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Nanotechnology enables the manipulation of materials at the nanoscale, offering innovative solutions in various fields. Nanoparticles, with their small size and unique properties, have significant applications in the biomedical filed. The current study was designed to assess the biological applications of self-synthesized cobalt carbonate (CoCO 3 ) nanoparticles. The crystalline structure and chemical composition of the CoCO 3 -NPs were confirmed by SEM, XRD, and FTIR techniques. We observed the 16.58 nm size of novelly synthesized CoCO 3 NPS. The scanning electron microscope study confirmed a uniform cubic spinel structure. The biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity were checked in an invitro setup. We exposed albino mice to these synthesized NPs to study wound healing and metabolic effects. The results of biocompatibility analysis indicated hemolytic activity in a dose-dependent way, which showed no cytotoxic effect except at a higher concentration. Furthermore, the results showed enhanced wound healing processes in CoCO 3 -NP-treated albino mice as compared to the control group. CoCO 3 -NPs have considerable effect on the thyroid hormone and insulin levels in albino mice. The levels of T3, T4, and insulin were increased in a dose-dependent manner. Interactions between CoCO 3 -NPs and thyroxine and insulin were confirmed through molecular docking. We confirmed the antimicrobial efficiency of the nanoparticles using MIC values and zones of inhibition against Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus aureus. Despite their concentration-dependent biocompatibility concerns, the results are promising, as CoCO 3 -NPs hold potential for use in medical practice, particularly in advanced wound management and microbe inhibition., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In the process of treating cerium fluorocarbon-cerium lanthanide mixed rare earth concentrates by sulfuric acid roasting method, a large amount of waste leach residue containing iron, rare earths and phosphorus produced by flood neutralization needs to be solved urgently. In this paper, sodium carbonate roasting decomposition was used to treat the water leach residue, in which iron and rare earths were transformed into oxides, and the phosphorus was transformed into sodium phosphate. The main reactions and thermodynamic mechanisms of the roasting decomposition process were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, phase analysis and chemical analysis. When the mass ratio of sodium carbonate to water leach residue is 1.5:1, the roasting temperature is 700 °C, and the roasting time is 1.5 h, the leaching rate of phosphorus with the roasted product reaches more than 98%. Meanwhile, the phase of the roasted product after washing mainly consists of iron oxide and rare earth oxides. The combination of sodium carbonate roasting decomposition and water leaching is effective for the treatment of water leach residue, which provides an experimental and theoretical basis for solving the problem of environmental and resource waste caused by the accumulation of a large amount of water leach residue. In addition, because sodium carbonate can achieve the separation of iron and phosphorus, this method also has certain reference value for the recovery and utilization of iron phosphate in lithium iron phosphate battery waste., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Carbonate (CO 3 2- /HCO 3 - ) have a significant impact on advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) by consuming reactive free radicals such as HO • to generate CO 3 •- . However, research on the mechanisms and kinetics of CO 3 •- remains limited. This study investigates the degradation mechanism and kinetics of sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs) by CO 3 •- through theoretical calculations. The calculation results revealed that the effect of CO 3 •- on SAs degradation is pH-dependent due to the dissociable sulfonamide group (-SO 2 NH-) of SAs in the common water treatment pH range (3-8). The main reaction type of CO 3 •- with both neutral and anionic molecules of SAs is single electron transfer reaction. Frontier molecular orbital theory (FMO) illustrated that deprotonation of the sulfonamide group of SAs decreases the charge density on the heterocyclic ring, facilitating the electrophilic addition of CO 3 •- . The second-order rate constants of the neutral and anionic molecules of SAs with CO 3 •- were calculated as 7.57 × 10 1 ∼1.84 × 10 8 and 1.81 × 10 7 ∼7.94 × 10 9  M -1  s -1 , respectively, resulting in an increase in the apparent reaction rate constants with pH. Stepwise multiple linear regression was employed to predict reactivity with anionic sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs - ). Two models with outstanding prediction and stability were developed with coefficients of determination R 2 of 0.660 and 0.681, respectively. The degradation kinetics simulation indicated that in the UV/H 2 O 2 process in the presence of carbonate, the degradation rate of SAs increased with pH. Furthermore, the contribution of CO 3 •- to SMX degradation increased while that of HO • decreased. This study highlights the contribution of carbonates to the micropollutant degradation in the UV/H 2 O 2 process as the model, providing theoretical insights into the development of carbonate-based AOPs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Silicified peritidal carbonates of the Tonian Draken Formation, Spitsbergen, contain highly diverse and well-preserved microfossil assemblages dominated by filamentous microbial mats, but also including diverse benthic and/or allochthonous (possibly planktonic) microorganisms. Here, we characterize eight morphospecies in focused ion beam (FIB) ultrathin sections using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectromicroscopy. Raman and XANES spectroscopies show the highly aromatic molecular structure of preserved organic matter. Despite this apparently poor molecular preservation, nano-quartz crystallization allowed for the preservation of various ultrastructures distinguished in TEM. In some filamentous microfossils (Siphonophycus) as well as in all cyanobacterial coccoids, extracellular polysaccharide sheaths appear as bands of dispersed organic nanoparticles. Synodophycus microfossils, made up of pluricellular colonies of coccoids, contain organic walls similar to the F-layers of pleurocapsalean cyanobacteria. In some fossils, internal content occurs as particulate organic matter, forming dense networks throughout ghosts of the intracellular space (e.g., in Salome svalbardensis filaments), or scarce granules (in some Chroococcales). In some chroococcalean microfossils (Gloeodiniopsis mikros, and also possibly Polybessurus), we find layered internal contents that are more continuous than nanoparticulate bands defining the sheaths, and with a shape that can be contracted, folded, or invaginated. We interpret these internal layers as the remains of cell envelope substructures and/or photosynthetic membranes thickened by additional cellular material. Some Myxococccoides show a thick (up to ~ 0.9 μm) wall ultrastructure displaying organic pillars that is best reconciled with a eukaryotic affinity. Finally, a large spheroid with ruptured wall, of uncertain affinity, displays a bi-layered envelope. Altogether, our nanoscale investigations provide unprecedented insights into the taphonomy and taxonomy of this well-preserved assemblage, which can help to assess the nature of organic microstructures in older rocks., (© 2024 The Author(s). Geobiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Chemically activated biochar is effective in supercapacitors and water splitting, but low conductivity hinders its application as a carbon support in carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO 2 RR). Based on the observed CO 2 RR performance from potassium hydroxide (KOH)-activated biochar, increased microporosity was hypothesized to enhance the performance, leading to selection of potassium carbonate (K 2 CO 3 ) for activation. K 2 CO 3 activation at 600℃ increased microporosity significantly, yielding a total Faradaic efficiency of 72%, compared to 60% with KOH at 800℃. Further refinement of thermal ramping rate enriched micropore content, directly boosting FE C to 82%. Additionally, K 2 CO 3 's lower activation temperature could preserve hydroxyl groups to improve ethylene selectivity. These findings demonstrate that optimizing microporosity and surface chemistry is critical for designing activated biochar-based CO 2 RR electrocatalysts. Despite lower electrical conductivity of activated biochar, selecting the appropriate activating agents and conditions can make it a viable alternative to carbon black-based electrocatalysts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Fungi play a significant role in the deterioration of various types of monuments. Therefore, the protection of ancient monuments from fungal attacks is an important goal that must attract the attention of researchers worldwide. A total of 69 fungal isolates were recovered from 22 deteriorated objects compromising paper, textiles, wood, and stone in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) storeroom, Cairo, Egypt. The isolates were identified as 12 different species categorized into three different genera, namely, Aspergillus (9 species), Penicillium (2 species) and Trichoderma (1 species). Among them, Aspergillus fumigatus was the most prevalent species. Three essential oils were assessed for antifungal activity and compared with the antifungal effects of five synthetic microcides to identify a natural inhibitory treatment. Thyme oil and sodium azide were found to be the most active growth inhibitors, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 625 and 100 ppm, with inhibition zone diameters of 19.0 ± 0.70 - 23.76 ± 1.15 and 13.30 ± 0.35 - 19.66 ± 0.54 mm, respectively. An in vitro simulation of the biodeterioration process was conducted using spores of the A. fumigatus strain NMEC-PSTW.1 on model cubes made of paper, textile, wood, and stone materials. The changes in the characteristics of the artificially deteriorated materials were analyzed using environmental scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed changes in the morphology, physical properties, and chemical composition induced by A. fumigatus NMEC-PSTW.1. Overall, thyme oil is recommended as a natural inhibitor to protect carbonate and cellulosic monuments in NMEC against fungal attack.

