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Search Results (278)

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Keywords = Ca and Mg sulfates

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30 pages, 7779 KB  
Article
Durability and Multi-Scale Deterioration Mechanism of Cast-In Situ Iron Ore Tailings Concrete Under Complex Multi-Ion Corrosion
by Cheng Wang, Zhilong Chen, Gaowen Zhao, Long Chen, Lingxuan Yue, Gang Gu, Jianfeng Zhu, Henghui Fan and Zhibao Nie
Buildings 2026, 16(12), 2436; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16122436 - 18 Jun 2026
Viewed by 138
Abstract
To investigate the corrosion resistance and deterioration mechanism of cast-in situ concrete incorporating iron ore tailings aggregate (IOT), specimens with IOT replacement ratios of 0%, 30%, and 50% were exposed to distilled water, endogenous Cl-SO42− corrosion, exogenous Mg2+ [...] Read more.
To investigate the corrosion resistance and deterioration mechanism of cast-in situ concrete incorporating iron ore tailings aggregate (IOT), specimens with IOT replacement ratios of 0%, 30%, and 50% were exposed to distilled water, endogenous Cl-SO42− corrosion, exogenous Mg2+-SO42− corrosion, and endogenous-exogenous coupled corrosion. The evolution of mass, size, compressive strength, and flexural strength was evaluated, while Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Thermogravimetric Analysis/Derivative Thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) were used to characterize pore structure and phase transformation. Results show that distilled water causes limited variation, whereas exogenous and coupled corrosion accelerate product accumulation, size expansion, pore coarsening, and strength degradation. Under exogenous Mg2+-SO42− corrosion, the peak compressive strengths of specimens with 0%, 30%, and 50% IOT reach 43.30 MPa, 45.60 MPa, and 46.93 MPa, respectively, with the 50% IOT specimen showing an 8.38% increase compared with the specimen without IOT. TG/DTG results show that the Ca(OH)2 related mass loss decreases from 5.42% under distilled water immersion to 4.37% under exogenous Mg2+-SO42− corrosion, confirming calcium consumption during sulfate–magnesium attack. Microstructural characterization reveals that sulfate reaction, chloride binding, and Mg2+-induced decalcification jointly promote the formation of gypsum, ettringite, Friedel’s salt, magnesium silicate hydrate (M-S-H), and magnesium-associated corrosion products. Overall, 30% IOT provides better pore refinement and mechanical stability under endogenous and exogenous corrosion, whereas 50% IOT improves residual skeleton support under coupled corrosion. These findings provide guidance for durability design and sustainable utilization of IOT aggregate in cast-in situ concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation)
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31 pages, 17998 KB  
Article
Bacterial and Fungal Community Responses to Long-Term Salinity Gradients in Natural Soils of Kazakhstan
by Ainash Nauanova, Aisulu Onggarbay, Anel Ordabayeva, Bolat Abdigulov, Akgul Kassipkhan, Gulzhanat Maxutbekova, Aiman Nazarova and Alexandr Shevtsov
Microorganisms 2026, 14(6), 1337; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14061337 - 14 Jun 2026
Viewed by 298
Abstract
Natural saline–alkaline soils are widespread in Central Asia, yet microbial responses to salinity gradients and ionic composition remain poorly resolved. We profiled bacterial communities (16S rRNA V3–V4, Illumina MiSeq) in 20 topsoil (0–20 cm) samples from four regions of Kazakhstan spanning non-saline to [...] Read more.
