Thermochemical Analysis of Ammonia Gas Sorption by Struvite from Livestock Wastes and Comparison with Biochar and Metal-Organic Framework Sorbents.

Struvite-bearing solids from swine (S) and dairy (D) wastewater, heat-treated to 150-300 °C, were evaluated as ammonia gas (NH3(g)) sorbents and compared to biochar (BC) and a metal-organic framework (MOF). Simultaneous thermal analysis-pulse thermal analysis-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (STA-PTA-FTIR) was used to determine sorption capacity, reversibility, thermodynamics, and kinetics. For wastewater-derived sorbents, S solids heated to 150 °C (S-150) had the highest NH3(g) sorption capacity (47.2-49.9 mg g-1), comparable to BC (50.8 mg g-1). Enthalpies increased with sorption capacity, and the energy released per mole sorbed NH3(g) indicated stronger bonds formed with S sorbents than BC. After desorption, S-150 retained more NH3(g) (48-51%) than BC (39%). The MOF had the highest sorption capacity (289.7 mg g-1) and irreversibly bound NH3(g) (81%) but similar sorption activation energy (Ea) as S-150. The rates (k) of NH3(g) sorption and desorption were fastest for S-150. Overall, S-150 sorbents performed similarly to BC but were less effective than MOF for NH3(g) sequestration. However, advantages of S-150 for NH3(g) mitigation include wastewater valorization, minimal synthesis, low heat treatment, and potential use in agricultural applications. Evaluation of struvite-based wastewater-derived sorbents, comparison with commonly used sorbents, and the implementation of thermochemical analysis for this purpose are all novel aspects of this study.

Anti-inflammatory and protective effects of MT-031, a novel multitarget MAO-A and AChE/BuChE inhibitor in scopolamine mouse model and inflammatory cells.

Previous study demonstrated that the novel multitarget compound, MT-031 preserved in one molecule entity the beneficial properties of its parent drugs, rasagiline and rivastigmine, and exerted high dual potencies of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) and cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition in acute-treated mice and neuroprotective effects against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. The present study aimed to further investigate the anti-inflammatory and protective effects of MT-031 in scopolamine mouse model and inflammatory cell cultures. Our findings demonstrated that once daily chronic administration of MT-031 (5-10 mg/kg) to mice antagonized scopolamine-induced memory and cognitive impairments, displayed brain selective MAO-A and AChE/BuChE inhibition, increased the levels of striatal dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine and prevented the metabolism of DA and 5-HT. In addition, MT-031 upregulated mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2, the neurotrophic factors, (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF)), the antioxidant enzyme catalase and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor (Ntrk), and down-regulated the mRNA expression levels of the pro-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-6 in scopolamine-induced mice. In accordance, MT-031 was shown to reduce reactive oxygen species accumulation, increase the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-10 and decrease the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in activated mouse splenocytes and microglial cells. Taken together, these pharmacological properties of MT-031 can be of clinical importance for developing this novel multitarget compound as a novel drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.