Search Results (1,423)

The agro-industrial sector in Indonesia produces significant amounts of nutrient-rich waste and wastewater, which pose environmental risks but also present opportunities for valorization within a circular bioeconomy. Microalgae provide a promising solution for transforming these wastewaters into valuable products such as biomass for bioenergy, biofertilizers, or pigments, all while helping to remediate pollutants. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the use of major Indonesian agro-industrial effluents, specifically palm oil mill effluent (POME), byproducts from cassava and sugarcane, and soybean residues, as substrates for microalgal biomass production and cultivation. Furthermore, various cultivation strategies are summarized, including autotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic methods, as well as the use of open ponds, photobioreactors, and hybrid systems. These cultivation processes influence biomass yield, metabolite production, and nutrient removal. Reported studies indicate high removal efficiencies for organic loads, nitrogen, and phosphorus, along with considerable production of lipids, proteins, pigments, and biofuels. Yet, effluent pretreatment, concerns about heavy metal and pathogen contamination, high downstream processing costs, and biosafety issues remains as challenges. Nonetheless, the application of microalgal cultivation into Indonesia’s agro-industrial wastes treatment can provide the dual benefits of waste mitigation and resource recovery, helping to advance climate goals and promote rural development. Full article

Diesel fuel is among the most persistent petroleum-derived pollutants in soils, posing long-term ecological and toxicological risks, especially in cold-climate regions where natural degradation is limited. Reliable assessment of diesel-contaminated soils remains difficult because conventional solvent-based analyses are incompatible with bioassays, while aqueous extracts underestimate hydrocarbon toxicity. This study evaluated dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a biocompatible extractant for enzymatic bioluminescent toxicity assays employing the coupled NAD(P)H:FMN-oxidoreductase and bacterial luciferase (BLuc–Red) system. Soil samples artificially contaminated with diesel fuel were analyzed using DMSO extracts in combination with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to examine enzyme stability in solvent environments. Moderate DMSO concentrations (4 = 6% v/v) maintained enzymatic activity, whereas higher levels caused partial inhibition. Diesel hydrocarbons dissolved in DMSO strongly suppressed luminescence, and soil extracts exhibited a clear dose–response relationship between contamination level and enzymatic inhibition. MD simulations confirmed that neither DMSO nor diesel induced large-scale unfolding of luciferase or reductase, though localized flexibility changes and partial dehydration of active site residues was observed, which may account for the detected inhibition of luminescence at higher DMSO concentrations. These results demonstrate that DMSO provides an effective and biocompatible extraction medium for enzymatic bioluminescent assays, enabling accurate toxicity evaluation of petroleum-contaminated soils and offering a promising tool for ecotoxicological risk assessment in oil-impacted environments. Full article

Monitoring oil spills on coastal beaches using satellite imagery has received limited attention, primarily due to the lack of characteristic spectral data as well as constraints in spatial or temporal resolution. In this study, we employ both reflectance spectroscopy and CMOS-sensing imagery to detect and characterize different species of oil contaminants on sandy beaches and investigate their behavior throughout the weathering process. Laboratory and field measurements were conducted on oil-contaminated and clean beach samples with a high-resolution portable spectrometer and a highly sensitive CMOS camera. Predictive modeling of the reflectance spectra using LW-PLS, SVR, and SVM yielded R² values of 0.86 for oil concentration and 0.89 for weathering time, and achieved an oil species classification accuracy of 0.86. Furthermore, beach oil spills in the image dataset were detected using a DeepLabV3+ segmentation model with a ResNet-50 backbone, achieving a mean prediction accuracy of 98.73%. Finally, the segmentation model was successfully applied to accurately detect oil spill pollution on the beaches of Goa, India, confirming its field effectiveness. These reflectance spectroscopy and CMOS-sensing imagery technologies can provide critical data for calibrating remote sensing satellites, thereby offering direct technical support for targeted oil spill cleanup operations on beaches. Full article

