The performance of a mammal, manifested as a reduced oxygen uptake (VO.sub.2) during physical exercise, can be enhanced by administering to said mammal a non-toxic amount of nitrate and/or nitrite. Liquid, semi-solid and solid snack and food products and nutritional supplements, such as sport drinks are made available.

The performance of a mammal, manifested as a reduced oxygen uptake (VO.sub.2) during physical exercise, can be enhanced by administering to said mammal a non-toxic amount of nitrate and/or nitrite. Liquid, semi-solid and solid snack and food products and nutritional supplements, such as sport drinks are made available.

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.

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.

Apparatus for treating water is provided where the apparatus includes a reaction chamber having an air-water interface and a plasma applicator disposed in air in proximity to the air-water interface. The plasma applicator includes a solid dielectric plate sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode, where the first electrode is closer to the water than the second electrode. The plasma applicator further includes a first insulating layer disposed on the first electrode. The apparatus is configured to generate a plasma between the first insulating layer and the air-water interface during operation.

Apparatus for treating water is provided where the apparatus includes a reaction chamber having an air-water interface and a plasma applicator disposed in air in proximity to the air-water interface. The plasma applicator includes a solid dielectric plate sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode, where the first electrode is closer to the water than the second electrode. The plasma applicator further includes a first insulating layer disposed on the first electrode. The apparatus is configured to generate a plasma between the first insulating layer and the air-water interface during operation.

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.

Disclosed is a method of administering nitrate in an effective and safe amount to cause a beneficial effect in a subject in need thereof. The method includes administering to the subject at least 0.01 mmol/kg/day of nitrate.

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 effiuents operate on the premises of liability management, high potassium content of spent wash (ca. 2% w/v in BMSVV) offers an opportunity for its utilisation in production of potash fertilisersa 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 fertilisers 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 invention relates to the innovative formulation of mixtures of nitrate salts, the composition of which is fundamentally based on strontium nitrate and other alkaline metal nitrates. These salts, according to the invention, produce an eutectic mixture with a meting point lower than 210 C., in a ternary formulation and the decomposition thereof occurring at a temperature greater than 00 C. In addition, other non-eutectic compositions are provided for the purpose of adapting their melting point to the different applications if considered necessary. Furthermore, this ternary formulation is more competitive than the existing formulations from an economic point of view. This formulation of salts has a direct application as a heat storage fluid, as well as a vehicle for heat transfer, being suitable for heat accumulation and transmission systems in thermosolar centres, as well as in any other application requiring temporary storage of thermal energy and the subsequent transfer thereof. The main provision of this invention is a fluid that can maintain its liquid state for a more prolonged period and at a temperature lower than the existing formulations, without the need to provide external heat and ensuring the stability of same at more elevated temperatures.