Enhanced cadmium removal by a magnetic potassium ferrocyanide framework: Performance and mechanism study.

Polluted environments often contain large amounts of toxic metals, such as cadmium, which pose a major threat to ecosystems and public health. Contamination by cadmium and its compounds is often observed in areas surrounding zinc mining sites and electroplating factories, and the control of cadmium pollution is essential for environmental safety and health. In this study, a highly efficient and straightforward separation strategy for K4Fe(CN)6@Fe3O4 nanocomposites is successfully developed to capture the Cd ions in the water environment. Batch adsorption experiments revealed that K4Fe(CN)6@Fe3O4 exhibited a high cadmium removal rate (greater than 98 %) at a pH level of 6.0 and solid-liquid ratio of 1.0 g/L at room temperature (298 K). Kinetic analysis revealed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order model and cadmium was rapidly removed in the first 10 min, with chemisorption dominating the capture of Cd2+ by K4Fe(CN)6@Fe3O4. Adsorption isotherms revealed a heterogeneous adsorption behavior, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 40.78 mg/g. The intrinsic adsorption of Cd2+ by K4Fe(CN)6@Fe3O4 occurring primarily through electrostatic interaction and ion exchange. In addition, K4Fe(CN)6@Fe3O4 exhibited an excellent regeneration capacity. Therefore, integrating Fe3O4 into the metal cyanide not only provided the composite material with excellent chemical stability and selective adsorption sites for Cd2+, but also facilitated subsequent sorbent collection and recovery. Overall, this study presents a simple and feasible approach for integrating Fe3O4 into potassium ferrocyanide frameworks for efficient cadmium removal from contaminated water.

Targeting SRSF2 mutations in leukemia with RKI-1447: A strategy to impair cellular division and nuclear structure.

Spliceosome machinery mutations are common early mutations in myeloid malignancies; however, effective targeted therapies against them are still lacking. In the current study, we used an in vitro high-throughput drug screen among four different isogenic cell lines and identified RKI-1447, a Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor, as selective cytotoxic effector of SRSF2 mutant cells. RKI-1447 targeted SRSF2 mutated primary human samples in xenografts models. RKI-1447 induced mitotic catastrophe and induced major reorganization of the microtubule system and severe nuclear deformation. Transmission electron microscopy and 3D light microscopy revealed that SRSF2 mutations induce deep nuclear indentation and segmentation that are apparently driven by microtubule-rich cytoplasmic intrusions, which are exacerbated by RKI-1447. The severe nuclear deformation in RKI-1447-treated SRSF2 mutant cells prevents cells from completing mitosis. These findings shed new light on the interplay between microtubules and the nucleus and offers new ways for targeting pre-leukemic SRSF2 mutant cells.

GFI1B acts as a metabolic regulator in hematopoiesis and acute myeloid leukemia.

Recent studies highlighted the role of transcription factors in metabolic regulation during hematopoiesis and leukemia development. GFI1B is a transcriptional repressor that plays a critical role in hematopoiesis, and its expression is negatively related to the prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. We earlier reported a change in the metabolic state of hematopoietic stem cells upon Gfi1b deletion. Here we explored the role of Gfi1b in metabolism reprogramming during hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. We demonstrated that Gfi1b deletion remarkably activated mitochondrial respiration and altered energy metabolism dependence toward oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Mitochondrial substrate dependency was shifted from glucose to fatty acids upon Gfi1b deletion via upregulating fatty acid oxidation (FAO). On a molecular level, Gfi1b epigenetically regulated multiple FAO-related genes. Moreover, we observed that metabolic phenotypes evolved as cells progressed from preleukemia to leukemia, and the correlation between Gfi1b expression level and metabolic phenotype was affected by genetic variations in AML cells. FAO or OXPHOS inhibition significantly impeded leukemia progression of Gfi1b-KO MLL/AF9 cells. Finally, we showed that Gfi1b-deficient AML cells were more sensitive to metformin as well as drugs implicated in OXPHOS and FAO inhibition, opening new potential therapeutic strategies.

