LIU Zixuan, JIA Lihui, GAO Yunzhe, ZHAO Linlin, WANG Jiaojiao, LIU Yuejiao
Microbial corrosion currently poses a serious threat to the safety of oil and gas extraction，and traditional protection technologies for oil casings are associated with certain environmental risks and high costs.Cu-containing antibacterial oil casing steel，designed through alloying，achieves long-lasting antibacterial performance by leveraging the multiple mechanisms of nano ε-Cu precipitates(such as cell membrane disruption，enzyme activity inhibition and DNA oxidative damage)，thereby offering an innovative approach to addressing microbial corrosion.The corrosion mechanisms of bacteria such as sulfate-reducing bacteria，iron-oxidizing bacteria and saprophytic bacteria were analyzed，and the antibacterial mechanism of Cu in Cu-containing antibacterial oil casing steel was described.The antibacterial performance primarily originated from the sustained release of Cu2＋from the nano ε-Cu phase and its multiple interaction mechanisms with microorganisms.Additionally，the influence of alloying elements on the corrosion resistance of Cu-containing antibacterial oil casing steel was summarized，and it was highlighted that the proper combination and content control of antibacterial and corrosion-resistant elements were crucial for enhancing the corrosion resistance of antibacterial oil casing steels.Moreover，the design concept and multi-scale regulation strategy of Cu-containing antibacterial oil casing steel were proposed，aiming to achieve synergistic optimization of antibacterial performance and mechanical properties.Furthermore，the hydrogen-induced cracking resistance of Cu-containing antibacterial oil casing steel was clarified，which was attributed to hydrogen permeation inhibition by CuS/FeS composite films and hydrogen trapping by nano ε-Cu precipitates.Besides，the research bottlenecks of Cu-containing antibacterial oil casing steel were summarized，including welding performance，copper-induced embrittlement and long-term antibacterial degradation.Future development directions were proposed，which should focus on composition optimization，process optimization，surface modification and green intelligent technologies，with the aim of providing guidance for the application of microbial-corrosion-resistant oil casing steels in the oil and gas industry.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Technology
Shabahat Hasnain Qamar, Zafar Said, Dawid Piotr Hanak
et al.
The global dairy sector, a significant energy consumer and greenhouse gas emitter, urgently requires sustainable energy solutions. This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic and environmental analysis of implementing hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems on a dairy farm in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium. We conducted the first comparative evaluation of three distinct PVT technologies, Absolicon C-PVT, Solarus C-PVT, and DualSun FP-PVT, tailored to meet the farm’s specific high-temperature thermal demands (70–78°C) for cleaning and disinfection. Using a validated TRNSYS simulation model integrated with the farm’s existing heat recovery system, our analysis demonstrated that the Absolicon C-PVT system was optimal, achieving a peak thermal efficiency of 77% and meeting 100% of the summer thermal load and 18.7% of the annual electrical demand with a 14-panel array. Despite a higher initial investment (€104,000), the system offered the shortest payback period of 7 years and the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of €0.169/kWh(thermal) and €0.355/kWh(electrical), a finding robust across sensitivity analyses of weather and energy price uncertainties. The proposed system reduces annual operational carbon emissions by 24.1 tons CO2. Furthermore, the study proposes a novel “PVT Fusion Hub” concept for streamlined installation. This work provides a scalable framework for agricultural renewable energy integration, demonstrating that high-temperature PVT technology is a technically viable and economically robust solution for decarbonizing the dairy industry.
Hydrogen is recognized as a promising and attractive energy carrier to decarbonize the sectors responsible for global warming, such as electricity production, industry, and transportation. However, although hydrogen releases only water as a result of its reaction with oxygen through a fuel cell, the hydrogen production pathway is currently a challenging issue since hydrogen is produced mainly from thermochemical processes (natural gas reforming, coal gasification). On the other hand, hydrogen production through water electrolysis has attracted a lot of attention as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using low-carbon sources such as renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro) and nuclear energy. In this context, by providing an environmentally-friendly fuel instead of the currently-used fuels (unleaded petrol, gasoline, kerosene), hydrogen can be used in various applications such as transportation (aircraft, boat, vehicle, and train), energy storage, industry, medicine, and power-to-gas. This article aims to provide an overview of the main hydrogen applications (including present and future) while examining funding and barriers to building a prosperous future for the nation by addressing all the critical challenges met in all energy sectors.