Food safety and quality are paramount global concerns, with the complexities of the modern supply chain demanding advanced technologies for monitoring, preservation, and decontamination. Conventional methods often fall short due to limitations in speed, sensitivity, cost, and functionality. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of crystalline porous materials, have emerged as a highly universal platform to address these challenges, owing to their unprecedented structural tunability, ultrahigh surface areas, and tailorable chemical functionalities. This comprehensive review details the state-of-the-art applications of multifunctional MOFs across the entire spectrum of food safety and quality enhancement. First, the review details the application of MOFs in advanced food analysis, covering their transformative roles as sorbents in sample preparation (e.g., solid-phase extraction and microextraction), as novel stationary phases in chromatography, and as the core components of highly sensitive sensing platforms, including luminescent, colorimetric, electrochemical, and SERS-based sensors for contaminant detection. Subsequently, the role of MOFs in food preservation and packaging is explored, highlighting their use in active packaging systems for ethylene scavenging and controlled antimicrobial release, in intelligent packaging for visual spoilage indication, and as functional fillers for enhancing the barrier properties of packaging materials. Furthermore, the review examines the direct application of MOFs in food processing for the selective adsorptive removal of contaminants from complex food matrices (such as oils and beverages) and as robust, recyclable heterogeneous catalysts. Finally, a critical discussion is presented on the significant challenges that impede widespread adoption. These include concerns regarding biocompatibility and toxicology, issues of long-term stability in complex food matrices, and the hurdles of achieving cost-effective, scalable synthesis. This review not only summarizes recent progress but also provides a forward-looking perspective on the interdisciplinary efforts required to translate these promising nanomaterials from laboratory research into practical, real-world solutions for a safer and higher-quality global food supply. Full article

We determined the reference characteristics of the loss tangent and the real component of the complex permittivity of the cellulose-insulating oil–water nanodroplet nanocomposite with a moisture content of 5.17% by weight in pressboard. Such a high moisture content was selected because a value close to 5% by weight is critical, and reaching it may lead to catastrophic transformer failure as well as contamination of the natural environment with poorly biodegradable mineral oil and products of its incomplete combustion. Based on the measurement results, the values of the loss tangent and the real and imaginary components of the complex permittivity of the power transformer insulation system, consisting of moistened pressboard and insulating oil, were determined according to CIGRE. These values were obtained for both factory-new and moistened mineral oil. It was found that oil moisture content has a significant impact on the tanδ characteristics of strongly moistened liquid–solid insulation in the lowest frequency range. In the intermediate frequency range, this effect gradually decreases and then practically disappears. In the frequency range above 50 Hz, the tanδ values depend on the moisture content in cellulose and on the geometrical parameters of the insulation components in the CIGRE system, and do not depend on the oil moisture content. The influence of oil moisture on the estimation of cellulose moisture content becomes noticeable starting from a water content of 2% in pressboard. This should be taken into account in insulation condition analysis and in moisture level estimation in order to detect a critical state threatening catastrophic failure of a power transformer. It was also determined that the real component of the complex permittivity depends only weakly on oil moisture, and only in the low-temperature and low-frequency ranges. In contrast, the imaginary component of the complex permittivity depends on oil moisture practically in the same way as the loss tangent of the power transformer insulation system. Full article

Oil contamination in subsurface soils caused by leaks from underground storage tanks (USTs) and industrial facilities has become a significant geo-environmental concern. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) migrate through the ground and are difficult to remediate once dispersed; thus, prevention of migration is critical. This study experimentally investigated a hybrid liner system combining three barrier mechanisms—physical, reactive, and absorptive—to prevent TPH migration in the subsurface. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted using a soil box simulating groundwater flow, in which Type A (100% polynorbornene powder) and Type B (mixed bentonite–sand–polyolefin–polynorbornene) liners were embedded under different soil types and spill distances. Results showed that permeability decreased rapidly after oil contact, reaching the transition zone within 120 H. Type A responded more quickly and achieved lower permeability, while Type B provided comparable but slower reduction owing to its mixed composition. These findings demonstrate that hybrid liners effectively block oil migration without hindering groundwater flow and that soil condition and spill location should be considered when selecting liner type for field applications. Full article