Dual light-driven p-ZnFe2O4/n-TiO2 catalyst: Benzene-breaking reaction for malachite green.

Heterocyclic aromatic compounds such as malachite green can cause immense harm to the environment and mankind because of their toxic bio-accumulation and insufficient biodegradation. ZnFe2O4/TiO2 (ZF-T) has attracted attentions as a visible-light-driven catalyst because it can break and mineralize benzene through photolysis. Compared with TiO2, which photodegrades only 53.5% malachite green, anatase TiO2 loaded with ZnFe2O4 has greater photocatalytic activity and can degrade up to 90.1% malachite green. Furthermore, a photocatalytic efficiency above 80% can be obtained through five consecutive cycles with a duration of 4 h. In this study, ZF-T was characterized, and its photolytic parameters, including dosage, pH, time, and ionic strength, were optimized. The photolytic products of malachite green were analyzed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, which confirmed that ZF-T can drive visible light to produce •O2- and H+ free radicals that can efficiently degrade heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and cleave benzene rings. These outcomes deepen our understanding of the development and applications of visible-light-driven ZF-T composites in the field of wastewater purification.

Phosphate enhanced uranium stable immobilization on biochar supported nano zero valent iron.

Uranium (U) immobilization from wastewater by zero valent iron (ZVI) was widely concerned through reduction and surface adsorption. Releasing of U due to re-oxidation of U(IV) into U(VI) limited the application of ZVI in U decontamination. In this work, a kind of biochar supported nano zero valent iron (Fe/BC(900)) was obtained by carbothermal reduction of starch mixed with ferric nitrate at 900 °C. U immobilization behavior by Fe/BC(900) in the presence of phosphate (P) was investigated. The U immobilization reaction was adjusted by controlling the sequence of U, Fe/BC(900) and P. U immobilization efficiency was enhanced to 99.9% in the presence of P. Reaction sequence of U, Fe/BC(900) and P influenced the U immobilization efficiency, which followed the order of (U-P)+Fe/BC(900)>(U- Fe/BC(900))+P>U+Fe/BC(900)>(P-Fe/BC(900))+U. P and nZVI both contributed to enhancing U immobilization through precipitation of uranyl-P and reductive co-precipitate (U(IV)) in a wide pH range. The released Fe ions could precipitate with uranyl and phosphate. Consumption of P and nZVI in the (P-Fe/BC(900))+U system limited U immobilization ability. The precipitate is highly dependent on U, P and Fe elements. U desorption in (U-P)+Fe/BC(900) system was not observed with stability.

Geochemical distribution and speciation of Tl and other trace metals in upper Beijiang River in South China: Approach of in-situ DGT monitoring.

Mining activities frequently result in severe contamination of river water. This study aimed to better understand the spatial distribution characteristics of Tl and other metals (e.g., Al, Cd, Co, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, V, As, Mo, and Sb), and to assess their risks to human health. Surface water samples were collected from the upper Beijiang River (South China) via grab sampling and the diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique. The concentrations of Tl measured by grab sampling and δ-MnO2-DGT ranged from 0.045 µg L-1 to 0.231 µg L-1 and from 0.056 µg L-1 to 0.131 µg L-1, respectively. Most of the metals monitored were below the threshold levels allowed by the drinking water standard in China, except for As, Sb, and Mn at specific sampling sites. The concentrations of other metals measured by grab sampling were higher than those measured using the DGT technique because of the differences in speciation during these measurements. The hazard quotient (5.43 × 10-4-8.0 × 10-1 for grab sampling and 2.23 × 10-4-2.8 × 10-1 for DGT technique) for the monitored trace metals demonstrated minimal health risk to human beings. The pollution status of these toxic metals in the study area was generally acceptable. As was found to be potentially the most harmful metal in the studied area, with hazard quotients at some sampling sites calculated by grab sampling of >1. It has previously been suggested that As is the most important non-carcinogenic contaminant. The combination of grab sampling and the DGT technique provides a comprehensive understanding of trace metals, especially Tl, in terms of potential bioavailability and ecological assessment.