Muthulakshmi Pandi Hemavarshini, Subramanium Thiyageshwari, Duraisamy Selvi
et al.
The notable increase in chicken waste resulting from the rapid expansion of the chicken industry represents a major concern and danger to public health and the environment. Therefore, this varied waste stream in the chicken industry, including bedding materials, dung, feathers, and mortalities, requires efficient management techniques. Improper chicken waste disposal can lead to nutrient leakage and water and soil contamination, which can cause eutrophication and aid in spreading harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Moreover, untreated waste exacerbates climate change by increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, in response to these challenges, this review analyses many treatment techniques that might convert this complicated waste stream into a useful resource to support environmental sustainability in the chicken industry and enhance soil health. Furthermore, this study evaluates gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, and composting as viable methods to reduce pollution from chicken waste while producing useful byproducts. Anaerobic digestion uses bacteria to produce biogas, a sustainable energy source; pyrolysis produces biochar and bio-oil; composting converts waste into fertilizer; gasification produces syngas for fertilizer production. However, choosing the most efficient treatment approach necessitates thoroughly assessing waste properties, intended end products, and economic factors. This review aims to expand the understanding of these treatment procedures and their related advantages to assist in developing sustainable and effective strategies for dealing with chicken waste. These strategies, which prioritize value development, environmental preservation, and public health, have the potential to pave the way for a more responsible and sustainable future for the chicken industry.
Produced water is the main waste byproduct of oil and gas production activities, which is typically discharged into the environment or reinjected into underground formations. However, with increasing awareness of water conservation and sustainability, utilizing produced water as a source of clean water has become a potential solution. This study aims to simulate the treatment process of produced water into clean water at Oil Field X, which generates approximately 0.7 million barrels per day for surface discharge. The research approach includes initial water quality characterization, selection of an optimal reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology, and simulation using WAVE and Aspen HYSYS software. Simulation results show that the RO system can reduce total dissolved solids (TDS) from 2,330 mg/L to 79.58 mg/L with a recovery rate of 53%, producing 827.2 m³/day of permeate water. Further processing using an air cooler in HYSYS successfully reduces the permeate temperature from 42°C to 32°C, in accordance with clean water standards. The final water quality meets the requirements of Indonesia’s Ministry of Health Regulation No. 2 of 2023 for hygiene and sanitation purposes. These results demonstrate that produce water treatment into clean water was technically feasible and offers added value in water resource management within the oil and gas industry.
Because the industrial process always results in pollutant emissions, pollution treatment has become necessary for the sustainable development of industry. This paper aims to evaluate the eco-efficiency of China's industrial sectors between 2007 and 2015 by using the directional distance function (DDF) of network data envelopment analysis (DEA), which contains a two-stage structure that divides industrial processes into three linked subprocesses, i.e., the production, wastewater and waste gas treatment processes. The results show that (1) from 2007 to 2015, the eco-efficiency and all process efficiencies of China's industries achieved considerable improvement. This finding indicates that China's industries have already achieved a win-win situation in the development of environmental protection and economic growth over the past few years. (2) During the sampling period, the highest performance was observed during the waste gas treatment process, followed by the wastewater treatment and production processes. During the same period, the performance of wastewater treatment exhibited the fastest growth, followed by the performance of production and waste gas treatment. (3) The eco-efficiencies of China's industrial subsectors exhibited significant industrial differences: the eco-efficiency of the mining industry was the lowest due to a decline in its performance during the waste gas treatment process, while due to the excellent performance during the production wastewater treatment process, the eco-efficiencies of the electricity, gas production and supply industries were the highest.
