study, the kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of menadiol (MNHQ, the reduced form of MNQ) in the absence and presence of copper (Cu) over the pH range 6.

Effect of Shewanella oneidensis on the Kinetics of Fe(II)-Catalyzed Transformation of Ferrihydrite to Crystalline Iron Oxides.

Iron (oxyhydr)oxides are widespread in natural and engineered systems, potent adsorbents of contaminants and a source of energy for iron-reducing bacteria. Microbial reduction of iron (oxyhydr)oxides results in the formation of Fe(II) which can induce the transformation of these iron minerals, typically from less crystalline to more crystalline forms, affecting the biogeochemical cycling of iron and the behavior of any species adsorbed to the iron (oxyhydr)oxides. Factors influencing the transformation rate of the poorly crystalline iron (oxyhydr)oxide, ferrihydrite, to more crystalline forms in the presence of the iron reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 are investigated under controlled laboratory conditions in this work.

Fe(II) Interactions with Smectites: Temporal Changes in Redox Reactivity and the Formation of Green Rust.

In this study, temporal changes in the redox properties of three 0.5 g/L smectite suspensions were investigated-a montmorillonite (MAu-1) and two nontronites (NAu-1 and NAu-2) in the presence of 1 mM aqueous Fe(II) at pH 7.8.

Use of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to examine the Fe(II)-Catalyzed transformation of ferrihydrite.

The Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of the poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxyhydroxide mineral, ferrihydrite (Fh), to more crystalline Fe(III) mineral species such as magnetite, goethite, and lepidocrocite has been quantitatively evaluated under various conditions using X-ray adsorption spectroscopy (XAS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Using the peak height of signature FTIR peaks of sub-micron sized lepidocrocite and goethite references minerals, the FTIR results were comparable to the XAS results within experimental error. This was independent of whether the Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation was initiated by the Fe(III)-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 or by added ferrous ammonium sulfate in the presence or absence of lactate.

Influence of Dissolved Silicate on Rates of Fe(II) Oxidation.

Increasing concentrations of dissolved silicate progressively retard Fe(II) oxidation kinetics in the circum-neutral pH range 6.0-7.0.

The reduction of 4-chloronitrobenzene by Fe(II)-Fe(III) oxide systems - correlations with reduction potential and inhibition by silicate.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the rate at which Fe(II)-Fe(III) oxyhydroxide systems catalyze the reduction of reducible contaminants, such as 4-chloronitrobenzene, is well correlated to their thermodynamic reduction potential. Here we confirm this effect in the presence of Fe(III) oxyhydroxide phases not previously assessed, namely ferrihydrite and nano-goethite, as well as Fe(III) oxyhydroxide phases previously examined. In addition, silicate is found to decrease the extent of Fe(II) sorption to the Fe(III) oxyhydroxide surface, increasing the reduction potential of the Fe(II)-Fe(III) oxyhydroxide suspension and, accordingly, decreasing the rate of 4-chloronitrobenzene reduction.

Donnan membrane speciation of Al, Fe, trace metals and REEs in coastal lowland acid sulfate soil-impacted drainage waters.

Donnan dialysis has been applied to forty filtered drainage waters collected from five coastal lowland acid sulfate soil (CLASS) catchments across north-eastern NSW, Australia. Despite having average pH values<3.9, 78 and 58% of Al and total Fe, respectively, were present as neutral or negatively-charged species.

Reductive reactivity of borohydride- and dithionite-synthesized iron-based nanoparticles: A comparative study.

In this study sodium dithionite (NaS2O4) and sodium borohydride (NaBH4) were employed as reducing agents for the synthesis of nanosized iron-based particles. The particles formed using NaBH4 (denoted nFe(BH4)) principally contained (as expected) Fe(0) according to XAS and XRD analyses while the particles synthesized using NaS2O4, (denoted nFe(S2O4)) were dominated by the mixed Fe(II)/Fe(III) mineral magnetite (Fe3O4) though with possible presence of Fe(0). The ability of both particles to reduce trichloroethylene (TCE) under analogous conditions demonstrated remarkable differences with nFe(BH4) resulting in complete reduction of 1.

Ultrasonic vocalizations during intermittent swim stress forecasts resilience in a subsequent juvenile social exploration test of anxiety.

Current behavioral paradigms of stress resilience traditionally employ forms of prior manipulation or subsequent testing. Recent work has reported adult rat ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emitted during intermittent swim stress (ISS) may serve as a predictor of resilience. ISS-induced USVs predicted resilience on several endpoints of behavioral depression and may be considered a forecast of innate resilience.

The impacts of low-cost treatment options upon scale formation potential in remote communities reliant on hard groundwaters. A case study: Northern Territory, Australia.

The majority of small, remote communities within the Northern Territory (NT) in Central Australia are reliant on groundwater as their primary supply of domestic, potable water. Saturation indices for a variety of relevant minerals were calculated using available thermodynamic speciation codes on collected groundwater data across the NT. These saturation indices were used to assess the theoretical formation of problematic mineral-scale, which manifests itself by forming stubborn coatings on domestic appliances and fixtures.

Superoxide-mediated formation and charging of silver nanoparticles.

Contemporary studies indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide play a key role in the toxicity and behavior of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). While there have been suggestions that superoxide is able to reduce silver(I) ions with resultant production of AgNPs, no experimental evidence that this process actually occurs has been produced. Here we present definitive experimental evidence for the reduction of silver(I) by superoxide.