Preleukemic stem cells: leave it or not?

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been shown to undergo multiple acquired mutations in hematopoietic cell lineages over years before becoming clinically apparent. The early stage of AML (before it becomes clinically recognizable) may be characterized by acquisition of some, but not all, leukemia-related somatic mutations in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The physiological roles of these mutations remain puzzling. These HSCs have been termed as preleukemic HSCs. However, those frequent acquired somatic mutations are also found in healthy aging adults, namely, "age-related clonal hematopoiesis." Multiple studies have demonstrated that the preleukemic HSCs survive through chemotherapy and then contribute to the relapse and the development of de novo AML. Whether preleukemic HSCs should be targeted or whether a preventive therapy should be considered for those individuals remains to be determined. This article aims to shed light on this special subject and to discuss the roles of preleukemic HSCs in leukemogenesis.

Solvent-free hydrothermal synthesis of gamma-aluminum oxide nanoparticles with selective adsorption of Congo red.

Aluminum hydroxide and oxide have been widely used for decontamination due to their environmentally friendly nature and cost effectiveness. Aluminum (hydro) oxides are the main phases of aluminum-derived environment materials. Herein, the solvent-free hydrothermal synthesis of gamma-aluminum oxide (γ-Al2O3) nanoparticles and phase transformation of AlOOH into γ-Al2O3 are reported. Hydrothermal treatment of NH3·H2O-induced aluminum precipitate resulted in the formation of AlOOH, which was an intermediate product of γ-Al2O3. AlOOH was transformed into highly crystalline 20-nm γ-Al2O3 particles through calcination at 500 °C due to dehydration. The transformation was confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric (TG) analyses. The resulting γ-Al2O3 had superior adsorption ability for the anionic Congo red (CR) dye than for the cationic methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG) dyes. The selective adsorption ability of CR instead of MB was attributed to the electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonds between the amino group and azo double bond of CR, and between the amino group and hydroxyl group in γ-Al2O3. Thus, this study investigated crystalline phase transformation into γ-Al2O3 and selective adsorption capacity of CR, which provides important information regarding the synthesis of crystalline γ-Al2O3 adsorbent, with selective adsorption ability for decontamination applications.

Cadmium stabilization via silicates formation: Efficiency, reaction routes and leaching behavior of products.

Stabilizing cadmium by incorporating it into crystalline products is an effective approach to detoxify cadmium-containing wastes. In this study, two Si-rich matrices in amorphous and crystalline forms (i.e., silica fume and α-quartz, respectively) were employed to incorporate Cd. The processing parameters, namely the type of Si-rich matrix, Cd/Si molar ratio (Г) and sintering temperature, were thoroughly investigated using quantitative X-ray diffraction technique. Cd incorporation was more energetically favored when silica fume was used rather than when α-quartz was used because of the lower Gibbs free energy of formation for silica fume. The sintering temperature and Г values substantially affected the formation of three cadmium silicates, namely monoclinic CdSiO3, orthorhombic Cd2SiO4, and tetragonal Cd3SiO5. CdSiO3 formed only in Г = 1.0 systems. Cd2SiO4 was dominant in all reactive systems. In Г = 3.0 systems, Cd3SiO5 rather than Cd2SiO4 was the predominant Cd-hosting product at temperatures above 850 °C. Leaching test results demonstrated that CdSiO3 possessed the highest acid resistance among the cadmium silicates. The leachability of Cd2SiO4 was very similar to that of Cd3SiO5. CdSiO3 preferred incongruent dissolution, whereas Cd2SiO4 and Cd3SiO5 favored near-congruent dissolution. This study delineated the feasibility of cadmium incorporation by Si-rich matrices, identifying a promising approach for cadmium detoxification.

Incorporation of Cadmium and Nickel into Ferrite Spinel Solid Solution: X-ray Diffraction and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Analyses.

