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Coal mine fire is a common phenomenon in Indian coalfields and great concerned on safety of the person engaged in mining operations. In opencast coal mine, particularly where the extraction of previously developed coal pillars has been carried out by opencast mining method, chances of spontaneous fire became more frequent and complicated. In such prevailing situations deep holes charging and blasting operation in hot strata may create every possibility to premature detonation of explosives, which leads to fatalities. Henceforth, it is imperative to use appropriate methodology to combat the fires and make it possible for wining of coal safely. This paper highlighted a methodology adopted for safe and effective management of fire by using two different chemical additives admixed with water to bring down temperature under safe workable limit in short duration of time and also make it suitable for charging and blasting operation in hot deep drill holes. On the basis of the magnitude of fires 0.5 to1.0% concentrations of MgCl2 and CaCl2 mixed with water were applied for cooling of high temperature fire in coal bench, overburden as well as hot blast holes with encouraging results in supressing of the flames and rapid cooling of hot strata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ameliorative effects of straw decomposition products on soil acidification have been extensively studied. However, the impact of chemically treated straw decomposition products on crop productivity and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two dosages of Ca(OH)2-treated straw decomposition products of peanuts on red soil acidity, fertility, and bacterial and fungal diversity through a pot experiment. The pot experiment included four treatments: chemical nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilization alone (CK), NPK chemical fertilization combined with peanut straw decomposition products (PS), NPK chemical fertilization combined with 4% Ca(OH)2-treated peanut straw decomposition products (PS4Ca), and NPK chemical fertilization combined with 8% Ca(OH)2-treated straw decomposition products (PS8Ca). High-throughput sequencing was performed to investigate the effects of these treatments on soil microbial diversity. The treatments with PS, PS4Ca, and PS8Ca significantly increased soil pH, exchangeable base cations, and nutrient content, whereas they decreased the exchangeable acid, especially exchangeable aluminum. The peanut growth improved substantially with the application of straw decomposition products. Specifically, PS4Ca significantly increased the Shannon and Richness indices of fungi. The principal coordinate analysis showed that the soil microbial communities in the straw decomposition product treatments were significantly different from CK. Linear discriminant analysis effect size identified unique bacteria and fungi between treatments. The Mantel test indicated that exchangeable base cations and pH were significantly positively correlated with bacterial communities, whereas available potassium was positively correlated with fungal communities. The partial least squares path modeling revealed that the bacterial communities positively and directly affected all peanut agronomic traits. In contrast, the fungal communities had a negative and direct effect only on peanut 100-pod weight. Therefore, adding Ca(OH)2-treated straw decomposition products could effectively improve crop productivity by alleviating soil acidification, increasing soil nutrients, and subsequently changing microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additives could improve composting performance and reduce gaseous emission, but few studies have explored the synergistic of additives on H 2 S emission and compost maturity. This research aims to make an investigation about the effects of chemical additives and mature compost on H 2 S emission and compost maturity of kitchen waste composting. The results showed that additives increased the germination index value and H 2 S emission reduction over 15 days and the treatment with both chemical additives and mature compost achieved highest germination index value and H 2 S emission reduction (85%). Except for the treatment with only chemical additives, the total sulfur content increased during the kitchen waste composting. The proportion of effective sulfur was higher with the addition of chemical additives, compared with other groups. The relative abundance of H 2 S-formation bacterial (Desulfovibrio) was reduced and the relative abundance of bacterial (Pseudomonas and Paracoccus), which could convert sulfur-containing substances and H 2 S to sulfate was improved with additives. In the composting process with both chemical additives and mature compost, the relative abundance of Desulfovibrio was lowest, while the relative abundance of Pseudomonas and Paracoccus was highest. Taken together, the chemical additives and mature compost achieved H 2 S emission reduction by regulating the dynamics of microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research study aims to develop a decision support system for the selection of asphaltene-controlling chemical additives in crude oil. The decision support will incorporate all necessary criteria which include chemical efficiency, economic and HSE hazards. Therefore, in this study, a decision support system using the Fuzzy TOPSIS method was successfully developed and implemented for evaluating the performance ranking of four chemical additives used to control asphaltene stability in single crude oil. The four chemical additives which include DBSA, CDEA, salicylic acid and toluene were tested during the pre-asphaltene precipitation and post-asphaltene precipitation stages at three different concentrations, i.e., 2.5 wt%, 7.5 wt% and 15 wt%. Deposition level and onset measurement tests were conducted during the pre-asphaltene precipitation treatment process, while for the post-asphaltene precipitation treatment