Artificially cemented sandstones were produced to assess the impact of detrital texture and composition on the precipitation and distribution of early calcite cement, and cement-related degradation in porosity. To simulate early-calcite cementation, loose sediment of variable composition (siliciclastic and calcareous) and grain size was exposed to a calcite supersaturated solution for 35 to 58 days at 23°C. Identification and distribution of the newly precipitated crystals was performed with high resolution 2D optical and scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results show the precipitation of grain-coating, pore-bridging and pore-filling granular calcite cement with up to 100 μm crystal size. Despite a positive correlation between the amount of detrital carbonate grains and calcite crystals, calcite cement does not preferentially nucleate on bioclast surfaces, irrespectively of their favourable mineralogy. Siliciclastic grains show high calcite cement coverage with altered feldspar, particularly plagioclase, displaying coverage of 94.3%. Grain size variations within the sand packs have influence on the precipitation pattern of calcite with coarse-grained layers (500-710 μm) showing minor calcite cementation (6.3%), while medium- (250-500 μm) to fine-grained layers (125-250 μm) comprise average calcite cement contents of 16.3% and 28.2%, respectively. The findings of this study enhance our knowledge regarding the precipitation processes of calcite in porous material with heterogeneous reacting mineral phases, shapes and pore connectivity., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Janssen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) has been studied in remediation of heavy metal contaminated water or soil in recent years. This paper aims to investigate the immobilization mechanism of Zn 2+ , Ni 2+ , and Cr(VI) in contaminated sand, as well as strength enhancement of sand specimens by using EICP method with crude sword bean urease extracts. A series of liquid batch tests and artificially contaminated sand remediation experiments were conducted to explore the heavy metal immobilization efficacy and mechanisms. Results showed that the urea hydrolysis completion efficiency decreased as the Ca 2+ concentration increased and the heavy metal immobilization percentage increased with the concentration of Ca 2+ and treatment cycles in contaminated sand. After four treatment cycles with 0.5 mol/L Ca 2+ added, the immobilization percentage of Zn 2+ , Ni 2+ , and Cr(VI) were 99.99 %, 86.38 %, and 75.18 %, respectively. The microscale analysis results presented that carbonate precipitates and metallic oxide such as CaCO 3 , ZnCO 3 , NiCO 3 , Zn(OH) 2 , and CrO(OH) were generated in liquid batch tests and sand remediation experiments. The SEM-EDS and FTIR results also showed that organic molecules and CaCO 3 may adsorb or complex heavy metal ions. Thus, the immobilization mechanism of EICP method with crude sword bean urease can be considered as biomineralization, as well as adsorption and complexation by organic matter and calcium carbonate. The unconfined compressive strength of EICP-treated contaminated sand specimens demonstrated a positive correlation with the increased generation of carbonate precipitates, being up to 306 kPa after four treatment cycles with shear failure mode. Crude sword bean urease with 0.5 mol/L Ca 2+ added is recommended to immobilize multiple heavy metal ions and enhance soil strength., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study aims to investigate the environmental fate of irbesartan when subjected to activated percarbonate treatment. The investigation delves into the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and evaluates their toxicity, and it seeks to draw comparisons with outcomes from treatment with sodium hypochlorite, already characterized in previous findings. The proposed treatment indicates the formation of at least 11 DBPs - eight identified for the first time - which have been isolated by various chromatographic techniques, identified by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Mass Spectrometry studies and for which a mechanism has been proposed to elucidate their formation. To evaluate irbesartan's biological impact during treatment with sodium percarbonate (SPC), a toxicity study of the DBPs was conducted using Daphnia magna, Aliivibrio fischeri, and Raphidocelis subcapitata, three model organisms. The ecotoxicity was evaluated using the Ecological Structure-Activity Relationships (ECOSAR) computer program and compared with experimental results. Compared to chlorination treatment, a lower mineralization percentage (-43 %) and amount of DBPs at least twice higher were observed. Toxicity assessment highlighted that DBPs formed during SPC treatment were more toxic than those from chlorination. ECOSAR predicted toxicity aligned with experimental findings. Additionally, the DBPs exhibited varying levels of toxicity, primarily attributable to the presence of aromatic and hydroxyl groups in their chemical structure, indicating that SPC treatment is not suitable for treatment of irbesartan polluted waters., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Apple flesh tends to turn mealy and textural deterioration commonly occurs during storage. The comparative investigation of three sub-fractions separated from sodium carbonate-soluble pectin (SSP) of 'Hongjiangjun' apples between crisp and mealy stages was performed to unveil the textural alterations related to mealiness. In situ immunofluorescence labelling showed that galactans declined in parenchyma cell walls during the fruit mealiness. FTIR analysis, monosaccharide compositions and structural polymers configurated that loss of rhammogalacturonan-I (RG-I) from SSP sub-fragments (SC0.0-P and S-M0.0-P) might be closely involved in the mealiness. The NMR spectroscopy revealed that loss of the substituted galactans from α-Rhap residues repeat unit in SC0.0-P constituting RG-I in crisp stage that subsequently converted to S-M0.0-P in mealy stage might be closely associated with the modifications of pectin in cell walls during mealiness. These findings provided novel evidence for understanding the underlying modifications of SSP polymers during the mealiness of 'Hongjiangjun' apples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Thermal desorption is a well-assessed technique to speciate mercury (Hg) in soils and sediments. However, the effects related to the different matrices are still not properly assessed. In this study, thermal desorption was applied to Hg-free calcite mixed with Hg standard and soils rich in carbonate and silicate minerals, as well as organic matter. Hg 0 , H g Cl 2 , H g O, α-HgS, β-HgS and organo-mercuric compounds were recognized, pointing out that the soil matrix operates notable differences in terms of breakdown temperatures of the Hg-compounds and suggesting that the mineralogical composition of soil has to be investigated before applying the thermal desorption technique. Furthermore, the presence of Hg0 was carefully evaluated since, as already observed, it forms Hg 2+ , which increases mercury mobility in the pedological cover with important consequences for those soils contaminated and located close to decommissioned or active mining areas and/or industrial sites (e.g. chloro-alkali industries). Experimental runs were thus carried out by using carbonate-, silicate- and organic-rich soils doped with liquid Hg. It was observed that Hg 0 tends to be oxidized to form Hg + and then Hg 2+ as a function of soil matrix and reaction time. Surprisingly, the oxidation rate is rather fast, since after 42 days the initial content of Hg 0 is halved, thus following an exponential decay. This implies that in Hg 0 -polluted areas, the fate of the resulting Hg 2+ can be that to: i) be adsorbed by organic matter and/or Fe-Mn-Al oxides and/or ii) feed shallow aquifers. This study is a further step ahead to understand the behavior of Hg in contaminated soils from industrial and mining areas where liquid Hg is occurring in different soil matrices and may provide useful indications for remediation operations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Ocean alkalinity enhancement is considered as an effective atmospheric CO 2 removal approach, but currently, little is known about the carbon sequestration potential of implementing olivine addition in offshore waters. We investigated the effect of olivine addition on the seawater carbonate system by carrying out a deck incubation experiment in the Northern Yellow Sea; the dissolution rate of olivine was calculated based on the increase in seawater alkalinity (TA), and the CO 2 sequestration potential was evaluated. The results showed that the dissolution of olivine increased seawater TA and decreased partial pressure of