This review aims to introduce the chemistry of low dosage inhibitors of clathrate hydrate formation within the context of their role in the oil and gas industry. The review covers both kinetic hydrate inhibitors and anti-agglomerants from the point of view of structure-function relationships, focussing on recent refinements in mechanistic understanding and chemical design, and the consequently evolving and increasingly fine-tuned properties of these fascinating compounds.
In recent years, leakage from buried gas pipelines has been a frequent occurrence around the world. Leaked gas can quickly diffuse and accumulate in adjacent confined spaces, such as inspection wells, sewage pipes, and heat pipeline trenches, posing serious threats to people's lives and property in the event of fire. In this study, a large-scale experimental system was conducted to better understand how methane diffuses after an unintended leak from an underground pipe and how long the methane may take to dissipate in the soil and the adjacent underground confined space. A theoretical analysis is conducted of the seepage characteristics of methane gas in soil, and the experimental results indicate that the variation of methane concentration over time in soil and underground confined spaces is directly related to the distance between the test points and the leak holes. With an escalation in the gas flow rate, methane concentration progressively elevates within the same leakage time, demonstrating a decreasing augmentation rate. Once the air source has been cut off, the gas concentration in the underground confined space will maintain a stable state for a period time after reaching the peak value. Additionally, the time required to reach the lower and upper limits of dangerous concentration has an exponential relationship with the diffusion distance. Fitting curve equations have been drawn in all experimental scenarios.
Abstract Fluoro‐ and chlorofluorocabons (FC/CFCs) are important refrigerants, solvents, and fluoropolymers in industry while being toxic and carrying high global warming potential. Detection and reclamation of FC/CFCs based on adsorption technology with highly selective adsorbents is important to labor safety and environmental protection. Herein, the study reports an integrated method to combine capture, separation, enrichment, and analysis of representative FC/CFCs (chlorodifluoromethane(R22) and 1,1,1,2‐tetrafluoroethane (R134a)) by using the highly stable and porous Zr‐MOF, DUT‐67. Gas adsorption and breakthrough experiments demonstrate that DUT‐67 has high R22/R134a uptake (124/116 cm3 g−1) and excellent R22/R134a/CO2 separation performance (IAST selectivities of R22/CO2 and R134a/CO2 ranging from 51.4 to 33.3, and 31.1 to 25.8), even in rather low concentration and humid conditions. A semi‐quantitative analysis protocol is set up to analyze the low concentrations of R22/R134a based on the high selective R22/R134a adsorption ability, fast adsorption kinetics, water‐resistant utility, facile regeneration, and excellent recyclability of DUT‐67. In situ single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, theoretical calculations, and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra have been employed to understand the adsorption mechanism. This work may provide a potential adsorbent for purge and trap technique under room temperature, thus promoting the application of MOFs for VOCs sampling and quantitative analysis.
Emma D'Antoine, Janis Jansz, Ahmed Barifcani
et al.
This qualitative study aimed to identify mental health hazards in the offshore oil and gas industry, as well as the role of the personality types of the Five Factor Model (FFM) in coping with these stressors. A focus group with 8 participants and a pilot study with 5 participants were conducted. Results showed that several stressors are currently present for Australian offshore oil and gas employees, in particular COVID-19 and the resulting negative effects on rosters, working hours, job security and time spent away from home. Other stressors revealed by participants were lack of space, working in a high-risk environment, stigma, helicopter travel and pressure to keep up with production. Poor safety behaviours were associated with neuroticism, extraversion and openness, while risk avoidance appear to be associated with agreeableness and conscientiousness. Tolerance to shift work was positively related to extraversion, yet negatively associated to neuroticism. Furthermore, neuroticism showed a negative association with help-seeking and productivity, as well as higher levels of concern relating to COVID-19 and job uncertainty. As personality traits are enduring throughout life, it is vital that employees are managed effectively through workplace interventions so that they are able to cope effectively, particularly during stressful events.
History of scholarship and learning. The humanities, Social sciences (General)
Theodoros Chatzimitakos, Vassilis Athanasiadis, Dimitrios Kalompatsios
et al.