stage only deposition level test was conducted. Onset measurement tests were carried out to validate the results of pre-treatment deposition level tests. To record the deposition level precisely, all test tubes were calibrated and measurements of deposits in tubes were done using ImageJ software. The decision support system was applied to three major cases, namely case 1, case 2 and case 3, and each comprises some or all various criteria used in this study. The criteria taken in this study were the maximum efficiency achieved, concentration of chemical additive at which maximum efficiency was achieved, chemical HSE hazards and chemical cost. Each major case was run various times as its sub-cases by altering the weight importance of different criteria. The results indicate that the DBSA yields the highest accuracy of 100 percent at both pre- and post-treatment phases but at different concentrations. Moreover, DBSA also ranked first performance-wise when only maximum efficiency and dosage level were considered as criteria, i.e., in case 1. The CDEA secured second rank, while the third rank was shared by salicylic acid and toluene. However, when all four criteria were taken into account, CDEA was found to be the first rank chemical during pre-asphaltene precipitation treatment (case 2) in all scenarios of changing weight importance of criteria. DBSA was found to be the second rank chemical followed by salicylic acid and toluene. The comparatively better performance of CDEA over DBSA was due to the reason of its low cost and higher efficiency achievement at a minimum concentration of chemicals used. During the post-asphaltene precipitation treatment stage (case 3), the ranks of chemicals were changed significantly as the weight importance of criteria was changed concerning each other. In this case, CDEA was found to be the best chemical additive in most scenarios followed by DBSA and salicylic acid. Relatively, most of the chemical additive performance was affected adversely during the post-treatment stage as compared to the pre-treatment stage. This finding depicts that the selection of chemical additives for the post-treatment process was more challenging and complex as compared to the pre-treatment stage. The development of a decision support system will certainly prove to be a major advancement and tool toward offering a powerful and reliable integrated framework for the selection of chemical additives to control asphaltene instability in crude oils. Moreover, the decision support system is unique and flexible and can easily incorporate various important factors as criteria in future studies necessary to judge chemical additive performance to be utilized under varying conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of microplastics (MPs) is increasing at a dramatic rate globally, posing risks for exposure and subsequent potential adverse effects on human health. Apart from being physical objects, MP particles contain thousands of plastic-associated chemicals (i.e., monomers, chemical additives, and non-intentionally added substances) captured within the polymer matrix. These chemicals are often migrating from MPs and can be found in various environmental matrices and human food chains; increasing the risks for exposure and health effects. In addition to the physical and chemical attributes of MPs, plastic surfaces effectively bind exogenous chemicals, including environmental pollutants (e.g., heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants). Therefore, MPs can act as vectors of environmental pollution across air, drinking water, and food, further amplifying health risks posed by MP exposure. Critically, fragmentation of plastics in the environment increases the risk for interactions with cells, increases the presence of available surfaces to leach plastic-associated chemicals, and adsorb and transfer environmental pollutants. Hence, this review proposes the so-called triple exposure nexus approach to comprehensively map existing knowledge on interconnected health effects of MP particles, plastic-associated chemicals, and environmental pollutants. Based on the available data, there is a large knowledge gap in regard to the interactions and cumulative health effects of the triple exposure nexus. Each component of the triple nexus is known to induce genotoxicity, inflammation, and endocrine disruption, but knowledge about long-term and inter-individual health effects is lacking. Furthermore, MPs are not readily excreted from organisms after ingestion and they have been found accumulated in human blood, cardiac tissue, placenta, etc. Even though the number of studies on MPs-associated health impacts is increasing rapidly, this review underscores that there is a pressing necessity to achieve an integrated assessment of MPs’ effects on human health in order to address existing and future knowledge gaps.

In order to explore the effects of citric acid (CA) and water glass (SS) on the corrosion behavior of steel bars in modified magnesium oxysulfide (MOS) cement-based materials under carbonization,the corrosion rate and degree of embedded steel bars under carbonization in MOS cementitious materials with CA, SS, and CS (CA and SS in a 1:2 mass ratio) added at 0.5% mass percent of magnesium oxide, respectively, were tested using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and steel bar corrosion tester. Results showed that under carbonization, the addition of CA reduced the corrosion rate and degree of passivated and depassivated steel bars in MOS cementitious materials. Among them, the single addition of CA had the best rust inhibition effect on the passivated and depassivated steel bars in MOS cementitious materials. The single addition of SS had no rust inhibition effect on the passivated steel bars in MOS cementitious materials, while the addition of CS had a general rust inhibition effect on the depassivated steel bars in MOS cementitious materials, and no significant rust inhibition effect on the passivated steel bars.

