Search Results (233)

Processing economically and socio-culturally significant Amazonian fruits—andiroba (Carapa guianensis Aubl.), açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), and babassu (Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng.)—generates substantial biomass waste, posing critical environmental and waste management challenges. This study explored the valorization of these abundant residual biomasses as sustainable feedstocks for biosurfactant production by bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa P23G-02, while simultaneously profiling their nutritional value and broader implications for a circular bioeconomy. Through liquid fermentation, biosurfactants were produced at an approximate yield of 6 mg/mL. The isolated biosurfactants exhibited favorable properties, including emulsification indices of around 60% and surface tension reduction to below 30 mN/m, with the andiroba-derived biosurfactant identified as a rhamnolipid type. Nutritional profiling of the residues revealed significant energy values, reaching up to 656 kcal/100 g, with açai and babassu residues being carbohydrate-rich (exceeding 80%), and andiroba residues exhibiting a high lipid profile (up to 57%). These distinct compositions critically influenced biosurfactant yield. These findings underscore the viability of Amazonian fruit biomass as valuable resources for developing eco-friendly bioproducts and innovative waste management solutions. While highlighting a promising pathway for circular bioeconomy development, future research should address biosafety and explore alternative microbial hosts for applications in sensitive sectors such as food and nutrition. Full article

Using renewable D-gluconic acid δ-lactone as the starting material, two novel glucosamide-based organosilicon quaternary ammonium surfactants (2/3SiDDGPBH) were synthesized through an environmentally friendly three-step process involving amidation, hydrophobic modification, and quaternization. Comprehensive characterization demonstrated their exceptional performance: surface tension reduction to 33.4 mN/m (2SiDDGPBH) and 33.64 mN/m (3SiDDGPBH), uniform spherical micelles (1–10 nm and 30–100 nm) were formed, and outstanding foam properties with 3SiDDGPBH developed, showing superior foamability and stability. Material modification tests on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) plates, mature acacia leaves, oilpaper, vegetable-tanned top-grain leather, and melamine-formaldehyde resin (MFR) faced with plywood revealed excellent spreading performance and durability, particularly for 3SiDDGPBH-treated MFR plywood, which maintained excellent spreading performance even after 80 washing cycles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed that the Si wt% of MFR plywood treated with 2/3SiDDGPBH and scrubbed MFR plywood both exhibited a significant increase, and the 3SiDDGPBH-treated MFR plywood demonstrated superior bonding properties. These surfactants combine low surface tension, excellent foaming properties, and outstanding spreading performance, demonstrating broad application prospects in fields such as pesticide adjuvants, industrial and household cleaning agents, cosmetics, oilfield extraction, textile printing and dyeing, and functional coatings. Full article

Temperature is a key factor in regulating interfacial behaviors and enhancing oil recovery during low-salinity water flooding in tight sandstone reservoirs. This study systematically investigates the synergistic mechanisms of temperature and salinity on ion exchange, wettability alteration, interfacial tension, and crude oil desorption. The experimental results show that elevated temperature significantly strengthens the oil–water–rock interactions induced by low-salinity water, thereby improving oil recovery. At 70 °C, the release of divalent cations such as Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ from the rock surface is notably enhanced. Simultaneously, the increase in interfacial electrostatic repulsion is evidenced by a shift in the rock–brine zeta potential from −3.14 mV to −6.26 mV. This promotes the desorption of polar components, such as asphaltenes, from the rock surface, leading to a significant change in wettability. The wettability alteration index increases to 0.4647, indicating a strong water-wet condition. Additionally, the reduction in oil–water interfacial zeta potential and the enhancement in interfacial viscoelasticity contribute to a further decrease in interfacial tension. Under conditions of 0.6 PW salinity and 70 °C, non-isothermal core flooding experiments demonstrate that rock–fluid interactions are the dominant mechanism responsible for enhanced oil recovery. By applying a staged injection strategy, where 0.6 PW is followed by 0.4 PW, the oil recovery reaches 34.89%, which is significantly higher than that achieved with high-salinity water flooding. This study provides critical mechanistic insights and optimized injection strategies for the development of high-temperature tight sandstone reservoirs using low-temperature waterflooding. Full article

