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Chemosphere Oct 2023Expanded polystyrene (EPS) pollution in the marine environment is a pressing issue in Queensland, Australia due to a recent flood that scattered hundreds of...
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) pollution in the marine environment is a pressing issue in Queensland, Australia due to a recent flood that scattered hundreds of EPS-containing pontoons along the coastline, causing severe ecological damage. To assist in the clean-up effort and provide crucial data for developing management guidelines, this study investigates the environmental performance of different end-of-life (EoL) disposal/recycling methods, including (i) landfill; (ii) on-site mechanical re-processing using a thermal densifier (MR); and (iii) on-site dissolution/precipitation using d-limonene (DP). Applying the life cycle assessment framework, the results showed that DP was the most environmentally favourable option. Its impacts in climate change (GWP), acidification (TAP), and fossil fuel depletion (FFD) were 612 kg CO eq, 4.3 kg SO eq, and 184.7 kg oil eq, respectively. For comparison, the impacts of landfilling EPS in these categories were found to be 700 kg CO eq, 3.5 kg SO eq, and 282 kg oil eq, respectively. Landfill also contributed considerably to eutrophication potential (MEP), at 3.77 kg N eq. Impacts from MR were most significant due to the need to transport the densifier unit to the site. The analysis also revealed that the transportation of personnel and heavy machinery to the site, was the biggest contributor to impacts in the EoL stage. Its impacts in GWP, TAP, MEP, and FFD were 1369.8 kg CO eq, 6.5 kg SO eq, 0.2189 kg N eq, and 497.7 kg oil eq, respectively. Monte Carlo analysis showed that the conclusions made from these results were stable and reliable. Limitations of this model and recommendations for future investigations were also discussed in this work.
Topics: Animals; Polystyrenes; Carbon Dioxide; Floods; Environmental Pollution; Life Cycle Stages
PubMed: 37406937
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139400 -
Science Advances Nov 2023Carbon dioxide and methane emissions are the two primary anthropogenic climate-forcing agents and an important source of uncertainty in the global carbon budget....
Carbon dioxide and methane emissions are the two primary anthropogenic climate-forcing agents and an important source of uncertainty in the global carbon budget. Uncertainties are further magnified when emissions occur at fine spatial scales (<1 km), making attribution challenging. We present the first observations from NASA's Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) imaging spectrometer showing quantification and attribution of fine-scale methane (0.3 to 73 tonnes CH hour) and carbon dioxide sources (1571 to 3511 tonnes CO hour) spanning the oil and gas, waste, and energy sectors. For selected countries observed during the first 30 days of EMIT operations, methane emissions varied at a regional scale, with the largest total emissions observed for Turkmenistan (731 ± 148 tonnes CH hour). These results highlight the contributions of current and planned point source imagers in closing global carbon budgets.
PubMed: 37976355
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh2391 -
Heliyon Mar 2024In addressing the challenges of food security and nutritional deficiencies, the study aimed to assess the nutritional and techno-functional attributes of an extruded...