The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculants and chemical additives on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro gas production kinetics and digestibility of total mixed ration (TMR) silage. Total mixed ration (568 g/kg dry matter (DM)) was ensiled with six experimental treatments: (1) no additives (control); (2) Lactobacillus buchneri (LB; applied at 1 × 106 cfu/g fresh weight (FW)); (3) Lactobacillus casei (LC; applied at 1 × 106 cfu/g FW); (4) calcium propionate (CAP; applied at 0.5% FW); (5) sodium diacetate (SD; applied at 0.5% FW); (6) potassium sorbate (PS; applied at 0.1% FW). All silos (18 L) were opened for fermentation quality, in vitro gas production kinetics and digestibility analysis after 90 days of ensiling, and then subjected to aerobic stability test for 14 days. All the TMR silage was well-preserved with low pH (4.36 ∼ 4.66) and acceptable levels of butyric acid (1.02 ∼ 2.51 g/kg DM) and ammonia nitrogen (86.3 ∼ 107 g/kg total nitrogen). All the groups were steady during 14 days of aerobic exposure, while SD group was more stable with lower (p

This paper investigates the effect of subgrade soil stabilization on the performance and life extension of flexible pavements. Several variables affecting soil stabilization were considered, including subgrade soil type (CL or CH), additive type and content (3, 6, and 9% of hydrated lime, 5, 10, and 15% of class C fly ash (CFA), and 5, 10, and 15% of cement kiln dust (CKD)), three stabilization thicknesses (15, 30, and 45 cm), and four pavement sections with varying thicknesses. The effects of these variables were investigated using four different damage mechanisms, including the fatigue life of the asphalt concrete (AC) and stabilized subgrade layers, the crushing life of the stabilized subgrade soil, and the rutting life of the pavement, using a non-linear mechanistic-empirical methodology. The results suggest that the optimum percentage that maximizes the pavement life occurs at 3% of lime for subgrade soil type CL, 6% of lime for subgrade type CH, and 15% of CFA and CKD for both subgrade soil types. The maximum pavement life increase occurred in the section with the lowest thickness and the highest stabilization thickness, which was 1890% for 3% of lime in the CL subgrade and 568% for 6% of lime in the CH subgrade. The maximum increase in the pavement life of subgrade stabilization with 15% of CFA was 2048% in a CL subgrade, and 397% in a CH subgrade, and life extension due to subgrade stabilization with 15% of CKD was 2323% in a CL subgrade and 797% in a CH subgrade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three typical oil source asphalt binders, Karamay asphalt A, CNOOC 36-1 asphalt B, Qinhuangdao CNPC asphalt C, were selected to prepare asphalt binders together with the warm mix agent Evotherm M1. The effects of warm mix agents on asphalt from different oil sources were experimentally studied via dynamic shear rheological (DSR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and Raman spectroscopy tests. The asphalt binders with different oil sources exhibit different properties. The rheological test results indicate that the addition of warm mix agent can slow down the decrease of asphalt viscosity during the aging process and the aging of asphalt. The results of the thermogravimetric test showed that the residual mass of asphalt with the addition of a warm mix agent significantly decreased after aging. Warm mixing agents can slow down the conversion of lightweight components to heavy components during the aging process of asphalt. By calculating the reflectivity of asphalt in Raman spectroscopy, it can be concluded that the reflectivity of asphalt decreases after adding a warm mix agent. The warm mixing agent reduces the degree of thermal evolution of asphalt. Warm mixing agents can make the chemical components in asphalt relatively stable and less prone to further pyrolysis or cracking reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was aimed at comparing how a chemical additive or an inoculant would affect the dry matter (DM) losses, fermentation pattern, yeast and mold counts, and aerobic stability (AS) of the ensiled high-moisture barley grain (675 g kg−1 DM). Crimped barley grain was ensiled with or without chemical additive AIV Ässä Na and an inoculant SiloSolve FC, totaling three treatments (1 × 3 factorial scheme) for the fermentation periods lasting 7, 14, 28, 60, and 90 days. The application of a chemical additive showed higher pH levels, retained water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) better, lowered DM loss, and reduced concentrations of fermentation products. Barley grain treated with chemicals initially showed a marked reduction in yeast and fungal growth and a higher AS up to day 60 of storage but became less effective in later stages of storage, leading to decreased AS. Barley grain inoculated with homo- and heterofermentative strains had decreased silage pH; its WSC content was similar to control and had higher content of weak acids and 1,2 propanediol, reducing mold and yeast counts. With fermentation duration from 28 days and beyond (i.e., 90 days), the inoculant treatment achieved the longest AS and the lowest increase in pH and weight loss during the period of air exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculants and chemical additives on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro gas production kinetics and digestibility of total mixed ration (TMR) silage. Total mixed ration (568 g/kg dry matter (DM)) was ensiled with six experimental treatments: (1) no additives (control); (2) Lactobacillus buchneri (LB; applied at 1 × 106 cfu/g fresh weight (FW)); (3) Lactobacillus casei (LC; applied at 1 × 106 cfu/g FW); (4) calcium propionate (CAP; applied at 0.5% FW); (5) sodium diacetate (SD; applied at 0.5% FW); (6) potassium sorbate (PS; applied at 0.1% FW). All silos (18 L) were opened for fermentation quality, in vitro gas production kinetics and digestibility analysis after 90 days of ensiling, and then subjected to aerobic stability test for 14 days. All the TMR silage was well-preserved with low pH (4.36 ∼ 4.66) and acceptable levels of butyric acid (1.02 ∼ 2.51 g/kg DM) and ammonia nitrogen (86.3 ∼ 107 g/kg total nitrogen). All the groups were steady during 14 days of aerobic exposure, while SD group was more stable with lower (p < 0.05) yeast (4.60 vs. 5.17 ∼ 5.77 log10 cfu/g FW) and mould (3.33 vs. 4.12 ∼ 4.64 log10 cfu/g FW) populations than other treated groups on day 14. Moreover, SD group had the highest (p < 0.05) in vitro digestibility of dry matter (67.8 vs. 56.6 ∼ 63.5%) and neutral detergent fibre (61.7 vs. 50.5 ∼ 57.4%) among all groups. Overall, SD is recommended as additive to improve fermentation quality, in vitro ruminal digestibility, and aerobic stability of TMR silage. After 14 days of aerobic exposure, the yeast and mould populations in TMR silage can be efficiently inhibited by sodium diacetate treatment. Sodium diacetate treatment evidently enhanced in vitro digestibility of dry matter and neutral