Mateusz Luba

Although prostacyclin (PGI2) has been well described as a regulator of smooth muscle activity, limited data are available concerning its role in the myometrium of pigs. The present research aimed to examine profiles of PGI2 synthase (PTGIS) and PGI2 receptor (PTGIR) expression and 6-keto PGF1α (a PGI2 metabolite) concentrations in the myometrium of gilts throughout the estrous cycle and during early pregnancy using qPCR, Western blot, and/or ELISA methods. Furthermore, myometrial explants were exposed to iloprost (a stable PGI2 analog) to investigate the effect of PGI2 on the mRNA expression of factors engaged in smooth muscle contraction, nutrient transport, prostaglandin synthesis and action, and inflammatory response. PTGIS mRNA expression was greater in cyclic than in pregnant gilts on days 11–12 after estrus and was accompanied by greater concentrations of 6-keto PGF1α detected in cyclic than in pregnant animals on days 11–20. Iloprost stimulated fatty acid transporters and contractility-related calponin 1 and caldesmon 1 mRNA expression and decreased interleukin 1β and tumor necrosis factor transcript abundance. The obtained results indicate a physiologically relevant role of PGI2 during the estrous cycle in the porcine myometrium with its importance for regulating the expression of contractility-, nutrient transport- and inflammatory response-related factors.

In this study, we report on the effectiveness of electrochemical and biological wastewater treatment for artificially prepared industrial wastewater, comprising small amounts of technologically important dyes, namely Acid Mixture composed of Acid Violet 90 (AV90) and Acid Red 357 (AR357) in Na₂SO₄ (ESS—electrolyte supporting solution), as well as their impact on the environment, using Lemna minor as a bioindicator. Our study revealed that among the tested dyes, the raw ones (AM in ESS+OM) and those subjected to electrooxidation with the use of an iron anode and a copper cathode [AM_Fe/Cuox in ESS+OM (OECD medium is a medium recommended by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development for Lemna sp. Growth Inhibition Test)] were the most phytotoxic for L. minor. No phytotoxicity was detected for the tested plants in solution after electrooxidation with graphite anode and cathode (AM_Cox in ESS+OM). Quantitative identification of acid mixture removal was carried out by supplementary UPLC/MS-MS (Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography/tandem Mass Spectrometry) and UV-VIS (UltraViolet-Visible spectroscopy) instrumental analysis. The final removal after electrochemical and biological treatment of AV90 and AR357 dye components was 98 and over 99%, respectively. The results suggest that it may be a suitable replacement/addition for the generally used wastewater treatment methods.

This article reports on the influence of resorcinol (RC) on the kinetics of underpotential deposition of hydrogen (UPD of H) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), studied on a polycrystalline Pt electrode in a 0.5 M sulphuric acid supporting solution. It is well known that both PEM fuel cells and water electrolysers’ electrodes often contain significant amounts of nanostructured Pt or other types of noble metal particles. These materials provide the superior catalytic activity of electrochemical reactions such as OER (oxygen evolution reaction), HER (hydrogen evolution reaction) and ORR (oxygen reduction reaction). The trace amounts of phenolic substances contained in air or water could be harmful (when in contact with a fuel cell/water electrolyser’s working environment) to the abovementioned catalytic surfaces. Hence, they could potentially have severe detrimental effects on the kinetics of these processes. The results obtained in this work provided evidence for the detrimental role of Pt surface-adsorbed resorcinol molecules (or their electrodegradation products) on the kinetics of UPD of H and the oxygen evolution reaction. The above was revealed through evaluation of the associated charge-transfer resistance and capacitance parameters, comparatively derived on a platinum electrode, for the initial and the resorcinol-modified H₂SO₄ electrolyte.