A genomic analysis of the hydrocarbon-oxidizing strain R. qingshengii F2-2 was conducted to characterize the genes responsible for plant growth stimulation and phytopathogen biocontrol. Understanding these mechanisms is vital for developing effective phytoremediation approaches. It was shown that the F2-2 genome consists of a 6.3 Mb chromosome and three plasmids, two of which are linear—pLP156 (155 kb) and pLP337 (337 kb)—and one circular—pCP209 (210 kb). The genes responsible for biosynthesis of phytohormones (auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins), phosphate solubilization, and production of siderophores and antibiotic-active compounds (chloramphenicol and pristinamycin IA) were identified in the strain chromosome. Orthologous genes encoding phenazine antibiotics were found in the linear plasmid pLP156. The phytostimulating properties of the strain, associated with auxin production (2–4 μg/mL); the ability to effectively colonize rapeseed, mustard, and tobacco plants; and protective action against Fusarium spp. under artificial phytopathogenic background conditions, were experimentally confirmed. Thus, the discovered properties of the R. qingshengii F2-2 strain indicate its potential for the phytoremediation of oil-contaminated soils. Full article

Oil sands drilling frequently contaminates water-based xanthan gels with highly viscous asphaltenes, collapsing their three-dimensional network and causing barite sag, high fluid loss and poor cuttings transport. Nitrogen-functionalized carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were hydrothermally synthesised from citric acid and 1-hexadecylamine and characterised by means of FT-IR, TEM and TGA. The concentration-dependent influence of N-CQDs (0–1.2 wt%) on gel viscoelasticity, microstructure and filtration properties was evaluated through rheometry, API and fluid-loss tests. At 0.01 wt% N-CQDs, the viscosity of the adsorbed oil phase dropped by 50% and the mean droplet diameter decreased from 247.7 µm to <100 µm. Consequently, the xanthan gel exhibited a significant enhancement in its mechanical strength and fluid loss performance. Wax-crystal growth was simultaneously inhibited, lowering the pour point by 6 °C. N-CQDs act as nanospacers that disrupt π-stacking of asphaltenes and hydrogen-bond to the polymer backbone, thereby restoring gel strength and sealing capacity. The work provides a sustainable, low-toxicity route to rejuvenate gel-based drilling fluids contaminated by heavy oil and facilitates their reuse in oil sands reservoirs. Full article

Failures are sometimes attributed to the deterioration of insulating oil, with contamination by cellulose particles. Such contamination lowers the dielectric strength of the oil. This study investigates the effect of cellulose contamination on the impulse breakdown voltage of transformer oil and evaluates the potential of nanofluids as a remediation strategy. A controlled amount of cellulose particles is added and dispersed into mineral oil at a concentration of 0.02 g/L to simulate a contaminated oil sample. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles are then dispersed into the contaminated oil at concentrations of 0.02 and 0.04 g/L. Impulse breakdown voltage is measured under both positive and negative polarities using electrode gaps of 1 mm and 2.5 mm, while dielectric permittivity is also measured to assess polarization effects. The influence of nanoparticle type and concentration is analyzed considering relaxation time and electron scavenging mechanisms. The results show that cellulose contamination markedly reduces dielectric strength, whereas the addition of nanoparticles effectively restores and, in several cases, enhances the insulating properties beyond those of uncontaminated oil. Full article

Dietary intake is the major route of human exposure to fat-soluble and persistent chlorinated paraffins (CPs), which tend to accumulate in lipid-rich foods such as edible vegetable oils. This study investigated the levels of short-chain (SCCPs) and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) in commercially available vegetable oils and assessed their potential health risks. The concentrations of SCCPs and MCCPs in 29 commercial edible vegetable oils were analyzed using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with electron capture negative ionization mass spectrometry (GC × GC-ECNI-MS). Dietary exposure levels were estimated through probabilistic assessment integrating analytical results with dietary consumption data from the Chinese Total Diet Study (2017–2020). The margin of exposure (MOE) approach was employed for risk characterization. The average concentrations of SCCPs and MCCPs were 112 ng/g and 139 ng/g, respectively. The highest SCCP and MCCP concentration were found in sesame oil and peanut oil, respectively. Overall, MCCPs levels were generally higher than SCCPs. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of SCCPs and MCCPs were 56.06 and 73.63 ng/kg bw/d on average, with high consumers (P95) exposed to 180.91 and 230.49 ng/kg bw/d, respectively. Corresponding MOE at P95 were 1.27 × 10⁴ for SCCPs and 1.56 × 10⁵ for MCCPs. The current SCCPs and MCCPs dietary intake originated from edible vegetable oils did not pose a significant health risk. This study provides the first probabilistic exposure assessment of CPs in Chinese edible vegetable oils, offering current contamination profiles. Full article