This study presents the production, characterization, and potential pharmaceutical application of a bioemulsifier synthesized by Aspergillus niger UCP 1064 by submerged fermentation using agro-industrial residues (cassava wastewater and soluble starch). The compound exhibited a high emulsification index (EI₂₄ > 88%) against hydrophobic substrates, effectively reduced surface tension, and remained stable across a wide range of pH (2–12), temperatures (5–100 °C), and salinity levels (0–20% NaCl). Microscopic analysis confirmed the formation of stable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, while biochemical tests identified the compound as a glycolipoprotein. Rheological assays demonstrated a significant reduction in oil viscosity, enhancing fluidity. Through factorial design and response surface methodology, production conditions were optimized, achieving yields of up to 3.18 g/L. A theoretical scale-up indicated technical feasibility for pharmaceutical applications; however, challenges such as process reproducibility, sterility, and regulatory compliance persist. These findings highlight the bioemulsifier’s potential as a sustainable and biocompatible alternative for drug delivery systems. Full article

Conventional fracturing fluids, while essential for large-volume stimulation of unconventional reservoirs, often induce significant reservoir damage through water retention and capillary trapping. To address this problem, this study developed a novel superhydrophobic nano-viscous drag reducer (SN-DR), synthesized through a multi-monomer copolymerization and silane modification strategy, which enhances structural stability and minimizes reservoir damage. The structure and thermal stability of SN-DR were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and TGA. Rheological evaluations demonstrated that the gel fracturing fluid exhibits a highly stable three-dimensional network structure, with a G′ maintained at approximately 3000 Pa and excellent shear recovery under cyclic stress. Performance tests showed that a 0.15% SN-DR achieved a drag reduction rate of 78.1% at 40 L/min, reduced oil–water interfacial tension to 0.91 mN·m⁻¹, and yielded a water contact angle of 152.07°, confirming strong hydrophobicity. Core flooding tests revealed a flowback rate exceeding 50% and an average permeability recovery of 86%. SEM and EDS indicated that the gel formed nanoscale, tightly packed papillary structures on core surfaces, enhancing roughness and reducing water intrusion. The study demonstrates that gel fracturing fluid enhances structural stability, alters wettability, and mitigates water-blocking damage. These findings offer a new strategy for designing high-performance fracturing fluids with integrated drag reduction and reservoir protection properties, providing significant theoretical insights for improving hydraulic fracturing efficiency. Full article

To enhance the fire suppression performance of Class A foam, this study identifies sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as the primary foaming agent and develops a high-efficiency foam system comprising primary and auxiliary foaming agents, wetting agents, and foam stabilizers. It interprets these macroscopic findings at the molecular level through molecular dynamics simulations. Sixteen formulations were designed using orthogonal experiments and evaluated in terms of surface tension, viscosity, wetting performance, and foam expansion ratio. The results demonstrated that the formulated systems exhibited superior foaming characteristics compared to conventional aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), while other physicochemical properties were inferior. Two high-performing foam systems were further investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Analysis of the spatial concentration distributions, diffusion coefficients, and the hydrogen-bonding networks of water molecules revealed 14.3% and 14.2% increases in the peak values of the radial distribution function (RDF) for the two systems modified with auxiliary foaming agents, respectively. The auxiliary foaming agents exhibited synergistic effects with SDS, enhancing its water activation capability. The incorporation of wetting agents reduced the water diffusion coefficients by 4.7% and 21.9%, indicating that sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) succinate sulphonate (T) interferes less with the primary foaming agent than alcohol ethoxylate (AEO). The selected formulations also demonstrated 4.4% and 3.5% reductions in water hydrogen bonding compared to SDS-only solutions, indicating decreased molecular cohesion and improved water activation. By integrating physicochemical evaluation with molecular simulation, the optimized formulation was determined to be SDS (primary foaming agent), sodium fatty alcohol ether sulfate (auxiliary foaming agent), alcohol ethoxylate (wetting agent), lauryl hydroxysultaine (foam stabilizer), and ethylene glycol butyl ether (cosolvent). Full article

