Volcanic activity at Mt. Vulture lasted about 750 ka and produced SiO₂-undersaturated volcanic rocks that can be classified as old (~700 ka), intermediate (~600–550 ka), and young (~130 ka). The intermediate deposits consist of pyroclastic falls and flows and lavas with compositions ranging from phonolite to foidite. A recent revision of the stratigraphic setting allowed these deposits to be classified into one synthem (the Barile Synthem) and further subdivided into four subsynthems (Toppo S. Paolo, Rionero, Vulture-S. Michele, and Ventaruolo). In the present investigation, trioctahedral micas from sample VUT191 in the Vulture-S. Michele Subsynthem are considered. The host rock has modal diopside (20.2%), analcime (22.8%), plagioclase (27.8%), haüyne (5%), phlogopite (8.9%), and magnetite (6.3%). The micas were studied using chemical (EPMA, C-H-N, SIMS), structural (SCXRD), and spectroscopic (Mössbauer) methods. EPMA of 36 crystals from thin sections and 6 discrete crystals selected for the structural analysis showed remarkable compositional variability, as follows (in wt%): SiO₂ = 33.14–38.01, Al₂O₃ = 15.56–20.45, MgO = 13.02–20.81, FeO_tot = 6.34–14.08, TiO₂ = 2.34–6.02, K₂O = 6.03–9.48, Na₂O = 0.50–0.78, and BaO = 0.89–4.06; all crystals proved to be phlogopite. Elemental C-H-N analyses yielded H₂O = 2.86 ± 0.36 wt%. The water content was also determined by SIMS on two single crystals, labeled VUT191_2 and VUT191_19, which yielded values of 3.81 ± 0.12 and 1.72 ± 0.08 wt% H₂O, respectively. Mössbauer investigation showed that all the iron in VUT191 mica is octahedral with Fe²⁺ = 25.5% and Fe³⁺ = 74.5%, confirming that Vulture micas are particularly Fe³⁺-rich, as also found from previous investigations. Structure refinements using anisotropic displacement parameters were performed in space group C2/m and converged at 1.89 ≤ R ≤ 3.17, 2.09 ≤ R_w ≤ 3.43%. All of the analyzed micas belong to the 1M polytype but exhibit remarkable variations in the c parameter from 10.1569(4) to 10.2458(4) Å. The chemical and structural parameters indicate that the studied micas can be divided into two groups: the first encompassing strongly dehydrogenated micas affected mainly by Ti-oxy [^VIM²⁺ + 2(OH)⁻ ↔ ^VITi⁴⁺ + 2O²⁻ + H₂] and M³⁺-oxy [VIM²⁺ + (OH)⁻ ↔ ^VIM³⁺ + O²⁻ + ½H₂, with M³⁺ = Fe³⁺, Al³⁺] substitutions. The second group consist of samples in which vacancy-bearing mechanisms, 2 ^VIM²⁺ ↔ ^VITi⁴⁺ + ^VI□ and 3^VIM²⁺ ↔ 2^VIM³⁺ + ^VI□ occur.

This study evaluates heavy metal (Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Hg, Pb, and As) contamination in the Pescara River, Italy, using Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence, focusing on the impact of Bussi landfills. Analyses revealed that most heavy metals exceed WHO drinking water standards, particularly in upstream areas near industrial sites. Pollution indices resulted: Nemerow Pollution Index (0.43-23.75), Contamination Factor (0.09-104.49), Pollution Load Index (0.14-5.83), Heavy Metal Pollution Index (1.01-1304). Ecological Risk Index identified severe ecosystem threats in one-third of samples, while Human Health Risk Assessment revealed substantial non-carcinogenic risks with Hazard Quotients exceeding safety thresholds for both adults (3.57) and children (2.00). Specific concerns emerge for children's exposure due to their enhanced vulnerability to heavy metal toxicity. Water Quality Index classified 46.6 % of samples as "Very Poor" for drinking purposes. Principal component analysis and Pearson's correlation indicated anthropogenic sources as primary contributors, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable management strategies.

The present work deals with the hydrothermal synthesis of a Na-A (LTA) zeolite using rice husk as a starting material. The focus was on defining the most favorable conditions for the synthesis of zeolite Na-A from rice husk in order to economize on both energy (i.e., synthesis temperatures) and reaction time and to enlarge the field of the pure and isolated synthesized phase. Four sets of experiments were carried out at environmental pressure temperatures varying from 40 °C to 85 °C with a SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio from 1.75 to 3.5. Optimal conditions for crystallization of the Na-A zeolite from rice husk were reached at 60 °C with a SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of 1.75. Sixty degrees Celsius represents the minimum known temperature used for the synthesis of NaA zeolite from rice husk. The products of synthesis were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The purity of the synthesized zeolite is verified here for the first time through quantitative phase analysis using the combined Rietveld and reference intensity ratio methods.

This work deals with the synthesis of Na-P1 (GIS) zeolite using rice husk as the starting material, instead of the more expensive chemicals currently used in the industry (i.e., Na aluminates and Na silicates). Rice husk is calcined at the temperature of 550 °C to obtain rice husk ash. Na-P1 is synthesized starting from rice husk ash, NaOH, and NaAlO₂ by a protocol involving the mixing of a seed gel and a feedstock gel. Two synthesis runs are carried out at ambient pressure at the temperature of 110 °C by fixing the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio at 3.5 and 5.3, respectively. The synthesized products have been identified as well as the experiments developed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Then, the most successful synthesized powders were also characterized by infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, specific surface area (BET), and differential thermal analysis. The cell parameters are calculated using the Rietveld method. The combined Rietveld and reference intensity ratio methods allows us to exclude the presence of impurities and residual amorphous phase in the conducted experiments. Testing rice husk as a source of amorphous silica in the synthesis of Na-P1 represents both economic and environmental advantages. The high yields and the results of the experiment open the way for the transfer to an industrial production scale.