The food processing industry is a continuously developing sector that uses innovative technologies to efficiently process food products. During processing, food industries generate substantial amounts of by-products in the form of waste materials. This food waste consists of organic matter rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and flavonoids. Improper management of food waste can adversely affect both the environment and human health, leading to environmental pollution and the release of greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, proper food waste management has become an urgent global issue. The presence of bioactive compounds (mainly polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, but also carotenoids, alkaloids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates) in food waste holds the potential to transform them into valuable resources. Several sectors, including food and energy, have recognized food waste as an innovative source. Recently, much emphasis has been placed on optimizing the extraction yield of such bioactive compounds through the utilization of environmentally friendly and sustainable methodologies and solvents. Pulsed electric field (PEF)-assisted extraction is an emerging technique that holds promise for the utilization of waste materials. PEF technology can efficiently optimize the extraction of valuable compounds within a shorter time while minimizing solvent and energy consumption. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of PEF technology and its implications for recovering bioactive compounds from food waste. The integration of innovative technologies like PEF in the food processing industry can play a crucial role in managing food waste sustainably, reducing environmental impact, and harnessing the full potential of bioactive compounds contained in these waste materials. The objective of this critical review is to provide an overview of the utilization of PEF pretreatment for food by-products and to conduct a comparative analysis with other extraction techniques.
Carbon dioxide storage and utilization has become an inevitable trend and choice for sustainable development under the background of global climate change and carbon neutrality. Carbon industry which is dominated by CO2 capture, utilization and storage/ CO2 capture and storage (CCUS/CCS) is becoming a new strategic industry under the goal of carbon neutrality. The sustainable development of carbon industry needs to learn from the experiences of global oil and gas industry development. There are three types of “carbon” in the earth system. Black carbon is the CO2 that has not been sequestered or used and remains in the atmosphere for a long time; grey carbon is the CO2 that has been fixed or permanently sequestered in the geological body, and blue carbon is the CO2 that could be converted into products for human use through biological, physical, chemical and other ways. The carbon industry system covers carbon generation, carbon capture, carbon transportation, carbon utilization, carbon sequestration, carbon products, carbon finance, and other businesses. It is a revolutionary industrial field to completely eliminate “black carbon”. The development of carbon industry technical system takes carbon emission reduction, zero carbon, negative carbon and carbon economy as the connotation, and the construction of a low-cost and energy-efficient carbon industry system based on CCUS/CCS are strategic measures to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality and clean energy utilization globally. This will promote the “four 80%s” transformation of China's energy supply, namely, to 2060, the percentage of zero-carbon new energy in the energy consumption will be over 80% and the CO2 emission will be decreased by 80% to ensure the carbon emission reduction of total 80×108 t from the percentage of carbon-based fossil energy in the energy consumption of over 80%, and the percentage of CO2 emission from energy of over 80% in 2021. The carbon industry in China is facing three challenges, large CO2 emissions, high percentage of coal in energy consumption, and poor innovative system. Three strategic measures are proposed accordingly, including: (1) unswervingly develop carbon industrial system and ensure the achievement of carbon neutrality as scheduled by 2060; (2) vigorously develop new energy sources and promote a revolutionary transformation of China's energy production and consumption structure; (3) accelerate the establishment of scientific and technological innovation system of the whole CO2 industry. It is of great significance for continuously optimization of ecological environment and construction of green earth and ecological earth to develop the carbon industry system, utilize clean energy, and achieve the strategic goal of global carbon neutrality.
