Foam Formation Research Articles

Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Face Wash

This study presents the formulation and evaluation of a herbal face wash designed to meet the growing demand for natural and safe skincare products. The formulation process involved selecting a blend of herbal extracts known for their skin-friendly properties, along with appropriate surfactants, thickeners, and preservatives to ensure stability and efficacy. Physicochemical characteristics such as pH, viscosity, and foamability were evaluated to assess product quality. Additionally, sensory analysis was conducted to gauge user preferences regarding fragrance, texture, and overall experience. Microbiological tests were performed to confirm product safety. The results indicated that the formulated herbal face wash exhibited desirable properties, including balanced pH, suitable viscosity, and satisfactory foam formation. Sensory evaluations revealed positive consumer acceptance, with preferences for natural fragrance and smooth texture. Microbial studies confirmed the product's microbial safety for consumer use. Overall, the formulated herbal face wash offers a promising option for individuals seeking natural and effective skincare solutions

Characterization and removal of microplastics in the Guheshwori Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nepal

Contamination of river water systems by microplastic particles (MPPs) is one of the emerging global environmental concerns with potentially widespread ecological, socioeconomic, and health implications. A wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) processes and treats wastewater to remove pollutants and release safe water into the environment. There has been limited research on the characterization of microplastics and their removal in WWTP in South Asia. In this work, we report on the characterization of microplastics in wastewater and sludge samples (n = 300) from Guheshwori WWTP located on the bank of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu city, Nepal representing inlet, secondary aeration tank (SAT), outlet, and sludge from November 2021 to November 2022. On average, we detected 31.2 ± 17.3 MPPs/L, 11.2 ± 9.4 MPPs/L, 8.5 ± 5.6 MPPs/L, and 6.6 ± 4.8 MPPs/g in the samples collected from inlet, SAT, outlet, and sludge, respectively. Commonly found MPPs were in the form of fiber, fragments, foam, and pellets. Largely, MPPs were red, yellow, white, blue, and black. Among the 44 μm – 150 μm, 150 μm – 500 μm and 500 μm – 5 mm categories of size fractions, the most dominant fractions were 500 μm – 150 μm in inlet, SAT, and sludge, and 150 μm – 44 μm in the outlet sampling unit. The Guheshwori WWTP was able to remove 72.5 % of MPPs on average, that mostly occurred in the inlet. The effluent released into the river and the sludge still contained a significant number of MPPs.

Fabrication of porous materials using quinoa husk and attapulgite co-stabilized foam templates for dye adsorption and post-treatment of soil remediation

Water-based foam has great potential in the preparation of porous materials, but there is still a lack of green and simple preparation methods. In this study, a stable water-based foam that co-stabilized with saponin leached from agricultural waste quinoa husk (QH) and nano-clay attapulgite (APT). The thickening effect and interface stability of modified APT played a crucial role in the formation and stabilization of Pickering foam. The free radical polymerization occurred in the continuous phase without affecting the foam stability, and the obtained pore-rich adsorbent displayed high-performance adsorption for methylene blue (MB) and methyl violet (MV), with the adsorption capacities reaching up to 291.95 mg/g and 430.01 mg/g, respectively. In keeping with the idea of sustainable development, the spent adsorbent was pyrolyzed and converted into mineral biochar. The pot experiments showed that the mineral biochar could improve the soil properties and promoted the plant growth. This work provided a new approach to the production of green and stable Pickering foam and also an alternative to realize the sustainable high value utilization of waste QH.

The effect of PVP and PVA on hydrate formation kinetics of ethane and propane mixture in the presence of kaolin nanoparticles

AbstractThe blockage of gas transmission pipelines due to gas hydrates poses a significant challenge for the gas industry. Low‐dosage hydrate inhibitors (LDHI) are utilized to influence the kinetics of hydrate formation, including nucleation, growth, and/or agglomeration. In the current study, a series of batch, isochoric, and isothermal tests were carried out to investigate the impacts of two LDHIs, poly N‐vinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl alcohols (PVA). This study examined the influence of these inhibitors on nucleation and growth of ethane+propane mixture in the presence of kaolin nanoparticles. In laboratory studies and using pure constituents, the rate of hydrate formation is low to investigate the inhibitors effect. To enhance the rate of hydrate formation, kaolin nanoparticles were utilized as they serve as a suitable representative for solid minerals commonly found in pipelines. The gas phase's compositional change were measured using a gas chromatograph. The results revealed that the growth stage of mixed‐gas exhibited two distinct steps, attributed to the formation of two different structures known as structure II and structure I. During the first step, structure II was formed, and the cavities were occupied by both gas components. In the second stage, structure I was formed by ethane. The effect of temperature on the induction time (nucleation rate) and the growth rate during the second stage was lower than that at the first stage. The increase in PVA concentration resulted in an increase in the induction time and a decrease in the rate of growth during the first stage. The performance of PVA was found to be affected by temperature. Lower temperatures resulted in the formation of less foam, providing improved performance for PVA at −0.5°C. PVP had a stronger impact on induction time and both growth steps compared to PVA, indicating stronger inhibitory impact of PVP on nucleation of hydrates initiated by propane and the growth of both propane and ethane hydrates.

