Inorganic anions nitrate and nitrite influence metabolic rate and glucose homeostasis. Infusion of nitrite iv caused an acute drop in resting energy expenditure (oxygen consumption) and nitrate, when given perorally, caused a reduction in oxygen consumption during exercise and a depression of the increase in blood glucose observed after an oral glucose tolerance test. The doses of nitrate and nitrite did not cause any detectable change in methemoglobin levels of blood. Also, nitrate and nitrite did not alter lactate levels in blood. This discovery provides useful treatments to regulate the energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis of a mammal by administration of inorganic nitrite and/or nitrate.

Described are probiotic compositions for human oral consumption comprising Veillonella bacteria. In some aspects, the probiotic compositions further comprise a salt of nitrate (NO.sub.3.sup.−) and/or a salt of nitrite (NO.sub.2.sup.−). In other aspects, the probiotic compositions further comprise a salt of nitrite (NO.sub.2.sup.−) and a natural source of nitrate. In certain embodiments, the probiotic compositions additionally comprises a polyphenol. Also described herein are methods of enhancing generation of bioactive nitrogen oxides in a human subject, of treating or preventing a gastrointestinal disorder in a human subject, of enhancing athletic performance in a human subject, and of enhancing administration of nitrite or nitrate in a human subject, wherein the human subject is administered the probiotic compositions described herein.

An aqueous secondary battery according to an embodiment includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a separator; and an aqueous electrolytic solution including water and a metal salt represented by Chemical Formula 1 and having molarity of about 5 m to about 40 m.

A.sub.xD.sub.y  [Chemical Formula 1]

In Chemical Formula 1, A is at least one metal ion selected from a sodium ion, a potassium ion, a magnesium ion, a calcium ion, a strontium ion, a zinc ion, or a barium ion, D is at least one type of atomic group ion selected from Cl.sup.−, SO.sub.4.sup.2−, NO.sub.3.sup.−, ClO.sub.4.sup.−, SCN.sup.−, CF.sub.3SO.sub.3.sup.−, C.sub.4F.sub.9SO.sub.3.sup.−, (CF.sub.3SO.sub.2).sub.2N.sup.−, AlO.sub.2.sup.−, AlCl.sub.4.sup.−, AsF.sub.6.sup.−, SbF.sub.6.sup.−, BF.sub.4.sup.−, and PO.sub.2F.sub.2.sup.−, and 0<x≤2, and 0<y≤2.

An aqueous secondary battery according to an embodiment includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a separator; and an aqueous electrolytic solution including water and a metal salt represented by Chemical Formula 1 and having molarity of about 5 m to about 40 m.

A.sub.xD.sub.y  [Chemical Formula 1]

In Chemical Formula 1, A is at least one metal ion selected from a sodium ion, a potassium ion, a magnesium ion, a calcium ion, a strontium ion, a zinc ion, or a barium ion, D is at least one type of atomic group ion selected from Cl.sup.−, SO.sub.4.sup.2−, NO.sub.3.sup.−, ClO.sub.4.sup.−, SCN.sup.−, CF.sub.3SO.sub.3.sup.−, C.sub.4F.sub.9SO.sub.3.sup.−, (CF.sub.3SO.sub.2).sub.2N.sup.−, AlO.sub.2.sup.−, AlCl.sub.4.sup.−, AsF.sub.6.sup.−, SbF.sub.6.sup.−, BF.sub.4.sup.−, and PO.sub.2F.sub.2.sup.−, and 0<x≤2, and 0<y≤2.

Inorganic anions nitrate and nitrite influence metabolic rate and glucose homeostasis. Infusion of nitrite iv caused an acute drop in resting energy expenditure (oxygen consumption) and nitrate, when given perorally, caused a reduction in oxygen consumption during exercise and a depression of the increase in blood glucose observed after an oral glucose tolerance test. The doses of nitrate and nitrite did not cause any detectable change in methemoglobin levels of blood. Also, nitrate and nitrite did not alter lactate levels in blood. This discovery provides useful treatments to regulate the energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis of a mammal by administration of inorganic nitrite and/or nitrate.