detergent fibre compared to other treatments. Sodium diacetate is recommended as additive to improve fermentation quality, in vitro ruminal digestibility, and aerobic stability of TMR silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the challenge of mitigating ammonia and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from stored pig slurry using chemical and biological additives. The research employs dynamic chambers to evaluate the effectiveness of these additives. Chemical agents (sulfuric acid) and biological additives (DAB bacteria) containing specific microbial strains are tested (a mixture of Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Nitrosomona europea, Nictobacter winogradaskyi, and nutritional substrate). Controlled experiments simulate storage conditions and measure emissions of ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide. Through statistical analysis of the results, this study evaluates the additives' impact on emission reduction. Sulfuric acid demonstrated a reduction of 92% in CH4, 99% in CO2, and 99% in NH3 emissions. In contrast, the biological additives showed a lesser impact on CH4, with an 8% reduction, but more substantial reductions of 71% for CO2 and 77% for NH3.These results shed light on the feasibility of employing these additives to mitigate environmental impacts in pig slurry management and contribute to sustainable livestock practices by proposing strategies to reduce the ecological consequences of intensive animal farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Paper industry in addition to reducing the consumption of various resources such as water, energy, and wood, continues to recycle used paper in different countries due to less pollution. One of the major drawbacks of the old corrugated container (OCC) recycling is its relatively weak strength, which has limited its use in various sections of the packaging industry. In this study, the effect of using some additives to improve the strengths of OCC to make the top liner of cartons in both wet and dry conditions was studied. Methodology: OCC was selected from domestically produced cartons. To determine the performance and optimal amount of additives, corn cationic starch (at 1, 1.4 and, 2%), wet strength resin (at 1, 2 and, 3%), AKD (at 1, 2 and, 3%), and long fiber of imported bulk tea wrapping paper (at 10, 15 and, 20%) based on the dry weight of OCC pulp were separately used as additives. The handsheets were made using laboratory sheet former with the basis weight of 120 g/m² and then tensile, burst, and tear indices were measured both at wet and dry conditions to compare the effect of additives. Also, water absorption was measured by the Cobb test on the test samples. The optimal level of each additive was determined based on the results, and then handsheets data from optimal combination treatment including appropriate levels of all additives, and different properties of handsheets were statistically compared. Results: The water absorption of handsheet was statistically decreased to 90% level compared to the control by adding AKD. This additive was able to reduce the water absorption of handsheet made from OCC to about 20 g/m² as the appropriate range. The greatest increase of wet tensile strength of the handsheet was achieved using 3% wet strength resin compared to the control. The resin maintained the wet tensile, burst, and tear indices of the residual strength of handsheet by 25, 46, and 58%, respectively, compared to dry strengths which indicates its good performance. The results showed that by adding cationic corn starch and recycled long fiber paper, all the dry strengths of handsheet independently increased compared to the control. The optimal combination treatment was determined according to the results independent use of additives in OCC pulp, including 1% cationic starch, 1% AKD, and 3% wet strength resin based on technical-economic considerations. There is no significant difference between dry tensile and burst strength of handsheet using this treatment and 20% recycled long fiber of wrapping paper, which both means ranked statistically in the same group. Conclusion: The use of 20% recycled long fiber of wrapping paper significantly improved the dry strength of OCC pulp, but adding 1% cationic corn starch to OCC pulp caused limit increase in dry strength. The wet strength of handsheet was significantly improved by adding 3% wet strength resin whereas 1% AKD significantly decreased the water absorption of the OCC pulp to 14 g/m². The optimal combination treatment of chemical additives including 1% cationic corn starch, 1% AKD, and 3% wet strength resin improved the wet and dry strength of handsheet made from OCC pulp that could be used for packaging products which need to be kept in refrigerator and freezer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three typical oil source asphalt binders, Karamay asphalt A, CNOOC 36-1 asphalt B, Qinhuangdao CNPC asphalt C, were selected to prepare asphalt binders together with the warm mix agent Evotherm M1. The effects of warm mix agents on asphalt from different oil sources were experimentally studied via dynamic shear rheological (DSR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and Raman spectroscopy tests. The asphalt binders with different oil sources exhibit different properties. The rheological test results indicate that the addition of warm mix agent can slow down the decrease of asphalt viscosity during the aging process and the aging of asphalt. The results of the thermogravimetric test showed that the residual mass of asphalt with the addition of a warm mix agent significantly decreased after aging. Warm mixing agents can slow down the conversion of lightweight components to heavy components during the aging process of asphalt. By calculating the reflectivity of asphalt in Raman spectroscopy, it can be concluded that the reflectivity of asphalt decreases after adding a warm mix agent. The warm mixing agent reduces the degree of thermal evolution of asphalt. Warm mixing agents can make the chemical components in asphalt relatively stable and less prone to further pyrolysis or cracking reactions.

Crude oil contains heavy paraffin molecules that cause the deposition of solid wax. Wax deposition is a critical problem in the petroleum industry, which results in various production problems. Pour Point Depressant (PPD) is a chemical additive that prevents wax deposition. PPD is employed to lower the pour point temperature allowing crude oil to flow at a significantly lower temperature. Several types of PPD include polymer, nano-composite and a natural organic compound. This review paper provides insights regarding different types of chemical additives to solve waxy crude oil issues. The effectiveness of these chemical additives is compared based on the changes in pour point value in degrees Celsius, as it is one of the physical properties of crude oil. Ultimately, this paper provides information regarding the performance of different PPDs in reducing pour point temperature to solve wax deposition issues.