Optimized Feeding Strategies for Biosurfactant Production from Acetate by Alcanivorax borkumensis SK2

Biosurfactants are much-discussed alternatives to petro- and oleochemical surfactants. Alcanivorax borkumensis, a marine, Gram-negative γ-proteobacterium, produces a glycine-glucolipid biosurfactant from hydrocarbons, pyruvate, and acetate as carbon sources. Sustainable acetate production from lignocellulose or syngas adds to its relevance for the bioeconomy. This study investigated nitrogen sources and carbon-to-nitrogen ratios (C/N) to optimize fed-batch fermentation for biosurfactant production using A. borkumensis with acetate as the carbon source. Urea enabled high biosurfactant production, which was confirmed in DO-based fed-batch fermentation. Varying C/N ratios led to increased glycine-glucolipid production and decreased biomass production, with improvement plateauing at a C/N ratio of 26.7 Cmol Nmol−1. pH-stat fed-batch fermentation using glacial acetic acid as the carbon source and a pH-adjusting agent doubled the biosurfactant production. Finally, bubble-free membrane aeration was used to prevent extensive foam formation observed during conventional bubble aeration. The efficient production made it possible to investigate the bioactivity of glycine-glucolipid in combination with antibiotics against various microorganisms. Our findings allow for the leverage of glycine-glucolipid biosurfactant production using acetate as a carbon source.

Investigating the foaming behavior of a soybean derived surfactant for gas well deliquification in a sparger setup

Surfactant injection is one of the common gas-well deliquification techniques to enhance gas productivity. However, most traditional chemical-based surfactants are often nonbiodegradable, toxic, and lead to environmental and potential health risks. There is a need to investigate surfactants of natural origins, soybean derived surfactants (SODS) offer promising eco-friendly alternatives. It is crucial to understand the foaming behavior of the biosurfactant and its effectiveness in the deliquification process. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the foaming characteristics of SODS and correlate its dynamic surface tension to the foaming properties of other known surfactant solutions using a sparger setup.The results showed that the SODS can generate stable foams and have the potential to mitigate liquid loading problems in gas wells. The bubble formation at the tip of the sparger is highly dependent on the bubble size and foam drainage, so, the surface tension reduction rate (R1/2) is inversely proportional to the bubble radius (R‾) for all the surfactants under study. Consequently, the total foam weight and foam density of SODS are determined at the top of the production column of the experimental setup, hence the liquid content of the foam (∅l) determines the foam formation for the biosurfactant. Also, the foaming qualities in terms of foamability and foam stability increase with maximum R1/2 for the all the surfactants used. The sparger configuration agrees with the Ross-Miles test for ∅l and R1/2 with the R2 value of 0.91. The study offers a novel strategy for effective gas well deliquification using surfactants with natural origins, furthering sustainable practices in the oil and gas production sector.

Hydrophobic UiO-66 composite: Surface energy modelling for oil-water interactions

