Mycotoxins are harmful substances produced by mold fungi that may be present in livestock feed and food products. Bentonite clay, as well as feed additives based on bentonite clay, have proven their effectiveness and are known as adsorbents of toxins of various natures. Currently, a promising direction is the development of adsorption additives that include probiotics. Bacteria of the genus Bacillus have antifungal and antagonistic effects on phytopathogenic fungi.

Under sterile conditions, upon reaching the logarithmic growth phase of Bacillus subtillis KE1 VKM B-3705D microorganisms, sodium bentonite clay was added in a carrier:biomass ratio of 1:5, then lyophilized and stored at room temperature. The study was carried out by HPLC on an ACQUITY WATERS chromatograph with a BEH C18 reversed-phase column: eluent - gradient mixture (acetonitrile, water, methanol), 230-400 nm, 20 minutes, column temperature – 40 °C; mobile phase flow rate 0.3 ml/min. The analyzed raw material was feed contaminated with an indigenous strain of the mold fungus Fusarium sp., the metabolite of which, is zearalenone. Zearalenone neutralization was assessed using the following scheme: on the 10th day after infection, 10.0±0.1 g of contaminated feed were weighed into conical flasks, 10 ml of 1 M Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 100 ml of distilled water and a weighed portion of the adsorption additive (0.10; 0.25; 0.50; 0.75; 1.00 g) were added. The flasks were placed in a shaker-incubator for 24 hours at a T=40 °C, then zearalenone was extracted and subjected to HPLC. A similar experiment was conducted with the sodium form of bentonite clay, produced by KalachBent LLC without a bacterial component.

It was found that an adsorption feed additive obtained from the sodium form of clay in combination with B.subtillis KE1 VKM B-3705D bacteria neutralizes the mycotoxin zearalenone in contaminated feed more effectively than the sodium form without the bacterial component.

The esterification reaction of alcohols and acids is a fundamental method for synthesizing esters. Such reactions can occur via a nucleophilic substitution mechanism, facilitated by the protonation of the oxygen atom in the carbonyl group of the acid. The scientific literature extensively addresses systems in which one of the reactants is a weak acid, necessitating the use of an external catalyst for the reaction to proceed. In contrast, systems that involve a strong acid as one of the reactants exhibit autocatalytic behavior. A notable example is the esterification reaction between an alcohol and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which possesses an acidity comparable to that of strong mineral acids. Despite the investigation of such reactions across various systems, experimental data on the chemical equilibrium and kinetics remain limited. Additionally, the theoretical foundations of autocatalytic esterification kinetics and the existing models for such systems are not universally applicable. This study focuses on the chemical equilibrium and kinetics of the esterification reaction between TFA and propan-1-ol (Pol) without the introduction of an external catalyst. Data on the equilibrium constant were obtained within a temperature range from 30 to 70 °C. The results indicate that a reaction system with initial TFA concentrations of up to a 0.3 mole fraction (x_TFA/x_Pol ≤ 3/7) falls within the homogeneous area of chemical equilibrium compositions. The temperature dependence of the Van't Hoff equation parameters indicates that the reaction is endothermic within this area. Kinetic data were collected for the homogeneous equilibrium area within a temperature range from 30 to 80 °C. Existing models of autocatalytic esterification do not adequately describe the reaction kinetics, primarily because they treat the reaction rate coefficient as a constant. To address this limitation, the present study proposes a model that accounts for the dependence of the activation energy on the TFA concentration. Such an approach provides an adequate description of the experimental data.

One of the most interesting fermented milk products with functional properties is acidophilus milk. It is well known that the nutritional value, therapeutic properties, and rheological characteristics of these products can be enhanced by incorporating various supplements. The objective of this study was to investigate the duration of fermentation and the change in pH value and acidity during 14 days of storage in supplemented acidophilus milk. The samples of milk with added honey (1% w/w) were additionally supplemented with whey protein isolates of cow origin at 0.5 % (w/w) and 1.5% (w/w) concentrations, or with whey protein isolates of goat origin at 0.5% (w/w) or 1.5% (w/w). A lyophilised bacterial culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5) was used for direct inoculation into milk. So, five different acidophilus milks were prepared. According to the research results, the endpoint of fermentation was reached in intervals of 7 to 13 hours. The time required to target a pH of 4.60±0.05 was shortened by 38% with the addition of 1.5 % (w/w) whey protein isolate of cow origin. On the 14th day of storage, decreases in pH values were observed in every sample of prepared acidophilus milk. During storage, there were no significant changes in the lactic acid content in prepared supplemented acidophilic milks, except for the sample with added 1.5 % (w/w) whey protein isolate of goat origin. This supplemented acidophilus milk showed an increase in lactic acid content and a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) compared to the other samples, as well as the results at the 1^st and 7^th storage days. Compared to other published results, the prepared supplemented acidophilic milks showed fair stability of pH and lactic acid during 14 days of storage.