Natural saline–alkaline soils are widespread in Central Asia, yet microbial responses to salinity gradients and ionic composition remain poorly resolved. We profiled bacterial communities (16S rRNA V3–V4, Illumina MiSeq) in 20 topsoil (0–20 cm) samples from four regions of Kazakhstan spanning non-saline to highly saline conditions. Soil chemistry included pH, total mineralization (dry residue), and major ions (Na+, Cl, SO42−, HCO3, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+). Alpha (Chao1, Shannon, observed ASVs) and beta diversity (Bray–Curtis; ANOSIM; PCoA) were evaluated across salinity classes. Soils were alkaline (pH 7.91–10.47) and covered a broad salinity range (256–26,312 mg/L), driven mainly by Na+ with chloride and/or sulfate. Alpha diversity remained stable across salinity classes, though dispersion increased under high salinity. Community composition differed significantly among classes (ANOSIM R = 0.428, p = 0.005), with partial PCoA separation and overlap, indicating gradual turnover along the salinity gradient. In contrast, fungal communities showed no significant response to salinity, with stable alpha and beta diversity across all samples and consistent dominance of Ascomycota. Communities were dominated by Actinomycetota (formerly Actinobacteriota), Bacteroidota, and Pseudomonadota (formerly Proteobacteria). Bacteroidota increased in highly saline soils (FDR q = 0.036), whereas Acidobacteriota decreased (FDR q = 0.052). Thermodesulfobacteriota (formerly Desulfobacterota) correlated positively with sulfate, and Cyanobacteriota negatively with chloride. Overall, Kazakhstan’s saline–alkaline soils show stable bacterial alpha diversity but moderate, ion-linked compositional shifts with enrichment of halotolerant taxa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Soil Microbial Communities)
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27 pages, 3031 KB  
Article
Recovery and Purification of Lithium Hydroxide from Spent Cathode Crucibles via Sulfation and Conversion Processes
by Jin-Seong Yoon, H. Y. Sohn and Jei-Pil Wang
Materials 2026, 19(11), 2252; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19112252 - 26 May 2026
Viewed by 274
Abstract
This study presents an integrated process for the recovery and purification of lithium hydroxide (LiOH) from lithium sulfate (Li2SO4) solution obtained by sulfuric acid leaching of spent crucibles used for producing the cathodes of LIBs. The recovered leachate contains [...] Read more.
This study presents an integrated process for the recovery and purification of lithium hydroxide (LiOH) from lithium sulfate (Li2SO4) solution obtained by sulfuric acid leaching of spent crucibles used for producing the cathodes of LIBs. The recovered leachate contains considerable concentrations of metallic impurities, including Na, K, Mg, Ca, Al, and Ni, which hinder the direct production of high-purity LiOH. To overcome this limitation, a pretreatment step combining cation- and anion-exchange resins was introduced to control impurity levels and condition the solution prior to conversion. Under the optimized ion-exchange condition of 10 g cation-exchange resin and 50 g anion-exchange resin, the solution pH was adjusted to 6–7, resulting in effective impurity removal through combined ion-exchange and solution-conditioning effects. More than 90% of Al was removed, while Mg, Ca, Na, K, and Ni were removed by approximately 70–75%. After purification, LiOH was produced through a double-displacement conversion reaction using Ba(OH)2. The results showed that the reaction temperature and the [OH]:[Li] molar ratio were the key parameters governing the sulfate-removal-based apparent conversion efficiency and filtrate-based LiOH purity. Excess OH promoted the formation of dissolved and complexed species, thereby lowering the purity of the LiOH-containing filtrate. In contrast, the optimum condition was identified at 70 °C and an [OH]:[Li] molar ratio of 1:1, under which SO42− was effectively removed as solid BaSO4. Under these conditions, the sulfate-removal-based apparent conversion efficiency reached 91.91%, and the filtrate-based LiOH purity was 98.84%. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the coexistence of LiOH·H2O and LiOH phases in the final recovered product, whereas the precipitate was identified as single-phase BaSO4, indicating effective sulfate removal. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of producing high-purity LiOH from sulfation-derived Li2SO4 leachate through a sequential process consisting of impurity removal, conversion, and drying. The findings provide fundamental process data for the design of lithium recovery and purification routes using spent cathode crucibles as secondary lithium resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technology in Lithium-Ion Batteries: Prospects and Challenges)
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15 pages, 1555 KB  
Article
Comparative Assessment of Kaolin Addition and Acid Washing for Fouling Mitigation in Alkali-Rich Kenaf Biomass
by Joo Chang Park, Tae-Jin Kang and Sang-Phil Yoon
Energies 2026, 19(11), 2491; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19112491 - 22 May 2026
Viewed by 214
Abstract
Herbaceous biomass is a promising renewable energy resource, but its use in thermochemical systems is often limited by severe fouling and ash agglomeration resulting from alkali-rich ash chemistry. This study directly compares two practical fouling mitigation strategies, kaolin addition and acid washing, for [...] Read more.