Oil spill is considered as the serious threat to aquatic ecosystem and it is quite a challenge to clean such oil spills. In order to cure this problem, we introduced a novel hydrophobic composite material making use of metal organic framework (MOF) i.e., UiO-66 and polyurethane (PU) foam. PU foam was utilized for oil absorption by incorporation of Fe3O4 particles via in-situ approach and dip coating it with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and hydrophobic UiO-66 (hUiO-66) resulting into the formation of hydrophobic composite foam. The decrease in hydrophilic character and increase in hydrophobic character of PU foam was deduced using FTIR and contact angle analysis. PDMS being a low surface energy polymer accounted for the hydrophobicity of the composite material, the coating of PDMS on the material gave contact angle of 122.1°. Furthermore, Fe3O4 provides surface roughness on the surface of PU foam which is clearly visible in FESEM analysis leading to decrease in surface energy of the composite thereby increasing the hydrophobicity and absorption capacity. In order to study the surface area, pore size and pore type of the material, BET surface area analyzer was used depicting surface area of 1049.90 m2g−1 for UiO-66 and 431 m2g−1 for hUiO-66@Fe3O4@PDMS. To gain insight into the surface energy of the composite, various models such as Zisman model, OWRK model and Neumann model were utilized to determine. Moreover, the composite resulted in excellent reusability maintaining the separation efficiency of about 78.4 g/g even after 36 cycles. This shows a substantial improvement in the area compared to previous research and opens the door for the production of hydrophobic foams for purposes like oil-spill cleanup in challenging circumstances. The proposed approach efficiently helpful in oil-spill cleanup, making it promising for oil leakages.

Modeling of Biofoam Destabilization by Biodefoamers in Poultry Slaughterhouse Wastewater Treatment Activated Sludge

Biofoam formation in wastewater treatment is a challenge globally. Previously, we successfully proposed the use of biodefoamers instead of synthetic defoamers for environmental protection. In this study, we report on biodefoamation modeling using activated sludge organisms. Overall, the rate law model was determined to adequately describe foam drainage including collapse while applying biodefoamers. The target industry is the poultry processing industry whereby foam formation during wastewater treatment is an ongoing challenge.

An experimental investigation on the foam proportion for coal dust suppression in underground coal mines

Coal dust presents a grave peril to the well-being of miners and mine safety. In the absence of preventive measures, the concentration of dust in the working area can exceed one thousand milligrams per cubic meter. Foam-based dust removal, owing to its noteworthy merits such as minimal water consumption and high efficiency in removing dust, has emerged as one of the prevailing technologies for dust elimination. To mitigate dust generation during excavation, extensive investigations have been undertaken to explore the impact of foam reagent solution ratios on the efficacy of foam dust removal. By meticulously selecting surfactants, the consequences of varying concentrations and combinations of foam reagents, wetting reagents and foam stabilizers on foaming performance are examined. Valuable insights into the functional relationship between initial foam volume, volume decay rate, and foam reagent concentration are obtained. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis is conducted to probe the influence of wetting reagent addition on coal dust wetting, foam formation, and stability, thereby elucidating the functional connection between wetting time and the concentration of the wetting reagent. Additionally, the ramifications of stabilizer addition on foam stability and other relevant foam properties undergo comprehensive exploration, ultimately leading to the discovery of the functional relationship between foam performance and stabilizer concentration. Notably, experimental findings demonstrate that the optimum ratio for the foam reagent solution is AOS: SDS: STPP: CDEA: water=5:1:4:1:9989. This specific composition exhibits superlative foam foaming performance, stability, and wetting characteristics. Following a meticulous evaluation of gas supply volume, the optimal foam proportion is determined to be a foam reagent solution of 8 m3/h accompanied by a gas supply rate of 100 m3/h. The dust suppression efficiency of the foam produced by the optimal foam proportion reaches an about 97%, substantiating its effectiveness in dust removal.

Physical quality assessment of selected made in Nigeria synthetic surfactants for surface activity in Bali, Taraba State, Nigeria

The properties of high-quality soap is determined by its cleansing, foam formation, surface tension, emulsion capacity, pH, etc. To produce a generally better product, soap manufacturing companies take these properties into account during production which necessitated the physical assessment properties of some selected made-in-Nigeria synthetic surfactant for surface activity. The samples were evaluated based on tests for saponins, foam formation and stability, emulsion formation/capacity, surface tension, and pH at different concentrations. The percentage of each of the synthetic surfactants (Ariel=DA, Bonus=DB, Good mama=DG, Sunlight=DS and Zip=DZ) concerning foam formation at five minutes and stability after 30 minutes were as follows; DZ(6.7) > DS(6.3) > DG(5.3) > DA(4.2) > DB(4.1) and DZ(2.6) > DG(1.9) > DA(1.1)/DS(1.1) > DB(1.0) in cm, respectively. The study of the emulsion formation/capacity of the different samples at different concentrations in terms of creamy behaviour was observed as DS > DZ > DA > DG > DB. All the samples studied showed a good reduction in surface tension. At 2g and 10g of the different samples, the following results were obtained: DS(2.87), DZ(20.25), DB(21.55), DA(21.65), DG(21.85) Nm-1 and DS(22.45), DZ(22.25), DB(22.45), DA(26.65), DG(22.65) N/m, respectively. The result of the pH values of the different samples varied within the range of 10.80 to 10.91 as moderately weak base with an increase in concentration. Detergents studied conform to the minimum quality examinations but regular assessment check should be carried out by enforcement/regulatory agencies to ensure quality of detergents produced in the country meets the minimum required standard.