Background: Hospitals generate large volumes of single-use plastic waste, which are predominantly incinerated. To improve sustainability, standardized procedure-specific surgical trays have been implemented, reducing waste and setup time. This early feasibility study investigated whether all residual plastics from surgical procedures could be recycled via pyrolysis into high-quality oil for circular reuse in medical supply production. Methods: All residual plastics from five transurethral resection (TUR) trays were subjected to pyrolysis at 430–460 °C in a batch reactor. Condensable fractions were separated into heavy (HF) and light (LF) oils, while non-condensable gases and coke were quantified. Chemical analyses included the density, water content, heating value, and elemental composition. Results: From 1.102 kg of input material, the process yielded 78 weight percent (wt%) oil (HF 59.1%, LF 40.9%), 20.5 wt% gas, and 1.5 wt% coke. HF solidified at room temperature, whereas LF remained liquid, reflecting distinct hydrocarbon chain distributions. The oils exhibited densities of 767.0 kg/m³ (HF) and 748.9 kg/m³ (LF), heating values of 46.39–46.80 MJ/kg, low water contents (<0.05 wt%), and minimal contamination (silicone ≤ 193 mg/kg; chlorine ≤ 110 mg/kg). Conclusions: Pyrolysis of surgical tray plastics produces decontaminated high-energy oils comparable in quality to fossil fuels, with a material recovery rate exceeding 75% and potential CO₂ savings of ~ 2.9 ton per t plastic compared with incineration. This process provides a technically and ecologically viable pathway toward a scalable circular economy in healthcare. Full article

Throughout the lifetime, road markings (RMs) accumulate dirt, oils, and greases, which reduce visibility, shorten service life, and compromise road safety. If RMs could degrade these pollutants, their service life would increase. When exposed to UV light and humidity, semiconductors, such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂), can interact with contaminants and promote their chemical degradation. Semiconductors are commonly used on different types of substrates to achieve self-cleaning ability. In this study, 0.25–3 wt% TiO₂ was incorporated into a commercial RM paint for this purpose. After functionalization, the RM paint samples were contaminated with Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B. After pollution, the specimens were irradiated with a light source that simulates sunlight. To assess the self-cleaning capacity of the paints, visual analysis, color variation and discoloration by using CIELAB color coordinates, diffuse reflectance, and digital image processing techniques were applied. In both techniques, the samples with 2% and 3% of TiO₂ showed a greater capacity to degrade pollutants. Further, the chemical and morphological characteristics of the reference paint and the samples that showed the best self-cleaning results were analyzed by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). They identified the polymer, filler, and pigment in the commercial paint and confirmed the TiO₂ increase after functionalization. This study demonstrated the innovative potential of incorporating semiconductors to achieve a new capability (self-cleaning) for RM paints. This breakthrough not only has the potential to extend the RM service life, but also to improve road safety through greater visibility. Full article

In the Republic of Kazakhstan (one of the top 10 oil-producing countries in the world), the remediation of oil pollution found in unproductive soils under the conditions of a sharply continental arid climate is a highly relevant problem. The aims of this work are to study the biodegradation capacity of the gray soil of the ‘Daulet Asia’ landfill, assess the degradative potential of indigenous oil-degrading strains and changes in the composition of the soil microbial community. Analytical chemistry methods, distillation and chromatographic mass spectrometry were used for oil analysis; gravimetry and IR spectroscopy were used to evaluate oil degradation. Standard microbiological techniques were employed to isolate and cultivate microorganisms and metagenomic sequencing was carried out using Oxford Nanopore technology. Raw data processing and subsequent analysis were performed using modern software packages. Three isolated strains of interest were identified based on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragment sequences. The studied soil has low biodegradation capacity (oil loss was 6.2% on day 60), possibly due to the low abundance and weak activity of indigenous hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms. The taxonomic composition of the microbiome in the studied soil suggests some potential for oil degradation. Assessment of the effectiveness of oil degradation by the indigenous microbiome indicates that this potential can be realized only marginally in situ. Isolated oil-degrading strains were identified as belonging to the Rhodococcus and Kocuria genera. Effective oil removal from the studied soil requires the introduction of active microorganisms (e.g., as part of biopreparations). Considering the characteristics of the hot arid climate, for bioremediation of contaminated sierozems of Southern Kazakhstan, it is advisable to use halotolerant oil-degrading microorganisms with a wide temperature range that are capable of degrading hydrocarbons under moisture deficiency. Full article