Herbaceous biomass is a promising renewable energy resource, but its use in thermochemical systems is often limited by severe fouling and ash agglomeration resulting from alkali-rich ash chemistry. This study directly compares two practical fouling mitigation strategies, kaolin addition and acid washing, for alkali-rich torrefied kenaf biomass under identical experimental conditions. The study quantitatively distinguishes aluminosilicate-based alkali stabilization from pretreatment-based alkali removal as two distinct pathways for controlling ash transformation. Kenaf exhibited severe ash agglomeration and contained high levels of K2O (17.38 wt.%), CaO (31.52 wt.%), MgO (14.98 wt.%), SO3 (9.43 wt.%), and P2O5 (6.90 wt.%). Kaolin addition progressively shifted the ash composition toward a SiO2–Al2O3-rich system. From KA-10 to KA-30, SiO2 increased from 22.86 to 33.58 wt.%, while Al2O3 increased from 7.65 to 15.43 wt.%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis further showed that increasing kaolin addition suppressed alkali-salt phases and promoted the formation of aluminum-silicate phases. In contrast, acid washing directly reduced alkali species, decreasing K2O to 5.66–7.83 wt.% and eliminating detectable Na2O. The acid-washed samples were characterized by calcium-rich sulfate and silicate phases, indicating a distinct ash transformation pathway. Kaolin addition primarily reduced fouling by promoting aluminosilicate-based alkali stabilization, whereas acid washing reduced alkali–metal contents before thermal treatment. This distinction clarifies the different roles of additive-based and pretreatment-based strategies for fouling control in alkali-rich herbaceous biomass. Full article
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22 pages, 1434 KB  
Article
Residual Effects of Methods Used to Correct Soil Acidity on Soil Chemical Properties in an Agropastoral System
by Wander L. B. Borges, Marcelo Andreotti, Luan C. P. da Cruz, Douglas Y. O. de Oliveira, João F. Borges, Laryssa de C. Silva and Jorge Luiz Hipólito
Agronomy 2026, 16(10), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16100966 - 12 May 2026
Viewed by 375
Abstract
Surface and subsurface acidity (pH < 4.4) limit nutrient availability, restrict root exploration, and impair crop yields in agricultural and agropastoral systems. Subsurface acidity (0.4–0.8 m layer) is a critical limiting factor for mature tropical soils. Methodologies that provide amelioration of surface and [...] Read more.
Surface and subsurface acidity (pH < 4.4) limit nutrient availability, restrict root exploration, and impair crop yields in agricultural and agropastoral systems. Subsurface acidity (0.4–0.8 m layer) is a critical limiting factor for mature tropical soils. Methodologies that provide amelioration of surface and subsurface acidity and improvements in soil chemical fertility are necessary to decrease production costs and increase crop yields. This study evaluated the long-term ability of different methodologies for applying calcium (Ca) compounds (limestone (LS), phosphogypsum (PG), and hydrated lime (HL)) to ameliorate surface and subsurface acidity and improve soil chemical fertility. The results showed that the correction of surface acidity by treatments T2 (no-till/LS + PG), T3 (conventional tillage/LS + PG), T5 (no-till/HL + PG) and T6 (minimum tillage/HL + PG) persisted two years after application, as evidenced by higher pH and base saturation (BS) and lower total acidity in the 0.0–0.2 m layer compared with the control. By contrast, the improvement in acidity in the 0.4–0.8 m layer that was previously observed after subsurface application of HL in the 2017–2018 season (T6 and T7, minimum tillage/HL + PG) was lost. Moreover, the improvements in Ca2+ content and Ca2+/cation exchange capacity (CEC) observed after applying LS plus PG persisted in the 0.0–0.1 m layer only. However, the improvements in Mg2+ content and Mg2+/CEC after applying HL plus PG were not maintained. In addition, the positive effects of Ca compounds on sulfate-S (S-SO42−) content throughout the soil profile (0.0–0.8 m) did not persist. By contrast, after two seasons, Ca compound application had residual positive effects on P content in the 0.1–0.8 m layer and organic matter (OM) content in the 0.2–0.8 m layer, which were previously not observed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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12 pages, 4007 KB  
Article
High-Efficient Calcium-Based Adsorbent for Dry Desulfurization
by Lixin Sun and Qitu Zhang
Catalysts 2026, 16(5), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16050391 - 29 Apr 2026
Viewed by 412
Abstract
Developing high activity calcium-based adsorbent is still one of the difficult problems for calcium-based adsorbents for dry desulfurization. Herein, we develop the surfactant induction coprecipitation strategy to construct high active layered mesoporous calcium hydroxide. It was found that ethanol as a solvent could [...] Read more.