Simple Summary: Bacterial infections continue to cause ongoing health problems in the global equine industry, resulting in substantial loss of valuable economic contributions worldwide. Biosecurity-relevant equine bacterial diseases have resulted in restricted importation and exportation of horses, impediment of breeding, and cancellation of culturally important events. Vigilant, rapid diagnostics and surveillance of such diseases are vital to prevent outbreaks and to provide timely management and treatment strategies. However, current methodologies are outdated and, at times, unreliable. This review outlines how the modern technique of loop-mediated isothermal amplification can aid in the protection of the equine industry, and the current advancements further its ability for in-field deployment. Horses play an important role throughout the world, whether for work, culture, or leisure, providing an ever-growing significant contribution to the economy. The increase in importation and movement of horses, both nationally and internationally, has inevitably allowed for the global equine industry to grow. Subsequently, however, the potential for transmission of fatal equine bacterial diseases has also escalated, and devasting outbreaks continue to occur. To prevent such events, disease surveillance and diagnosis must be heightened throughout the industry. Current common, or "gold-standard" techniques, have shown to be inadequate at times, thus requiring newer technology to impede outbreaks. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has proven to be a reliable, rapid, and accessible tool in both diagnostics and surveillance. This review will discuss equine bacterial diseases of biosecurity relevance and their current diagnostic approaches, as well as their respective LAMP assay developments. Additionally, we will provide insight regarding newer technology and advancements associated with this technique and their potential use for the outlined diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper considers different aspects of natural and forced carbonization of binding agents and cement systems. It is shown that depending on the composition of binding agents, curing conditions, and transient factors, carbonization of hydrated cement can not only lead to corrosion and irreversible degradation, but also serve as a powerful productive endeavor for strengthening of concrete structures, self-healing of cracks in concrete, shrinkage reduction, and carbonization corrosion of constructional materials. Based on theoretical analysis of experimental data and the literature, a working hypothesis is developed concerning the observed processes of the structure formation based on the interaction of carbon dioxide and its derivatives with calcium aluminates and aluminate ferrites with the formation of hydrated calcium carboaluminates of various composition. Portlandite fixation is crucial for concrete structures capable of resisting to both carbon dioxide and sulfate corrosion and, sometimes, in introducing chemical additives, can lead to the structure strengthening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to enhance the quality of heavy oil through refinement using aquathermolysis with the simultaneous injection of steam and thermally stable nonionic surfactants (NS). To achieve this, the NS R-PPG of the nonionic type was synthesized, and the optimal product structures were characterized using infrared (IR) methods. Furthermore, the thermal stability of the synthesized NS R-PPG was investigated in line with the requirements for surfactants used in heavy oil applications. Subsequently, the study delved into investigating the hydrothermal upgrading of heavy oil with a catalyst, involving the joint participation of steam and surfactants at a temperature of 250 °C. Additionally, we assessed the improved oil characteristics resulting from the experimental process through SARA analysis, elemental analysis, GC, and viscosity reduction evaluations. The experimental results demonstrated distinct effects concerning the presence and absence of surfactants on heavy oil. Based on these findings, we conclude that surfactants play a crucial role in dispersing asphaltene clusters, thereby facilitating the decomposition process under mild thermobaric conditions, leading to a noticeable increase in the content of light fractions. Furthermore, as per the results of the elemental analysis, surfactants contribute significantly to the desulfurization of heavy oil. Overall, the incorporation of surfactants during hydrothermal upgrading resulted in an irreversible reduction in the viscosity of heavy oil, thereby enhancing its overall quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Chemical additives have been widely used to restrain the growth of undesirable microorganisms, and they were ideal additives to well preserve silages. The work aimed at evaluating the effects of four chemical additives on fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro ruminal digestibility of the fermented total mixed ration (FTMR). The TMR was treated with: (1) no additive (control); (2) sodium diacetate; (3) calcium propionate; (4) sodium benzoate (SB); (5) potassium sorbate (PS) on a fresh weight (FW) basis. After 60 days of ensiling, the silos were opened and sampled to determine fermentation quality, in vitro rumen parameters, and then the 60-day FTMR were subjected to a 9-day aerobic stability test. Chemical additives significantly (p

A frequent problem in the oil industry is the formation of scale. To minimize this, it is necessary to use additives, which usually enrich the environment, thus promoting microbial growth and inactivation of products. This work evaluated the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Shewanella algae strains on three scale inhibitors: phosphonate, ethylene glycol combined to amino-ethanol and an organic acid copolymer. Samples containing phosphonate and organic acid copolymer stimulated the growth of P. aeruginosa strains, while ethylene glycol acted as a biocide for S. algae. Furthermore, the samples were used as a source of nutrients by the tested strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical additives were found to be the most widely used and least expensive flavouring and preservatives for meat products, but they must be used within safe-permissible levels to protect customers from any negative effects. With reference to the most recent updates of the Egyptian standards, this study examines the levels of nitrite, phosphate, ascorbic acid, and monosodium glutamate as examples of chemical additives in one hundred and sixty random samples of raw minced meat, beef burgers, sausages, and