A water model experiment was used to investigate the migration behavior of nonmetallic inclusions at the steel–slag interface in the steelmaking process. Based on the two basic principles of static similarity and dynamic viscosity similarity, an experimental model was constructed with alumina and polypropylene particles representing inclusions, water as the simulation fluid of liquid steel, and silicone oil as the simulation fluid of steel slag. On the basis of this model, a pump with adjustable power was added to simulate the paralleling flowing liquid steel. By adjusting the viscosity of silicone oil, particle material, diameter and water flow speed, the movement mechanism of particles floating into the water–oil interface was systematically observed and recorded, and the mechanism of different factors affecting the migration behavior of inclusions was analyzed. It is found that the particles will encounter the deformation resistance of the interface and be bounced downward when they reach the water–oil interface, and then float up for a second time and may successfully cross the water–oil interface. In addition, this study also found that the particle type, size and interface wettability are key factors affecting particle movement at the interface. Due to their high wettability, polypropylene particles show larger dimensionless displacement than Al₂O₃ particles under the same oil layer conditions. At the same time, the increase in particle size helps them to cross the water–oil interface, and the increase in oil layer viscosity increases the resistance of particles to cross the interface. In addition, it was found that the change in water velocity in the dynamic water model also has an effect on the motion of particles, and the increase in flow velocity helps to reduce the difficulty of particles passing through the water–oil interface.

CFD Investigation of Enhanced Gas Dispersion in Coaxial Mixers Using Integrated Gas-Inducing Impellers for Multiphase Applications
Coaxial mixers, consisting of independently driven central and anchor impellers, have emerged as an advanced and adaptable technology for managing gas-liquid-solid systems. Their ability to control shear zones and flow regimes makes them well-suited for processing non-Newtonian fluids and high-solids suspensions. However, in conventional configurations, gas spargers located below the impellers can interfere with the hydrodynamics, particularly in downward pumping modes, by disrupting the natural flow paths and reducing gas dispersion efficiency. To overcome this challenge, the integration of gas-inducing impellers into coaxial mixer systems offers a compelling alternative that eliminates the need for external sparging devices. In this configuration, a pilot-scale coaxial mixing vessel with aspect ratio of 1 and diameter of 0.4 m, the gas-inducing impeller draws gas directly from the headspace into the liquid phase, while the secondary impeller promotes bulk fluid circulation and effective solid suspension. This separation of gas induction and fluid mixing functions enhances key hydrodynamic parameters, including gas hold-up, bubble residence time, and interfacial area, which are critical for improving mass transfer performance. Additionally, the system exhibits robust operation under high-viscosity and high-solid-loading conditions, extending its industrial applicability. These advantages position gas-inducing coaxial mixers as a highly efficient, flexible, and scalable solution for intensified gas-liquid-solid operations in chemical, biochemical, and metallurgical processing industries .

The growing volume of plastic waste has intensified the demand for efficient and automated methods to identify and sort polymeric materials, especially in recycling facilities where speed and accuracy are essential. Infrared spectroscopy is widely used for polymer identification due to its sensitivity to molecular vibrations. However, interpreting spectral data can be challenging when polymers have similar chemical structures, such as polypropylene and polyethylene. The objective of this work is to develop a methodology that employs the Gramian Angular Summation Field as a preprocessing step for a Convolutional Neural Network to distinguish polypropylene and polyethylene based on their infrared spectra. The dataset comprises 948 spectra of various post-consumer plastic materials. After converting the one-dimensional spectra into two-dimensional images, the neural network architecture includes a single convolutional layer, a dense layer, and a final output layer for multiclass classification, distinguishing between polyethylene, polypropylene, and other polymers. The model achieves average precision, recall, and accuracy of approximately 97% on the validation set and around 91% on the test set, indicating good generalization performance. By successfully integrating infrared spectroscopy with time-series-to-image conversion, this work shows that high-performance polymer classification is achievable with lightweight neural networks, reinforcing the potential of this approach for efficient and automated plastic sorting in future recycling systems.

Thiosemicarbazones are known for their versatile coordination behavior and wide-ranging applications in the fields of materials science, catalysis, and medicinal chemistry. Metal complexes of thiosemicarbazones are extensively studied because of their remarkable properties and diverse applications in various scientific disciplines. Several investigations have reported on the biological potential of transition metal complexes of TSCs, including antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. Studies on heterocyclic TSC complexes have become more prevalent. In addition, the structural, electronic, and reactive properties of these complexes are explored through computational studies using molecular docking and density functional theory (DFT). Such investigations not only support the interpretation of experimental results but also influence synthetic design by predicting the structural behavior of the complexes. Moreover, these computational techniques enable researchers to examine electronic structures and spectroscopic characteristics, which are crucial for establishing Structure–Activity Relationships (SARs) and understanding reactivity patterns. The gap between experimental research and theoretical understanding is bridged by computational studies, enabling the behavior of metal complexes in various biological and chemical systems to be predicted and optimized. The design and development of more effective compounds for various applications is made easier by this approach. In this study, we explore computational studies of thiosemicarbazone metal complexes along with their biological activities.