In addressing the challenges of food security and nutritional deficiencies, the study aimed to assess the nutritional and techno-functional attributes of an extruded breakfast cereal composed of yellow maize, sorghum, and date palm. The processing involved transforming yellow maize, sorghum, and date palm into flours, and various samples (MA, MB, MC, SA, SB, SC, and MSD) were blended in different proportions (90:0:10, 80:0:20, 70:0:30, 0:90:10, 0:80:20, 0:70:30, 45:45:10, respectively) to create a nutritionally balanced extruded cereal. Standard methods were employed for the analysis to evaluate techno-functional properties (bulk density, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, swelling power, and dispersability), mineral content (sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc), and color properties (brightness, redness, and yellowness) of the extruded breakfast cereal samples. Techno-functional property ranges were determined, such as bulk density (ranged from 0.39 g/cm³ to 0.50 g/cm³), water absorption capacity (ranged from 1.69 g/ml to 4.43 g/ml), oil absorption capacity (ranged from 1.56 g/ml to 2.14 g/ml), swelling power (ranged from 1.43 g/g to 4.27 g/g), and dispersability (ranged from 23.37% to 60.05%). Mineral content results included sodium (ranging from 10.88 mg/100g to 18.67 mg/100g), potassium (ranging from 253 mg/100g to 351.65 mg/100g), calcium (ranging from 321.50 mg/100g to 421.40 mg/100g), iron (ranging from 9.22 mg/100g to 15.2 mg/100g), and zinc (ranging from 4.11 mg/100g to 5.36 mg/100g). Colour determination exhibited brightness values ranging from 55.31 to 64.48, redness from 0.63 to 2.73, and yellowness from 10 to 17.37.The study demonstrated that extruded breakfast cereals combining yellow maize, sorghum, and date palm met acceptable quality standards in nutritional assessment. The use of date palm as a sugar substitute enhanced mineral bioaccessibility. Furthermore, the incorporation of date palm flour into maize and sorghum-based samples improved both techno-functional properties and mineral content, presenting a novel application for date palm fruits.
PubMed: 38509932
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27650 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2023The conventional Metal cutting fluids (MCFs) used are mineral-based petroleum oils that perform well but are toxic and difficult to dispose of; therefore, these are...
The conventional Metal cutting fluids (MCFs) used are mineral-based petroleum oils that perform well but are toxic and difficult to dispose of; therefore, these are hazardous to human health as well as the environment. This issue can be solved by using natural vegetable oil-based MCF, which are readily available, environment and human-friendly, and renewable. Therefore, we synthesized various types of emulsifiers (anionic, and nonionic with different ethylene oxide units as well as mono and gemini cationic surfactants as corrosion inhibitors and biocides) based on recycled vegetable oil (RO) from spent bleaching earth (SBE), and elucidated their chemical structures by different spectroscopic techniques. The individually synthesized emulsifiers (anionic, and nonionic with different ethylene oxide units) at different ratios (8-15 by wt.%) and mixed emulsifiers (anionic/nonionic, nonionic/nonionic with different degrees of ethylene oxide) at different ratios (8-12 by wt.%) were utilized as additives in the preparation of different vegetable residual oil-based MCF formulations. The mixed emulsifiers at different ratios of nonionic/nonionic with hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value 10 (Formulas I, II, III, and IV), and anionic/nonionic (Formula V, and VI) exhibited stable emulsions compared to individual emulsifiers. Formulas (I and VI) displayed good protection effectiveness in corrosion tests. Formula VI had better wettability (25.22 on CS, 23.68 on Al, and 22.28 on WC) and a smaller particle size (63.97 nm). Tribological properties of Formula VI were also performed. The results exhibit that Formula VI is consistent with the commercial sample. As a result, this study contributed to the resolution of one of the industry's problems.
PubMed: 38049449
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46768-8 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024This study assessed saturated mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH) and aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOAH) levels in grower-finisher feeds for pigs supplemented with 5%...
This study assessed saturated mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH) and aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOAH) levels in grower-finisher feeds for pigs supplemented with 5% crude palm oil (CP), crude olive pomace oil (COP), olive pomace acid oil (OPA), or a blend of CP and OPA (50:50, /); the contribution of the lipid source to that contamination; and the ability of pigs to accumulate MOH in back fat and loin tissues after 60 days of trial. MOSH and MOAH were analyzed with liquid chromatography (LC)-gas chromatography (GC)-flame ionization detection (FID) after sample preparation. Among the lipid sources, CP had the lowest MOH levels, but CP feeds showed the highest contamination. This, along with the different MOSH profiles, indicated the presence of more significant contamination sources in the feeds than the lipid source. The higher MOH contamination in CP feeds was reflected in the highest MOSH levels in pig back fat, whereas MOAH were not detected in animal tissues. Also, MOSH bioaccumulation in pig tissues was influenced by the carbon chain length. In conclusion, feed manufacturing processes can determine the MOSH contamination present in animal adipose tissues that can be included in human diets.
