Morphologically controlled synthesis of 1-dimensional selenium dioxide and study of its application as catalyst for diesel fuel additive

In this research work, selenium dioxide (SeO₂) nanorods have been prepared by a solvothermal method in which a strong reducing agent (NaBH₄) was used to reduce precursor salt into SeO₂ nanorods. X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique was applied to observe the crystal structure which confirmed its tetragonal geometry. Moreover, morphology and particle size were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM fully described the 1-dimensional morphology of SeO₂ nanorods which then arranged themselves to create a 3-dimensional flower-like structure with an average particle size of 50 nm. Also, the catalytic activity of SeO₂ nanorods as diesel-additive was studied by defining different parameters such as fire and flash points, calorific value, cloud and pour points, specific gravity, and kinematic viscosity. Subsequently, SeO₂ nanorods proved to be an excellent diesel additive due to higher total heat content and lower value of kinematic viscosity which enhances the better performance of the diesel engine.     

Numerical study on thermal performance of TiO2, Fe3O4 and NiCr/engine oil in an inclined wavy pip

The essential intention of the existing article is to illustrate the effect of wall properties on flow and thermal behavior, through a sinusoidal inclined wavy pipe. To succeed this phenomena we assume a sinusoidal pipe consist of wavy surface, whose walls traveling down to its borders and located at an inclined position, moreover titanium dioxide (TiO₂), ferrosoferric oxide (Fe₃O₄) and nichrome (80% Ni and 20% Cr) are considered as nano-particles and unused engine oil is assumed as a base fluid. The arising mathematical equations for thermal and flow ratio with wall slip impact are solved by mathematica. Also, evaluate graphically the thermal and flow behavior of nanofluids for multi values of solid volume fractions (η), rigidity parameter (M₁), stiffness parameter (M₂), viscous damping parameter (M₃), Grashof number (G_r), slip parameter (β) and heat generation parameter (H) also discuss the streamlines for different values of solid volume fraction.     

Experimental studies on the effect of ultrasonic treatment and hydrogen donors on residual oil characteristics

Residual oil, the residue after the distillation of crude oil, imposes deleterious effects on refinery due to its high viscosity and asphaltene content. In this context, ultrasonic technology has been widely applied in refining processes given its high efficiency and minimal environmental impacts. To guide the selection of operation parameters, in this work, we probed the effect of treatment duration, power, and hydrogen donor on the characteristics of residual oil under ultrasonic treatments. Underlying mechanisms of ultrasonic treatments, in the absence and presence of hydrogen donors, were verified through systematically analyzing viscosity, component conversion, molecular weight, hydrogen distribution, and functional groups of residual oil. While viscosity reductions under low-power density treatment are caused by colloidal system disaggregation, high-power density treatment can bring in both chemical bond cleavage and colloidal system disaggregation. In addition, adding hydrogen donor can effectively prevent radical recombination, and thus increases the yield of saturate. These results provide fundamental understandings on the effects of ultrasonic treatments.     

Chemically characterised Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. essential oil as a novel plant based antimicrobial against fungal and aflatoxin B1 contamination of stored maize and its possible mode of action

Abstract

The chemical characterisation of Pimenta dioica essential oil (PDEO) revealed the presence of 50 components, amongst which α-Terpineol (30.31%) was the major component followed by β-Linalool (6.75%) and γ-Terpinene (4.64%). The oil completely inhibited the growth of aflatoxin B₁ secreting strain Aspergillus flavus LHP-VS-8 and aflatoxin B₁ production at 2.5?µL/mL and 1.5?µL/mL, respectively. The oil caused dose dependent reduction of methylglyoxal (an AFB₁ inducer), enhanced leakage of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺ ions and significantly reduced ergosterol content of fungal plasma membrane. During in situ experiments, PDEO exhibited complete protection of fumigated maize cob slices from fungal infestation without affecting seed germination. The chemically characterised PDEO is recommended as a plant based preservative and shelf life enhancer of food commodities by preventing fungal growth, AFB₁ production and lipid peroxidation. This is the first report on PDEO as inhibitor of AFB₁ secretion and methylglyoxal biosynthesis.     

Assessment of conventional and microwave heating effects on the variation of the bioactive compounds of Chétoui VOO using HPLC-DAD-ESI-TOF-MS

The goal of this work was to monitor the hydrophilic profile of the virgin olive oil (VOO) of the second main Tunisian variety, “Chétoui”, in order to achieve a better understanding of the behavior of the bioactive phenolic compounds during 0, 2, 5, 10, and 15 min of microwave heating at medium power 800 W, and 0, 2.5, and 5 h of conventional heating at 180 °C. The extent of the oxidative and hydrolytic degradation of the different phenolic subclasses was evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) method. During heating process, the most represented component in Chétoui VOO was found to be isomer 1 and 2 of deacetoxy oleuropein aglycone, and hydroxy decarboxy oleuropein aglycon. These compounds may be considered as direct markers for the degree of transformation of secoiridoids during heating process. Among the studied phenolic compounds, hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, luteolin and apigenin displayed the highest heating resistance in the whole time range of microwave and conventional applications. However, the main secoiridoids quantified in the fresh VOO, isomer 2 of oleuropein aglycone, and ligstroside aglycone, decreased in concentration with the thermal treatment and this decrease was drastic under conventional heating.     