frankfurters (40 of each), which were collected from different supermarkets located in Shibin Elkom city, Menoufia governorate, Egypt. While nitrite was not found in the minced meat samples, out of the analyzed samples, 92.5%, 97.5, and 100% of the tested sausage, burger, and frankfurter samples, respectively, were within the permitted limits (PL) (≤ 100 ppm) regarding their nitrite level. Furthermore, when it came to ascorbic acid PL (≤ 500 ppm), 72.5%, 100%, 87.5%, and 100% of the minced beef, sausage, burger, and frankfurter samples were within PL, respectively. Additionally, 100%, 90%, 95.0%, and 97.5% of the analyzed minced beef, sausage, burger, and frankfurter samples fell below the acceptable range for monosodium glutamate level (≤ 5000 ppm), respectively. Furthermore, the tested minced beef and sausage samples had no phosphate, whereas 72.5% of the investigated frankfurter samples were within the PL, and all of the studied burger samples were outside the PL (≤ 0.3%). So, it is advised to continuously monitor the meat production market and carefully enforce the safety requirement [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed at adding different types of mature compost and sulfur powder, as additives into food waste composting to investigate the effect on nitrogen loss and compost maturity. The composting experiment used the in-vessel composting method and was conducted continuously for 15 days. High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the bacterial community during composting. Results showed that the secondary fermentation mature compost mixed with sulfur powder group had the most reduction of ammonia emission (56%) and the primary fermentation mature compost amendments were the most effective for nitrous oxide emission reduction (37%). The temperature, pH, and nitrogen forms of transformation of the pile significantly affect the nitrogen loss during composting. Firmicutes helped to promote the rapid warming of the pile, and Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria played an important role in decomposition of organic matter. Thermobifida and Ureibacillus had a main contribution to the rapid degradation of organic matter in the process of composting. The relative abundance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria was higher, and the relative abundance of predominantly ammonifying and denitrifying bacteria was lower than the control group, with the addition of different additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the organic content in oil shale before retorting is a substantial target. The flotation process is proven as a good separation process for hydrophobic particles from their associated impurities. In this study, the natural floatability and the flotation with different types of reagents were investigated to show how effective these reagents are in improving their organic content (kerogen). Frothers such as pine oil and kerosene and collectors such as oleic oil and amine acetate were tested. The results indicated that the addition of any used reagent negatively affects the oil shale floatability. The descending order of flotation using chemical reagents, in terms of combustible grade and recovery, is natural floatability, with frothers, then with collectors. The grade and recovery of the naturally floated fraction are 18% and 92.7%, respectively, from 8.75% in the feed sample. The low dosage from either oleic acid or pine oil effectively reduced the grade and recovery to about 15% and 86%, respectively. Chemical reagents stand as barriers to particle–bubble attachment. The presence of higher dosages of frother leads to the agglomeration of the smaller organic particles, which leads to lower grades and recovery. While collectors play a significant role in increasing the flotation of inorganic particles rather than the organics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the effect of subgrade soil stabilization on the performance and life extension of flexible pavements. Several variables affecting soil stabilization were considered, including subgrade soil type (CL or CH), additive type and content (3, 6, and 9% of hydrated lime, 5, 10, and 15% of class C fly ash (CFA), and 5, 10, and 15% of cement kiln dust (CKD)), three stabilization thicknesses (15, 30, and 45 cm), and four pavement sections with varying thicknesses. The effects of these variables were investigated using four different damage mechanisms, including the fatigue life of the asphalt concrete (AC) and stabilized subgrade layers, the crushing life of the stabilized subgrade soil, and the rutting life of the pavement, using a non-linear mechanistic-empirical methodology. The results suggest that the optimum percentage that maximizes the pavement life occurs at 3% of lime for subgrade soil type CL, 6% of lime for subgrade type CH, and 15% of CFA and CKD for both subgrade soil types. The maximum pavement life increase occurred in the section with the lowest thickness and the highest stabilization thickness, which was 1890% for 3% of lime in the CL subgrade and 568% for 6% of lime in the CH subgrade. The maximum increase in the pavement life of subgrade stabilization with 15% of CFA was 2048% in a CL subgrade, and 397% in a CH subgrade, and life extension due to subgrade stabilization with 15% of CKD was 2323% in a CL subgrade and 797% in a CH subgrade.

This experiment was aimed at comparing how a chemical additive or an inoculant would affect the dry matter (DM) losses, fermentation pattern, yeast and mold counts, and aerobic stability (AS) of the ensiled high-moisture barley grain (675 g kg−1 DM). Crimped barley grain was ensiled with or without chemical additive AIV Ässä Na and an inoculant SiloSolve FC, totaling three treatments (1 × 3 factorial scheme) for the fermentation periods lasting 7, 14, 28, 60, and 90 days. The application of a chemical additive showed higher pH levels, retained water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) better, lowered DM loss, and reduced concentrations of fermentation products. Barley grain treated with chemicals initially showed a marked reduction in yeast and fungal growth and a higher AS up to day 60 of storage but became less effective in later stages of storage, leading to decreased AS. Barley grain inoculated with homo- and heterofermentative strains had decreased silage pH; its WSC content was similar to control and had higher content of weak acids and 1,2 propanediol, reducing mold and yeast counts. With fermentation duration from 28 days and beyond (i.e., 90 days), the inoculant treatment achieved the longest AS and the lowest increase in pH and weight loss during the period of air exposure.