PubMed: 38791667
DOI: 10.3390/ani14101450 -
Marine Drugs Sep 2023Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by progressive cartilage destruction and synovitis; however, there are no approved disease-modifying OA drugs. Krill oil (KO) has...
Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by progressive cartilage destruction and synovitis; however, there are no approved disease-modifying OA drugs. Krill oil (KO) has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties and alleviate joint pain in knee OA, indicating its potential to target the inflammatory mechanism of OA. Therefore, the anti-OA effects of KO were investigated in primary chondrocytes and a surgical rat model of knee OA. The oral administration of KO at 200 and 100 mg/kg for 8 weeks improved joint swelling and mobility in the animal model and led to increased bone mineral density and compressive strength in the cartilage. The oral KO doses upregulated chondrogenic genes (, , and ), with inhibition of inflammation markers (5-lipoxygenase and prostaglandin E) and extracellular matrix (ECM)-degrading enzymes (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in the cartilage and synovium. Consistently, KO treatments increased the viability of chondrocytes exposed to interleukin 1α, accompanied by the upregulation of the chondrogenic genes and the inhibition of the ECM-degrading enzymes. Furthermore, KO demonstrated inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced chondrocyte inflammation. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that KO improved joint destruction and synovial inflammation, probably due to the anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and chondrogenic effects. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of KO for knee OA.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Chondrocytes; Euphausiacea; Cartilage, Articular; Inflammation; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 37888448
DOI: 10.3390/md21100513 -
Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 2023The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of palm oil on the ruminal environment and nutrient digestibility of sheep diets. Twenty...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of palm oil on the ruminal environment and nutrient digestibility of sheep diets. Twenty rumen-cannulated sheep were kept in individual stalls equipped with feeding and drinking troughs The animals were fed five diets based on Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Roxo) silage and supplemented with 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 g kg-1 of palm oil (based on total DM). The Elephant grass was harvested at 90 days of regrowth and the concentrate was based on ground corn grain, soybean meal and mineral mix (20 g kg-1 DM), offered to the sheep at a ratio of 1.5 g kg-1d-1 of body weight (restricted intake) to maintain a forage-to-concentrate ratio of 1:1, based on DM. There were no differences (P = 0.324) in ruminal disappearance and degradability parameters with up to 75 g of oil per kg of DM. Organic matter showed a linear reduction in apparent digestibility, while ether extract increased linearly. Palm oil affected the digestibility and nutritional parameters in ruminant diets.
Topics: Sheep; Animals; Palm Oil; Digestion; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Silage; Nutrients; Rumen; Fermentation; Animal Feed
PubMed: 38055598
DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320190 -
Biotechnology Reports (Amsterdam,... Mar 2024Salt lakes are significant components of global inland waters. Salt lake (SL) water can provide precious mineral resource for microbial growth. The prospect of utilizing...
Salt lakes are significant components of global inland waters. Salt lake (SL) water can provide precious mineral resource for microbial growth. The prospect of utilizing diluted SL water for cultivation of a terrestrial oil-producing microalga sp. WL1 was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Based on the detected mineral element composition, the water from Gouchi Salt Lake was diluted 2, 4, 6 and 8 folds and used with supplementation of additional nitrogen, phosphorus and iron (SL water). It was found that 4 folds diluted SL water was most favorable for biomass and oil production. When cultivated in this condition, sp. WL1 gained a biomass yield of 0.82 g L and an oil yield of 0.56 g L after 24 days of cultivation, which is comparable to the optimum productivity we previously established. In addition, total monounsaturated fatty acid contents (64.4∼68.1 %) of the oils resulted from cultures in diluted SLwaters were higher than that in the control (55.5 %). It was also noteworthy that in all these cultures the oil contents (652.0∼681.0 mg g) accounted for the most of the biomass, which are far more than the protein and starch contents. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using SL water as a cost-effective mineral resource to cultivate microalgae for biomass and oil production.