Phosphorus and nitrogen-containing soybean oil polyols: Effect on the mechanical properties and flame retardancy of polyurethane foam.

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in producing new materials that use renewable resources and halogen-free flame retardants with nonleaching properties. This research focuses on designing and synthesizing phosphorus-nitrogen-based biopolyols for use in polyurethane (PU) foam production. Polyol (ESBO-DYM) with dual functionalities, renewability, and nonflammability is synthesized through the epoxy ring-opening reaction of epoxidized soybean oil with phosphorus and nitrogen-containing tetraol products (DYM). The mechanical and flame retardant properties of PU foams with the addition of an ESBO-DYM were investigated. Increasing the amount of phosphorus in the PU foams increased the thermal stability properties. Using 100% ESBO-DYM as a polyol in the foam formulation increased the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value to 22.9% and resulted in the highest char yield according to the thermal gravimetric analysis (17% at 600 °C). Additionally, the introduction of ESBO-DYM polyol into the formulation resulted in a decrease in the compression strength of the foams. The foam density decreased as the amount of ESBO-DYM polyol in the formulation increased. The foam with the highest amount of ESBO-DYM had a foam density of 29.1 kg/m3. The morphology of the foams was characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). As a result of this study, flame retardant polyurethane foams were formulated using a renewable source, polyol, along with commercial compounds.

Evaluation of the nutritional potential of peach palm flour and its application in crunchy snacks

The pupunheira (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) is a palm tree native to the Amazon rainforest, and its fruits have high nutritional quality and are highly appreciated by the population where the fruits occur. One of the ways of processing this raw material is the production of flour, which expands the possibilities of industrial application. Therefore, the objective of this study was to produce peach palm fruit flour, evaluate its physical-chemical, properties technological, antioxidant activity, and carotenoid content, elaborate snack-type biscuit formulations with different concentrations of peach palm flour in substitution for corn flakes, and evaluate the physical-chemical characteristics and carotenoid content of the biscuits. Peach palm flour had low moisture content (6.15%), protein (4.82%), and fiber (5.07%); however, it had a considerable carbohydrate content (77.62%), energy value (386,84 kcal), and carotenoids. The technological properties showed a high rate of water and oil absorption and emulsifying activity; however, it did not show foaming capacity or gel formation. The replacement of corn flakes by peach palm flour showed an increase in fiber, ash, lipids, and carotenoids and intensified the orange color of the cookies.

Experimental and mechanism study of asphaltene on formation and stabilization of oil-based foam

Stable foam will be generated in the separation equipment after pressure reduction of crude oil, which reduce the separation efficiency and damage the power equipment. It is found that the foam formed by asphaltene-rich crude oil is particularly stable in oilfield production, and the action mechanism of asphaltene for foam remains unclear. Hence, a self-made foaming device was performed to investigate the foamability and foam stability of oil-based foam, and the impact of asphaltene concentration and oil phase composition on foam properties was elucidated from the interfacial properties, viscosity, foam structure and the microstructure of asphaltene. Results show that low asphaltene concentrations promote foaming and mitigate the foam destruction. In contrast, high asphaltene concentrations are detrimental to foaming and reduce foam stability. The changes in interfacial properties and viscosity caused by asphaltene are not the main factors affecting foam performance. Besides, we proposed that asphaltene present in the oil phase as non-adsorbed particle, and the foam stability is influenced by the shape, volume fraction and size distribution of the particles. Furthermore, the boundary conditions for the effect of asphaltene on foam performance are innovatively put forward. This work contributes to understand the mechanism by which the asphaltene enhances foam stability and provides theoretical support for defoaming techniques in crude oil foam.