Traditional wastewater purification processes are based on a combination of physical, chemical, and biological methods; however, typical electrochemical techniques for removing pollutants require large amounts of electrical energy. In this study, we report on a process of wastewater purification, through continuous anodic dissolution of iron anode for aerated Cu/Fe galvanic cell in synthetic Na₂SO₄ wastewater solution. Electrochemical experiments were conducted by means of a laboratory size electrolyzer, where electrocoagulation along with electrooxidation phenomena were examined for wastewater containing Acid Mixture dye. The above was visualized through the employment of electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry and ac impedance spectroscopy techniques) along with instrumental spectroscopy analyses.

Electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity was studied on nickel foam-based electrodes. The OER was investigated in 0.1 M NaOH solution at room temperature on as-received and Co- or Mo-modified Ni foam anodes. Corresponding values of charge-transfer resistance, exchange current-density for the OER and other electrochemical parameters for the examined Ni foam composites were recorded. The electrodeposition of Co or Mo on Ni foam base-materials resulted in a significant enhancement of the OER electrocatalytic activity. The quality and extent of Co, and Mo electrodeposition on Ni foam were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis.

This paper communicates on an innovative, laboratory size alkaline water electrolyser (AWE) system, capable of efficiently producing ultra-pure hydrogen and oxygen gases. The system is composed of a zero-gap, bipolar-electrode stack, equipped with a polymer-based membrane, along with two drying columns for effective purification of H₂ and O₂ gaseous products. An optimal electrochemical efficiency of the electrolyser stack is provided through the employment of catalytically activated, extended surface-area nickel foam electrodes. Laboratory electrochemical examinations of the electrolyser included a series of galvanostatic AWE and alternating current (a.c.) impedance (single cell) experiments. Complementary examinations covered catalyst’s surface topography analysis by combined SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) techniques along with chromatographic evaluation of the purity of hydrogen and oxygen products.

The present paper reports cyclic voltammetric and a.c. impedance spectroscopy investigations on the influence of the acetonitrile concentration on the kinetics (and individual product’s efficiency) of the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR), performed on a polycrystalline Pt electrode surface in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and 0.1 M NaOH supporting solutions. The kinetics of the EOR were examined at room temperature over the voltammetric potential range, which covers the electrooxidation of surface-adsorbed CO_Ads species, as well as the formation of acetaldehyde molecules. In addition, the time-dependent efficiency of acetate and acetaldehyde formation in relation to the initial acetonitrile content for both acidic and alkaline electrolytes was evaluated by means of spectrophotometric Ultraviolet/ Visible Spectroscopy (UV-VIS) instrumental analysis.

This paper reports on the process of industrial-type wastewater purification carried-out through continuous anodic dissolution of aluminum alloy sacrificial anode for artificially aerated Cu-Al alloy galvanic (macro-corrosion) cells and synthetically prepared wastewater solutions. Electrochemical experiments were performed by means of a laboratory size electrolyzer unit, where the electrocoagulation process along with surface-induced electrooxidation phenomena were examined for wastewater containing Acid Mixture and Disperse Red 167 dyes. Final reduction of the dyes concentrations came to 32 and 99% for Acid Mixture and Disperse Red 167, correspondingly. The above was visualized through the employment of electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry and a.c. impedance spectroscopy techniques) and instrumental spectroscopy analyses.

The present paper reports AC impedance spectroscopic/Tafel polarization and cyclic voltammetry study on the influence of acetonitrile concentration on the kinetics of UPD of H (underpotential deposition of hydrogen) and HER (hydrogen evolution reaction), examined on polycrystalline and polyoriented single-crystal sphere Pt electrode surfaces in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and 0.1 M NaOH supporting solutions. The resulted data provided confirmation of the destructive role of Pt surface-electrosorbed acetonitrile on the kinetics of underpotentially deposited hydrogen, as well as cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction. The above was exclusively elucidated through evaluation of the associated charge-transfer resistance and capacitance (and complementary exchange current-density and Tafel slope) parameters, derived comparatively on Pt for pure and acetonitrile-modified acidic and alkaline electrolytes.