Developing high activity calcium-based adsorbent is still one of the difficult problems for calcium-based adsorbents for dry desulfurization. Herein, we develop the surfactant induction coprecipitation strategy to construct high active layered mesoporous calcium hydroxide. It was found that ethanol as a solvent could modify the lamellar morphology of calcium-based adsorbent, that the surfactant (CTAB) plays an important role in regulating the pore structure to obviously improve the desulfurization activity and utilization efficiency, and that its breakthrough sulfur capacity reaches 371.7 mg g−1 at 350 °C. The excellent desulfurization performance is attributed to the unique 2D lamellar morphology, high specific surface area, and mesopore structure of calcium hydroxide. Experimental and theoretical results reveal that SO2 is preferentially adsorbed on the surface of Ca(OH)2, and reacts with Ca(OH)2 to form CaSO3. CaSO3 is then oxidized by O2 in the presence of SO2 and CO2 to form CaSO4, and the presence of CO2 inhibited the catalytic oxidation of sulfite to sulfate by O2 from air. This synthesis strategy offers a facile method to construct efficient 2D adsorbent for SO2 removal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Catalytic Materials for Environmental Application)
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23 pages, 14745 KB  
Article
Expansive Agent-Modified Geopolymer for Medium-to-Wide Concrete Crack Remediation: Workability, Mechanical Performance, and Durability
by Yinghao Chen, Zhiyuan Lu, Linghai Kong, Genfu Liang, Jianxin Yin, Sheng Li, Guan Wu, Junhao Xie and Zhengdong Luo
Buildings 2026, 16(9), 1721; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16091721 - 27 Apr 2026
Viewed by 510
Abstract
The inherent drying shrinkage of geopolymers restricts their widespread application in concrete crack repair, particularly for medium-to-wide cracks that demand stringent workability and penetrability. This study systematically investigates the effects of three single-component expansive agents (MgO, CaO, and CSA) on the fresh properties, [...] Read more.
The inherent drying shrinkage of geopolymers restricts their widespread application in concrete crack repair, particularly for medium-to-wide cracks that demand stringent workability and penetrability. This study systematically investigates the effects of three single-component expansive agents (MgO, CaO, and CSA) on the fresh properties, mechanical performance, and microstructural evolution of a slag-fly ash-based geopolymer. The optimal modified formulation was subsequently evaluated for remediating preinduced concrete cracks (2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mm apertures) and benchmarked against ordinary Portland cement and epoxy resin. The results indicate that while CaO and CSA severely compromise paste fluidity and induce rapid setting, MgO modification provides an exceptional operational window. An 8 wt.% MgO dosage (MG8) induces only a marginal 3.73% reduction in paste fluidity and maintains stable initial and final setting times, thereby preserving excellent workability retention and enabling precise construction scheduling. Microstructural analyses (XRD, SEM, and MIP) reveal that the precipitation of micro expansive Mg(OH)2 effectively suppresses the 28-day drying shrinkage to 0.23%, while facilitating the attainment of a robust compressive strength of 44.1 MPa and preserving a highly favorable strength development trajectory. In the structural repair phase, the MG8 demonstrated outstanding compressive strength recovery, peaking at 28.80 MPa for 2.0 mm cracks, which significantly outperformed both the cement and epoxy resin repaired groups. Conversely, the epoxy resin repaired specimens exhibited superior splitting tensile strength due to the inherent elongation properties of the flexible macromolecular polymer. Comprehensive durability assessments revealed that the MG8 repair system exhibits exceptional resistance against freeze–thaw cycles and sulfate/chloride attacks, ensuring long-term structural integrity that significantly outperforms conventional materials. Overall, this work presents a viable and durable geopolymer-based alternative to traditional materials, aiming to ensure timely and reliable remediation concrete cracks that do not cause structural damage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation)
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27 pages, 30995 KB  
Article
Hydrogel-Forming Ability and Biological Characterization of Exopolysaccharide (EPS) from Porphyridium cruentum
by Marta M. Duarte, Artem Suprinovych, Anabela Veiga, Ana I. Lopes, Freni K. Tavaria, Rui C. Morais and Ana L. Oliveira
Gels 2026, 12(5), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12050352 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 738
Abstract
Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are emerging as sustainable polymers for biomedical hydrogels. Here, we report hydrogels from sulfated EPSs produced by Porphyridium cruentum and ionically crosslinked with Ca2+, Ce3+, or Cu2+ to generate tunable networks with bioactive potential. Rheological analysis [...] Read more.
Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are emerging as sustainable polymers for biomedical hydrogels. Here, we report hydrogels from sulfated EPSs produced by Porphyridium cruentum and ionically crosslinked with Ca2+, Ce3+, or Cu2+ to generate tunable networks with bioactive potential. Rheological analysis showed viscoelastic behavior was primarily governed by cation nature and accessible binding site density, with diminishing gains above 2.5 wt% EPS and limited benefit beyond 10 wt% crosslinker. Ce3+ produced the most solid-like gel, Ca2+ yielded more thixotropic networks, and Cu2+ promoted rapid, heterogeneous crosslinking consistent with fast surface complexation. These network signatures showed distinct in vitro performances. Cation selection tuned antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with Cu2+ achieving rapid bactericidal effects and Ce3+ enabling an 8-log reduction after 24 h. The ABTS assay showed that Ca2+- and Ce3+-crosslinked gels had antioxidant potential (≥40 µM Trolox eq.mg−1); however, antioxidant capacity was assay dependent. Conditioned-medium assays showed ≥75% viability at day 3 for Ca2+- and Ce3+-crosslinked gels against human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), while only Ce3+-crosslinked gels were cytocompatible against human keratinocytes (HaCaTs). Cu2+-crosslinked gels were highly cytotoxic across all tested conditions. Macrophage cytokine readouts (TNF-α and IL-6) indicated formulation-dependent immunobiological response. This work establishes microalgal EPSs as versatile polymers and links crosslinking chemistry to rheological modulation and multifunctional biomedical performance, while direct wound-healing efficacy remains to be demonstrated in future in vivo or wound repair functional models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Hydrogels for Biomedical Application (2nd Edition))
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22 pages, 7053 KB  
Article
Selective Extraction of Nickel and Cobalt from Limonitic Laterite via Optimized Sulfation Roasting–Water Leaching and Solvent Extraction
by Maryam Osali, Farid Ahani, Mohammad Reza Aboutalebi, Mandana Adeli, Javad Moghaddam, Saeid Karimi, Janaka Jayamini Wijenayake and Lana Alagha
Minerals 2026, 16(5), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16050431 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 813
Abstract
Limonitic laterites typically contain low Ni and Co contents and significant impurities, making the development of technical and economically feasible processes challenging. To address this challenge, this study investigates and evaluates an integrated hydrometallurgical process comprising sulfation roasting, water leaching, and solvent extraction [...] Read more.
Limonitic laterites typically contain low Ni and Co contents and significant impurities, making the development of technical and economically feasible processes challenging. To address this challenge, this study investigates and evaluates an integrated hydrometallurgical process comprising sulfation roasting, water leaching, and solvent extraction (SX) for the selective recovery of Ni and Co from limonite-type laterite. Response Surface Methodology coupled with a Central Composite Design (RSM-CCD) was employed as a statistical experimental design tool to efficiently optimize the sulfation roasting conditions. Under the optimal sulfation roasting conditions (temperature 703 °C), selective leaching efficiencies of 87.2% for Ni and 96.6% for Co were achieved, with only 3.8% Fe co-leaching. A multi-stage SX scheme was subsequently applied to purify the pregnant leach solution (PLS) of water leaching. In the first SX step, D2EHPA at pH 2.8 selectively removed more than 95% of the impurities, including Mn, Zn, Al, Ca, and Fe. In the second SX step, Cyanex 272 at pH 5.8 enabled the extraction of more than 99.9% of Co and 86.0% of Mg into the organic phase, and Ni remained in the raffinate. Subsequent stripping with H2SO4 enabled the recovery of 99.9% of both Co and Mg from the loaded organic phase. Finally, selective carbonate precipitation is proposed as a potential downstream recovery method for Ni after enrichment. This approach is considered relatively less energy-intensive than sulfate crystallization. The process developed in this study was benchmarked against similar processes reported in the literature, and a conceptual flowsheet for the selective extraction and separation of Ni and Co from limonitic laterite was proposed. Findings demonstrated the feasibility of the integrated sulfation roasting-water leaching, solvent extraction process for treating impurity-rich laterite leach solutions. Full article
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15 pages, 4490 KB  
Article
New Insights into the Thermodynamic Properties and Raman Vibrational Modes of Polyhalite from Density Functional Theory
by Huaide Cheng, Yugang Chen and Shichun Zhang
Molecules 2026, 31(8), 1269; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31081269 - 12 Apr 2026
Viewed by 495
Abstract
Polyhalite, K2SO4•MgSO4•2CaSO4•2H2O, a ternary evaporite mineral, is commonly found in evaporitic rock salt strata, where it acts as an indicator mineral for potash evaporite deposits. As a directly exploitable mineral potash fertilizer, polyhalite [...] Read more.
