Electroactivity of weak electricigen Bacillus subtilis biofilms in solution containing deep eutectic solvent components

1H NMR-Based Metabolomics Profile of Green and Red Amaranthus Grown in Open Field versus Greenhouse Cultivation System

Traditionally, indigenous African leafy vegetables such as Amaranthus, blackjack, jute mallow, cleome monophyla, and spider plants have been conventionally and organically grown as weeds in open fields. However, the lack of land space due to the increase in population has resulted in unconventional, modern, and advanced agricultural farming. The introduction of a greenhouse has recently become the second most popular growing system alongside shade net and glasshouse to increase productivity and meet consumers' demand. Several studies on Amaranthus species have solely focused on physiological parameters and nutritional composition, leaving a huge gap on their metabolomic profile of the leaves which is crucial to comprehend when growing Amaranthus species in different cropping systems. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the influence of different cropping systems on the release of metabolites of two commonly consumed Amaranthus species in South Africa. H1 -Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) tool was used to profile the untargeted metabolites of green (Amaranthus graecizans L.) and red (Amaranthus cruentus L.) species. A total of 12 metabolites-trehalose, betaine, glutamine, choline, sucrose, caprate, adenosine, asparagine, carnitine, caffeine, aspartate, and alanine-were detected in green amaranth grown in open fields. Except for caffeine, aspartate, and caprate, which were found in the green amaranth grown in open fields, all the other metabolites were detected in the greenhouse grown once. Interestingly, allantoin, which serves as an allelochemical, was the sole distinct metabolite detected in greenhouse cultivated green amaranth. On the contrary, seven similar metabolites were quantified in red amaranth grown in both open fields and greenhouses, apart from caffeine, which was only detected in greenhouse-cultivated red amaranth.

Pseudomonas xiamenensis in the cutting fluids on corrosion behavior of aluminum alloy 2219

Aluminum alloy workpieces are prone to black spots and other corrosion problems in the cutting process, which greatly puzzles the machining industry and brings serious losses. However, the cause and mechanism of workpiece corrosion are still unclear. In this study, the effect of P. xiamenensis breeding in the cutting fluid on the corrosion of aluminum alloy 2219 (AA 2219) was studied by corrosion product characterization, biofilm evaluation, corrosion profile, quantitative pit analysis, and electrochemical characterization. The results showed that P. xiamenensis adhered to the surface of AA 2219, forming uneven corrosion product film and biofilm. The state of the film on the surface of the aluminum alloy changed, and pitting corrosion intensified after being immersed in cutting fluid containing P. xiamenensis. The maximum corrosion depths of the coupons were found to be 2.7 μm and 15.8 μm in sterile and inoculated cutting fluids, respectively. The corrosion rate of the aluminum alloy was as high as 9.16 × 10^-3 mm/y, which was about 9 times higher than the corrosion rate in the microbial-free cutting fluid. The presence of a P. xiamenensis biofilm accelerated the formation of the water-soluble corrosion product Al(OH)₄^-, which destroyed the passive film and accelerated pitting corrosion.

Microbial electrosynthesis: carbonaceous electrode materials for CO2 conversion

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a sustainable approach to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a building block to create clean fuels and highly valuable chemicals. The efficiency of MES-based CO₂ conversion is closely related to the performance of electrode material and, in particular, the cathode for which carbonaceous materials are frequently used. Compared to expensive metal electrodes, carbonaceous materials are biocompatible with a high specific surface area, wide range of possible morphologies, and excellent chemical stability, and their use can maximize the growth of bacteria and enhance electron transfer rates. Examples include MES cathodes based on carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphene oxide, graphite, graphite felt, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), activated carbon, carbon felt, carbon dots, carbon fibers, carbon brushes, carbon cloth, reticulated vitreous carbon foam, MXenes, and biochar. Herein, we review the state-of-the-art MES, including thermodynamic and kinetic processes that underpin MES-based CO₂ conversion, as well as the impact of reactor type and configuration, selection of biocompatible electrolytes, product selectivity, and the use of novel methods for stimulating biomass accumulation. Specific emphasis is placed on carbonaceous electrode materials, their 3D bioprinting and surface features, and the use of waste-derived carbon or biochar as an outstanding material for further improving the environmental conditions of CO₂ conversion using carbon-hungry microbes and as a step toward the circular economy. MES would be an outstanding technique to develop rocket fuels and bioderived products using CO₂ in the atmosphere for the Mars mission.