Rosa chinensis cultivars with volatile aromas are important resources in the perfume industry. The four rose cultivars introduced to Guizhou province are rich in volatile substances. In this study, volatiles from four Rosa chinensis cultivars were extracted using headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME), and analyzed with two-dimensional gas chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-QTOFMS). A total of 122 volatiles were identified; the main compounds in these samples were benzyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, citronellol, beta-myrcene and limonene. A total of 68, 78, 71, and 56 volatile compounds were identified in Rosa ‘Blue River’ (RBR), Rosa ‘Crimson Glory’ (RCG), Rosa ‘Pink Panther’ (RPP), and Rosa ‘Funkuhr’ (RF) samples, respectively. The total volatile contents were in the following order: RBR > RCG > RPP > RF. Four cultivars exhibited similar volatility profiles, with alcohols, alkanes, and esters as the major chemical groups, followed by aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, benzene, and other compounds. Alcohols and aldehydes were quantitatively the two most abundant chemical groups that included the highest number and highest content of compounds. Different cultivars have different aromas, and RCG had high contents of phenyl acetate, rose oxide, trans-rose oxide, phenylethyl alcohol and 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene, characterized by floral and rose descriptors. RBR contained a high content of phenylethyl alcohol, and RF contained a high content of 3,5-dimethoxytoluene. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of all volatiles showed that the three cultivars (RCG, RPP, and RF) had similar volatile characteristics and were significantly different from RBR. Differential metabolites among cultivars were screened based on the OPLS-DA model, and there were six main enriched pathways of differential metabolites: biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, monoterpenoid biosynthesis, metabolic pathways, limonene and pinene degradation, sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism. The biosynthesis of secondary metabolites is the most differential metabolic pathway.
Taahira Goga, Kevin Harding, Valentina Russo
et al.
Increased production rates of plastic and limited disposal methods have fed concerns regarding environmental degradation. Whilst most of the focus is on plastic litter and marine pollution, greenhouse gas emissions of plastic over its value chains are also of interest and non-trivial at the global scale. To quantify the global warming potential of the local plastics industry, a lifecycle-based carbon footprint is presented encompassing activities such as resource extraction, polymer production and conversion, recycling, and disposal stages. The South African plastics sector is estimated to have emitted 15.8 Mt CO2 eq in 2015, with the granulate production stage bearing the highest environmental load. The consumption of fossil fuel based electricity and the burning of plastic waste also contribute notably to the overall emissions. Additionally, the recycling process in 2015 saved approximately 1.4 Mt of greenhouse gas emissions.
Significance:
• Research has typically focused on the environmental impacts of the end-of-life stage of plastics, namely disposal and recycling. Despite growing concern, the global warming potential of the local plastics sector across its value chain has not been investigated.
• Greenhouse gas emissions arising from the South African plastic sector are non-trivial and are estimated to total 15.8 Mt CO2 eq in 2015.
• Amongst the lifecycle stages, the resin production process had the highest contribution in South Africa due to the country’s coal-based monomer production process.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is an emerging trend, including in nontraditional technological sector (e.g., oil and gas industry). There are, however, a number of research challenges such using cryptography and other techniques to ensure security and privacy in IIoT applications and services. In this special issue, we present existing state-of-the-art advances reported by the 21 accepted papers. We then conclude the special issue with a number of potential research agenda.
In recent years, with the rapid development of biomass combustion power generation and heat generation as the main application industry, the amount of byproduct biological ash is also increasing year by year. How to effectively utilize the biological ash in a more green, environmental friendly and economic way has become a research hotspot. In view of the problem that the mechanical properties of the cement stone decreased when the conventional latex was used as the toughening agent, based on the introduction of high dispersive composite modified fiber to enhance the toughness of the cement stone, this paper analyzed the physical and chemical properties and application status of the biological ash, and further explored the influence and role of the biological ash as the cement stone admixture on the high-temperature mechanical properties of the composite fiber cement stone Mechanism. The results show that when the dosage of biological ash is in the range of 0–10% (wt%), it has little effect on the basic slurry properties of cement stone, and has a certain preventive effect on the gas channeling of cement stone. In the analysis of comprehensive mechanical properties, the activated biological ash can enhance the compactness of cement matrix under high temperature by reducing the Ca/Si ratio through the secondary pozzolanic effect, stimulate the formation of a large number of hydration products, and strengthen the later strength growth rate of cement. The high temperature resistance of cement paste can be effectively improved by hybrid high dispersion composite fiber.