缝洞型碳酸盐岩油藏注水驱油提高采收率研究

Y油田为缝洞型碳酸盐岩油藏,油藏复杂的地质特征决定了其开发模式有别于常规砂岩油藏.为了有效提高Y油田采收率,利用Eclipse数值模拟软件建立了地质模型,对水平井长度、射孔间距及酸压缝长等油藏产能影响因素与转注时机、注采比以及关井时间等注采参数进行了优化.结果认为:对于Y缝洞型碳酸盐岩油藏,水平井水平段长度为500m、射孔间距为20m或酸压规模为100m时,累计产油量可达到最大值;压力降至废弃压力时进行转注,可获得最大采收率;周期注采比等于1时,周期时效与累计增油量达到最大值;关井时间为8天时,采收率提高幅度最大.     

超临界水驱超稠油提高采收率热物理特性研究

超稠油资源的高效开发对于提高石油供给和保障我国石油安全意义重大。针对深层超稠油资源由于原始地层压力高、原油黏度大导致常规蒸汽驱无法有效开发的问题,本文提出超临界水驱开发深层超稠油的新思路。本文首先研制了超临界水驱油提高采收率实验平台,研发的管式填砂岩心模型能够模拟岩心升温和驱替的同步过程,然后开展了超临界水驱、蒸汽驱和热水驱对比实验研究,实验结果表明,相对于蒸汽驱,超临界水驱能显著提高采收率并具有更高的热效率,25MPa、400℃超临界水驱鲁克沁超稠油的采收率达到97.07%;获得了超临界水驱过程的温度场和驱替压差变化规律,发现了超临界水超覆现象,与蒸汽超覆相比,超临界水超覆发生晚且持续短,可扩大波及范围,提高采收率。     

Seed priming with cold plasma improved seedling performance,secondary metabolism,and expression of deacetylvindoline O-acetyltransferase gene in Catharanthus roseus

The plasma-primed seeds of Catharanthus roseus were cultured in a hormone-free culture medium under sterile conditions. Plasma of 30 or 60 s improved root length (mean = 41.4%) and biomass (mean = 47%), whereas plasma of 90 s delayed plant growth. The plasma treatments enhanced concentrations of photosynthetic pigments and soluble phenols. Plasma of 90 s increased the proline level. With a similar trend, plasma priming induced activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, catalase (about twofold) and peroxidase (31%) enzymes. Plasma also upregulated the expressions of deacetylvindoline O-acetyltransferase gene by an average of 7.8 times. Similarly, the plasma-treated seedlings contained higher concentrations of alkaloids (mean = 72%). Here, molecular evidence is provided on the plasma-associated modifications in secondary metabolism.     

Synergistic antibacterial effects of ultrasound and thyme essential oils nanoemulsion against Escherichia coli O157:H7

Essential oil nanoemulsions have been proven to have stronger antimicrobial effects compared to the essential oil alone or coarse emulsion. Sonoporation could be the promising candidate to trigger a synergistic effect with thyme essential oil nanoemulsion (TEON) and produce a more effective antibacterial efficacy. Therefore, in this study, the bactericidal effects of ultrasound (US) in combination with TEON treatments against Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 were investigated. The remarkable synergistic effects of US (20 kHz, 255 W/cm², 9 min) and TEON (0.375 mg/mL) treatments at 22 °C reduced E. coli O157:H7 populations by 7.42 ± 0.27 log CFU/mL.The morphological changes of cells exposed to different treatments were observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the synergistic effects of the ultrasound and TEON treatments altered the morphology and interior microstructure of organism cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) images revealed that the combination treatments of ultrasound and TEON altered the permeability of cell membranes, and this affected the integrity of E. coli O157:H7 cells. This was further indicated by the high amounts of nucleic acids and proteins released from these cells following treatment.The results from this study illustrated the mechanisms of the synergistic effects of sonoporation and TEON treatments and provided valuable information for their potential in food pasteurization.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定食用植物油中铅、总砷含量不确定度评定

采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)测定食用植物油中铅(Pb)、总砷(As)含量,对测定结果的不确定度进行评定。利用ICP-MS,采用标准加入法测定食用植物油中Pb,As含量,分析测定过程中不确定度来源,包括样品称量、定容、前处理、溶液中Pb和As浓度、重复性测量等引入的不确定度,计算合成不确定度。结果表明,Pb含量为(0.0228±0.013) mg/kg,k=2;As含量为(0.00785±0.0045) mg/kg,k=2。该方法的不确定度主要来源于样品溶液中的Pb,As浓度,评定得到的不确定度可为正确评价测定结果提供科学依据。