PubMed: 38179180
DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2023.e00823 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024The present work aimed to investigate the effect of salinity in natural habitats in Egypt on the main secondary metabolites of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Artemisia...
Composition and antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Artemisia monosperma L. leaf essential oils and methanolic extracts from plants grown in normal and saline habitats in Egypt.
The present work aimed to investigate the effect of salinity in natural habitats in Egypt on the main secondary metabolites of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Artemisia monosperma L. plants compared to plants grown at normal conditions. Plants grown under salinity were collected from Egyptian Western Coastal region habitats irrigated with underground water. Results showed that salinity increased the essential oil percentage of R. officinalis L. by 52.7% and A. monosperma L by 0.29% in addition to the total phenolics and flavonoids content in dry leaves compared to control plants. GC/MS analysis of rosemary essential oils revealed that salinity decreased the amount of some major oil monoterpenes component as verbenone, with a slight effect on 1,8 cineole and increased Camphor, endo- Boreneol, and linalool in addition to the appearance of new specific components such as Chrysanthenone monoterpene ketone and Caryophyllene sesquiterpene, while, in the case of Artemisia, the GC/MS showed that Artemisia ketone, Camphor, β -phellandrene monoterpenes andα-Bisabolol sesquiterpenewere the major oil components; salinity decreased Camphor and β -phellandrene content and increased artemisia ketone and α-Bisabolol oil content. About 11 new oil constituents were detected such as ( +)-2-Bornanone and Sesquisabinene hydrate. Mineral ions (N, K, Ca, P, and Mg) uptake by R. officinalis and A. monosperma decreased in plants grown under salinity, while Na content increased compared to corresponding controls. Results demonstrated that both plants could tolerate the high salinity level in natural Western Coastal region soil which promoted more production of valuable secondary metabolites. The antimicrobial effect of R. officinalis L. and A. monosperma L. leaf methanolic extracts, results showed that R. officinalis extracts had an inhibitory response against all tested gram-positive and negative bacteria, in addition to the yeast (Candida albicans), whereas there was no any inhibitory effect concerning A. monosperma L extract on the tested species.
Topics: Rosmarinus; Camphor; Egypt; Artemisia; Oils, Volatile; Monoterpenes; Plant Leaves; Anti-Infective Agents; Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes
PubMed: 38538682
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57301-w -
ACS Omega May 2024Shale reservoirs have diverse mineral types, and analyzing the sensitivity of the mineral composition to shale pores is of great scientific and engineering significance....
Shale reservoirs have diverse mineral types, and analyzing the sensitivity of the mineral composition to shale pores is of great scientific and engineering significance. In this paper, first, X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments on shale mineral compositions are carried out, and the characteristics of pore structure changes after shale mineral compositions interacted with external fluids (slick water and backflow fluid) are elucidated. Then, the effects of quartz, kaolinite, and pyrite on the pore structure and permeability of shale on the susceptibility to slick water are studied. The results show that (a) quartz and clay minerals are the dominant constituents of each core, with some cores containing minor amounts of plagioclase feldspar and rhodochrosite. (b) The composition of the shale changed significantly following the action of external fluids. The average quartz content of pure shale decreased from 31.62% to 29.1%. The average content of quartz in siliceous shale decreased from 36.53% to 33.5%. The average content of quartz in carbonaceous shale decreased from 9.15% to 8.05%. (c) Factors affecting the sensitivity of shale pore structure and permeability to slick water are mainly quartz, kaolinite, and pyrite. The contents of quartz, kaolinite, and pyrite decreased by an average of 5.1%, 4.6%, and 0.9%, respectively, after slick water action.
PubMed: 38737071
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00498