CO 2 , resulting in oceanic CO 2 uptake from the atmosphere through sea-air exchange; it also increased seawater pH and mitigated ocean acidification to a certain extent. The addition of 1 ‰ olivine had a more significant effect on the seawater carbonate system than 0.5 ‰ olivine addition. The average dissolution rate constant of olivine was 1.44 ± 0.15 μmol m -2  d -1 . Assuming that olivine settles completely on the seabed due to gravity, the theoretically maximum amount of CO 2 removed by applying 1 tonne of olivine per square meter area in the Northern Yellow Sea is only 2.0 × 10 -4  t/m 2 . Therefore, when olivine addition is implemented in the offshore waters, it is necessary to consider reducing the olivine size, prolonging the settling time of olivine in the water column; and spreading olivine in well-mixed waters to prolong the residence time through repeated resuspension, thus increasing its potential in carbon sequestration., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in physicochemical and structural properties of starch isolated from hot-dry noodles (HDNS) treated with different contents of potassium carbonate (K 2 CO 3 ). The results demonstrated that the existence of K 2 CO 3 increased the WHC and hardness of HDNS gel with an elevated storage modulus. Meanwhile, K 2 CO 3 promoted the gelatinization of HDNS, which displayed higher viscosity and swelling power. Moreover, the relative crystallinity of HDNS were improved. K 2 CO 3 facilitated the transformation of HDNS from an amorphous to a more ordered and crystalline structure. Simultaneously, the microscopic characteristics exhibited that K 2 CO 3 promoted the partial fusion of starch particles to form aggregates, and the particle size became larger. In conclusion, the physicochemical and structural properties of HDNS were improved effectively with the incorporation of K 2 CO 3 , and the research results provided new insights for the processing of high-quality hot-dry noodles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The olive fruit fly (OFF), Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), is the main insect pest of olive trees worldwide. Legislation limits to the use of some synthetic larvicidal insecticides is leading to the development of new control options for preventive control of adult flies. In the present study, the biological activity of four short-chain aliphatic aldehydes, namely hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, heptanal and (E)-2-heptenal, previously reported as repellents to the OFF adults was investigated., Results: Electroantennography (EAG) recordings showed that antennae of OFF males and females are able to perceive the test compounds in a wide range of doses. In field trapping experiments, reservoir-type polypropylene (PP) membrane dispensers loaded with individual compounds did not elicit a significant attraction of OFF males and females. On the contrary, a significant reduction of male catches was noticed when sex pheromone dispensers and PP membrane dispensers, loaded with one of the test compounds, were applied on the same white sticky traps ≈20 cm apart. Likewise, male and female catches in yellow sticky traps baited with ammonium carbonate (AC) dispensers as food attractant were significantly reduced by the presence of PP membrane dispensers of individual aliphatic aldehydes on the same traps. In small plots control trials, solid formulations of the four aldehydes into a bentonite clay support induced a significant reduction of the OFF active infestation mainly when C 6 and C 7 aldehyde-activated bentonites were used., Conclusion: Short-chain aliphatic aldehydes showed inhibitory effects on sex pheromone and food attractant-mediated attraction of OFF. Results of field trials suggest potential of short-chain aliphatic aldehydes to develop new semiochemical-based OFF control options. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a promising technique for remediating heavy metal-contaminated soils. However, the effectiveness of MICP in immobilizing Cd in alkaline calcareous soils, especially when applied in agricultural soils, remains unclear. Biochar and magnesium oxide are two environmentally friendly passivating materials, and there are few reports on the combined application of MICP with passivating materials for remediating heavy metal-contaminated soils. Additionally, the number of treatments with MICP cement and the concentration of calcium chloride during the MICP process can both affect the effectiveness of heavy metal immobilization by MICP. Therefore, we conducted MICP and MICP-biochar-magnesium oxide treatments on agricultural soils collected from Baiyin, Gansu Province (pH = 8.62), and analyzed the effects of the number of treatments with cement and the concentration of calcium chloride on the immobilization of Cd by MICP and combined treatments. The results showed that early-stage MICP could immobilize exchangeable cadmium and increase the residual cadmium content, especially with high-concentration calcium chloride MICP treatment. However, in the later stage, soil nitrification and exchange processes led to the dissolution of carbonate-bound cadmium and cadmium activation. The fixing effect of MICP influence whether the MICP-MgO-biochar is superior to the MgO-biochar. Four treatments with cement were more effective than single treatment in MICP-biochar-magnesium oxide treatment, and the MICP-biochar-magnesium oxide treatment with four treatments was the most effective, with passivation rates of 40.7% and 46.6% for exchangeable cadmium and bioavailable cadmium, respectively. However, attention should be paid to the increase in soil salinity. The main mechanism of MICP-magnesium oxide-biochar treatment in immobilizing cadmium was the formation of Cd(OH) 2 , followed by the formation of cadmium carbonate., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Buffering of stomach acid by antacids is a well-established symptomatic therapy for heartburn. In addition, preparations from prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) have been shown to reduce tissue damage in experimental gastritis models and to attenuate gastrointestinal discomfort in patients. Both active principles have been included in a fixed-combination product for symptomatic treatment of heartburn containing carbonate antacids (CaCO3 and MgCO3) and an extract from Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes. The aim of the study was to characterize the acid neutralization and esophageal cell protective activities of the product and its individual active ingredients in a set of in vitro assays. Acid neutralization was assessed in a simulated stomach model. Protective activity of individual constituents and in combination was analyzed in an esophageal cell line (COLO-680 N) exposed to low pH and deoxycholic acid to simulate acidic and non-acidic reflux challenge. The combination product protected cells against low pH mediated cytotoxicity via acid neutralization by carbonates. Opuntia extract itself and the combination product attenuated bile acid-induced cell irritation as measured by reduced release of proinflammatory interleukin-6 and -8. In conclusion, addition of Opuntia extract to a mineral antacid provides dual protection against acidic and non-acidic simulated reflux challenge., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol are powerful phenolic antioxidants occurring in olive oil and in by-products from olive processing. Due to their high polarity, esterification or other lipophilization is necessary to make them compatible with lipid matrices. Hydroxytyrosol methyl carbonate is a more effective antioxidant than dibutylhydroxytoluene or α-tocopherol and together with tyrosol methyl carbonate exerts interesting pharmacological properties. The purpose of this work was the enzymatic preparation of alkyl carbonates of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol. A set of 17 hydrolases was tested in the catalysis of tyrosol methoxycarbonylation in neat dimethyl carbonate to find an economically feasible alternative to the recently reported synthesis of methyl carbonates catalyzed by Novozym 435. Novozym 435 was, however, found to be the best performing catalyst, while Novozym 735, pig pancreatic lipase, lipase F-AK and Lipex 100T exhibited limited reactivity. No enzyme accepted 1,2-propylene carbonate as the acylation donor. Under optimized reaction conditions, Novozym 435 was used in the batch preparation of tyrosol methyl carbonate and hydroxytyrosol methyl carbonate in quantitative yields. The enzymatic methoxycarbonylation of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol can also be used as a method for their selective protection in enzymatic syntheses of phenylethanoid glycosides catalyzed with enzymes comprising high levels of acetyl esterase side activity.