Microgreens are increasingly popular due to consumer demand for healthier foods and a shift toward sustainable agriculture, especially in saline-affected areas. Humic acids (HAs) have shown potential in enhancing nutrient uptake and improving plant resilience under stress. This study evaluated the effects of salinity stress (0–80 mM sodium chloride, NaCl) and HA (0–5 g/L) on the growth and phytochemical composition of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) microgreens. Seeds were sown in vermiculite-filled trays and grown under greenhouse conditions, with a 6-day dark germination period. Salinity and HA treatments were co-applied via irrigation from sowing until harvest (15 days after sowing). Growth parameters (height and colour) were recorded. Chlorophylls, organic acids, tocopherols, fatty acids, and minerals were analyzed using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined colorimetrically, and antioxidant activity was assessed using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and oxidative hemolysis inhibition assay (OxHLIA). Eighteen fatty acids, three tocopherols, and five organic acids were identified. Salinity and HA significantly affected most chemical parameters (p < 0.05), though plant height and colour were unaffected. Microgreens treated with 40 mM NaCl and 3.5 g/L HA accumulated the highest mineral content (2.86 g/100 g fresh weight). The highest TFC (0.4 mg of quercetin equivalents/g extract) was observed with 40 mM NaCl and 1.5 g/L HA, while the highest TPC (7.3 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g extract) occurred at 0 mM NaCl and 5.0 g/L HA. The strongest antioxidant responses were recorded in samples treated with 40 mM NaCl plus 5.0 g/L HA (OxHLIA, IC₅₀ = 28.8 µg/mL) and 0 mM NaCl plus 2.5 g/L HA (TBARS, EC₅₀ = 45.2 µg/mL). HA likely promoted osmotic adjustment, enhancing nutrient uptake and antioxidant defense, supporting better phytochemical profiles under stress. Its effects were most notable under moderate salinity.

The disposal of large quantities of South African sewage sludge (DSS) and fine-coal rejects (CR) presents significant environmental and health challenges. This study investigated the co-pyrolysis of DSS and CR to explore their potential for waste valorization and clean energy production. The results demonstrated that pyrolysis temperature and feedstock composition significantly influenced the nature and yield of pyrolysis products. DSS produced oxygenated compounds—mainly fatty acids and phenols—at 500 °C due to its high lipid and protein content. These compounds were reduced at 700 °C through decarboxylation and aromatization reactions, aided by mineral matter. CR-derived tars exhibited higher aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon contents, originating from its aromatic carbon structure and secondary cracking. Temperature elevation from 500 °C to 700 °C led to increased yields of non-condensable gases, particularly H₂ and C₂–C₆ hydrocarbons. DSS-derived gases were rich in CO₂ at both temperatures due to its high oxygen content, while CR favoured the formation of H₂, CH₄, and light hydrocarbons under high-temperature conditions, reflecting intensified gas-phase reforming and cracking reactions. Co-pyrolysis of DSS-CR blends showed synergistic effects, particularly in 50–90% CR blends at 700 °C, which yielded light hydrocarbons and hydrogen-rich gas suitable for energy applications. This approach offers a sustainable waste management strategy supporting a circular economy model.

Plant-derived antioxidants have gained increasing attention due to their potential to enhance food preservation while promoting sustainability in packaging solutions. In this context, Camellia japonica leaves emerge as a promising source of natural antioxidant compounds with applications in functional foods and eco-friendly processing technologies. The antioxidant capacity of C. japonica leaf extract was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging assays, which yielded IC₅₀ values of 33.11 ± 7.25 µg/mL and 23.75 ± 10.97 µg/mL, respectively. Additionally, the total phenolic content (TPC), assessed by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay, was found to be 36.67 ± 4.05 mg GAE/g dry weight, reflecting a high concentration of polyphenolic compounds responsible for the observed bioactivity. These results suggest that C. japonica leaf extract possesses significant potential to inhibit oxidative deterioration, thereby supporting its incorporation into active food packaging systems and as a natural food additive. The integration of such botanical antioxidants in food processing can offer multiple advantages, including extended shelf life, reduced reliance on synthetic preservatives, and improved maintenance of product quality and safety. Nonetheless, before large-scale industrial application, further studies are necessary to assess toxicological safety and possible sensory effects, ensuring consumer acceptance and regulatory compliance. Moreover, investigations into the interactions between the extract, food matrices, and packaging materials will be crucial to determine its practical feasibility. In conclusion, C. japonica leaf extract stands out as a promising natural antioxidant agent that aligns with sustainable food preservation goals, facilitating the development of environmentally friendly packaging and clean-label food products.