A comprehensive study of melt foaming in E‐glass batch‐to‐melt conversion process: Effects of sulfate content and chemistry of raw materials

AbstractControl of sulfate‐induced melt fining without excessive foaming is one of the critical steps in maintaining the stability of E‐glass fiber manufacturing processes. Besides, the efficiency of combustion or energy utilization is directly affected by the extent of the melt‐foaming. A fundamental understanding of key factors affecting melt foaming under the simulated oxy‐fuel combustion environment will enable commercial E‐glass fiber production to optimize both batch chemistry and operation conditions to achieve adequate furnace control. In this study, six types of E‐glass batches with the same target glass composition were prepared by using four different CaO sources; calcined limes with different SO3 contents, limestone, limestone with sodium sulfate, and a mixture of limestone and calcined lime. All batch samples were examined by HTMOS‐EGA system (high temperature melting observation system with evolved gas analysis). HTMOS enables monitoring batch‐to‐melt conversation steps by using a high‐resolution camera and EGA detects the evolved reaction gaseous, such as CO, CO2, and SO2 via an Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) gas analyzer. Gases of water vapor, N2, and O2 were introduced accordingly into the fused quartz crucible to simulate similar oxy‐fuel atmosphere of the furnace operation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different SO3 contents in batches and different raw material chemistries on the foam formation in E‐glass melts under the oxy‐fuel atmosphere. Different raw materials were characterized by mineralogical analysis, chemical analysis, particle size distribution, chemical oxygen demanding (COD) level, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. Although some of the batches contained the same SO3 content, different foam formations resulted from the effect of the batch chemistry. Our detailed HTMOS‐EGA investigations show that not only SO3 content in the batch affects foam formation in E‐glass melts, but also raw material chemistry and particle size have strong effects on the melt foaming in E‐glass batch melting, especially for those of ingredients having hydroxide phases and/or finer particles with higher specific areas.

Roflumilast foam (Zoryve) for seborrheic dermatitis.

The FDA has approved a 0.3% foam formulation of the phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor roflumilast (Zoryve – Arcutis) for topical treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in patients ≥9 years old. Roflumilast is the first PDE4 inhibitor to be approved in the US for this indication.

A Review on Seed Oil‐Based Polyurethane and Its Composites Derived from Biosources: Synthesis, Degradation, and Adsorption Studies

AbstractPolyurethanes (PUs) are versatile polymers used in industries at large scale. PUs are in used in the form of foam, elastomers, adhesives, fibers, thermosets, thermoplastics, etc. Polyols and isocyanates are the two compounds used to synthesize PU. Day by day increasing price of crude oil and its destructive impact on the environment motivate researchers to develop bio‐PU. Seed oils are attracting nowadays because of their renewability and low cost. They are the best substitutes for fossil fuel‐based polyol used in the preparation of PUs. However, these bio‐based PUs show lower thermal, mechanical properties, which needs improvement to further their utilization. The need to maintain a cleaner environment for the survival of both aquatic and terrestrial lives including human beings is very crucial and is a subject of increasing concern to the environmentalists. The removal of heavy metals, dyes, and organic pollutants from wastewater before their discharge in the environmental is very important due to its polluting effect on the underground water. This review article emphasizes on to provide insight on the developments in the field of chemistry, types, and synthesis of various PUs, as well as on the components used to synthesize bio‐based PUs and water treatment applications. Additionally, details on the PU's environmental friendliness are highlighted, with a focus on their potential to recycling and recovery. This review also highlights the details of the synthesis, uses, and potential futures of PU composites.

Rigid Polyurethane Foams' Development and Optimization from Polyols Based on Depolymerized Suberin and Tall Oil Fatty Acids.

The utilization of polyols derived from renewable sources presents an opportunity to enhance the sustainability of rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams, thereby contributing to the advancement of a circular bioeconomy. This study explores the development of PUR rigid foams exclusively using polyols sourced from second-generation renewable biomass feedstocks, specifically depolymerized birch bark suberin (suberinic acids) and tall oil fatty acids. The polyols achieved a total renewable material content as high as 74%, with a suberinic acid content of 37%. Response surface modeling was employed to determine the optimal bio-polyol, blowing agents, and catalyst content, hence, optimizing the bio-based foam formulations. In addition, response surface modeling was applied to rigid PUR foam formulations based on commercially available petroleum-based polyols for comparison. The results, including apparent density (~40-44 kg/m3), closed cell content (~95%), compression strength (>0.2 MPa, parallel to the foaming direction), and thermal conductivity (~0.019 W/(m·K)), demonstrated that the suberinic acids-based rigid PUR foam exhibited competitive qualities in comparison to petroleum-based polyols. Remarkably, the bio-based rigid PUR foams comprised up to 29% renewable materials. These findings highlight the potential of suberinic acid-tall oil polyols as effective candidates for developing rigid PUR foams, offering promising solutions for sustainable insulation applications.