The feasibility of incorporating Cd and Ni in hematite was studied by investigating the interaction mechanism for the formation of CdxNi1-xFe2O4 solid solutions (CNFs) from CdO, NiO, and α-Fe2O3. X-ray diffraction results showed that the CNFs crystallized into spinel structures with increasing lattice parameters as the Cd content in the precursors was increased. Cd2+ ions were found to occupy the tetrahedral sites, as evidenced by Rietveld refinement and extended X-ray absorption fine structure analyses. The incorporation of Cd and Ni into ferrite spinel solid solution strongly relied on the processing parameters. The incorporation of Cd and Ni into the CNFs was greater at high x values (0.7 < x ≤ 1.0) than at low x values (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.7). A feasible treatment technique based on the investigated mechanism of CNF formation was developed, involving thermal treatment of waste sludge containing Cd and Ni. Both of these metals in the waste sludge were successfully incorporated into a ferrite spinel solid solution, and the concentrations of leached Cd and Ni from this solid solution were substantially reduced, stabilizing at low levels. This research offers a highly promising approach for treating the Cd and Ni content frequently encountered in electronic waste and its treatment residues.

Stabilizing cadmium into aluminate and ferrite structures: Effectiveness and leaching behavior.

The inappropriate disposal of sludge, particularly for those enriched in heavy metals, is highly hazardous to the environment. Thermally converting sludge into useful products is a highly promising technique as heavy metals are immobilized and organic substances are mineralized. This work investigated the feasibility of stabilizing simulated cadmium-laden sludge by sintering with Al-and Fe-rich precursors. To simulate the process, cadmium oxide was alternatively mixed and sintered with γ-Al2O3 and α-Fe2O3. Cadmium was crystallographically incorporated into aluminate (CdAl4O7) monoclinic structure and ferrite (CdFe2O4) spinel, dependent on the type of precursor used. The CdFe2O4 formation was initialed at about 150-300 °C lower than that of CdAl4O7. With Rietveld refinement analysis of the collated XRD data, the weight percentages of crystalline phases in the fired samples were quantified. To evaluate the cadmium incorporation efficiency, a transformation ratio (TR) index was devised. The TR values revealed that, to effectively incorporate cadmium, 950 °C was favored by γ-Al2O3 and 850 °C was for α-Fe2O3 within a 3-h sintering treatment. Constant pH leaching test (CPLT) was used to assess the metal stabilization effects, revealing a remarkable reduction of cadmium by transformation into CdAl4O7 and CdFe2O4. Both CdAl4O7 and CdFe2O4 were incongruently dissolved in an acid solution. The overall finding indicated a potentially feasible technology in cadmium-laden sludge stabilization.

Cadmium Stabilization Efficiency and Leachability by CdAl4O7 Monoclinic Structure.

This study investigated the stabilization efficiencies of using an aluminum-rich precursor to incorporate simulated cadmium-bearing waste sludge and evaluated the leaching performance of the product phase. Cadmium oxide and γ-alumina mixtures with various Cd/Al molar ratios were fired at 800-1000 °C for 3 h. Cadmium could be crystallochemically incorporated by γ-alumina into CdAl4O7 monoclinic phase and the reaction was strongly controlled by the treatment temperature. The crystal structure details of CdAl4O7 were solved and refined with the Rietveld refinement method. According to the structural refinement results, the stabilization efficiencies were quantified and expressed as a transformation ratio (TR) with optimized processing parameters. The preferred treatment temperature was found to be 950 °C for mixtures with a Cd/Al molar ratio of 1/4, as its TR value indicated the cadmium incorporation was nearly completed after a 3 h treatment scheme. Constant-pH leaching tests (CPLT) were conducted by comparing the leachability of the CdO and CdAl4O7 phases in a pH 4.0 environment. A remarkable reduction in cadmium leachability could be achieved via monoclinic CdAl4O7 structure formation to effectively stabilize hazardous cadmium in the waste stream. The CPLT and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results suggested incongruent dissolution behavior during the leaching of the CdAl4O7 phase.