Membrane distillation (MD) offers promise for recycling shale gas produced water (SGPW), while membrane fouling is still a major obstacle in standalone MD. Herein, sodium percarbonate (SPC) oxidation was proposed as MD pretreatment, and the performance of the single MD, SPC-MD hybrid process and Fe(II)/SPC-MD hybrid process for SGPW treatment were systematically evaluated. Results showed that compared to raw SGPW, the application of SPC and Fe(II)/SPC led to the decrease of the fluorescent organics by 28.54 % and 54.52 %, respectively. The hydrophobic fraction decreased from 52.75 % in raw SGPW to 37.70 % and 27.20 % for SPC and Fe(II)/SPC, respectively, and the MD normalized flux increased from 0.19 in treating raw SGPW to 0.65 and 0.81, respectively. The superiority of SPC oxidation in reducing the deposited membrane foulants and restoring membrane properties was further confirmed through scanning electron microscopy observation, attenuated total reflection fourier transform infrared, water contact angle and surface tension analyses of fouled membranes. Correlation analysis revealed that hydrophobic/hydrophilic matters and fluorescent organics in SGPW took a crucial role in MD fouling. The mechanism of MD fouling mitigation by Fe(II)/SPC oxidation was attributed to the decrease in concentrations and hydrophobicity of organic by synergistic oxidation, coagulation and adsorption., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) immobilizes toxic metals and reduces their bioavailability in aqueous systems. However, its application in the treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) is poorly understood. In this study, the genomes of Sporosarcina sp. UB5 and UB10 were sequenced. Urease, carbonic anhydrases, and metal resistance genes were identified and enzymatic assays were performed for their validation. The geochemical mechanism of precipitation in AMD was elucidated through geo-mineralogical analysis. Sporosarcina sp. UB5 was shown to be a new genomospecies, with an average nucleotide identity < 95 % (ANI) and DNA-DNA hybridization < 70 % (DDH) whereas UB10 is close to S. pasteurii. UB5 contained two urease operons, whereas only one was identified in UB10. The ureolytic activities of UB5 and UB10 were 122.67 ± 15.74 and 131.70 ± 14.35 mM NH 4 + min -1 , respectively. Both strains feature several carbonic anhydrases of the α, β, or γ families, which catalyzed the precipitation of CaCO 3 . Only Sporosarcina sp. UB5 was able to immobilize metals and neutralize AMD. Geo-mineralogical analyses revealed that UB5 directly immobilized Fe (1-23 %), Mn (0.65-1.33 %) and Zn (0.8-3 %) in AMD via MICP and indirectly through adsorption to calcite and binding to bacterial cell walls. The MICP-treated AMD exhibited high removal rates (>67 %) for Ag, Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn, and a removal rate of 15 % for Mg. This study provides new insights into the MICP process and its applications to AMD treatment using autochthonous strains., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Water is an ingredient of considerable importance in bread dough. Effects of four different types of electrolyzed water (Anolyte NaCl, Catholyte NaCl, Anolyte Na 2 CO 3 , Catholyte Na 2 CO 3 ) on quality characteristics of bread were investigated. For this aim, rheological and textural analysis of bread doughs and color, physical properties, water activity, moisture content, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, texture profile analysis, and micrographic analysis of bread samples were performed. Electrolyzed water affected quality characteristics of dough and bread samples significantly ( p  < 0.05). Anolyte Na 2 CO 3 increased the water-holding capacity of the dough from 60 ± 0.05 to 66 ± 0.07. The bread samples prepared with Anolyte Na 2 CO 3 (363 ± 1.70) and Catholyte Na 2 CO 3 (346 ± 1.61) electrolyzed water has higher loaf volume than the bread samples prepared with Anolyte NaCl (320 ± 1.00) and Catholyte NaCl (310 ± 1.52) electrolyzed water and control bread (270 ± 1.04) ( p  < 0.05). Electrolyzed water also increased the antioxidant activity (23.62 ± 0.05% inhibition) and total phenolic content (460.61 ± 2.12 GAE/100 g) of bread samples. The results of this study may be evidence that using electrolyzed water can improve the quality characteristics of bread., Competing Interests: DECLARATION OF CONFLICTING INTERESTSThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Soil improvement techniques utilizing the metabolic functions of microorganisms, including microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP), have been extensively researched over the past few decades as part of bio-inspired geotechnical engineering research. Given that metabolic reactions in microorganisms produce carbonate minerals, an enhanced understanding of microbial interaction with soils could improve the effectiveness of MICP as a soil improvement technique. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of sands on MICP by denitrification to employ MICP for geotechnical soil improvement. Under the coexistence of natural sand and artificial silica sand, nitrate-reducing bacteria were cultured in a mixed liquid medium with nitrate, acetate, and calcium ions at 37 °C. Nitrate reduction occurred only in the presence of natural sand. However, the lack of chemical weathering of the composed minerals likely prevented the progress of bacterial growth and nitrate reduction in artificial silica sands. For natural sand, artificial chemical weathering by acid wash and ferrihydrite coating of the sand improved bacterial growth and accelerated nitrate reduction. The calcium carbonate formation induced by denitrification was also influenced by the state of the minerals in the soil and the nitrate reduction rate. The observed MICP enhancement is due to the involvement of coexisting secondary minerals like ferrihydrite with large specific surface areas and surface charges, which may improve the reaction efficiency by serving as adsorbents for bacteria and electron donors and acceptors in the solid phases, thereby promoting the precipitation and crystallization of calcium carbonate on the surfaces. This crystal formation in the minerals provides valuable insights for improving sand solidification via MICP. Considering the interactions between the target soil and microorganisms is essential to improving MICP processes for ground improvement., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The presence of antinutrients and undesirable flavours in kidney bean flour poses challenges to consumer acceptance. Although extrusion can mitigate antinutrients to some extent, its impact on reducing beany flavour in bean flour remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of injecting acetic acid or sodium carbonate solutions at three concentration levels (0.05, 0.1, 0.15 mol/L), in conjunction with three temperature profiles (40/60/80/80/90, 40/60/80/90/110, 50/70/90/110/130 °C) and two feed moisture levels (25, 30 %), on the removal of antinutrients (condensed tannins, trypsin inhibitor activity, phytic acid, raffinose family oligosaccharides) and reduction of volatile compounds that contribute to beany flavour in whole kidney bean flour. The results showed that all concentrations of acetic acid and sodium carbonate solutions effectively reduced condensed tannins compared to water, especially at 130 °C extrusion temperature. Introducing acetic acid and sodium carbonate solutions at a concentration of 0.15 mol/L led to 72 and 90 % reduction of total raffinose family oligosaccharide content, respectively, in contrast to the 17 % reduction observed with water alone. The incorporation of sodium carbonate solution reduced the total volatile compounds by 45-58 % as compared with water (23-33 %) and acetic acid (11-27 %). This reduction was primarily due to the reduction of aldehydes, alcohols, and aromatic hydrocarbons. These results indicate that injecting sodium carbonate solution during extrusion can effectively reduce antinutrients and beany flavour compounds in kidney bean flour., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Human activities emitting carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) have caused severe greenhouse effects and accelerated climate change, making carbon neutrality urgent. Seawater mineral carbonation technology offers a promising negative emission strategy. This work investigates current advancements in proposed seawater mineral carbonation technologies, including CO 2 storage and ocean chemical carbon sequestration. CO 2 storage technology relies on indirect mineral carbonation to fix CO 2 , involving CO 2 dissolution, Ca/Mg extraction, and carbonate precipitation, optimized by adding alkaline substances or using electrochemical methods. Ocean chemical carbon sequestration uses natural seawater for direct mineral carbonation, enhanced by adding specific materials to promote carbonate precipitation and increase CO 2 absorption, thus enhancing marine carbon sinks. This study evaluates these technologies' advantages and challenges, including reaction rates, costs, and ecological impacts, and analyzes representative materials' carbon fixation potential. Literature indicates that seawater mineral carbonation can play a significant role in CO 2 storage and enhancing marine carbon sinks in the coming decades., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Adsorption methods offer efficient recovery of phosphorus from water bodies. Modification adsorption materials combining lanthanum (La) and zirconium (Zr) dual-metal immobilized via co-precipitation method have been widely applied in the adsorption and recovery of phosphate. Meanwhile, sodium carbonate (Na 2 CO 3 ) is gradually replacing sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as the mainstream co-precipitant for immobilizing metals into supporting matrices due to its excellent performance and environmental friendliness. However, the adsorption mechanisms of materials synthesized with different co-precipitants and the synergistic effects between dual-metal components are not well understood, which is not conducive to the further optimization of dual-metal adsorption materials. In this study, anion exchange resin was utilized as the supporting matrices, and La&Zr dual-metal-modified materials, La&Zr-CO 3 2- and La&Zr-OH - , were prepared using Na 2 CO 3 and NaOH as co-precipitants, respectively. The results indicate that La&Zr-CO 3 2- exhibits superior performance in phosphate adsorption and recovery, with adsorption capacity and recovery efficiency reaching 36.28 mg/g and 82.59%, respectively. Additionally, this material demonstrates strong stability in reuse, phosphate selectivity, and a wide pH applicability range. La&Zr-CO 3 2- achieves phosphate adsorption through surface electrostatic affinity, ligand exchange, and intraspherical complexation, whereas La&Zr-OH - primarily relies on electrostatic adsorption on the surface and interior of the material. Synergistic effects between La and Zr result in enhanced adsorption performance of the dual-metal material compared to individual metals. Specifically, phosphate adsorption is predominantly governed by La, while the presence of Zr further enhances ligand exchange between lattice oxygen and metals. Simultaneously, Zr doping enhances the phosphate recovery capacity and reusability of the materials. Continuous flow adsorption results from actual water bodies demonstrate that La&Zr-CO 3 2- is more suitable for the removal and recovery of phosphate in water treatment engineering. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the adsorption and recovery of phosphate using dual-metal-modified materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Sulfide-carbonate-mineralized functional bacterial consortium was constructed for flue gas cadmium biomineralization. A membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) using the bacterial consortium containing sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and denitrifying bacteria (DNB) was investigated for flue gas cadmium (Cd) removal. Cadmium removal efficiency achieved 90%. The bacterial consortium containing Citrobacter, Desulfocurvus and Stappia were dominated for cadmium resistance-nitrate-sulfate reduction. Under flue gas cadmium stress, ten cadmium resistance genes (czcA, czcB, czcC, czcD, cadA, cadB, cadC, cueR, copZ, zntA), and seven genes related to sulfate reduction, increased in abundance; whereas others, nine genes related to denitrification, decreased, indicating that cadmium stress was advantageous to sulfate reduction in the competition with denitrification. A bacterial consortium could capable of simultaneously cadmium resistance, sulfate reduction and denitrification. Microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) and biological adsorption process would gradually yield to sulfide-mineralized process. Flue gas cadmium could transform to Cd-EPS, cadmium carbonate (CdCO 3 ) and cadmium sulfide (CdS) bioprecipitate. The functional bacterial consortium was an efficient and eco-friendly bifunctional bacterial consortium for sulfide-carbonate-mineralized of cadmium. This provides a green and low-carbon advanced treatment technology using sulfide-carbonate-mineralized functional bacterial consortium for the removal of cadmium or other hazardous heavy metal contaminants in flue gas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a common biomineralization method, which is often used for remediation of heavy metal pollution such as hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in recent years. Calcium sources are essential for the MICP process. This study investigated the potential of MICP technology for Cr(VI) remediation under the influence of three calcium sources (CaCl 2 , Ca(CH 3 COO) 2 , Ca(C 6 H 11 O 7 ) 2 ). The results indicated that CaCl 2 was the most efficient in the mineralization of Cr(VI), and Ca(C 6 H 11 O 7 ) 2 could significantly promote Cr(VI) reduction. The addition of different calcium sources all promoted the urease activity of Sporosarcina saromensis W5, in which the CaCl 2 group showed higher urease activity at the same Ca 2+ concentration. Besides, with CaCl 2 , Ca(CH 3 COO) 2 and Ca(C 6 H 11 O 7 ) 2 treatments, the final fraction of Cr species (Cr(VI), reduced Cr(III) and organic Cr(III)-complexes) were mainly converted to the carbonate-bound, cytoplasm and cell membrane state, respectively. Furthermore, the characterization results revealed that three calcium sources could co-precipitate with Cr species to produce Ca 10 Cr 6 O 24 (CO 3 ), and calcite and vaterite were present in the CaCl 2 and Ca(CH 3 COO) 2 groups, while only calcite was present in the Ca(C 6 H 11 O 7 ) 2 group. Overall, this study contributes to the optimization of MICP-mediated remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil. CaCl 2 was the more suitable calcium source than the other two for the application of MICP technology in the Cr(VI) reduction and mineralization., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Herein, a Cs 2 CO 3 -promoted N-alkylation of 3-cyano-2(1H)-pyridones containing alkyl groups with diverse alkyl halides to synthesize N-alkyl-2-pyridones over O-alkylpyridines is reported. The use of alkyl dihalides resulted in complex mixtures of N- and O-alkylated products. The primary factor influencing regioselectivity in these reactions is the electronic effects of substituents on the 2(1H)-pyridone ring, as evidenced by the preferential formation of O-alkylpyridines upon the introduction of aryl groups. Remarkably, we efficiently employed CuAAC and Ti(Oi-Pr) 4 -catalyzed amidation reactions to functionalize N-alkyl-2-pyridones containing propargyl and ester groups, leading to the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles and amides, respectively. Moreover, O-alkylpyridines 10 b and 10 d displayed remarkable selectivity toward the A-498 renal cancer cell line with growth inhibition percentages (%GI) of 54.75 and 67.64, respectively. The binding modes of compounds 10 b and 10 d to the PIM-1 kinase enzyme were determined through molecular docking studies., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Due to its less adverse impact on the environment as well as human health, electrolyzed water, a non-thermal method, has been recognized to be a promising alternative as a new disinfectant for the food industry, which does not change odor, texture, and flavor of foods. Spondias dulcis fruit is rich in bioactive compounds, vitamins and minerals, which are known to have many beneficial effects on health. Fresh S. dulcis has a short shelf life and drying is an option to preserve the fruit. In this study, the effects of electrolyzed water treatment on the quality characteristics of dried S. dulcis were investigated . Slices of fruit treated with four different electrolyzed waters (Anolyte NaCl, Catholyte NaCl, Anolyte Na 2 CO 3 , and Catholyte Na 2 CO 3 ) were dried in a conventional oven at 70 °C. Color, Browning index, antioxidant characteristics, texture profile, rehydration capacity, pH, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyzes of dried S. dulcis were performed. The samples treated with electrolyzed water prior to drying showed higher antioxidant activity (59.46 ± 0.09), total phenolic content (287.00 ± 1.76), and rehydration capacity (4.52 ± 0.05) compared to the control samples. The findings of the current study showed that electrolyzed water treatment could prevent the browning of dried S. dulcis fruits and preserve bioactive compounds as well as chemical properties., Competing Interests: DECLARATION OF CONFLICTING INTERESTSThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The presence of carbonates or humic substances (HS) will significantly affect the species and chemical behavior of U(VI) in solution, but lacking systematic exploration of the coupling effect of carbonates and HS under near real environmental conditions at present. Herein, the sorption behavior of U(VI) on illite was systematically studied in the co-existence of carbonates and HS including both humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) by batch technique. The distribution coefficients (K d ) increased as function of time and temperature but decreased with increasing concentrations of initial U(VI), Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ , as well as ion strength. At pH 2.0-10.5, the K d values first increased rapidly and then decreased visibly, with its maximum value appearing at pH 5.0, owning to the changes in the interaction between illite and the dominant species of U(VI) from electrostatic attraction to electrostatic repulsion. The sorption was a heterogeneous, spontaneous, and endothermic chemical process, which could be well described by pseudo-second-order kinetic and Flory-Huggins isotherm models. When carbonates and HA/FA coexisted, the K d values always increased first and then decreased as a function of pH, with the only difference for HA and FA being the key pH (pH key ) at which the promoting and inhibiting effects on the sorption of U(VI) onto illite undergo a transition. The carbonates and HS have a synergistic inhibitory effect on the U(VI) sorption onto illite at pH 7.8. FTIR and XPS spectra demonstrated that the hydroxyl groups on the illite surface and in the HS were involved in U(VI) sorption on illite in the presence of carbonates. These results provide valuable data for a deeper understanding of U(VI) migration in geological media., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that no known competing financial interests or personal relationships could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigates the co-precipitation of calcium and barium ions in hypersaline wastewater under the action of Bacillus licheniformis using microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology, as well as the bactericidal properties of the biomineralized product vaterite. The changes in carbonic anhydrase activity, pH, carbonate and bicarbonate concentrations in different biomineralization systems were negatively correlated with variations in metal ion concentrations, while the changes in polysaccharides and protein contents in bacterial extracellular polymers were positively correlated with variations in barium concentrations. In the mixed calcium and barium systems, the harvested minerals were vaterite containing barium. The increasing concentrations of calcium promoted the incorporation and adsorption of barium onto vaterite. The presence of barium significantly increased the contents of O-CO, N-CO, and Ba-O in vaterite. Calcium promoted barium precipitation, but barium inhibited calcium precipitation. After being treated by immobilized bacteria, the concentrations of calcium and barium ions decreased from 400 and 274 to 1.72 and 0 mg/L (GB/T15454-2009 and GB8978-1996). Intracellular minerals were also vaterite containing barium. Extracellular vaterite exhibited bactericidal properties. This research presents a promising technique for simultaneously removing and recycling hazardous heavy metals and calcium in hypersaline wastewater., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

We report an idea for the synthesis of oligopeptides using a solvent-free ball milling approach. Our concept is inspired by block play, in which it is possible to construct different objects using segments (blocks) of different sizes and lengths. We prove that by having a library of short peptides and employing the ball mill mechanosynthesis (BMMS) method, peptides can be easily coupled to form different oligopeptides with the desired functional and biological properties. Optimizing the BMMS process we found that the best yields we obtained when TBTU and cesium carbonate were used as reagents. The role of Cs 2 CO 3 in the coupling mechanism was followed on each stage of synthesis by 1 H, 13 C and 133 Cs NMR employing Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) techniques. It was found that cesium carbonate acts not only as a base but is also responsible for the activation of substrates and intermediates. The unique information about the BMMS mechanism is based on the analysis of 2D NMR data. The power of BMMS is proved by the example of different peptide combinations, 2+2, 3+2, 4+2, 5+2 and 4+4. The tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta- and octapeptides obtained under this project were fully characterized by MS and NMR techniques., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The sequestration of soil inorganic carbon (SIC) especially pedogenic carbonate (PC) is one of the important pathways reducing the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide and thus mitigating climate change in coastal areas. Using the technology of 13 C stable isotope, we analyzed the differences in the composition and storage of SIC, and explored the key physicochemical properties influencing soil PC storage in different horizons (0-10, 11-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 and 81-100 cm) from Suaeda salsa wetland (SS), Spartina alterniflora wetland (SA), young poplar plantation (YP), and mature poplar plantation (MP) in coastal area of the northern Jiangsu Province. The results showed that except for the surface (0-10 cm) soil in MP, the SIC content was higher than SOC in all soil horizons. Overall, neither the soil PC to SIC ratio nor the SIC storage were significantly different in SA and SS soils. Compared to wetland soils (0-40 cm), the soil PC to SIC ratio was reduced by 32.7% and 54.1% and the PC storage was reduced by 40.5% and 59.2%, the lithogenic carbonate (LC) storage changed little, while the SIC storage was reduced by 21.0% and 17.9%, respectively in the YP and MP soils. Compared to the YP soils (0-100 cm), both the soil PC to SIC ratio and the PC storage were significantly reduced while the LC storage was significantly increased, especially at the 41-100 cm soil horizons, meanwhile, the SIC storage was not significantly changed in the MP soils. Results of the structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that key factors influencing soil PC storage were the ratio of PC to SIC, followed by the SOC content and bulk density. SOC could inhibit the formation of soil PC. Generally, the coastal wetlands have greater SIC storage and sequestration potential than poplar plantations, and the PC sequestration can be regulated by modulating the ratio of PC to SIC and SOC content.