Effects of Clay Contamination on the Stability of Aqueous Foams at High Pressure

Summary Because of its low density, high viscosity, and good hole-cleaning performance, foam is used in the industry as a drilling and completion fluid. Due to these unique properties, foam can be applied in underbalanced drilling. After an extended period, however, the degradation of its thermodynamically unstable structure leads to the gradual loss of these valuable properties. While a number of research studies have been performed to investigate foam flow behavior, more is needed to know about their drainage characteristics and stability at high pressure. The primary goal of this investigation is to examine the effects of clay contaminants on the drainage of foam at high pressure. Moreover, the results and findings of this study not only show the effect of clay contaminants on foam stability but also help develop clay-based stable foam formulations without using chemicals that have the potential to contaminate groundwater or seawater. This paper shows the findings of an investigation on the aqueous foam stability in the presence of clay (bentonite and kaolinite) contaminants. Experiments were conducted at ambient temperature while varying foam quality and clay concentration at a constant pressure of 6.8 MPa. During the study, the foam was created in a flow loop. After generation, its rheology and stability were measured using a pipe viscometer and a vertical test tube (column). The hydrostatic pressure profile in the column was measured with time to assess foam drainage. The results show that clay type and concentration affect aqueous foam drainage and flow behavior. The impact of clay on these foam properties is controlled by foam quality. Adding more than 2.5% bentonite considerably enhanced foam stability and viscosity. In contrast, the impacts of kaolinite on these foam properties were minimal at the same concentration. The drainage became negligible when 5% bentonite was added to the foam. However, at a reduced concentration (2.5%), bentonite addition was only an effective stabilizer for low-quality foam (40%). Microscopic examination of the foams prepared under ambient conditions demonstrated the accumulation of colloidal particles at the plateau borders and nodes that block the drained liquid flow and reduce drainage.

Branched sulfonated promoter: Achieving high methane uptake and foam-free gas recovery for solidified gas storage

Gas hydrates offer a promising solution for clean and low-carbon energy storage and the transportation of natural gas. However, their slow formation kinetics and dissociation-induced foaming hinder their practical application. This study investigates a novel branched sulfonated promoter (BSP) to address these challenges. The effectiveness of BSP in promoting methane hydrate formation was evaluated by measuring the conversion degree, methane consumption, storage capacity, hydrate growth rate, and reaction rate constant. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provided insights into BSP's interaction with methane and water molecules, its self-aggregation, adsorption, and its role in hydrate cage formation. BSP demonstrated comparable performance to SDS in accelerating methane hydrate formation. At a concentration of 500 ppm, BSP achieved a water-to-hydrate conversion rate of 89.54 %, methane consumption of 432.16 mmol, and a storage capacity of 165.1 v/v after 450 min. BSP effectively suppressed foam formation during methane hydrate dissociation, and all the hydrates melted within 15 min. Moreover, BSP promotes the formation of dense and solid hydrates, unlike SDS, which favors hydrate growth on reactor walls. MD simulations revealed that BSP molecules do not form micelles but interact with water molecules through their hydrophilic chains, facilitating methane accumulation around their hydrophobic tails. This behavior promotes methane aggregation and hydrate formation. BSP surpasses SDS in terms of foam-free dissociation, making it a promising candidate for practical hydrate-based energy storage and transportation technologies. The combined experimental and computational approach provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying BSP's promotional effect, challenging the long-held belief that long alkyl chains are essential for hydrate promotion. This paves the way for further development of effective and environmentally friendly hydrate promoters.

Isolation of ammonium bicarbonate by reactive distillation of food waste digestate liquor

Distillation is among the best techniques for management of ammoniacal nitrogen in anaerobic digestate; however, the suitability of the conventional system is neglected in favor of using more advanced setups. This investigation proves the reliability of the classical batch distillation apparatus for high throughput separation of solid crystals of ammonium bicarbonate from food waste digestate (FWD) liquor. Three replicates were carried out: 80 g of FWD liquor with a content of 50 g/L NH4HCO3 was processed for 7.5 h under minimum heating power (<60 °C) and 200 rpm to avoid excessive foam formation. After performing the reactive distillation, 81 % of NH4HCO3 was recovered as white solid crystals at the top of the distillation still. Although the distillation provided a solid material with the same structure and composition as those of the reagent-grade NH4HCO3, the stability of the isolated inorganic fertilizer was poorer, and it could lead to pollution swapping.