Described are probiotic compositions for human oral consumption comprising Veillonella bacteria. In some aspects, the probiotic compositions further comprise a salt of nitrate (NO.sub.3.sup.) and/or a salt of nitrite (NO.sub.2.sup.). In other aspects, the probiotic compositions further comprise a salt of nitrite (NO.sub.2.sup.) and a natural source of nitrate. In certain embodiments, the probiotic compositions additionally comprises a polyphenol. Also described herein are methods of enhancing generation of bioactive nitrogen oxides in a human subject, of treating or preventing a gastrointestinal disorder in a human subject, of enhancing athletic performance in a human subject, and of enhancing administration of nitrite or nitrate in a human subject, wherein the human subject is administered the probiotic compositions described herein.

Molasses based alcohol distilleries generate highly contaminated, dark coloured and foul smelling effluent (bio-methanated spent wash, BMSW, also known as post methanated effluent). While the prevailing practices for treatment of alcohol distillery effluents operate on the premises of liability management, high potassium content of spent wash (ca. 2% w/v in BMSW) offers an opportunity for its utilisation in production of potash fertilizersa major agricultural input. The present invention provides process for potash recovery from BMSW with concomitant environmental remediation of effluent. The process involves pre-treatment of BMSW followed by potash recovery through selective precipitation technique to produce potash fertilizers and activated carbon while generating a relatively benign effluent (>80% remediation). It may further be possible for the alcohol distilleries to achieve ZLD status by incorporating commercially practiced water recovery techniques (viz., multiple effect evaporation/nano-filtration/reverse osmosis etc.) for downstream processing of the process effluent.

Molasses based alcohol distilleries generate highly contaminated, dark coloured and foul smelling effluent (bio-methanated spent wash, BMSW, also known as post methanated effluent). While the prevailing practices for treatment of alcohol distillery effluents operate on the premises of liability management, high potassium content of spent wash (ca. 2% w/v in BMSW) offers an opportunity for its utilisation in production of potash fertilizersa major agricultural input. The present invention provides process for potash recovery from BMSW with concomitant environmental remediation of effluent. The process involves pre-treatment of BMSW followed by potash recovery through selective precipitation technique to produce potash fertilizers and activated carbon while generating a relatively benign effluent (>80% remediation). It may further be possible for the alcohol distilleries to achieve ZLD status by incorporating commercially practiced water recovery techniques (viz., multiple effect evaporation/nano-filtration/reverse osmosis etc.) for downstream processing of the process effluent.

The present invention provides a continuous crystallization method under control of the multistage membrane modules, and belongs to the technical field of crystallization engineering. A crystallization solution is added to a crystallizer, and a stirring apparatus and a temperature control apparatus are started. After the system running stability, the loop of crystallization is started. Meanwhile, the coolant or antisolvent feed liquid loop is also started. The crystallization solution can respectively conduct crystal nucleation, growth and ripening in the multistage membrane modules, and then the crystallization solution is transported into a filter device and a drying apparatus to obtain the final crystal products. The desired crystal products can be obtained by the systematical control of the nucleation and crystal growth through the flow and the temperature of the crystallization solution, coolant or antisolvent feed liquid, and the contact time between two liquid phases.

The present invention provides a continuous crystallization method under control of the multistage membrane modules, and belongs to the technical field of crystallization engineering. A crystallization solution is added to a crystallizer, and a stirring apparatus and a temperature control apparatus are started. After the system running stability, the loop of crystallization is started. Meanwhile, the coolant or antisolvent feed liquid loop is also started. The crystallization solution can respectively conduct crystal nucleation, growth and ripening in the multistage membrane modules, and then the crystallization solution is transported into a filter device and a drying apparatus to obtain the final crystal products. The desired crystal products can be obtained by the systematical control of the nucleation and crystal growth through the flow and the temperature of the crystallization solution, coolant or antisolvent feed liquid, and the contact time between two liquid phases.