Amidst the increasing significance of innovative solutions for bioremediation of heavy metal removal, this paper offers a thorough bibliometric analysis of microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) for heavy metal removal, as a promising technology to tackle this urgent environmental issue. This study focused on articles published from 1999 to 2022 in the Scopus database. It assesses trends, participation, and key players within the MICP for heavy metal sequestration. Among the 930 identified articles, 74 countries participated in the field, with China being the most productive. Varenyam Achal, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Chemosphere are leaders in the research landscape. Using VOSviewer and R-Studio, keyword hotspots like "MICP", "urease", and "heavy metals" underscore the interdisciplinary nature of MICP research and its focus on addressing a wide array of environmental and soil-related challenges. VOSviewer emphasises essential terms like "calcium carbonate crystal", while R-Studio highlights ongoing themes such as "soil" and "organic" aspects. These analyses further showcase the interdisciplinary nature of MICP research, addressing a wide range of environmental challenges and indicating evolving trends in the field. This review also discusses the literature concerning the potential of MICP to immobilise contaminants, the evolution of the research outcome in the last two decades, MICP treatment techniques for heavy metal removal, and critical challenges when scaling from laboratory to field. Readers will find this analysis beneficial in gaining valuable insights into the evolving field and providing a solid foundation for future research and practical implementation., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) is a promising technique for soil reinforcement. To select a suitable calcium source and a suitable solution amount for aeolian sand stabilization using EICP, specimens treated with different solution amounts (1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5 L/m 2 ). Surface strength, crust thickness, calcium carbonate content (CCC) and water vapor adsorption tests were performed to evaluate the effect of two calcium sources (calcium acetate and calcium chloride) on aeolian sand solidification. The plant suitability of solidified sand was investigated by the sea buckthorn growth test. The suitable calcium source was then used for the laboratory wind tunnel test and the field test to examine the erosion resistance of solidified sand. The results demonstrated that Ca(CH 3 COO) 2 -treated specimens exhibited higher strength than CaCl 2 -treated specimens at the same EICP solution amount, and the water vapor equilibrium adsorption mass of Ca(CH 3 COO) 2 -treated specimens was less, indicating that Ca(CH 3 COO) 2 -solidified sand was more effective and had better long-term stability. In addition, plants grown in Ca(CH 3 COO) 2 -treated sand had greater seedling emergence percentage and higher average height, which indicated that calcium acetate is a more suitable calcium source for EICP treatment. Furthermore, the surface strength and crust thickness of solidified sand increased with increasing the solution amount. For sand treated with 3 L/m 2 of solution, the excessive strength and thickness of the crust made plants growth difficult, and the performance of sand treated with more than 2 L/m 2 of solution significantly improved. Thus, the solution amount of 2-3 L/m 2 is suggested for engineering applications. The sand solidified using EICP in the field could effectively mitigate wind erosion and facilitate the growth of native plants. Therefore, EICP can be combined with vegetative method to achieve long-term wind erosion control in the future., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work presented in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Percarbonate encompasses sodium percarbonate (SPC) and composite in-situ generated peroxymonocarbonate (PMC). SPC emerges as a promising alternative to hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), hailed for its superior transportation safety, stability, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness, thereby becoming a staple in advanced oxidation processes for mitigating water pollution. Yet, scholarly literature scarcely explores the deployment of percarbonate-AOPs in eradicating organic contaminants from aquatic systems. Consequently, this review endeavors to demystify the formation mechanisms and challenges associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) in percarbonate-AOPs, alongside highlighting directions for future inquiry and development. The genesis of ROS encompasses the in situ chemical oxidation of activated SPC (including iron-based activation, discharge plasma, ozone activation, photon activation, and metal-free materials activation) and composite in situ chemical oxidation via PMC (namely, H 2 O 2/ NaHCO 3 /Na 2 CO 3 , peroxymonosulfate/NaHCO 3 /Na 2 CO 3 systems). Moreover, the ROS generated by percarbonate-AOPs, such as •OH, O 2 •- , CO 3 •- , HO 2 •- , 1 O 2 , and HCO 4 - , can work individually or synergistically to disintegrate target pollutants. Concurrently, this review systematically addresses conceivable obstacles posing percarbonate-AOPs in real-world application from the angle of environmental conditions (pH, temperature, coexisting substances), and potential ecological toxicity. Considering the outlined challenges and advantages, we posit future research directions to amplify the applicability and efficacy of percarbonate-AOPs in tangible settings. It is anticipated that the insights provided in this review will catalyze the progression of percarbonate-AOPs in water purification endeavors and bridge the existing knowledge void., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this research paper, we introduce a novel and sustainable approach for forecasting the hydraulic conductivity of sand layers subjected to microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) to mitigate the diffusion of toxic pollutants. The proposed model uniquely integrates the impact of varying CaCO 3 contents on the void ratio and estimates the average particle size of CaCO 3 crystals through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. By incorporating these parameters into the K-C equation, a simplified predictive model is formulated for assessing the hydraulic conductivity of MICP-treated sand layers. The model's effectiveness is validated through comparison with experimental data and alternative models. The outcomes demonstrate a substantial reduction in hydraulic conductivity, with a decrease ranging between 93 and 97% in the initial assessment and a decrease between 67 and 92% in the follow-up assessment, both at 10% CaCO 3 content. Notably, the hydraulic conductivity shows an initial sharp decrease followed by stabilization. These findings provide valuable insights into improving the prediction of hydraulic conductivity in MICP-treated sand layers, promoting a sustainable method for preventing pollution dispersion., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Chromium contamination from abandoned industrial sites and inadequately managed waste disposal areas poses substantial environmental threat. Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has shown promising, eco-friendly solution to remediate Cr(VI) and divalent heavy metals. In this study, MICP was carried out for chromium immobilization by an ureolytic bacterium Arthrobacter creatinolyticus which is capable of reducing Cr(VI) to less toxic Cr(III) via extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production. The efficacy of EPS driven reduction was confirmed by cellular fraction analysis. MICP carried out in aqueous solution with 100 ppm of Cr(VI) co-precipitated 82.21% of chromium with CaCO 3 and the co-precipitation is positively correlated with reduction of Cr(VI). The organism was utilized to remediate chromium spiked sand and found that MICP treatment decreased the exchangeable fraction of chromium to 0.54 ± 0.11% and increased the carbonate bound fraction to 26.1 ± 1.15% compared to control. XRD and SEM analysis revealed that Cr(III) produced during reduction, influenced the polymorph selection of vaterite during precipitation. Evaluation of MICP to remediate Cr polluted soil sample collected from Ranipet, Tamil Nadu also showed effective immobilization of chromium. Thus, A. creatinolyticus proves to be viable option for encapsulating chromium contaminated soil via MICP process, and effectively mitigating the infiltration of Cr(VI) into groundwater and adjacent water bodies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Solid waste challenges in both the tungsten and photovoltaic industries present significant barriers to achieving carbon neutrality. This study introduces an innovative strategy for the efficient extraction of valuable metals from hazardous tungsten leaching residue (W-residue) by leveraging photovoltaic silicon kerf waste (SKW) as a silicothermic reducing agent. W-residue contains 26.2% valuable metal oxides (WO 3 , CoO, Nb 2 O 5 , and Ta 2 O 5 ) and other refractory oxides (SiO 2 , TiO 2 , etc.), while micron-sized SKW contains 91.9% Si with a surface oxide layer. The impact of SKW addition on the silicothermic reduction process for valuable metal oxides in W-residue was investigated. Incorporating SKW and Na 2 CO 3 flux enables valuable metal oxides from W-residue to be effectively reduced and enriched as a valuable alloy phase, with unreduced refractory oxides forming a harmless slag phase during the Na 2 O-SiO 2 -TiO 2 slag refining process. This process achieved an overall recovery yield of valuable metals of 91.7%, with individual recovery yields of W, Co, and Nb exceeding 90% with the addition of 8 wt.