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Biochar has considerable sorption efficiency for organic pollutants; however, the effect of physicochemical characteristics and their alteration by environmental conditions on the sorption mechanism is still unknown. We investigated the pH-dependent sorption of simazine on Miscanthus biochar produced at two pyrolysis temperatures (400 and 700 °C; hereafter B-400 and B-700) under two different electrolytes and interpreted the sorption mechanism. The surface charge density (SCD) decreased more in B-400 than in B-700 at higher pH due to more deprotonation of acidic functional groups (AFGs), but greater decreases were observed in B-700 than in B-400 from pH 2 to pH 3 as a result of alkali salts deposition. The decrease in KF with increasing pH showed that simazine sorption decreased as van der Waals forces because the surface of biochar carried a greater negative SCD, which repulses simazine molecules due to the enhanced deprotonation of AFGs. At a given pH, KF was lower in CaCl2 than in NaCl due to the formation of larger metal-biochar complexes, resulting in enhanced blocking of pores available for simazine sorption. We believe that knowledge of the pH-dependence of SCD and accessibility of biochar pores could help better interpret the behavior of simazine-like pollutants in soil and aquatic environments.

Oxyanions are ubiquitous in soils, organisms and the environment. Due to their unique chemical structure, oxyanions can be easily transferred into other systems. Carbonate (CO32−), nitrate (NO3−), phosphate (PO43−), silicate (SiO42−) and sulfate (SO42−) are the major oxyanions in organisms and the soil environment, whereas arsenate (AsO43−), antimonate (SbO43−), borate (BO33−), selenate (SeO42−), and tellurate (TeO42−) are generally reported as toxic chemicals found at trace levels. Excessive oxyanions leached from soils into water have caused severe environmental problems. Here, we review the factors affecting the structural configuration of oxyanions and organic acids adsorbed on iron oxides and hydroxides. The configuration of oxyanions on iron (hydr)oxides is controlled by surface loading, pH, sample phase, competing ions and organic acids. Under conditions of low surface loading and low pH at the interface in the absence of competing ions, oxyanions with high affinity possibly form a complex with higher denticity. But an increase in pH decreases the number of sorption sites; thus, a transition from a tri- or bidentate complex to monodentate and outer-sphere complexes occurs.

Arsenate and phosphate have similar properties due to their electrochemical structures, but their environmental impacts are unique. The abundance and competition of arsenate and phosphate determine their bioavailability and leachability; thus, it is essential to understand their fate in the soil environment. In this study, the effects of pH and surface loading on the competitive adsorption of arsenate and phosphate on four iron (hydr)oxides were evaluated by employing the Langmuir isotherm, competitive sorption ratio (CSR), and competition effect (CE). The stability and transformation of the iron (hydr)oxides were also assessed. Various adsorption patterns were observed in the single and mixed treatments by controlling the addition of oxyanions, pH, surface loading, and type of iron (hydr)oxides. Arsenate was preferentially adsorbed at a low pH, whereas phosphate showed the opposite trend. The CEAs(V),P(V) was close to zero at low surface density (no competition) and sequentially changed to negative or positive values with increasing surface density, indirectly indicating the sequential development of promotive and competitive effects. Transformation in goethite was identified at a high pH with the presence of oxyanions, except that no transformation was observed upon the addition of oxyanions and with pH change. However, the stability of the iron (hydr)oxides decreased at a low pH and with the presence of phosphate, arsenate, or both. The hematite showed a significant promotive effect regardless of the pH. Our study revealed that the pH, surface loading, and type of iron (hydr)oxides are intercorrelated and simultaneously affect the adsorption characteristics of oxyanions and the stability of iron (hydr)oxides.

Biochar has received considerable attention as an eco-friendly bio-sorbent; however, multifarious characteristics caused by pyrolysis and feedstock pose difficulties in its application. We characterized the pH-dependent sorption of the pesticide simazine on Miscanthus biochar produced at two pyrolysis temperatures (400 and 700 °C; hereafter B-400 and B-700). The specific surface-area (SSA) of the micro- and nanopores, elemental composition, surface acidity and infrared spectra were determined. The SSA was greater in B-700 than in B-400, and the former had greater SSA in micro-pores and lower SSA in nanopores than the latter. During pyrolysis, the single-bond structures of the feedstock were converted to aromatic structures, and further pyrolysis led to ligneous structures. Alterations in pore structure and concave-up Scatchard plot corroborated the presence of two sorption mechanisms: electrostatic attractions (Ses) and hydrophobic attractions (Shp). Decreases in maximum sorption in the qmax-L with increasing pH was due to decreased Ses via deprotonation of carboxylic groups on biochar, while those in the qmax-H with increasing pyrolysis temperature were due to decreased Shp, resulting from pore structure deformation. We believe that our approach, which addresses the pH-dependence of charge density of sorbate and sorbent, could contribute to a better understanding of the behavior of simazine.

Ginseng has been shown to produce a cognitive improvement effect. The key molecular components in ginseng that produce pharmacological effects are ginsenosides. Previous studies reported a memory improvement effect of a few major ginsenosides. However, the identity of specific minor ginsenosides mediating such function remains unknown. Here, we report that a minor ginsenoside F1 improves memory function in APPswe/PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1) double-transgenic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) model mice. After 8-wk oral administration of F1 jelly, we observed that spatial working memory, but not context-dependent fear memory, was restored in AD mice. To search for a possible underlying molecular and cellular mechanism, we investigated the effect of F1 on Aβ plaque. We observed F1 administration reduced the Aβ plaque area and density in the cortex, but not in the hippocampus of AD mice. Next, we tested for the effect of F1 on the expression level of key molecules involved in learning and memory. Results from Western blot assay revealed that an abnormally reduced level of a phosphorylated form of CREB in the hippocampus of AD mice was restored to a normal level by F1 administration. Moreover, in the same animals, BDNF level was augmented in the cortex. Our results, therefore, suggest that minor ginsenoside F1 constitutes a promising target to develop therapeutic agents for AD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13041-019-0495-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The effect of bentonite and sand, as natural capping agents, on the fluxes of nutrients and trace metals across the sediment-water interface was studied through sediment incubation, and the ecotoxicological impact was assessed by using Daphnia magna. Bentonite and sand were layered on the sediment at 15, 75, and 225 mg cm(-2), and the concentration of cations, nutrients, and trace metals was measured. Sediment incubation showed that bentonite reduced the N flux but increased the P flux as a result of dissolution of non-crystalline P from bentonite, while sand slightly decreased the N fluxes but not the P flux. The concentration of Na increased in the overlying water with increasing application rates of bentonite, while that of Ca decreased. However, regardless of the rate of sand application, concentrations of all cation species remained unchanged. The concentration of As and Cr increased with bentonite application rate but decreased with sand. Both capping materials suppressed fluxes of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn compared to control, and the extent of suppression was different depending on the trace metal species and capping agents used. During sediment incubation, the survival rate of D. magna significantly decreased in bentonite suspension but began to decrease at the end in sand suspension. Sediment capping of mildly polluted sediments by using bentonite and sand lowered the level of nutrients and trace metals. However, unexpected or undesirable side effects, such as influxes of P and As from bentonite to the overlying water and a possibility of toxic impacts to aquatic ecosystems, were observed, suggesting that capping agents with an adequate assessment of their side effects and toxicity should be predetermined for site-specific sediment management strategies.