Electric arc furnace slag is a major by-product of steelmaking, yet its industrial utilization remains limited due to its complex chemical and mineralogical composition. This study presents a hydrogen-based approach to recover metallic components from EAF slag for potential reuse in steelmaking. Laboratory experiments were conducted by melting 50 g of industrial slag samples at 1600 °C and injecting hydrogen gas through a ceramic tube into the liquid slag. After cooling, both the slag and the metallic phases were analyzed for their chemical and phase compositions. Additionally, the reduction process was modeled using a combination of approaches, including the thermochemical software FactSage 8.1, models for density, surface tension, and viscosity, as well as a diffusion model. The injection of hydrogen resulted in the reduction of up to 40% of the iron oxide content in the liquid slag. In addition, the fraction of reacted hydrogen gas was calculated. Full article

This research has successfully addressed the technical challenge of generating nanobubbles in diesel fuel, which inherently lacks hydrophilic structures and charged ions, enabling the effective production of high-concentration nanobubble diesel fuel. This breakthrough lays a solid foundation for subsequent research into the combustion performance and combustion mechanism of high-concentration nanobubble fuels. Furthermore, it holds promising potential to advance high-concentration nanobubble fuel as a viable new type of energy source. A specialized device was designed to generate nanobubble-embedded diesel, and particle tracking analysis with n-hexadecane dilution was employed to quantify nanobubble concentration. The results demonstrate that the nanobubble concentration in diesel increases with both circulation time and pressure, reaching up to 5 × 10⁸ ± 3.1 × 10⁷ bubbles/mL under a pressure of 2.5 MPa. Stability tests indicate an initial rapid decay (50% reduction within one week), followed by a slower decline, which stabilizes at 4.5 × 10⁷ ± 3.13 × 10⁶ bubbles/mL after two months. Notably, nanobubble concentration has a minimal impact on the density and viscosity of diesel but slightly decreases its surface tension. This study presents a feasible method for preparing high-concentration nanobubble diesel, which lays a foundation for investigating the combustion mode and mechanism of nanobubble diesel fuel. With the goal of enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing pollutant emissions, this work further paves the way for the application of high-concentration nanobubble diesel as a new energy source in fields including automotive, marine, and aerospace industries. Full article

This study identified the optimal enzymatic treatment for improving the foaming characteristics of oat globulin, and alkaline protease was found to be the most effective enzyme. The impact of alkaline protease on the foaming properties and structural changes in oat globulin was explored. The results show that the foaming capacity of oat globulin hydrolysates is negatively correlated with surface hydrophobicity and positively correlated with the degree of hydrolysis. The results of circular dichroism (CD) and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) indicate that hydrolysis generated smaller, disordered peptides. Under equilibrium conditions at a 2% concentration, a reduction of 1.62 mN/m in surface tension and an increase of 3.82 μm in foam film thickness were observed. These peptides reduce surface tension between air and water, forming larger, thicker, and more stable foams. Compared to untreated oat globulin, the foaming capacity of hydrolyzed ones increased by 87.17%. Under comparable conditions, these findings demonstrate that limited hydrolyzed oat globulin exhibits potential as an effective plant-based foaming agent up to a degree of hydrolysis of 15.06%. Full article