Polyhalite, K2SO4•MgSO4•2CaSO4•2H2O, a ternary evaporite mineral, is commonly found in evaporitic rock salt strata, where it acts as an indicator mineral for potash evaporite deposits. As a directly exploitable mineral potash fertilizer, polyhalite serves as an important substitute for potassium resources. The thermodynamic properties of polyhalite remain poorly characterized experimentally; consequently, current estimates predominantly rely on predictive modeling and indirect experimental approaches. The Raman spectra of free SO42− vibrational modes in various sulfate minerals are sensitive to the local symmetry and hydrogen-bonding environment within crystal hydrates, and are directly influenced by the surrounding crystal field. This sensitivity makes Raman spectroscopy a powerful tool for investigating and identifying the crystal structures of sulfate minerals. In this work, the thermodynamic and Raman vibrational properties of polyhalite were investigated using density functional theory (DFT). Phonon calculations at the optimized geometry were employed to compute polyhalite’s key thermodynamic properties—specific heat, entropy, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, and Debye temperature—over a temperature range of 0–1000 K. The results showed that: (1) the computed volume exhibited minimal error, approximately 0.87%, compared to experimental data; (2) the calculated values for the isobaric heat capacity and entropy were 420.72 and 531.39 J·mol−1·K−1 at 298.15 K, respectively; and (3) the calculated value for the free energy of formation at 298.15 K was −5670 kJ·mol−1. The computed Raman spectrum results showed that the typical spectral features of polyhalite are: (1) ν1 for 1024 cm−1, symmetric stretching mode; (2) ν2 for 464 cm−1, symmetry bending mode; and (3) ν4 for 627 cm−1, anti-symmetry bending mode. Full article
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21 pages, 1595 KB  
Article
Thermal Dehydration of Hydrated Salts Under Vapor-Restricted Conditions and Its Role in Modeling Gypsum-Based Systems During Fire Exposure
by Maximilian Pache, Michaela D. Detsi, Ioannis D. Mandilaras, Dimos A. Kontogeorgos and Maria A. Founti
Fire 2026, 9(4), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire9040159 - 9 Apr 2026
Viewed by 709
Abstract
Gypsum-based fire protection relies on thermally activated dehydration, where chemically bound water is released and evaporated, thereby providing an endothermic heat sink that delays heat penetration through assemblies. In parallel, inorganic hydrated salts are increasingly used as flame-retardant additives in gypsum-based systems to [...] Read more.
Gypsum-based fire protection relies on thermally activated dehydration, where chemically bound water is released and evaporated, thereby providing an endothermic heat sink that delays heat penetration through assemblies. In parallel, inorganic hydrated salts are increasingly used as flame-retardant additives in gypsum-based systems to enhance heat absorption over specific temperature ranges. Fire simulation tools and performance-based fire engineering approaches require reliable kinetic data and reaction enthalpies that can be implemented as coupled thermal–chemical source terms. However, additive-specific kinetic datasets remain limited, particularly under restricted vapor exchange conditions representative of porous construction materials. This work investigates the thermal decomposition behavior and dehydration kinetics of Aluminum Trihydrate (Al(OH)3, ATH), Magnesium Hydroxide (Mg(OH)2, MDH), Calcium Aluminate Sulfate (3CaO·Al2O3·3CaSO4·32H2O, CAS), and Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate (MgSO4·7H2O, ESM) with emphasis on vapor-restricted conditions representative of confined porous systems. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments were conducted at three heating rates (2, 10, and 20 K/min for MDH, CAS and ESM and 20, 40 and 60 K/min for GB-ATH) up to 600 °C using pinhole crucibles to simulate autogenous vapor pressure. The thermal analysis indicates that ATH and MDH exhibit predominantly single-step dehydration behavior, while ESM shows a complex multi-step mechanism. Although CAS presents a single dominant thermal peak in the DSC signal, the isoconversional analysis reveals a multi-stage reaction behavior, demonstrating that peak-based interpretation alone may be insufficient for such systems. Kinetic parameters were determined using both model-free (Starink) and model-fitting approaches in accordance with the recommendations of the Kinetics Committee of the International Confederation for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (ICTAC). All reactions were consistently described using the Avrami–Erofeev model as an effective phenomenological representation of the conversion behavior. The extracted kinetic triplets were validated through numerical simulations, showing good agreement with experimental conversion and reaction rate data. The resulting kinetic parameters and dehydration enthalpies provide a physically consistent dataset for the description of dehydration processes under restricted vapor exchange. These results support the development of thermochemical models for gypsum-based systems; however, their transferability to full-scale assemblies remains subject to validation under coupled heat- and mass-transfer conditions. Full article
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16 pages, 2745 KB  
Article
Active Colitis Attenuates Ventricular Excitation–Contraction Coupling by T-Tubular Remodeling
by Edward J. Ouille V, Carlos H. Pereira, Ygor Marinho, Giedrius Kanaporis and Kathrin Banach
Biomolecules 2026, 16(4), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16040503 - 27 Mar 2026
Viewed by 748
Abstract
In patients, extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are attenuated ventricular contractile function and arrhythmia. To determine the mechanism of IBD-induced changes in ventricular function, we used a mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate (3.5% weight/volume; 7 days)-induced colitis. Changes in cardiac [...] Read more.