% SKW. This innovative approach not only achieves high-value recovery from W-residue and utilization of SKW but also minimizes environmental impact through an efficient and eco-friendly recycling pathway. The strategy contributes significantly to the establishment of a resource-efficient circular economy, wherein the recovered high-value alloy phase return to the tungsten supply chain, and the harmless slag phase become raw materials for microcrystalline glass production., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A backbone-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) zinc complex, in combination with alcohol initiators, has been shown to be an effective catalyst for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) to poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) devoid of oxetane linkages. The ROP of TMC proceeded in solution to give PTMC, possessing controlled molecular mass (2500 < M n < 10000) and low dispersity ( Đ ∼ 1.2). Changing the alcohol initiators, PTMCs with different end-groups were obtained, included a telechelic polymer. The results of MALDI-ToF and NMR analysis confirmed the controlled/living nature of the present ROP catalytic system, where side reactions, such as inter- and intramolecular transesterifications, were minimized during the polymerization. Solution studies in different solvents demonstrated the polymerization reaction to proceed via a mechanism first order in monomer and in catalyst. The zinc complex was also able to convert substituted cyclic carbonates, which were purposely synthesized from renewable feedstocks such as CO 2 and 1,3-diols. For the asymmetric 2-Me TMC monomer, good regioselectivity was observed ( X reg up to 0.92). The excellent control of the polymerization process was finally brought to light through the preparation of polycarbonate/polyether triblock copolymers by using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a macroinitiator and of well-defined di- and triblock polycarbonate/polylactide copolymers by sequential ROP of TMC and L-LA.

A new phenolate-thiazole derivative (L) has been synthesized and structurally characterized.The chemo-sensing activity of L is detected by the naked eye for the aqueous carbonate anion in the pH range of 4 to 8. The selective 'turn-on' fluorescence occurs through the formation of a stable intermediate L∙CO 3 2- (1) following the PET mechanism. The limit of detection (LOD) is found 0.18 µM based on the absorbance-based assay.The quinonoid form of bromophenol unit binds strongly with CO 3 2- through thiazole nitrogen and hydrazinic nitrogen. Further, the selective holding of CO 3 2- anion over other planar tetranuclear anions (e.g., SO 3 2- , NO 3 - ) happens with several intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonds as envisaged by the DFT/TDFT study. The formation mechanism of L∙CO 3 2- is proposed based on experimental and theoretical studies. The biological experiments (MTT and cell imaging)reveal the non-cytotoxicity nature of L and the biocompatible uptake of L mostly in the cytoplasm at physiological pH., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

For metal-based phosphate adsorbents, the dispersity and utilization of surface metal active sites are crucial factors in their adsorption performance and synthesis cost. In this study, a biochar material modified with amorphous Zr-Ce (carbonate) oxides (BZCCO-13) was synthesized for the phosphate uptake, and the adsorption process was enhanced by magnetic field. The beside-magnetic field was shown to have a better influence than under-magnetic field on adsorption, with maximum adsorption capacities (123.67 mg P/g) 1.14-fold greater than that without magnetic field. The beside-magnetic field could also accelerate the adsorption rate, and the time to reach 90% maximum adsorption capacity decreased by 83%. BZCCO-13 has a wide range of application pHs from 5.0 to 10.0, with great selectivity and reusability. The results of XPS and ELNES showed that the "magnetophoresis" of Ce 3+ under the magnetic field was the main reason for the enhanced adsorption performance. In addition, increased surface roughness, pore size and oxygen vacancies, enhanced mass transfer by Lorentz force under a magnetic field, all beneficially influenced the adsorption process. The mechanism of phosphate adsorption by BZCCO-13 could be attributed to electrostatic attraction and CO 3 2- dominated ligand exchange. This study not only provided an effective strategy for designing highly effective phosphate adsorbents, but also provides a new light on the application of rare earth metal-based adsorbent in magnetic field., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mars has been exposed to ionizing radiation for several billion years, and as part of the search for life on the Red Planet, it is crucial to understand the impact of radiation on biosignature preservation. Several NASA and ESA missions are looking for evidence of ancient life in samples collected at depths shallow enough that they have been impacted by galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). In this study, we exposed a diverse set of Mars analog samples to 0.9 Megagray (MGy) of gamma radiation to mimic 15 million years of exposure on the Martian surface. We measured no significant impact of GCRs on the total organic carbon (TOC) and bulk stable C isotopes in samples with initial TOC concentration > 0.1 wt. %; however, diagnostic molecular biosignatures presented a wide range of degradation that didn't correlate to factors like mineralogy, TOC, water content, and surface area. Exposure dating suggests that the surface of Gale crater has been irradiated at more than five times our dose, yet using this relatively low dose and "best-case scenario" geologically recalcitrant biomarkers, large and variable losses were nevertheless evident. Our results empasize the importance of selecting sampling sites at depth or recently exposed at the Martian surface.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that enters the marine system in large quantities at seafloor methane seeps. At a newly discovered seep site off the coast of Point Dume, CA, ~ meter-scale carbonate chimneys host microbial communities that exhibit the highest methane-oxidizing potential recorded to date. Here, we provide a detailed assessment of chimney geobiology through correlative mineralogical, geochemical, and microbiological studies of seven chimney samples in order to clarify the longevity and heterogeneity of these highly productive systems. U-Th dating indicated that a methane-driven carbonate precipitating system at Point Dume has existed for ~20 Kyr, while millimeter-scale variations in carbon and calcium isotopic values, elemental abundances, and carbonate polymorphs revealed changes in carbon source, precipitation rates, and diagenetic processes throughout the chimneys' lifespan. Microbial community analyses revealed diverse modern communities with prominent anaerobic methanotrophs, sulfate-reducing bacteria, and Anaerolineaceae; communities were more similar within a given chimney wall transect than in similar horizons of distinct structures. The chimneys represent long-lived repositories of methane-oxidizing communities and provide a window into how carbon can be transformed, sequestered, and altered over millennia at the Point Dume methane seep., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP), as an eco-friendly and promising technology that can transform free metal ions into stable precipitation, has been extensively used in remediation of heavy metal contamination. However, its depressed efficiency of heavy metal elimination remains in question due to the inhibition effect of heavy metal toxicity on bacterial activity. In this work, an efficient, low-cost manganese (Mn) elimination strategy by coupling MICP with chitosan biopolymer as an additive with reduced treatment time was suggested, optimized, and implemented. The influences of chitosan at different concentrations (0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.30 %, w/v) on bacterial growth, enzyme activity, Mn removal efficiency and microstructure properties of the resulting precipitation were investigated. Results showed that Mn content was reduced by 94.5 % within 12 h with 0.15 % chitosan addition through adsorption and biomineralization as MnCO 3 (at an initial Mn concentration of 3 mM), demonstrating a two-thirds decrease in remediation time compared to the chitosan-absent system, whereas maximum urease activity increased by ∼50 %. Microstructure analyses indicated that the mineralized precipitates were spherical-shaped MnCO 3 , and a smaller size and more uniform distribution of MnCO 3 is obtained by the regulation of abundant amino and hydroxyl groups in chitosan. These results demonstrate that chitosan accelerates nucleation and tunes the growth of MnCO 3 by providing nucleation sites for mineral formation and alleviating the toxicity of metal ions, which has the potential to upgrade MICP process in a sustainable and effective manner. This work provides a reference for further understanding of the biomineralization regulation mechanism, and gives a new perspective into the application of biopolymer-intensified strategies of MICP technology in heavy metal contamination., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A new method for green synthesis of activated carbon using chitosan-based hydrogel precursors is reported. Chitosan-based hydrogel materials are designed to absorb trace amounts of non-toxic and non-corrosive activating agent K 2 CO 3 from dilute aqueous solution. The K 2 CO 3 impregnated hydrogels are further freeze-dried and converted to activated