Olive mill wastewater (OMW), a by-product of olive oil extraction, poses significant environmental challenges due to its toxicity and heterogeneity. This study evaluates the phenolic and mineral composition of OMW and alpechin sludges from abandoned ponds in Spain, and establishes a standardized conventional method to recover phenolic fractions and promote their safe valorization as bioactive ingredients. Phenolic compounds were identified by triple-TOF-LC-MS/MS, and minerals and heavy metals were quantified by ICP-MS. Across thirteen ponds analyzed, samples from Cordoba, Tarragona, Alicante and Toledo showed higher phenolic levels, ranging from 7.2 g GAE/kg to 18.9 g GAE/kg, with methanolic extracts reaching 10.98–15.67 mg GAE/mL. Thirty-one phenolic compounds were identified, predominantly luteolin, apigenin, quercetin, and secoiridoid derivatives, notably hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, supporting their functional potential as natural antioxidants. The mineral profile was dominated by K and Ca and showed negligible carryover to the phenolic organic fraction (<1%). Heavy metal concentrations in fresh OMW were 0.32–1.06 µg/kg for Cd and Hg and 9–43.9 µg/kg for As and Pb. In OMW sludge, they ranged between 0.033 and 0.19 mg/kg for Cd, 0.01 and 0.12 mg/kg for Hg, 5.45 and 8.06 mg/kg for As, and 4.45 and 23.70 mg/kg for Pb, whereas phenolic extracts contained only 0.15–21.50 µg/kg, remaining below EU food safety limits. This work presents one of the first integrated approaches to risk-benefit mapping of abandoned ponds in Spanish soils and advances extraction standardization by jointly considering functional potential, contaminant profiles, and matrix location. Full article

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can enter the human body through the consumption of contaminated food, particularly seafood, which can bioaccumulate these toxic compounds. This study evaluated PAH contamination levels in fish, crabs, and shellfish from the Parnaiba River estuary following the 2019 oil spill that impacted over 3000 km of Brazil’s northeastern coastline with weathered, heavy crude. The results showed that PAH concentrations in 2019 were approximately 50% higher than those detected in 2021, indicating an acute contamination event linked to the spill. Among the sampled organisms, crabs had the lowest PAH levels, followed by shellfish with intermediate contamination levels, and fish with the highest concentrations. PAH profiles varied by species: shellfish were dominated by high-molecular-weight (HMW) compounds typical of pyrogenic sources; fish were primarily contaminated with low-molecular-weight (LMW) PAHs associated with crude oil; and crabs exhibited a balanced mix of both. Toxicity equivalency analysis revealed the presence of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) only in 2019 shellfish samples, while BaP contamination was found in both fish and shellfish in 2021. Some samples exceeded regulatory limits for indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene. Mollusks collected during the 2021 dry season presented BaP and benzo[k]fluoranthene levels above the threshold of concern. These findings demonstrate the acute impact of the oil spill, characterized by a predominance of LMW PAHs, as well as a residual contamination pattern in 2021, likely associated with pyrogenic sources and driven by environmental degradation processes. This study also indicates that although overall carcinogenic PAH levels decreased, some carcinogenic PAHs continue to exceed legal limits in fish and shellfish samples, even 2 years after the oil spill. This work highlights the need for long-term monitoring and reinforces the importance of including food safety in environmental impact assessments, especially in vulnerable fishing communities. Full article