In patients, extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are attenuated ventricular contractile function and arrhythmia. To determine the mechanism of IBD-induced changes in ventricular function, we used a mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate (3.5% weight/volume; 7 days)-induced colitis. Changes in cardiac function were quantified in isolated ventricular myocytes (VM) by cell shortening, imaging of [Ca2+]i, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and t-tubular density. During colitis, VMs exhibited attenuated cell-shortening and altered Ca2+-handling properties. A prolonged Ca2+ transient (CaT) rise time correlated with an increased coefficient of variation in the subcellular Ca2+ release and an attenuated t-tubular density. T-tubular loss was accompanied by increased ROS production, calpain-2 (CAPN2) expression, junctophilin-2 (JPH-2) cleavage, and autophagy. Inhibition of Angiotensin-converting enzyme during colitis (Perindopril: 3 mg/kg/day) prevented the increase in CAPN2, ROS production, autophagy, and t-tubular remodeling. It failed, however, to restore full length JPH-2. We conclude that, during IBD, the angiotensin II (AngII)-induced loss of t-tubular integrity and altered cellular Ca2+ handling can be prevented by suppression of the AngII-dependent increase in CAPN2 and autophagy and thus suppression of AngII signaling might benefit IBD patients with cardiac manifestations of the disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Calcium Signaling in Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle)
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24 pages, 5378 KB  
Article
Unraveling Hydrogeochemical Fingerprints, Formation Mechanisms and Quality Suitability of Groundwater Resource in the Eastern Qaidam Basin on the Tibetan Plateau
by Shaokang Yang, Zhen Zhao, Jiahao Liu, Lipeng Hou, Xu Guo, Guangbin Zhu, Zhihong Zhang, Liwei Wang, Mengyun Wang, Jie Wang and Yong Xiao
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 3043; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16063043 - 21 Mar 2026
Viewed by 341
Abstract
Groundwater is a strategic resource for maintaining ecological balance and supporting human development in arid inland basins. However, under the dual pressures of climate change and human activities, it faces threats in both quantity and quality. This study selects the Chahan Usu River [...] Read more.
Groundwater is a strategic resource for maintaining ecological balance and supporting human development in arid inland basins. However, under the dual pressures of climate change and human activities, it faces threats in both quantity and quality. This study selects the Chahan Usu River watershed in the eastern Qaidam Basin, a typical arid inland basin on the Tibetan Plateau, to assess the current quality of groundwater resources and reveal the formation mechanisms and material sources of its hydrochemistry. The results show that the groundwater in the watershed is generally weakly alkaline, with some areas exhibiting high salinity. The dominant cations and anions are Na+ and Cl, respectively. The hydrochemical type is mainly Cl-Na, with a minority being mixed Cl-Mg·Ca. Overall, the groundwater in the watershed is suitable for domestic use. However, in the middle and lower reaches of the Chahan Usu River, nitrate and ammonia nitrogen contamination reduce its suitability. Meanwhile, although long-term use of this groundwater would not lead to soil degradation, its widespread high salinity and high sodium content make it unsuitable for irrigation. Water–rock interactions with evaporites and silicate rocks are the main mechanisms controlling groundwater chemistry in the watershed. Among them, halite minerals contribute most of the Na+ and Cl, while sulfate minerals provide Ca2+ and SO42−. In addition, cation exchange is widespread. This study provides a reference for ensuring the security and sustainable development of groundwater resources on the plateau. Full article
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30 pages, 2223 KB  
Article
Comparative Performance Analysis of Machine Learning Models for Predicting the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index
by Bedia Çalış, İbrahim Bayhan, Hamza Yalçin, İbrahim Öztürk and Mehmet İrfan Yeşilnacar
Water 2026, 18(6), 696; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18060696 - 16 Mar 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 700
Abstract
Precise water quality forecasting is vital for sustainable resource management and public health, especially in semi-arid environments. This study investigates the predictive capabilities of ten Machine Learning (ML) algorithms using a dataset of 308 drinking water samples collected from various districts in Şanlıurfa [...] Read more.