Parabens—specifically methylparaben (MeP), ethylparaben (EtP), propylparaben (PrP), and butylparaben (BuP)—are widely used substances in everyday life, particularly as preservatives in pharmaceutical and food products. However, these compounds are not effectively removed by conventional water and wastewater treatment processes, potentially causing disruptions to human homeostasis and the endocrine system. This study conducted a transport and dimensional analysis through simulation of the adsorption process for these parabens, using zinc chloride-activated carbon derived from spent coffee grounds (ACZnCl₂) as the adsorbent, implemented via Aspen Properties^® and Aspen Adsorption^®. Simulations were performed for two inlet concentrations (50 mg/L and 100 mg/L) and two adsorption column heights (3 m and 4 m), considering a volumetric flow rate representative of a medium-sized city with approximately 100,000 inhabitants. The results showed that both density and surface tension of the parabens varied linearly with increasing temperature, and viscosity exhibited a marked reduction above 30 °C. Among the tested conditions, the configuration with 50 mg∙L⁻¹ inlet concentration and a 4 m column height demonstrated the highest adsorption capacity and better performance under adsorption–desorption equilibrium. These findings indicate that the implementation of adsorption beds on an industrial scale in water and wastewater treatment systems is both environmentally and socially viable. Full article

Metallic nanofoams with amorphous structures demonstrate exceptional properties and significant potential for diverse applications. However, their mechanical properties at different temperatures are still unclear. By using molecular dynamics simulation, this study investigates the mechanical responses of representative CuZr amorphous metallic nanofoam (AMNF) under uniaxial tension and compression at various temperatures. Our results reveal that the mechanical properties, such as Young’s modulus, yield stress, and maximum stress, exhibit notable temperature sensitivity and tension–compression asymmetry. Under tensile loading, the Young’s modulus, yield strength, and peak stress exhibit significant reductions of approximately 30.5%, 33.3%, and 32.9%, respectively, as the temperature increases from 100 K to 600 K. Similarly, under compressive loading, these mechanical properties experience even greater declines, with the Young’s modulus, yield strength, and peak stress decreasing by about 34.5%, 38.0%, and 41.7% over the same temperature range. The tension–compression asymmetry in yield strength is temperature independent. Interestingly, the tension–compression asymmetry in elastic modulus becomes more pronounced at elevated temperatures, which is attributed to the influence of surface energy effects. This phenomenon is further amplified by the increased disparity in surface-area-to-volume ratio variations between tensile and compressive loading at higher temperatures. Additionally, as the temperature rises, despite material softening, the structural resistance under large tensile strains improves due to delayed ligament degradation and more uniform deformation distribution, delaying global failure. Full article

Background: Cannabidiol (CBD) has demonstrated potential as a therapeutic agent for muscle tension, pain, and sleep bruxism, yet its broader impact on comorbid conditions such as sleep disturbance and migraine disability remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess the effects of topical CBD on sleep quality and migraine-related disability in patients with bruxism-associated muscular pain. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 60 participants with bruxism were allocated equally into three groups: control (placebo gel), 5% CBD gel, and 10% CBD gel. Participants applied the gel intraorally to the masseter muscles nightly for 30 days. Sleep quality and migraine-related disability were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), respectively. Surface electromyography (sEMG) and the Bruxoff^® device were used for objective evaluation of muscle tension and bruxism intensity. Results: Both CBD treatment groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in PSQI and MIDAS scores compared to the control group (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the 5% and 10% CBD groups, suggesting comparable efficacy. The sEMG findings corroborated a reduction in muscle tension. Improvements in sleep and migraine outcomes were positively correlated with reductions in muscle activity and pain. Conclusions: Topical CBD gel significantly improved sleep quality and reduced migraine-related disability in patients with bruxism-associated muscular pain, supporting its role as a multifaceted therapeutic option in the management of TMD and related comorbidities. Further research is needed to confirm long-term benefits and determine optimal dosing strategies. Full article