The research aims to comprehensively assess the impact of anti-stripping agents ZycoTherm and Evotherm M1 on Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA). The study employs a range of laboratory tests to investigate the rheological and chemical properties of modified asphalt. Conventional tests such as penetration and ring & ball softening points are employed alongside advanced techniques including Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR), and Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS) analyses to delve into the rheological properties. Chemical properties (SARA) were analyzed using thin-layer chromatography. Both short-term aging (STA) using The Rolling Thin-Film Oven (RTFO) and long-term aging (LTA) based on the Universal Simple Aging Test are simulated under controlled laboratory conditions. It was found in conventional tests that the value changed, but not significantly. In terms of rutting and fatigue performance, Zyc 0.05% showed positive results. Fatigue behavior shows Zyc has better resistance. The asphalt fractional composition test showed changes in each age condition.

This study addresses the challenge of mitigating ammonia and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from stored pig slurry using chemical and biological additives. The research employs dynamic chambers to evaluate the effectiveness of these additives. Chemical agents (sulfuric acid) and biological additives (DAB bacteria) containing specific microbial strains are tested (a mixture of Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Nitrosomona europea, Nictobacter winogradaskyi, and nutritional substrate). Controlled experiments simulate storage conditions and measure emissions of ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide. Through statistical analysis of the results, this study evaluates the additives’ impact on emission reduction. Sulfuric acid demonstrated a reduction of 92% in CH4, 99% in CO2, and 99% in NH3 emissions. In contrast, the biological additives showed a lesser impact on CH4, with an 8% reduction, but more substantial reductions of 71% for CO2 and 77% for NH3.These results shed light on the feasibility of employing these additives to mitigate environmental impacts in pig slurry management and contribute to sustainable livestock practices by proposing strategies to reduce the ecological consequences of intensive animal farming.

A chemical ignition mathematical model was established based on the analysis of the process of chemical ignition and thermal ignition theory . Then, the model was solved by the method of nets on a computer to explore the mechanism for in-situ combustion ignition with chemical additives. Also, the development course of in-situ combustion ignition was reviewed. In addition, the ignition process by chemical methods was analysed. It was shown that the mathematical model was able to calculate some parameters such as the critical duration of the outer source action and critical energy for ignition. The heat flux that ignites an oil layer is greater than 2.35, when its dimensionless initial activation energy ɛ and initial temperature θ0are 0.026 and 11. Moreover, the ignition process and temperature distribution of oil sands were described with the model. The results are of great theoretical significance for understanding chemically assisted ignition mechanism in-depth, controlling ignition parameters and guiding chemical additives formulation design and optimization, etc.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feed quality of reconstituted corn grain silage (RCGS), treated with chemical additives and stored for 15, 30, or 60 d in 5-L plastic buckets. Dry ground corn was rehydrated to 350 g·kg−1 and treated with either polysorbate 80 (2 L·t−1) (POL), propionic acid 28% (2 L·t−1) (PRO), Mycoflake™ (2 L·t−1-blend polysorbate 80 and propionic acid) (MYC) or nothing (CON). The effect of the length of storage was combined in a factorial arrangement with the additives. Ammonia-N increased from d-15 of storage. A treatment × storage length interaction was observed for ethanol content at d-60 of storage, and all treatments had lower ethanol concentration than CON. There was an interaction for butyric acid content at d-30 and d-60 of storage; CON showed higher butyric acid concentration than treated silages. Aerobic stability increased from d-15 to d-30. At d-15 of storage, the PRO and MYC treatments decreased the DM losses. The length of storage increased the ruminal in situ degradability of starch, and DM and MYC increased the DM degradability in 3.6 percentage units at 12 h of incubation, compared with POL. In conclusion, increasing the length of storage of the RCGS from d-15 to d-60 improved the starch and DM degradability. Mycoflake increased the availability of nutrients, and the length of storage enhanced the aggregation of particles; further, polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) might be further studied as a potential antimicrobial agent in silages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical additives have been widely used to restrain the growth of undesirable microorganisms, and they were ideal additives to well preserve silages. The work aimed at evaluating the effects of four chemical additives on fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro ruminal digestibility of the fermented total mixed ration (FTMR). The TMR was treated with: (1) no additive (control); (2) sodium diacetate; (3) calcium propionate; (4) sodium benzoate (SB); (5) potassium sorbate (PS) on a fresh weight (FW) basis. After 60 days of ensiling, the silos were opened and sampled to determine fermentation quality, in vitro rumen parameters, and then the 60-day FTMR were subjected to a 9-day aerobic stability test. Chemical additives significantly (p < 0.05) increased dry matter, crude protein, and water-soluble carbohydrates contents, and decreased ammonia nitrogen, ethanol contents, aerobic bacteria and yeast counts after 60 days of ensiling. During aerobic exposure, chemical additives obviously improved aerobic stability as indicated by higher lactic acid, water-soluble carbohydrates contents and lactic acid bacteria counts, and lower pH, ethanol, ammonia nitrogen contents, aerobic bacteria and yeast counts. Treatments with SB and PS had higher (p < 0.05) lactic acid content, and lower (p < 0.05) pH, ammonia nitrogen content, aerobic bacteria and yeast counts than other FTMR. After 72 h of incubation, chemical additives significantly (p < 0.05) increased cumulative gas production, in vitro digestibility of dry matter and crude protein. The SB and PS-treated FTMR had higher (p < 0.05) cumulative gas production and in vitro dry matter digestibility than other FTMR. These results indicated that SB and PS were more effective to improve aerobic stability and in vitro ruminal parameters, and they were recommended as optimal additives for FTMR. Four chemical additives were served as additives for fermentation total mixed ration Chemical additives markedly improved fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro ruminal parameters Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate were optimal for improving aerobic stability and in vitro parameters [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of current research is focused on weaning the world off of fossil fuels. Therefore, an alternative source must be identified. The biofuels are promising alternatives. In the case of petrodiesel, a promising alternative is biodiesel production from algae. The ability of microalgae to generate large quantities of lipids with a fast growth rate made them superior biodiesel producers. An important factor of determining optimal microalgal activity is the bioresponse to changes in trace metal concentration and quantity. The effects of adding calcium chloride (CaCl2) with a concentration of 2 mg L-1, potassium chloride (KCl) with a concentration of 4.5 mg L-1, and ferric chloride (FeCl3) with a concentration of 1.2 mg L-1 were examined. Further treatment is a mixture of all additives with the same listed concentrations. According to the results of this study, it was found that calcium, potassium, and iron concentration have great influence on the algal growth and lipid production. Furthermore, among all treatments, the mixture of all additives produced the most lipid and, as a result, the maximum biodiesel yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of replacing alkaline phosphate (AP) with bamboo fiber (BF), isolated pea protein (PP), and mushroom powder (MP) on the nutritional, technological, oxidative, and sensory characteristics of low-sodium mortadellas. Results indicated that this reformulation maintained the nutritional quality of the products. Natural substitutes were more effective than AP in reducing water and fat exudation. This led to decreased texture profile analysis (TPA) values such as hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness. The reformulation reduced the L* values and increased the b* values, leading to color modifications rated from noticeable to appreciable according to the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) index. Despite minor changes in oxidative stability indicated by increased values in TBARS (from 0.19 to 0.33 mg MDA/kg), carbonyls (from 2.1 to 4.4 nmol carbonyl/mg protein), and the volatile compound profile, the sensory profile revealed a beneficial increase in salty taste, especially due to the inclusion of MP, which was enhanced by the synergy with BF and PP. In summary, the results confirmed the potential of natural alternatives to replace chemical additives in meat products. Incorporating natural antioxidants into future formulations could address the minor oxidation issues observed and enhance the applicability of this reformulation strategy. • Emulsion stability was improved in reformulated samples. • BF and PP enhanced MP's salty taste effect. • Reformulation led to a slight decrease in oxidative stability. • BF, PP, and MP are a promising combination to reduce phosphate in mortadellas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the use of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in self-leveling mortars (SLM) to obtain certain rheological characteristics for use in screed concrete. Mixtures were produced with 50% and 75% of RCA in substitution of natural fine aggregate (NFA) by varying the type of additive (polyfunctional plasticizer and combination of superplasticizer and viscosity modifier). In order to achieve a better distribution of water amid the grains in the residue, the RCA was pre-wetted by spraying for 10 min before mixing. The properties evaluated were: specific mass in the fresh stage, tensile strength, spreading, flow retention, regeneration time, and exudation rate. Regarding the variation of the type of chemical additive, all the mixtures had valid rheological aspects. The exudation rate values were less than 3% and the minimum curing time was 15 min. Also, all mortars achieved values above 2 MPa in the flexural strength tests, which was the minimum expected according to the literature. The use of RCA can be considered, and through the proper adjustments of chemical additives it can provide formulations with adequate rheological characteristics without losses on their mechanical properties.

Methane and carbon dioxide hydrates were formed in a small-scale apparatus filled with pure quartz porous sand and Cu particles, produced via gas-atomization for applications in additive manufacturing. Three different concentrations were tested, of 4.23, 18.01 and 30.66 wt%. This additive was found to act as promoter for methane hydrates and as inhibitor for carbon dioxide hydrates. The effect increased with the concentrations and was associated to the chemical properties of particles. Results were compared validated with literature. For the first time, it was possible to add this material to the group of additives able to intervene on the process differently as a function of the guest compound involved. Results showed a thermodynamic area in which CO 2 hydrates required more severe conditions than CH 4 hydrates to form. This new configuration allowed to propose an innovative application based on the CH 4 /CO 2 reverse replacement. [Display omitted] • CH4 and CO2 hydrates were formed in presence of Cu gas-atomized particles. • As expected, Cu acted as promoter for methane hydrates. • Conversely, It inhibited carbon dioxide hydrates, thus showing a dual ability. • This property allows to propose a reverse application of replacement techniques. • This technique might lead to spontaneous CO2/CH4 exchange in hydrate reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]