Precise water quality forecasting is vital for sustainable resource management and public health, especially in semi-arid environments. This study investigates the predictive capabilities of ten Machine Learning (ML) algorithms using a dataset of 308 drinking water samples collected from various districts in Şanlıurfa Province, Türkiye. We evaluated ten predictive models, including Support Vector Regressor (SVR) and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), both integrated with dimensionality reduction and hyperparameter optimization. Nineteen physicochemical and microbiological parameters—Temperature, chlorine (Cl), pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), ammonium (NH4+), sulfate (SO42−), Free Chlorine (Cl2), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), fluoride (F), trihalomethanes (THMs), Escherichia coli, Enterococci, Total Coliform—were used as input features. The dataset was split into training (75%) and testing (25%) subsets, and model performance was assessed through 10-fold cross-validation and hold-out testing procedures. To improve model generalization and mitigate the effects of class imbalance, we implemented the Adaptive Synthetic Sampling (ADASYN) technique. ML algorithms were evaluated using standard regression metrics: Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and the Coefficient of Determination (R2). The LSTM model optimized using Randomized Search outperformed the SVR and XGBoost models, demonstrating the highest accuracy and generalization capability, as evidenced by the superior R2 value of 0.999 following ADASYN balancing and the lowest RMSE (1.206). These findings underscore the effectiveness of the LSTM framework in modeling the complex variance of the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI). The findings of this study are expected to support future water quality monitoring strategies, inform policy development, and contribute to sustainable water resource management in arid and semi-arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Urban Water Management)
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10 pages, 5592 KB  
Article
Desulfurization Mechanism of High-Sulfur Iron Concentrate Pellets During Oxidative Roasting
by Zhongshuai Jia, Bowen Yang, Bo Zhang, Guoying Yan, Guoli Luo, Yushi Xie, Chengjun Liu and Maofa Jiang
Metals 2026, 16(3), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16030306 - 10 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 487
Abstract
To address the problem of excessive sulfur in high-sulfur magnetite concentrates when used directly, this study systematically investigated the desulfurization behavior and mechanism during oxidative roasting. Green pellets were prepared by mixing high-sulfur iron concentrate fines with 1% bentonite, followed by roasting experiments [...] Read more.
To address the problem of excessive sulfur in high-sulfur magnetite concentrates when used directly, this study systematically investigated the desulfurization behavior and mechanism during oxidative roasting. Green pellets were prepared by mixing high-sulfur iron concentrate fines with 1% bentonite, followed by roasting experiments in air at 800–1200 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG), real-time flue gas analysis (DOAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) were employed to characterize the process and products. The results show that sulfur release is mainly concentrated in two stages: intensive oxidative decomposition of FeS/FeS2 in the range of 480–580 °C and release of reacted sulfur originally encapsulated within the pellets in the range of 940–1080 °C. It was found that alkali metal oxides CaO and MgO in the feed can fix sulfur at a high temperature. They react with released SO2 and iron oxides to form Ca/Mg sulfate–iron oxide composite phases, such as (Ca0.75Mg0.25)SO4·0.38Fe2O3 and (Ca0.91Mg0.09)SO4·3.66Fe2O3·1.47MgO, which slow the SO2 emission rate. A desulfurization ratio above 99% can be achieved when roasting at 1100 °C and above. This study clarifies the sulfur migration mechanism during the roasting of high-sulfur iron concentrate pellets, providing a theoretical basis for optimizing the roasting process to achieve efficient desulfurization and recovery of iron resources. Full article
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