Canola oil (rapeseed oil, RO), despite being a potential source of biofuel, needs some modifications of its properties to be effectively used as a fuel. The reason RO needs to be altered lies above all in its viscosity, fatty acid composition, and other chemical properties, which affect its efficiency as a fuel. These properties of RO can be changed by mixing it with various bioadditives, among other methods. For this reason, studies of the physicochemical properties of mixtures including RO, n-hexane (Hex), and ethyl oleate (EO) were carried out. These mixtures were prepared at a constant EO concentration and a ratio of n-hexane in the mixture with RO in the range from 0 to 1. For these mixtures, the surface tension, density and viscosity were measured. The obtained results were considered to determine the chemical properties of particular components of the mixtures. From these considerations, it results that based on the properties of these components, the surface tension and density of the studied mixtures can be described, and their viscosity can be predicted. These facts and results of the measurements suggest that based on the properties of the mixture components, we can determine the composition of a mixture whose surface tension, density, and viscosity are close to those of diesel fuel. The results obtained from the measurements also suggest that the addition of 10% n-hexane to RO causes a considerable reduction in the surface tension, viscosity, and density of RO. The addition of 10% of EO to this mixture results in a further reduction in RO + Hex viscosity and increases its density and surface tension slightly. As such, a mixture of RO with Hex and EO may be appropriate as a biofuel. Full article

Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) extend the concept of amphiphilicity beyond classical molecular surfactants into the nanoscale. Amphiphilic behavior is defined by the presence of hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties within a single molecular structure. Traditionally, such molecular structures are known as surfactants or amphiphiles and are capable of reducing interfacial tension, adsorbing spontaneously at interfaces, stabilizing emulsions and foams, and forming micelles, bilayers, or vesicles. Recent experimental, theoretical, and computational studies demonstrate that these behaviors are scalable to nanostructured colloids such as JNPs. Amphiphilic JNPs, defined by anisotropic surface chemistry on distinct hemispheres, display interfacial activity driven by directional wetting, variable interfacial immersion depth, and strong interfacial anchoring. They can stabilize liquid/liquid and liquid/gas interfaces, and enable templated or spontaneous self-assembly into supra-structures, such as monolayer sheets, vesicles, capsules, etc., both in bulk and at interfaces. Their behavior mimics the “soft” molecular amphiphiles but also includes additional particularities given by their “hard” structure, as well as contributions from capillary, van der Waals, hydrophobic, and shape-dependent forces. This review focuses on compiling the evidence supporting amphiphilicity as a scalable property, discussing how JNPs function as colloidal amphiphiles and how geometry, polarity contrast, interfacial interactions, and environmental parameters influence their behavior. By comparing surfactant behavior and JNP assembly, this work aims to clarify the transferable principles, the knowledge gap, as well as the emergent properties associated with amphiphilic Janus colloids. Full article

Topping is an essential step in cotton cultivation in Xinjiang, China, which can effectively increase the number of bolls per plant and optimize the yield and quality. Paclobutrazol, as a common chemical topping agent for cotton, faces challenges such as unstable topping effect and limited leaf surface absorption during application. In this study, paclobutrazol was used as the ligand and a zinc complex was synthesized by the thermosolvent method to replace paclobutrazol and improve the topping effect on cotton. The structure of the complex was characterized using FTIR, UV-vis, TG, and XRD analyses. The results confirmed that each zinc ion coordinated with four nitrogen atoms from the triazole rings of paclobutrazol and two oxygen atoms from nitrate ions, forming an octahedral geometry. Surface tension measurement and analysis revealed that the complex had a surface tension reduction of 12.75 mN/m compared to paclobutrazol, thereby enhancing the surface activity of the complex in water systems and improving its absorption efficiency on plant leaves. Two-year field trials indicated that the foliar application of the complex at a dosage of 120 g·hm⁻² in inhibiting cotton plant height was more stable to that of paclobutrazol or mepiquat chloride. It also shortened the length of fruiting branches, making the shape of cotton plants compact, thereby indirectly improving the ventilation and light penetration of the cotton field and the convenience of mechanical harvesting. Yield data showed that, compared with artificial topping, the complex at a dosage of 120 g·hm⁻² treatment increased cotton yield by approximately 4.6%. Therefore, the paclobutrazol–zinc complex is a promising alternative to manual topping and have great application potential in future mechanized cotton production. Full article