carbons with tuneable pore structure by a single-step pyrolysis. Activated carbon with highest pore volume of 0.76 cm 3 /g and surface area of 2026 m 2 /g is obtained by using K 2 CO 3 as low as 0.23 g per gram of chitosan hydrogel. It can adsorb maximum CO 2 of 4.2 mmol/g at 25 °C and 1 bar. This study demonstrates that biopolymer hydrogels impregnated with trace amounts of K 2 CO 3 are excellent precursor materials to design high surface area carbons for CO 2 capture., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Lacustrine carbonates are a powerful archive of paleoenvironmental information but are susceptible to post-depositional alteration. Microbial metabolisms can drive such alteration by changing carbonate saturation in situ, thereby driving dissolution or precipitation. The net impact these microbial processes have on the primary δ 18 O, δ 13 C, and Δ 47 values of lacustrine carbonate is not fully known. We studied the evolution of microbial community structure and the porewater and sediment geochemistry in the upper ~30 cm of sediment from two shoreline sites at Green Lake, Fayetteville, NY over 2 years of seasonal sampling. We linked seasonal and depth-based changes of porewater carbonate chemistry to microbial community composition, in situ carbon cycling (using δ 13 C values of carbonate, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and organic matter), and dominant allochems and facies. We interpret that microbial processes are a dominant control on carbon cycling within the sediment, affecting porewater DIC, aqueous carbon chemistry, and carbonate carbon and clumped isotope geochemistry. Across all seasons and sites, microbial organic matter remineralization lowers the δ 13 C of the porewater DIC. Elevated carbonate saturation states in the sediment porewaters (Ω > 3) were attributed to microbes from groups capable of sulfate reduction, which were abundant in the sediment below 5 cm depth. The nearshore carbonate sediments at Green Lake are mainly composed of microbialite intraclasts/oncoids, charophytes, larger calcite crystals, and authigenic micrite-each with a different origin. Authigenic micrite is interpreted to have precipitated in situ from the supersaturated porewaters from microbial metabolism. The stable carbon isotope values (δ 13 C carb ) and clumped isotope values (Δ 47 ) of bulk carbonate sediments from the same depth horizons and site varied depending on both the sampling season and the specific location within a site, indicating localized (μm to mm) controls on carbon and clumped isotope values. Our results suggest that biological processes are a dominant control on carbon chemistry within the sedimentary subsurface of the shorelines of Green Lake, from actively forming microbialites to pore space organic matter remineralization and micrite authigenesis. A combination of biological activity, hydrologic balance, and allochem composition of the sediments set the stable carbon, oxygen, and clumped isotope signals preserved by the Green Lake carbonate sediments., (© 2024 The Author(s). Geobiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In this comprehensive investigation, we evaluate the efficacy of the Fenton process in degrading basic fuchsin (BF), a resistant dye. Our primary focus is on the utilization of readily available, environmentally benign, and cost-effective reagents for the degradation process. Furthermore, we delve into various operational parameters, including the quantity of sodium percarbonate (SPC), pH levels, and the dimensions of waste iron bars, to optimize the treatment efficiency. In the course of our research, we employed an initial SPC concentration of 0.5 mM, a pH level of 3, a waste iron bar measuring 3.5 cm in length and 0.4 cm in diameter, and a processing time of 10 min. Our findings reveal the successful elimination of the BF dye, even when subjected to treatment with diverse salts and surfactants under elevated temperatures and acidic conditions (pH below 3). This underscores the robustness of the Fenton process in purifying wastewater contaminated with dye compounds. The outcomes of our study not only demonstrate the efficiency of the Fenton process but highlight its adaptability to address dye contamination challenges across various industries. Critically, this research pioneers the application of waste iron bars as a source of iron in the Fenton reaction, introducing a novel, sustainable approach that enhances the environmental and economic viability of the process. This innovative use of recycled materials as catalysts represents a significant advancement in sustainable chemical engineering practices., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Jotun springs in Svalbard, Norway, is a rare warm environment in the Arctic that actively forms travertine. In this study, we assessed the microbial ecology of Jotun's active (aquatic) spring and dry spring transects. We evaluated the microbial preservation potential and mode, as well as the astrobiological relevance of the travertines to marginal carbonates mapped at Jezero Crater on Mars (the Mars 2020 landing site). Our results revealed that microbial communities exhibited spatial dynamics controlled by temperature, fluid availability, and geochemistry. Amorphous carbonates and silica precipitated within biofilm and on the surface of filamentous microorganisms. The water discharged at the source is warm, with near neutral pH, and undersaturated in silica. Hence, silicification possibly occurred through cooling, dehydration, and partially by a microbial presence or activities that promote silica precipitation. CO 2 degassing and possible microbial contributions induced calcite precipitation and travertine formation. Jotun revealed that warm systems that are not very productive in carbonate formation may still produce significant carbonate buildups and provide settings favorable for fossilization through silicification and calcification. Our findings suggest that the potential for amorphous silica precipitation may be essential for Jezero Crater's marginal carbonates because it significantly increases the preservation potential of putative martian organisms.

Porphyra sensu lato is one of the most economically significant and widely cultured and consumed algae in the world. Porphyra species present excellent nutraceutic properties due to their bioactive compounds (BACs). This research aimed to find the most efficient aqueous extraction method for BACs by examining alkaline and enzymatic hydrolysis. Alkaline hydrolysis with 2.5% sodium carbonate (SC) and at 80 °C proved optimal for extracting all BACs (phycobiliproteins, soluble proteins, polyphenols, and carbohydrates) except mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), which were best extracted with water only, and at 80 °C. Enzymatic hydrolysis, particularly with the 'Miura' enzymatic cocktail (cellulase, xylanase, glycoside hydrolase, and β-glucanase), showed superior results in extracting phycoerythrin (PE), phycocyanin (PC), soluble proteins, and carbohydrates, with increases of approximately 195%, 510%, 890%, and 65%, respectively, compared to the best alkaline hydrolysis extraction (2.5% SC and 80 °C). Phenolic content analysis showed no significant difference between the 'Miura' cocktail and 2.5% SC treatments. Antioxidant activity was higher in samples from alkaline hydrolysis, while extraction of MAAs showed no significant difference between water-only and 'Miura' treatments. The study concludes that enzymatic hydrolysis improves the efficiency of BACs extraction in P. linearis , highlighting its potential for the nutraceutical industry, and especially with respect to MAAs for topical and oral UV-photoprotectors.

The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and elasticity modulus (E) of intact rock are two fundamental requirements in engineering applications. These parameters can be measured either directly from the uniaxial compressive strength test or indirectly by using soft computing predictive models. In the present research, the UCS and E of intact carbonate rocks have been predicted by introducing two stacking ensemble learning models from non-destructive simple laboratory test results. For this purpose, dry unit weight, porosity, P-wave velocity, Brinell surface harnesses, UCS, and static E were measured for 70 carbonate rock samples. Then, two stacking ensemble learning models were developed for estimating the UCS and E of the rocks. The applied stacking ensemble learning method integrates the advantages of two base models in the first level, where base models are multi-layer perceptron (MLP) and random forest (RF) for predicting UCS, and support vector regressor (SVR) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) for predicting E. Grid search integrating k-fold cross validation is applied to tune the parameters of both base models and meta-learner. The results demonstrate the generalization ability of the stacking ensemble method in the comparison of base models in the terms of common performance measures. The values of coefficient of determination (R2) obtained from the stacking ensemble are 0.909 and 0.831 for predicting UCS and E, respectively. Similarly, the stacking ensemble yielded Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) values of 1.967 and 0.621 for the prediction of UCS and E, respectively. Accordingly, the proposed models have superiority in the comparison of SVR and MLP as single models and RF and XGBoost as two representative ensemble models. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is carried out to investigate the impact of input parameters., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright: © 2024 Fereidooni et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)